Dani and Sam: Bid Wars

[x-cannonball.livejournal.com]

A bid war turns into an awkward face to face and then a chat.

It was a well known fact that Dani was a workaholic, though not quite as bad as say, Scott. It was also common knowledge that Dani did not like shopping. Guns however, were something completely different. Dani could browse the various gun websites for hours when she had time and if it weren't for the school rules regarding firearms on campus, she'd probably own several. She'd finally caved earlier in the week though and decided to join a shooting range off campus, which was nothing like hunting, but it was a start and she could store her gun and equipment there as well. If she only had one.

The ebay bid was fast and furious as the time ran down, and it finally was down to her and someone named "SouthernCannon" of all things. He was raising her bid steadily and she was really getting annoyed. It was such a pretty gun, a smith and wesson .38 caliber K frame. It was the best gun on ebay! And...as the clock ticked out, she lost the bid to "SouthernCannon". Groaning, she logged out of ebay and off the computer in her office, heading down the hall past the teachers offices and towards the kitchen. She had the munchies.

Sam wasn't above making a little noise at his win over "CheyennePepper." The pistol would make a perfect gift for his youngest sister's birthday. She was getting old enough that she needed to learn to shoot for some things on the farm and also for her own self defense. The Guthries weren't the most loved family in the area, after all.

The noise from Sam's office catching her attention, Dani poked her head in to see what was going on. "Hey," she called curious. "What's up?" Like her, Sam was a bit of a workaholic too so finding him in his office wasn't too surprising.

Sam spun in his chair and pushed back from the computer so she could see the screen. "I just won a present for my youngest sister's birthday. She's going to have to start shooting soon so I got her a simple, little revolver." He had a proud smile, he usually just bought things but sometimes he enjoyed the accomplishment of winning an auction.

"Oh yeah? That's cool," Dani commented, brushing her long hair off one shoulder, "A little .39 caliber?" she asked, a theory percolating in her head. Southern Cannon indeed. Cannonball from Kentucky didn't get too much more southern than that, even it the state was even further north than Oklahoma. It was still south of the Mason-Dixon line.

"Yep! It's even a K frame so she doesn't have to worry about too many moving parts, just the safety." Sam looked at Dani for a minute, then grinned. "Wait, you're CheyennePepper, aren't you?" He couldn't help but laughed heartedly at that, a lot. Not specifically that he outbid her; he didn't imagine she'd have a name like that.

"Southern Cannon," Dani replied with a smirk. Their ebay names were both so lame. "I cannot believe you out bid me!" It was both more and less irritating to be outbid by Sam. On the one hand, she knew him. On the other, she knew him. "Ain't they got guns in Kentucky?"

"They have guns around here too." Sam replied with a grin. "I suspect you use ebay just like I do, for fun and convenience. I can also have it shipped directly to her instead of having to take an extra trip out there if I can't manage it." He didn't specifically know what to say to someone you just outbid. He wasn't going to tease her.

Briefly, Dani wondered how often people randomly met like this who had met online. Not that she and Sam were strangers, but they hadn't known they were bidding against each other either. "You shoot too?" she asked, curiously. She had as a kid, but hadn't since she had come to Xavier's.

"Of course. Have to if you want to slaughter hogs; they don't exactly hold still and wait for it." Most people didn't know much about farm workings and sometimes he felt odd when the topic came up. Most people didn't like knowing how food made it to the grocery store.

Dani wasn't ignorant of these things, though she was not a farm girl, just country. There were some differences. "Dont know much about slaughtering hogs, just that I like bacon. I used to go hunting with my grandfather, some others. You know," she shrugged, hunting was good. Nothing beat meat so fresh it had been alive only hours earlier.

Sam nodded as he listened, paused for a moment and then spoke. "Sorry I beat you out on that revolver. If you want we could look for another one later on and I could help you watch the bid."

"Is all good," Dani commented, "Ain't like either of us knew. Can't keep it here either. There's a new shooting range that opened up on the other side of Salem Center, heard about it? Was thinking about renting a locker there," they had a ladies night too, which allowed her to get in free and only pay for ammunition. She could bring in her own too and store it in her locker.

"I hadn't heard about it. Maybe I can go with you and check it out. I haven't been able to shoot much since I've come back from the farm." Sam was glad she wasn't too upset about him beating her on that bit. He also bet he found the only other person in the mansion that would shoot recreationally.

Dani nodded, glad that she had someone who might also be interestedin hunting and shooting. It was definitely not something people people at Xavier's were in to. "Sure! Just 'cause we can't have guns on campus don't mean we can't go shooting."

Dani nodded, glad that she had someone who might also be interested in hunting and shooting. It was definitely not something people people at Xavier's were in to. "Sure! Just 'cause we can't have guns on campus don't mean we can't go shooting."

"That would be great. I'd like to shoot with someone besides having to teach some of the younger Guthries on the farm." This turned out to be a pleasant surprise. He wouldn't have to fly back to Kentucky any time he wanted to shoot now.

"Sure, we should, absolutely," Dani nodded, it would be good to have someone to go with, "I was headed to the kitchen, so I'll see you later? We can go check the place out next week sometime?"

"I look forward to it!" Sam said happily, shooting Dani a smile before she left and he turned back to his work.