"We are not re-enacting Rush Hour." [Closed to Zouichi]

[iselldrugstothecommunity]

Secretly, Howard's been practicing people in the Sensoriums, seeing how realistic he can make them. It's all part of a plan, one that hopefully involves getting his business partner to never cross him again. And it's taken up quite a good deal of his spare time.

But today, Howard's in the Sensoriums lounging around as he waits for Zouichi. It's well-past time he got some basic self-defense training, and as much as he knows he's lost Zouichi's trust, he thinks he can still count on Zouichi to help him out. If that includes learning how to disarm people and break out of a hold, all the better.

Rather than using the Sensoriums to draw up food or much entertainment, Howard figures it's better to be ready for action and willing to drop what he's doing at a moment's notice. Zouichi should find Howard relaxing on a velvet beanbag chair, playing Solitaire and whistling to himself.

Comments

[iselldrugstothecommunity]

He does, a bit hesitantly just because guns, even in this scenario, are intimidating and feel dangerous. Pointing one at someone else feels like tempting fate. He aims it at the center of Zouichi's chest, both hands firmly on the weapon, stance strong because he doesn't know about all the different recoils for each type of gun. "Please don't break my elbow disarming me."

[zouichi.livejournal.com]

"Of course not," Zouichi replies, looking a little offended. Before Howard can reply, he grabs the gun barrel, redirecting its line of fire, then twisting and rotating it in one smooth motion.

Somehow, he is now holding the gun.

[iselldrugstothecommunity]

Howard puts his hands up. Honestly, he was expecting that from Zouichi. After all, you don't ask for self-defense lessons from someone who doesn't know what he's doing. "Point made. Now how do I do that?

[zouichi.livejournal.com]

Zouichi aims the weapon at Howard; he only uses one hand, to make it easier. "The first thing you want to do is keep your hands at your sides. Don't raise them automatically; if your hands are up, they're within easy sight of your opponent, which means they'll have that much more of an advantage if you try to take their weapon away. Try your best to distract them before grabbing the barrel, or do it when they tell you to put your hands up -- that way they'll be expecting you to comply."

He places Howard's left hand on the barrel, moving it to the side. "When you do grab for it, do it as quickly as you can and move it so you're no longer in the line of fire. If you do it right, you'll have the opportunity to attack them once, maybe twice with your other hand. Either way, grab the gun with both hands, and twist." Zouichi demonstrates the motion slowly.

"If you do it fast, you can break their trigger finger using the guard with very little force. Just remember to straighten the gun like this before you try and take it; otherwise their finger's going to catch on the gun, and you'll have a hard time getting it away from them."

[iselldrugstothecommunity]

Howard nods at each point Zouichi makes, paying rapt attention. What Howard foresees being the biggest problem is actually getting up the nerve to attempt something like that with a gun pointed at him - once actually in motion, it all seems to make sense. Nothing to do about that but practice and hope that if the situation presents itself, desperation will win out over fear. Given Howard's spotty track record with responding to fear, he really hopes that situation never presents itself.

He goes through the motions slowly with Zouichi at first, paying attention to which muscles move where and what angles one has to use. It's not something that comes naturally but it seems simple enough. "Okay. Should I try doing it in real-time, now? I don't want to break your trigger finger if I do it wrong."

[zouichi.livejournal.com]

Howard may not remember everything he learns, but he might remember something. Also, the simply fact that he's rehearsing these scenarios means that he'll be better prepared if he does end up in a confrontation. Though he's been able to run away and get away with it before, there's no guarantee that this will remain true. There are too many variables on the ship, too many unknowns.

"Go ahead," he says. "You won't break anything, I promise."

Up to you if Zouichi holds on to the gun.

[iselldrugstothecommunity]

"Okay," Howard says, letting his arms fall to his sides and breathing deep. Then, quickly, he twists out of the line of fire, grabs the gun with his left hand, elbows Zouichi in the shoulder with his right arm, and grabs the gun with both hands and twists. It's not fluid, but altogether it's not a bad attempt at disarming Zouichi.

Re: Up to you if Zouichi holds on to the gun.

[zouichi.livejournal.com]

Zouichi lets go just at the right moment, and then he's looking at the barrel of the .22. Pret-ty smooth, Howard.

He smiles. "Not bad. For a human."

Wrap up as you will!

[iselldrugstothecommunity]

"Yeah?" Howard says, a surprised smile on his face. "You didn't let go easy on it for me?"

He hands the gun back to Zouichi. "Guess we should do that a few hundred more times, then."

Re: Wrap up as you will!

[zouichi.livejournal.com]

This earns him a smirk. "Guess we should."