milliways_bar | EP: Kate Barlow | Outside, Stables / Main Bar

It's been a long time since Beaut's had the pleasure of startling the bar with her presence. The front door admits the five-foot cowgirl and her mount, obviously on their way someplace else, depositing them smack dab in the middle of the bar.

Beaut snorts.

"Oh, come now. S'good t'be back, ain't it?"

Kate wins an ear twitch for her trouble. With a chuckle, she sets about navigating the tables and chairs — and waitrats, we mustn't forget them. She'll get Beaut resettled out in the stables and check on the stock, and once she's done there she'll find a calendar. Once she knows the date and has stopped to look for messages in the stables, at the board, or with the Bar, she'll settle in for a while.

Then again, it's such a beautiful evening out. Maybe she'll take advantage of the lingering light and give Beaut a proper ride up the mountain path.

[ooc: I'm so sorry for inundating the bar! I did try to space everything out. ~sheepish~ Post open indefinitely; catch Kate anywhere you like, she'll be making her rounds and she's in a great humor.]

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"Do you use it for hunting?" he queries.

"This? No. I got my daddy's old rifle for that. An' t'be quite honest, Miss Bar's spoiled me rotten."

She laughs quietly, tipping her head to one shoulder.

"This is more for protection."

"Did your father teach you as well?"

She smiles so much softer than before, gentleness sneaking into her eyes.

"He did. He taught me the rifle, anyhow. My daddy owned a ranch, an' there were lots'a things y'had t'do t'take care of it."

"Smart of him," he says as he nods towards the targets, indicating he's going to set up new ones. "I wonder if Mother or Aunt Dindrane have any interest in learning it."

He wouldn't have thought of it before. It's strange what Milliways can do to a person.

Once the new targets are set up, he continues, "I suppose Father knew I was going to follow in his footsteps, serve the Prince the way he serves the King."

"Do you have interest in learnin' it?"

She's offering.

"They're fine footsteps t'follow in. He trained you up, then?"

"The gun?"

That's a good question. He probably couldn't bring such a thing back and he doubts Siegfried would approve of it. But still, there is appeal.

"Perhaps," he answers to the first question. "And yes, Father taught me pretty much everything I know."

Another soft smile.

"Then I'd be happy t'teach you."

She gestures to the fresh targets.

"You or me?"

"I suppose I should show you what you'll have to work with. Perhaps I'll get lucky and manage to telescope an arrow again."

He fires at the target again and again, making a small cluster of arrows in the bullseye. On his sixth attempt, he does indeed succeed in telescoping an arrow, the new one cleanly splitting the one in the target just to the left of dead center.

Kate claps.

"My, you're quite the marksman yourself! That's wonderful."

Lohengrin nods at Kate, a small smile of appreciation on his lips.

"Besides my bow, I've handled paintball pistols in the game, so I have some idea how to use a gun."

"Can't say as I know the similarities between bow an' paintball pistols with the real deal, but havin' good aim'll get you far. It'll be a whole different weight, naturally."

She scrutinizes both target and marksman.

"Might start y'off with somethin' small, jus' so you can get the feel for it."

"Sounds reasonable. I had been a bit surprised by the kick before on the paintball pistols."

On her left hip she carries a Smith & Wesson Safety Hammerless, otherwise known as the Lemon Squeezer. It's a manageable 3 1/2 inch barrel, chambered to a smaller ammunition.

She passes it to him by the barrel.

"Get a feel for the grip."

He takes the gun, mindful of the trigger as he tests the weight in his hand and inspects the weapon.

"How do you load it?" the Knight asks.

"Real simple — "

She steps around so they're side by side, covering his hand with hers so he'll get a feel for what she's doing while he's watching her do it. There's a small latch right at the top, where a hammer would otherwise be. She thumbs it down and the revolver pops open, as if it's just broken in half. It gives clear access to the five-round barrel, fully loaded.

She snaps it back together, and clicks the barrel into place.

"They made 'em so they'd be quick t'load. Y'can feel the little latches give an' take, like puttin' a key in a lock. An' she won't shoot unless you're squeezin' the grip here — "

There's a safety running up the butt of the gun.

Lohengrin follows what he saw Kate do, opening the revolver again and closing it himself. Satisfied that everything feels in place, he lifts the gun to aim for the target, finger resting on the trigger guard.

"Will this be as loud as the other one?"

"Near abouts."

She smiles sympathetically, and pulls out her Colt again.

"You'll wanna keep your feet apart like this, t'give you a li'l more sturdiness. Arm out, keep it straight, look straight down the barrel of your gun t'sight your target. Now, with any other gun, you'd cock it with this hammer here, but like I showed you on yours, y'jus' squeeze that grip, an' pull the trigger."

Cocking her weapon, she gives him one last look at how it's done. The air cracks, and the bullet hits the ring just outside center on the target.

The nice thing about the Lemon Squeezer is it's nice and small, and a good way of practicing shooting one-handed. Should he need that extra support, though, he can always use both hands. The kickback will surprise you, but it shouldn't knock him off his feet by any means.

He follows her instruction and then-

BANG!

Lohengrin brings his hand back to look at the gun, the kickback harder than the paintball pistols. He spies where his shot landed, just to the right of Kate's shot.

"Look'it that! You're a natural."

She beams at him.

"Makes a devilish burn in your palm, don't it? First time I shot that gun I nearly dropped it from dumb fingers alone."

EP: Kate Barlow | Outside, Stables / Main Bar

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