think fast boy, think on your feet

[invoking]

WHO: BOBBI and GIL
WHERE: Westside Rifle & Pistol Range.
WHEN: this afternoon.
WARNINGS: guns?? I do not know.
SUMMARY: one bird letting off some steam and another bird stumbles across.
FORMAT: it is a mystery.


[ Gil had meant to come here earlier, but the certain other events prevented him from taking some time out of his day to focus on his marksmanship. He thinks he's gotten rusty since late summer, even if his arm had been steady the night Monica had chased down that criminal which had exploded into an all out gunfight between them.

Anyway, it's important to keep up some sort of practice. He's a little confused by all the procedures he needed to go through before being allowed into the range and handed pistols he's not entirely familiar with. They feel foreign in his hands, so his aim is slightly off when he takes the shots.

He's also not very focused, which the employees of the range pressed him about. Accidents can happen if one isn't properly focused, but he can barely contain his frustration over the upcoming auction. Signed up for something he had never heard of and unable to retract himself from it now.

It makes him so agitated, he imagines the bastard's face, the one who did this to him and fires maybe one too many shots at the target, off the mark a couple of times. ]

I'm going to find the idiot and make him pay!

Comments

[invoking]

You're part of that group. The Avengers. [ He's not sure why it didn't occur to him till this very second. He's never seen her around or heard her voice, however. She can't be new to this wold, not if she remembers Bob living with her and her allies. ]

He... He was. [ He tries to swallow the lump snagged in his throat. His palms feeling too warm beneath his gloves. ]

[mocks]

He was mine, too.

[And she means that, even as she intends to use this shared connection to her advantage.]

I might be wrong, but I think I saw you on the surveillance footage once.

[invoking]

[ Gil is unable to meet her gaze any longer. He's almost expecting her to say something about the Sentry -- something about him being dangerous or crazy. Who knows. ]

I'm sorry about him, then. [ He says quietly, a touch remorseful. ] He was a good person. [ He quickly adds.

And then he perks up, almost shocked to hear that from her. ]

Survei-- You've watched me before?

[mocks]

He was. He tried very hard. [She says this almost bitterly. No matter how much he tried, some things were unpreventable for Bob.]

We have an extensive security network at the Mansion so that we can keep track of any visitors. You stopped by once, I think.

[invoking]

[ It doesn't exactly ease his tension, but it makes some sense that he nods, accepting her explanation for now. ]

I know he did. [ He remembers Bob's reaction up on the roof. He wanted to stop whatever it it was making him do those things.. ] And yes, I did. I came by to see if he had returned.

But he hadn't.

[mocks]

For what it's worth... [Her voice trails off momentarily, sympathetic smile returning.] I think he would have been glad you came.

We all need friends, you know. People we can count on.

[invoking]

[ His shoulders sag for a brief moment. ]

You don't believe that was him, do you? [ That dark and twisted thing that had taken Bob's place. ]

[mocks]

I think it was a part of him that was very broken and very hurt.

[She draws in a long breath.]

Lots of us have a broken part inside. Bob's was just bigger, and it grew until it swallowed him up.

[invoking]

[ He has to wonder if that will be himself one day. The things inside him he can't be sure he can control or not. All those thoughts that creep forth from time to time. ]

... He doesn't have to suffer anymore, at least. [ "I hope." ]

[mocks]

No. He's at peace now.

[She had to believe that, even though it took a lot of effort to hang onto that belief.]

I'm glad to have met you properly, Gilbert. A friend of Bob's is a friend of mine.

[invoking]

Uh... [ He's taken aback by such a statement. ] It is nice to meet you, Miss Bobbi...

[mocks]

I'm sure we'll be seeing more of each other, sport.

[She gives him a cryptic smile and a small salute before heading for the exit.]

[invoking]

Huh...? [ He's too bewildered by that vague answer to follow. Not that he can turn and leave without following regulations here. ] I... I suppose. Good evening, then.