>You do the math for the nth time that week to make sure it wouldn't eat away at any other part of your normal budget
>Pleased with the results, you get up and grab your keys and a coat and head outside
>Today you're finally going to do it
>The last time you were in the local gun store you saw they had an original Martini Henry mk.IV in decent condition for a rifle made in 1886
>You drive down the road for a few minutes then pull into the parking lot
> As you step into the small store, the man behind the counter looks up and smiles warmly
>"Anon! How are you doing today?"
"I'm doing great today Greg"
>"I'm guessing you're going to need time to browse, I'll give you two hours" he says with a hearty chuckle
"Very funny Greg, this time I actually have something on my mind"
>Greg leans a little closer expectantly, like what you're about to say is the word of god
>"Oh do you now, what's on your mind? Please inlighten me with your wisdom"
"You're a fuckin clown you know that right?"
>Greg laughs some more then gets himself under control
>"So what is it you're looking for?"
"I was spotted an old Martini-Henry in here a few weeks ago, Is it still here?"
>"I believe so, should be in the corner of the store over there" Greg replies while pointing at a corner at the opposite end of the store
>You walk over and start scanning the rows upon rows of rifles for it
>To your relief it's still there, in between an Lee-Enfield and a Springfield made Hunting Rifle
>You pick it up and turn towards Gregs direction
"Found it"
>"Bring her on up here and we'll get you checked out"
>After paying for the rifle and a few cases of .557/450 you exit the store with your very own Martini-Henry
>You thank yourself quietly for setting aside some money for this, because the cost of ammunition would have torn a hole the size of a 40mm exit wound in your wallet
>You set the rifle and ammunition down in the seat next to you then get in your own seat
>The drive home is uneventful, but you squeeze the steering with excitement
>You pull into the driveway and take the rifle and ammunition inside
>Before you get the material out for cleaning, nature calls and you must excuse yourself to the restroom
>While taking your well deserved piss you hear the sound of the microwave turning on
>You exit the bathroom and enter your bedroom to retrieve the Browning Hi-Power you keep on your nightstand with the quickness and quietness of a man on Defcon 0 operate mode
>You make your way quietly to the kitchen and stop right around the corner
>You count to three then pivot with the handgun raised
>The sight that is before is nothing you have ever seen before
>In your kitchen is a young woman of about average stature dressed in late Victorian Clothes, looking at the microwave in fear and curiosity
"Who the fuck are you, and what are you doing in my house?"
>The woman seems startled by you and jumps aback
>"Oh, I'm sorry I didn't see y- FOR THE SAKE OF EVERYTHING GREAT HAVE SOME DECENCY SIR!" She yells while turning her head away covering her eyes
>You are bewildered before it hit you
>Your pants and underwear are still around your ankles
>You are honestly impressed with yourself you could move that quietly and quickly with pants around your ankles
>While still having the Hi-Power pointed at the strange woman you pull your pants up
"Okay my pants are up, now tell me who you are and how did you get in my house?"
>"You brought me into your house, I am your rifle"
"Ma'am you have got to be batshit crazy if you think I'd believe you're my rifle"
>"Do not use that barbaric language sir, and I will show you that I am indeed your rifle"
>Before you could reply the young woman in front of you disappears and is replaced with the Martini-Henry you purchased not even an hour ago
>You dive and catch the rifle before it can hit the ground, would be a shame if something broke or scratched the day you bought it
>You get up and stare at the rifle, letting the inner machinations of your mind make sense of what just happened
>Unfortunately they're taking way too long putting two and two together
>You set the rifle down in a chair at the table and sit on the opposite end
>The young woman reappears, sitting in the chair with perfect posture
"None of this is making sense to me, how could you be a rifle and a girl at the same time. It doesn't add up"
>"I am what is known as a 'weapon spirit'. I never quite learned the way the huns say it like most of the others, and don't particularly want to"
>You rack your brains trying to remember if you've heard about weapon spirits before.
>Shaking that train of thought loose, you look over the woman sitting across from you quickly
>She looks like the very definition of Victorian England
>Brown hair, perfect posture, and of course the dress
>To be quite honest she's quite beautiful you think
>"Why are you staring at me? It's impolite to stare"
>You're yanked from your train of thought back into the real world by the woman
>"Anyways, because I am your rifle, I must know your name if we are to be together" She continues in an accent you believe is from the south of England and very posh
"I-I'm, Anon. What is your name?"
>She sits there, puzzled like you just asked her one of the hardest math questions in existence
>"I....was never given a name. I was always called AA39218 by the others. It was against regulation to name your rifle if it had a weapon spirit"
"Well, AA39218 just won't do now would it. Would you mind if I gave you a name?"
>"It...It would be very appreciated anon" she says, trying to hide the small bit of excitement that slipped through her well mannered aurora
"Hmmm......How does Lilly sound?"
>To be honest you were thinking of the Red Flame Lilly, because of the history of the rifle in the southern parts of Africa and that it seemed to match the upper class air about her
>She thinks for a second the nods
>"Lilly is an excellent choice. I think it's a wonderful name"
>She then looks around the dinning room and the kitchen with a curious gaze
>"It's been so long sense I've been in an actual home, I do not know how many of these devices work"
"I heard you play with the microwave while I was in the restroom"
>Her eyes brighten a little bit, like how a kid does when he finally understands a math problem
>"So that's what that metal box is called? I have so many questions for you to answer, please follow me"
>You spend the next good hour going through the kitchen explaining the multitude of appliances and tools you own
>She sounds like she's at Disneyland, looking over every device like it's out of a Sci-fi film.
>"Anon, What is that flat box over there by the fire place?"
"That there is a television, you can watch these things called movies. Some are great pieces of history"
>She breaks her calm and posh stand and claps her hands excitedly
>"Oo! Could we please watch one? Please, please, pl- I mean...Would it be possible to view one now?"
>You nod your head and walk over to the couch and flop down and turn on the TV
>After booting up and explaining what Netflix is, I start flipping through my favorites
"Alright, our choices for tonight are 'Zulu', 'Saving Private Ryan',and 'The Grey'"
>"What is 'Zulu' about? Why would anyone make a film about those barbaric people?" She says with more than a hint of disgust in the second sentence
"It's not about the Zulu, but they are apart of the film. It's about the battle of Rorke's Drift and the soldiers holding it"
>"Ah yes, I remember hearing about it from others in an armory back in the day. They said it was a fierce battle. I say it is a good choice and that we should watch it"
>You half watch the movie and half watch Lilly, who is sitting at the edge of her part of the couch for a majority of the movie when the British holding and the Zulu are in combat
> She gets a little more excited every time the Zulu get beat back, with a smug smile as to say "That's right, you can never defeat the British Empire"
>You begin to focus your attention more on the movie, because your favorite part is approaching
>You begin grinning like a fool when the singing of 'Men of Harlech' begins and are now at the edge of your seat as well
>Suddenly you feel a weigh being pressed against you slightly
>You look over to see Lilly has scooted over next to you and is now half way leaning against you
>"Anon, I'd like to thank you" she says with her eyes still transfixed on the film
"What do you mean?"
>"I've been in storage in one place or another for more than a decade. I was in the dark about everything, what happened in history, new developments, the state of the British Empire, and loads of other stuff"
>She looks up at you and looks into your eyes
>"That is until you brought me here, showed me things i would never have imagined like this movie. I don't know how I'll repay you"
"It's fine, there's no need to repay me for anything" You say keeping your gaze on her.
>She smiles warmly at you, then rests her head on your shoulder and continues watching the movie
>After the film you bring your watch up into your range of eye sight
"Well, I have to be getting to bed. I have to go to work tomorrow" You say as you push yourself off the couch
>Lilly straightens herself up and stands up
>"May I ask where I'll be sleeping tonight?"
>Shit, you forgot about that
>The only places she could sleep are in your bed or the couch
"I'm a little tight on sleeping arrangements at the moment. I'll get some spare blankets and pillows and take the couch, you can take my bed for the night"
>"Anon you cannot seriously think I will let you sleep on the couch, we will split the bed in half like a proper couple" She states, with a commanding tone in her voice
"Alright, if it's fine with you it's fine with me" you say, and turn for towards the bedroom.
>You give her a t-shirt and a pair of flannel pajama pants of yours for her to wear because sleeping in a dress like that would not be comfortable
>She exits the room and enters the bathroom, closing the door behind her
>You get ready for bed and crawl under the covers on one half of the bed
>A few minutes later you hear her enter and do the same on the other half
>"Good night Anon"
"Goodnight Lilly"