the story must go on ( leia | alvin )

[journaler]

[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.]

Comments

[opportunitycosts]

Now, you're sure you're not going to accidentally light up one of these blankets, right?

[He says as he sets their newly acquired provisions in a suitable location—which...isn't really hard given how much space they actually have—and then settles down to sit and properly arrange the wood.]

[journaler]

Sure I'm sure.

[But you can never really be too careful, so for now, she offers Alvin her blanket, too.]

Just hold this for a sec.

[opportunitycosts]

[Uh huh. Maybe he should move a little away, too...]

All right, let's see what you can do.

[journaler]

[It's the same song and dance, really. Once the wood is all together in a pile, she concentrates really hard and starts chanting. She starts to glow because of the mana she's offering, and--

a small ball of fire shoots towards the all the wood!]

Bull's eye!

[The pile is kind of in shambles now and needs to be fixed... but there is a small fire that will hopefully grow with some nurturing.]

[opportunitycosts]

[Alvin gives an appreciative whistle as he quickly rearranges the wood some to help stoke the fire, the small crackling becoming more frequent and louder.]

Not bad, Snoops. This should at least last us through the storm.

[If the wood doesn't burn too quickly, they might have enough for the night if needed, but he's not really too keen on having to spend the night here. A few hours, maybe.]

[journaler]

I feel warmer already.

[Her nose proudly in the air, she takes back her blanket without asking (oops) and wraps it around herself. She's careful not to let any part of the blanket near the flames, of course... as fickle as they are.

(Also the whole, you know, catching the blanket on fire thing.)]

[opportunitycosts]

[Of course she would just take it, but he just gives her a wry look before he wraps the blanket around his shoulders. By his nature he can handle the cold better, but he had been wet earlier, so being able to actually dry will hopefully help prevent any potential colds, and he's not going to risk it.]

Well now that we're not trying to find a way to survive—[Half joking.]—did you actually learn anything about the ruins? And you've been through here before, right? [Fractured dimension of course.]

[journaler]

... Yeah, I have.

[Watching him do the same, she only wraps her blanket around tighter. She gives a sigh, feeling relieved.]

The catalyst was deeper in that time, so we didn't stick around here long... but I know it was different. [naturally.] There were actually monsters around, and the soil was a lot richer. There were even some plants growing... which probably made it easier for the monsters to live here.

The team was even talking about how they discovered some of their fossils. I bet there are more.

[opportunitycosts]

Fossils, huh?

What if we find some human ones?

[It's like the start of a ghost story.]

[journaler]

[Honestly, why did he have to go there??]

I think I'd throw them at you.

[Or be really, really creeped out. Same difference.]

[opportunitycosts]

You'd actually desecrate the remains of an unfortunate victim?

[Because he's Alvin.]

[journaler]

Maybe!! [No.]

... [She's so indignant at first, but eventually just sighs.] I'd probably be scared. Is that what you wanted to hear?

[opportunitycosts]

Maaaybe. [Grins.] After everything we've been through, I'm actually surprised. I didn't think there was much you'd be afraid of.

[journaler]

Well... I guess it'd depend. [Context, circumstances and all that.] You've gotta admit that it'd be pretty creepy though. Probably creepier than monsters.

[At least she can beat those up.]

[opportunitycosts]

What about the monster ghouls we faced? You know, the ones that looked like living skeletons?

1/2

[journaler]

Sure, those were pretty creepy, too. But I don't know... I never thought of them as something that used to be human... you know? They were just monsters.

With remains... I think I'd get the sense that we're trapped here for good.

[Because let's face it, there are plenty of things that can go wrong here. Cave ins, mud slides...]

[journaler]

[She bounces back quickly though, as always. She pulls her blanket tighter around herself.]

Then again, who knows? Maybe if we do find something like that, it'll tell us something.

[opportunitycosts]

I don't think we have to worry about getting trapped, and besides, those workers will be back again tomorrow. So even if something did happen, not only would we have that, but Jude and the others would probably come along, too.

Besides, you got me here. [A small nudge of his elbow against her arm.] I won't let anything happen to you.

[Those words could have sounded so sweet and endearing had it come from anyone else. But of course, Alvin spins it so it's more like a light, teasing joke on her attempt at hiding her unease and poking a little fun. Of course, he really would make sure that she stays safe.]

In any case, do you want to wander around or just wanna stay here after things calm down? [Personally the former is probably safer, especially with the storm still going on. Even from here and although it's a bit muffled and muted, he can hear the loud thunder booming outside.]

[journaler]

[If anyone can make her feel like a little kid, it's him. She can't help but nudge him back, making a familiar face--though she can sense that he cares. Somewhere deep down, anyway... really, really deep down.

She folds her arms and looks thoughtful. Indecisive as ever, this one.

...

...A... A- choo! She sneezes, finally breaking the silence as she rubs at her nose.]

Well... I don't really wanna sit here and do nothing. But it is pretty warm...

[opportunitycosts]

Let's just dry up then and maybe the storm will have passed. It would make wandering around easier, anyway.

[You know, less cold winds, less risk of water pouring down from open cracks, etc.

He does notice that sneeze, though, but it's enough to warrant any more concern that—for now, anyway.]

I hope this makes you learn your lesson, though.

[journaler]

[Leia's about to agree with him--you know, validation and all--but she's deterred by this "life lesson" she's supposed to have learned.]

Pay more attention to forecasts?

[...No, wait, even better.]

Drag you along with me from the start next time?

[opportunitycosts]

Looks like you need some supplementary lessons.

[A light tap to the head with his knuckles.]

[journaler]

[She snorts, fully acknowledging that she asked for that one as she holds her hand up to resist him.]

Alright, alright, I get it already.

[opportunitycosts]

[Nnnnope he's running with it.]

I can imagine the headline now: Aspiring female reporter found dead in lost ruins after being lost and trapped there for days. Friends tried to find her, but somehow even the scent of well prepared food didn't lure her out.

[It sounded pretty dreary, but then it didn't.]