(no subject)

[mnt_raph]

The front door to the bar opens and in walks someone who hasn't been seen a whole lot recently.
Which isn't to say that he hasn't been around, but rather that he hasn't been seen.

Ninjas are wiley that way, after all.

These days he's a broad, bald, white guy who moves with the authority that comes with knowing that he can dish out more than most people can take, and take more than most people can dish out...punishment-wise. He's not dressed in black, exactly, but a very dark nearly-black shade of green, and on his thick black belt hang a pair of anachronistic-for-his outfit sai.

He moves towards Bar, and settles in his favorite spot by her side. 
A knock on her top is all it takes to order his favorite beer, a sandwich, and a first aid kit he's not entirely aware he needs yet.
(There's spot of darker than dark-green forming on the left side of his back, about midway down.)

Comments

[cutting_edgex23]

X-23 -- wearing a brilliant yellow, blue, and black uniform -- slips into a seat next to Raph, head tilting a little as she studies him.

Her nostrils flare.

"You are bleeding."

You know. In case he didn't know that yet.

[mnt_raph]

Raph's mid-bite when X appears, and is mid-chew when she points out what...should be obvious to him.

"Hmmmuh?" he asks around his food.
He turns to see if he can figure out where from, when he catches sight of X and her new dude.

Raph blinks.

"'S a new look for you."

[cutting_edgex23]

"There is no other Wolverine. Right now."

Beat.

"Sometimes it is useful to be recognized."

She reaches out her hand and gently touches the back of Raph, where the blood is. Then she holds said bloody hand under his nose.

"You will want a bandage?"

[mnt_raph]

"No kiddin'? Huh."
He shakes his head in surprise.
Raph thought for certain that Logan'd never give up that name without a fight.
...

Oh. Well shit.
This would be the point where he picks up his stein of beer, raises it in honor, and downs a gulp in memoriam.

He doesn't react to her touch, mostly because there's a layer of light mail and leather between her hand and his skin.

"Mithros, are you shittin' me? That little punk actually managed to tag me!"

[cutting_edgex23]

"He still comes here," X offers, after a moment. "But they are not the same."

It's close, though. And sometimes it helps.

"I do not lie."

Beat.

"It was a thief? Or someone you are training."

Or just an asshole?

[mnt_raph]

Little from column A, little from column C.

"Worse, spy."
Raph's pulling his tunic over his head, revealing the bizarrely turtle-shell shaped bit of leather and ring chain-mail he's wearing.

"Whole kingdom's lousy with'em. Caught this particular prick where he weren't supposed to be."

[cutting_edgex23]

X is not very conversant with armor, so she accepts the strangeness of his gear as if it's just normal.

Though she does blink. Once.

"Maybe he is a better assassin. Than a spy."

Beat.

"Spies are better when they are not caught."

[guppy_sandhu]

"Hey Raph. Need any help?" Guppy asks, from down the bar.

[mnt_raph]

He turns when he hears his name.

"Nah, I'm pretty sure I got this, Doc," he says with a smirk as he raises his stein in Guppy's direction.

[guppy_sandhu]

"You sure? You seem to be bleeding down your back." Guppy says, though he gives Raph a smile because it's been a while.

[mnt_raph]

He wipes his mouth wit the back of one hand, head already tilting to one side as if asking, "What?"

Raph reaches his free hand around to his back.

"Aw come on. Seriously?"

[guppy_sandhu]

"Yeah." Guppy moves over and points it out. He's hobbling slightly on one foot, but nothing major.

"You get hit with something?"

[mnt_raph]

Raph wipes the blood now on his hand on the leg of his trousers.
Another benefit of dark green? It hides blood really well.

"I can't believe the little shit actually tagged me," he says with a sigh.
"Yeah it's fine, can't be too deep..."

[childofrebellion]

Cassian's had another long day of being Willix and he's still in his suit shirt but has his old flight vest over it.

When he approaches the counter, he sees Raph and says, "You're bleeding."

[mnt_raph]

Raph, ever so eloquent, turns towards the newcomer.

"Huh?"

[childofrebellion]

"On your back, its coming through your shirt,"

He gestures to the spot on his own back while he orders an Alderaan beer from Bar and a plate of nachos.

[mnt_raph]

His brow furrows in confusion, and without taking his eyes off the new guy, Raph reaches around towards his back.

"Oh this is bullshit."

[childofrebellion]

"Someone sneak up on you?" Its the place for it though judging by the blood doesn't seem that deep.

[mnt_raph]

"The little bastard was fast, I'll give'im that."

He's just about to pull his tunic over his head when he remembers where he is.

"You uh, don' mind if I..."
The sentence trails off.

[peerless_thayet]

He's followed a quarter of an hour later by a tall, cloaked figure, light on her feet, a crossbow by her side. A brief delay to warm her hands by the fire and she settles into the spot she has come to know well: the stool next to her favorite Ninja Shang warrior's favorite spot.

Thayet says nothing to him, not yet, though she does raise an eyebrow at the blood he's ignoring. Abigail is going to be less than pleased if he continues to be so careless with his tunics.

If she doesn't have other things to worry about. Like monsters in the valley and throughout Tortall.

Gripped by a sudden need for a drink, she asks Bar for ale in a voice even more husky than usual.

[mnt_raph]

Okay so in Raph's defense...

...

There really is no defense for this, is there?
Right then, moving on...

Raph hears that voice, and recognizes it instantly.

"Ma'am," he says because Highness is reserved for John when Raph is feeling particularly snotty.

[peerless_thayet]

Coincidentally, we're sure, Thayet rarely hears Raph call Jonathan anything else.

"Sir," she replies, feeling the tiniest bit snotty herself at the moment. Then, wearily, "Just Thayet, Raph. At least here, if not at home."

She takes a sip of ale.

And another.

"Did trouble find you or did you rustle it up for a bit of fun?"

The question is not as casual as it might sound to anyone listening to their conversation. The Queen expects a report.

[mnt_raph]

That's entirely coincidental, we're sure.

Raph gives Thayet a look when she suggests he call her by her given name at Court. It's a look that hints at Raph being thrown out of a castle from the highest parapet, or possible drawn and quartered by people less mighty than he...but far more numerous.

It'd be like fighting 100 foot tall chickens.

"Trouble? Me? No ma'a....Thayet. I'm not the kind of guy who goes looking for that kind of fun."

He takes a drink.

"I do, however, find it sometimes. You know, in my travels."

[peerless_thayet]

Give it a few months. Who knows what size chicken-like monsters might pour out of the Divine Realm?

"So I've heard."

And seen.

It's lighter in tone, her unusually sharp edges quickly rounded off by ale and warmth.

"What manner of trouble did that to your back?"

[mnt_raph]

It's not the chicken-like one's he worried about. They at least have an appropriate number of limbs.

His brow furrows in confusion at the mention of his back.
There's nothing wrong with his back.
Why would there be anything wrong with his...

Raph reaches a hand to his back and for the first time not only feels the pang from the affected area, but also the wet fabric.

"...you gotta be shittin' me," he says before he can stop himself.

Believe it or not, but Raph really does try his level best to NOT swear in front of Thayet.