43rd of Glade, 120 AS
The Godless Bar
The gods were not really present in Zaichaer. Sure you could see the sun in the sky, and yes, babes were born and old people died. To Evana this suggested that the Gods were still out there, doing their godly duties and whatnot. It was just that, in Zaichaer, they were markedly absent. There were no temples, no churches, no alters. People in cloth didn't walk around thumping their holy books on sinner's heads like Eva was pretty sure they did, and the steam heads definitely did not require some divine mandate to execute you and your 4th cousin twice removed. Gods, magic, and happiness were all things that were almost explicitly forbidden within the towers of steam. So it was ironic that there was a bar that made a claim of being 'godless like it was something special.
"I told ya'," A gruff voice said over the sounds of clattering plates and ruckus laughter the next room over, "I didn't order no package. Ye' got the wrong place."
The voice belonged to a shorter fellow with a thick beard and a mean look in his eye. Short though he was he still stood several feet above Evana who gave him her best scowl, "Listen here Gerber, I got me a list." From one of many pockets Eva produced a piece of paper between two furry fingers, holding it up for the man to see before making it disappear once more, "It said I was to deliver a package here, to this location, at this time." Her tail whipped around, dropping a small square parcel just a bit bigger than her palm into her hand. She looked at it, checked the list, and extended it to Gerber, who was growing redfaced, "It's got yer name 'n everythin'. Thattle be 3 silvers sir."
"That ain't mine rat." was the reply, followed by a swift backhand in an attempt to knock the parcel aside. Evana was used to this sort of reaction though, and she ducked away before giving the man a rude gesture.
"No one said you were supposed to WANT the package." Evana said with a sneer, making the man paused in the act of grabbing a large kitchen knife.
"What's that supposed 'ta mean?" Gerber snarled, but there was a hesitation in his eyes. Evana smiled wider and held the package up.
"I'm just the messenger sir. Someone from the alley REALLY wanted you to have this." the man's eyes flickered to the package, and Evana extended it to him once more. After a second he reached as if to take it. Eva snatched it back with a ticking sound, raising her open palm with a meaningful expression. With a growl, a few silver were dropped into the palm, and Eva curled a clawed hand around the coins before dropping the package in the man's outstretched hand.
"Pleasure doin' business with ya. If yeh need a Runner one day, yeh know who to ask for." Evana smiled as she bowed, slipping between the bodies and heading out the door into the main bar. Behind Gerber looked at the parcel in his hands, his face growing pale as he read something written on the side Eva didn't notice before. She didn't spare him a glance though. This was the way of things here. If you call your bar godless, of course, a few demons were gonna set up shop. He should have known better.
Blinking Evana opened her eyes to the lines, a series of threads that wavered and twisted all around her, touching people and objects alike. Some glowed a vibrant blue, other green, teal, and a variety of other odd and interesting colors. When she moved in this part of Zaichaer she always kept her vision open. Thus she was able to see as one blue line, in particular, grew extra tick, and her attention flicked to the bar just in time to see a man's elbow knock a half-finished glass off the edge. Almost reflexively Eva leaped for it, snatching it from the air just before it hit the ground
Behind the bar, the man raised an eyebrow but didn't say anything. He was good people. Eva liked his bald head. Returning the glass to its right place with her tail Eva waved to the barkeep, "Get this one a water before he makes a mess."
With that Eva slipped out into the streets, pulling up her hood to hide her long ears and ratlike face before turning right in the direction of the Grundgeworks.
