Bullet With A Name (Prota)

[Gunslinger]

"Do better."

The twin pistols fire over and over, sending their payload screaming down the shooting gallery into the target at the far end. Again and again, they hit exactly the same spot, over and over without pause.

"Do better."

Daniel grits his teeth, fingers squeezing the triggers faster as he shifts, moving to different locations while still hitting the same spot.

"Do. Better."

Each word is bitten off angrily, until finally the support holding the target falls apart from being struck so many times. Daniel lets out a long sigh, then holsters his guns.

"....goddamnit."

[Novocaine]

Nova would give a low whistle, having been watching quietly as he obsessed over their...feedback. That's not to say she didn't take it seriously. She just didn't let such things eat her up like they apparently did for Daniel.

"I mean it's not like you're doing bad." she'd shrug.

[Gunslinger]

Daniel's eyes dart to the side as he turns to look at Nova when she speaks, and he tries to hide the scowl that had been on his face.

"...that's... nice of you to say. But I did subpar."

Not we. He did.

[Novocaine]

"I could have done better, too." she shrugs.

"I wanted to see just how strong that man was, so I didn't use my battle form or bloodline. Then the 'big kaboom' distracted me and I used neither of those abilities again. If it wasn't for the Emperor we might not even be here."

She'd give a wry frown and sigh.

"My parents are probably pissed."

[Gunslinger]

"I should have shifted."

Daniel frowns in return.

"The moment he changed my guns. But I didn't. You, at least, had more to fall back on. I thought I could fight without my battle form."

If they were listing what they should have done before.

[Novocaine]

She gives a small smile, pushing herself off the wall.

"Well hey. At least we know what went wrong. Better than having no idea."

[Gunslinger]

"Maybe."

Daniel looks towards the remains of his target.

"...I still should've done better."

[Novocaine]

"Yeah."

Blunt.

[Gunslinger]

Now he doesn't hide the scowl.

[Novocaine]

She blinks and shrugs.

"Well, what?"

[Gunslinger]

"It doesn't... bother you?"

He glances back at her.

[Novocaine]

"Of course it does."

She crosses her arms and cocks her hip, taking a few seconds to consider her words.

"I'm just not in the habit of beating myself up over stuff. I need to be better, sounds like I just gotta do that. Letting it haunt me just makes me feel like shit."

[Gunslinger]

"I just don't want to forget this lesson."

Daniel sighs.

"How... do you deal with it?"

[Novocaine]

"Easy. Just do what you gotta do."

Simple as that.

"I mean, listen, if we were from anywhere else this would be a total kick in the nuts. But we're from Prota. Perfect beings. Improvements at the ready if you're found lacking. It's not like we're screwed."

Masterful use of words. Very poetic.

[Gunslinger]

Daniel gives a slow nod.

"...I guess that makes sense."