>>6051265“Uhuh.”
You pause and turn on the railing, peering down the hallway with a frown. There was an actual wall and floor here, thankfully, but you didn't recall any upper chambers nearby for someone to be holding a meeting in. There were plenty of initiates and acolytes who stole their way up here for a moment of privacy away from the peering eyes of their masters, of course, but the voice sounded far too old to be that of even an acolyte.
Turning, you swivel your legs around and slip off the railing, tugging your jacket down around your midriff. By now, you were used to the curious sensation of it hanging a few inches above your ribs. It had an oddly girlish air to it that you found surprisingly tasteful, even with a scribe's robes.
<span class="mu-i">Or an apprentice's robes.</span>
You frown at the thought, pushing it from your mind as you draw closer to the corner, the voice echoing down from the hallway further on.
“Well, I'm looking for someone to sell me a girl.” A slightly soft, even man's voice came.
You stop. Maybe this was something you shouldn't investigate. The sound of vermin crawling in the pipes next to you made you glance over, and you mentally noted to relay to the maintenance technomats that T-2502-Right needed to be checked for holes later.
“No, not like that.” The voice continued with a sigh, though one that carried with it a surprising wistfulness. “It's like- apparently there's some guy here who sells hot girls who are really good at stuff? Oh, and guys, I guess. I'm always in the market for that sort of thing, especially because recently I found out you have to actually pay the Tithe?”
...wait, did you know that voice...?
Stepping forward, you gently grabbed a pipe and peeked around the corner. Kneeling in the dust and grime, his suit still well-kempt if but for a few wrinkles and a cape he'd clearly slept on at least once already... was that idiot from the mess hall. What had he said his name was? You were drawing a distressing blank on the subject, which made you fear that something was wrong.
...actually, did he ever even tell you?
“Yeah, wild, I know. Anyway, the last two guys I hired went missing and I found the third one crushed under the ledgers, so I think I'm gonna need a specialist for this one.”
Something squeaked.
“I thought trained from birth, too, but apparently this is way better.”
You shake yourself out of your brief reverie and focus again on the distant figure. He was still as powerfully built before, though at some point he had retied his hair, pulling the dark dreads around his face into a more practical bunch behind his head. Glancing down, you noted the slow buildup of dust and grime on the cloak he held at his side, despite what appeared to be his best attempts to keep it clean, the rat he was talking to like it was an old drinking buddy, and the dust and water stains on his expensive shoes.
Wait, what?
