63. The Tunnel

[corrinesbell]

[voiced]

I am really getting sick of this feeling down here.

Anyway. We're heading the opposite direction of Yuri's group. There are doors here, too, lots of them. A bunch are rusted shut, so I guess it must've been wet down here at some point. Couldn't tell you what the walls and stuff are made of, either, even with a lantern. But I think it's weird that this place caved in under us. The rest of it seems sturdy enough, so hopefully it doesn't happen again down here.

Lloyd got one door unlocked and he's working on another one, so we're gonna go in and look around. Gimme a minute and then one of us will be able to tell what's in there.

[written, filtered]
Hey, Albert. When you read this, I have a thought.

[action]

[standing outside the doors with the others, waiting]

Comments

[Action]

[corrinesbell]

I kinda did, too...but at the same time, this isn't something we can just pass up.

[Action]

[wise_maiden]

Yes. That's why we're here, after all. We don't know how much farther this tunnel will lead us, or if we'll eventually hit the barrier while down here.

[Action]

[corrinesbell]

I sent Corrine down the tunnel to see what he could find.

[Action]

[wise_maiden]

I see...

We'll have to catch up with him, then, once everyone's break is over.

[Action]

[corrinesbell]

Oh, he should be back before then. He'll come back and report what he found. ...How do you think I kept up with you all back when I was following you?

[Action]

[wise_maiden]

Hm. True enough.

All right then. I'll be right back.

[Action]

[corrinesbell]

Where're you going? ...Don't leave by yourself.

[Action]

[wise_maiden]

Hm? I'm just going to check these rooms right here while we wait. Then we can continue down the rest of the tunnel.

[Action]

[corrinesbell]

Oh. ...Mind if I look with you, just in case?

[Action]

[wise_maiden]

[raises an eyebrow]

I thought you were tired.

[Action]

[corrinesbell]

Yeah, well, I ate and stuff. And I'm getting kinda bored of sitting.

[come on, Raine, figure out that it wasn't her she sat down for]

[Action]

[wise_maiden]

...Very well.

[She gives her a nod, and starts walking to one of the other doors that was probably unlocked and unexplored.]

[Action]

[corrinesbell]

[gets up and picks up her lantern, following Raine into the room and holding the light up, the better to see]

...Another table. [shakes her head and shudders]

[Action]

[wise_maiden]

I'm beginning to doubt we'll find much else but more tables at this rate. [She's holding up her own lantern, squinting as she looks around.] And these ... papers of convenience.

[Action]

[corrinesbell]

I'm starting to think they want us to find these things. Either to worry us, or as some kind of decoy for what's really going on here.

[Action]

[wise_maiden]

My thoughts exactly. Though we still lack proof, one way or the other.

[She goes to pick up a folder on the floor, wincing faintly as she straightens back up]

[Action]

[corrinesbell]

...Getting old, Raine? [that is not, by the way, the question she's really asking]

[Action]

[wise_maiden]

[She doesn't look up from the papers. Do avoiding the issue attempts work on Sheena? We'll see.] Hm? It's nothing.

[Action]

[corrinesbell]

[no, they don't]

Yeah, and so is being down here. It's all a bunch of nothing, I got that. Now what is it really?

[Action]

[wise_maiden]

Being down here is something. Once we're able to find a connection, anyway.

... It's nothing, as I said. I'm just a little stiff.

[Action]

[corrinesbell]

...That wasn't what I meant by saying that, anyway.

What's making you stiff, then?

[Action]

[wise_maiden]

Well, what did you mean?

Nothing, really. I probably just slept the wrong way. It happens.

[Action]

[corrinesbell]

Raine.

[Action]

[wise_maiden]

[she reads the name on top of the file, and slips it in with her notes, before looking back up at Sheena]

There is nothing to discuss, Sheena. We have important things to deal with right now.

[Action]

[corrinesbell]

It's important if something's wrong and you're trying to hide it. It'll be even more important if we get into trouble.