A Path Through the Woods(A RiaEgg Story)

CHAPTER 5: "I Can't Believe He Did this."

"Say, Engie. Do you think the new vent-cleaning task is going to make things TOO easy for the crewmates to figure out who the Impostors are?"

"You know, I was actually wondering that myself when the update was first announced," the purple crewmate told his girlfriend. "But I do see a couple ways Impostors could use it to their advantage. For instance, if an Impostor is forced out of a vent when a crewmate comes along to clean it, and their kill cooldown is empty, they can kill them right there without having to chase them, then pop right back into the vent."

"Huh...That sounds like it might work!"

"But you'd have to make sure your cooldown is empty when you first go IN the vent, or else you wouldn't be able to get that free kill right away; the cooldown only depletes when you're out in the open walking around, remember?"

"Got it. I'll remember," Gnome smiled at him. "I might just use that one of these days!"

"Sounds good, babe. Heh...And one more thing. I think you look REALLY good in the banana color."

"Awwww, thank you, Engie."

She leaned her head in against his, prompting him to smile and return the favor.

"Barf..." Veteran mumbled under his breath to Player. "Why is it that the couples here always have to engage in PDA's out where everyone can see them?"

"I dunno, Veteran," Player shrugged, not quite so bothered by it. "They just...can't hold it in, I guess."

"Hm. Well...I guess you'd know, considering you used to do the same with that Noob chick."

"Yeah...Blugh. Glad I saw her for what she was, though."

The sound of someone spawning in rang across the dropship, and Captain prepared to smash the start button, satisfied with the number of lobby members...

...Only to stop when he heard the sound of someone crying just after the spawn noise.

He looked up to see a familiar lime figure standing in front of one of the chairs, a bandana on her head and tears in her eyes.

"Ria?"

He, along with most of the other crewmembers, began to encircle her, concerned as to what'd made her so upset. Gnome and Engineer were the first two bold enough to approach her all the way, and the former gently placed her hand against Ria's side to try and reassure her.

"Hey, hey..." she said softly. "Ria, what's the matter...?"

"It's...*sob* It's all ruined...Everything's ruined," she choked out between gasps. "It's horrible, he...He's gone, he left, I can't-*sob*-I can't believe he did this..."

"Did MrEgg do something?" Engineer asked her.

"He...h-he...Oh God, Gnome..."

She sobbed again, then broke back down into a blubbering mess, falling to her knees and hiding her visor in her hands. Gnome kneeled down and continued trying to comfort her, gently stroking the top of her head and shushing her.

"I-I don't know what I'm gonna do..."

"Shhhhh, it's okay. It'll be okay, Ria," she whispered. "...If you don't wanna talk about it, that's okay. But whatever it is, we'll be right here for you. I promise."

Captain, Player and Veteran trudged closer, their eyes full of sympathy...They knew things had been a bit tense between her and MrEgg lately, but they never expected anything to get bad to the point at which it drove the strong-hearted Ria to tears.