[open log]

[greasemunkygal]

Who: Mikaela & OPEN
What: Searching
Where: Zone 6
Summary: After Mikaela fell asleep with Ironhide and actually got some rest last night, she got up nice and early this morning and headed out to search by herself. At least she’s armed this time.
Notes: Feel free to stumble across her. I’d prefer it if there were multiple threads as opposed to a

Comments

[mayflyhunter]

Without any warning, or any outward signs that he understood the meaning of the word "space", Vash the Stampede flopped down on the bench beside her. There was a paper sack in his lap, and his expression was unreadable. He didn't say anything for a moment, being mercifully silent for the first time since he'd arrived.

"So I got to thinkin'," he said, as if they'd just been having a conversation. "People're right. I needed some kinda job. And y'know what? They pay you!"

Brightly, he reached into the sack, and held out what looked like a hot dog. "In food!"

[greasemunkygal]

Mikaela jumped when Vash flopped on the bench next to her, staring at him with wide eyes until she registered who he was. She had...not been expecting such abrupt company. His silence was a little unnerving, he usually isn't that...quiet.

Okay, he wasn't EVER that quiet.

She blinked at him when he spoke, and at his question shook her head helplessly. She had absolutely no idea where this was going. So, when he pulled what looked like a hot dog out of the bag, she could only stare.

And stare a little more.

Then laugh.

"Well, getting paid in foods' as good as anything, right?" She grinned, leaning back. "Where're you workin' that pays you in hot dogs?"

[mayflyhunter]

He held the hot dog out a little more, offering it to her. It might have seemed like the most inane kind of topic ever, but she looked better now. At least for a second.

"Hot dog stand in one of the parks!" he said brightly. "They make donuts too, but uh..." His grin faded a bit as he looked back down at the bag. "They uh... ran out."

Yeah that was what happened.

[greasemunkygal]

She stared at the offered hot dog in confusion for a moment before taking it with a genuine smile. He'd definitely pulled her spirits up from the low they'd been in.

"They...ran out of donuts? Really?" She watched him carefully, trying not to grin. "'M sure you could find another stand somewhere..."

[mayflyhunter]

Much better. He grinned again, a little stupidly, but hey, that tended to make people smile more than anything. And if a beautiful girl was smiling--who was he to complain.

"Y-yeah!" he said. "Guess so! But they were real nice about it..!"

[greasemunkygal]

Mikaela was in a much better mood, and it was because of him.

"Well, that's what counts, right? The nice part, I mean." She stares at the hot dog in her hand again, then leaned over and threw her arms around his neck in a tight hug.

[mayflyhunter]

He had something all planned out. Something witty that would have swept her up off her feet and dazzled her! Like he usually did, anyway. But then... she startled him, throwing her arms around him, and squeezing. He flailed his arms for a minute, before awkwardly, lightly, patting her on the back.

People just didn't hug him. This was... strange.

"Hey there," he said, quietly.

[greasemunkygal]

"Thanks. For...being so nice to me." She grinned and pulled back once he returned her hug. "Kinda need it right now."

She munched thoughtfully on the hot dog. It was good, and she hadn't realized just how hungry she'd been.

"Haven't seen you in a while. Been staying out of trouble?"

[mayflyhunter]

Once she moved back, he rubbed at the back of his neck. Contrary to the popular belief he worked hard to foster... Vash kept tabs on the weird network thing. Someone was missing, and the big robots weren't too happy about it. Neither was she. "What's up?" he asked, pretending he had no idea.

He nodded briefly, his usual, empty smile firmly in place. "Haha! Yep! Once Mr. Buckethead told me where to run to!"

[greasemunkygal]

"It's uh...been kind of rough. Sam's missing." She has no idea he's been keeping tabs, she doesn't see him all that often.

..."Mr. Buckethead...?" Who...was that...?

[mayflyhunter]

"Missing?" he asked, blinking. "That's kinda rude of him, just to go poof like that..." Another bright smile. The robots weren't convinced this boy was okay, but, they apparently hadn't told the girl. So he laughed. "Man, I bet you're gonna really grill him when he comes back, huh?" he said, lightly.

"Uh, I dunno his real name," he said. "He was big, and metal and his head looked like he had a bucket on it."

[greasemunkygal]

"Yeah. Missing." There's emphasis on the word missing. She refuses to believe he's anything but alive and safe, sitting somewhere and obliviously eating cookies or something somewhere while everyone hunts. "You bet I'm gonna grill him when he gets home."

"...Er...Mega- Magnum, maybe?" A bucket...she couldn't suppress a chuckle. Vash had a point.