Wage

“Gwen, do you believe in curses?” Gwen paused in her work to glance over at the girl who was sprawled out limp on the floor. Deciding to humor the distraught girl she asked “Why do you ask? Planning to curse someone?”

Rolling over to face Gwen's direction Jenny responded “No. I think Bruce cursed me. It's the only explanation at this point.”

Gwen had to suppress a laugh at that. Since almost as long as Jenny has frequented this shop she has been obsessed with beating Bruce. It's not even that Bruce is unbeatable. I have seen him lose multiple times over the years. It's just that every time Jenny comes close to winning something happens. Like that blue shell earlier today. Now that was funny.

“No, I don't think Bruce has cursed you. Even if magic was real I don't think Bruce is the type to do that. I just think your luck is abysmal.” Gwen actually chuckled this time at the offended look on Jenny's face.

“I'm not unlucky. There's some unnatural going on. It's impossible that I lose this much to one person.” Jenny exclaimed from her place on the floor. Gwen rolled her eyes at this. Jenny's tantrums are always fun to watch at first but they can start to wear on you after awhile.

Gwen continued to clean up as best she could while Jenny started blathering on about the unfairness of it all. Looks like I might be late finishing up again. Every time we have a tournament I'm late going home because Jenny gets in the way of my cleaning up while she whines about Bruce. At this point half the store thinks she just has a crush on him and if so I wish she would hurry up and ask him out so I don't have to deal with this anymore. Come to think of it, where is Bruce? I don't think I ever saw him leave the backroom.

“Jenny, as much as I am enjoying our talk I need to check on something in the back.” Relieved to be free of that conversation Gwen started heading to the back. Opening the door to the backroom Gwen was unnerved to see it pitch black on the other side. “Bruce.” she called out into the darkness. “Are you back here?” Hearing no response Gwen decided to just head in. It's just the back of the store. You've been back here hundreds of times. Someone must have just flipped off the lights. Stepping through the door she found herself standing on what appeared to be a large throne.

Before she could even react to the strange circumstances she immediately heard a shout from near her. “What do you think your doing standing on the master's throne?” Sally shrieked at her. “Get down from there at once”.

Turning to the source of the voice she saw an oddly dressed girl marching toward her brandishing a Switch in her direction like it was some kind of weapon. “I said get down” the girl continued to yell as she pressed a button on the console.

What the-. To Gwen's surprise she was no longer standing on the throne. She was now standing in front of a mirror several feet away. She tried to yell to ask what was happening but no voice left her throat.

“You've lost your speaking privileges for a bit” the strange but now frightening girl said to her. “Admire yourself for a bit while I talk to the master.”

Gwen tried to protest but could not speak or move. All she could do was look at herself in the mirror and what she saw was the most shocking thing to her yet. What kind of trick is this? I love Rogue Galaxy but I do not remember waking up today looking like Kisala.

Now completely ignoring Gwen Sally rushed over to Bruce. “I'm so sorry about her disrespecting your throne like that master. Although dummy me is also at fault for just leaving you over here by your lonesome when you should be sitting on your throne over here.” Sally then took Bruce by the arm and led him over to the throne where she plopped him down on it.

“I don't really mind about the throne” he said. “I'm more curious about who the new girl is supposed to be. Although if I had to hazard a guess I'd say it's Gwen considering she's the only other person I know who even knows who Kisala is.”

Nodding her head Sally responded “You are correct master. Which is such a shame because that is such an underrated game.” Turning back to the stuck Gwen she pressed her button once more. “Introduction time.”

“My name is Gwen Collins and I'm 28 years old. I work at the Game Kingdom and have known Bruce for the 7 years he has been frequenting the store. I do play some newer games but mostly play older games since I am a huge fan of the classics.”

Sally turned towards the chairs where Candy was sitting and taunted “See. Now there is a real gamer.” Candy may not have been able to say anything in return but that didn't stop her from flipping Sally off. Scoffing at the act of defiance Sally returned her attention back to Gwen. “Your turns over. Go take a seat and try not to touch the Samus lookalike. Some of her fakeness may rub off on you.”

“Alright. That's four down. Next one should be really interesting.”

(One hour left. https://strawpoll.com/GPgV6k2K3ga)