closed ⚡🌠 where the pulse of the land offers no respite

[starshower]

Who: Eustace & Tifa
Which: Closed log.
Where: The mines under Orkili.
What: Tifa and Eustace set out to investigate the missing crystals in the mines.
Warnings: it's eustifa.

Comments

[starshower]

[She shakes her head.]

Even if I was, I still want to. It'll be nice to go back to normal for a change.

[With the way that things have been lately, it feels like they have barely had time to breathe before the very next problem rolls around, and with neither of them ever able to sit idle for long, or to not offer their help to those in need, it feels like it's been much longer than it has since anything has been "normal". The normal that gets them up in the morning to cook and eat breakfast together, the normal that sends them to work, and then sends them back home again at the end of an exhausting but another fulfilling day where she can take care of him and their little family...

There's always something, and she hopes that once they drop this off, they can at least go back to that for a little while longer...

Even as the heaviness of this city still hangs in the air between them, even now, she feels like she can finally breathe.]

I'm thinking something thick and hearty, like a stew. Maybe some wine to go with it?

[flamekthunder]

[Normal... Yeah, that's exactly what he wants as well, and he just smiles fondly at the thought, more little starflowers appearing behind them as they walk.]

I'll help, I could use a bit of "normal," too.

[Hmmm.]

I think I know the perfect bottle for it, too.

[starshower]

Oh?

[She looks at him, her eyes sparking with curiosity, her smile growing warmer... warm enough that she can briefly forget about the pain in her ankle or how she still limps along, enough that she doesn't feel that cold prickle of fear on her skin, enough that she doesn't remember the crunch of bones under her feet, or the way that the crystals burned when they touched them.

Some bit of normalcy will be good for both of them.]

I'll trust your judgement and let you surprise me, then.

~fin~

[flamekthunder]

Look forward to more surprises.

[A wolfish grin before his smile becomes more fond and he lightly kisses her on the top of her head, the same place he always does. With his hand tightly held over hers, he truly can't wait until they drop all this off, report their findings, and head home. It's a feeling he's come to learn and become accustomed to, but it's times like now that he truly feels grateful for it.

Once they reach the city, they immediately head to the building currently used as a research facility and meeting point for investigations. There Eustace will drop off the backpack, explaining and warning what was inside. Alarmed, the Orkilins immediately bring a reinforced container often used to hold nightmare energy and quickly transfer the blackened crystals inside. They've never seen anything like it before, so they're wary, but curious. Those from Reverein are also interested, so there will be a two-sided effort between the two groups to study the crystals.

There hasn't been much headway made on the bat, but they've started preparations to start the dissection. They are also sending a team to further investigate the cave they were found in. They currently have no idea who tagged these bats, either. They have tracked a few creatures to get a better understanding, including a bat or two, but none of these.

Speaking of investigations, another team will be made to not only seal the hole, but also the cave where the crystals were found. They'll have to be careful as they don't know what's down there, not to mention the implications of high the nightmare energy levels are. So it will be a while until decisions are made regarding that.

Until then...

Eustace and Tifa are free to leave and return home, which they will quickly accept and take the first sandworm express back out. Although Eustace does wish to meet with the dogs... He'd also like a chance to just have some peace and quiet with Tifa, especially after that tiresome experience. He doesn't realize it until they step through their door how tired he really is. Given how much dreamotion and nightmare energy he had to use, it's really no surprise.

Subconsciously he rubs the back of his neck, as if trying to work out a crick as he rolls his shoulders, before they wash and freshen up and work together to make that dinner together. As promised, he would pull out a bottle of red wine, one that had been sitting there for a while, so no better time than now to enjoy it. While Tifa cooks, he'll pour our two glasses for them...and he will behave and not bother her, instead assisting where he can, such as with the side dishes.

And just as they wished, they had a nice, normal dinner. There would be no talk of what was found in the tunnels—not tonight, at least. They've had enough of that, and right now they just needed to relax and unwind. To take that breather they so desperately needed after everything. Only afterward would they retreat to their bedroom...

...

Despite the fall season kicking in, more flowers will bloom around their tree that night.]