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

[Despite them still being far down beneath the surface, it feels like such a breath of fresh air being up here. Even her muscles feel less tight, and her lungs feel a bit clearer, and she makes sure to take that deep breath first.]

Seal it up with what? We'd have to break off a ton of rock to fill that hole, wouldn't we?

[She'd suggest vines, but how long would they even last without them here to maintain them? Born out of pure dreamotion, they would no doubt have the energy sucked out of them over time.]

[...Hm.]

We can use dreamotion as a temp measure, and then inform the Orkilins so they can properly seal it. But we really can't leave it alone like this, especially with others out investigating.

[She nods. Hubby is so smart.]

Then... vines will be our best bet. They'll at least be strong enough to hold until someone else can come down here with some pickaxes. Especially if we both do it.

[A small nod.]

One more time.

[And this time he'll reach out and take her hand, knowing that she would feel more encouraged by it.]

[She does already as he takes her hand, but...]

Wait.

[She'd hop up on her tiptoes if she could, so instead, she uses their joined hands to pull him down to her—hard enough that he'll have no choice but to meet his lips with hers lest he fall on top of her. It's a sweet kiss, lingering and tender, and it feels like it's been forever since they've done this... It still isn't fully indulgent, that will have to wait until they return to the city, but it's enough for the vines to already start to grow before she even pulls back that hairsbreadth to smile.

That breath of fresh air that they both need.]

Now I'm ready.

[He's taken by complete surprise, and for a moment he doesn't quite react until he finally does, his hand going to her cheek to pull her in for a little more before she finally pulls away. There's a light glimmer in his eyes as he looks down at her, knowing well why she did that.

...

And he's going to lean in and just take yet another kiss, this one searching for a little more of her emotions and taste. A bit more indulgent, yes, but... A bit sly, but he's using this to help fuel their dreamotion, letting it flow between them and through their hands to create that vine, starflowers popping up as the hole is quickly covered by the rush of dreamotion that pours out.

When he finally pulls back, he looks at her with a mischievous grin.]

Done.

[It's her turn to be left surprised, not expecting that second, more coveting kiss. She would have been content with just the one so that they could make the vines together, but as she hears them shifting, Tifa just lets her eyes flutter shut and yields to it, lips melting against his as she accepts the love and the dreamotion that it carries.

No doubt the purest, strongest form of it that they could make.

And perhaps she could be a little selfish too, and take from him. Not his magic, but the warmth he gives her so easily any time, but especially in times like this. Times where things have felt so dire, so scary, that they couldn't even take a moment to be themselves.

When they finally do part again, he's somehow managed to leave her feeling a touch breathless and dizzy from the surprise, and she doesn't even need to look down at the covered hole to know that they had done it, and that it will hold for much longer because of it.

She sees that grin of mischief, and she can't help but blush in return.]

Well... At least we're sure that will hold.

[A quiet laugh as he takes her hand.]

That might have also helped the backpack. But let's keep moving.

[And then moving in a little close.]

We can "recharge" later.

[Well, it certainly helped with a lot of things... she even swears that her ankle is feeling a little better, too. Not better enough to walk on her own, but she doesn't mind clinging to him just a bit tighter, giggling when he leans closer.]

I'll hold you to that. Definitely gonna need a few "charges" after all that.

[With one last look at the covered hole, the starflowers quivering in the nonexistent breeze, she gives him a smile as they start to walk.]

Good work today, by the way... Hopefully they'll find all this useful.

[A soft smile before they make their way back.]

Likewise... I'm still concerned about that cave, especially since it's not so far from the city. Whenever possible, it would be better if a team can go down there and investigate it further.

[She nods.]

People with all the right equipment and gear for it, I hope. I don't even know what to think about what we saw down there.

[Her hand goes to her chest where a heaviness settles in.]

Or what I felt...

[It was so oddly familiar and yet, she still can't place it.]

It would be too much for anyone not fully prepared. Which is all the more reason it needs to be cleared out somehow.

[If that nightmare energy spread...

...

But he doesn't want to dwell too much more on it, so he just gently squeezes her fingers.]

Maybe we should have tried leaving your dip.

[She's going to bring a hand up to slap him—weakly—on the chest.]

No more talking about my dip, or else that's all you're eating for the next few days.

[A small laugh.]

I am looking forward to returning home to one of your meals.

[And then a little bit of a mischievous smirk.]

We could straight home... Let Mirabelle look after the dogs.

Edited 2023-10-13 17:34 (UTC)

[It feels.... nice... to be somewhat back to normal. Enough that Tifa can laugh a bit easier.]

We don't even have to tell anyone we're back right away...

[Imagine the nap that they would be able to get in that peace and quiet....]

Exactly.

[Despite ever aware of the dark "package" he's carrying on his back, Eustace is choosing to try and relax them as they continue to walk through the tunnels, illuminated only by his light. All the more to not have those worries and ill feelings affect the ever present dark energy. And what better topic than just the thought of returning home and being together?]

Unless you feel too tired to cook. We could always pick up something else instead.

[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?

[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.

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.

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.]

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

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~fin~