third road ( log; closed )

[roadsprings]

Who: Bilbo Baggins and Lux Crownguard
Where: Ruins
When: Week 77
What: Lux and Bilbo take a trip into some ruins for fun and ~knowledge~.

[ part of Bilbo - the most defiantly Baggins part - still can't quite believe that he is willingly standing outside the entrance to some (potentially very unsafe, his brain reminds him) ruins. nevermind that they're ruins that have already been reasonably well-documented.

the more reckless and much less sensible part of him tells that part to shush, and reminds him that a little under a month ago he had been battling a God of War alongside his fellow Enlightened inside a secret tunnel, of all things. what are a few old ruins after that?

in fact, he finds he's quite excited; about the prospect of discovering something new or deepening their understanding down there, or about the prospect of the exploration itself, he's not sure. and besides, he trusts the young woman who is his companion for this trip. ]

I just realised I never asked, but have you ever been this way before?

Comments

[ladyofluminosity]

[ Lux smiled reassuringly, putting her pack back on her back. ]

Don't worry, there isn't anything here that we can't handle together.

[ Well, that she knew of. There was always the chance that they would be blitz by something entirely new, or extremely strong, but she generally liked their odds.

Leading the way, she unclipped her lantern from her pack, charging forward. She could use her magic, but she wanted to be sure to keep that in reserve, just in case. ]

Is there anything in particular that you're hoping to find?

[roadsprings]

[ he gives her a tight smile back, but oddly enough, he's surprised to find that most of him believes her. he follows on a step behind, folding the map carefully in a way to make it a tad more portable for reading while on the move. ]

I must admit I honestly hadn't given it much thought. This is my first time doing this, you know, I'd be happy enough finding anything of interest.

[ladyofluminosity]

[ Lux nods in acknowledgement. ]

We don't always find something, but I know that there are a few interesting sites here. It's my hope that we will uncover something, but I don't want to lead you in here thinking that we will.

[ Coming to a forked path, Lux stops, turning toward the navigator. ]

Your adventure starts here. Which way do we go?

[roadsprings]

[ after briefly consulting the map: ] Left, I think. Toward the unknown, wasn't it?

[ he can't believe he's saying this. ]

[ladyofluminosity]

[ She smiles encouragingly, glowing just a bit more than usual. Certainly it's the lantern light doing this. ]

I hoped you might say that. You won't regret it, I promise.

[ Lifting up her wrist, she summons out Ruby, her Ninetales, to accompany them. Her will o' wisp flames will help light the way.

The first leg proves to be somewhat uneventful, with a few signs written in old language littering the walls. These ruins seem to be more industrial in nature. ]

[roadsprings]

I do hope you know I will be holding you to that.

[ as they walk down the path - far more peacefully than he could have hoped for, given recent events and his own lingering expectations - he can't help being drawn to the signs that they pass. a lover of language by nature, the ancient words lit by lamplight and flickering flames have him curious. ]

All these signs we're passing, I wonder what it is they're actually saying? I suppose it can't be anything too out of the ordinary, but it does make one wonder.

[ he makes a mental note to check any research done on the languages of the past when they get back to Union. ]

[ladyofluminosity]

I wouldn't have it any other way.

[ Lux seemed genuinely surprised by that. Bilbo hadn't studied languages? She always assumed that he was well-read on the subject--and many others, for that matter. Still she smiled through, nodding a bit. ]

I'm not very good with them myself. I know enough to get by, but sometimes it helps to make notes of what you see and show it to one of the historians. I'm sure someone would be more than happy to translate or teach you.

We can take a break so you can take notes, if you'd like.

[roadsprings]

By all means, if you wouldn't mind. I know bits and bobs here and there, but overall my knowledge of ancient languages is far more piecemeal than it ought to be. I've been meaning to address that for some time now, really.

[ there's a short pause as he slides his pack off to take out pen and paper, and he mumbles almost to himself: ] Suppose I'll have to do so in earnest, if I'm going to be throwing myself down more holes like this one.

[ladyofluminosity]

It's likely a lot better than mine. I'll admit, I'm a bit behind the curve when it comes to some things, and ancient script is one of them.

[ She waits, leaning against a wall, watching him. This all felt so familiar. Was this how she was when she first started? ]