13564/A Raven Walks into a Bar...

A Raven Walks into a Bar...
Date of Scene:	12 December 2022
Location:	Luke's Bar
Synopsis:	...and a mob enforcer shadows out of it. Go figure.
Cast of Characters:	Luke Cage, Rachel Roth

---

Luke Cage has posed:
    Another night at Luke's. This time, though, Katie had had a sudden emergency and called out, and lacking anyone else to pick up the shift, Luke himself finds a place behind the bar. Not that he really minds, of course - there are some days when he enjoys the chatter. So rather than hiding in his corner table, he is front and center, mixing drinks and filling glasses for the various patrons. He chats idly with some of the regulars as he moves quickly, if not with the practiced efficiency of the regular staff.

Rachel Roth has posed:
    Raven is not the typical, or usual, patron of any sort of bar. She looks more at home in a dimly lit nightclub, rather than here at Luke's. However, patrol through Metropolis offers the ability to return to the tower rather easily. Tonight, she is quite a distance from the tower. Teleporting throughout the world isn't exactly without its costs, and Raven is not excited to return to the tower in the middle of her patrol of New York, and has heard stories of a small place where anyone can go to have a drink.

    She isn't the alcohol type of person, usually. It has little effect on her demonic physiology. That does not, however, mean that there isn't a cocktail or two that she doesn't enjoy. Such is this combination of facts that has the hooded figure making her way through the door of Luke's bar, and silently making her way to a lonely seat at the far end.

    Once she's had a seat, she waits until Luke is free, and gives her order- a monotonous, quiet, "One White Russian."

Luke Cage has posed:
    Certainly, there are regulars here at Luke's place. And there are also the typical patrons. And the not so typical. But even with the various hero types that seem to roll in from time to time, Raven herself is a bit of a standout. But, fortunately, the rest of the staff, and the patrons in general, have a bit of an understanding about what to do when someone comes in. They get left alone, unless they want to chat.
    Sliding down the bar towards Raven, Luke nods. "Coming up," he says in his rumbling baritone. He mixes up the drink, fixing her with a bit of a steady gaze while he does so, and then deposits it in front of her without ceremony or further prompting. He knows, sometimes, folks just want to be alone with their thougths.

Rachel Roth has posed:
    Raven is, certainly, a person that is highly fond of being alone with her thoughts. Additionally, she cuts something of an imposing figure. The vaunted witch of the Titans has a reputation- much akin to Wednesday Addams walking into a coffee shop, Raven coming into a bar almost seems like she's looking for a fight or looking to abduct someone who is laying low so as to deliver them to the police in the simplest way possible.

    That is, of course, part of the reason she's here. There are a number of different kinds of patron of Luke's bar- and it is shady enough that Raven can make use of those shadows.

    Simply enough, a patron goes missing after a few minutes. He was a low level thug of course- someone Luke may have known to be an enforcer of some kind. The police won't mind the gift, but its method of delivery is a little startling. The man is seated at a booth, and the shadows simply swallow him. His drink, left half finished, sits upon the table- as yet, unpaid for.

Luke Cage has posed:
    There is a certain amount of understanding that Luke has for the way things go, and a certain flexibility when it comes to being paid. If he notices the way the patron vanishes into the shadows, he does not call attention to it. A waitress slips by and snags the drink, clearing the table for the next party that wishes to take it. Luke makes no comment to anyone about the unpaid tab. Or the unpatroned patron.

    He does, however, give Raven a brief look of consideration, before drifting down towards her again. "Can I get you anything else?"

Rachel Roth has posed:
    Raven sips idly at her white russian while, without seeming gesture or effort, calmly disappearing another patron or two.

    When finished with her drink and approached by Luke, Raven is quiet for a moment, looking at the glass, and sliding it forward. "One more, and a cup of coffee, if you have it. If you don't, water will be fine." She states, taking a moment to look over the whole of the bar again.

    "This place is... Nice. Quiet."

    It doesn't sound like much of a compliment, but the rest of the Titans, Donna included, have been asking her lately to be a bit more... Personable. Nice. It's a difficult task for her, at times, but tonight it comes easily enough... In as much as it's a small comment.

Luke Cage has posed:
    "Gotta have coffee," replies Luke with a bit of a smile. "Place would go crazy without it." He slips away to fix up both drinks, and returns shortly, placing both down in front of her.

    "That's something I kind of insist upon. A nice, quiet, relaxing place." He shrugs. "Yeah, maybe if people were up dancing on the bar we'd sell some more drinks and have more folks, but honestly.." He glances around, before leaning over towards her and lowering his voice. "I'm happier with it being the kind of place where no one attracts any attention. Y'know?"

Rachel Roth has posed:
    Raven isn't shy about pushing through her second White Russian. The coffee, of course, she requests be served in a cup that she can take with her. After all, her business here is more or less concluded.

    She's done her duty of putting a few hideouts behind bars, quietly and without disturbing the bar- and she's whet her palate by doing it. When she has but coffee left, she stands up from her bar stool.

    "It works well in Las Vegas, but that city is meant to be loud in every sense of the word- and is worse for it. Everywhere that emulates that is selling a different product than drink and atmosphere. It sells, and that's fine, but there should be more places like this."

    With that, she slips a fair amount of cash from her pocket, paying her tab, and offering a solid tip. Her feet then carry her calmly towards the door, but not at such a pace that she'd be ignoring any farewells from Luke.

Luke Cage has posed:
    There is a slow nod of agreement with Luke. "My thoughts exactly. Not after that sort of Vegas thing here at all." The to-go cup request is easily accomodated, and Luke delivers that before claiming the payment and the tips. "There aren't too many places like this, to be sure." He offers her a smile. "So feel free to come on back any time that you feel like it." He glances towards the empty table, and then back to Raven. "Even if you don't have business in the area."

    And with that, he watches her slip out, returning the cash to the till and preparing to address his next customer.