The Eastward Boulevard

Blue Pegasus

One year has passed. One year since the death of my home. One year since the east gate. But only a year since the green guild mark on my right breast has been exchanged for a blue gaudy one. And one year since I've heard any word of the man who walked out of the east gate alone...

I pour clear vodka into the dainty evening glasses on a tray, it looked awfully like the rain as I pour...Brutish laughter filled the air as well as cat calls from our...Patrons. But I've been at the job a while now. It is all white noise. Coconut liquor tops up the glasses and I swirl in the sauce with drops of ice. Eve's personal contribution. It has been so long since that night...Weeks after, that memory in front of the east gate replays in my mind like an old song. I would wonder in my sleep how far east my friend has gone or if he is no longer going east. But soon the Weeks stretch into months and I would wonder less and less between jobs and bartending. But I never stop completely. I balance the tray on one hand and glide over to the table of my enthusiastic patrons.

"The green beauty has brought us our dues boys!" A small man with globs of spit and lashings of gray speckling his thin beard eyed my body.

"Six white Russians for our beloved clients" I smile sultry like and lean down dangerously low to distribute the drinks. I hate this. I hate how they eye my breasts like they are entitled to them. I hate how I must act like an object to be held like a prize. But this job has also been good to us. Bob, Hibiki, Ren, Eve and even Jenny have done their part to make us feel at home. I hate how we are all objects but we are also treated with some level of respect. Jenny, me and Freed are often the ones making the rounds. Asking what our clients would have to slack their thirst and what job they would like us to do when they depart. Bickslow had the unfortunate ability to scare our clients rather than appear elegant and beautiful. He gratefully resigned to the kitchens and after hours jobs. Laxus is like an idol with Hibiki and his companions. They do nothing but look pretty and stand there. I can't tell what Laxus thinks about that. "You know just how to pour them sweetheart" the old man leaned in close to me. To close.

"My name is Evergreen, sweetheart" I lean up and spin the tray in my hand. "I think you should like to remember that".

The old man raised his hands. I wanted to break them. "What ever the beauty Evergreen desires" he winked and began to slurp the drink with spit splattering his beard. His eyes never left mine and the wet booming laugh of his friends tainted my ears. I left before I did something I regret. Not all clients are bad. Some are good and polite. Others are bashful and shy and make me laugh when I slink in close enough to see their blush. I passed a few of these clients and slyly pulled drink orders from them as I took their empty glasses. It's good work and not everything is taking drinks-

The ceiling groaned above us and what sounded like a giant banged it's fists against the roof. The glasses on my tray shook and I immediately looked to Laxus who stared at the roof in silent judgement. As the noise subsided he blinked twice and then looked at me. It's just thunder, is what that look told me. I am used to thunder. And then the rain began. Rain, wind and thunder lashed against the bright colourful building in it's personal attack. "It's just rain" I say to some of the disturbed patrons. "Just rain..." And then I remember again. The man that walked east. How the sky cried for him. Is it crying for him now? I shake my head. The sky is not alive and has never lived. I for some reason felt angry thinking that. The bar was in front of me again. And a golden bottle of tequila on the bench. I don't know who put it there. But I know clients would want some heavy stuff as much as I do anyway. I just begin to tip the bottle into square glasses when he turned up.

"Evergreen dear" Hibiki approached and picked up a ripe lemon. "How are you? You look a little...tense".

"I'm fine" I watch him carefully as he began to elegantly slice the lemon into wedges.