How had Annetta managed to get this far? It was a question most people found themselves asking once or twice, sometimes a hundred times, but often they never figured it out. Not until it was too late, anyway.
They'd been named "Winners" for a reason, because truly, that was what they were. They'd won the game. In the rare occasion - and during the elimination rounds that got her in this god forsaken place - that she decided to game, she always won. It was a fail proof and almost effortless tactic she used: Look hot, be dumb.
All she really had to do was join a party and bumble around, file her nails, chill, have mojitos brought to her perfect hands and make sure she looked picture perfect. It was easy, really, as - and she meant this with all the modesty she could muster (not that that was saying much) - she truly was beautiful. It was a tactic that also worked in real life. With sunset red locks that shone like strands of gold and red and emerald green eyes, well, she was undoubtedly beautiful. Beautiful people didn't have to work, if they were willing to abandon all dignity and honour.
Her party would protect her, as they would be made up of horny gamers who'd never seen naked breasts in their lives or kissed a real female, at that. They fought for her - and usually the more isolated and inexperienced a boy, the better gamer they were due to their lack of real lives - and she played the helpless damsel in distress. When she and another were the only ones left, she dropped the act and shredded her opponent to pieces. Nobody suspected empty headed pretty face Autumn until their heads fell from their shoulders.
Oh, then they noticed.
Still, she had to admit she was using absolutely no degree of charm this time. Why? Well, she was going for the Autumn is harmless, Autumn is good, Autumn's a bimbo, Autumn does as Autumn should. No one would look at her twice with her infinitely blonde head. Mmm, she should've given herself bright blonde hair instead of pale brown.
"Don't you have any fucking shame, woman? What the fuck are you even doing playing video games? Shouldn't you be shopping or molesting real boys somewhere really far from here."
"We're going to play a game," he says. "I want you to scream."
Autumn laughed.
"Ouch, my non-existent feelings," she said with a pout, pretending to have been stabbed.
Oh, he was funny, this one. "Actually, no," she purred in answer to his first question, running her fingers down Torn's chest. "Secondly, mmm... None of your business. As for shopping," Autumn smiled, following the line of his jaw with her fingers. "Who needs clothes? Not you, and definitely not me. Nudity is charity. And lastly-" Her smile fell and she stepped back as if Torn had slapped her. "I don't molest children." Autumn pursed her lips, her brows furrowing as if Torn himself had reached his hand through her ribcage and squeezed her heart, she abruptly turned away.
"Anna, baby, we're going to play a game, okay? Okay, baby?" Mama clutches me to her chest, her voice trembling like the walls of the house.
"Ye do realise, lady, that you're assuming that this game were made with the ability to have sex in mind. Virtual reality or no, I don't think they woulda programmed that in."
"That's a little unfortunate, isn't it?" she said, painting a smile on her lips and turning to look at Immy. "We might die without having sex for a week." Autumn sighed dramatically.
Autumn took the pendant she wore around her neck between her fingers, shutting her eyes. Her clothes seemed to glow, turning into a bright light that transformed into something else. When the light spun around her shattered and disappeared, leaving Autumn in her new getup. There, much more practical. But still cute. "Think avatars sweat?" she asked no one in particular. She stretched, lengthening her body and sliding into a split. She stood, stretching her fingers to get a feel of her latest creation. It was quite comfortable.
Her avatar looked different each time in the previous games she'd played, and her username had always been Fall rather than Autumn. She liked it, the anonymity, not that it really mattered except that she could be anyone she wanted without question. She'd requested it herself and it had been quite hard convincing the creators to allow you to change your username. But money solved all disputes and she had a lot of it.
"And you," she said with a genuine smile, tapping Torn's nose lightly. "Are forgiven."
She consulted the map, humming in concentration as she plotted the best route to the Land of Saltus. "We should go." She paused, smiling sardonically. "Well, I'll spare you the pleasure of my company. It was nice meeting you." Annetta curtsied with the grace of a trained figure head who'd had to attend a million boring, expensive parties. "Farewell." She paused before turning to walk away. "And take care," she said quietly.