[PQ] [SE] the thunder of hooves movin' quick

So, what Nova is hearing is that she can put smiley faces everywhere and it won't matter. All it might do is confuse people, making it even better. What's life without a little chaos? And so she quickly adds a few more as they walk, still humming the same tune in her mind like being stuck in an elevator on repeat, skipping with a very satisfied smile across her face. She even winks at Caly when she decides to put one right in front of her sister's face before fixing one of the faded symbols. 

The young hybrid is barely listening to Jack (sorry Dad), but one topic certainly interests her. Spinning to look at the captain, her boots splash loudly in the water. "Oooh! What kind of monsters?" The telepaths in the room might feel the excitement buzzing through her, although even Caly would be able to tell from the twinkle of her eyes. Perhaps a lack of fear might be considered a bad thing for someone as naive and squishy as Nova, but that will have to be a lesson for another day. Today, she wants to hear about whatever formidable creatures they might get to encounter. Especially as she memorizes the symbol for future use.

Nova

Chaos is a prelude to creativity

send me flying babe,
wearing diamonds down

It makes sense, she supposes. That anything not the status quo would simply be ignored unless verbally told otherwise. So she does her best to meticulously understand the symbols, even as Nova quite visibly places a smilie face in front of her, sparking a muffled giggle and a playful glare toward her sister. “Nova!” She hisses in a lowered but amused voice, chiding only with the way she swats at her sister briefly in between cleaning and redoing the symbols.

It’s about the time she blinks up to see the symbol for monsters, her attention wholly captivated by it in a means to avoid it, until maybe she’s strong enough to take it on. But for the moment? There was little use. Her lips part to ask what kind of monsters? at precisely the time her sister voices her question, her gaze flitting back to her sister with amusement, before twisting to Vesper with a touch of sibling protectiveness, before landing on their father to hear him explain.

Calypso

kiss my neck and make me never doubt you now

just because the fog is there

Vesper watches his sisters and Jack work with quiet amusement and a measured sense of duty. Nova’s flair for chaos is evident in the cheeky smiley faces she’s scribbled next to the proper marks, and Caly’s meticulous cleaning of the symbols only heightens his appreciation for their contrasting styles. He nods silently at Jack’s practical reminder that no ledger exists—indeed, the oral tradition is what keeps the code elusive. Yet, a mischievous thought flits across his mind: maybe he should jot down a few wrong sorts of things next to the symbols, just to throw off any nosy interlopers.

With the work done, the group follows Jack down a narrow, winding tunnel. The sound of dripping water grows louder with every step, and soon the tunnel reveals a surprise: the passage is flooding. The water rushes in from unseen cracks, pooling rapidly on the uneven stone floor and barring any further progress into the tunnels.

Vesper tsk’s softly, a sound barely rising above the low hum of the damp air. He pauses, squinting at the water that now laps at their feet. His normally cool, detached demeanour takes on a hint of resigned practicality. "Well," he murmurs, his voice even but edged with disappointment, "-seems like this route’s not doin’ us any favours today." He shakes his head lightly, his platinum hair catching stray droplets of water as he gestures toward the rising tide. "Looks like we oughta come back another day—when the tunnels aren’t turnin’ into swimming holes."

So saying, with a final glance at the fading marks on the wall and a quiet nod to Jack, Nova, and Caly, Vesper tilts his head over his shoulder, trusting his sisters to lead them back out again.

~FIN

don't mean nothing's behind it

Code 100% taken from the queeeeeeen herself, Sky <3