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

[flamekthunder]

[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.

[starshower]

[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?

[flamekthunder]

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?

[starshower]

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.

[flamekthunder]

....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.

[starshower]

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?

[flamekthunder]

[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.]

[starshower]

[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.

[flamekthunder]

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

[And then a more teasing grin.]

You seemed hungrier earlier.

[starshower]

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?

[flamekthunder]

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.

[starshower]

[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.

[flamekthunder]

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

[starshower]

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.

[flamekthunder]

[A small sigh.]

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

[starshower]

[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...

[flamekthunder]

You can write that.

[starshower]

[... Wow????

Tifa pouts at him.]

So cold...

[flamekthunder]

You would be able to write a better letter than me, that's all.

[starshower]

And they'd be sad if you didn't at least say something to reassure them that things were going well...

[They are both of their dogs!!!]

Bri and Valo were both pretty upset they couldn't come. And Melody, too.

[Though, Melody is still copying everything that Bri does, so...]

[flamekthunder]

[......

Cheap move, wife!!!]

I can add something to it after you write it.

[starshower]

[Hey, it worked, didn't it???]

I can do it right now while we walk, if you wanna hold my sandwich.

[flamekthunder]

[A small sigh as he reaches out to take her sandwich.]

Might as well mention we might stay the night, just in case.

[starshower]

What happened to being back within the day?

[Not that she minds, of course... If anything, it might be better that they do rather than have to drag themselves all the way back home after all is said and done. Especially because neither of them knows what to expect when they get down there.

So with her quill and her journal in her hands, she scrawls out a message that will appear on the papers they left behind.

Might be a little longer than we thought, so make sure to get the dogs home safe tonight. Will likely be staying the night.

Make sure to give Valo and Bri extra kisses from us before you tuck them in, too. But don't forget about the others.]

[flamekthunder]

Just in case. Don't want to have to send another note letter.

[And he'll just wait looking over her shoulder as she writes.

...Yep, as he thought she wrote something cutesy.]

Is that all really necessary....