minglingworlds | the story must go on ( leia

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the story must go on ( leia | alvin )

[As dark clouds roll overhead, the excavation team Leia had been tailing through the Epsilla Ruins starts to pack up and leave. It's rather sudden; she can only hear bits and pieces of their conversations as their voices echoes through the corridors, but she can't exactly find it in her to complain, either. No Alvin this time, no Ludger... not even a listing on the job board.

She can do this herself. Just her, and a scoop that has the potential to put her in the spotlight--for once.

How exactly would that work, being that the team told her she should leave, and actually thought she did? Well, she hasn't really thought that far ahead... but she takes pictures anyway, and jots down notes about some of what she sees to determine whether they form a story.

This might give her some ammo to work with when she approaches them again for her interview... on a better day, when their work isn't cut short and everyone's in a better mood. Whether they'll appreciate her nosing around, though, or take it as some sort of blackmail, remains to be seen...

Instead, she pulls out her GHS, leaning against a cavern wall with a sigh as she stops for a break. There on the screen reads a message about incoming severe weather, and suddenly... things kind of make sense. (How long had the alert been there, anyway...?)

That had to be why they left.

Before she can contemplate much further, the GHS actually rings, startling her. It's only then she notices a little envelope symbol at the top of her screen, indicating she's been getting texts as well... but she picks up, because she recognizes the ring tone and who it belongs to.]

Hellooo, this is Leia the sleiya speaking.

[There's a smug grin that comes through clearly in her voice. Yeah, she's definitely taking this seriously.]

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No, I'm definitely feeling it. [He has to try and not shiver from the cold breeze that snaps through. A nice fire really would be good right about now.]

Do you know if there are any monsters around here?

[Even as he asks that, he already moves so that he's in front, taking the lead.]

[Well, she's glad she isn't the only one, at least. A shiver dances right down her spine and Leia doesn't even try to hide it; but at least the question distracts her.]

Mm. N- Nothing I couldn't handle, but I wonder if there'll be more of them now.

They've gotta be looking for shelter just like we are.

[And luckily they're probably more concerned about that, than them... for now.]

Nothing you couldn't handle? [Siiigh.] One girl against a bunch of monsters trapped in some caves and ruins. I'd at least have some sense of danger, will you?

[There's a slight glance back at her and both his look and his tone is very dry. He knows she can handle herself in a fight, but even that kind of scenario would be much for him.]

...W-Well, it's not like I took them all on! [huff!] There was a lot of strategic running and hiding involved, you know?

[It helps that... the monsters just aren't very smart, okay.]

Besides, a sense of adventure is important, too. Mr. Ex-Mercenary.

There's being adventurous and being reckless, you know. And at least I got some battle credit under my belt, Ms. Snoops.

H-Hey! I have plenty of battle credit...

[If nothing else, their mild bickering is keeping her warm. That, or it's enough of a distraction that it's suddenly not quite as bad... for the moment.

At the same time, though, she follows the path and her breath becomes slightly more visible wen she exhales.]

You of all people should know.

You have some kind of credit, I can say that much...

[He's teasing of course.]

[Leia groans quietly. Witty retorts don't always come so naturally to her, particularly not when the thunder interrupts her thoughts.

...And then, as the loud clap fizzles out into a rumble, they're met with a wall.

The path...]

... It stopped.

[A wall indeed. He looks around, including back the way they came from.]

Guess this is as far as they got. But it looks big enough and it's far enough in. We can probably get a fire going... ...If we had any wood to make a fire. [Slight oversight on his part.] We can backtrack and see if there's another path.

Right. I... I think I saw one. This way!

[And back they go. She's actually enthused about this for a moment, eager to find it; and her pace quickens in a burst of adrenaline.

There's another wall. The only difference is a small crawl space that she only thought she noticed before.

Aha. So she'd been right!]

[...Okay how small are we talking here.]

You really wanna go through there?

[Relax, Alvin, you'll fit.

Since he's being a slowpoke about it, though, she'll make friends with the cold hard ground and continue leading the way--crawing on her knees.]

Well, it's not like we can make Ludger do it this time.

That's not really my concern here. [Just. You know. Don't want to have some monster waiting from the other side. But she's already going in so there's not much choice for him but to follow.]

[Leia makes her way through first, ignoring the thought tugging at the back of her mind that she could be falling into some kind of trap. The ruins had been sealed for so long, after all... and not even the excavation team knew what they were up against. Not yet.

It doesn't take long for her to reach the other side, though. The thoughts fall by the wayside as she scrambles to her feet, taking in a thankful breath.

Nothing yet.]

Come on. The path keeps going.

Guess we don't have much of a choice. [But it is also darker in here.] Got a flashlight? [Or should they use their GHS?]

... Somewhere.

[As they go, she searches, absentmindedly rummaging through her bag with one hand as she tries not to trip. She finally feels something small and metallic and pulls it out, coming to a stop as she clicks it on.

A small light appears ahead of them, and the tone in her voice is just short of smug.]

I thought I might be needing it.

I don't know if I should be impressed or concerned...

[Just how far were you going to go, Leia. Just how far.

But further down the tunnel they'll have to go. He's keeping an ear out to hear any odd rustling or any echos that might give a tell for any monsters, but so far it's quiet. Whether it's an eerie quiet or natural, he's not sure, yet, but he's not getting any bad vibes—so far.]

Just be careful, all right? I don't want you suddenly disappearing down some random pit.

[Impressed! Definitely impressed.

But... since that's too much to ask from good sir Svent, she'll just keep going, heeding his warning somewhat dismissively. She pulls ahead of him, naturally, but keeps glancing back as he addresses her.

She shakes her head.]

No way. I'd just vault over them.

Fwoosh-- [yes, the flying hand motions are necessary, seeing as how what little common sense she has is keeping her from demonstrating...]

If you don't keep your eyes forward, the only sound you're going to make is one going down. [And not necessarily down a pit. Now he's just waiting for her to trip on a rock.]

[He can keep waiting forever! Though her hands fall back to her sides and rest on her hips, as she takes his advice. She glances back at him out of the corner of her eye.]

Oh, yeah? Then I'd just drag you down with me. [smirk]

I'd rather you didn't. [Although he does reach out to poke her lightly in the back of the head.]

So, see anything yet?

[She shines her light further ahead at the prompting. Instinctively, her hand moves up to scratch at the back of her head where Alvin dared poke her.]

Mmm... nope. I don't hear anything either.

Oh!

[Just then, the path comes to a stop at another wall. It's not quite a dead end, though; and rather than a crawl space, there seems to be an actual path.

That's gotta be a good thing.]

You go first this time.

[She'll even offer her flashlight... if that helps. Which is pink, and matches her pen, if he was wondering.]

[Of course it's pink.]

Want me to be the meat shield, huh?

[A wry look as he takes the flashlight, but he does have a hand on his gun—just in case.

However, the precaution was unnecessary as he makes his way forward. After flicking the light around to make sure nothing is hiding in some hidden crevice or even hanging on the walls or ceiling, he continues forward.]

So far so good. [And it's only a few more paces until the path widens further as it continues to wind further inward.] We're probably going to hit a cavern.

[She follows him through and it doesn't even occur to her to ask for the flashlight back. Wherever he shines the light, she peers, like she's looking for something, and she sticks close.]

Great! I think.

[...]

Maybe we'll find something for a fire there.

[Since she hasn't seen anything since he brought it up...]

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