12231/Bullseye

Bullseye
Date of Scene:	30 July 2022
Location:	Gun Range: Triskelion
Synopsis:	Target practice morphs into gossip between several agents - Angelo, Natasha, and Lara, with their red badge visitor, Alexander Aaron and his 'babysitter' Jessica.
Cast of Characters:	Alexander Aaron, Natasha Romanoff, Jessica Drew, Achilles, Lara Croft

---

Alexander Aaron has posed:
    There's not as much of a steady cacophony as there so often is in the Gun Range of the Triskelion. It's more a controlled mayhem for the last handful of minutes considering the tactical course is not in use and most of the shooting booths are unoccupied. Could be because they're in the hours between shifts with no classes scheduled, or could be because... there's a stranger in town.
    Security cleared. No gear nor weapons, his allowed clothing is a pair of tan slacks, white slip-on deck shoes, a black t-shirt, no belt. There's also the VISITOR tag displayed prominently on his lapel that is one of those that has the red border to signify this is a visitor with possible tactical implications.
    He's the one in the booth, a 9mm Glock unassembled in front of him. Standard exercise as he spares a momentary glance for his escort beside him. "Again?" He ask with that calm tone of his.
    Which once he's given the sign and the targets have swapped out the alarm sounds and he's putting the weapon back together with a series of quick clicks. Clip pushed into place, receiver worked, stance taken. Seventeen rounds fired into the target, then the weapon cleared and thumped back down into place and secured which has the blond man stepping back and holding his hands up to signal the exercise completed.

Natasha Romanoff has posed:
Natasha Romanoff is currently settling in voer with some weapons present. Among them is a very, very small compact uzi, the type that can be compresesd over and held in a small belt. That has surprisingly l arge clip for something so small. Going calmly over towards the target area, Natasha goes to draw out two guns of the same type. Protection over in place.. not that she really needs it; if her eardrums were ever going to have been blown out it would have been so long ago..
    But, regulations are regulations and it's never a good time to be sloppy and set a bad example. So Natasha goes to take out the two guns, holds them up in front of her and quickly braces.. Then goes to fire them both on full auto towards the target that she's aiming at. Her movements are methodical even as she goes to hold the guns up until the clips empty.

Over through the torso of the silhette is one jagged hole the size ofa bullet.
    Just one?

Jessica Drew has posed:
No one would accuse Jess to her face of having a sadistic bent. The agent regards the visitor with a benign expression neither complimenting on the assembly speed of the gun or his target accuracy. Still, she takes pleasure in making Alexander go through the paces without any accolades on her part. It harks back to the first time she brought him under the aegis of SHIELD as an asset of interest.

The interest has remained, if anything, it has increased over time as the young man has matured.

The mutant agent's Glock is on the table near Aaron's. She stands with her hands folded behind her back, headphones in place, kitted out in black tactical gear, but no boots. Instead, she wears slippers similar to soft ballet shoes.

Achilles has posed:
    Now. When it comes to weapons of any sort, Angelo tends to be a bit of a snob. Oh sure, he'll use whatever he has when the need arises, but given a choice... he always goes for certain specifics. When using melee weapons, he prefers the -king- of melee... the spear. When using handguns, he's not a Dirty Harry analogue... but more like he prefers a weapon with high capacity, high penetration, and all that jazz.

    His sidearm of choice, when not using an ICER, is a Belgian Fabrique Nationale Five Seven. The twenty round magazine, plus one up the pipe is quite a high capacity, and the five point seven millimeter by twenty eight millimeter bullet has at the same time, a more narrow tip and more grains of gunpowder than the classic nine millimeter. This means that there is more power behind a smaller bullet. So naturally, it will penetrate armor better.

    All of that is noted as he stands in the entryway to the firing range. He has steps up to a table and draws his sidearm before placing it down. Whenever he comes down here, he cleans the weapon both before -and- after using it. Just a ritual that is as old as time for him.

Alexander Aaron has posed:
    Not able to see who is in the further booth, Alexander does at the least recognize marksmanship when he sees it as he gestures with a nod. "That person," He motions in Natasha's target's direction, "Is very good."
    Then he steps back clearing the lane in case Jessica was wanting to take a round. He rests his hands on his hips and shifts his balance back, looking on across the range then back toward her as he cocks his head to the side.
    "Continue here or were there other tests you were interested in running?" Though he turns his head to look the place over and espies Angelo across the way. A half-grin spreads on his features as he points at the man and mouthes the word, 'Hey!' Even as he adjust his ear protection down a little.

Natasha Romanoff has posed:
Her first shooting attempt done, Natasha goes over to inspect her target from a distance. there'sa bit of a frown over on her face for whatever reason. She's not satisfied over with her showing, if one were going simply by her facial expressions. OF course, with how guarded she always was, that could be anything from total glee to irritation at something or other. So, she goes to then move to reload her guns, same target up in the air then where it had been.. Then she goes to get ready, moves to fire both of the compat weapons again on full auto..
    Still just that one hole in the center of the torso, that looks a little bit rawer now.

Jessica Drew has posed:
Jess follows Alex's glance to the other booth and then looks downrange with an appreciative nod. After stepping out of the booth and checking, she returns, amusement glinting in her green eyes. With an off-hand shrug she gives him several quick nods.

    "Good eye," she concedes. "Have you ever been on ops with Natasha Romanoff?"

    "I'm requalified, you can go ahead if you'd like. No more need to field assemble your weapon. Is there anything else you would like to shoot? You're allowed on my time."

    Pointing to Angelo with her thumb, she observes, "I've been using a P-90 quite often in the field. Same ammo as Angelo's Belgian Nationale Five Seven."

Achilles has posed:
    "It's an excellent round. The only thing it lacks is mass for stopping power. But it's an accurate and penetrating bullet." says Angelo as he finishes cleaning the pieces, starting to assemble the weapon before him.

    When he slides the magazine into place, he chambers a round and steps to his left one pace before reaching for a pair of ear coverings. He slides them onto his head and turns to step up to a lane. He selects a target distance, and rolls his neck before taking his stance.

Alexander Aaron has posed:
    "I cannot say that I have," Alexander straightens up a little at the mention of who was doing that remarkable shooting. He shakes his head to Jessica as if to reaffirm that he has not met Natasha Romanoff though recognizes the name and reputation. He does lean to the side now as if to get a look at the Avenger before he looks back.
    "I was thinking perhaps a try with an ICER? If only since I've never fired one, I'm curious." Which likely he does find the proprietary SHIELD weapon very interesting. His father however? He might be offended at even mentioning such a thing.
    As Achilles steps closer he asks, "I was curious, Angelo. Do you write Dexai on the side of each bullet?" The young man's hazel eyes lift, indeed touched with that aforementioned curiousity.

Natasha Romanoff has posed:
Natasha Romanoff would shrug over at Alexander Aaron, "A useful weapon and excellent at it's job." She would move to fold down her guns, going to dissassemble them a moment later to take them back to put them over on the table with weapons laid out for others to use. PUtting marker on them to indicate that they had been fired and would need cleaning later on.
    "Like any other one it has drawbacks and is the type that one has to learn how to effectively utilize and wield effectively and tactically."

Lara Croft has posed:
Lara hadn't seen the group conversing when she'd come in around a corner and slipped in to a shooting stall not far away. With a black ball cap on, her hair tied back hanging out the back of it, a black tanktop on, and black and blue jogging pants, the WAND agent is just tending to her own training in the moment. She's sorted out her equipment, and pulled her custom 1911 'Nighthawk' out to prepare to fire it. With her sound-dampening 'ear covers' on now, the Briton woman lines up her shot and starts to squeeze the custom silver skeletal trigger. What follows is a series of loud bursts coming from the ageless handgun model held by Croft's steady hands.

Her rounds leave scattered dust in the air around the forehead of the training dummy that had been waiting for her shots. She scored a line of hits around the forehead, and one down in the neck just above the collar bone, before she lowers her weapon and pulls the magazine out of its grip, ejecting the last round from the interior of the gun, and setting them aside.

Lara's freed up hands now reach up to adjust the safety glasses over her dark brown eyes, as she leans down to adjust something upon the second gun she'd brought in with her and taken out of its carrying case.

Jessica Drew has posed:
    "Give me a moment!" The agent holds up a finger and leaves the booth. She returns shortly with an ICER. After she examines it, she hands it over to Alexander.

    "I'm surprised you've never fired one of these. They don't have a good a range as projectile weapons. Their worth being, as you know, in not leaving a swatch of death behind them."

    She gives Alexander a pointed look at his question to Angelo and laughs softly, saying, "Murderous Greeks."

Achilles has posed:
    "No." says Angelo. "I was never a slinger. Back when I was an utter douche-canoe, I felt superior enough that I preferred to see my opponent's eyes when I ended them." He pauses and shakes his head, "God, what an ass I was..."

    But he raises his weapon in a two handed shooting stance and squeezes the trigger gently. The loud report of the weapon firing is hard to miss. And he is not shooting as fast as he can. He is taking the time to line up each shot. Lo and behold, he is not a flawless and perfect shot. I mean he's had plenty of practice, and can generally hit center mass. But he's not shooting more than one round through the same hole in the target or anything.

    In response to Jessica's statement about Greeks, he laughs between shots, "It was something Greek slingers wrote on their stones. It means... catch. It was less about being murderous, and more about... well imagine world war two tank captains writing, 'Catch this Nazi!' on the side of their gun barrel."

Alexander Aaron has posed:
    A flick of eyes toward Jessica, then back to Natasha, then back to Jessica. At the best of times, Alexander's features are rather inscrutable since he has such a good talent of remaining calm, at ease through even the wildest events. Yet Natasha might catch small micro-tells that he is enthused, and Jessica might well have known him long enough to pick up on similar. Though his demeanor remains calm as he murmurs, "Yes ma'am."
    Angelo gets a half-grin as they share that small touchpoint of the culture, but then Jessica returns with the ICER and he gives a nod of thanks to her.
    "If I may?" He asks and he retreats from the booth to take a few moments at one of the nearby high tables for gear prep. He'll set it down on the countertop and then begin investigating, taking it apart slowly and considering each piece.
    Though there is something familiar about that figure that wanders on by toward one of the other lanes, his gaze following after her for a moment. She's busy, but his lip twists up a little in amusement. For now though, back to checking out the ICER.

Natasha Romanoff has posed:
Natasha Romanoff would glance over at the weapon and elaborate, "It is effective at close range, but bulky and has a limited charge. If an opponent is armored it will dissipate much of the blast. It does not have a great amount of force so if you shoot at an enemy that is not slowed by it, they are likely to be able to close the range to you before you can get the weapon ready to fire again. It is best used when one is at a good shooting position and has cover, or from ambush. Choose your shots carefully with it."

Lara Croft has posed:
Lara exchanges her 1911 for a SIG P3 next, a smaller handgun, one that is more easily concealed within clothing. She snaps a freshly loaded magazine in to the weapon, and prepares her next barrage of shots, as the range exchanges targets for that of a alien like bug-creature dummy next. This garners a smirk from Croft as she gently shakes her head. "Fair enough..." She mutters mostly to herself...

With a roll of her neck she aims down the sight and starts to fire again. Five shots, each striking the insect-creature in different locations, since Lara isn't entirely familiar with the weak points of a ... giant bug?

When she finishes, she steps back and looks to the display beside her, the computer system giving her a score for the result. It isn't great.

"I'm sorry, I'm not familiar with ... " Lara starts to say as she leans forward to read the screen. "Kikaras Chittin Warriors..." She states with a grimace strewn across her expression.

Achilles has posed:
    Blam Blam. A couple shots are sent downrange from Angelo's snobby gun. "The ICER is useful when you want to incapacitate an organic target. But if they are armored, it won't penetrate. If they are inorganic, it won't work. If they are alien with a different physiology, it may or may not work."

    Two more shots and he adds, "So, for the most part, solid projectiles -are- more reliable more of the time."

Alexander Aaron has posed:
    His look is given toward Natasha as she offers him insight into the weapon and he nods along, brow furrowed as he considers the possibilities then chews thoughtfully on the inside of his cheek as he lifts the power pack and turns it on the side, "Probably against regulations to inquire about energy storage..."
    Though his thoughts range far for a moment, they return rather quickly as he considers the ammunition chamber and counts the rounds available before he takes a deep breath and murmurs a simple, "Hrm."
    A step back is taken then as he moves a little to peer around the corner of Lara's lane and he peeks in and says, "Hey neighbor." Another half-grin of recognition then he steps back to consider the weapon once again.
    "Mmm, best to use then in a situation where you have the choice of initial engagement." He looks over toward Angelo nodding a little as he considers the ins and outs of such a weapon and its limitations. "Do you guys have a rifle version?"

Natasha Romanoff has posed:
Natasha Romanoff would nod over at Angelo, "And it's only useful on organic targets. If it's your primary weapon and you're taking on something mechanical, heavily reinforced.. Then it's rather useless. It's a good secondary weapon when one has to take prisoners. But also not all organic things will be effected by the neurotoxin to the same degree." It's not like SHIELD has the luxury of only getting to face normal humanoids over in the field after all.

Lara Croft has posed:
Lara is leaning over to tend to her SIG handgun now, when that voice speaks out to her. Her ear muffs only stop decimals loud enough to actually do damage to one's hearing, so she's able to hear Alexander's voice. It causes her to straighten up, then look around, her dark ponytail swaying to the left, then swaying to the right, before the young woman turns around and sees a familiar face slipping back out of sight again...

... A few moments later and Lara is stepping curiously around the corner to stare at the group. She looks over each of them, recognizing a couple of them beyond just Alex, but it's he who gets her attention finally.

"Alex." The Briton says in her calm voice. "What are you doing here?" She asks of him, before she looks back to the others and offers them in-turn a soft smile and a little nod.

Jessica Drew has posed:
    It's turning into social hour at the shooting range. Jess turns to Nat and finger guns in the air, agreeing with her assessment of the weapon. "Nothing is perfect. What you can't punch, stab. What you can't stab, shoot. And so on."

    Shaking her head at his question, "No. Good question though. Sniper capacity with ICER stun has a place.

    Behind Alex's blaise exterior, Jess catches the spark of enthusiasm. Feeling like she is dealing candy on the playground, she asks him, "Want to try anything else? Look at this as a bit of fun time. I can give you access to most weapons but the classified ones."

    Then, Lara's question directed at Alex gives her pause until she remembers they had likely been on ops together before. With a lifted hand and a smile, she acknowledges the agent's presence.

Achilles has posed:
    "He's shooting. What else would Alex be doing here?" asks Angelo deadpan. But then he smirks and shrugs his shoulder. He's finished firing his twenty rounds and he ejects his magazine, making sure to check the chamber and insure that it's clear.

    Then he steps over to the prep table and begins disassembling the weapon to clean it once more. "The most effective weapon in the history of mankind is the brain. Physical weapons are simply tools. The weapon is the warrior that wields them."

Alexander Aaron has posed:
    The God of Fear turns and sets the ICER down as he looks to Lara and says with a slight hint of a smile. "Evening, Lara. I am here at Agent Drew's discretion. And indeed. Shooting." And considering the way he's dressed and that angry red VISITOR pass on his lapel, it's clear that he's being considered a volatile asset in some form. Though, to be fair, it's also a way they have intelligence assets marked as well as operatives. People who are to be escorted while on grounds.
    "She was kind enough to allow me to use the range for a bit." And to take his measure. But it was still a kindness. He takes up the ICER and then hands it back to Jessica as he dispels the mystery by telling Agent Drew.
    "Ms. Croft lives in my building. At my sufferance." Then he narrows his eyes at the British Agent shooting grrr eyebeams at her silently. But then grinning a little more easier now since he's meeting people.

Natasha Romanoff has posed:
Natasha Romanoff would turn to watch over at the rest of the interactions since seh had finished with her own practice shooting, "Everything is a weapon. Everything around you can be used with sufficient creativity and desperation. Everything is an asset in the field that you can turn to your advantage." Desperation was a great inspiration for invention, after all.
    "A good agent knows how to use -anything- to fight and kill with." She would deadpan over. "Especially the things that no one expects you to be able to use. That what someone thinks you are helpless with is the most dangerous thing in almost any combat environment."
    Angelo's elaboration on what Alexander was up to would get a low chortle.

Jessica Drew has posed:
The agent's mouth open in a silent oh of comprehension for the hate beams being shot Lara's way. "Well that would make for a pleasant ride share," she proposes with an innocent lift of her eyebrows. The red visitor's badge should explain the rest as well as Jess's presence as a seemingly benign babysitter with nuclear capacity.

"Natasha, not all of us can claim to have your abilities. -You- can always be on my team. You and Angelo. Unstoppable," she half-smiles as though joking but nods to them both.

Lara Croft has posed:
Lara gives Angelo a big smirk. "Likely story..." She chides back before her eyes go between Alex, then to Jessica. She shoots Jess a warm smile, and then a nod at Alexander's explanation. "Ah, I see. Well... I am glad you're getting a tour, of sorts." She states back, watching that ICER get handed off before she puts her own hands back on the waistline of her jogging pantss, back behind her hips.

She shoots Natasha another smile. "There's not a better teacher amongst us, than Agent Romanoff." The Briton says before she looks back to Alexander and his teasing daggery stare. She sticks the tip of her tongue out at him then, because they are indeed neighbors, and clearly very mature about it.

"You left your music on loud all night last week." She says to him. "Next time I'm going to break in and put your stereo system in to the bathtub." She jests with him.

Achilles has posed:
    "I'll be on your team Jess. After all, you are the heavy hitter here. I'd -love- to be on the side of someone who can lift a bus. I mean seriously.." offers Angelo with a smirk.

    And he finishes cleaning the handgun, assembling the weapon before slipping into the holster at his hip.

Alexander Aaron has posed:
    Lara tosses her wry comment at Alexander about him leaving his music on and he replies with an utterly easily given smile as his eyes widen with a hint of mockery. "That's curious, I haven't been home in a week."
    Which may or may not be true, for the Son of War is ever so good at keeping that straight face. Though he does shift that look sidelong toward Jessica and she might see the twinkle in his eye. "It's nice to see where Angelo works and functions, I didn't know you came here often as well, Miss Croft."
    Then a nod is given toward Natasha, "And it's an honor to meet Miss Romanoff."

Jessica Drew has posed:
    Jess pushes her hair behind her ear and affects a modest shrug for Angelo. Then, flexing an arm, she taps her bicep. Tapping it with a grin. "What's a bus between friends, I ask you? I don't stop bullets like some."

    Indicating Natasha with a dip of her head, and gesturing to Angelo for Alex's benefit,"Two of the best to know if you are ever in a tight corner."

     The grin lingers in a smile at the repartee between Lara and Aaron. "I didn't know you two lived so closely together. We will call your building a pocket of agents."

Lara Croft has posed:
"Ghosts then..." Lara replies to Alexander with a smirk chasing that word. "It wouldn't really surprise me at this stage, of... everything." The British agent adds before she looks around the gun range, before back toward her neighbor. "I've been working here two years now. I'm rather certain I've told you that about fifty times." She says further with a smirk before regarding Jessica again.

"Watch him, he's pure trouble, and yes... I was actually told to keep an eye on him when he did move in to my building. I guess he's been cleared of any suspicion by now though... Certainly not with my recommendations supporting it."

Another smirk comes from the sassy British agent before she looks toward Angelo and gives him a soft nod. "How are you doing, Angelo?" She asks him. "It's been quite awhile since I've gotten to speak to you."

Achilles has posed:
    "Well, Alexander there -is- trouble. I mean it's like his stock in trade. And... he is my distant cousin. My Great Grandfather is his Grandfather. So his father is my Great Uncle." says Angelo. "... Yeah, so our families are weird." he admits as he turns to face the rest of the room.

    His eyes flicker to Lara and he nods his head, "Always pleasant to bump into you Ms. Croft."

Alexander Aaron has posed:
    "Miss Drew is very fierce, that's true." The blond Greek says as he rests a hand on the countertop, looking around at the others there with a rare warmth he allows to touch his features. It's good to be around people in such an environment, a situation that he is not entirely familiar with. Yet it's good.
    "If we start working regularly one of us should probably /move/, right Miss Croft? Just so there are no tactical risks with having multiple assets in one place. And since I've been there longer..."
    Though this may or may not be true. And, to be fair, his apartment had been empty for a little over a year until the last few months.
    Though he does look sidelong at Jessica and adds, "Though I don't think I have been cleared of anything, to be fair." Considering he's wearing slip on shoes and isn't allowed a belt.
    A glance is given toward Angelo and he can't help but agree with the man, "And yah, they're sorta right," He looks between Lara and Angelo, nodding solemnly. "I can be trouble, though. A lot of that comes from our family..." He meets Angelo's eyes as if trying to find the right word. "Family dynamics." Since so much of their problems can stem from others of the blood.

Jessica Drew has posed:
    Jess bites her lip to hold back a smile at Angelo's recitation of their genealogy. "You sound like an old uncle sitting on the plaza, drinking ouzo, Angelo, and gossiping."

    The agent shares the sidelong glance, saying smugly, "You're lucky, you're not in an orange suit, too." She gives him a glance from head to toe, "No pens, either. They are rather thorough in security."

    Deadpan, she adds, "Should you be playing with guns?"

    A thoughtful expression crosses her face at Angelo calling Alex trouble. Perhaps, she is noting that down to cross-check with Angelo later. She quips to cover her thoughts, "See? Gossiping."

Lara Croft has posed:
Lara shoots another quick smile, and small nod toward Angelo before Alexander's words draw her brown eyed stare back in his direction. "Well. Firstly. You moved in /after/ I did. Secondly, I officially live in Croft Tower in Midtown. So... technically, I'm not even really at the Greenwich Lofts." She states back at him, showing another smirk before she half turns back toward her gun range, and looks back toward them.

"Is this the end of the tour, or were all of you headed anywhere else after this?" She asks of, all of them really.

Achilles has posed:
    "Oh. Ouzo." says Angelo as he tilts his head and stares off into space. "That sounds good. And I am old enough to tell -everyone- around to get off my lawn."

    He shrugs, "I was thinking of grabbing a bite to eat after this. Maybe some ouzo." he adds with a smirk.

    But then he approaches Jessica and lifts both brows, "Maybe I should invite you all.." his eyes flicker about to the others. "Back to my place for a meal."

Alexander Aaron has posed:
    Leaning back now and settling in, Alexander eases more toward the social side of his mannerisms. Not quite as professional, since there are no more 'ma'ams' or 'sirs' in his language. But he's still carrying himself with a calm as he smiles between the others there.
    "The way things were going way back when, I thought I might be stuck with the orange jump suit for a time." After Jess and Bobbi involved themselves in that horrible event on the island with the Cult of Hades. It had been a bad time, wicked enough to leave scars.
    Though at Lara's words he shoots a glance at Jessica and tilts his head to the side, a slight shrug given as if sharing some silent thoughts then he says. "Was thinking perhaps a drink later, there's O'Shaughnessy's down the way?"
    Though it's clear he doesn't know many other places in the area as Westchester isn't his stomping ground.
    But when Angelo mentions an invitation he tilts his head. And perhaps it's due to his father's influence that he does not take such words lightly. He gives a nod, "That would be an honorable thing to share bread and salt if you are offering such."