Gunsmoke -- Random Saloon -- State of Oblivion

[gunpowder_donut]

Humans had always been a marvel to him. It had started with Rem of course, each one of her words putting Vash more and more in awe of her. And then there was the determination of those who'd crashed and found a way to survive on such a foreboding desert planet. And now they're reaching out to one another across space, bridging the gaps between

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[trustystungun]

The girls had been searching the city for their charge for quite some time by the time Milly spotted the red-coated gunman (honestly, with his height and get-up, you'd think he'd be easier to find). "Oh! I found him, sempai!" Milly waved her arms energetically to catch Vash's attention. "Mr. Vash! Mr. Vash, over here!"

[gunpowder_donut]

Vash flinched at the sound of Milly calling his name. He turned his head slowly, as if that would be enough to keep it from being who he already knew it was.

"Hey there." Vash laughed nervously along with his greeting. So they'd found him again. The odds were in their favor really, since they always did. The big girl has some scary instincts. He felt a trickle of sweat slide along his jaw before lifting a gloved hand to wipe it away. "Sure is hot today. You two better find some shade and something cold to drink...well, see ya!"

Yeah, like it's gonna be that easy.

[run_meryl_run]

The 'see ya' was not lost upon Meryl, who'd arrived shortly after Milly had called her over. "And where do you think you're going, buster?" she said hotly in an attempt to stop another Vash-run (TM). "We've still got to keep an eye on you whether you like it or not and with the rumors about the returning bounty, we really have to keep you under surveilance so as not to attract any attention." You could literally see the vein that was threatening to pop out of her forehead.

[trustystungun]

Milly, on the other hand, looked slightly apologetic. She knew Vash didn't particularly like having them around, but they did have a job to do; they couldn't very well let him loose again with all the trouble the poor man seemed to attract, especially now!

[gunpowder_donut]

There was another, stronger cringe when Meryl's voice spoke up next. If the big one's unnervingly perceptive, then the little one's as tenacious as a bulldog -- once she gets ahold of something, she doesn't want to let go! And that includes Vash.

It's not that he doesn't -like- the girls. Quite the opposite. They're good girls and he really doesn't wanna see them get hurt. And if they continue hanging around him it's only a matter of time until that happens.

His lips parted to offer some sort of excuse or protest before Vash blinked suddenly. "Returning...bounty?" He repeats those words while lifting a hand to scratch at his spiky-haired head.

[run_meryl_run]

Meryl sighed, she had figured that Vash would have at least heard the rumors already. "According to what we've heard," she began somewhat exhasperately, "there's a high probability that the bounty may be placed back on your head." She sighed again, "We like the idea about as much as you do Vash, but there's not much we can do other than hope it's not true right now. I am not looking forward to the possibility of having to deal with a mass of bounty hunters on you again."

[gunpowder_donut]

Vash blinked once before his posture slumped a bit. "Oh man..." He groaned amidst the sharp *smack!* of a gloved hand against his forehead. "What do I have to do to catch a break around here? Do I really deserve this?!"

...Don't answer that.

Once the moaning and groaning subsided the gunman lifted his head, his tone becoming more serious. "All the more reason you girls should just look the other way right now. I know you're just doing your job..." Meryl's reminded him of that often enough. "But it's not worth taking unnecessary risks." He could only wonder what the skills of these new bounty hunters might be.

[all_just_adream]

Julia had stopped in the bar for a simple drink, that's all. After traveling for days, maybe weeks, he life had fallen into the thoughtless routine of the journey. The idea of reaching her destination hadn't occurred to her for quite some time. Then that large girl started yelling a familiar name: Vash...That's what they call him, isn't it?

She leaves some bills on the table and moves to the side of the street, just listening to them for some time. Bounties and risks, this must be them. They meet the descriptions undoubtedly. She approaches the group from the side, glancing at Vash with slight concern, but addressing the women before her with her full attention. "Excuse me. Are you Milly Thompson and Meryl Strife? I've been paid by the Bernardelli Isurance Society to act as a bodyguard for an indetermined amount of time." She won't offer any more information than that until their identities are confirmed.

[trustystungun]

Milly, confused, blinks at Julia curiously for a moment. Hadn't she just talked to Meryl about something like this?...Oh, well! She smiles cheerily. "Yes! I'm Milly and this is sempai. It's very nice to meet you!" She holds out a hand, all sunshine and innocence.

[run_meryl_run]

This situation came as a complete surprise to Meryl and she and surprises don't get along very well. "Milly!" she hissed to her companion, "You shouldn't go around telling a complete stranger off the street that! How are we supossed to know that she isn't some bounty hunter after Vash!" She turned to Julia, "Tell me, how ARE we supposed to know if what your saying is true and your not just trying to get close to Vash because of the prospective bounty, hmmm?"

[all_just_adream]

Julia cordially shakes Milly's hand while snapping dryly at Meryl, "You're not dead yet." Face it girls, you're being incredibly obvious. If she had a malicious intent, she could have acted on it long before now. She drops Milly's hand and holds her palms open and just away from her sides. No weapons, no worries, right? "My name is Julia. I was chosen to be your extra protection now that the your charge's bounty has been reinstated. Bernardelli was supposed to send a letter ahead of me explaining all of this."

[run_meryl_run]

Meryl was taken aback at Julia's remark. She's got a point there, she thought to herself. The part about the letter snapped her back into the real world from her musings. "Letter? We never got a letter. We havn't gotten anything from the Society in the past few months."

[gunpowder_donut]

Vash blinked at Julia's approach, recalling how he'd noticed her earlier in the bar. He'd sensed something different about her but wasn't sure then what it was. And he'd left before he had a chance to find out.

Hearing it now leaves the gunman feeling reassured but it also proves his point. When insurance girls need a bodyguard it means trouble can't be far behind.

Or in this case, far ahead. While the girls exchange introductions and explanations, Vash the Stampede has eeeever so subtly sidestepped away to make his escape, leaving a black cat sitting where he'd stood.

[trustystungun]

Of course, Milly is the first to notice this.

Blinkblink. "Sempai? Mr. Vash has turned into a cat again."

Kuroneko, for his part, simply 'nyaa's.

[all_just_adream]

"I suspect the messengers have a bit less experience finding criminals than I. Surely it will appear in the next few days, and you can verify everything I've already told you," she explains to Meryl.

As for Milly and her "revelation," Julia can do nothing besides stare blankly, if not slightly surprised. ...You didn't even see him leave? she thinks to herself. Perhaps Julia should have said something aloud, but frankly, that's not her job. In fact, the girls in her care would be much safer away from the bounty head.

[run_meryl_run]

"How dare you call Vash a criminal without even bothering to get to know him!" Meryl explodes, this is something she really doesn't like people to do. "He's to much of an oaf to really know what the hell is going on, much less be considered a criminal since he never really causes it all in the first place!"

Ah yes, Vash the mysterious Nyaaing cat. Meryl sighs, she hates it when Vash seeks off on them like that-it's very annoying. "Come on Milly, let's see if we can't find that bufoon before more people start showing up."