"...Yeah. Though civil wars - the President having a war with a city or state that doesn't want to listen to the government anymore - don't happen very often. I guess mayors end up getting arrested more often than that, sometimes they steal money from the government or something. But the police are allowed to just arrest them. - The police can't just arrest the President, I think, there is a process for removing a President if they broke the law but it's complicated." 

"That makes sense." The police in Taldor also cannot arrest the Emperor. Even if he murders people or something. ...actually she's not sure he can murder people, since murder is unlawful killing and he is the Emperor. He could break a treaty or something, and that would be very bad and - maybe the gods would smite him? She isn't actually sure. 

Evelyn will keep walking, but she's trying to discreetly let Iomedae lead the way, since they just spent a while learning to read Google Maps (and it seems incredibly important to Iomedae to be able to navigate on her own?)

"I like our mayor!  I mean, I don't know know him, but I met him at a big event once. His name is Bob Cashell, before he was mayor he made a lot of money running businesses. ...Casinos, mostly, they're a big thing in Nevada."

Oh dear now she's set herself up to have to explain casinos. It's particularly awkward because she in fact thinks casinos are pretty stupid, but feels vaguely compelled to defend them anyway. 

"I do not know 'casinos'."

"Er, it's kind of complicated. ...Where you grew up, did people ever play games where they bet or wagered money?" Actually she's not sure if the girls know the English words for 'bet' or 'wager'. "Uh,  where they would all put money on the table, and whoever won the game would get all of it?" 

"Men do this, yes." It is as much not a girls' activity as swordfighting and there was much less reason to protest that.

Nod. "Casinos are - basically a place people go to do that? The English word for it is 'gambling.' But casinos have lots and lots more games, and some of them are with machines instead of other people playing a game." Shrug. "I don't really get the appeal. But a lot of people enjoy it, so the casinos in Nevada are a major tourist attraction. - uh, that means people travel here from other states to visit them, which is good for other local businesses making money." 

"People travel from other states to play games for money? Why don't they play games for money at home?"

"Some states have different laws that make it harder to run casinos. Also I think people like it being a - big occasion? Going on a trip to Vegas - that's the really big city in Nevada - with your friends is a thing people do for a holiday." 

"...Not educated people?"

Evelyn is never quite sure what Alfirin or Iomedae mean when they talk about 'educated' people. "I - think maybe people who like gambling tend to be less educated, in general, but there are definitely people who've been to college and stuff who go to casinos?" 

"But not go for holy days."

Evelyn feels very unsure what that question is getting at?? "I think people who go to church are maybe less likely to gamble? But if they did, they probably wouldn't go on Sundays, no– ...ohhhhh, is it because I said "holiday"? That's - uh, sort of just a phrase now for, like, taking time off from your job? I should have said 'vacation', that's clearer." 

"I understand now."

"Does the church teach that you should not 'gamble'? Because it is evil or because it is stupid?"

"I don't know if it's evil - maybe some churches teach that," she has a suspicion it's the same churches that think dancing is evil and maybe fun in general, "but our minister never brought that up. It's definitely - not necessarily a good idea, or healthy? I think it's a bit like alcohol, maybe - it's not that it's evil, and it's fine in moderation, but some people have a lot of trouble with moderation and then it makes it - harder to be a good person. Gambling especially can get really expensive, people make bad choices and go into debt. But, I mean, some of Jeremy's older friends go sometimes - you have to be twenty-one - and they decide how much money they're willing to gamble and don't spend more than that, and - I don't personally see why that's fun, but I don't think having fun is evil." 

" - having fun is not evil," she confirms. "I have fun sometimes and God has not sended me away."

That is the most Iomedae response imaginable. Evelyn smiles, slightly. "I'm glad. ...I don't think you would find gambling fun, though. I mean, I've never actually been, I couldn't say for sure, but I don't really feel like I'm missing out." 

"It costs money and I can not think of a fun so fun I would spend money on it right now."

Which is both very understandable - and admirable - and also a mildly concerning attitude to have. 

"I understand. I do think having fun sometimes is important, but there are plenty of ways to have fun that don't cost any money - and things that cost me money once, but now they're in my house and don't cost any money to keep having." 

And they're at the bank! There's an ATM, but Evelyn likes going in to the desk to withdraw money or deposit checks. She's acquainted with basically all of the bank tellers. Debra is on today, and Evelyn can chat with her while they carry out the transaction, and react with delight to learning her son is engaged to his longtime girlfriend from France and they're planning a wedding for the upcoming summer.  

She withdraws two hundred dollars in twenties, and asks if she can have two of the twenties in fives instead. It's unclear if this is something you can usually get, but Debra happily exchanges them for her while goodnaturedly complaining about brides-to-be with strong opinions on flower arrangements and "you know, that fancy gourmet French taste" in reception dinners. 

Evelyn's behavior continues to make perfect sense assuming three hundred people live in Reno. Iomedae waits patiently.

And once they're out in the parking lot, Evelyn will lean against the brick wall of the little mall complex and count out $80 in twenties and $20 in fives for each of them. 

"There you go. - I'm happy to hold onto it for you if you're worried about losing it on the walk home. We should go dig in one of the stuff cupboards and find you guys wallets or purses or something." 

Iomedae kept her money in a pocket sewn into the inside of her shirt; the shirts Evelyn bought her did not come with such a feature so she sewed it on. "I can keep the money," she says, tucking it on to the interior pocket.

"If I hold money in my hand, is it we will be attacked?"

"Not in this neighborhood in the middle of the day! I wouldn't walk around downtown with a wad of cash in your hand, no. But I can keep it in my handbag until we're home, if you're nervous about it."