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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[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...]

Hopefully. I know I'm not packing anything useful for that.

[And they're in a cave so no readily available wood, either.]

Otherwise, we'll just have to get close and cuddly. [He's joking, of course.]

I-I'm not that cold... yet.

[Leia inevitably gives into his teasing, despite how painfully obvious it is that he's joking. She wraps her arms around herself and hunches over a bit as she looks away. Her face is a bit warmer than it'd been a moment ago... and it's around then that Alvin is proven right.]

[They're greeted with a more spacious open area that the path seemed to be leading up to the whole time. Their footsteps echo a bit louder; and when she glances up with eyes wide, rainwater drips onto her nose from the cave ceiling, which is suddenly a lot higher.

Outside, the storm rages on.]

Whoa. It's a cavern alright.

[~~let the storm rage on~~

He walks further in, flicking the flashlight up and around the high ceiling walls. Following the curves, he sees that that it's an enclosed cave, so only one way in and one way out. Again there's nothing lurking around, so that's a good sign. But there isn't any sign of supplies, which is not so good.]

Yeah, but we still might be in trouble if there isn't anything around.

[He's hoping that some random miner found this cavern and there are some crates hidden behind one of the few pillars within the cavern. As he continues stepping forward, he hears a crunch beneath his feet and quickly he drops the light as he steps back. Yep, bones. But fortunately they're small ones and while it's clear something hunted and ate them a few there, it's not a giant nest.]

See anything?

[He still needed to check the other half, but so far his side is empty.

[Leia stumbles back too when she hears the crunch, and she's glad it was him who stepped on it and not her. Nevertheless, finding bones is unsettling, and she sounds just short of startled at the question.]

Wh-What? --Oh.

[She peers over to the other side, the one left unchecked, when Alvin shines the light over it.]

Just some boulders...

[Ones that look almost like tombstones, but she imagines that's just her imagination. Still, they look like they would make for a good place to sit or lean against. The only thing missing is... well, wood.]

M-Maybe I should just summon some fire!

Can you really do that? [He's returned next to her and is looking at her curiously.

He knew sh could do healing artes, but he actually had no clue if she could use any other spirit artes. But he also doesn't know the ins and outs of spirit artes. Anything fire related he can do is either the super old fashion way or, you know, firing bullets or blazing his sword. Not as practical or useful.]

Well, I'm not as good at it as Elize, but I've been practicing and she says I'm getting better.

[Which is great! Except.]

Still won't help until we find something I can light though, I guess.

[Leia sighs, holding up her hands in front of her for a moment to stare at them, as if fire might appear at any moment. Rather than waste her energy right away, though, she allows them to fall back down to her sides, and she walks a few paces towards the boulders.]

Let's just sit for now.

I'm not sure if I'd want to risk getting burned even if you did have something.

[Horrible, horrible teasing. Alvin that's just mean. But he does move over to follow suit and sit down, spreading out his now slightly damp coat and further loosening his scarf to also take it off and let it air out. At least most of the rest of his clothes had dried well enough, and the air within the cavern they were in wasn't too damp.

But that chill breeze that passes through every now and then isn't going to help much.]

[On second thought, maybe they should have kept moving after all; but at least Alvin's teasing keeps her distracted and moving. She jabs him lightly with her elbow as an unimpressed growl escapes her lips.]

I should burn you on purpose.

[But she doesn't because she is Mature.]

[He just laughs.]

I think I'm plenty hot enough, thanks.

[How did he manage to swing her comment around that far? Because it's Alvin. It's what he does best.]

[How does she even respond to that...... damnit, Alvin.]

Say it three times fast and maybe it'll come true.

[For the record though, she definitely likes the suit/business-man look... It makes him look professional, which isn't even a lie sometimes. He's grown and changed a lot.

Saying that now, though? Nah.]

I don't need to when it already is true.

[He could keep at this all night if she lets him. Or actually executes that threat and tries to fry him.]

Oh, stop it!

[She elbows him, finally, which is considerably less painful than fire, but it'll have to do.]

You're not helping.

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