Backdated to after Hajime and Kinji's fight in World Series week 1

[triggerhappytraitor]

I can't find Kinji.

[[There are equal levels of worry and agitated discomfort in that single sentance]]

Comments

[chalicejoker]

Could've fooled me.

[You walked right into that one, Tachibana. Right into it.]

[triggerhappytraitor]

[[He's not even going to dignify that with a response]]

[chalicejoker]

[Hajime's not bothering to say anything else right now. He's too busy trying to scent Kinji, but he's found Tachibana's scent, maybe if he follows that...]

[triggerhappytraitor]

[[if he does, he will find the man struggling to yank free from the stubborn curtains that are clinging to his leg, looking insanely aggravated and agitated and like he's about to punch the next thing he can.

You know. Basically just like how Hajime looked about 15 minutes ago.]]

[chalicejoker]

[The wolf with the mantis on his head rounds the corner, and...

...have you ever seen what a laughing wolf looks like? This is what a laughing wolf looks like. Ryo, from atop Hajime's head, starts yelling, "Uncle!"]

[triggerhappytraitor]

[[Any cursing out of that laughing wolf is utterly hijacked by Ryo's yell.

Tachibana stills, looking utterly mortified, fists clenching at his side as the curtains drop away. Pride stinging, he resumes stalking away, doing his best to stay clear of any other clinging fabric and avoid eye contact with Hajime.

...jerk.]]

[chalicejoker]

[There is no masking the wagging of Hajime's tail as he sits down to watch. He will probably never get the hang of keeping the tail under control.

Ryo has no concept of giving people a moment when they're embarrassed, and he's bouncing off of Hajime's head and using the cushions as little trampolines to propel himself towards Tachibana, asking, "Are you all right?"]

[triggerhappytraitor]

[[at Ryo's calling after, Tachibana slows enough to let the mantis-child catch up with him]]

Kinji vanished while we were speaking. Until I can find out what happened to him, and know that he's safe, I won't be.

[chalicejoker]

["Hajime can find him!" Ryo insists, bouncing along. "Super nose!"]

Actually, all his scent trails go cold. I don't know what happened.

[Dungeon? Maybe? He's not sure.]

[triggerhappytraitor]

[[Tachibana paused, turning to stare at the wolf.]]

...so he truly did just vanish.

[[That... was not at all a reassuring thing to hear.]]

...how the hell do we find him, then? [[The words are very frustrated and heavy with worry. That he's not really reacting much to Hajime speaking to him over the network really does just show how badly this has shaken (and focused) him.]]

[chalicejoker]

Same way they found my dungeon. Wait for someone to find the door.

["I helped!" Ryo adds there. "Go find door! Go find door!" Looks like he'll zip off to search if no one stops him.]

[triggerhappytraitor]

There's no way in hell I can just wait around!

[[His fists are clenched at his sides now]]

[chalicejoker]

[Hajime's darting forward to gently stop Ryo.]

He's going to turn up--this sort of thing's been happening more often than anyone would like lately. You're worrying too much.

[triggerhappytraitor]

The hell can you tell me I'm worrying too much if this is happening too often?!

[chalicejoker]

Because we'll go in and get him out. Simple as that.

It's a pain, but no one's going to die or anything.

[triggerhappytraitor]

And until then we just wait?

[[So very very unhappy at that. So very very.

...and speaking of being unhappy...]]

... the hell are you still in that form for anyway.

[chalicejoker]

[There's a wolfish shrug.]

You do realize I'm naked for a little bit after I change back in this form, right?

[triggerhappytraitor]

You can pull clothing out of the air, the hell does it matter?

[[Pointedly looking away now.]]

[chalicejoker]

I can actually just straight-up make it on my body, but there's still that split second when I'm naked.

[He's got to say that before changing back, just to be annoying.

"Pants are important!" Ryo insists before hopping onto Hajime's shoulder once he's got clothes again.]

You still haven't figured out how to do it?

[triggerhappytraitor]

How the hell would I? [[Still not looking over because Hajime's made no indication that he's dressed.]]

[chalicejoker]

I can show you.

[Hajime's speaking out loud again now, not using the network.

"Good teacher!" Ryo adds, even though Hajime is anything but. "Made nice pants!"]

[triggerhappytraitor]

[[A small touch of the tension in Tachibana's frame eased at that shift. The urgency of the situation may have given him the push to be able to use the network, but he still doesn't like it.

He turns back at Ryo's addition, taking it as a signal that Hajime's properly dressed. (Not that he really cares either way, but since Hajime made a big deal of it, he's not going to offend the man's sensibilities. He is trying to avoid starting fights with him, after all....) ]]

Fine.

[[If he can't do anything to find Kinji right now, at the very least he can learn something useful.....]]

[chalicejoker]

It'll be better back in the restaurant where there aren't any of these stupid curtains...

[Hajime motions for Tachibana to follow him--he's going to open a portal.]

[triggerhappytraitor]

[[No arguments there at all. He is not at all fond of the clinging curtains at the moment either.

He relaxes a touch more when the arrive at the restaurant, but is still very visibly on edge and fidgety]]

...You've been here more than a year, you said before, haven't you?

[chalicejoker]

Yeah.

[Hajime stops to set Ryo down on the countertop, where the little mantis busies himself playing with some plastic insects that had been left scattered out there.]

You learn stuff in that time.