dreamcrystals | eight entry ⊗ bauble trip home

Entry tags:

eight entry ⊗ bauble trip home

Sender: Eustace
To: Everyone
Subject: Successful Use of Baubles to Return Home

For those who may not have noticed, recently the baubles used for the Wishing can be used to return to our home worlds and still be able to return. It was a risk, but given the prospect of this for the ongoing research of staying in this world permanently, I tried it myself.

It works.

I departed on the first of the month and according to Tifa, returned after three days here. As before, the time passed in my world was several months and as expected, I still did not retain any memories of my time in Songerein while in my world.

I had the researchers at the Observatory study the dreamotion energy during this process to see if they can learn more about our connection between this world and our world. If there are any who wish to try or plan to return to their home world through the use of the baubles, I would like to request if they could study your trip as well.

It does appear that the more common "random connections" is still occurring. Regardless, I hope this message eases some concerns others might have in wanting to temporarily revisit their world on their own will.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[Valo's ears perk up as he carefully sniffs the food, drool already forming at his mouth as his tail starts to wag. Seeing such a response, Eustace can't help but laugh as he strokes the dog's back.]

That's quite the welcome meal. Don't hold back.

[Valo turns his head and looks at Eustace with slight wonder, a look that he's noticed the dog had given him several times since coming here. And it's only now that he realizes why. With a smile he continues to pet the dog.]

...Yeah. We didn't really need it back there, but I can understand you and you can understand us more, too.

[Melody barks in confirmation, and understanding all this now, Valo wags his tail and rubs his face against Eustace, licking him happily before turning back to the food to dig in.

He'll watch the dog with warm affection before he finally lifts his fork.]

[Tifa can only watch all of this happen in front of her with a smile, tears lining the bottoms of her eyes when she sees Eustace's own warm smile. It's a wonder that he had spent so long away from here, but from what she's seen so far...

He looks so much happier. Lighter. Even more so than before he left.

Across the counter, vines of starflowers begin to bloom, and it's what snaps Tifa out of her longing, proud gaze to try and stop them from spreading too far.]

Not again...!

[But her eyes land on the dog as she takes a fistful of the vines in her hands.]

... Does he like it?

[He just chuckles as he takes that first bite, momentarily savoring the taste. Yes... This is truly the best. Not to say that the cooks on the Grandcypher weren't good, either, but there is nothing that would top Tifa's. Not like this.

And seeing Valo eating quite enthusiastically, he's certain he feels the same.]

I would say so. He acts as if he hasn't had a meal in days.

[And then a fonder smile as he looks over at her.]

But I feel the same.

[If he smiles at her like that...

The starflower vines only begin to grow still, more quickly now, as Tifa struggles to bundle them up in her arms before she simply... gives up, face flushed... and they fall with a loud fwump! to the floor where they crawl along.]

I'm glad...

[It's something she'll never grow tired of hearing—that Eustace enjoys her cooking. It's something that she takes great pride in, and something she wants to continue to do for him for as long as they're together. To be able to share that with him every day... she's so grateful to this world for giving her that.

With the kettle screeching to a boil, Tifa pauses the conversation to pour the hot water over the coffee grinds, waiting for it to drip into the cup before serving it to Eustace.]

... And one coffee.

[Her hand lingers behind, brushing it against his before she pulls back, and nudges the flowers away with her foot.]

Seems I have a lot to catch up on.

[He's trying hard not to laugh at her struggle, not realizing a few flowers were blooming around his side as well. Not that he would mind them as much, of course.

Holding the cup and looking at where they had briefly touched, he'll raise it and blow away some of the heat before taking a cautious sip. Although hot, it's just as he remembers it, and a soft smile forms before he takes another and sets it down.]

Mm... Nothing that exciting, really. Had to help with a few missions and bail a friend out...and of course Valo. Otherwise just the usual conflicts and occasional troubles that follow Gran.

[There's a small frown as he considers some of them, most he wasn't around for but had at least heard later.]

Things are brewing in the skies...

[Tifa's smile fades slightly at those last words, and while the flowers haven't stopped, they do slow significantly when she sees his frown.]

What do you mean? Something like... Diaspora?

[That earns a shiver out of her, goosebumps rising all over her arms as she remembers what she saw up on the moon. When he says something like that, she doesn't quite know what that means, but it can never be anything good. And once again, she wishes that she could do more to help...

More than just a comforting cup of coffee and a homecooked meal...]

...Mm, different.

[His gaze seems distance as he recalls what he knows before he shakes his head.]

I wasn't there so I only know what I heard afterwards. But Gran was able to take care of it.

[She's going to ask the question anyway...]

Something dangerous? [With a gentle tip of her head, she looks at him carefully.] Should I be worried...?

No.

[A light smile as he tries to reassure her.]

So you don't need to worry. Gran and the others are capable of taking care of things.

Good.

[That's all she needs to hear to relax again, her smile returning in full force as she starts a cup of coffee for herself, pouring the coffee grinds carefully into a filter.

Now, for the question that's been burning a hole on the tip of her tongue since she saw him—]

So, how did you end up with Valo?

[A knowing grin as he continues to savor this delicious breakfast. Is it because he can taste her feelings for or him through it? By now Valo had scarfed down his meal and jumped down so he could go around to give Tifa some affectionate licks of appreciation, his tail wagging all the while. Seeing this just makes Eustace's smile widen.]

Mm... Bit of a story, I guess.

[And he gives a brief recount of how he was with Gran and the others on a small vacation at the lake where they forced him to stop training and actually relax for a little while. There was a dog competition and while watching Valo walked up to him and stayed by his side the entire time. During one of the contests, a large eal appears and while Valo helped the current contestants out of the water, he and Gran took care of the eal.

After that, Valo's trainer came up to them, introducing herself and explaining Valo's story. He originally had an owner but unfortunately passed, so the trainer took him back in hopes of finding another. Seeing how Valo was rather attached to Eustace, she suggested he take him. However he had hesitated due to how Valo's loyalty reminded him of Vitty and he was afraid of that loss again. But Valo insisted and so he couldn't refuse.]

...So we've been together ever since. I leave him with Ronan or on the Grandcyhper whenever I'm on missions, but otherwise I take him wherever I go when I can.

[As Eustace regales her in the story of him and Valo, she is more than happy to share some affection with the dog as he comes around to greet her behind the counter. He gets plenty of kisses, ear scratches, and she even picks him up with ease to hold him in her arms for a while, burying her face in his hair and resting her head on his. Not for long of course, lest the other dogs get jealous, and now she has a line of corgis all waiting their turn to be picked up and carried...

... And she'll oblige that, too, while sipping on her coffee with her free hand, her eyes fond and full of love as she listens to Eustace.]

That's quite the story. [She looks down at Valo who is sitting next to her, tail wagging as he proudly stares at Eustace.] Sounds like I've got another hero to take care of, huh?

[Like father, like son, as they say.

Her smile warms further—if that were even possible at all—and she reaches out to brush her fingers along Eustace's hand.]

I'm glad you brought him with you.

Mm.

[His gaze remains warm and fond as he watches it all, happy to see how well the two hit it off. Granted, he had very little doubt they would.]

I did debate a little...but it felt wrong to not include him in our family here.

Of course.

[If there was ever any doubt that Tifa would have accepted him or not... but it seems that Valo has made himself a family of her and all the dogs already, as they all sit together in a small circle near Tifa's feet.]

It'll be an interesting adjustment, having a bigger dog around. Not that I mind, though... The others seem to be warming up to him, too.

Our family has grown quite a bit in such a short time...

[And then a pause before there's a rueful sigh.]

I have a feeling Eria is going to give me the cold shoulder again.

I'm sure she'll be fine.

[The wolf might be a bit resentful for a little bit, but she'll warm up to him just like she has the other corgis... despite how she rolls her eyes at them more often than not, she knows that it's out of love.]

Just wait until she sees how happy you look now. [Her eyes linger on his lips a moment—gosh, seeing him like this just makes her want to leap over the counter at him, but she will resist... for now.] She... was waiting at the well for a while. Wasn't sure if she'd still be there today.

[Oh? That surprises him...]

I didn't see her there.

[And now he can't help but frown in concern. After all, it wasn't so long ago that she had been depressed about what happened during the Story Eater battle...and she had definitely been sulky and reticent when he proposed he try to return home like he did. Hm...]

I'll look for her in a bit.

She might've gone home.

[She understands that he might be worried and Tifa tries to offer him her most reassuring smile, but compared to when he had been asleep for three days, Eria didn't seem quite as cold. She was simply waiting for him, from the looks of it.]

I left some food out for her, and she's been eating. I think... maybe she just wanted to make sure you got back safe and sound.

Most likely.

[Still, he can't help but worry a bit for the wolf.]

But that's good to hear. A lot better compared to before.

Edited 2023-07-16 08:12 (UTC)

Mm. I hope so.

[He needn't worry. Once Eria sees that he's returned, she'll bounce right back to her old self again. Hopefully. Minus the whole Valo and new dog in the house thing... though, she makes a note to herself to tell them both to behave with one another, and to make nice when they get home.]

So...

[She takes a long pause to take a sip of her coffee.]

Any other adventures that you've been on? How long was it for you?

Mm... It was just a few months. The only other thing of note would be needing to rescue a friend from his stupid recklessness.

[Small sigh.]

But it was fine, nothing that we couldn't handle.

A few months...

[The words are repeated under her breath, and a strange feeling comes over her. It isn't sadness or grief, nor could she really call it confusion... but perhaps... it's jealousy? It isn't a nice feeling by any means, and it makes her brow furrow, but she lets it simmer for a little longer and puts her smile back on.]

... And you really didn't remember anything about this place? Just like last time?

...Unfortunately.

[A small sigh as he moves the last remaining bits of bacon around his plate.]

Not even in dreams...none that I can remember, at least.

[She watches the last pieces of food on his plate, waiting patiently for him to finish his meal before she starts asking the heavier hitting questions... and delivers the even heavier hitting news... She doesn't want to overload him all at once, and these things are better done in private, way from the eyes and ears of her patrons.

So, at first, Tifa only hums in response, like an affirmation that she understands and had expected it, but... there's something swimming beneath her gaze still. And there's a pause before she finally asks...]

Could we talk somewhere? More private? ... When you're done.

[He catches the implication behind her words and gaze, and he looks at her questioningly for a moment before he nods.]

We can talk now.

[He pretty much finished—well, he will after he takes that last forkful. He wasn't going to leave anything behind! Not this precious meal his wife made!!

But once he does finish, he stands to take the dish to go around to the sink because he apparently isn't going to let her do it.]

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject