Syrise didn't much care for the cold, so she was pleased when she finally stepped foot in Everlook. Something about the hustle and bustle of the trade city brought a sense of warmth and life that helped ease the chill in her bones. Rubbing her arms, she began to stroll down the main road, glancing left and right. She was looking for one particular sign. Most of them were written in either Common or Goblin, sometimes both. Syrise didn't know much of the former, but she'd fortunately picked up some of the latter from Jazax. Enough to know which sign was the Auction House, at least.

Syrise stepped inside of the Auction House with her fists and jaw both clenched. She scanned the sea of tiny goblins, not caring that she stood out like a sore thumb, until her green eyes locked onto one unmistakable goblin. Skin the color of toxic waste, eyes the color of bile, bone through her snub nose, and a mop of bright blue hair. There was no mistake.

"Next!" The auctioneer shouted, and Syrise pushed her way to the front of the group.

The goblin looked up at the blood elf standing in front of her and her eyes doubled in size.

"Hey!" She beamed, "If it isn't my old pal, Sy-"

Syrise slammed a dagger down into the auction table next to the goblin, the blade piercing all the way through the wooden table from the force alone. The auctioneer's smile fell as several of the other goblins, including the other auctioneers, backed away warily. The blue-haired goblin glanced around the room before flashing Syrise an uneasy smile.

"Why don't we take this outside before you scare off the customers?" She said as she pushed past Syrise a bit, heading to the door.

Syrise narrowed her eyes and, in a swift gesture, pried the dagger free and threw it for the goblin's head. Just as quickly, the goblin turned and caught the blade by the handle, looking rather bored.

"Outside," The goblin repeated, before shuffling out the door.

Syrise furrowed her blonde brow but followed, stepping outside into the cold. The goblin was leaning against the wall, twirling Syrise's daggers between her fingers.

"How you doing, Syrise?" She asked, still twirling the blade, "Been a few years. The Cartel treating you good, honey?"

Syrise said nothing, as too many words were in her head that she wanted to say all at once. So she just said nothing.

"How's Jazzy boy doing?" She asked casually, smiling as Syrise flinched, "He even still alive?"

Syrise clenched her fists by her sides, shutting her eyes.

"Give it back," She said firmly.

"The blade?" The goblin turned it, catching it by the blade before holding it out to Syrise, "Here."

"The money," Syrise hissed, taking the dagger, "Give it to me."

"What money?" The goblin shrugged innocently.

"Don't play games with me, Tezz," Syrise scowled down at the goblin, "His money. The money you stole."

"Hm? You're gonna have to be a little more specific," Tezz grinned, "I stole a lot of money from a lot of idiots. Which idiot are you talking about?"

"Your husband," Syrise growled, gripping tightly onto the dagger.

"Which one?" Tezz raised an eyebrow.

Syrise just glared down wordlessly for a moment before stabbing the dagger down at the goblin. In a flash, Tezz drew her own dagger and blocked Syrise's strike with her own blade.

"Easy now, honey," Tezz smiled, pushing back against Syrise's blade, "Don't make me have to kill you."

Syrise scoffed and dropped her own blade, causing Tezz to swing wide due to the force she had been exerting to hold her back. Syrise rolled back, drawing her bow, and nocked an arrow before Tezz even got back to facing her.

"I'd like to see you try, you witch," She sneered, pulling back the bowstring.

"Hey now, why are we calling names, honey?" Tezz furrowed her brow, raising her hands defensively.

"The money," Syrise narrowed her green eyes, "Or I'll shoot you right here."

"Is that how you treat an old friend?" Tezz asked, her voice feigning an innocent tone.

Syrise scoffed and went to release the arrow.

"W-Wait wait!" Tezz flinched, holding up her hands a little higher, "I, uh, think it's coming back to me now! You mean Jazax's money, right?!"

Syrise nodded briskly, keeping her bowstring taut by only two fingers.

"That was years ago, honey!" Tezz frowned, "I spend that already!"

Syrise furrowed her brow, removing one finger, and Tezz flinched again.

"Okay, okay, look," Tezz sighed, "I, er, might've maybe taken some more money. Recently."

At this, Syrise perked a long blonde eyebrow. That, she hadn't expected.

"I'll return it, I swear," Tezz said as she waved her hands.

"How did you get more money from him?" Syrise asked suspiciously.

"That idiot never changed the pin on his primary bank account, the one he shared with me after we got married," Tezz snorted, "What an idiot."

"Watch it," Syrise warned her, to which the goblin perked a blue eyebrow.

"Awful defensive of our dear Jazzy boy, aren'tcha, Syrise?" Tezz grinned, "You two finally got somethin' goin' on or what?"

"What are you talking about?" Syrise scowled, slackening her grip on her bow slightly.

"C'mon, honey," Tezz rolled her eyes, "Even when we were married, he never looked at me like he looked at you."

"Jazzy would've never betrayed you," Syrise frowned, "He really loved you, Tezz."

"Yeah, well the feeling weren't mutual," Tezz shrugged, "I always found him pretty annoying, to be honest."

"Then why in the name of the Sunwell would you-"

"Marry him? Well, once he got in good with Revilgaz, he was making bank!"

Syrise furrowed her brow as Tezz shot her a greedy grin.

"See, he was making more money than he knew what to do with, and you know he'd only buy me things once in a while. What kinda man doesn't pamper his wife? Honestly, all that money was just going to waste on him anyway."

"He needed that money to buy his freedom back from the Cartel, and you stole that from him," Syrise hissed, "If you hadn't stolen everything he'd had, he finally would've been able to-"

"So Jazzy boy really loved me, huh?" Tezz laughed, putting her hands on her hips, "Then I guess that makes you, what, just a sorry rebound?"

Syrise inhaled deeply, reminding herself to stay focused and not let Tezz's words get to her. As annoying as they were.

"The money," She repeated, "I won't ask again."

"Ugh, you just won't let it go, huh?" Tezz rolled her eyes, "Y'know what? Fine, here."

Tezz reached into her pocket and pulled out a large sack. She jingled it, revealing it was full of coins.

"Just take it," She sighed, tossing the bag at Syrise's feet, "I wouldn't have even taken it if I knew Jazzy boy was going to sic his guard dog on me."

Syrise scowled again but before she could respond, Tezz pulled something else out of her pocket. Syrise recognized it but before she could react, the goblin dropped the smoke bomb onto the ground, disappearing into the black cloud.

Syrise coughed, waving the smoke away from her face. But by the time the air cleared, the goblin was gone. All that remained was the bag of money at her feet, and a little card. Syrise perked an eyebrow, stooping to pick it up. Upon one side was a set of numbers, and upon the other was a kiss in the most garish shade of lipstick imaginable.