Per Aspera ★ October catch-all ★ Open

[earthborn]

Who: Shepard and various + Open
When: October
Where: Around Cadens and Shepard's Horizon
What: Shooting Range practice & lessons, social mingle, and some planned threads
Warnings: guns, cursing, likely discussion of violence


I. Range at the Horizon
The Normandy loomed over the shooting range, all two-hundred sixteen meters of sleek faster-than-light spacecraft. It was parked, ignominiously, on the dirt itself in very much the way that the real Normandy would only have been if it were trapped in dry-dock for repairs.

Today's occasion is nothing so necessary.

Instead, on the ground-space aft of the cargo hold there's been set up a shooting range. It looks a little makeshift, but it's serviceable enough. The Horizon's ubiquitous wish-fulfillment makes set-up and tidying simple enough, for a start.

Off to the left, there stand a few weapons racks, featuring a variety of firearms ranging from the types of firearms that might be familiar to any member of the Cadens military to a row of oddly-shaped rectangular devices representing weaponry native to Shepard's own home-universe, each gun neatly folded-down and in its place.

There are half-a-dozen shooting lanes with targets of varying distance and sophistication, ranging from holographic figures posed in attitudes of threat, paper cut-outs with zones of deadliness printed on them, vaguely humanoid outlines in plywood, aluminum, and sand-backed paper. There's even a line of bottles perched on a metal crate off to one side: the labels are printed in an alien script, and not all of them are completely empty. The lanes themselves are nothing more glamorous than strips of soil and grass, with an odd mix of gravel, beachsand, and whatever else had come in from the bordering Domains. Shepard had chosen this spot specifically for its position at the crux of several, unclaimed, and unlikely to be contested; all the better for a meeting-place.

In any case, Shepard is on-hand to assist. There's even a sign:

PRACTICE RANGE OPEN TO THE PUBLIC
help yourself if you know what you're doing
assistance available upon request



II. Rager at the Horizon
The cargo bay of the Normandy stands open, the wide bay door slid down to form a sturdy ramp, and up in the belly of the ship itself, amongst the crates and spare machinery is... a wet bar? Well, it's a table surface, and there are a variety of options, which may or may not be familiar. Serrice Ice Brandy, Batarian Fire-whiskey... Ryncol? Maybe you just want to stick with a nice beer, or seltzer-water, or maybe someone here should reconsider the combination of guns and alcohol.

Or maybe you should just go home, if you're going to be a coward about it.

In any case, Shepard is there, standing behind the bar, sitting around in the shade having a drink, or just messing around with the equipment. Step on up, and have a go, why don't you? It's hardly a wild party, but it's not as if anyone has anything better to do.



III. October Event
[ TBA ]

Comments

[earthborn]

"Sorry about that," Shepard replies on a rueful smile. She knows she can be... Well, 'kind of a bitch' is probably too strong for current circumstances. Brusque might be better. In any case, she offers Claude a handshake by way of greeting, "I'm Shepard. I'm a summoned who's been working with the Cadens people to get this situation a little more organized. Mind answering a few questions? Most it's just public knowledge."

She indicates the clipboard with a little waggle. The paper thereupon is indeed quite sparse, and populated by the obvious questions.

"Just confirming your place of residence, businesses you own, stuff like that. Basics. Government paperwork, you know?"

[godshattering]

"With the Cadens people, hm?" It's less a question than confirmation since Shepard provides the additional details needed for filling in the blanks a second later with the paperwork in her hands after they trade a handshake. That's interesting in its own right and has him raising an eyebrow seconds later. "I think you're the first one of us I've met that's working with the government, though I'm sure you're not the only one. Not like they made it seem like there was much a choice for anything else upon arriving. Well, for the military side of things, at any rate."

Statements not meant to provoke, considering he's not trying to make her job any more difficult than it needs to be and will keep up that easygoing attitude to underscore pleasantry despite his curiosity. Other Summoned might do that as it depends on who Shepard will have to chat with, and - from a place of solidarity, despite his misgivings about the Free Cities - it wasn't that long ago Claude was filling out forms tracking information himself. Granted, it was for his own war efforts and not someone else's, but still. No need to be hostile about it without a good enough reason first.

"Sadly, I can't claim any of the businesses around Cadens as my own, but you have successfully found where I live so I suppose I can start with verifying that part of their records. What else are they wanting to double check?"

[earthborn]

"You got income? A job somewhere?" Shepard asks, noting his responses in rapid, nigh-unreadable shorthand. It's fine, she knows what she wrote, at least, "I mean, clearly you're not starving in the streets, here..."

Mag's Inn might not be the most posh residence in the world. but it's safe and warm and it keeps body and soul together. Even so, as charitable as the titular Mag is, no establishment can operate forever on pure charity; there's nothing obviously wrong with Claude's ability to work.

...But still, this is going well. Not all the Summoned will be so forthcoming, but at least this once, it's easy. Miracles really do happen.

[godshattering]

There's a faintly raised eyebrow when it comes to employment. It's a routine question, more or less, but there's also the sense that maybe he shouldn't reveal exactly who or what he's been doing without knowing where that information is going. Though none of it is under the table in ways that would get anyone in trouble, it's information he's considering obfuscating. Shepard solves part of that for him by pointing out that he's clearly not destitute, and at that Claude has to laugh.

"True, Mag is rather generous, and as soon as I was on my feet I went out looking for ways to pay rent here instead to help her out with all she does for us. For the most part, I pick up jobs from different merchants here and there who need some assistance. Balancing books, organizing inventories, that sort of thing."

If he's not going to be pressed for more detail, Claude will leave it at that cagey answer. And because fair's fair, in his mind, if he's going to be questioned, and since he feels relatively certain on what assumptions he's made based on their interaction so far: "Are you military yourself then? And not just now that we're here, that is."

[earthborn]

"Joined the Alliance Navy when I turned eighteen," Shepard admits, because of all the things he could ask, that answer definitely isn't a secret, "I grew up pretty poor, and you would not believe the benefits package the Alliance offers if you qualify for the command track. The medical insurance alone..."

She gestures with her pen, a cutting, sideways motion as if to demonstrate how easy to decision had been. Shepard had needed help, and in exchange for service, the Military could support her. Simple as that. Of course, in reality nothing about life was ever really simple, but she didn't owe anyone her life's story at a first meeting.

"Anywhere particular you've been working for? I'm interviewing a few people today, and I could pass on recommendations," Which wasn't a lie, of course. Shepard was good at people, liked talking her way both into and out of trouble, and had no difficulty with dishonesty; but she'd been transparent enough about her intentions. This wasn't about charity, even if good came of it: this was about information. And, why not? It could be both things at the same time, "Lots of people stick around eating out of the barracks mess because they can't find their feet down here. Hell, I'm one of 'em; never could adjust to civilian life."

And that, after all, is the real and unvarnished truth.

[godshattering]

He listens with undisguised interest as Shepard explains a few pieces of her history and how it plays into where they are now. It makes sense with that added context; as one also intent on not sharing an entire backstory the first time in meeting someone (or even meeting them several times over) it's enough to satisfy his curiosity over the circumstances for now. And when it comes down to it, getting others out of the barracks just as he'd immediately pried his friends from home out of there is a priority. They all have their reasons for what they do, but Claude would rather someone not stay where they don't want to solely because no other way out presents itself.

"Sure, there's a few willing to take on Summoned for day jobs. In my experience most of it will start with hauling heavy things around, just as a warning for whoever's interested, but several have clerk and courier positions to offer as well. Tell them to start with these merchants." As he rattles off a short list of names all passed to him by Mag and between the other merchants, Claude counts them off on the fingers of one hand to make sure he mentions them all. The list seems complete by the end, except - "Oh, and Belmont. Don't forget him since if he can't take someone that day he'll know someone else they can help."

A pause, in case she needs some time to jot the names down in the efficient way Claude's noted the rest has been written down so far. And, of course, to add yet another conversation topic in there. "Also, I asked about your experience because you remind me a lot of the military commanders I met while serving as one myself. At home that is, since I have no interest in here. But because of that, I do understand why others would."

[earthborn]

"No, I get it. Back home, you have a stake, you were born there, you owe them your loyalty. Right now, Free Cities is what owes you a living; I mean, they brought you here."

But Shepard, for one, had never been averse to working with her kidnappers, if it meant that she could get on with business more quickly. Pride and justice and moral qualms were other people's problems; professionally, her only interest was in the end result.

But she does have a smile for his nostalgia, even as she finishes writing down his list. And Belmont too.

"Only good things, I hope. Haven't had time to screw up yet," She sticks out her hand again, the precursor to a dismissal, "Thanks for cooperating. Maybe I'll see you around. Got a shooting range set up on the Horizon, these days. Doesn't hurt to keep in practice."

we can wrap here if you'd like! i'll start the next one asap

[godshattering]

"That's one way of putting it rather succinctly," he answers with another smile, considering that's the simplest way he knows how to explain his feelings towards the Free Cities. Or rather the resentment he's not quite let go of for being here even though it's been months, and more so now that things have gone from merely tense to something much, much worse.

Nothing Shepard deserves to have put on her so he keeps that to himself as she seems to wrap everything up, and when she offers her hand Claude takes it to shake with more friendliness than before. Even if their views on this differ - it's comforting to find someone else with some of the background they share.

"Not a problem. If you need anything else for that form, you know where to find me." A shooting range, though; that's something unfamiliar to him beyond range usually being associated with archery. Claude has the sense that's not what's being talked about here, and curiosity is a good way to draw him into something. And so as he releases their handshake he also follows that up with a nod. "I'll stop by to check it out sometime, certainly."

It could be an idle promise, except for when that message about the shooting range goes out: well, now he's absolutely intrigued.