You gotta be banjoking

[thalassino]

A thoughtful (more or less) person has carried the magic banjo outside, leaving it near the corral. It still glows faintly, as if it is beckoning people to play it. The kraken, surprisingly, doesn't try to break the instrument. Then again, it is a magic banjo. Maybe it just doesn't want to touch that with a ten foot tentacle.

Comments

[ceruleanvices]

If it wasn't one thing, it was another. First the kraken was throwing a fit. Then it was hibernating. Now it was occasionally throwing a fit. It was getting to the point where Ban was almost convinced they were all stuck on the set of a monster horror movie instead of a bubble city.

It was during one of his walks around town, eying the kraken yet not entirely bothering it, when he spotted the banjo...just leaning against a wall.

"A banjo." It's all he says, and to no one in particular. An eyebrow is arched, and he picks the instrument up. He'd read up on guitars and such earlier - was it way back when he'd visited the music shop with Kagome? - and it didn't take him very long to start carefully plucking out a tune, slowly at first.

The smile that crosses his lips, despite the cigarette, was also unintentional.

[runsyoudown]

Although Rider had noticed the banjo earlier on in the day, she had only taken a few moments to observe it before continuing on her way. It was just an instrument, and she had better things to do than study it.

Upon returning to that spot, however, she was almost surprised to find Ban just sitting there and playing it. With the Kraken having awoken once more, now seemed a rather inappropriate time to be sitting down and playing songs on a banjo.

[ceruleanvices]

He'd sped up in his playing when he noticed another presence close by. Glancing up, he nods at Rider, smile still present. "Hey, Rider. How're you?"

[runsyoudown]

Oh, so he noticed her. She closed her eyes and pushed her glasses further up.

"I have been busy. Although the Kraken was asleep for some time, I have still been scouting the area in case it awoke once more. Apparently it has now."

[ceruleanvices]

"Yeah, looks like it has." He just shrugged, his playing slowing a bit. "If you need a hand..." Ban trailed off, still strumming.

[runsyoudown]

"It is something I can handle on my own," she stated, brushing a few strands of hair over her shoulder. "Besides, it appears that you have more important matters to attend to now." Like strumming on a banjo.

[ceruleanvices]

"Like I said, if." He arched an eyebrow at her statement; a glance down, and then he laughed, realizing her intent. "It was just sitting here, and I figured 'why not?' Never played one before."

[runsyoudown]

Before she could respond, a tentacle from the reawakened Kraken came crashing down mere meters away from them. Fortunately she was able to hold her ground.

"Yes, and I can tell that it is doing the city a rather large favor."

[ceruleanvices]

Rolling his eyes, Ban stood up, still holding the instrument for some reason. "Hey. I'm certain I'm not the only one who picked this up and started toying with it, and besides. That overgrown sushi bar was going to wake up and pitch a fit sooner or later."

[runsyoudown]

"I am certain it would have awoken eventually. Just as I am certain you helped to speed up the inevitable."

When the tentacle came closer again, Rider pulled back a food and kicked the sucker hard.

[ceruleanvices]

"Rather get it done and over it, and get back to life. Which reminds me..." he trailed off, the smile returning for a few seconds when Rider kicked the kraken's tentacle.

[runsyoudown]

Rider turned back to look at him. "Yes?"

[ceruleanvices]

"We're still on for another dinner d...get together, right?"

Ban: asking the right questions at the right time. Except not.

[runsyoudown]

"Ah...yes. That." She had almost forgotten about their plans. Almost. It remained in the back of her mind while the appearance of the Kraken had been at the forefront.

"Is not the best time to be asking about it?"

[ceruleanvices]

"Probably not, but it crossed my mind when I called our whining monster an overgrown sushi bar..." a pause when he jumped back to dodge another tentacle. "...and I just wanted to be certain."

[runsyoudown]

A sigh almost escaped her. "That is not something you should be calling him. The Kraken is a very ancient creature and should not be compared to a mere octopus."