Model 19

"Ready?"
"En garde!"

Nivelir swung his training sword at Rosamund at full force, making a deceptively elegant piercing motion. He dodged out of the way, but the strength behind it was still enough for the wooden blade to tear his sleeve. Damn it, the man was strong. Not as strong as Adanita, but he was a formidable opponent nonetheless, easily forcing Rosamund to stay on defense. The difference between them was clear as day, but he at least managed to keep up. More or less. Nivelir struck at his sword, the force was enough to send pain up his arm, but he didn't let go and responded with a counterattack. Nivelir struck him with the pommel into his chest, knocking the air out of his lungs. Rosamund stepped away, finally dropping his sword.

"You really need to get better."
"Is that so? I heard you sparred with Captain Lotus and lost," Rosamund replied.
"She fights dirty," he said defensively.
"And I won."
"She has a hook!"
"And I won." Rosamund offered him a smug smile. Nivelir's grip on the sword tightened. He took a deep breath before he managed to calm down.
"Fine. You won. Mind letting me know how you did it?"
"I won a battle of wits, of sorts. She tried to shake me up during our fight, I only responded in kind."
"And what about Officer Cinda?"
"Good old uppercut. Never failed me before."
"Is that so? Why don't you try it on me, then?" he asked, getting in the fighting stance.
Rosamund followed suit. "I prefer your jaw unbroken, and your teeth all accounted for. And her hard head broke my hand, you know?"
"I've noticed it got better. You practice your violin every night, do you not?"
Did he suspect something? For the sake of appearances, Adanita was still sneaking in whenever she wanted to. He didn't mean to keep such a secret from his best friend, but-

"Ready?" Nivelir asked.
Focus. "En garde!"
"Good afternoon, gentlemen!"

Rosamund's head turned to the source of Adanita's voice, that is to say, Adanita herself. He failed to pay attention to Nivelir, who already charged at him. He barely stopped himself in time, almost falling over while trying to not injure him.
"Damn it, Rosamund, focus..."
"Good afternoon, Captain," Rosamund said brightly.
"I, uh, I apologize. Are you two alright?" she asked.
"Quite so, although Lord Governor nearly wasn't," Nivelir replied. "Is there something you need?"
"I invited Captain Vervain to spar with me, if she finds the time," Rosamund said. "I assume you've just returned from Baroness Mayberry?"
"Aye. I thought to take a break from work. I'll have a long day tomorrow, I must manage some things for the Cove," she said. "Bluebell let me know that you were here, so I decided I might as well come over."
"Are you having any problems?"
"Hah, hardly. I've been the Queen for longer than you've been the Governor, Rosamund. If you ever need some assistance when it comes to leadership, I will be happy to give you advice."
"Well, after these words, I really must insist to challenge you once again," Rosamund said.
"I will be happy to accept. Wooden swords, is it?"
"Please and thank you."
"Then how about this?" she asked, approaching the training grounds' weapons stack. She picked out two swords and tested them out with a few simple, frighteningly efficient swings.

"Dual wielding? Hardly appropriate when Lord Governor is your opponent, Captain," Nivelir interjected.
"While I personally wouldn't mind, I have seen what you are capable of with a single sword," Rosamund said. "How about this, then? Lord Secretary and I against the Pirate Queen. That should even out our odds a little."
"The two of you against me? I thought you wouldn't think to ask. I've been itching for some proper entertainment, you see," she said, twirling the swords in her hands as she warmed herself up a little. She flashed them a wide, dangerous smile. The Pirate Queen, a woman that grew up in one of the deadliest places on this world, was bored. Bored of her studies, bored of her duties, bored of the high society norms she needed to follow to be taken seriously. A woman who could brave the worst of storms, strike any ships that caught her fancy, and do whatever she pleased whenever she pleased back in her lair desired a fight. Rosamund felt a chill go down his spine. While he doubted there was any real danger in this for the two of them, if he and Nivelir hold back even slightly, they will lose. Painfully. He was willing to be an outlet, but gods, he could feel it. A strange primordial terror, not unlike the one he felt when they fought for the first time, crawling out from the depths of his heart to his fingertips. A sheer fear you only feel when facing someone you know you could never defeat.

"Two against one isn't fair either," Nivelir said.
"Don't worry, Lord Secretary. I will be sure to go easy on you. After all," she said, taking up a strange stance similar to the one she had when they dueled on the island, "this is just a bit of fun between friends." They were gaining some spectators, it seemed. A few guardsmen who were on the training grounds, Zaum of all people, and even Teodolit. Well, they might as well give them a show, right?
"Nivelir," he quietly said, tightly gripping his sword with both hands. His voice was deathly serious.

"No holding back."


"✦ Ahh~ That's feels better~ ✦" Adanita said, stretching like a cat.

Not even a minute. It didn't even take her a damned minute. The two men were on the ground, disarmed and undeniably, just absolutely wrecked. Rosamund could feel a bruise forming on his shoulder. He will feel this for days. Next to him, Nivelir was in a state of shock. His expression was priceless. Rosamund couldn't help it. He started laughing, putting a hand on his face in an attempt to get himself under control. Sure, they both got their asses handed to them, but you really had to appreciate the little things in life. The elegant arc Rosamund made as she threw him, the confusion on Nivelir's face when she pushed the large man as if he was weightless, the ease with which she knocked his sword out of his hand. Beautiful. She was beautiful. Her raw power was beyond compare. She didn't even break a sweat. She could and did pin him down as if he was a feather, she could fight ten men and still come out victorious. She was so tall, so muscular, strong, and so, so beautiful. Do that again...

"Well, I'm glad you find some joy in losing like that, Lord Governor," she said as she offered him a hand. He gladly accepted it, allowing her to pull him up and lightly flinching from pain. "Was I too much?"
"Never," he breathed, carefully rubbing his shoulder. "I must say I enjoyed this more than our first fight."
"I should've been more gentle."
"Wouldn't be much of a spar, would it? Ah-"

Nivelir got up with an angry snarl. He was thoroughly embarrassed, red in the face, and genuinely furious. He started marching away, with Teodolit following him while the crowd watched.

"Aha. You must excuse him. He doesn't mean anything by it, he just takes pride in his skill," Rosamund said as the people started to awkwardly disperse.
"Oh, I've seen worse. As long as he doesn't try to kill me in my sleep, I don't mind," she replied, completely unbothered. She turned to him instead, smiling brightly, closer to him than he'd usually permit people. "I do hope you now know I am the best there is, though."
"I never doubted it for a moment, Captain."
She proudly laughed. "So? Do you still wish to spar with me in the future?"
"Quite so. I hope you don't take me for a man that gives up easily," he replied. While he doubted he will ever get anywhere near her level, there was no reason for them not to have some fun anyway, right? A friendly spar or two could break up the monotony of their daily lives. Despite losing, he enjoyed it. He just wanted to spend more time with her. That was all there was to it.

He saw Teodolit caught up to Nivelir, grabbing him by the elbow as he hopped by his side. He couldn't hear what he was saying, but Nivelir clenched his fists before his shoulders relaxed. A few moments later, he let out a laugh.

"Captain Vervain, is there something happening between our men?" Rosamund asked.
"I was just about to ask you the same thing, Lord Governor. I do hope Lord Secretary is a good man. Teo and I made a promise last year that we will kill the other's lover if they treat them badly, and I'd rather not have to off your friend."
"Is that so? I somehow got the impression that Teodolit is quite a charmer. I hope I won't need to imprison him for breaking my secretary's heart."
"Hah! In that case, I suppose we'll just have to wait and see."
"There is no need to intervene," he agreed. "I do wish them the best."
"Teo generally has good taste in men. And since he is your most trusted assistant, I suppose this is fine."
"I must admit I am somewhat worried... Nivelir can be rather dense at times. There was no shortage of young lords and ladies vying for his attention, and I can't tell how much he thought those genuinely were friendly interactions."
"Perhaps we should intervene, then. Lock them up in a room together, it will work out somehow."
"Gods. Don't even joke about it."
"Hehe~ Quite a shame, I don't often meet people nearly as tall as I am... Alas. Did you fancy Teo?" she asked directly, taking a seat on a bench, away from people.

Hmm... "I can't say I was immune to his charm, he is quite a beautiful man. I like his sense of humor," he said. "However, it is just a fancy, as you said. I never planned to act on it. I must admit, most of it was soured when he gave me off to Captain Lotus. What about you?"
"No, not really. We were always friends, nothing else. And did I see it correctly? Does Lord Secretary fancy you?"
"Hm. We are now entering gossip realm. I can answer your questions, but keep it to yourself." She nodded, so he continued. "When we were younger, I believe he was sixteen and I was eighteen, he confessed his feelings to me. I was, well, understandably mortified considering the real age difference. I rejected him. You must understand, I knew him since he was a child... I hold no romantic feelings for him whatsoever and I almost jumped out of my skin when he said he was in love with me."
"Goodness, Lord Governor. Are you telling me you broke a man's heart so terribly he hasn't courted anyone in decades?"
She was bullying him again, wasn't she? She was widely grinning and he could feel warmth on his cheeks. "Hardly my fault, o Queen..."

He noticed Lilac approaching from a distance, waving to him. He waved back. So, it was ready. He carefully considered his next course of action before turning to Adanita.
"Captain Vervain, I'd like you to come along with me for a moment," he said. She flinched from his voice and expression, he wondered if he should soften it a little. No, this was important. "I need to show you something, as a sign of trust." She needed to know what he had at his disposal. He trusted she wouldn't try to go against his wishes once she sees it. Another leap of faith for both of them.

They returned the swords and followed Lilac a distance away from the manor. At the edge of the forest, out of sight with a large perimeter secured by the guards, his brother has set up a wooden target and hung it from a tree. He had a small table far away from it, and the trio approached it.

Rosamund checked the ammunition Lilac had crafted for him. "I followed your instructions. If it blows up, it's not on me," he said. Rosamund's lips twitched and he started putting together his revolver. Piece by piece, crafted at several blacksmiths, ordered through numerous proxies, all finally coming together as a proper Model 19 revolver, loaded with .357 Magnum cartridges. Or, well, the closest approximation to it. Smith & Wesson didn't exist in this world, after all.

This was it. A real test of his memory and knowledge, he rebuilt his old weapon and was about to try it out. Previous attempts to remember everything failed so spectacularly he couldn't even put the weapon together, but he made it this time, surely. The weight was familiar in his hand, it almost felt like holding an old friend. Reunited at last. He didn't want it before, he didn't feel as if he needed such an item in this world and he certainly wasn't going to be the one to create it. However, once Sarmia announced he will become the governor, the matter of his personal safety suddenly became much more relevant. He had risen from relative obscurity into a highly public position. He almost got killed multiple times in the first month of being here, damn it. He couldn't afford dying just yet, he had other things to do. Words always needed to come first, but sometimes he couldn't talk his way out. Lilac and his parents agreed, and Lilac had some of his enchanter colleagues craft him some protective gear. A shield for his face and a glove for his hand, to protect them if his little contraption exploded in his hand.

"Clear out," he said. He was about twenty meters away from the target, more than enough to test his skill while checking out how the weapon worked.
"Rose. Wrong hand," Lilac said.
Rosamund looked down and realized he was, in fact, holding it in his right hand. He switched to his left and waited for the two of them to step away.

He calmly raised his gun and took a proper stance. This was just a test, he might as well do it all properly. It was going to be alright, he told himself. Even if he blows himself up, there was magic to protect him. It was strong and tightly woven, he was sure he will be safe.

No time like today.

The gunshot was deafening, the loud explosion could surely be heard all the way to the manor. But he didn't mind. Nobody knew what they were up to.

More importantly, his hand didn't explode! Victory!

"Are you going to-"

Lilac's question was interrupted with Rosamund firing the rest of his bullets. He quickly let the shells fall out and reloaded with a speedloader. Within seconds, he started firing again until the gun was empty.

Good. This was something he could work with. His heart was racing as he relaxed his stance, taking off the protective gear. He placed the weapon on the table and held onto it, slightly trembling. Slightly high on power. He just needed a moment to calm down.

Lilac came over, carrying the target with him. The twelve bullets he fired at the simple wooden board left a rather frightening gaping hole in the middle of it. He couldn't help it. He was simply so proud of himself. Sure, all of his closest friends could defeat him in a sword fight, but he was unmatched when it came to firearms. Now more than ever.

"Hey! Rosamund!" Adanita shouted, snapping her fingers by his ear. "What was that?!"

Oh. She was furious.

He feared this would happen, of course, but keeping his arsenal from her was a surefire way to completely lose her trust. An argument would be had in either case. He preferred it to happen while he was being honest.

"This is a revolver," he calmly said. "A weapon I owned in my previous life."
"And you knew how to make it all along?!"
"Yes."

She was angry, it was written on her face, her stance, her fists clenching and relaxing as she was trying to keep herself under control. She didn't reach for her swords, but she looked as if she wanted to attack something. Or someone. He refused to back down, patiently waiting for her to speak.

"How does it work?" she quietly asked.
"I won't answer that."
"How did you make it?"
"I had parts made by several blacksmiths. Nobody but the people who know who I am know this exists," he said calmly.
"Tell me how to make them," she said.

"No."

Lilac was backing off by this point, his hand ready on his zweihander, trying to circle around her to be able to strike if she attacked. He could see she was barely managing to keep herself from doing so. Should he give her time? No, distraction worked best. And, well, an explanation.

"Captain-"
"You little piece of shit!"

Rosamund flinched, taken aback by her reaction. Was she about to- no. She wasn't. She wouldn't attack him. Never.

"Gods. I was an idiot. Ships built out of metal - of course you'd have better weapons too. But your personality, this whole damned act you put up, I never thought you'd know much about them. And I thought-" She took a deep breath. "I thought you were acting in our best interest, and all this time you were hiding this?! If we had this, I'd never have to go into this mess! The Pardon, the damned Duchess- I could have still been in the Cove! And now you bring this. What the hell do you think you're doing?! What are you going to do, give this to Bretonia?"

"Captain!" Rosamund shouted. He didn't want to, he immediately lowered his voice. He just needed her to stop it. "That is quite enough."

"I disagree. You said you like to work on projects and experiments from the other world. Well, what is this, then? Who is this for?" she angrily asked. Gods, she really thought he was going to manufacture this. She was working in survival mode, he reminded himself. She was betrayed by nobles before. He can keep himself calm, as much as he could feel anger seeping through, getting to him. No. He can keep this conversation civil. He will stay calm, damn it. He understood. He was like this before, too.

"This is for me," he quietly said. "I made this weapon for the sole reason to keep myself safe. After Khamil's potential attempted murder, after having to fight Lotus, and two assassins just in the last few months- sheathe that damned sword, Lily!" She grabbed her cutlasses, turning to face his brother. His zweihander was slightly unsheathed and both of them stepped away from each other.

"Enough!" Rosamund shouted again. "The Pirate Queen won't harm me. Will you?"
"No," she said.
"Good. Both of you remove those swords, and then we will talk. I mean it!" he ordered, cutting off their arguments.

Adanita went first. "Hah!" she complained, undoing the belt with her cutlasses. She threw it away and crossed her arms, waiting while Lilac eyed her suspiciously. He removed his sword, too, and stepped away from her, visibly still ready for a fight. Damn it, how did it get to this? Rosamund rubbed his eyes. If she had dared to attack his brother- no.

She didn't.

Actions, not thoughts. Choices, not possibilities. He needed to keep it cool. She was doing the same, he noticed. With great effort, she was clearing up her mind and trying to calm down. Good.

He turned to face them properly, leaning on the table behind him as he crossed his arms. "Well, now. As I was saying, the weapon is for my own protection. I refuse to mass produce it, sell or give away its blueprints to anyone, or explain how it works. If you want a multi-shot weapon, feel free to use a pepperbox or an enchanted pistol. The purpose of this is no other than to ensure my survival, at least until my work here is done."
"How can I trust that?"
"If I wanted to bring modern weaponry into this world, Captain, I assure you Bretonia would already have them. No, I did not come here to become the god of death," he coldly said.
"This isn't fair," she said. "Every time, you start talking and telling me how right you are. I permitted it with this brilliant idea of getting us a Pardon, but I won't fall for mere words twice! If we had this- damn it, we could bring all our enemies to their knees! I wouldn't have to play their damned game, I could take them all on! And we would win all the same! With weapons like that, we could take on Bretonians, Franacs, Karpathians, we could take on the whole world!"

"At what cost?" he quietly asked.

Her fists clenched again.

He calmly continued. Just another case. "At your disposal you have a witch who can sink ships as he sees fit, provided there is appropriate weather. You could have ordered him to destroy us all in that storm. Why would you not?"
"That's not fair," she said. "I couldn't ask him to do that. He'd- he couldn't!"
"No good man could live with that kind of guilt, isn't that right? Why ask the same from me, then? And if that's not enough, if I did choose to give you this weapon, do you really think it would be enough to take them on? Do you think this -" he said, nodding at his revolver, "- is a basis for a stable country? A threat of death? Another war? Will they only take you seriously if you're scarier than they are? No," he quietly said. "Once the people know something is possible, they will recreate it. This weapon may give you a head start, but if the world sees a country of disgraced nobles, criminals, and runaways going out on their merry way to an open war, do you think they will just sit by and let it happen? I understand the future is frightening, and this looks like an easy way out... but I come from a different world. I have lived through... such an intense period of paranoia. You cannot even begin to imagine how it felt, wondering if bombs will rain down upon you, launched from a continent away. No. I will not bring our weapons here..." He was getting lost in his own mind. He needed to stop thinking about it. He shook his head. "No. You wouldn't win, even if I gave you this. But I don't mind... if you ask me to destroy this, to be sure nobody else has it, I will do it. I am beginning to think I should never had made it, but I didn't want to have to always rely on someone else to rescue me. If you are worried I will sell it to someone, or that someone will somehow steal this from me, or find a way to get it out of me, I am willing to toss it into a furnace. Just say the word."
"If you really made it for your own safety, do you honestly expect me to say that? I don't want you dead either! I don't want you to destroy something you made to stay alive, damn it! I simply don't want to crawl on my knees before the courts again, begging them for sympathy and their help to give me what is already mine! My people! My own city! I want a fair chance! Is it truly so much, Rosamund?!"

"Then how about this?" he asked, picking it up by the barrel and offering her the handle. "It all depends on how short-sighted you are. I won't fight you for it, Lilac won't either. I don't plan to have the two of you fight over anything. Take it with you to the Cove, take it apart and rebuild it, start the war if you feel like it. But the moment you put your hand on it, know that any help I promised you will be rescinded. Taking it from me is a betrayal of trust, trust which caused me to choose to show it to you in the first place. You will be left to your own devices- no. You will have made an enemy in me."

A political ultimatum. He felt disgusted with himself, with how low he felt the need to fall. He didn't need to hurt her in this way. He could have reasoned with her, he could've just kept talking... but, no. This was the fastest way to get through to her. A short-term gain, or a slow long-term success. If they were trying to build something that lasts, neither of them could afford to be blinded by things like this. Hopefully she'd understand...

She tightly clenched her fists again, and for a moment he thought she would take it. She was angry, but she wasn't about to-

"If I was three years younger, I would've taken it," she said bitterly. "Death turned me into a coward. Pathetic."

He could feel a surge of rage coursing through his body. He was furious, almost losing control. His hands were shaking, he was- he was calm. No. How dare she?! Who did she think she was talking to?!

"If you were three years younger," he quietly replied, "you would have nothing to take from me."

Her face lost color. He could tell his mistake immediately, the pain was written all over her. She looked sick, as if he just punched her in the stomach. She turned around on her heel and marched away, not even stopping to get her swords.

He put a hand on his head, feeling ill. He didn't want to- he didn't mean-

"Damn it, you idiot. You got lucky she didn't take it!" Lilac said.
"She was never going to..." he quietly said. Why was everything hurting so badly? He needed to run after her, he needed to apologize right then and there- no. No... He wasn't feeling well. They needed... a day or two. He needed to calm down first. He needed to be of sane mind. She, as well...

"Rose, you're crying."
"S-sorry. Just... clean this up..." he said, putting the revolver in its holster under his coat. "Set off the bomb. If anyone asks, it was a p-pepperbox test and it blew up."
"And you?"
"I- I have work to do. I will see you at dinner, Lily."


How could he have been so vile?