A Path Through the Woods(A RiaEgg Story)

Chapter 3: "It's Confidential."

Over the weekend, the tensions between MrEgg and Ria seemed to simmer down. Friday evening was very pleasant, Saturday was peachy and Sunday was going smoothly thus far. They were currently playing a round of Among Us with the rest of the group, the Skeld being their chosen map.

Ria took a peek at her task list as she headed south out of the Cafeteria. The first thing she had to do was fix the wires in Storage, and she had to fuel the engines with the gas tank in there, too, so it seemed like she was already off to a good start.

Once the first set of wires was fixed, she grabbed the fuel tank and headed towards the back of the ship. She saw Player and Veteran both entering Electrical, taking a mental note to check in on them once she was done fueling the Upper Engine; if either of them were dead, then the other would likely have something to do with the murder.

"Ah, hello, Ria! Glad to see you're in good health!"

She turned her head around as she was filling up the Upper Engine to see a familiar figure in a charcoal garb, wearing two top hats on his head.

"Oh. Hey, TheGentleman," she greeted back. "What've you got to do in here?"

"I've come to unlock the manifolds in the Reactor; it's an easy task, so I should in and out lickety split," he replied. "...Say. How have you and MrEgg been fairing as of late?"

She tensed up a bit as she emptied out the fuel tank.

"Erm...Why do you ask?"

"Oh, just making sure everything is as it should be with you two, is all."

This was strange; TheGentleman normally stayed out of personal matters between the other crewmates...Maybe MrEgg had confided some of his concerns to him? It seemed likely; they were very close friends, after all, having even been "associates" once, before MrCheese came along and claimed TheGentleman for himself again.

Ria sighed, then stepped away from the engine and headed into the Reactor doorway to meet the black-clad crewmate once he'd finished his task.

"Well...To tell you the truth, things have been getting a little rocky between us lately," she admitted. "He says that he's busy working somewhere for someone after he gets off of work at The Piatto Nobile, but he won't say much else...It makes me wonder what he might be up to, you know? And recently, a lot of my thoughts..."

She paused for several long moments before finishing, looking at TheGentleman with a very long face,

"...Haven't been very pleasant, so to speak."

"Oh. That...is concerning," he replied, suddenly seeming almost as worried about the situation as she was. "Um, Would you like me to do anything about this situation?"

"Thanks for the offer, TheGentleman, but...I think this is something MrEgg and I should sort out by ourselves," she told him. "...I just hope he's actually doing what he's saying he is."

"Oh, you don't need to worry about him just going off somewhere and slacking off, my fine young lady," he grinned. "I make sure he's got plenty to do throughout the day!"

"Heh heh, yeah. You..."

She stopped short before she could go any further.

"...Wait," she continued. "...You're the 'old colleague' that MrEgg's been working for?"

Now it was TheGentleman's turn to tense up, and he broke out into a nervous sweat.

"Um...well...Yes, Ria. That would be me."

...How interesting, she said to herself.

"Oh dear me, I've ah...said a bit too much, it seems, haven't I?"