[center][h2][u]Cristina[/u][/h2][/center]
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The increasingly loud patter of rain against the roof above Cristina drew her out of her thoughts and her book as she looked up at the small window with a frown. With every moment that passed it seemed as if though the rain was only growing worse, and venturing onto the rooftops that evening would pretty much be suicide. She hadn’t worked much lately and was growing antsy as a result, but thankfully the coin she’d stashed away was still not close to running out. She’d just have to find some other way to occupy her time.

She put away the book and made sure she’d all the equipment she’d be likely to need for the night before heading down the ladder to the rest of the house. The bow she left behind in her concealed storage area, and her hair she braided and pulled into a bun. 

Though it consisted of two floors if one didn’t count the attic or the cellar, the house was fairly small and only the second floor actually looked lived in. It was also the most well-kept part of the house, and a clear sign of her landlords’ priorities. The lower floor was where he conducted business. To most of the public it was simply a rundown pawnshop, but to the thieves of the town it was the home and workplace of a fairly well-known fence. One had to be well-liked to survive very long as a fence in a city where criminals were as hunted as in Telchar, and Eski had been in the business longer than most in town. His greying hair and wrinkled skin told of that.

He was looking through one of his ledgers when she came downstairs and didn’t do more than throw her a quick glance before looking back down again. [color=firebrick]“Do you need my help with anything before I head out for the night?”[/color] she questioned as she approached the counter and pulled her hood up to cover her head. He looked up again and looked her over quickly before meeting her eyes.

“Not at the moment, no. Might want you to hide something when you get back, so wake me if I’m sleeping will you?” She raised her brow slightly but didn’t comment. Hiding contraband with magic was something she helped him with rather often, and it was rarely very difficult.

[color=firebrick]“Alright.”[/color] With nothing more to say Cristina made her way over to the door and out into the narrow alley. She didn’t see any people until she made her way out onto the bigger roads, and they were mostly keeping their heads low and hurrying on their way to get out of the rain as quickly as possible. 

She kept up a brisk pace as she made her way further north through the commons, keeping her eyes down and avoiding any of the more well-populated streets. Cristina was only a few blocks away from the central district when she found the door she was looking for. Though it was the entrance to a bar no sign hung over the door, the only thing that marked it as anything out of the ordinary was the two glosseghar that’d been scratched into the door-frame. One that marked it as protected and the other two quen signs side by side, showing that both mages and creatures where welcome there. The door was unlocked most hours of the day, though drinks were only actually served during the late evening and night.

There was only one way to go once inside; downstairs into the basement, and Cristina made sure to close the door behind her before making her way downstairs. There where only a few people present, all but two deep in conversation with their companions. Of those two one was a larger man sitting by the bar; the bouncer whose work didn’t truly begin until the alcohol started flowing, and a lean brunette sitting off to the side of the room at one of the smaller tables.

She made her way over to the brunette who looked up as she approached. “Hello Cris. What brings you to Donnans’ today?” Cristina didn’t wait for any further invitation before sinking down into the chair across from the other woman, then threw a glance at the rest of the room before speaking up.

[color=firebrick]“Thought it was time to check in,”[/color] she stated as the two eyed one another. The cellar was only lit by candlelight, the few windows present along the walls having been boarded up since the bar opened, and one of those candles was placed on the wall just behind the other woman, casting her face in shadow and casting Cristina’s face in as good of a light as was possible in the room.

“Work’s been slow lately, has it?” the brunette questioned with a slight smile, causing Cristina to shrug and smile in return.

[color=firebrick]“That too.”[/color] The brunette’s smile bled away as she leaned back in her chair and looked Cristina over.

“Not many people who need or are even looking for help at the moment. Church’s no closer to finding any mages than they were last time we spoke, though there are a couple of businesses in the central and port districts who could use some illusion work if you’re up for it. Of course, the reason they need work done is because both the church and the guard have a higher presence there.” Cristina frowned as she leaned back.

[color=firebrick]“So there’s work to be done, but because it’s risky no one’s taken it yet.”[/color]

“That’s generally the case, yes.”