Kuhn, The Deadeye of Dust City and Elaina Dart, Chief Veridian. Had been staring at each other for what felt like an eternity. Not moving, just gazing into the other marksman’s eyes. Knowing full well that today might be the day that either of them dies. It would all come down to which one of them could draw their weapon first. Kuhn had his revolver in it’s holster, Elaina her crossbow on her hip. Firing mechanic on a crossbow was faster than the gun, but the bullet travels faster than the arrow. “I know you’re skilled, gunner. But that’s not all it’s gonna take to defeat me and my company. Fate’s on my side. My bow channels destiny.” “Mon ami, beautiful lady. You’re da bottle-girl, aren’t ya?” Kuhn asked, flicking his hat upwards, looking at her and winking in her direction, a confident smile on his face. Thinking back to his time in Dust City. His home, as it were. *** Kuhn and Eli, his peer and fellow student, taught by Master Guille in the way of the gun. They were practicing their marksmanship, a duel, as it were. Kuhn’s hair was shorter, he was only 15 at the time, Eli was taller, had olive skin and dark hair and was dressed in a similar western-style as Kuhn, same age as Kuhn. They each had two revolvers in their hands, pointed at the other. Master Guille was cleaning his spectacles, before hooking them to his ears, seeing through them, raising his hand indicating that the boys should get ready. He pulled down his hand with force, telling the two children to begin their duel. Kuhn fired first, his bullets tearing through the air, Eli dodged to the side, the bullets only striking the cloth of his poncho, making new holes in them, he responded in kind. Three bullets swirling past Kuhn as the man dodged by bending backwards, putting the revolver in his left hand in his three bottom fingers, using his thumb and index to balance himself as he pushed off the ground with his one hand, backflipping. As he flipped, the swung his right hand gun in the direction of Eli, aiming with precision and grace, a bullet tore, striking Eli’s revolver directly in the pipe, blocking the gun from firing again and destroying the pipe. “Sonovabitch!” Eli shouted, tossing his broken gun into the sand, using his now free hand to fan the hammer. Kuhn dodged downwards, rolling to the side, Eli pirouetted to dodge the bullets Kuhn shot at him. Kuhn fired the remaining bullets in his chambers while Eli did the same, fanning the hammer to match the dual-pistols Kuhn had in his possession, both of them possessed such dexterity that the bullets would collide in mid air, and the bullet would ricochet off Kuhn’s bullet, and hit the second one. While they were firing, they kept walking towards the other, no fear in their gaze as they shot each bullet out of the air, dirtying the ground with casings and broken bullets.Until they finally stood face to face, Eli threw a bunch, Kuhn dodged to the side. He tried to whip him with his pistol, but Eli ducked, swiping Kuhn’s leg. Opening the chamber in his gun effortlessly, he put in two bullets into the chamber, turning towards Kuhn to stick the gun in his face, he was met by Kuhn having done the same, The one-eyed gunner panting as he laid in the dirt. He fired missing Eli barely, grazing his cheek, leaving a wound. Guile called the duel a win for Kuhn. “That’s 3 wins for Kuhn and 8 for Eli. You’re catching up, Kuhn. Remember to mind your footwork. Good job striking the chamber of the gun. But don’t get cocky, kids. There’s far better gunners out there than you.” The old man said, his long-gun sitting on his hip, the cigar in his mouth and the hat Kuhn would one-day inherent adorned his grizzled face as a smile cracked through his face. “Now, let’s get some food.” He commanded and the boys agreed. Eli helping Kuhn up, as Kuhn was quick to bring the med-kit to stitch up Eli’s wound. *** “You want to play more games with me, my beautiful?” Kuhn asked and Elaina blushed for a second “Your skill with a gun is without question, Kuhn. I’ve heard from Goldenrod that you’re something of an artisan when it comes to powder and steel. The bottle trick was really neat. But, I’m here to challenge you to a game of fate.” “Oh, a gamble?” Kuhn asked, his interest piqued. “Yes, quite.” Elaina said, her face curling into a smile. “You ever heard of Shinran Roulette?” The Chief asked as her eyes lit up. “Can’t say dat I have, cheri.” Kuhn shook his head. “What’s dat about?” He continued. And Elaina chuckled and pulled out a small case, a few inches tall and half a foot wide. “Inside here are two firearms, six shooters with six bullets to be loaded into the gun.” She began, picking up one of the firearms, putting one bullet in, and spinning the barrel. Putting the case onto the ground and kicking it over to Kuhn. “There is no skill involved in this. You aim the gun at your own head and you fire. There’s a 1-in-six chance you’ll blow your own head off. Fate decides if you live or die. Are you willing to put your life in the hands of destiny?” Kuhn scruffed his scruffy cheek and investigated the gun. It was a six-shooter. Well made, expensive gun. Of course, it had nothing on his own long-gun, but it was still a fine firearm. Kuhn put a bullet in as he stared Elaina down, spinning the chamber as he locked the gun. “Are you sure you want to do this? I thought you were all about dat nature life. Do you even know how to use a gun my lovely?” He asked and Elaina nodded. “It’s not my first rodeo, Cowboy.” She said, putting the gun softly to her temple, pulling the trigger. Kuhn flinched a little as she did, but the gun clicked. No bullet was fired. Kuhn put the gun to his own temple and pulled the trigger, calmly. Nothing. He reloaded his gun with two bullets and fired the trigger again. He kicked the case to Elaina who then loaded the gun with two bullets, and fired them at herself. They did this dance back and forth, adding bullets in the chamber. Three, Four. They didn’t speak, tensions were running high. They both knew the risks, they had calculated the odds of the gun firing a bullet. Sure, they had incredible dexterity and were both intentionally spinning the chamber so that the odds were in their favor, but just like a dice-roll, you couldn’t make up for luck with skill. There would come a point where fate would outmatch their skill. With five bullets in the chamber, Kuhn’s hand was trembling a little, Elaina stared focused at him. He swallowed hard as he pulled the trigger. The gun clicked. The firing chamber was empty. No bullet. Kuhn put down to gun to his waist and kicked the case over to her, didn’t speak a word. “You’re luckier than most, Deadeye. But you will not beat me. Destiny favors me.” Elaina tryed to puff herself up, but the cold look from Kuhn showed that the gunner saw straight through her. He knew how scared she was. But he didn’t offer her a way out. She loaded the fifth bullet into the chamber and put the gun to her head, firing. It clicked. She sighed with relief. “I win.” She said, as Kuhn would have to load the shooter with six bullets next. And Kuhn shook his head. “This duel will not end in a draw, my love. Give me the case.” He said and Elaina flinched. Was this guy serious?! She reluctantly kicked the case to him and he caught it with his foot, casually. “You’ll die.” She said and Kuhn smiled. “Maybe. But I wouldn’t be much of a gunner if I did.” Quoting words his friend Eli told him before he died. He put the final bullet into the chamber and took a deep breath. “You decide, Fate. You DECIDE!” He exclaimed. Putting all of his chips on this all-in. He was committed to believing in the way of the gun. That his patron saints and goddess of gunfire wouldn’t fail him. He pulled the trigger. The gun jammed. He dropped the gun to the ground. Kicking the case with 1 bullet remaining back to Elaina. “Your turn.” He demanded and she was shaking all the way from her feet to her head. “H-How did you! You cheated!” She cried and Kuhn shook his head. “Just lucky. Fate deemed me worthy. Are you?” He questioned her, harshly. He loaded the gun and with a shaky hand put it towards her head. As she put pressure on the trigger, she fell down. Fainted from the pressure. Kuhn walked over to her as she slowly opener her eyes again. “I guess Fate’s on my side. Don’t get in my way, my love. Or I will draw [i]my[/i] gun. And that never jams.” He promised her, heading towards the castle. He had a country to defend.