Practice makes perfect(Rune)

Entering the firing range, my eyes narrowed as I walked over to the counter. Dropping my license I waited as they filled out the paperwork before they handed it back to me. They handed me a few targets and some ammo after I told them I just needed revolver ammo since I had a gun with me. But what nobody knew was where it was hidden. Smirking I made my way to the firing range. Making sure I was alone I willed the Growlancer into the form of the Adorned Pearl, before opening the chamber and loading the five bullets into it. Raising it up I took aim, my right leg back behind me to support me. Last time I was here the first shot had thrown me on my ass. I was determined not to let that happen to me again.

Breathing slowly I took aim, looking down the sights of the gun. I waited, looking down the barrel of the gun before slowly firing once. I hit the paper target, at the least, but I missed the actual target by a good distance. Sighing I put the gun down and rubbed my eyes before raising the gun again. I breathed slowly squeezing the trigger as I turned my elbow out to absorb the recoil. The shot was more accurate, hitting the silhouette this time. But it would be lucky if it were deadly.

"Son of a bitch!" I exclaimed. "What am I doing wrong? I must just suck."

250/2500

Shifting my gaze across the sky, I take another drag from the cigarette between my lips, inhaling the smoke into my lungs before I stop taking a drag and hold the smoke in my lungs for a moment before I begin to exhale. " Come on Ingel. " I murmur lightly to myself while I bring a hand up and pull the cigarette from my lips and drop it on the ground before stepping on it. As I step on the cigarette I begin to pull away from the wall and let out a light grumble as I begin to move, making my way back into the range. As I enter the range, I give a faint nod to the people behind the counter and begin to make my way back to the important part of the range. It was fairly quiet, aside from the sound of a few gun shots that echoed from the range. Stepping into the range, I hear someone yelling out some rather unpleasant words that make me frown faintly. It seemed someone was having some sort of trouble, though since it sounded as if there is only one person, then it wasn't people arguing, which was a good thing. With a light sigh, I begin to move and make my way over to the young man that seems to be having some sort of trouble, perhaps he didn't load his weapon right or something... who knows, but maybe I can help him. " Hello there. " I call out to him as I come upon him.

Post WC: 261

The gun went off in my hand again when someone called at me from behind. The shot completely missed the target before I threw my hands up, dropping the revolver on the counter top in front of me. Frowning I rubbed the bridge of my nose to turn to him, frowning. How the hell was I ready for other people to be shooting around me but when someone says something to me it makes me jump? God I was a fucking pussy.

"Yes? Can I help you?" I asked, looking at the man in front of me, waiting for him to say something.

I was clad in simple blue jeans, black turtleneck, and leather jacket. The ivory handled pistol was pointed out down range, the only safe place to really point it. The five bullet gun was simple and reliable. Revolvers didn't jam nearly as much as an automatic did, but it couldn't fire nearly as quickly. But to make up for that revolvers usually had larger calibers, so they did more damage to things than an automatic did.

429/2500

It would seem I interrupted the young man's next shot and caused him to miss the target completely. As the young man begins to speak, I glance down at the weapon on the counter and sigh lightly, another revolver? Did I need to buy one of these things to carry around with me just in case I needed it? Turning my gaze back to the young man I shake my head faintly, " Actually, I was going to see if you needed some help. " I say as I glance down range at the target he had been shooting, " I could give you some pointers to help you with your practice. " I add as I turn my gaze back to the young man, " If you want that is. And if you don't want that is fine, it's up to you... " I trail off, not knowing the young mans name so it made it hard to address him properly.

Post WC: 162

"Oh. Yeah, thanks. I'm not very good on my own unfortunately. My name's Leon, what's yours?" I asked, looking at him.

He seemed nice enough, though I had no idea if I was going to have any kind of ease with this gun or not. I preferred the way it hit the target and took them off their feet, rather than just hurt them. Sometimes it would work that way with a pistol, but you had to hit a target in a vital area to take them completely down. I'd seen people be shot multiple times and still stay standing. Though that was probably just movie magic.

Glancing back to him I shrugged and picked my pistol up. I raised my gun again and took aim. Pulling the hammer back I cocked it before squeezing the trigger. The hammer shot forward, triggering the blasting cap. The roar of the explosion filled my ears even through the headphones I wore. I watched the burst of flame spit out through the barrel. The muzzle flash hid plenty of things, even the leaving of the bullet from the barrel. Though it wasn't like I could follow it as well.

625/2500

" It's nice to meet you Leon, name's Ingel. " I say with a faint nod, now I knew the young man, which would make talking to him easier. As he reached for his pistol, I looked at the weapon again as he raised it up and began to take aim at the target as he pulled the hammer of the revolver back, readying the weapon to be fired. I watch Leon as he pulls the trigger and fires the round at the target down range. After the shot, I glance down range for a moment before turning my attention back to Leon and begin to speak, " When you take aim at a target, unless your in a gun fight, take the time to line up your shot with the spot you want to hit on the target. Unless you have to, there's no need to rush the shot. And, when your ready, take the shot. Also, don't forget to brace your self for the shot, don't want the gun flying all over the place. "

Post WC: 177

"I kinda learned that lesson already. Last time I was here I wasn't ready for the kick and it knocked me on my ass." I said, putting the gun down.

The weapon only had one shot left in it, but I had to rub my wrist. I wasn't used to shooting and the recoil was starting to hurt my arm. The ivory handle of the gun was done with what looked like scrimshaw, a design to look like scales over it, as if the weapon were made of snake, lizard, dragon, or whatever kind of scales the beholder wanted to see. The rest of the weapon was polished and well kept. I didn't have to do a whole lot of maintenance since the Growlancer returned to the original form of the gun every time I finished with it.

Flexing my arm I picked the gun back up and fired again, my elbow twisting as I shot. My elbow bending as the recoil hit. My arm slid out to absorb the recoil before flipping the chamber open. Twisting the weapon back I watched the empty shells fall out to the ground before I reloaded and closed it.

821/2500

As he informs me that he has already learned that lesson when he first began to fire the weapon, I give a light nod. A lesson like that was typically learned when you first start firing a weapon and experience the recoil from the gun first hand, though learning to deal with it may come after a few lessons with the weapon. I watch him as he begins to rub his wist, the recoil must be fairly powerful, though could it be more then he could handle right now? If that were the case then he would only be hurting himself if he continued. When he picks the gun back up, I watch him again as he fires off the last round in the cylinder. I keep an eye on him as he lets his elbow twist from the shot and bend to take the recoil. After the shot was fired he begins to reload the weapon, " That's a fairly fancy looking revolver, mind if I see it? "

Post WC: 170

I quirked an eyebrow at the request and shrugged. Setting the gun down, again with the barrel facing down the range I stepped back for him to step into the small box so he could look the weapon over. The Growlancer wouldn't turn back into a ring without my willing it to do so, nor would it take any other form, though I wasn't sure what would happen when another person held it.

I waited, my hands slipping into my pocket. I didn't really have much to worry about. Even if this guy shot me here on the range, it's not like he'd get away with much. I mean the cops in the city had to do their jobs right? Wait a minute, I'm a Yakuza runner, what the fuck do I care what the cops do?

958/2500

It seemed as if he was going to let me check the weapon out. As he stepped aside, I move into the booth and reach down to the gun and carefully pick it up from the counter. Lifting the weapon from the counter, I begin to inspect the weapon and its craftsman ship. Like before to me, such a weapon wasn't meant to be used that often, instead it was more so for show then anything. When you have a gun made of gold, do you want to shoot it or show it? " What's with you kids and revolvers.. " I murmur lightly as I shift my gaze over the gun. After a moment longer I glance back at Leon, " Would it be alright if I shot it? To get a feel for the recoil it has. " I ask, not wanting to just shoot the kids gun with out asking, that wouldn't be very respectful of the kid and his weapon.

Post WC; 164

"Yeah, man. Feel free to shoot it all you want." I say, waving my hand dismissively.

I smirked, watching him. Revolvers were nice. They packed a bigger punch, they didn't jam up as easily, and they were very easy to maintain. And even if something happened the parts were pretty easy to come by, not a lot of tiny moving ones, like an automatic. But truth be told I preferred the stopping power of a revolver than the extended ammo count of the automatic. Just meant that if you were going to a gunfight with these things you better be good. Considering you'll be reloading much more often than if you were fighting with, say, a forty-five.

1075/2500

" Thanks. " I say with a faint nod as he gives me permission to shoot his revolver. Now that I had been given permission, I flip the cylinder out to the side to make sure the weapon was still loaded. It would be rather dumb to try and fire the weapon and then find out that it was not loaded. Unlike with auto loaders, I couldn't tell if a revolver was loaded, the weight of the weapon was different. Flipping the cylinder back into place once I made sure the weapon was loaded, I begin to raise it up and take aim at the target down range. As I begin to take aim at the target I bring my thumb up and pull back on the hammer, drawing back until it clicks into place. As I find a spot on the target to shoot, I tighten my grip on the handle of the revolver and brace myself for the shot before giving the trigger a squeeze. As the hammer is realised it launches forwards and strikes the bullet, igniting the powder and launching the metal slug through and from the barrel of the gun and down range into the head of the target. The recoil was similar to the revolver I had fired before and I am able to control it same as before. After the shot, I flick the safety back on and begin to lower the weapon as I glance back at Leon.

Post WC: 246

"If you turn your elbow out you'll absorb the recoil." I say, smirking gently. "I might not know how to shoot all that well, I do know my gun. Automatics need the recoil it helps them empty the casing from the previous shot. The revolver doesn't do that so you can't treat it the same as you would, say, a glock."

It was true, that recoil would always be there. But it could throw the heavy handed pistol off if someone wasn't careful. But if you turned your elbow out, then the only thing you had to worry about was the recoil in your wrist. At the same time your elbow would bend, absorbing the blow that such a heavy caliber bullet caused when fired.

1200/2500

" It seems like you already have the mechanics down pat, you just have trouble putting them to use and gaining the necessary skill with this revolver. " I say as I spin the pistol around my finger before gripping it by the barrel and turning to face Leon as I offer it to him. " Take this and shoot at the target, but don't aim for any specific spot like the heart or the head, just try to hit it in the chest. You have to learn how to walk before you can learn to run. " Pausing, I reach into my coat with my free hand and pull out one of my automatic pistols, " Or if you'd like, you can try this to see if it suits your style more then a revolver. "

Post WC: 137

"I appreciate it. But I don't have any ammo for a gun like that. The counter only gave me revolver ammo. But I appreciate the offer." I say as my hand comes up.

My fingers curl around the ivory handle of the gun, my finger outside the trigger guard, so there was no way it could go off in my hand. As soon as he released it and stepped out of the way I flipped the chamber open, before loading five more bullets into it. With a flick of my wrist, I locked it back into place. Pulling the hammer back I raised it, aiming for the middle of the target. True it was going to be a ton of points in competition shooting but it was also the best place to aim if you wanted to at least hit the target.

I raised the gun slightly as my head tilted, one of my eyes closing as I aimed down the iron sights of my gun. I breathed in slowly and exhaled. One hand pushed, the other pulled, and I squeezed the handle at the same time, as if shaking hands with the gun, while pulling the trigger. The gun shouted, and even through the headphones I wore it was a loud bang, like someone slamming a chair down on a hard floor or a balloon pop, assuming that you weren't wearing the headphones that is.

1436/2500

As he declines the offer I give a faint nod and begin to slip the gun back into its holster, " Alright, though ammo isn't much of a problem. " Now that he had taken the revolver from me I begin to move aside and give him better access to the booth. I keep my gaze fixed on Leon as he reloads the revolver before he begins to get ready to shoot the target. Slowly I scan over his form as I wait for him to fire at the target. When he finally does fire the revolver, I keep my gaze on him for a brief moment before turning my gaze down range to see where he had hit the target. I scan over the target for a moment before giving a faint nod as I turn my attention back to Leon, " Good. Now do it again, this time fire two back to back. And keep aiming for the chest of the target, no particular part of it though. ". I wanted to see how well he could handle shooting two in a row so fast as well as wanting to work up his muscles and get his body use to shooting the power of the revolver.

Post WC: 208

Putting the gun down I flexed my hand and nodded at his words. He seemed genuinely happy that I was getting the hang of it, and that was pretty cool. I cracked my knuckles before picking the gun up again. Setting my feet, again, at shoulder width I dug in. I breathed out slowly as I again pushed and pulled with my hands. I squeezed the trigger, my elbows turned out. My arms absorbed the impact as the joint bent.

Pushing my arms out again, I squeezed the trigger once more. The gears of the double action pistol turned. The chamber slowly turned, as the hammer went back. As it hit the last of the draw back the chamber turned the last peg, putting a bullet right in front of the hammer as it came down. The hammer slammed into place, the blast cap in the back of the bullet going off, sending the bullet down the barrel of the gun. Both bullets tore through the chest of the target, though on opposite ends. But I was getting better, and with time I could be an expert marksman.

1624/2500

Falling silent, I watch Leon for a moment before glancing down range at the target, thinking on where I had told him to shoot, though it wasn't hard to be drawn to hit a spot on the target, most of the time its a vital spot. You want to kill the target as fast as you can, but sometimes that isn't possible. Turning my attention back to Leon I see he has picked the gun back up and is getting ready to fire once again. I keep my gaze on Leon as he opens fire upon the target, firing off the two rounds I had asked him to shoot, watching his form as he fires off the two rounds to see how he handles it. His body seemed to handle it well and he absorbed the recoil as he had done before with a single shot. Glancing away from him, I look down range to see where he had hit the target, " Not bad. " I say as I scan over the target, " Care to give it another try, though this time try to get the shots closer? " I add, looking back to Leon.

Post WC: 197

Shrugging at his question I raise my gun again, my body not leaving the stance. Breathing slowly I again focused, this time staring down the barrel through the iron sights of the pistol. Breathing slowly I let one eye narrow, calculating the distance, the trajectory and such. It wasn't hard to do, and it didn't take long. Anyone that threw anything did it without thinking. It didn't take long, until I squeezed the trigger again. As the hammer came down the gun barked, not once, but twice, firing the last of the shots that the gun held.

Lowering the pistol I flipped the chamber open before pulling the empties out, dropping them in the basket that I'd been supplied with for them. I picked up another handful of bullets before loading them into the chamber. Putting the gun down I turned to the man that was teaching me. Reaching up I flipped the switch, the target coming back to us. I'd grouped the two shots much closer than the last two. They were only a few inches apart, but in a vital area.

1807/2500

Watching Leon as he again focuses on the target down range, taking aim at it as he gets ready to shoot it. When he opens fire with the revolver, I turn my attention down range to see where he had hit the target this time, hoping he would do better then last time and hit closer together. When I seen where he had hit the target, I give a faint nod and turn my gaze back to him as he reloads the revolver before setting it down. He seemed to be getting better, though he could still use some practice. I watch as he flips the switch to bring the target to us and when it arrives I turn my gaze back to it, looking over where he had hit the target and give a faint nod, " You did good Leon. Are you ready to try and hit a specific part of the target or do you still need practice just hitting it? "

Post WC: 165

"Just tell me where you want me to shoot." I said, as I took down the target.

Picking up the next silhouette I put it up, the clips holding it in place before I hit the switch again, watching it go out to the line. My eyes narrowed as I watched it go and smirked as it came to a stop. Picking the gun up again I brought it up to my shoulder as I pulled the hammer back a bit. With a quick slide, I ran the chamber down my arm before lifting the gun up, with it spinning freely in place before I locked the hammer in place, raising my pistol. I waited for him to tell me where to shoot, not sure if I'd be able to hit it, but I wasn't going to back down from a challenge, and who knows. I might actually hit the targets.

1958/2500

When he requested that I choose the spot that he would be shooting on the target, I give a faint nod. If he wanted I could pick a spot on the target out, though I knew not to make it to hard on him, something easy to hit but still a bit challenging. I wait until he has put a target back up and it is down range before I begin to scan over it, looking for a good spot to have him shoot at. Once I have a spot selected, I give a faint nod and turn my attention back to Leon, " How about you try to hit the left shoulder and breast area of the target? " I say, assigning a target for Leon to hit on the paper representation of a human.

Post WC: 136

"Left side, got it." I said.

Raising the pistol I ran my thumb over my tongue before running it down the top of the barrel. Taking aim I breathed slowly, my eyes glancing down the barrel, between the iron sights. I lined the tip of the barrel carefully before pulling the hammer back, waiting for it to click and lock into place. With the hammer locked I raised up, taking careful aim as I breathed in a deep breath. I pushed with my right hand and pulled with my left, squeezing the handle and trigger at the same time. I had carefully placed the pad of my fingertip against trigger as I pulled.

With the loud scream of the bullet I smirked and lowered the gun, watching the silhouette flail lightly as the bullet tore through the shoulder. It was a simple thing to hit, though it would also be difficult to say hit exactly where you wanted. Nobody could hit exactly the spot they aimed for, even down to a laser sight. It took a lot of fine tuning and skillful technique.

183/2141

Turning my gaze from Leon, I look down range at the target, glancing over it as I wait for him to open fire. I listen to him as he gets ready to take the shot and as he takes the shot, I watch as the paper target gives way to the force of the bullet as it rips through the shoulder I had told him to hit. Nodding faintly, I turn my gaze back to Leon, " Good. That was an easy one.. Like the body. How about for the next one you shoot at the targets head. " I say, putting for the challenge. Hitting bodies and shoulders were one thing, hitting the head of a target was another. The head was smaller then the body and thus provided a harder target to hit, but in the end was one of the prime targets to hit on a person, if you can hit them in the head, then you pretty much kill them.

Post WC: 164

I had heard of people surviving headshots before, something about the bullet glancing off their skull, or something. Hell I'd even seen video of a bear get shot in the forehead only to get up a moment later to maul the unlucky son of a bitch that had shot it. But then this was just practice, no reason to look too deep into it, so I just shrugged. He told me to shoot the head so I guess whoever this was had pulled a gun or something. So I just let it fade out of mind.

My eyes narrowed as I breathed slowly my vision focused entirely on the target in front of me. Breathing slowly I watched the target grow, and shrink, grow, and shrink, getting bigger and smaller, as if it were pulsing to the beating of my heart. Slowly I breathed out, exhaling as the shot rang out through the firing range.

But the paper target didn't move in the slightest. My brow furrowed as I fired again, and still the paper didn't move. I'd missed the target completely in the last two shots. Breathing slowly again I fired once more, this one slamming into the paper beside the head. Well at least I had hit it this time. Lowering my gun I sighed, before wiping my forehead on my sleeve.

Raising the gun once more I breathed out once more. I waited, hesitating as my arms held the gun up extended out from my body. My mind was racing, I had this shot left to get it right, and if I didn't I doubted I'd ever come back.

Calm down. Walk, don't run.

It was back again, that stupid voice. But try as I might, I couldn't get it's words out of my head. It had spoken the truth, I was trying to run before learning to walk. Closing my eyes I shook my head before opening my eyes, firing again. This one slammed into the chest just below the throat of my target. Putting the gun down I sighed and looked back at him.

“What do you think about that? I'm getting better.”

2,500/2,500

Turning my attention down range now that I had given Leon another spot to shoot on the target, though this one was much harder then the previous but it was the only way to truly become better at something, challenge your self with what you are doing. I keep my gaze set on the target as Leon began to open fire. The first shot he took at the target missed and I let out a light sigh. It seemed that this may be to much for him at this point in time. Again he takes another shot and as the first, it misses its mark and the target all together. Another disappointment from the young man, it was really starting to see as if this was to much for him. We may have to go back to shooting the shoulder or body before moving onto this again. Since he was missing solidly with all the shots he had taken so far I felt perhaps it was time he took a break, though before I could voice such an idea he began to take another shot at the target. Looking at the target I watch as he takes the next shot, expecting him to miss, though hoping that he wouldn't this time. This time the round fired from the revolver rips through the paper target and I let out a sigh of relief before a light smile takes form on my face. Turning my attention back to Leon, I nod faintly, " Yes, you are getting better. How about you take a break and think on what you have learned? "

Post WC: 270