#kano replies

[unbridledshenanigans]

All things said, it could’ve gone worse. Her head was a bit sore, but there was a surprising lack of bleeding this time around. No opening of old wounds either, so that boded well.

Besides, a thick stack of cash waiting for her when she left the bar was plenty of incentive to overlook her bumps and bruises.

The bartender made idle chatter with her for a while as she downed a few shots to dull the ache. Her chest started to feel warm and her head just shy of fuzzy when she decided to slow down and prepare to head home.

One of the servers at the bar had helped her bandage up her head. It hadn’t been a lot of blood, but still enough to be concerned with. Other than that, the fight had gone fairly well and she was pleased.

Now she just had to make it through, well, about a hell of a lot more.

“Fuck this job,” She murmured with a groan, laying her head down on the bar top.

[unbridledshenanigans]

“Ow, hell! Why’s it gotta sting so much?”

The last thing she had expected that day was to find herself settled on a park bench well after midnight, nursing several cuts on her arms and a busted lip. The bar hadn’t been too friendly to her after her last fight, so she hadn’t dared stay to treat her injuries there. With everything else closed or unlikely to admit a bleeding patron without asking too many questions, she took to the park.

It was empty, save for maybe a few junkies loitering here or there. Even they wouldn’t dare walk up to someone who looked like her at the moment. She imagined she looked like hell.

She pressed a cloth against some of her cuts, washing them as best she could with the simple water bottle she’d had with her. She’d entertained the idea of going home, but Finley would likely still be awake. He’d warned her not to take the fight, but she had anyway.

The last thing she wanted was her mentor yelling at her and making her headache worse. That would just wake up the other roommates in the house, and they’d all coddle her too.

With a sigh, she reached into her backpack and retrieved a few bandages, hoping it would do the trick until she could get home. Whenever that was.

“God, I’m an idiot,” She murmured, though there was a strange sense of humor in her tone.

Hey, at least I got paid!

[unbridledshenanigans]

Left.

Right.

Another right-shit.

She faltered on the last hit and felt the full brunt of it. They had set up a pattern the night before, but it seemed this guy was bored of it.

She slammed into the ground, feeling the rough floor scrape across her elbows. That didn’t feel good in the least.

“Jesus, we rehearsed this-“ She started, keeping her voice just loud enough for her opponent to hear. Not like it mattered. The crowd was too loud, and he wasn’t listening anyway. The foot swinging down at her ribs told her that much.

She rolled just in time to avoid the roughest part of it. She felt a sharp graze on her side, but nothing too awful. The momentum carried her to her knees, and then to her feet.

She was only up for another few seconds before she was flat on her back again, this time with the taste of copper on her tongue.

Why do they always gotta aim for th’ fuckin’ nose!?

Reflex tears blinded her as she strained to her feet once more, blood dripping from her nose and into her mouth. She wiped it away as best she could and put her hands back up, barely managing to dodge another swipe at her face.

Least I’m gettin’ paid, she thought as he drew back for a rather harsh punch. She could see he was aiming at her stomach, and decided that would be the least painful way to go down. It would still hurt like hell, but at least he wouldn’t mess her face up any more.

She slowed her movements just enough. Just slow enough for him to actually land his blow.

The force carried her off her feet, her breath leaving her in an audible gasp. She landed on the floor one last time, her head bouncing painfully off of it. Her vision swam and started to blacken as she saw her opponent lift his hands up in victory, the chime of a loud bell signaling the end of the match.

Yep, she thought, unaware of the commotion in the crowd. Least I’m gettin’ paid.

[unbridledshenanigans]

Bet I look like a million bucks right now.

Her thoughts were bitter and her body was aching. Everything on her screamed out in pain beneath a strange layer of numbness. It was a combination she couldn’t quite grasp, but nonetheless she knew it wasn’t good.

Then again, bleeding from several locations-including a large gash on your forehead-was rarely a good thing. She’d realized the moment she’d broken away from the fight that she’d wound up looking worst for wear, but now she really and truly felt it.

It was a few blocks down the way from where the fight had taken place and she was realizing making it all the way back to her apartment wasn’t going to happen. Normally she’d prefer that to a clinic, but there was one right ahead of her and her apartment was another mile off. She wouldn’t make it that far.

In the end she found herself stumbling through the doors of a clinic she’d never been to before. Normally the sight of all the scantily clad, busty nurses within would make her pause, but she was too out of it for that. Instead she slid up to the front desk and leaned heavily on it, smiling at the stricken looking nurse behind the counter.

“Hi, I’ve got a bit of a problem. I can’t seem to feel my anythin’,” She said, her humor ever present. At least, it was until she collapsed.

“Fuck.”

[unbridledshenanigans]

@theres-goodnoosetonight

Once the fires had died out, stealing away their warmth with them, the crowd had dispersed and the square had emptied out. The sun had set over an hour ago and the moon brought cold wind, blowing steadily across the now empty space.

Empty save for two figures.

One of the gypsy dancers that had been working the square had remained to count her coins before taking off down an alley way, the bracelets on her wrists and ankles jingling softly in the otherwise quiet air. It made it a little bit easier to follow her.

She’d wanted to make a request for help, some sort of appeal for shelter, but by the time Mizuki had worked up the nerve to approach she’d taken off. It wasn’t so much that she was worried about talking to a gypsy. No, more than that she was afraid that she’d be turned down. After all, at the moment she looked rather troubling. The front of her formerly white shirt was stained with red and several bruises ran along her bare arms, as well as one right beneath her left eye.  Some looked fresh, and the red staining her lip said that the cut on it was very recent.

Her last fight hadn’t gone so well.

She followed after the gypsy as quickly as she could, holding the edge of her sleeve up to staunch the flow of blood from her mouth. She was just beginning to grow irritated with the taste of copper when she paused in her steps. She didn’t hear the gypsy girl’s footsteps anymore.

And she was completely lost.

Fantastic.

[unbridledshenanigans]

@loopawn

Of all the bars in town, it was one of the nicest. The air was mostly clear, save for the ever present haze of cigarette smoke that seemed to linger over all taverns. Soft and relaxing music played from an old style jukebox tucked into the corner. All the patrons talked quietly amongst themselves or nursed their drinks in silence.

It was a perfect place to try and drink off her headache.

A glass full of bourbon in one hand and the other pressing a warm cloth over her cheek and already she was feeling better. The left side of her face was bruised and the cheek was slightly swollen beneath the cloth, but already it was beginning to ease back on its throbbing. Blood stained the front of her shirt in small droplets, but it wasn’t an uncommon sight. Only some of it was hers, anyway.

Least I won! She thought, enthusiastic for someone who looked half beaten. The bartender was familiar with her and once he was sure blood wouldn’t start to flow again if she removed the rag he took it to warm it once more.

“Was a good fight this time,” She told him when he brought it back, smiling just as brightly as ever. The barkeep snorted and walked back to his work, leaving her to nurse her bourbon in peace.

“Real good,” She murmured before tossing the drink back and placing the cloth over her cheek once more, sucking in a breath as warmth agitated the raw flesh. “Better than the last.”

[unbridledshenanigans]

@sarudorobou

Business had been good as of late with jobs pouring in from various sources. After the dry spell she’d had for some time with little to no offers aside from assassinations and kidnappings, she was glad to hear the demand for thieves had picked back up.

That being said, it meant that all the small time thieves who’d been down and out were back in the running. Throw that in with the big name thieves still out and snatching up all the marks and it made for quite the competitive business.

Kano was just on her way back from a failed heist-the third one that week, to be exact-when she saw someone walking unsteadily ahead of her.

At first she didn’t pay them any mind, just continuing on her way. The next thing she knew there was a loud and rather sickening crunch before blood spattered on the ground before them.

As per usual her friendly nature-and morbid curiosity-get the better of her.

“Hey man, you okay-“

And that was a gun.

That was a gun pointed at her face.

That was the exact opposite of a good thing.

“I’m going to take that as a no.”