Weapons 101; Tuesday, First Period [08/06].

[special_rabbit]

Well, today's lesson was definitely going to be held in the Danger Shop, because there wasn't a whole lot of room on the island to cover today's weapons as well as Amaya would like anyway, and today's weapons were ones Amaya had more experience with than Rosa, actually, so she told the detective she could sit this one out if she wanted, but yeah, right, Rosa wasn't missing this one for anything. Because the field they were in today was much more open and wider than usual, and there was a castle (it's only a model!) sitting on a gently sloping hill nearby, and the weapons they were using today were definitely not going to fit on a table or a rack.

"Siege weapons!" Amaya announced proudly, excitedly, gesturing to the small collection of various delightful mechanical wonders around her. "Specifically, petrary weapons, which are a classification of siege weapons that involve flinging heavy objects or missiles, typically large stones, though not always. And before anyone asks, no, we will not be flinging each other, even if it is the danger shop. I'll admit, they're not exactly the most practical of weapons in this particular day and age. They're not really the most practical of weapons outside of war, if I'm entirely honest, but I dare anyone to give one of these a try and then look me in the eye and tell me that they didn't have a good time with it.
.
"Petrary weapons were developed as a way to break down fortresses and walls to gain points of entry into enemy strongholds. Some of them are gravity operated, like a trebuchet, where a large counterweight is used to propel the missile, or they're tension operated, like a catapult, where the throwing arm is pulled back and then released.

"Today, you'll have the chance to give four different petrary weapons a try: the classic catapult, the traditional trebuchet, a biting ballista, and the more manual mangonel..."

And if anyone in particular was wanting a complete and detailed dissection on exactly what made each one different in painstaking detail, you were in luck! Because that was exactly what you were getting, as Amaya launched into how each one was made, how to use one, what the benefits and downfalls of each design was, and all the thrilling science behind it all. Look. They were both weapons and machines. She was going to geek out about them, especially since most of the students seemed to actually be interested in her little rambling lectures, and it was kind of her job, anyway.

But she also knew that they'd likely be itching to go break down some fake walls on that nice stately castle (even if it was only a model), because she felt that way, too. "If anyone wants me to go over anything again once they actually get up to one of the machines and start to figure out how to put all of this into practice," she said, "just let me know. But I think you're ready to give it a try, so go ahead and let's get our siege on."

[[ incoming ocd is up! ballista link also fiiiixed! ]]

Wilderness Exploration (Now With More Indoors!), Tuesday, August 6, 2019

[heroic_jawline]

The class was meeting out in front of a subway station again, but this time it was mostly for observation purposes, not just to ride it. "People in the city wear a lot of different outfits," Steve began, "and it is important to blend in as a local so you don't stand out as a mark to get shaken down and/or stolen from."

No fanny packs, Prompto.

"Open toe shoes on the subway mean you're either new here, too committed to your look, or have given up on life," Tony said. "You really don't want to think about what is on the floor in there."

Steve made a face. "They probably haven't been really cleaned since I was a kid, and that was a very long time ago. It's better to wear shoes you can really move in, especially if you're making a lot of transfers or have to walk a few blocks to get where you're going after you take the bus or subway. Put your cute shoes on after you get to work."

This from the guy with maybe three pairs of non-combat boots that were also not sneakers.

Tony was the fashionable one of the pair, kids. Surprising no one.

"We'll be seeing all the weird things that you might see," Tony added cheerfully.

"People dressed like tomatoes have to get to work too," Steve said dryly.

"So! Let's learn the do's and don't's of the subway," Tony said, clapping his hands together.