Although not quite the usual monk, there was nothing immodest about Tenkai's choice of attire that set him apart from any other monk. His robes covered enough of his body that it was difficult to even discern his build save for the hints of muscle seen on his bandaged-up left forearm. Even though his weapon had been securely wrapped in cloth, it probably wasn't too hard for anyone to figure out what it was just by looking at it. After all, what reason was anyone to carry a wrapped-up stick shaped object if it was really just a stick?
"Oh yes, hello," Tenkai replied to Maxwell as he basically addressed himself as a bartender. However, it seemed as if the monk had overlooked one of the rules of the bar before walking in. Somehow the thought of having to remove his weapon from its hiding made the monk slightly uneasy. He didn't like displaying it out in the open for fear that it might put others at unrest or attract some unwanted attention. It was uncanny how many strangers were so eager to fight that they'd challenge just about anyone with a weapon to a sparring match. Unlike men of that nature, or even men that commonly traveled with a weapon, Tenkai wasn't quite fond of fighting.
Of course, that was the least of his worries if they were asking to
hold onto his weapon for him.
The monk looked over to Rod, the man Maxwell referred to as the "security team". Tenkai was pretty sure it took more than one man to make a team, so it didn't take the monk long to realize it was a figure of speech. No doubt the large, heavily built man was formidable enough to carry out whatever duties that would require an entire team to handle. Just as Rod was sizing up the shorter, seemingly meek-looking monk, Tenkai was analyzing Rod as well without being overly scrutinizing. It was only a few glances here and there, but it was enough for Tenkai to notice the seemingly unnatural quality of his musculature. Tenkai had met men who had their bodies genetically or chemically enhanced before, and there was always something too perfectly balanced or practically honed about them that set them apart from bodies built through rigorous training. If Tenkai had to guess, Rod was some sort of former mercenary, possibly a freelancer looking for something more permanent. At well over six feet tall, it almost looked like Rod had nearly a foot on the monk. In spite of his size, Tenkai did not seem to be intimidated. Rather, why would he need to be intimidated when there was no conflict to be instigated?
Their request was reasonable enough, to say the least. As much as Tenkai wanted to avoid broadcasting to the bar that he was armed, it couldn't hurt for them to at least see the weapon. Rather than follow Rod's motion to hand the weapon over, Tenkai would instead show them the weapon himself. He would do so slowly, but not so slowly as to seem like he was trying to pull a fast one on them. He removed the slung weapon from his shoulder and unwrapped the top end carefully, almost too carefully, revealing what was clearly the hilt of a Japanese sword. There didn't seem to be anything out of the ordinary about it, nothing overly ornate. It was well crafted in its simplicity, but that was it.
He's quiet today, thought Tenkai.
Thank goodness.
The monk pulled aside more of the cloth just enough to show that there was a sheath hidden beneath that cloth and not some sort of secret weapon he was trying to hide under the guise of a Japanese sword. It would be enough to clear any doubt, leaving no room for anything that could possibly be a gun or some secret throwing knives or anything, but that was all Tenkai would show. He was loathe to unsheathe the sword arbitrarily, and even less inclined to let either of them hold it for him in spite of what Rod said.
"There," said the monk, feeling no need to actually describe what his weapon was. Surely the two of them knew what a katana was with so many Gaians running around with them all willy-nilly. He began to wrap the sheathed sword back up again. "Though I must apologize. I cannot allow this sword to leave my side. If it means I cannot spend the night, I will not trouble you. I'll have a drink and be on my way."
It was then that a woman approached the group, and Tenkai could already tell by the tone of her voice and her choice of words that she was a higher ranking staff member, if not the owner of the bar itself. What had started as a weapon confiscation rule had then turned into a partial confiscation rule, until finally it was cleared up that there was no rule at all. Tenkai was somewhat relieved, tying off the end of his sword's wrapping before laying it against his shoulder. There was another there as well, a similarly tall man who had a distinct nordic appearance to him, and yet there wasn't any sign that he was a member of staff other than the white-haired woman's seeming familiarity with him. She had to have been the owner of the bar with the way she talked to Rod, who had stormed off before Tenkai could answer his question. The monk raised his hand in futility, mouth agape as if he was about to say something, but by then Rod was already too far away. Tenkai's index finger drooped, his mouth flattening.
Retracting his hand, he turned back to the owner, raising his hands disarmingly. "Oh, goodness no," said the monk. "I don't intend to spill any blood at all, let alone on your floor."
The owner, whom Maxwell referred to as "Miss Louvelle", went off after Rod to speak with him after he stormed off. Difficulty between members of staff was not uncommon in bars, especially not in places like these. For a moment Tenkai felt bad about the situation, feeling somewhat at fault for its causation. Still, there seemed to be something peculiar about Miss Louvelle, but not in the way that Rod was. Rod seemed like he was human with some quality that set him apart from other humans, but the bar-owner had something else that seemed to imply she wasn't human at all. Was it simply the color of her hair and her eyes, or was there something that Tenkai could actually perceive that told him she was a werewolf?
"I apologize for any difficulty I've caused," he said. "My name is Tenkai. I am a monk, and a traveler. I can't really say I hail from anywhere anymore at this point, save the places I most frequently visit." Of course, Tenkai did have a place of origin, but that was a rather complicated story. Perhaps it wasn't the best kind of story to lead off with. "Anyways, some tea would be lovely if you have any."
(( I might have to edit this if I missed any details. >< ))
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