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

For Claude: Around Cadens

[earthborn]

It's a routine sort of a thing; red tape, paperwork, triplicate copies and style-guide vocabulary. Shepard's no stranger to it, though it's been a long time since she had to actually care. It's grunt-work, or an easy afternoon, or a statement of mistrust or— it doesn't matter.

What matters is what she has to do: go around like a kid and take census on a few people. Easy enough. That's what brings her here, knocking on doors. Specifically, the door to Claude's residence at Mag's Inn, in Cadens. Which is what she's doing.

"Claude von Riegan? My name is Shepard. I just wanna talk."

For Sam: Around Cadens

[earthborn]

It's a routine sort of a thing; red tape, paperwork, triplicate copies and style-guide vocabulary. Shepard's no stranger to it, though it's been a long time since she had to actually care. It's grunt-work, or an easy afternoon, or a statement of mistrust or— it doesn't matter.

What matters is what she has to do: go around like a kid and take census on a few people. Easy enough. That's what brings her here, knocking on the door to Sam's residence in Cadens. She figured Captain Wilson for a good place to start, at least. They had seemed to have an understanding.

"Captain Wilson? It's Commander Shepard. You got a minute to talk?"

I

[lightkeeping]

Aloy is, maybe, a little bit of a snoop, not that she can really consider it snooping when the spaceship is just sitting there, being large and imposing. She's understandably wary of spacecraft, though by now she's more than accustomed to fellow Summoned arriving from all kinds of places and various levels of technology, so she approaches it regardless. Despite what it reminds her of, there's still a part of her undeniably attracted to advanced technology, a curiosity she can't quite ignore.

The firing range clearly set up for a purpose at the base of it is also intriguing. Don't mind if she does.

If the Horizon is good for one thing, it's allowing her full access to her usual arsenal. Aloy foregoes the offered weapons (interesting, yes, but maybe a little too high-tech for her comfort level), and defaults to what she knows, letting arrows fly with an accuracy and ease that suggests a high level of experience.

I

[godshattering]

It doesn't long for him to wander into the Horizon after that open invitation, especially not after Shepard had mentioned it so offhand to him before. Quickly, it becomes very apparent that this is not the kind of range he knows.

At first it seems like there's no one around, but that's only because he's distracted by observing everything. The targets - those he does have the common sense to view from a distance, so as to not interrupt whatever anyone else is doing or, presumably, be shot - resemble nothing he's familiar with. Then again, that's certainly been the theme of most of what Claude's been introduced to in Cadens falls into that category, so he takes it in stride.

Somewhat literally since he also hasn't stopped moving about the area to learn what he can like this is some scouting mission, but the weapons racks are what finally get him to stay in one spot. There's a couple he recognizes from the barracks months ago, ones the guards had on them he hadn't bothered to ask about in case they took that as the wrong kind of interest in the barracks' purpose, and Claude leans forward to study those first.

Footsteps approaching have him looking up as their owner approaches, and Claude offers Shepard a smile and yet another handshake if she'd like it. "You've made an offer I'm too curious to refuse, and it's learning something new. None of these exist where I'm from, so I'm starting from the beginning here."

range at the horizon!

[lackingtalent]

This place, he is sure, is the right one. The Normandy by itself is a good enough indicator- a curiosity he is drawn to- for upon this Horizon, alike all other Horizons that were not managed by himself or his loved ones- everything other than that spacecraft is so very small. Miniature worlds to him- a being attired in dim gloom, faceless- yet hardly a diminutive figure at just over 20 foot tall.

It could not be helped. For in other's Horizons, he had not the influence to change his form to something more fitting.

Shepard, more than likely, would be aware of his presence before he would be aware of hers- so should she wish to stumble upon him, he would be found, poring over the Normandy.

shooting range

[supersoldier]

It doesn’t take long before their exchange over the mental network when Sephiroth shows up. The Normandy is difficult not to notice at a distance, and it draws the eye to the gun range — Sephiroth’s most obvious point of interest.

She will find him standing there, stoic as a statue as always, green eyes roving over the weapon’s rack. He pauses before reaching out for one; notably, one that might be more suited to having originated from a world other than Abraxas, far more advanced. His curiosity is obviously piqued, turning it over in gloved hands.

Gun Range

[wewillwewill]

Whether it's the guns or the spacecraft, there are many things to gravitate to on this little patch of Horizon.

Elidibus's wanderings serve many purposes. To find information on the other national powers through contact with the Summoned in Horizon (or other places). But the Domains have their own hidden messages, ones that often have tells about the psyche of the person he's speaking to. This is also useful.

But privately, he also finds himself drawn to the little surprises he'll find tucked away here and there with no rhyme or reason unless you remember that each Domain is distinct.

Shephard will find a youthful individual with silver hair approaching the gun range, though most particularly the weapons' racks. There isn't any sign he's rushing to pick one up but they've certainly drawn his attention.

Elidibus keeps his appearance true to how he appears in Abraxas, size and otherwise. His humanity might be questioned if one were to look at his eyes- vibrant blue irises that seemed possessed of a light all their own- or think silver hair is out of the norm. But it's not like there aren't explanations for these traits.

With the white robes he may even seem the scholarly type. Hanging against his chest is a red mask but nothing seems particularly out of the ordinary with his attire. The Arcana of the High Priestess is embroidered on the mantle of his robe. He is pretty short which lends more youthfulness to his appearance, but a sharp eye will note that he's probably at least reached adulthood.

Once he's had a moment, he turns to look for the assistance offered. On finding Shepard, he will offer a greeting. The voice is a pleasant baritone.

"This is an impressive range of firearms. Are you familiar with all of them?"