driftfleet | Yadrolla System Mingle

Something small, then? And durable.

[Sounds more his forte, actually. He prefers weapons you can keep hidden, something compact that can still pack a punch.]

We should check with the storekeeper as to what this world's metal is like. Better yet, if we could speak directly to their supplier at a proper smithy. Someone who knows the craft would be better than wasting funds by guessing.

Yes, it needs to be something he can pair with a tome in battle.

[Because magic.]

I've thought about throwing daggers but that's not really his style.

[She looks over at the man and smiles.]

So, what you're saying is that we go straight to the source after we find out this shop's supplier. Do you think they'll tell us? It seems a little counter-productive to profit making. My mother's friend Anna would be against that.

Money talks. We could make it worth their while- it could still be less pricey than purchasing and excess of weapons we won't end up using. Though it's a moot point if they can properly identify and recommend the metals.

Bribery for information.

[That's something she's never done. Usually people tell her father what they need to know easily because they know the Shepherds are there to help. Or want to fight and have massive egos that need to be stroked.]

It's true that if they can just tell me what the base metals are that I shouldn't have a problem with purchasing one of these. They seem to be of decent quality and they will do until I can find an adequate alternative.

[For Morgan and herself.]

Are you partial to the longer blades you were looking at or something more personal?

Undecided. I have little experience with longer blades, admittedly, but I can see the benefit of weapons like that.

[Most of his budget is going towards guns so he hasn't given much thought to his bladed options. He still has all those hunting knives, and they're... fine... but if he finds a high-quality alternative or something new to learn how to use, that might give him something to do.]

Hm, well, I suppose now's as good a time as any if you're interested in learning. I have experience with a great deal of blades.

[She does owe him.]

Knives are fine, but they leave one vulnerable to other things.

[Hmm... they haven't sparred together much, but thus far he's seen her skill, and it's nothing to laugh at. And he's reminded of the challenge he'd faced back on Voldor, when he'd had to meet the White Knight on the ground instead of in the air- he'd gotten close enough to use a sword. If that had become a real fight, it could have been incredibly difficult.]

...It could be useful to add that kind of skill to my roster.

[No one will ever accuse either of them as being too friendly, but at least with him, Lucina doesn't feel the need to be overly verbose. While he's considering the situation, she steps over to a display of the heavier swords and lifts out what appears to be a claymore in green and gold.

She weighs it carefully in her hands before handing it, hilt first, to her companion.]

See if this weight is right for you. It's a two-handed sword, so don't be afraid to hold it like that.

[He accepts it, lifting it first with one hand and the other holding up the blade to get a feel for the weight, and then shifting to a two-handed grip. He definitely holds it like a novice- someone who's seen others wield swords, but never done so himself.]

I don't know what to look for when it comes to weight in a weapon of this size.

[He's used to guns, this is completely alien to him.]

[She keeps from laughing at his rather amateurish attempt at holding the weapon. Instead, she readjusts his hand so that one is resting at the base of the blade, where it is still flat, and the other to balance more on the hilt.]

Swing it slowly from your hips. There's no need to attempt to use it as if in battle.

And then tell me how it feels.

[He lifts the sword to examine the way she'd adjusted his hand to hold it, feeling it out, then moves a few steps away to avoid both her and the store displays as he attempts a soft swing. There's nothing familiar about the gesture, of course, but the heaviness in his hand is.]

It's lighter than my guns, but not by much. [Not the guns he's found here, but the one from home, his favourite.] Its movement through the air is smooth- it's thin enough to carry little resistance, and the shape is good.

[She watches him with an extremely critical eye. While he's not as graceful as her Uncle Lon'qu, he's not the worse she's seen with a sword. Maybe, with some practice, he might be as dangerous as her Uncle Frederick.]

There are some crossbows that are as heavy as the claymore, but I must admit that the metal is lighter than the steel most of the weapons I'm used to using from home. However, that seems to be a good fit for you.

[She knew it would, but it's good to have the confirmation.]

And will do more damage than the knives you keep.

You're not wrong, though it's disadvantageous in other ways.

[He'd never accept the idea that a blade could be superior to a good gun, but unfortunately it seems like those are in short supply around here, and there'd been none to find on the last stop, either. When options are limited, it's best to look elsewhere.]

You can provide instruction for using weaponry like this?

It has its drawbacks, but then, all weapons do. That's why I've never limited myself to only using one.

[She just happens to favor Falchion since it's an important weapon, a relic and what she has left from her father.]

I wouldn't have suggested you use something I couldn't help you learn quickly and safely, Messer.

[Hmm. Well, some people might have done so, but he has no reason to believe that her bravado is false, so he nods and slides the blade back into its sheath.]

I don't have much in the way of payment for your services.

[Lucina will never brag that she can do something she can't, nor will she ever suggest that someone do something that she isn't willing to assist in some way. She's sort of practical like that.

She heads over to the counter with a few short swords to try on her brother. And answers him over her shoulder with a bit of a smile.]

You can pay me back by teaching me how to use some of the projectile weapons they have to offer. I can use bows and crossbows, but these are outside my repertoire. I doubt they're outside of yours however.

[Oh hey, that actually has promise. His brows lift, following her to the counter with the sheathed sword in hand. Looks like he's committed, now.]

I can do that. I've gathered a few handguns and rifles that might suit your stature.

[He'd gotten them in case Kaname needed better weaponry, but they've just sort of sat around in his room so far, since the planet's been so safe. Might as well put them to good use.]

[He could always say no. The fact that it doesn't even occur to him is a good indication that he is okay with the offer.]

Did you get them for your friend Kaname?

[He doesn't seem the type to just stockpile weapons for smaller people unless there's a true reason for it. And he is rather protective of the other woman. An admirable trait in her eyes.]

I did. She has more experience with handguns than larger weaponry, and many of the models I found were too small for me. I thought it best to have extras in case something happened.

[Good job, Lucina, he didn't even deny that they're friends. That's the way to do it.]

[Well, little does he know that she already knows Kaname a bit and she's accused them of being married. So, if he's buying guns that would be appropriate for Lucina's size, they must have been meant for Kaname.]

From what I've seen of these "handguns", they're far easier to conceal than a broadsword. It does make it a little more difficult to ascertain who is trained to fight or not.

[She hands over her credits to the happy salesperson, who appears to be watching them as if she's going to tell everyone about the strange couple that came into the shop. Lucina, oblivious to the woman's staring, scoops up her purchases with little fanfare before turning for the door.]

When would you like to get started? I assume you have plans for the rest of the day, yes?

I have none. I wasn't certain of how long this would take.

[There's a bunch of things he could be doing, because he is a goddamn workaholic, but nothing ranks as important as proper combat training, at the moment.]

We can begin whenever would be convenient for you.

Then perhaps you can help me find something else for Morgan.

[She knows her brother well enough, sure, but there's nothing like a male perspective, right?]

Otherwise, I think I'll have to postpone training for tomorrow. This is the first birthday we've gotten to acknowledge in a while.

[Ah, birthdays. Yeah, they tend to be important for people...]

What is your deadline for finding something? We can keep looking, if you're not satisfied by what you find here. There are other shops nearby.

[It's not like her company is unpleasant, and talking about weaponry is both comfortable and educational. He's having what could theoretically be called a good... time...?]

[Of course birthdays are important, Messer. Just wait until Lucina finds out yours. You might receive something from her then too.]

Well, his birthday is tomorrow. So, I suppose then.

[And since he gave her a good present, she wants to give him something on par.]

[/NEVER TELLS HER]

We can carry on, then. Surely something will catch your eye.

[He doesn't know her brother, so he can't really help much as far as selection, but his duty is for back-up, anyway.]

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