EIGHTH SHOT

[dog_eat_dog]

[Dictated quite cheerfully:]

Wish me happy birthday, people, I'm 40 years old today and therefore officially old.

Comments

[dog_eat_dog]

Not yet.

[lara_the_explorer]

You can meet me at the range. I have something you might like.

[dog_eat_dog]

Sure. Right now?

[lara_the_explorer]

I'll be here for another hour, you could come down here anytime then.

[dog_eat_dog]

I'll be right now.

[And she is!]

[lara_the_explorer]

[Lara was tinkering with something that looks like a grenade launcher when Tess arrived at the range. When Tess dropped by, she turned her head and nods]

Hey.

[Lara loads the last grenade and preps it to fire. All Tess needs to do is aim and pull the trigger after Lara leaves the grenade launcher on the table]

It's ready for you.

[dog_eat_dog]

[Tess looks at it and a smile spreads on her face. She recognizes the stout barrel, the fat cylinders, the broad shoulder support. She knows what it is instantly.]

No fucking way. Where the hell did you get it?

[lara_the_explorer]

I wished for it.

[The castle may be a bit more lenient with Lara when it comes to wishing for weapons, because she's not the type to take up arms against someone who isn't in her way anyway. She set up bundles of scrap material as targets]

I thought it might be useful someday, against whatever it is that lurks outside in the Dead Zones.

[dog_eat_dog]

[Tess is delighted. She picks it up and inspects it with fascination.]

It's been so long since I've seen a working one of these.

[lara_the_explorer]

[Seeing Tess smile and be fascinated was a nice feeling. Knowing how it's like to struggle in a world where you could die at any moment, little things like this make it all better]

I set up those targets for you to blow up. Much better than candles on a cake.

[dog_eat_dog]

[Tess weighs it in her hands and aims once Lara is in the clear.]

That's fucking incredible. Thanks a million.

[lara_the_explorer]

Sure.

[Lara steps back a couple, waiting for Tess to unleash hell]

[dog_eat_dog]

[And unleash hell she does, with pleasure 8')]

[lara_the_explorer]

[The explosions were loud enough to cause ringing in Lara's ears. Maybe Tess' too. It wasn't that loud earlier, for some reason. But get ready for ALL CAPS]

THAT WAS GREAT!

[dog_eat_dog]

[Tess lets out a laugh and a shout in return:]

Fuck, yeah! Should get some headphones, though.

[lara_the_explorer]

[Lara's ears were still ringing, but not as bad as before. She didn't quite catch what Tess said even though she was also shouting]

What?

[dog_eat_dog]

[Tess laughs again, and just gives Lara a thumbs up... and then mimes putting on headphones.]