2019-06-04 - Shooting Lessons

Gun shops don't exactly have 'busy' times of the day like other kinds of places. Except maybe right before hunting seasons. But anyway, on this particular night the place is dead. Empty. Not a soul in sight other than Noah himself. He's behind the counter, smoking up a storm with his feet up on the glass. The cigarette hangs out of his mouth and he has his phone up, scrolling through web articles or reddit. Maybe both. There's a bell over the door that chimes when someone comes up in, which means that he's not watching to see who comes in. The sound will alert him.

May happens to cause the bell to ring as she comes in, currently dressed in a dark blue satin dress with black lace overlay and her heeled ankle boots. Her hand moves up to moves some of the purple strands behind her ear as she slowly walks towards Noah, offering a nervous smile as she softly says, "Evening."

Noah looks up from his phone, his eyes landing on May's hair first. Then her dress and down to her ankle boots, a rather unapologetic look over. There's a slow narrowing of his eyes before he hauls his feet off of the counter and lets his heavy boots hit the tile floor. "Evening. Can I help you with something?" She's not exactly his usual customer, there's some passive curiosity there.

May bites her bottom lip nervously for a moment before she inquires, "I... was wondering if you happened to give lessons in how to properly hold and fire a pistol. I work as a consultant for the precinct here in town and... I want to be able to handle myself should something go awry." A brief pause before she continues to say, "I am May by the way. May Cumberbatch." The flushing remains lightly in her cheeks.

Noah probably doesn't make the situation anymore comfortable, his attention is direct and unrelenting. "Yeah, I can do that," he answers, shifting forward and reaching under the counter to grab a hold of a flier with prices and available dates, it's slid across the counter to her. "I run lessons." He folds his arms over his chest and offers, "Noah Abernathy. What kind of consulting do you do for the cops?"

May looks over the flier as it is slid over to her, focusing on it as she responds, "I aid with researching into forgeries and computer related crimes." Her eyes looking up to him as she continues to responds, "Somewhat following in my father's footsteps. He was Officer Cumberbatch but died in that weird gang fight outside of town 11 years ago. I.. can't bring myself to carry a pistol myself but... with all the crazy going on in town. I rather be safe and know how to at least use it if... it ever comes needed." Her hand begins to rub on her opposite arm up and down as she inquires, "When might be your next class and what all is needed to start. I.. would need a loaner to learn with, something that won't knock me on my bottom if possible."

"You experience a lot of violent crime when researching forgeries and computer related crimes for the police? Like is that a thing?" Noah rumbles, standing up with a groan and stretching out to his full height. He reaches over and plucks the flier from her hand, turning it around to point out some of the dates and times for her. "Then and then. If you don't have something to shoot with, just show up. I'll provide anything else that you might need and no, I won't hand you something that would kick you back onto your ass." The explanation of her father is heard and noted, but not audibly commented on.

May laughs softly before she shakes her head no, quiping afterwards, "Not really no, but I have been watching perhaps a bit too much Hollywood. Just.. rather be safe than sorry is all." Her eyes going a bit wide as she has to look up at him a bit more, letting him take the flier from her hands and looking down to it when he points out the dates. A nod is given before she inquires, "Are those the only times you do it? I just ask since sometimes my work can come up short notice. Would... you be willing to do private lessons if I paid a little extra?"

"What, like NCIS?" Noah asks, one eyebrow popping up as the question just tumbles out of him. There's definitely no reason at all that NCIS of all shows would come to mind, surely not. He braces his weight against the counter, listening to her speak and nodding occasionally. At the end, he gives a shrug. "Sure, I can do that. Private, public. Doesn't matter to me. I set my own schedule. As long as we're not setting off any noise complaints."

May giggles a bit before she responds, "Nail on the head. Abby is my favorite character." A nod is given as she shifts her weight on her legs, one of her hands moving to rest on the counter. "I assume you have a place where we can practice? I live near the beach so my place wouldn't be the best, I would think."

There's a second where Noah just stares at May and doesn't react at all. Like he's trying to decide if she's just joking about the Abby thing or not. Then he bursts out laughing, tossing his head back. It's big and loud and bright and totally at odds with the dimness of the gun shop. "Oh, man," he says, getting it under control. "That's amazing. That's really great." He wipes something away from under his eye. "Yeah, there's a shooting range. We'll go there. No, we won't practice at the beach or in anyone's backyard."

May giggles with Noah for a bit, her shoulders relaxing a bit as she gentle leans against the counter. "I am glad for that. The not practicing in someone's back yard I mean." One of her hands reaches up to rub on the back of her neck as she asks, "What time do you normally close up? I don't have a case I am working on tomorrow that I know of right now and didn't have any plans." A few brief seconds before she blurts out, "Not that I am assuming you don't have plans or anything I just.. um...." Her cheeks flushing a bit as she grows bashful, looking towards the guns in the case for the moment.

"Yeah, people frown upon that sort of behavior." By that he means, strange people shooting guns off in their backyard. Noah bites his thumbnail, eyebrows slowly arching up as she asks what time he closes and then starts to transition into some sort of awkward apology. He lifts his chin, his smile a slanted, deeply amused smirk. "I close up my usual hours. Just after dinner," he answers and lets his hand drop onto the glass, finger picking at some imperfection on the display. "Why, you thinking about signing up for a private lesson already?" There's a not entirely subtle stress placed on the word 'private'.

May blushes a little deeply as she responds, "I... I was yes." Her gaze looking back to him as her hand moves to rub her arm up and down once more, a nervous habit of hers it seems. "Does... that mean you didn't have other plans I would... be asking you to cancel?" is inquired even as her cheeks remain a touch flushed.

Noah laughs quietly, a rumble that comes from deep in the back of his throat and ends with a quiet 'ah' sort of sound as he observes the blushing. He clicks his tongue, "No, I don't have any other plans. My social life isn't exactly hopping on Thursday nights, so you're in luck. I'm free." There's a shove off from the counter and he ends up with his back against the wall behind him, using that to brace himself instead.

May physically relaxes once more as she responds, "Ok. So.. I'll meet you back here after you close up?" Her hand finding a pen within her satchel to write her number of the flier. "I'll... go grab dinner now and meet up later. Any suggestions on... like.. apparrel to wear or not to wear?" Clearly she isn't sure if her current outfit would be a possible hazard to going to the range.

Leaning his head back against the wall, Noah sweeps his gaze over the satin dress that she's wearing. "I mean... You can wear whatever you want. But I'd probably aim for casual. Do you do casual?" he wonders curiously. "I'll be wearing this." Which is basically just plain men's dark cargo pants and a t-shirt. It absolutely doesn't get anymore casual than what he has on right now.

May curiously inquires, "This isn't casual?" She looks to down her outfit before looking to his and offering a soft giggle. "I... tend to normally dress like this but could change into something more... I guess outdoor friendly? If you prefer. I don't mind, I promise."

"It's up to you. I'm going to say you should wear pants, closed toed shoes and a shirt that covers..." Noah takes his index finger and does a draws a line across his own chest to indicate that she might want to ensure her shirt isn't like, a deep v-neck or something crazy. "People get worried about lead particles and then there's brass, anyway. So no, most people don't wear dresses there."

May giggles a bit before she murmurs, "I will slip home and change then. Just... call me when you want me to catch an Uber over. My car is still in the shop. I mean.. I should let you get your dinner and ready for close right?" A nervous laugh as she adjusts the strap of her satchel bag.

"Yeah, let me grab something to eat before we head over there. Come by around seven." Noah says, his arms folding over his chest again as he watches her adjust the satchel on her bag. "Don't be so nervous. It's just going to be a little shooting, figuring out a good stance for you. Nothing to it," he tells her, the same smirk from before slipping across his features.

May giggles abit as she looks to her shoes as she admits, "I... don't get out much. Tend to stay behind my computer. Bit been going a little stir crazy in my house. But... I'll... I'll.. see you at seven." Her gaze looks back to him as she begins to slowly walk out backwards as she says, "See you then Noah." She turns around to almost run into a display case but manages to avoid it, offering a nervous smile over her shoulder before she darts out the door.

Noah winces when it looks like she's going to knock over one of the display cases. He lifts a hand and gives her the tiniest wave before he goes back to what he was doing. Which was what, exactly? Oh, right. Smoking and looking at his phone. Except his phone shut off and his cigarette is just a burned our stub. He huffs. This is fine.