The Nexus

The tiefling walked the portal to Earth with trepidation. It was not often she was asked by someone other than Lucifer or his children to do so, but she was bound by obligation. She took short steps to prolong her travel as she pondered the mission she was given: to deliver a message. Frowning, she felt her abilities were being squandered with this task. Having no other choice, she continued on until the tunnel broke into the human world and her hooves made contact with the ground as a ball of blue flames spit her out.

Mephorae looked around her, brows knit together in apprehension. She wasn't quite sure where she was or if this was where she was supposed to be... Shrugging, she walked on, thanking the Fallen that it was nearing dark out. She had no need to wear the goggles that sat atop her head, just before her horns. Her pupil-less eyes gave off a faint glow in the growing dusk, but she could see perfectly well in the night. She entered the town and looked about her with curiosity at the signs and domiciles, standing out like a sore thumb, no doubt. Not many people were used to seeing a horned pink woman with hooves and a tail.

Hence, she wore a cloak over the majority of her being as she searched nonchalantly for her quarry.

The steam rose from the drains along the streets, obscuring for a moment, the figure that was making its way toward the dockside tavern. The male stopped momentarily, staring up at the sign that hung over the dirty street. The Pink Pearl was barely visible on the wood. His golden eyes then turned to the building it labeled, and he sighed. It wasn't the best looking place, but he needed to meet with his supplier; and the man seemed to favor this place highly.

He pushed open the door, and immediately heard the soft tunes of a piano, and the loud chatter trying to cover it up. He made his way in slowly, trying to find the man he was looking for. Failing to do so, he finally sat in the back, placing his chin in his hand as he waited. He was slightly annoyed at the moment, finding that he wasn't in the mood to wait.

His attention turned to the stage, as a woman, skimpily dressed, began to sing a slow, almost heartbreaking song that seemed to reflect her life. He also did not find that entertaining, but she was rather good looking, so he might as well just watch her.

Her hooves made too much noise on the planks which made up the dock and she feared that she would stand out too much in this environment. Ducking into the nearest building, she thought her heart might leap from her throat when she turned to find she was in a tavern with a crooning woman. Not many heads turned to see the newcomer, but enough had to make her more self conscious. She pulled the cloak tightly around her and made sure the hood was over her horns.

She shuffled to one of the darker corners and sat hurriedly into a chair. Squeaking, she jumped to her hooves as she had just sat on her tail. Trying again, she sat more slowly, wrapping her tail around to lay in her lap, beneath the fabric. She settled into the seat to watch the woman singing, hoping the increased redness of her face was draining away. She resolved to look for the man when it was entirely dark, when she would have the advantage... And less people would see her...

She had relaxed into the chair and crossed her leg over her knee. She singing was good, but she was more interested in the people sitting in the tavern. Looking around the room, she realized there was someone sitting at the other end of her table...

Zavien hadn't noticed the newcomer at first, but rather, had been intent on cheering up a bit. He chuckled a bit, when the woman singing, touched the cheek of an older man sitting near her.

"He's not a good choice at all..." he said to himself, before turning from her, and looking down at the table. At least, he looked at it for a brief moment before he realized that someone had sat at his table. He could tell, very easily even through the cloak, that the person was female. Though he was curious as to why she was so intent on wrapping the cloth so tightly around her.

"You have someone after you?" he said with a smirk, resting his chin in his hand once more as he looked at her. "Is that why are you hiding yourself like that?"

To say she may have flinched when the man started talking to her would be an understatement. The tiefling actually made to jump out of her seat and find a new one, she was so surprised he was talking to her. However, she relaxed back into her seat and tucked her hooves under the chair to be less noticeable.

"N-no, no one is after me. I'm just a bit chilled..." She never made actual eye contact with this stranger, but that was probably for the better. He might notice all the glaring oddness about her. She shifted to pull the cloak tighter as if he could read her thoughts. "I'm just looking for someone."

Her tail shifted to her side, still beneath the cloak, but she was fidgeting now, under the scrutiny of this stranger.

He eyed her a bit more curiously, but didn't question her further. Not that he didn't want to, but because his attention had been caught by a man entering, holding a small sack out as he looked around. Zavien raised his hand momentarily, making sure the man saw him.

Throwing the sack on the table, the man held out his hand to Zavien, as if asking for payment, but his eyes turned to the stage. "Ah, Vivica," he said, showing that he was quite the frequent at this pub.

Zavien smirked as he gently placed a few coin into the man's hand, and pushed it away gently. "Yes, though, she doesn't seem interested in quality." He waved his hand a few times, showing that he was done with the man; though the man had almost sat down to enjoy the show. He frowned a moment, and turned to find another seat, pausing a moment when he laid eyes on the stranger in the cloak. With a little shrug, he continued on.

Zavien, however, was looking into the sack, and after a satisfied nod, he turned his attention back to where it at first been before the man had entered. "So, you are looking for someone? And just who might that be?"

"Aahh," she stammered and looked for the papers she had previously. She retrieved it from a pouch at her hip and unfolded a scrap piece that accompanied it. "I don't have a name, but it's a male. Fairly tall, thin and young-looking with black hair and light eyes." She looked up from the paper, the cloak's hood cast a dark shadow over most of her face, but he chin and mouth were somewhat visible.

"That's all the information I was given besides that he would be in this area." She was refolding the paper and putting it away as she spoke, her eyes falling to her side to avoid looking at the stranger's face. Had she not been so flustered, she might have spent a moment to notice the strange presence he had.

However, she was more concerned with making sure he didn't get too much of a glimpse at her.

"That is... not a lot of information to go off of. I'm sure there are plenty of people who would fit that description. How do you know he is the right one, when you find him?" He grinned a bit, when he noticed that she was making it a priority to not look at him. How cute.

"I am not making you uncomfortable, am I?" He actually hoped that he was. He liked seeing the flustered looks women often got.

"No, it is not very much at all." She hazarded a half smile and looked away again. She was relaxing slightly whilst they made conversation and she rested her arm on the table top. In the dim lighting, her arm might seem like it was covered in a dark red glove.

Of course as soon as he mentioned her comfort, she tensed back up and her arm fell back under her cloak. "Um, no. Well, maybe. But not too badly. You're just right; I'm clueless as to who I'm looking for." She lowered her head to twiddle her thumbs.

"Well, then," he said, pushing himself up and tucking the pouch he had received into his coat. Even though it was slightly chilly outside, that didn't stop him from seemingly going shirtless, since his chest was exposed from the opening of his long black coat.

"I wish you luck," he bowed his head a bit, before starting off toward the door, not wanting to stay in this place much longer. But he stopped as he passed her, and turned. "Is the person you are looking for suppose to meet you here? Because, if not, I could use some company." He turned from her, to hide his mischievous grin.

She stared up at him and tried to figure his motive, but the hesitation was building and she thought she might annoy him if she didn't answer soon. "Oh, no. He doesn't know I'm coming for him." She got to her hooves and smoothed the cloak around her. "Where are you off to?"

She stepped forward and the fabric parted just so to reveal her outfit. She wore a white peasant top whose collar was very low and hung just off her shoulders, a string ran through the hem to keep it on and tied just between her breasts. Below her bossom was a leather harness: a sort of cincher held in the middle with buckles and two straps that curved about her chest and over her shoulders. Her midrift was bare and dappled white, but a belt crossed her hips and held on a sort of tribal skirt; it only had fabric in the front and back, no side piece. More than one belt sat around her hips, presumably holding weapons and pouches. She wore what looked like thigh-high boots... but he wouldn't be sure as she pulled the cloak closed.

"No where in particular," he said, as he made his way toward the door. He was quite curious as to how a woman would be wandering this area, by herself, when she wasn't even sure whom she was looking for. He would make it a point to question her a bit more, but with subtlety. He opened the door, and swooped his hand in front of himself, to tell her she was welcomed to go first.

She stepped out and immediately her head swiveled back and fourth to see if there were a lot of people on the dock. She was careful to step lightly,but quickly so her hooves weren't visible long and they made less noise. She had an odd gait,of course due to her extra length of limb,but she tried to control herself to look more human. She was oblivious to his gentlemanly gesture as she stepped out onto the planks and waited for him to follow.

After all,he was leading the way.

He followed her out, noticing for just a moment, her odd stance. But he thought nothing of it as she seemed to go back to hiding it well. He looked both ways down the street, before deciding to continue past the pub, opposite the way he had come. Not only did the steam from the sewers obscure their view, but now a fog had set in from over the water. Very ominous, he thought, grinning.

"Are you from this town then?" He took a side glance at her as he spoke, and then continued, "I'm not, just passing through... though I have been here for almost a month. I really need to move on. Not much here left for me."

She walked slowly, just behind him and to the side, to stay mostly out of view. She did not want to frighten this man with her looks, as most humans would be. So she was thankful for the fog settling in. Walking along, she looked about them, as if hoping to magically stumble across the man she was sent here for...

Mephorae just realized she was being spoken to. "Hm? Oh, no. I am not around here at all." She frowned. "I'm not entirely sure where 'here' is, actually...." She twisted the cloak fabric in her hands nervously.

"S-so... What is your name?"

A drifter? he wondered. She didn't even know where she was... that was odd. But, he supposed that there were people like that in the world, though he thought most of them would be drunkard or the lot. He stopped briefly, instinctively putting his hand in front of her to stop her when he heard the sound of something falling in the nearby alley. He waited, and listened, but there came no more sound. So he continued on, deciding he could at least give his name to her.

"Zavien," he said. "And what about you? I'd like to have a name to go with the face I cannot see."

The tiefling almost didn't stop in time and Zavian very nearly got a handful of her more squishy parts. She back peddled a few steps and peered around him to see what the problem might have been... She had heard the noise, but thought nothing of it. She didn't know enough of this place to be wary....

"Mephorae..." She answered whilst looking about, clearly ignoring the part about her face.

"Exotic sounding," he said, waving his hand in front of him, as if trying to rid the place in front of him from the fog. "So, what is this man to you? Why must you find him? Of course, I am probably asking far more than I should, but I can't help to be curious."

He was very curious. That was what landed him here in the first place. He wanted to question, and experience everything. To enjoy 'life' to its fullest -- something he had been denied in his previous state.

"Uhm..." She watched as he tried to dismiss the fog... She swallowed hard and decided these questions would not hurt her mission. They might actually help.

"I was told to seek him out and give him a message.... I-I don't know what the message says, I don't have clearance to that information. I'm just told by my employer and his cohorts to do things..." She rubbed her left elbow under the cloak.

He stopped, and couldn't help but rub his head in confusion. "So... You don't know who you are looking for, and you don't know what you are suppose to tell him." And then a little mischievous spark grew in his eyes. He looked at her, grinning just slightly.

"So, you just do what you are told, do you? What else does that entail?" He turned to face her fully.