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

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.]

[Did he really expect that she wouldn't?

And she'll motion to the sandwich with something of a relieved sigh and smile to match. She knew that he would be, but she needed to ask just to be sure. For her own peace of mind.]

Make sure you eat before we go back down. If we're going deeper, no idea how long it'll take for us to get back up...

[She pats the bag slung over her shoulder.]

Brought some extras just in case, though. Some water, too.

I made sure to eat enough before. But what about you?

[And then a more teasing grin.]

You seemed hungrier earlier.

Don't worry. I'm eating...!

[She's already unwrapping the sandwich as they walk and taking a big bite!!!]

Anyway... I was wondering. You think it's safe to take the carts all the way down?

The carts...

[He thinks over that with a slight frown.]

Honestly I'm not sure. They or the tracks could have been damaged and there's way of really knowing.

[She sighs, and takes another, sadder bite of the sandwich.]

So... guess we're really walking the whole way back again, huh? Wonder if we should let Mirabelle know we might be a little longer than we thought.

Perhaps, but we should still be able to be back within the day.

Yeah...

[The word comes slowly.]

But you know how she gets. If we don't at least check in by the time she's expecting us back, we'll never hear the end of it.

[A small sigh.]

All right, I'll have someone send a letter to her.

[That at least puts yet another worry at ease.]

Make sure they include a little note for the dogs, too. Wouldn't want them to worry, either...

You can write that.

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject