I could get into all the fucked up little status game details, but that'd be totally boring. Basically, there was a silver mirror and comb set that this one rich bitch had inherited. This other rich bitch, a cousin by marriage or some fucked up shit like that, thought she should have gotten it instead. She'd made repeated attempts to buy the damn things. So, I figured out where Rich Bitch #1 (actually, she wasn't all that rich compared to the rest of her snobby little circle, but she made up for it by being twice the bitch) kept her little comb and mirror.

Then I sent an anonymous letter to Rich Bitch #2 (equally bitchy, but one of Athens' wealthier dumb cows), telling her I could get the comb and mirror for her (for a price, of course), and to meet me outside of town after dark.

I disguised myself, of course. I had a deeply hooded, voluminous cloak on, and I'd appropriated a handsome black mare from the stable of a nearby inn. If I kept my voice pitched low enough, I could pass for a guy, particularly since nobody in Athens would expect a woman to be pulling this shit. I love using people's own stupidity against them. I was in such a good mood, I even put the damn horse back in the stable. It might even have been the same stable I'd taken it from.

So, Rich Bitch #2 gave me a ludicrous sum in order to steal Rich Bitch #1's mirror and comb for her. The following evening was some big-ass party or something, and Bitches #1 and #2 would both be there. I told Bitch #2 that comb and mirror would be in her bedroom when she got home.

Slipping into Bitch #1's place and getting the items in question was no trouble at all. I didn't even bother to leave my 'calling card' (a little model of a rat, made out of bronze. Don't you pay attention?) .Slipping in to Bitch #2's place and leaving them on the dresser was even less hassle. Then I set about my REAL goal. Divesting Bitch #2 of every other bit of shiny trash she'd accumulated.

I'd been merrily filling my packs when I felt a hand on my ass. I stiffened, but didn't shriek-- aren't you proud of me? I had a pretty good guess who it was, and the tongue in my ear a moment later pretty much clinched it.

"I'm working, Strife. Why don't you catch up with me in an hour or two?" I kept my voice down. I was pretty sure the house was empty, but I didn't want to take unnecessary chances.

Not that Strife gave a damn. "Nope. Ares said to come get you, so here I am, come to get you."

I twisted around to face him. "I'm in the middle of a job."

"So?" He glanced pointed at the medallion I wore. I STILL hadn't been able to get the damn thing off.

"Y'know, Strife, I can read. I read the inscription on the back of that thing. Do you know what it said?" I realized I'd been talking rather louder than I should have been, and hastily lowered my voice. "It said, 'I went to the Temple of Ares at Sparta and all I got was this lousy necklace'. Now, just between you and me, I don't think the guy I got this off of was all that fucking devout."

"Meaning?"

"Aw FUCK. Nothing, I guess." I sighed, trying to sound saintly and long-suffering. I think I managed aggravated. "So, what's the deal?"

I grabbed my bag of trinkets just in time. Strife wrapped his arm around my waist. My vision blurred. When it cleared, I was in a narrow room, with walls made out of some kind of shiny black stone. What was it with these guys and black? Strife was grinning at me in a way I'd learned to be VERY wary of.

"Ok, close your eyes and stick out your tongue."

I REALLY didn't like the sound of that. "No fuckin' way."

"C'mon, it's for a surprise."

"No thanks."

"Not for YOU, rodent-girl, for Ares."

"Oh, sure, insult me, that'll make me want to co-operate."

"I could just MAKE you do it."

Which was, of course, true. "Oh, all right." I closed my eyes and stuck out my tongue.

"Now, don't move. Don't move no matter what."

Oh, SHIT. I felt him grab on to my tongue with something hard, then-- Ow! The little bastard shoved something sharp right through my fuckin' tongue!

It didn't hurt as much as I thought it should have, but I was pretty damned pissed. I felt something like a little tug, then--

"Ok, open your eyes." As I opened my eyes to glare at him, he stroked my jawline with a single, outstretched finger. My tongue stopped hurting. It felt-- well, normal, except for the feeling of a little hard piece of metal sticking through it.

"What the fuck was that all about?"

"I told you, it's a surprise for Ares. Anyway, wanna see?" He held up a mirror.

Well, I wasn't so pissed that I wasn't curious. I stuck out my tongue. Yep, there was a little skinny piece of metal going through my tongue. It looked to be about as thick around as a piece of straw, but there was a little ball on each end. Fucking great. Another goddamn piece of jewelry I couldn't get off. At least it didn't hurt. I didn't get the whole 'surprise for Ares' thing, but--