Tomhas, quite far ahead now and rambling to Ky, who he thought was behind him, turned at last. "Ky?" His brow furrowed. "Did the lamp go out? Ky?"
"The Imperial need for control is so desperate because it is so unnatural. Tyranny requires constant effort. It breaks, it leaks. Authority is brittle. Oppression is the mask of fear. Remember that." -Karis Nemik
She couldn’t hear him anymore. She hesitated for a long moment, trying to decide what to do. Should she try to catch up? Or should she stay put and let him come back to her? Or should she make her way back out?
She should probably just wait.
But. Where could he have gone? It was just a tunnel. It wasn’t like it was going to be hard to follow. She hurried forward towards the last direction she’d heard him.
"u and rina are systematically watering down the grammar of yws" - Atticus "From the fish mother to the fish death god." - lehmanf "A fish stole my identity. I blame shady" - Omni [they/he]
When there was no answer, he headed back down the hallway. He'd turned a couple corners since fading out of earshot.
"The Imperial need for control is so desperate because it is so unnatural. Tyranny requires constant effort. It breaks, it leaks. Authority is brittle. Oppression is the mask of fear. Remember that." -Karis Nemik
She hesitantly walked down the tunnel, hoping to whatever gods may be above that there wouldn't be any doors or connecting tunnels to have to deal with.
"u and rina are systematically watering down the grammar of yws" - Atticus "From the fish mother to the fish death god." - lehmanf "A fish stole my identity. I blame shady" - Omni [they/he]
"The Imperial need for control is so desperate because it is so unnatural. Tyranny requires constant effort. It breaks, it leaks. Authority is brittle. Oppression is the mask of fear. Remember that." -Karis Nemik
"Goddamn it," she muttered under her breath. Because of course there would be. This was just her luck. She should just wait.
But... what if he didn't come back? What if he was waiting for her to catch up, and then they'd both end up in this game of chicken of neither of them moving? She knew better than to go off on her own. And yet her anxiety wouldn't let her sit still.
She hesitated, trying to listen extra hard and predict which way he might have gone. Her voice was weak when she tried, "Tomhas?"
But the words just echoed around her and came up empty.
She hesitantly started down the path to the left, listening for any sign at all of which direction he was.
"u and rina are systematically watering down the grammar of yws" - Atticus "From the fish mother to the fish death god." - lehmanf "A fish stole my identity. I blame shady" - Omni [they/he]
Tomhas had gone down the path to the right and was wandering back now in silence, trying to see any light.
There was a set of stairs in front of Ky now.
"The Imperial need for control is so desperate because it is so unnatural. Tyranny requires constant effort. It breaks, it leaks. Authority is brittle. Oppression is the mask of fear. Remember that." -Karis Nemik
Ky reluctantly started up/down them, steps hesitant and anxious as she glanced around.
"u and rina are systematically watering down the grammar of yws" - Atticus "From the fish mother to the fish death god." - lehmanf "A fish stole my identity. I blame shady" - Omni [they/he]
"The Imperial need for control is so desperate because it is so unnatural. Tyranny requires constant effort. It breaks, it leaks. Authority is brittle. Oppression is the mask of fear. Remember that." -Karis Nemik
"Tomhas?" she called weakly, shuffling along even more hesitantly. Was this the wrong direction?
"u and rina are systematically watering down the grammar of yws" - Atticus "From the fish mother to the fish death god." - lehmanf "A fish stole my identity. I blame shady" - Omni [they/he]
There was no answer, but faint music was coming from the end of it.
"The Imperial need for control is so desperate because it is so unnatural. Tyranny requires constant effort. It breaks, it leaks. Authority is brittle. Oppression is the mask of fear. Remember that." -Karis Nemik
"...Tomhas?" she repeated again, perplexed as she started towards it a little faster. How in the world was he making music? She didn't have any idea. But it wasn't like anyone else was down here in the tunnels with them, so it had to be him.
"u and rina are systematically watering down the grammar of yws" - Atticus "From the fish mother to the fish death god." - lehmanf "A fish stole my identity. I blame shady" - Omni [they/he]
It sounded like a violin, playing a melancholy but very gentle tune.
"The Imperial need for control is so desperate because it is so unnatural. Tyranny requires constant effort. It breaks, it leaks. Authority is brittle. Oppression is the mask of fear. Remember that." -Karis Nemik
But somehow this seemed fitting. That he'd get distracted and forget what they were down here to do -- or even that he was supposed to be here with her. Instead, focused on embellishing the aesthetic of the creepiness of these tunnels.
She shuffled forward until she thought she'd be able to see him playing the music.
"u and rina are systematically watering down the grammar of yws" - Atticus "From the fish mother to the fish death god." - lehmanf "A fish stole my identity. I blame shady" - Omni [they/he]
Ahead there was an elegantly carved wooden door that was partially open, and the music grew louder as she approached it.
"The Imperial need for control is so desperate because it is so unnatural. Tyranny requires constant effort. It breaks, it leaks. Authority is brittle. Oppression is the mask of fear. Remember that." -Karis Nemik
