[ The mixture of confusion and disgust in his expression doesn’t surprise her, but she still offers a sympathetic glance because whatever he’s imagining, the truth is so much worse. ]
Back then? They wanted to burn me alive. Said it would cleanse me. [ Her tone is flat, edged with bitter sarcasm as she rolls her eyes. That was just one piece of a much bigger ritual: burn Sharon, force Alessa to manifest, and merge the soul halves into something whole, something divine. ] These days? They think I can give birth to their god.
[ They always believed it, really. That her body could be an incubator for something unimaginable. And the worst part? She's not entirely convinced they're wrong. She was born different and after the fire, something in her cracked open. Something monstrous. Powerful. Maybe even world-ending.
Arthur’s approval lands well—sparks hot pride in her chest. She watches him carefully as he lines up his shot, noting the spread of his stance, the flex of his arm, the calm tension in his frame. The breath he draws in. Her eyes don’t leave him until he pulls the trigger, and then they lift with a low whistle, eyebrows arching in appreciation. Impressive. ]
That sounds like a one-time favor. [ she teases. ] Or is this more of a life debt kind of deal?
Jesus. What is wrong with people? [ Casting a glance at her, his mouth is pressed in a displeased line, continuously annoyed by the weirdos in Sharon's life. ]
[ Her reaction, though, pulls him from the feeling of disgust, and he gives her a small, almost shy smile. Pulling the stock away from his shoulder, satisfied with his shot, and points the barrel down to the dirt, lifting the bolt lever to eject the shell. Another round gets smoothly loaded in its place. ]
Eames owes me for a number of things. [ This time, his smile is toothy, a bit feral. ] Santorini is the least of them.
[ She takes a bit of satisfaction in his displeasure, just as much as she enjoys the small, almost shy smile he throws her way. What’s more flattering than feeling someone's impressed reaction radiating through a connection you didn’t ask for? It beats compliments, that's for sure. ]
Tell me about Eames? [ Casually, right as she raises the pistol, takes a shot—misses. A flicker of heat rushes to her ears, but she doesn’t let it show beyond a brief huff. She adjusts her aim, tries again, and the can sails off with a satisfying clatter. ]
[ It's funny—their last conversation about dreamshare had been so technical. And while he'd mentioned the Cobbs, he hadn't gone into any of the other people he saw in a normal rotation on jobs. Hadn't mentioned the newer plays, like Ariadne and Yusuf.
So, he plants the barrel of the gun in the ground, leaning on the stock as he mulls her question over. He watches as she takes aim, misses, huffs to herself, adjusts, and hits the can off the fence with a loud clang. ]
He's a thief and a forger, both in reality and while dreaming. Counterfeit documents, fake passports, copies of famous paintings, that kind of work. Last I heard, he'd stolen some kind of priceless broach from some collector in Istanbul. [ And somehow made it out of the country, despite being wanted there already. The payout must've been good. ]
He's creative, kinda smug and insufferable, passive aggressive; he likes giving me shit, has made my job very difficult in the past, and is unfortunately competent. [ Arthur sighs, thinking about all the ways Eames liked to grate on his nerves on purpose. Like his cheekiness in showing Ariadne how a kick worked, purposely tipping the chair he'd been sitting and taking notes in. Just because he could.
Picking the rifle back up, he aims at one of the cans, inhales, exhales, fires, and is satisfied when it flies off the post, clattering on the hard packed dirt. ]
He's very good with people. [ Arthur lowers the rifle, glancing over at Sharon. ] I think he'd like you.
[ The more he talks about Eames, the wider her smile stretches, though she tries to keep it tempered when he refers to him as unfortunately competent. It sure sounds like he actually enjoys working with his irritating coworker. Mr. Eames. ]
Of course, he would. [ All sass and grin. ] I mean, I’m ridiculously charming. And honestly? He sounds like a blast. Art forgery? [ She rocks back on her heel, clicking her tongue thoughtfully. ] That might even beat being a point man.
[ Sharon is an artist at heart, a total sucker for anyone with an eye for aesthetics. Put her in a gallery or hand her a brush, and she’ll disappear for hours in a blur of color and composition. Her idea of peace. ]
[ It's funny, actually, how well he'd adjusted to having the background noise of Sharon's feelings bleeding into his own. He's gotten better at catching the trickle of it, making sure it doesn't inadvertently influence his own. Because that's the thing he's worried about more—Sharon, he thinks, wouldn't try to influence on purpose that way.
So, he feels the bubbling amusement as he describes Eames. Knows as soon as he finishes talking that she's got that bright grin lighting up her whole expression, would know even if he weren't looking at her. He gives her a wry smile at the sassy play at ego. And just gives her an unimpressed look when she mentions Eames sounds more exciting. ]
You are charming, even if you're killing my self confidence here. [ That's the truth. The charming part, anyway. He has no issues with how he views himself, even if it's potentially less interesting than forgery. ]
Yeah, well, it's a balance, working with him. He keeps it interesting, I make sure his interesting doesn't get us all killed. [ Arthur points the rifle downwards again, smoothly going through the reloading sequence. As he does, there's a small, wistful moment—a part of him wishes Eames were here. Or maybe Ariadne. It's selfish, to think as much. But, they were good at dealing with change. And just like any other person, he wouldn't say no to a familiar face.
Sorta. He doesn't know what he'd do, if Cobb showed up. Just the possibility of it makes something unpleasant clench in his chest. Shaking it off, he tracks back to something she focused on: ] Art your kind of thing? Like those great painters?
Bullshit. [ She fires back instantly, her face scrunching into an exaggerated mask of doubt, one aimed directly his potentially damaged ego. Arthur strikes her as someone with a solid sense of self, anyway—steady because he knows exactly who he is and what he’s capable of.
Eames might keep things interesting, but Arthur keeps them alive. Good at what he does, and he knows it. And yet—there—a flicker, a thin thread of longing. For something familiar. For someone. It would be cruel, honestly, for anyone they care about to end up here. No matter how much they’d welcome it.
Maybe even need it.
Her head tips toward him at his question, the hum of her answer breaking that train of thought. ] I would spend all day in an art museum if I could. [ She lines up her shot, knocks down the last can, and only then continues ] My favorite store was the hobby shop. If I wasn’t saving up for an ounce, I was scraping together cash for some fancy-ass paintbrush, or those overpriced Prismacolor pencils I’d always end up losing.
[ Art is her kind of thing.
There weren’t many outlets for her back then, no after-school programs, no part-time jobs, no parties. She learned to make her own fun, though most of it doubled as coping mechanisms. Even Alessa had found a way to create in the Otherworld. That was how she first learned to flip the switch between the fog and the darkness—black ink on white paper. ]
[ At her retort of bullshit, he flashes her a small grin, amused by how fast she'd slung that at him. And by how much her face scrunches up in disbelief. ]
It's not the same, but you been through the Met here yet? [ He's walked through some of it, at least, in those first couple days. ] Painting and dry media—do you have a preference?
[ Not that he has a deep knowledge of all the things one could use to make art. While he's creative in other aspects, drawing, painting, sculpture—those weren't really his thing. That was for people like Eames and Sharon (and even Ariadne, who he's caught doodling in one of her sketchbooks).
So, there's a bit of a fascination with the process and the tools, because he's exposed to so little of it. He's been in one of Eames' little studios, has seen some of the primed canvasses and the half-finished forgeries, but he's never been around long enough to watch him work.
To finish off the round of targets, he aims at the last bottle, watching it shatter into a shower of glass. ]
Haven’t really thought about playing tourist. [ she admits with a casual shrug. It’s hard to picture there being much left at the Met worth seeing anyway, and most of her time has been swallowed by survival or whatever distractions are closest to the townhouse. If she’s looking further than that, it’s usually because someone else has yanked her focus there.
Like now.
At his next question, she shakes her head. ] No real preference. Some days I lean toward paint over charcoal or pastels, but I get bored fast. [ Her work changes as often as her mood, and she’s dipped her hands into nearly every medium at least once, thanks, in part, to her schooling.
When the last bottle shatters, she clicks her tongue in approval, a faint smile tugging at her lips. ] Gonna pull out frisbees? [ The question carries a muted excitement, her eyes bright with anticipation. She wants to see him take down something moving, midair. ]
Fair. I walked through, on the first day or so I was here. Was mostly curious if they had any of the post-war painters on display before, you know. [ Before everything went to absolute shit. There's a light sense of mischief, in his mention of the painters, that transmits over the connection. ]
Versatile, then. Lets you work with whichever one you're feeling, at least. [ He can see the appeal, in having so many options that it was just a matter of picking one and running with it for the day. ]
Alright, hold onto your horses. [ It's a teasing admonishment, as he temporarily sets his gun down in its case. From the backpack, he produces a stack of frisbees, garish neon things that look like they're straight from one of those tourist kiosks. Plucking the rifle back up, he steps closer to Sharon, handing her the eye-searing discs. ] Here, Vanna White, you'll want to toss it up on a vertical. Easier to track.
[ Reloading the rifle, he takes a few careful steps away, setting the stock against his shoulder and tipping the barrel up towards the sky. ] Whenever you're ready.
[ Sharon picks up on the sense of something regarding the painters through the tether. ] Why post-war painters?
[ At his mention of versatility, she taps the side of her nose in silent acknowledgment. Yeah, he gets it. The mock-scolding that follows earns nothing more than a sharp smack of her lips, playful but unrepentant. It’s the end of the world; she’ll take every scrap of enjoyment she can wring out of these moments, knowing they won’t last.
She accepts the neon discs but pauses to give him a baffled look. ] Who the fuck is Vanna White? [ Just before tossing the disc up vertically, exactly as he instructed. The temptation to hurl it sideways, turning it into a nearly impossible shot, is strong, but she decides she can save that little test for later. ]
You're going to think I'm bleak. [ That's not him avoiding the answer, just giving her some possible context on what's following. ] They'd seen the horror of the worst modern conflict at the time, the change in how warfare was conducted. There's not a lot of polish in their work; it's just raw emotion–the anxiety, depression, grief. And there's a question in each of them, wondering why we do this to ourselves, how we're going to remake and rebuild in the uncertainty.
[ All of it is thought provoking, but that last bit is what stops it from being something meant only to incite a sense of profound sadness. Thinking back to their conversation in the orchard, it echoes something he respects, in general: the ability to pick oneself off the ground and keep going.
Something which encapsulates them both, he thinks, as Sharon indicates he'd understood her reasoning for changeable mediums. Art's how she gets it all out, in a way that makes sense to her. Being a master with a particular kind is not the end goal. It's release. ]
What? She's– [ He doesn't get much further in his shocked explanation, since the frisbee gets launched into the air and he's automatically adjusted the rifle's angle to track its downwards trajectory. The neon disc spins, once, twice–he breathes in, breathes out–thrice, and there's a loud crack as he shoots a hole just below the center of the plastic. With the punch of the bullet, the frisbee wobbles and changes course a bit, finally landing with a dull sound a couple of feet from Sharon. ] –anyway, she's an assistant on Wheel of Fortune and turns the letters around when people guess them right. Not a lot of daytime TV in your life, huh?
[ Not bleak, more like quietly profound, the kind of insight that catches her off guard. Considering the weight Arthur carries, it’s natural he'd seek out reminders that humanity keeps moving forward regardless of the grief. Relentlessly. Even through horrors, even after lives lost. People find a way. ] Sounds like some shit Freddie would say. [ Softly. There’s no judgment in her tone; she gets it.
When the frisbee arcs into the air, he’s momentarily interrupted, his focus shifting with surprising ease. She watches him instead of the disc, noticing how his eyes track its descent, how his breathing lines up with the motion. She only looks away once the shot lands, watching the frisbee hit the ground, and grins as if the interruption never happened. ]
Not much cable TV in my life, actually. DVDs, streaming, that’s more my speed. [ She likes choosing what to watch, when to watch it. Just a whiff of control issues. Beyond that, Wheel of Fortune never held her interest, and game shows rarely did. She remembers vague flashes from her past, game shows in black & white flickering on Dahlia's tiny TV, but Wheel of Fortune didn't exist back then.
She flicks another frisbee up again, but only so high before catching it. ] Think you could hit it if I tossed it horizontally? [ She could be wrong, but Arthur gives the impression of a man who enjoys a challenge. ]
Don't think they usually aired on cable, now that I think about it. [ It was just one of those ubiquitous shows he'd always managed to find when he was either sick from school or, much later, in nearly every hotel room across the US. ] Normally caught it when I had the flu or something. Guess you're right, though, streaming's kind of taken over.
[ Though, he's rarely gotten a chance to catch anything new through those services. He's seen a lot of in-flight movies or burned into his podcast list.
That's neither here nor there, so as he reloads the rifle, he catches Sharon's motion and the resulting glimmer of a challenge in her expression. Something about it sparks his own sense of mischief and he gives her a sly look. ]
[ His probably earns an eye roll, though her grin only sharpens with anticipation. She sifts through the neon discs, plucking out one in an offensively bright orange. With a quick flick of her wrist, she tests the motion, then shoots Arthur a single, mischievous: ] Ready?
[ And with that, she sends it sailing into the park.
This time, her gaze doesn't follow him; it clings to the disc's flight. Hit or miss, she's already entertained. ]
[ Just as her grin widens, his own smirk curves up, amusement passing across their quiet connection. ] Bring it.
[ The words are muffled, his cheek pressed to the stock of the rifle, ready for the snap-motion of her wrist. It comes a split second later, the obnoxiously neon frisbee picking up a gust and curving outwards.
All of his attention has narrowed to its arc; made more difficult by trying to catch the edge. He fires, just clips the outer lip, and instead of the leisurely prep he's been doing, he's ejecting the cartridge and reloading in nearly the same breath. Exhaling, he pulls the trigger again as it spirals towards a spindly looking tree, watching the disc drop with a large split up one side. ]
[ Sharon is impressed the instant he clips the frisbee’s edge, sending it spinning off course, and when he opens his mouth again, she shoots him a look and exhales ] Fuck off.
[ The thing was barely two centimeters thick. He’d just shot a needle out of the sky. Under her breath, she mutters ] Needs practice, my ass. [ That kind of trick shot could fill seats, and it might be the coolest thing she’s seen since she got here. ] I want to do that.
[ At her teasing admonishment, he laughs, grin lingering in the aftermath. ]
C'mere then, I'll show you how this works. [ She'd learned on a pistol, so a rifle would be a bit different. But, it helped to be versatile. And distance shooting was easier this way, especially with moving targets.
Once again pointing the barrel down, he'll hold the rifle out towards Sharon to take, if she wants to give it a try. ]
Sweet. [ she says, stepping forward to take the rifle. It's a far cry from handling a pistol, but she adapts quickly, partly because she's skilled at copying others. Years of playing roles, of blending into the background, have made her exceptional at it—so long as no one pushes her too far. ]
It's got to be way harder to hit moving targets with something like this. [ She can't help but feel even more impressed by his ability to send a frisbee spinning out of the air. ]
[ They swap firearms, as she takes the rifle, so she had both hands freed up. As she gets used to the feel of it, he puts the pistol back in its case before turning his attention back to her. ]
Yes and no. The longer barrel makes it easier to judge distance. Because of that, you don't have to move it as much.
But, it is heavier, so it can put some strain on you, which is why you keep the stock anchored on your shoulder—keeps it steady. [ Stepping around to her other side, he nods at her hold on the gun. ] Give it a try.
[ Sharon shifts her hold, settling the rifle against her shoulder. The weight is awkward but manageable, something she figures she'd get used to with practice. Lining up her aim takes a little more effort, though, and she can't say she's exactly a fan.
Her gaze flicks to Arthur, and she nods toward where they first set up the cans. ] Mind putting one up for me?
[ He watches as Sharon maneuvers the rifle into a comfortable position against her shoulder, clearly getting used to the additional weight.
At her nod, he'll move to pick out more cans from the bag he'd brought along, setting three fresh targets up for her to take a crack at. Before that, though, he strides back towards Sharon, holding a hand just above her forearm. ]
May I? [ Her stance is solid, so that's not an issue. But, if she lets him, he'll make minute adjustments to the angle and how the stock rests. In a way, it's a good thing they're the same height—he can easily tell where her aim is going to go. ]
[ Sharon looks at his hovering hand, then hums an affirmative, surrendering to his guidance. She tries to burn each adjustment into her mind, the slight tilt of her wrist, the nudge of her shoulder. ]
Good? [ She asks when he finally steps back, eyes flicking to his without letting go of her hold. The moment he confirms, she exhales sharply, attention shifting back to the can. A slow breath in, a deliberate breath out, and then she pulls the trigger. The rifle kicks sharply against her shoulder, but she expected it, and the can flies off with a satisfying clatter. Her laugh bursts out, bright, fogging the cold air around them. ]
Won't be long before I'm knocking frisbees out of the air. [ The thrill of control, of learning, surges through her, and she can't help the grin tugging at her lips. ]
[ Gently, he makes his adjustments, lets Sharon get comfortable with them, and nods when she asks for the go-ahead.
As he thought, she's a quick study, eyes flicking towards the target he's placed out. A slow breath in, out, and the crack of fire as she pulls the trigger. Split seconds and the can sails, making a tinny sound as it lands on the frosted ground. Arthur shoots her a grin, buoyed on by her delighted laughter. ]
Oh, I think you'll get the hang of it sooner than you think. The real trick is anticipating where it's going to be, rather than where it is in your sights. [ Brightly: ] I give it a few days at most, to do it consistently. You've got an eye for this.
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Back then? They wanted to burn me alive. Said it would cleanse me. [ Her tone is flat, edged with bitter sarcasm as she rolls her eyes. That was just one piece of a much bigger ritual: burn Sharon, force Alessa to manifest, and merge the soul halves into something whole, something divine. ] These days? They think I can give birth to their god.
[ They always believed it, really. That her body could be an incubator for something unimaginable. And the worst part? She's not entirely convinced they're wrong. She was born different and after the fire, something in her cracked open. Something monstrous. Powerful. Maybe even world-ending.
Arthur’s approval lands well—sparks hot pride in her chest. She watches him carefully as he lines up his shot, noting the spread of his stance, the flex of his arm, the calm tension in his frame. The breath he draws in. Her eyes don’t leave him until he pulls the trigger, and then they lift with a low whistle, eyebrows arching in appreciation. Impressive. ]
That sounds like a one-time favor. [ she teases. ] Or is this more of a life debt kind of deal?
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[ Her reaction, though, pulls him from the feeling of disgust, and he gives her a small, almost shy smile. Pulling the stock away from his shoulder, satisfied with his shot, and points the barrel down to the dirt, lifting the bolt lever to eject the shell. Another round gets smoothly loaded in its place. ]
Eames owes me for a number of things. [ This time, his smile is toothy, a bit feral. ] Santorini is the least of them.
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Tell me about Eames? [ Casually, right as she raises the pistol, takes a shot—misses. A flicker of heat rushes to her ears, but she doesn’t let it show beyond a brief huff. She adjusts her aim, tries again, and the can sails off with a satisfying clatter. ]
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So, he plants the barrel of the gun in the ground, leaning on the stock as he mulls her question over. He watches as she takes aim, misses, huffs to herself, adjusts, and hits the can off the fence with a loud clang. ]
He's a thief and a forger, both in reality and while dreaming. Counterfeit documents, fake passports, copies of famous paintings, that kind of work. Last I heard, he'd stolen some kind of priceless broach from some collector in Istanbul. [ And somehow made it out of the country, despite being wanted there already. The payout must've been good. ]
He's creative, kinda smug and insufferable, passive aggressive; he likes giving me shit, has made my job very difficult in the past, and is unfortunately competent. [ Arthur sighs, thinking about all the ways Eames liked to grate on his nerves on purpose. Like his cheekiness in showing Ariadne how a kick worked, purposely tipping the chair he'd been sitting and taking notes in. Just because he could.
Picking the rifle back up, he aims at one of the cans, inhales, exhales, fires, and is satisfied when it flies off the post, clattering on the hard packed dirt. ]
He's very good with people. [ Arthur lowers the rifle, glancing over at Sharon. ] I think he'd like you.
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Of course, he would. [ All sass and grin. ] I mean, I’m ridiculously charming. And honestly? He sounds like a blast. Art forgery? [ She rocks back on her heel, clicking her tongue thoughtfully. ] That might even beat being a point man.
[ Sharon is an artist at heart, a total sucker for anyone with an eye for aesthetics. Put her in a gallery or hand her a brush, and she’ll disappear for hours in a blur of color and composition. Her idea of peace. ]
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So, he feels the bubbling amusement as he describes Eames. Knows as soon as he finishes talking that she's got that bright grin lighting up her whole expression, would know even if he weren't looking at her. He gives her a wry smile at the sassy play at ego. And just gives her an unimpressed look when she mentions Eames sounds more exciting. ]
You are charming, even if you're killing my self confidence here. [ That's the truth. The charming part, anyway. He has no issues with how he views himself, even if it's potentially less interesting than forgery. ]
Yeah, well, it's a balance, working with him. He keeps it interesting, I make sure his interesting doesn't get us all killed. [ Arthur points the rifle downwards again, smoothly going through the reloading sequence. As he does, there's a small, wistful moment—a part of him wishes Eames were here. Or maybe Ariadne. It's selfish, to think as much. But, they were good at dealing with change. And just like any other person, he wouldn't say no to a familiar face.
Sorta. He doesn't know what he'd do, if Cobb showed up. Just the possibility of it makes something unpleasant clench in his chest. Shaking it off, he tracks back to something she focused on: ] Art your kind of thing? Like those great painters?
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Eames might keep things interesting, but Arthur keeps them alive. Good at what he does, and he knows it. And yet—there—a flicker, a thin thread of longing. For something familiar. For someone. It would be cruel, honestly, for anyone they care about to end up here. No matter how much they’d welcome it.
Maybe even need it.
Her head tips toward him at his question, the hum of her answer breaking that train of thought. ] I would spend all day in an art museum if I could. [ She lines up her shot, knocks down the last can, and only then continues ] My favorite store was the hobby shop. If I wasn’t saving up for an ounce, I was scraping together cash for some fancy-ass paintbrush, or those overpriced Prismacolor pencils I’d always end up losing.
[ Art is her kind of thing.
There weren’t many outlets for her back then, no after-school programs, no part-time jobs, no parties. She learned to make her own fun, though most of it doubled as coping mechanisms. Even Alessa had found a way to create in the Otherworld. That was how she first learned to flip the switch between the fog and the darkness—black ink on white paper. ]
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It's not the same, but you been through the Met here yet? [ He's walked through some of it, at least, in those first couple days. ] Painting and dry media—do you have a preference?
[ Not that he has a deep knowledge of all the things one could use to make art. While he's creative in other aspects, drawing, painting, sculpture—those weren't really his thing. That was for people like Eames and Sharon (and even Ariadne, who he's caught doodling in one of her sketchbooks).
So, there's a bit of a fascination with the process and the tools, because he's exposed to so little of it. He's been in one of Eames' little studios, has seen some of the primed canvasses and the half-finished forgeries, but he's never been around long enough to watch him work.
To finish off the round of targets, he aims at the last bottle, watching it shatter into a shower of glass. ]
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Like now.
At his next question, she shakes her head. ] No real preference. Some days I lean toward paint over charcoal or pastels, but I get bored fast. [ Her work changes as often as her mood, and she’s dipped her hands into nearly every medium at least once, thanks, in part, to her schooling.
When the last bottle shatters, she clicks her tongue in approval, a faint smile tugging at her lips. ] Gonna pull out frisbees? [ The question carries a muted excitement, her eyes bright with anticipation. She wants to see him take down something moving, midair. ]
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Versatile, then. Lets you work with whichever one you're feeling, at least. [ He can see the appeal, in having so many options that it was just a matter of picking one and running with it for the day. ]
Alright, hold onto your horses. [ It's a teasing admonishment, as he temporarily sets his gun down in its case. From the backpack, he produces a stack of frisbees, garish neon things that look like they're straight from one of those tourist kiosks. Plucking the rifle back up, he steps closer to Sharon, handing her the eye-searing discs. ] Here, Vanna White, you'll want to toss it up on a vertical. Easier to track.
[ Reloading the rifle, he takes a few careful steps away, setting the stock against his shoulder and tipping the barrel up towards the sky. ] Whenever you're ready.
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[ At his mention of versatility, she taps the side of her nose in silent acknowledgment. Yeah, he gets it. The mock-scolding that follows earns nothing more than a sharp smack of her lips, playful but unrepentant. It’s the end of the world; she’ll take every scrap of enjoyment she can wring out of these moments, knowing they won’t last.
She accepts the neon discs but pauses to give him a baffled look. ] Who the fuck is Vanna White? [ Just before tossing the disc up vertically, exactly as he instructed. The temptation to hurl it sideways, turning it into a nearly impossible shot, is strong, but she decides she can save that little test for later. ]
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[ All of it is thought provoking, but that last bit is what stops it from being something meant only to incite a sense of profound sadness. Thinking back to their conversation in the orchard, it echoes something he respects, in general: the ability to pick oneself off the ground and keep going.
Something which encapsulates them both, he thinks, as Sharon indicates he'd understood her reasoning for changeable mediums. Art's how she gets it all out, in a way that makes sense to her. Being a master with a particular kind is not the end goal. It's release. ]
What? She's– [ He doesn't get much further in his shocked explanation, since the frisbee gets launched into the air and he's automatically adjusted the rifle's angle to track its downwards trajectory. The neon disc spins, once, twice–he breathes in, breathes out–thrice, and there's a loud crack as he shoots a hole just below the center of the plastic. With the punch of the bullet, the frisbee wobbles and changes course a bit, finally landing with a dull sound a couple of feet from Sharon. ] –anyway, she's an assistant on Wheel of Fortune and turns the letters around when people guess them right. Not a lot of daytime TV in your life, huh?
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When the frisbee arcs into the air, he’s momentarily interrupted, his focus shifting with surprising ease. She watches him instead of the disc, noticing how his eyes track its descent, how his breathing lines up with the motion. She only looks away once the shot lands, watching the frisbee hit the ground, and grins as if the interruption never happened. ]
Not much cable TV in my life, actually. DVDs, streaming, that’s more my speed. [ She likes choosing what to watch, when to watch it. Just a whiff of control issues. Beyond that, Wheel of Fortune never held her interest, and game shows rarely did. She remembers vague flashes from her past, game shows in black & white flickering on Dahlia's tiny TV, but Wheel of Fortune didn't exist back then.
She flicks another frisbee up again, but only so high before catching it. ] Think you could hit it if I tossed it horizontally? [ She could be wrong, but Arthur gives the impression of a man who enjoys a challenge. ]
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[ Though, he's rarely gotten a chance to catch anything new through those services. He's seen a lot of in-flight movies or burned into his podcast list.
That's neither here nor there, so as he reloads the rifle, he catches Sharon's motion and the resulting glimmer of a challenge in her expression. Something about it sparks his own sense of mischief and he gives her a sly look. ]
Oh, probably. Let's find out, shall we?
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[ And with that, she sends it sailing into the park.
This time, her gaze doesn't follow him; it clings to the disc's flight. Hit or miss, she's already entertained. ]
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[ The words are muffled, his cheek pressed to the stock of the rifle, ready for the snap-motion of her wrist. It comes a split second later, the obnoxiously neon frisbee picking up a gust and curving outwards.
All of his attention has narrowed to its arc; made more difficult by trying to catch the edge. He fires, just clips the outer lip, and instead of the leisurely prep he's been doing, he's ejecting the cartridge and reloading in nearly the same breath. Exhaling, he pulls the trigger again as it spirals towards a spindly looking tree, watching the disc drop with a large split up one side. ]
Well, clearly I need some practice.
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[ The thing was barely two centimeters thick. He’d just shot a needle out of the sky. Under her breath, she mutters ] Needs practice, my ass. [ That kind of trick shot could fill seats, and it might be the coolest thing she’s seen since she got here. ] I want to do that.
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C'mere then, I'll show you how this works. [ She'd learned on a pistol, so a rifle would be a bit different. But, it helped to be versatile. And distance shooting was easier this way, especially with moving targets.
Once again pointing the barrel down, he'll hold the rifle out towards Sharon to take, if she wants to give it a try. ]
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It's got to be way harder to hit moving targets with something like this. [ She can't help but feel even more impressed by his ability to send a frisbee spinning out of the air. ]
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Yes and no. The longer barrel makes it easier to judge distance. Because of that, you don't have to move it as much.
But, it is heavier, so it can put some strain on you, which is why you keep the stock anchored on your shoulder—keeps it steady. [ Stepping around to her other side, he nods at her hold on the gun. ] Give it a try.
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Her gaze flicks to Arthur, and she nods toward where they first set up the cans. ] Mind putting one up for me?
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At her nod, he'll move to pick out more cans from the bag he'd brought along, setting three fresh targets up for her to take a crack at. Before that, though, he strides back towards Sharon, holding a hand just above her forearm. ]
May I? [ Her stance is solid, so that's not an issue. But, if she lets him, he'll make minute adjustments to the angle and how the stock rests. In a way, it's a good thing they're the same height—he can easily tell where her aim is going to go. ]
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Good? [ She asks when he finally steps back, eyes flicking to his without letting go of her hold. The moment he confirms, she exhales sharply, attention shifting back to the can. A slow breath in, a deliberate breath out, and then she pulls the trigger. The rifle kicks sharply against her shoulder, but she expected it, and the can flies off with a satisfying clatter. Her laugh bursts out, bright, fogging the cold air around them. ]
Won't be long before I'm knocking frisbees out of the air. [ The thrill of control, of learning, surges through her, and she can't help the grin tugging at her lips. ]
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As he thought, she's a quick study, eyes flicking towards the target he's placed out. A slow breath in, out, and the crack of fire as she pulls the trigger. Split seconds and the can sails, making a tinny sound as it lands on the frosted ground. Arthur shoots her a grin, buoyed on by her delighted laughter. ]
Oh, I think you'll get the hang of it sooner than you think. The real trick is anticipating where it's going to be, rather than where it is in your sights. [ Brightly: ] I give it a few days at most, to do it consistently. You've got an eye for this.