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

[...

Cute.

After checking to ensure the coast is clear, he steps out first and then gestures for Tifa to follow. With the lightning orbs once more floating around him, he smiles a little at her.]

I would say so. Won't be as good as what you make, though.

[Teasing and complimenting his wife~]

[At his signal, she'll let the rest of the vines fall away, most of them burning to ash as flames eat them, and she jogs to catch up, her eyes scanning the ceilings again first and then the icy bat that's slung over his shoulder before she lets herself relax again... just a touch.]

Really should've thought to bring more than just a few snacks for the trip. I've got some veggies in the bag, if you want them? ... But nothing that could sustain us for a whole lot longer...

[Speaking of food, her stomach gives a tiny little grumble.]

[...Veggies.....

He'd eat them but he'd prefer meat—]

It's fine, let's save those for when we really need them. I can hold out until we reach town...

[And then another teasing grin.]

Though you're welcome to them if you need.

[A wolf through and through...]

No, I'll wait... You're right. Better to save them for when we really need them.

[Embarrassing as it is that her stomach protested like that in the first place. But maybe she'll find something with the researchers when they get there.

And she's just going to take this opportunity to walk a little closer to him, her eyes cast to the ground where they walk over the crystal dust that shimmers in his light.]

Never know what might happen when we go further down.

...Mm.

[He can't help but wonder what all this could mean... Or what else could be out there.]

Whatever left those marks. These bats certainly didn't.

No... Who knows...

[Tifa gives a shrug, trying to keep things a little light-hearted as they walk... lest they draw the attention of any other creatures down here.]

Maybe we could use the vegetables as bait...

[At first he looks at her confused, but then he realizes what she's trying to do as well as realizing he fell into his old habit.

So he just gives a small laugh and a shake of his head.]

Well then they would truly be fiends if they weren't tempted by your vegetables.

[It's all about balance... but yes, she did sense that he was falling back into his old habits again, and while she knows that they can be hard to break, she's here to help do just that. He worries and stresses too much...

Not that she can say anything about that. Tifa knows she is the queen of worrying and stressing over every little thing, especially when it comes to him. Which is all the more reason for her to try.]

I even brought my homemade dip... could be they don't like dill, though. More for us, I guess?

We could use it in our favor. Might work as a good repellent—and a snack.

[That gets him an elbow to his side.]

A repellent? [She feigns disappointment and... sadness.] My dip isn't that bad, is it?

No, just that it could be a useful weapon.

[Is he making it better or worse—]

[Definitely worse!? Hubby!?!?

She knows that he's joking, but she is feeling oddly protective of her vegetable dip right now!]

Well, good to know if I ever have to use it on you in the future...!

If you did, it would be an effective way to have me join your side.

[She narrows her eyes at him, tipping her head and folding her arms playfully.]

Oh? So it's not a weapon of destruction, but a weapon of persuasion, huh?

It would just depend on perspective...

As a repellent, it only means it's so good that monsters can handle such a divine aura.

[Oh he's milking it now. And teasing her.]

[Ohhh he is so going to earn himself a whole day where his meals consist only of vegetables, no dip!]

Well then, I guess we'll have to test it and see next time we run into a monster down here!

[And though her voice might be a little pouty and sharp, she peeks at him through the corners of her eyes, the lightest, most subtle glint there.]

Or I could just hold it out now to protect you. Ward off any scary creatures.

[He is trying to tell her her dip is like so good it repels evil??? It's a compliment!]

Maybe it's already doing the job. We haven't really run into anything so far.

[They only found the bats on their own.]

[Well, he makes it sound like he is saying that it's so bad that it repels monsters!?!?]

You can thank me for it later, then!

[She sticks out her tongue at him, and while she's tried to maintain the act for as long as she could, she bursts into a peal of quiet giggles that she hides behind her hand, not wanting to alert any other monsters that they are here.

With that, she'll reach for his hand at long last and thread their fingers together for the rest of the walk to the city, and the researchers... with the occasional pause to refreeze the bat in the ice. She will let Eustace do most of the explaining when they do get there, and they are all too happy to receive both the bat and the tag that they found... the former bringing a slight crinkle of disgust to Tifa's nose.

But she supposes that's why they are the researchers and not her. They can be the ones to pick apart the bat all they want, and she would be none the wiser...

As Eustace takes care of that, Tifa will go off to find food for them to take back, and they were kind enough to show her to where they'd stored some sandwiches for those assisting them—apparently there were more of them down in the mines than she knew about? And around the city looking into various things? She isn't surprised, but she is relieved to see that everyone is being provided for.

She'll pack up a few sandwiches so that they can eat them on the way back down.]

So? What did the researchers say?

Edited 2023-10-07 18:34 (UTC)

[After finishing up with everything and washing himself off a bit (he did carry a frozen bat corpse over his shoulder for a while—), Eustace reunites with Tifa and gives his usual "greeting kiss" to the top of her head before answering.]

They'll have to wait for it to thaw, but they started looking into the tags. They'll ask around with the Orkilis since it's not impossible for them to have researched the creatures. Since they live underground with them and managed to tame the sandworms, they may have wanted to learn about what else they are living with, perhaps even try to use the bats similarly. Knowing the colonies around them would have also been a worthwhile endeavor to better protect themselves.

However, I did learn this is the first time the locals have seen the bats so aggressive. Usually they stay further away due to the noise of the city. When I suggested the notion that they may be controlled, the researchers took it as a serious possibility so they will carefully examine the body. I also left directions to the cave should they wish to retrieve more specimens.

[Ah, right. They did just kind of leave all of those bats there, didn't they...?

Two wrapped sandwiches in her hand, she offers one to him.]

If they were moving closer, then... sounds like maybe the bats saw no other choice. [She thinks back to the claw marks on the walls.] Maybe whatever that... thing is down there was threatening their livelihood.

[It would make for a better outcome than them being controlled in some way to do harm. Not that creatures being pushed out of their home is a good thing, but at least in that case, they'd be able to adapt to a new environment over time?]

Did they know anything about the crystals? And anything about what could've left those marks?

Not yet, but there are other teams out there doing the same thing we are. With how expansive the tunnels, there may be clues elsewhere. But we should also take another look through the cave. I was thinking about it, but besides the trail we found outside of it, I didn't really see much of a trace of the crystals there. Did you?

No... Not at all.

[She presses her lips together in thought, his question hanging for a few seconds longer before she answers.]

Felt like there was even less of them now than there was last time I was down there. And not because we took them all. Not even small, barely usable fragments like there were back then... it was all mostly dust now, from what I saw.

....Hm.

[Just a low hum as he wonders.]

It's one thing to destroy the crystals. But for them to disappear as well... I don't think it's just one problem.

A whole lot of problems that we can't figure out...

[Her voice grows quieter.]

At least, not until we find whatever is living down there... Sure it'll be the answer to most of the problems, if not all of them.

[She pauses.]

How are you feeling, by the way?

[A small hum of agreement as he thinks over the possibilities... Before he looks at her in some surprise before smiling a little. Of course she would ask.]

Fine. The break helped.

[He had used up a lot of energy back there, so going back for a break and food was the right choice.]

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