Eyes as bright as the lights of the city

Five minutes before Alan and company left The Drinking Banshee...

Helen emerged from a bathroom stall, a smirk on her face. "Now that's what I call a good make-out session!" she exclaimed, glancing back at Matthew Berstein sitting on the toilet, blood oozing from his slit throat.

"W-why?" he gasped weakly.

"Because you dared to break my best friend's heart, dummy. You became my target once you chose that prick Marco over my little cupcake." She giggled deviously, focusing on Matthew's watering eyes. "Oh, please! Did you really believe I'd get interested in a meek, traitorous little bitch like you? How dumb can you be?! Anyway, die already. Ah, but before that! If I ever get wind that you appeared in front of Marissa, even through a PM, I'll hunt you again. You know I can. Did you hear me? It doesn't matter if I have to travel all the way to Fleurella to bust your tiny ass again. Well, see ya!" She waved cheerfully as his body pixelated.

Humming, Helen approached the sinks to examine her reflection. I really needed that. With a satisfied smile, she opened her User Interface and noticed that Alan had shut down communications.

I wonder how he's doing... Checking her Friend List, she confirmed Alan was still online. At least Marco hasn't killed him... Yet. That's good, isn't it, Bradford?

As she swapped her skimpy clothes for her Battle Suit, a Party Chat notification popped up. She smirked before accepting the call. ('Marshrissa'!) Helen said in a bubbly voice. (How's my favorite jumpy person in all The Novus? Ribbit, ribbit!)

(Not in the mood, Rosbif...) Marissa replied in a tired tone despite being a telepathic communication. (Could you care to explain what the hell is going on? I heard you knocked out Tamara.)

(Oh, come on. It's not a big deal. Do you think she'll forgive me faster if I bring her one of those 'twisty' lollies she likes? A box, obviously!)

(Make it two boxes.) Marissa sighed. (Hey, since you're already at the Drinking Banshee, do you know by any chance where Jason Foreman is?)

Helen took a moment to smile at her own reflection.

Oh, so you already know, huh? Oh, this is going to be so much fun. It's a good thing little Matthew spilled the beans before cutting his stupid throat.

(I heard he might pay Funky Goblin a visit, you know, that stylish, horrible place. Why? Do you have unfinished business with him? Or does it have to do with him emptying the Guild Vault?)

(You knew?! Why didn't you do anything to stop him?!)

(You're assuming a lot, little froggy. He had already left the guild by the time I noticed, just like you. So what? There's nothing we can do about it, right? Right?)

"Oh, she hung up…" That whole exchange made her laugh. As Helen washed the blood off her hands, she focused again on her reflection, especially on her eyes, each a different color but sharing the same wicked gleam. "Nothing beats a full day of drama to feel alive! So I wonder if little 'Marshrissa' can finish this act on a high note. Don't disappoint me, buttercup."

(---)

From atop a tall building downtown, Marissa Laflamme closed communications with Helen and took a glance at the bustling city before her.

Jason Foreman… How dare you do this? Not only did you screw up yesterday, but you even had the balls to steal from the guild.

As she glared at the city, as if Jason's face was plastered on one of the skyscrapers, she recalled the conversation she had with her now ex-boyfriend, Matthew, earlier that day.

Before bursting into the PVP arena and saving Alan Warden's ass, Little Bear tried recruiting me into Marco's new guild. The nerve… I couldn't believe what I was hearing. At that very moment I found his adorable face disgusting--the face I'd kissed for the last six months suddenly turned into that of a freaking lying snake. I wanted nothing more than to punch him right there and then but I had to know what our dear First Officer was planning.

I learned about Marco's deal with Kathleen Maher and her Death Bringers. I learned about using Alan Warden as a scapegoat and also learned about Jason's big screw up… That jackass--who I'll never know how he got the Guild Treasury job--sent Alan what was supposed to be Marco's biweekly salary. The moron. Once he noticed his mistake, he sent a claim to take the money back and that was used as another excuse to portray Alan as this big asshole.

"And it convinced so many…" she whispered as she skimmed through the current list of guild members.

You may think there is a failsafe against a single user emptying an entire guild's vault, but I might be asking a lot from a game that encourages hoarding all the money you can by any means necessary.

Clenching her teeth, she opened her Inventory and pulled out a white ceramic mask. "No one steals from us," she muttered before donning the mask and reciting: "Now you see me, look again. You think you know me? Try again. Another I am, malice I have."

The artifact transformed her body into a shadowed silhouette, which she customized with a few button presses and sliders from a floating virtual window.

She shortened her stature, dyed her hair golden blonde, and altered her face and body beyond the typical avatar customizations. Finishing her disguise with a strapless dress and makeup inspired by her sister, she muttered in a deeper voice, "Perfect..."

(---)

That night, Marissa crossed through the Funky Goblin with extreme ease. Her looks and style mirrored that of the non-guilder women in her surroundings, making her blend in perfectly. Skanky, ever-nodding, overly-excited level-forty women in skimpy dresses--Diggers. Women who quit fighting to live off others. I despise them, but tonight, I'm grateful for their pitiful existence. Hu-hu...

Marissa glanced at her fake enhanced bust and grimaced. I can't believe Amelia is comfortable with these… things.

Marissa got close to the bar from where she could have a wide view of the establishment, finding familiar faces. So not everyone was enjoying the Drinking Banshee's idea of fun, huh? If that's the case, I'll have to be careful. It'll be a problem if my disguise falls off and everyone comes to Jason's aid. Speaking of the devil…

Locating Jason Foreman was easy as he was loudly boasting, "Watching the Golden Bitch embarrass herself was the funniest thing ever!"

There you are...

Marissa stealthily took a cup from a nearby table and approached him.

Jason continued to guffaw, annoying his companion, Faiza Khalil, who grimaced. Don't worry, girl, I'll take him off your hands soon.

Marissa pretended to trip, spilling her drink on Jason's pants. "Oh, how clumsy of me. So embarrassing," she mumbled.

"Are you okay?" Jason asked, helping her up.

"No, I'm not. I was about to toast with my friends but wet your pants instead..." She looked him in the eye and giggled. "Wait, that sounded kinda dirty, tee-hee."

"I can fix this in a second," Jason said, tapping his User interface to change into an orange full suit. "See? What were you toasting for again?"

"Ah, nothing in particular. Just the enjoyment of being alive. But maybe you could give me a better reason to drink?"

He nodded, smirking. "I like you. I'm Jason Foreman. And you are?"

"Brittany!"

"Where are your friends? Maybe you could introduce them to me."

"I was looking for them, but it seems like they all found company. Everyone but me. I hate being the last to find a date, or not finding one at all!"

"Why don't you join us then? My friend Faiza here..." He turned around, but she had vanished. "And she's gone. Whatever," he smiled, his eyes lingering on Marissa's cleavage.

Just as planned.