[ And, of course, the boy wants to come with them.
D'Artagnan's eyes slide uncertainly up to Charizard. There's no doubt that the dragon would be helpful, and if this boy can control him, there's no doubt that he would be helpful too.
But they'll be risking their lives. He chews his lip. He's young, compared to the other Musketeers. When he first met them, he'd felt strongly that he had to prove himself to them.
He hadn't been this young, though. ]
When we go there, we'll be hiding. We'll be looking for people, trying to get them out.
But if the Neraki - that's the aliens who took them - if they find us, they'll attack us. They'll do everything they can to kill us.
[ He's not unflinching at the possibility, his lips parting but an answer not yet ready to be given. The thought that anyone would want to kill, or try or be compelled to, is a heavy one; it's not one he's ever considered much, not even with Team Rocket. They just did what they had to do - what they felt was right.
That was why they had come here too. Red's lips press together with his decision made, but he turns to look to Charizard, the pokémon's eyes already down on him. It's not a question he thinks he even needs to ask, but- ] Charizard?
[ -he wanted to see that nod, just to be sure. He faces the man again, giving to him his own nod. ]
[ There's a small relief when the man agrees, but nothing if not the slightest pinch at the sides of his mouth to show for it. But Red does as he's asked next, slipping off the backpack and then kneeling down to get inside it easier.
There's two gun-handled shape items inside, and Red has to question which one matches to the man's own closest - and pulls out a compact gauss gun with more of a handle than the nanite gun. He had held it before when searching through the bag, but it still feels awkward in his hand - only holding it by the handle with no finger to the trigger - as he stands back up with it. ]
[ D'Artagnan's smile is strained, and not just because he's thinking about the task ahead. He comes over beside Red - on the opposite side to Charizard, because that's still a dragon and it still might take his head off - and he holds out his own rifle. It's bigger, but it works the same basic way as the smaller guns. ]
Only you can fire it. It has something to do with your cuff, it's bonded to you. The magazine goes here.
[ He takes his out, showing Red the bullets inside, and then puts it back in. ]
And the safety is here.
[ Again, he demonstrates, taking it off and bringing the rifle up to sight and take aim. ]
Hold the gun with both hands. Look along the length of it to aim, and then fire. You'll have as many shots as the magazine holds, and won't need to reload until it's empty.
[ He puts his own safety back on, lowers the gun, and turns to face Red again. ]
[ Charizard brings out his head to watch with his trainer the demonstration, curious about what the objects are. Red follows closely, sparing a moment to look away just so he can take what he sees and apply it to his own smaller weapon. The button that ejects the ammo, the clip that puts the safety off and on...
It is simple enough. Simple and easy to follow, but Red can't look at the gun and understand it. There's questions he wants to ask but figures is stupid to, and instead feels the weight of it in both of his hands, notes again the parts explain, ejecting the ammo and then clipping it back in.
(How much will it hurt? Does he really think he'll have to use it?) ]
Y-yeah. [ A perhaps useful thought comes, and Red points to the lower part of the gun. ] What about this part, the magazine? I've got more in my bag; can other people use it if I give it to them? I mean...
[ 'Look along the length to aim' - Red raises up his arms looking clumsy and wrong, then lowers them down again. ] I'll use it if I have to, but Charizard can aim better than me and I don't want to hold onto it if someone else needs it out there.
[ He's teaching this boy how to shoot and he hates himself for it.
If he doesn't do it, Red could find himself undefended, and in as much trouble as their captives. He reaches to put his hand on the boy's pistol, to direct it and correct his aim. ]
You can't be afraid to use it.
[ D'Artagnan is being more blunt than he'd like to be, than he thinks he should be, because of what's ahead of them. Because they have no time for anything better. ]
Anyone can use the magazines, but you can't leave yourself undefended. You and Charizard, you both have to stay safe.
[ Don't be afraid to use it--it's hitting a nail that Red doesn't want to admit exists. But the boy nods his head. ]
Okay. Right. [ Still, it was good to know--just in case. ] Do you know when we'll be going? We'll get prepared until then.
[ He's not sure how, but if this guy is a leader then there must be more he can do with others than to keep instructing him. The man's done plenty of that anyway. They'll go on search, go into hiding, then be pulled into a fight. ]
[ Still worried, d'Artagnan meets his eyes and tries to be calm. Red seems ready, at any rate. Or at least, feeding enough off adrenaline to be willing to get ready. ]
It'll be soon. Once everyone's been briefed.
[ He glances up, looking at the group. All of them are moving among the new recruits, getting them set. ]
I need to help with that, but I don't want to leave you alone.
You can come in my group, all right? We're going to the Rakitsa camp. That's where we'll be searching.
[ Then he can keep an eye on you, even while we're out there. ]
[ Either Red appears to not fully understand what's about to happen, or he does -- both are not far from the truth, as much as of an oxymoron as it sounds. ]
Huh-- alright. [ He gives another small nod in acknowledgement, and it's after a moment that he figures, for one last question- ] My name is Red, by the way. What do I call you?
[ Knowing the name of the guy in charge of the group he's supposed to be working with would be good to know. ]
[ And just when he thought he did have a last question. He tries to make it quick, sensing he should; he doesn't want to keep holding up d'Artagnan like this. ] I don't know if you can help, but when I came here I had more equipment on me, and I had more pokémon too. Except, they weren't on me when I arrived here, and I don't remember putting them away.
Do you think whoever strapped me up with this [ a tip of the gun ] would have taken them? I can't really figure out why they would, but...
[ D'Artagnan's brow furrows. He knows that items are generally taken from people. Creatures - pets - are another matter. He hasn't seen so much of that. He shakes his head. ]
I'm sorry. I was only dropped with my sword. The first time I got here they'd taken the rest of my weapons away. I think that was the case with anyone. Maybe it's a rule of theirs.
You could ask Armada if it's possible to get them back. Sometimes that's happened. It won't be today, though.
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
For Red (Macha TDM)
[ And, of course, the boy wants to come with them.
D'Artagnan's eyes slide uncertainly up to Charizard. There's no doubt that the dragon would be helpful, and if this boy can control him, there's no doubt that he would be helpful too.
But they'll be risking their lives. He chews his lip. He's young, compared to the other Musketeers. When he first met them, he'd felt strongly that he had to prove himself to them.
He hadn't been this young, though. ]
When we go there, we'll be hiding. We'll be looking for people, trying to get them out.
But if the Neraki - that's the aliens who took them - if they find us, they'll attack us. They'll do everything they can to kill us.
Are you ready for that? You and Charizard.
no subject
That was why they had come here too. Red's lips press together with his decision made, but he turns to look to Charizard, the pokémon's eyes already down on him. It's not a question he thinks he even needs to ask, but- ] Charizard?
[ -he wanted to see that nod, just to be sure. He faces the man again, giving to him his own nod. ]
We are.
no subject
Very strange. But he focuses on Red, seeing the resolution on his face, and he sighs. ]
All right.
[ He can't even believe what he's saying. He pulls his gun off his back. ]
Then get yours. It'll be in your pack, I'll show you how it works.
no subject
There's two gun-handled shape items inside, and Red has to question which one matches to the man's own closest - and pulls out a compact gauss gun with more of a handle than the nanite gun. He had held it before when searching through the bag, but it still feels awkward in his hand - only holding it by the handle with no finger to the trigger - as he stands back up with it. ]
Okay.
no subject
[ D'Artagnan's smile is strained, and not just because he's thinking about the task ahead. He comes over beside Red - on the opposite side to Charizard, because that's still a dragon and it still might take his head off - and he holds out his own rifle. It's bigger, but it works the same basic way as the smaller guns. ]
Only you can fire it. It has something to do with your cuff, it's bonded to you. The magazine goes here.
[ He takes his out, showing Red the bullets inside, and then puts it back in. ]
And the safety is here.
[ Again, he demonstrates, taking it off and bringing the rifle up to sight and take aim. ]
Hold the gun with both hands. Look along the length of it to aim, and then fire. You'll have as many shots as the magazine holds, and won't need to reload until it's empty.
[ He puts his own safety back on, lowers the gun, and turns to face Red again. ]
Simple enough?
no subject
It is simple enough. Simple and easy to follow, but Red can't look at the gun and understand it. There's questions he wants to ask but figures is stupid to, and instead feels the weight of it in both of his hands, notes again the parts explain, ejecting the ammo and then clipping it back in.
(How much will it hurt? Does he really think he'll have to use it?) ]
Y-yeah. [ A perhaps useful thought comes, and Red points to the lower part of the gun. ] What about this part, the magazine? I've got more in my bag; can other people use it if I give it to them? I mean...
[ 'Look along the length to aim' - Red raises up his arms looking clumsy and wrong, then lowers them down again. ] I'll use it if I have to, but Charizard can aim better than me and I don't want to hold onto it if someone else needs it out there.
no subject
If he doesn't do it, Red could find himself undefended, and in as much trouble as their captives. He reaches to put his hand on the boy's pistol, to direct it and correct his aim. ]
You can't be afraid to use it.
[ D'Artagnan is being more blunt than he'd like to be, than he thinks he should be, because of what's ahead of them. Because they have no time for anything better. ]
Anyone can use the magazines, but you can't leave yourself undefended. You and Charizard, you both have to stay safe.
Okay?
no subject
Okay. Right. [ Still, it was good to know--just in case. ] Do you know when we'll be going? We'll get prepared until then.
[ He's not sure how, but if this guy is a leader then there must be more he can do with others than to keep instructing him. The man's done plenty of that anyway. They'll go on search, go into hiding, then be pulled into a fight. ]
no subject
It'll be soon. Once everyone's been briefed.
[ He glances up, looking at the group. All of them are moving among the new recruits, getting them set. ]
I need to help with that, but I don't want to leave you alone.
You can come in my group, all right? We're going to the Rakitsa camp. That's where we'll be searching.
[ Then he can keep an eye on you, even while we're out there. ]
no subject
Huh-- alright. [ He gives another small nod in acknowledgement, and it's after a moment that he figures, for one last question- ] My name is Red, by the way. What do I call you?
[ Knowing the name of the guy in charge of the group he's supposed to be working with would be good to know. ]
no subject
[ And he's sorry for what's about to happen, most of all. He takes a breath, trying to settle his own nerves as much as anything else. ]
Is there anything else you need before we leave? If you have questions, ask them now. There won't be time when we're moving.
no subject
[ And just when he thought he did have a last question. He tries to make it quick, sensing he should; he doesn't want to keep holding up d'Artagnan like this. ] I don't know if you can help, but when I came here I had more equipment on me, and I had more pokémon too. Except, they weren't on me when I arrived here, and I don't remember putting them away.
Do you think whoever strapped me up with this [ a tip of the gun ] would have taken them? I can't really figure out why they would, but...
[ But just where did they go, is the question. ]
no subject
[ D'Artagnan's brow furrows. He knows that items are generally taken from people. Creatures - pets - are another matter. He hasn't seen so much of that. He shakes his head. ]
I'm sorry. I was only dropped with my sword. The first time I got here they'd taken the rest of my weapons away. I think that was the case with anyone. Maybe it's a rule of theirs.
You could ask Armada if it's possible to get them back. Sometimes that's happened. It won't be today, though.