TINY CAT PEOPLE: THE MAZE TRIALS

[skinstealer]

 

SEE: Yeah, sure-
SEE: Let me just…grab a thing.
 

Minsky leans against the wall, watching you.

You press the intercom button.

SEE: Overseers?
INTERCOM: Yes, See?
SEE: I'd like to redeem a psychology skill.
INTERCOM: Very good choice.
INTERCOM: Dispensing...
 

The familiar sound of something coming down the chute echoes through the room- opening the door reveals a skill note.

You pick up the note and start reading it, reeling back as the knowledge of psychology flows through you...there's a lot to take in, and a lot of it scares you...but you think you can handle things like Max confrontations a lot better now.

INTERCOM: You have no rewards, and one question remaining.
SEE: I'll ask the question later...thanks.
 

 
You walk over to Minsky, pausing.

Minsky's eyes narrow slightly.

MINSKY: ...You spent your reward on...a slip of paper?

They lean down a little, looking you over.

MINSKY: What did that do?
MINSKY: You know you could've wised up and spent it on what I asked you for, already.
SEE: ...it taught me about how people's minds work.
 

You poke at their chest.

SEE: You included.
 

They shake their head.

MINSKY: Uh-huh, whatever you say, kid.
SEE: ...it'll help with some other people who could cause us trouble, too.
SEE: It's a good thing.
MINSKY: ...Big talk, but you know I'd be an even Bigger help, if you'd just get me-
 

 

You try to keep your patience in check-

-and fail, the power of your new skill  and what's left of the weed filling you with the energy to make some kind of comeback.

SEE: Okay, how would you deal with someone trying to trick and lie to other TCPs?
MINSKY: Trick and lie better than them.
MINSKY: Simple.
SEE: We are not-

You stop and just kind of stare at them before walking forward, heading down the hallway.

 

 

Minsky follows you along.

MINSKY: It'd work!
SEE: That's not how I want to do things.
 

You reach the end of the hallway, only to see...a panel of buttons.

SEE: ...weird.
MINSKY: Gotta play the game, champ.
 

They stop with you, looking at the buttons on the wall.

Minsky looks like they're about to speak, but refrain.

 

 

You take a closer look at the buttons- there's ten of them, and only one is lit up, labeled with the number 1.

SEE: I guess I just...
 

You push the button, and before you can react, glass doors close behind both of you.

Minsky glances back, holding onto the back wall as the elevator you're in begins to rise.

You watch as the hallway you were just in lowers out of your vision, disappearing entirely as all you can see through the glass is pitch-black nothing.

 

 

Your proxy grumbles, fighting for space with you in the tiny box. Your patience wanes even further, feeling extremely claustrophobic and more and more anxious as time goes on.

MINSKY: This is definitely you-sized.
SEE: I don't think they were planning for both of us to be here!
MINSKY: Well, they should be more considerate!
SEE: C-can't you use your ~powers~ or something to make this less cramped?
SEE: Wait, no-
MINSKY: I MIGHT if you got me MON-
 

The chamber you're in stops, sending both of you stumbling.

Minsky inadvertently trips over you, and you smack into the wall at the same time they do.

SEE: MINSKY-
MINSKY: WATCH WHERE YOU'RE GOING-
SEE: YOU WATCH WHERE YOU'RE-
 

 

You slowly right yourself, and feel a horrible feeling form in the bottom of your chest as you look out the window.

There's a giant black pit directly downward outside.

Some sort of funnel leads straight down into it.

The room itself looks to be the inside of a huge tower,
with colors ascending all the way up to the brightly-painted ceiling,
far, far above you...

Across from you at your right and left, you spot two other TCPs in similar elevators,
both of whom are currently staring at you and Minsky arguing.

 

 

The larger one sits facing away from the pit, staring at you over her shoulder. Her expression is difficult to read, but you can see her gripping something hard in her hand - her claw-less hand.

She says nothing.

 

 

The other TCP is about Minsky's size; colorful and serpentine.
It looks battered and exhausted, covered in bruises and cuts.
More than that, it's got a hefty backpack with several knick-knacks sticking out that you can't yet identify.

Its eyes are wide in shock,
sight drifting between your crowded elevator and that of the larger TCP.

 

 
 

Minsky situates enough to lean on the side of the elevator.

MINSKY: Well, here's your shot.
MINSKY: Try not to blow it, kid.
MINSKY: If you get into trouble-
 

They lean down to whisper.

MINSKY: -maybe con one of these two out of any money they've got.
 

The proxy pulls back up.

MINSKY: Then I'm sure I can help you out with whatever you need.