Ask Red Hands: Where's the Drip?

[Blank Solus]

The hull of the Lancer Pursuit Craft thrummed quietly within the cockpit as Blank brought the ship out of hyperspace at the edge of the Zaddja system. It was a simple scouting run, looking for likely places to run some operations in the area from and the planet seemed like the perfect hideaway.

Why? That was simple. There was nothing there.

That was not, of course, what Blank had told Kyusil Veren (@Pazaakly ). The exact words were lost to the past, but Blank believed they were something along the lines of, "of course theres stuff there to spice up your drip". The words had been selective however in that it wasn't technically a lie. There was spice in a nearby system. The kind that would make your nose drip. The words worked.

"Here we go, first stop, Zaddja. She said with an amused smirk on her lips under the helmet. The planet was basically an uninhabited wasteland surrounded by an asteroid field. The perfect place for a covert to tuck away in. "So what's your deal?" She asked while bringing the ship zooming in towards the asteroid field, giving the fancily clad Mandalorian a quick look.

 

[Kyusil Veren]

Yosimydi Azenellis De'lyr Aft Kyusil Veren the Patient sat in the cockpit staring out into the stars, thoroughly unimpressed by what he saw. The randomness of space and its asymmetric celestial bodies were nothing in comparison to what he could create. After all, deliberate works of art would of course outshine quaint rocks cobbled together by chance.

Even so, he exercised restraint for once, knowing that at the end of this journey he'd be one step closer to his ultimate goal. One he was all too eager to share after Blank made the mistake of giving him the green light.

"My "deal"? Haha, no my dear I have no deal, only a vision that will one day bless all Mandalorians. I am a creator of fine works, it may not appear so at the moment since I'm in my Potential Fracas attire..." He said gesturing down at his armor.

For him, it wasn't to his usual standard, but for any self-respecting Mandalorian it would've been too much. Pink painting with light green swirls and accents, a visor that curved outward like a jutting chin with a jawline that sparkled with assorted gemstones. The only thing that would give away that it was something he didn't hold in high regard was the scattered scuff marks and chipped paint in certain areas.

Continuing on he said "I will go down in history as the greatest armorer in the history of the galaxy. The one who brought balance to Mandalore. A chosen one, if you will. You see the common folk such as yourself fail to see the bigger picture. The power of the visual. To be frank, a Mandalorian's iconography is the only reason such a 'people' exist to this day."

He pointed to his helmet and the Mandalorian telltale T-visor. "There was once an armorer that created this design that had stood for generations and yet since then little has been done to further it and by extension the cause of Mandalore. I will be the one to usher in a new age for us all. Among other things." He ended cheekily.

Finally turning his attention back to Blank (since he'd been speaking to space for dramatic effect the whole time) he asked "And what of yourself, Madame? What is your deal?"

@Arcangel

 

[Blank Solus]

Blank almost regretted asking the question as soon as it left her mouth. The Solus Mandalorian looked over the Veren as he gestured to his 'potential fracas' attire, the pink painting accented with green swirls, a jutting helmet with a bedazzled jawline. It was certainly... something.

Blank's own armor couldn't be more in contrast to the rather flamboyant Kyusil's. Simple scuffed, dented and worn black armor plating that covered her vitals with a red hand painted on the chest. Black helmet accented with red, the snarling Solus badger stylized in crude red line art on the helmet's brow. All function there, with little form for show.

There were a few offhand comments from the Veren that got an amused brow raise underneath the impassive visor. The man was certainly... passionate. He held lofty ideals for himself. Shale had been right, he was amusing.

"Madame huh? I don't think I've ever been called that before." A low chuckle emitted from under the helmet as Blank brought the pursuit craft into the asteroid field, cutting speed a bit to navigate the tumble. "My deal? Well, I don't have a deal." She copied the man with a slightly mocking tone in her voice as she guided the ship between a pair of asteroids.

"Us 'common folk' have far simpler aspirations I'm afraid. We are the reason our people exist to this day, not some iconography." She started, the man had it backwards after all. It wasn't the iconography of the armor that allowed them to continue to exist, it was a commitment to the armor and way of life of those who wore it that had survived the passage of ages while other cultures dwindled and died. "My deal is the survival of my people. At any cost." She said as a blip appeared on the sensor, drawing her attention.

@Pazaakly

 

[Kyusil Veren]

Yosimydi Azenellis De'lyr Aft Kyusil Veren the Gentleman gave a soft wave of his hand in Blank's direction saying "You see? The fact that a woman such as yourself hasn't been addressed properly her whole life only goes to show how much work is yet to be done in bringing Mandalore to the galactic stage." Truly it was a wonder how any of them got anything done with their unholy cocktail of political ineptitude, brutality and infighting.

"I understand that in every game of Dejarik needs its Ghhks, I've simply never understood those that choose such a role for themselves." He imagined the monotony to be mind-numbingly tedious. Every day the same as the last, how could one ive such a life and not go mad? Even these warriors he now belonged to, fighting small battles with no greater war at play. It was sad, and he in all his wisdom looked down on them with pity.

"Do not worry, madame. I assure you our people will survive for my name is Yosimydi Azenellis De'lyr Aft Kyusil Veren the Uniter." With that he began to recline in his chair, feeling quite tired out after his passionate rallying speech to his audience of one. He'd have taken a nap right then and there as he heard a noise come from some system or other that Blank was looking at. "Could you be a dear and turn that alarm off, it's quite distressing."

@Arcangel

 

[Blank Solus]

Blank snorted at Kyusil's first comment, clearly amused at something he had said. He then went on to make some vaguely insulting remarks before claiming to be some sort of great uniter, spitting out a name that was so long nobody could be expected to remember it. She was surprised he even remembered it and would put money down that he probably said it differently every time.

"Long ass name." Blank commented gruffly as she checked the scopes, noting two blips fast approaching from their flank. The flamboyant mando leaning back in his chair next to her seemed completely undisturbed except for a vague annoyance at the gently pinging radar, drawing out a laugh.

"You're about to be more disturbed." She said as she flipped the pursuer up and around an asteroid, landing and locking onto the far side of it before shutting down power to various systems. The ship went dark, along with the cockpit and Blank went quiet, gazing intently out of the viewport as the asteroid slowly rolled its way through space. A few moments later and a pair of starfighters blasted by, slowing as they appeared to be looking for... well, them.

"You can shoot a turret... right?" Blank asked quietly, holding up a finger to indicate that Kyusil should keep his voice down. The pair of ships likely had their scanners in active mode, searching for the ship that had been on their scopes only moments ago. Blank didn't want to lose the drop on them.

@Pazaakly

 

[Kyusil Veren]

Yosimydi Azenellis De'lyr Aft Kyusil Veren the Perturbed didn't catch his fellow Mandalorian's dig at his name that boasted his esteemed lineage. What he did catch was her warning that his wish for rest would go unfulfilled. "What ever are you getting at?" He kept looking back and forth between the expressionless helmet of hers and the still beeping display. Neither of them offered the man an answer. Not that he would've understood or accepted one if they had anyways.

He sat straight up in his chair as his whole body went rigid during her fancy flying. Fancy by his standards at least. He behaved like a startled pet aboard a speeder for the first time. His panic only increased when the power seemed to go off. Had there been a malfunction? How much oxygen would they have left? Thankfully for Blank his panic manifested in silent screaming, in sharp contrast to his never shutting up in other circumstances.

At her question he turned slowly and gulped. Surely it was simple, right? He knew many Mandalorians who could complete such a task and the vast majority he considered himself to be their intellectual superior. He did his best to communicate confidence in his answer but having to keep quiet meant it came out shaky regardless "Of course, why when I was but a lad they called me Yosimydi Azenellis De'lyr Aft Kyusil Veren the Sightful."

With that he made his way over to the turret and sat in the chair. His ornate helmet didn't quite fit in the more restrictive space so he discarded it gently onto the floor. Letting his eyes adjust for a moment didn't help the next part. Before him was a buffet of buttons he hadn't the slightest clue as to their purpose. He silently hoped he wouldn't need to fire the thing at all, it was clearly more complex than the "point and shoot" he'd envisioned.[/COLOR]

@Arcangel

 

[Blank Solus]

Blank rolled her eyes as Kyusil went on about how of course he was because he had a long name with a nickname attached to the end of it. She let him go without comment as he got himself situated on the turret or whatever he was doing back there. He had sounded shaky so she was pretty sure the green and pink armored mandalorian was just green.

The Solus Mandalorian watched out the viewport as the starfighters, a pair of Z-98 Gazarants finished their sweep and started to come back around. Just in time for the asteroid to finish its rotation and put them on the other side of the floating space rock. There were a few long, quiet, tense moments before the 98's came back into view, cruising forwards and back towards the direction they came.

flick-flick-flick-VWOOOOOOM!

The dead silent ship suddenly roared to life as Blank flipped three switches with a shockingly loud start. Thrusters forwards, Blank gunned the throttle while activating the deflector shields. The ships light laser cannons gave a slight whine as they powered to life and the dead console Kyusil sat at hummed to life and his seat would shake as the turret shifted slightly at the sudden movement.

"Light 'em up fancy!" Blank would shout into the comms as she followed her own orders and squeezed the triggers on her stick. The pair of twin laser cannons on the ships nose lit up, yellow streaks of condensed energized plasma tore across the void.

Energy splashed against deflector shields, dispersing into space again and again as the light laser bolts slammed into the back of the 98'. Blank bore down on them as the two fighters rammed their own thrusters hard. The 98's split at an asteroid and Blank followed right on the one she had targeted, continuing to sling a battery of yellow lasers the distance between them as the 98' juked and dodged.

"On our left!" Blank shouted as they approached the other end of the asteroid, where the other 98' that had disappeared around the other side would likely be trying to get in behind them as they zipped past. Blank grinned as an explosion tore at the Z-98's armor as they starfighter's shields began to fail. Blank hoped Kyusil could handle the other fighter or they might be hitting an early retirement.

@Pazaakly

 

[Kyusil Veren]

Yosimydi Azenellis De'lyr Aft Kyusil Veren the Increasingly Nervous was still trying to figure out what looked like a device meant to entertain children with all its seemingly random levers and switches when the ship came surging back to full power. This complicated matters for the Veren in a couple ways. For one, without his helmet the harsh comeback put on by the lighting system meant he was blind if only for a moment. Even worse however, when his eyes adjusted properly, is the console that originally only hosted levers and switches now boasted a plethora of equally inane blinking lights and displays.

Instinctively clinging to his seat for dear life as the ship began to bring itself into attack mode. If he'd have paid attention to any of the expensive religious studies courses he'd been forced to attend by his family he would've chosen this moment to pray. He barely registered Blank's order to "light them up" as it were. He took a deep breath and tried to focus on the task at hand. He couldn't have anyone thinking he was incompetent, it would prove a great hinderance to his master plan after all.

He took control of his console, slowly realizing how it worked. From an outside perspective, the random movements of the ship's turret would look like a system glitch. Sadly the ship's plague was organic in nature. With no real target lined up he began spraying blaster fire into the cosmos. He was horrified to learn such a massive weapon didn't have a safety on it. Then came Blank's next callout.

He managed to turn the turret in the right direction to get a visual on the craft in question. This was his time to shine. He looked at every display at his disposal, every doodad at his command and prepared to fire. Now! He squeezed the trigger, rumblings of vibrations of the machine above returning subtly to his grip on the controls. Every single one of his shots missed. Most weren't even close, but his poor aim had the unintended consequence of motivating the 98 to take a different path through the asteroids. This proved to be a fatal mistake as the already damaged fighter couldn't dodge a previously unseen body in time and vaporized on impact.

The Veren knew all too well that the small victory was more in part to pilot error than his own doing, but one wouldn't be able to tell based on how he celebrated. "Huzzah! You see, Lady Solus? No evildoer can escape my keen eyes. They're not just to look pretty, truthful as that is." He said with a hearty chuckle.[/COLOR]

@Arcangel

 

[Blank Solus]

There had been a distinct lack of laser fire from the turret that Blank had noticed as she continued to hammer the first Z-98 with light laser blasts. Another explosion ripped it's wing and a grin cracked her face as the ship sailed past the edge of the asteroid.

It seemed that Kyusil had finally found the trigger as yellow lasers streaked haphazardly across the void, clipping asteroids and space dust or streaking into the inky black to dissipate. Notably, none of them seemed to come close to the target and Blank was shocked when the second Z-98 blinked off the scopes and Kyusil started to celebrate.

Blank rotated the freighter in a hurry as the Z-98 zoomed around another asteroid. The freighter snapped to be parallel with the surface of the rock as Blank curved the surface with the top of the ship. It would give Kyusil a nice, sudden view of several thousand tons of rock and iron slinging past the viewport of his turret as Blank evaded and continued to chase down the remaining starfighter.

Settling the sights once more on the Z-98 as the pursuit crafted hurtled past the horizon of the asteroid, Blank squeezed the trigger. There had been no time for the fighter's shields to recharge and the first shot cored out one of it's engines before another tore through the cockpit. The ship started to flounder without it's pilot before exploding as Blank swooped under it, another spectacular lightshow for Kyusil to witness first hand.

"Don't celebrate just yet." Blank said quietly through the coms as she steered the ship through a few 'stroids, watching the scopes. There were a few quiet moments as she kept an eye out while lazily weaving between rocks before breathing easier. "I don't think they have any friends coming to look for them just yet." Blank gave the all clear. "Get up here and keep an eye on the scopes while I look for those boy's home." She said without comment on his 'success' in the turret. She was pretty sure he would have plenty to say on the matter already.

@Pazaakly

 

[Kyusil Veren]

Yosimydi Azenellis De'lyr Aft Kyusil Veren the Startled was still verbally patting himself on the back when Blank's maneuver gave him a terrifying panorama of an asteroid up close. "AGHHH!" He yelped, reflexively leaning back as if it would've helped him. Immediately after he cleared his throat and readjusted himself, that scream had come out much more high pitched than he would've preferred.

His first front row seat to Blank's flying meant he wasn't as surprised when he watched the debris of the last ship passed by his view with a quickly disappearing blaze. Hearing her orders he was all too happy to leave the small space that had mortified the Veren. So eager was he that he forgot to collect his helmet from the floor. Making his way back to the cockpit he said "Life is meant to be spent in celebration, my dear!" and sat where she had signaled him to.

Not looking at said scopes he continued "Your actions hold merit as well, if anything we should be celebrating together, if only for a moment. Naturally the grandest of festivities are reserved for our grand final victory but one can't be all doom and gloom until then."

@Arcangel

 

[Blank Solus]

Blank glanced over at Kyusil as he returned to the cockpit, going on about the necessity of celebration. There was a moment of silence as the Mandalorian got a full view of the fanciful Mando's bare face. Blank wasn't a strict adherent of the Way, though she was more than a bit face shy around Aruetii, but it was always a bit of a surprise when she saw another Mandalorian sans the unifying visage of terror that they all wore.

"And how do you suppose we celebrate?" She asked, keeping one hand on the stick and steering them steady as she leaned back a little in the chair, rotating halfway to face the man as she pulled a foot up onto the seat and rested her elbow to her knee. "You hiding a bottle of spotchka or something in that fancy armor of yours?" Her tone was slightly amused, though Kyusil would have a hard time reading her with her face still hidden behind her visor.

@Pazaakly

 

[Kyusil Veren]

Yosimydi Azenellis De'lyr Aft Kyusil Veren the Gleeful gave her a wide smile. Finally it seemed he was finding a way to get through to her. It was only natural to find oneself influenced by a well-spoken man such as himself. "There are many ways one can celebrate. For some its spirits, others nighttime relations, and a couple even fancy a ballad or two. I know not your preferences yet."

At her mention of hidden libations, he clapped his hands together and rubbed them together, clearly he'd been looking for an opportunity to bring this up. "As a matter of fact, since I knew with our talents combined this mission would be a guaranteed success, I took the liberty of packing this particular spirit for when we have total mission accomplishment."

He reached down to the small satchel he'd brought on board with him. He sifted through the hair dye that ensured none of the grey hairs near his ears showed their true colors. Past the tools that he used to correct any of the slightest imperfections he found on his face. Finally, brushing aside his personal diary, he pulled out a long slender bottle. "Domaine de la Maison sur le Lac" He said triumphantly. "The finest of wines for the finest of our people, eh?"

@Arcangel

 

[Blank Solus]

Blank snorted a small laugh under her helmet as Kyusil went on to describe the different ways of "celebration". What the man lacked in nerve he attempted to make up for with words, so many of them that they might go right over the head of a less astute listener.

"Well we can definitely scratch the last one off that list." Blank said with a laugh as she watched him search through a small pack until he produced a bottle of some fancy wine.

"Fine wine eh?" She muttered as she looked at the bottle and then back at the finely trimmed and groomed man bearing it. He certainly looked the type. Blank was almost beginning to wonder if he had merely stolen the armor he wore before concluding he didn't have the guts for such a thing.

"I find wine always tastes better stolen, with a few bodies growing cold nearby." She said a little gruffly as she turned back to the viewport and steered through a cloud of space rocks. "The mission ain't over yet so stow the fancy wine and words. We'll see about celebrating once you get a little more blood on those hands of yours." She said as she looked over at him briefly again with an invisible laughing grin under her helmet.

 

[Kyusil Veren]

Yosimydi Azenellis De'lyr Aft Kyusil Veren the Eager was entirely on board with most of his fellow Mandalorian's words. He didn't hide his displeasure at her brushing off the concept of a ballad.

Scholars on their own could only do so much. Attach one's history to a strong enough tune and one's exploits would be hailed for many generations to come, even those that lacked the original context.

He did however like her next statement and responded "I'd have it no other way! You speak of the zest of adventure! Clandestine operations, daring escapes, ah yes few truly experience such thrills in their lives. We are in that greater minority that feasts on the fortune of fate!"

He put the wine away, making sure it was secure in the bag, then looked down at his still-clean hands and said "I'd rather avoid stains if possible. Besides, if one is a true professional they wouldn't carry evidence of their deeds on their person, isn't that right?" He partly believed himself, but for the most part he was just hoping to avoid any violence that was purely for the sake of soiling his attire.

He did find himself a little curious, as all these Mandalorians never seemed to be able to make up their minds about even the most insignificant of things, so he decided to ask her "Are you of the 'helmet stays on' variety of Mandalorian? Or are you more of the face-showing persuasion?"

@Arcangel

 

[Blank Solus]

Blank was busy checking the scopes and keeping an eye out for any possible signs of the Z-98's base of operation while Kyusil went on about the zest of adventure. She would turn her helmeted head to look at him during his spiel briefly, returning her sight back to the viewport before speaking. "You talk a lot.

It was sort of becoming background noise by that point, and Blank wasn't overly bothered by it. She knew eventually she would miss the silence though. He made a comment about evidence of deeds which brought her head back to facing him.

"Why should one hide their deeds? She asked absently. She wore plenty of her own. The Red hand painted on her chest was paint now sure, but underneath that layer of paint there was blood, and plenty more where that came from. His question about her helmet had the Mandalorian silent for a moment as she continued to navigate the asteroid field, finally speaking after a few tense moments.

"I'm not one of those zealots that never bare their face." Not anymore. Once upon a time she might have been, but times changed and the strong changed with them. "I'll bare my face to break bread or share drink with my comrades. In front of outsider's though? I'll keep my iron skin right where it belongs, helmet and all." There was venom in the way she said outsiders that could be heard even through her helmet. She looked at Kyusil for a moment before speaking coldly. "I'm still trying to figure out which you are."

@Pazaakly

 

[Kyusil Veren]

Yosimydi Azenellis De'lyr Aft Kyusil Veren the Empathetic gave an insincerely embarrassed chuckle. He wasn't truly bashful about his abundance of words, to no one's surprise it was a point of pride for him. Despite this he didn't want to get on the nerves of someone showing him hospitality by bringing him onto their vessel. "My apologies, I'll keep my responses curt from here on out. For the sake of professionalism."

It would naturally be difficult, thankfully he was no stranger to monologuing to himself in his mind palace. For now his mind would wander to what he'd like to have to eat once their mission was over. At her question he started to bubble up some flowery response that would've measured the merits of hiding ones exploits if only temporarily, but given that she didn't seem invested in her own question he thought it a good opportunity to withhold his own beliefs on the matter.

He nodded approvingly hearing her use the word zealots. He hated how self-obsessed the Mandalorians could be. Not like him. He also couldn't help but get a little excited at her mention of trying to decide whether he was a comrade or an outsider.

Granted it was a bit of a crestfall that he hadn't already managed to gain her favor but he needed all the practice he could get. If he wanted to rule the galaxy one day he'd need to influence people, starting with the Mandalorians. This Blank woman seemed like the perfect test subject.

"Well, my dear, I've never met a challenge I couldn't face. I'll see to it we're thick-as-thieves by day's end." He said with a smile and a wink.[/COLOR]

@Arcangel

 

[Blank Solus]

Blank looked at Kyusil again as he apologized, offering to change his ways for professionalism's sake. She stared at him for a moment before giving a light grunt and turning back towards the viewport. She would stay silent for a few moments, thinking, before speaking. "Don't apologize. It's not the way of a warrior to change for the comfort of others." If that meant him being a pompous blabbermouth then Blank would just have to suffer for it.

She guided the ship through a pair of asteroids as something gently lit up on the scopes. Flicking a few switches, Blank read the sensor readouts. Power. It was faint, but somebody was running power up ahead. She grinned slightly as she steered the ship in it's direction, approaching slowly.

"Good. In that case it's time to put your face away." Blank said as he gave her a dashing smile and a quick wink. "Someone's running power up ahead. We'll be on them soon." She glanced about, noting two things. Kyusil's helmet was nowhere in sight, and he didn't seem to be carrying any weapons. "Where is your helmet?"

@Pazaakly

 

[Kyusil Veren]

Yosimydi Azenellis De'lyr Aft Kyusil Veren the Prepared Was confused at the mixed signals he was getting from his pilot. On the one hand she wanted him to talk less yet on the other hand didn't want him to change his approach either. Honestly any time I think I have a grasp on these people their warrior malarkey throws another wrench in the mix!

Putting his face away wasn't the reaction he expected to his signature smile but his pride chalked it up to a matter of practicality. One he had to agree with, the last thing he wanted was a couple of ne'er-do-wells with no aspirations in life taking their aggression out on his very important visage.

Looking around for his helmet before remembering where he left it he said "Ah yes, it's back here, do not fret!" Then with clanks of heavy boots along the way went back to the turret to retrieve it and secure it on his head. Returning to her side and trying to get a look at whatever she was seeing he asked louder than necessary to give his voice insincere gravitas "I take it you have a battle strategy? How will this inferior foe meet their demise at our hands on this day?"

@Arcangel

 

[Blank Solus]

Kyusil ran off to Manda knew where to retrieve his helmet and Blank breathed for a moment as silence settled in the cabin. Okay that was enough. Steering the ship in towards the power signature, Blank peered through the viewport intently, eyes scanning the rocks that floated by.

Kyusil returned just in time for Blank to catch sight of her quarry and she was grinning under her helmet as he spoke up behind her.

"Strategy? Aye, board their station and kill every last one of the fuckers." She said with a cheerfully grim tone as she brought the ship in line. "See that." She pointed out one of the floating rocks, there were a few outcroppings on it that looked too regular, too orderly, to be made by the randomness of space. "Space station, built into the asteroid. Thats our target."

She brought the ship in, scanning for a docking hatch. Finding what she was looking for, the ship approached before attaching to the station with a loud Clunk. A few switch flicks and button presses secured the pursuer for disembarking and Blank turned to Kyusil once again as she stood.

"Here." She said, drawing her left hand WESTAR and pressing it into his empty hands. She retained her grip on it however as she stepped in close, almost visor to visor with the other Mandalorian. "This is your chance." She said, clasping her other hand on his shoulder as she stared into his visor intently.

"But, if you shoot me in the back, you better hope it kills me." She withdrew her hand from his shoulder and placed the point of her finger hovering mere centimeters from his visor between them as if scolding him. "Because I swear it on all the gods and the manda, I will slit your throat and watch the life drain from those pretty blues if you're that incompetent."

She would maintain the close stare for another few long moments before patting him on the shoulder and releasing the blaster pistol into his grip. "No pressure." She laughed then as she turned and left him standing there, blaster in hand as she headed towards the airlock.

@Pazaakly

 

[Kyusil Veren]

Yosimydi Azenellis De'lyr Aft Kyusil Veren the Showman was of course disappointed in how insufferably generic her strategy was. He knew that ridding the station of its living occupants was the goal, he had been hoping for a more complete picture of how they'd do so. He kept his disappointment to himself however, instead focusing on the positive "Yes, of course! A clever ruse masquerading as a celestial body to avoid unwanted attention. Unfortunately for our involuntary hosts we are the sharper minds!"

He took the blaster pistol in his hand, looking it over and getting a feel for its weight. Rather plain, but at least it wasn't one of those comically large or heavy blasters he'd seen some Mandalorians brandishing recently. He was very taken aback when she invaded his personal space, and by what seemed at first to be suspicion of potential betrayal. He certainly hoped that wasn't the quality of character he was putting forward. In his mind he was nothing if not honorable.

But then she made it clear she doubted his ability to use the weapon at all. Thankfully, he had just the thing for this occasion. "Fret not.." He said, then held out the pistol dramatically. In a fluid practiced motion he gave it several spins, getting progressively fancier until he flipped it behind his back and caught it in front of his face. Did he actually know how to use it? No. Did he know any other flourishes? No. Did he learn a random trick to try and look cool and never actually practiced with the weapon. Absolutely.

"Does the madame still doubt my projecticular prowess?" Made up word but he doubted anyone below his education level would find anything amiss.

@Arcangel