Emily looks a bit more focused but not that much more. "I understand."

"Okay, let's get some example weapons and then go to a vision room so I can show you how to load and unload them." She walks out from behind the desk and leads them over to the weapons display. "Do either of you have preferences?" There's a good variety laid out, including a few shotguns, a couple types of battle rifles, a few hunting rifles, several types of pistols and a single sniper rifle.

Hailey carefully picks her way through the weapons, examining each thoroughly. "I suppose people would riot if you didn't stock Glocks," she murmurs as she moves away from one. "Even though I absolutely hate the design decisions they make. No grip safety, no decocker..." She shakes her head.

The selection is impressive, honestly. "M1911, absolute classic. Damned good pistol. Beretta M9, solid, official service pistol, heard occasionally worrying things about it, though." 

Then she stops and grins. "SIG Sauer P226. A damned fine gun. One of the absolute best. Only question is whether it'll fit in my hands with the tweaks we've done."

She holds a hand over it to measure — not picking it up, just for scale. 

Then she frowns consideringly. "Hand's too small. Got any ideas there?"

"We have a variety of grip mods available if you want to customize things. They're free as part of the allowance for your initial weapons, additional mods or mods for additional weapons have a cost as you might expect."

Hailey smiles. "That'd do nicely. Let's go with the p226 and I'll take a look at those, then. Definitely wanna train on a sniper rifle too, but I can start with the pistol for now."

"A solid choice." She opens a cabinet under the counter and pulls out a tray of grip mods for Sable to examine. "Here are the options we have readily available. There might be more in our storeroom if none of these suit you."

"Hmm." She picks out a set of slim-profile replacement grips with a nicely textured surface for improved grip, and checks with everyone that they all like the feel of it. 

Yeah, they do. Okay.

"These, I think. Are there options to get more stylish mods later on?"

Francine looks amused. "Some other vendors sell more aesthetically focused mods and you can learn to craft them yourself if you decide to focus your efforts that way. The initial package is more focused on functionality."

"Absolutely sensible," she replies with a laugh. "Personalization is just fun to include when there's time and resources to spare. What's the procedure on getting licensed on and acquiring an additional weapon later on?"

"Your first two ranged weapons are free. Well, some caveats apply you can't get sniper rifles or squad weapons with the initial allowance. You can get licensed on weapons at any gun range in the area. Acquiring more weapons is also something you can do at ranges like mine or from various merchants. With enough time and effort you can learn to craft your own and nobody will look too closely at the loot you bring back from beyond the gates."

"Guess 'm gonna have to work up to the rifle, then. Thanks."

"I'll be happy to supply one to you once you can afford it. And practicing on the range is free."

"Definitely gonna do that after I get adjusted to this p226 then. Can you walk me through the grip installation too, since we're doing a loading and unloading demo?"

"Of course, making sure people are using weapons safely and effectively is why I'm here." Francine picks up the gun and carefully walks through the steps of checking that it's safed and unloaded and then disassembling it so the grip can be replaced. For a couple steps she needs tools from under the counter.

"Y'all sell those toolkits, too? Ideally a full teardown and cleaning kit?"

"All the tools to maintain your weapons come with them when you get them at a range like mine. We like to encourage good habits."

"Smart plan. I appreciate that."

She pays careful attention and makes sure she's internalized the process.

Francine will demonstrate it a second time if she asks and is very open to questions. "Most people are too used to movies where guns can be treated terribly and still work without any issues."

"Most people are dumbasses. I know better. Besides, Ruby'd kill me if I fired a gun without cleaning it myself outside of a crisis."

Well. Without at least one of them cleaning it, but no need to explain that. Or who Ruby is.

"It sounds like you have a smart friend."

Her wry smile softens into something tender. "The smartest. Love her to pieces."

{Love ya, Rubes.}

{Awwww! Love you too, Jade.}

"Okay, now you try." Francine steps back and offers the gun and the tools to Hailey. Then she gets another for Emily to do her own practice.

She focuses intently on the process, carefully unloading, checking for a chambered round, then reloading, then unloading again. The P226 is a very good gun. Firm and reliable.