Related to joining a game

[just_a_minute]

Really? You're not going to put this off until the last minute?

[Which is probably what everyone who knew about this was expecting]

It took you long enough in deciding to take me there anyway. Tch- to think that you struggled between either bringing me, the washboard, or that thread spool. It shouldn't have even been a competition... not when the great Midou Ban-sama was an option!

Eh- but you came to your senses...

.. but what's Ginji supposed to do without me....?

Comments

[eelectrocutioner]

But, Banchan, I'm not going to that game, [ in spite of that, and himself, he pulls off a small smile. ] so shouldn't you mean but what am I supposed to do without Ginji? [ nevermind that outwardly it'd seem like he relies on you more that you rely on him, but, c'mon, it's about half and half. he nudges ban playfully. ] It won't be that bad, I'm sure, heh...

1/?

[dancewithme]

[Ahiru leaned closer and closer to the stranger in town until...]

[dancewithme]

[...the branch she was sitting on snapped sending the young girl crashing into the bushes below. ]

QUAC--...!!!

done

[dancewithme]

[Hands were quickly clasped over her mouth to end deafen the quack sound before it could be fully uttered as she marched stiff legged from the bush to Ban's side. Her face glowed bright red but she still bowed almost robot-like from the waist. ]

Konnichiwa Ban-chan.

[strifestrain]

It wouldn't have been a competition... not when you probably took every precaution to cheat at each turn, huh.

[just_a_minute]

I meant what I said. I'm the number one Get Backer, and always will be. [Said with a smile so you can tell it's not wholly sincere. The two did need each other.] Feh- who can tell from just looking the place over. Essentially I'll still be in the retrieval business at least... [If you stretch the definition of "retrieval" a little]

[just_a_minute]

What the-

[Alerted by her exclamation, Ban looked skyward only to have this strange young girl land at his feet. When she pulled herself up, it was evident how foolish she felt.. not that that fact held any sway over his words.]

That's Ban-sama.

[Unless you're a potential client and then maybe I'll change my tune]

The hell were you doing up there anyway...?

1/?

[just_a_minute]

Eh? Accepting your defeat graciously?

[He answered in a mocking tone, while tilting his head to one side.]

2/2

[just_a_minute]

[Unfortunately, his jovial mood melted away as soon as Kazuki finished that thought.]

Why you... [He grumbled, as he balled a fist] I didn't have to cheat! [.. But he totally would have. Cough. Not to mention his sample entry does happen to involve cheating.]

Think about it string-boy. What mun would want to spend the bulk of their time just trying to explain that their muse isn't female.

[dancewithme]

Ban... saaaaaa... mmmmmmm...

[Nope, didn't work. She tries again. ]

Ban... sammmmmm...

[She frowns. That was just too formal!]

I was looking for some one, Ban-chan. Have you seen a grim faced boy that looks something like this?

[She pulled at the sides of her mouth to illustrate how 'grim' he looked but it actually looked nothing like Fakir. ]

1/?

[just_a_minute]

[... Wait for it. Wait for it... but no matter how long he waited she wouldn't complete the suffix.]

-MA!

[Seriously?! It's not that hard to say! His impatience got the better of him.]

2/?

[just_a_minute]

[He nearly fell over when she switched to chan. No one was allowed to call him that but Ginji!]

Oi.. maybe we should just stick to "san".....

3/3

[just_a_minute]

You're going to have to be more specific than-...

[He trailed off as she started making weird faces. Was she trying to make a big joke out of all this or was there actually a missing person? It sounded like a waste of time but.. money was running short Like usual.]

Does this kid have a name? [And do you have any money?]

[dancewithme]

His name is Fakir, Ban-san!

[-San was much easier! Besides he didn't look too much older than her anyway, -sama just did not fit. ]

He was here...

[Ahiru looked around, right, then left, and the around Ban. ]

But, then he just disappeared.

[just_a_minute]

Never heard of him.

[Why couldn't this be something easy]

.......... People don't just disappear....

[Not usually anyway. It sounded like she just lost sight of the guy, not that he'd been abducted or anything.]

Can't help you.

[You can't afford my fee anyway. Then to be brutally honest...]

Did you ever consider that he wanted to get away from you?

[dancewithme]

Fakir does like to be alone some times.

[But she shook her head vehemently. ]

But, this isn't like that! We were trying to help Mytho... He wouldn't just have left!

You have to help me find him!

[just_a_minute]

[He wasn't moved by her emphatic insistence]

Pass.

[Ban answered coolly, waving it off. Ginji would be caving in by now]

[dancewithme]

[Pass? He just said pass?? ]

Aren't you a Get Backer?

[Ahiru pointed back to a dark clad figure in the shadows, who slowly raised the brim of his hat and smiled when he was indicated. ]

That guy said you could find anything? I guess he was wrong.

[strifestrain]

One who doesn't want to spend the bulk of their time explaining that their chosen's hair is so spiked because even it is trying to keep its distance from an empty head.

[just_a_minute]

You're kinda vicious today, have a fight with your keepers?

[A reference to Toshiki Uryuu and Juubei Kakei.]

Where are those guys anyway?

[Not that I care. Openly]

1/?

[just_a_minute]

[He definitely did say pass, Ahiru]

You've seen our ad?

2/?

[just_a_minute]

[Ha, and Ginji tried to get me to use our last few coins to by juice instead of fliers! I knew they'd do the trick.]

3/3

[just_a_minute]

[There was little time for celebration, he'd know that guy anywhere]

DR. JACKAL?!

[He looked incredulously between the innocent looking albeit annoying girl, and that monster who led her here]

Where did you ever run into this demon?!

[Akabane had a point though- the Get backers could find anything but what was the price of this product endorsement?]

Tch- there's no job I can't complete...

[I just don't want to in this case...]

... if the price is right.

[Or if something about the circumstances gets my attention... like showing up with a psychotic killer as your escort.]

[strifestrain]

...pining for them, are you? Shhhh, it's okay to admit it. I won't tell.

[ brb telling. ]

[just_a_minute]

Don't confuse me with you.

[Don't you dare!]

[dancewithme]

[Price... oh, um...

Ahiru reached down deep into her pockets...


Making a most duck-like face...


She pulled out a...



BIG OLE BALL OF LINT!

Dance students don't always have a lot of spare cash... especially when they are only a duck. -- Quack...]



That... wouldn't be enough?

[just_a_minute]

[He waited... impatiently for the girl to check her belongings. There was a distinct lack of jingling coins, or the rustling of paper. Her pockets were completely empty, weren't they? ]

............................

[.. His eyebrows knit, it was evident that the ball of lint was less than appreciated]

Look- it's a slow day.... [Looking toward Akabane for a second.]

I'll consider it a down payment. Just be sure to tell all your friends what a good job I did for you and we'll call it even. [Some of the dance students had to have rich parents, right?]

So this faker guy... where does he normally hang out? Is he a student too? I need something more to go on than he's just missing and wears a frown all the time.