Event Log: May, An Inauspicious Arrival

[faileas]

Event Log: May, An Inauspicious Arrival

I. Boaltinn (1st - 3rd) Boaltinn comes around again. A handful of Mirrorbound will remember the holiday from last year, but for others, it will be brand new. In both Residential Districts, bonfires burn in central locations through the night, frequented by the residents celebrating another summer come to Aefenglom. Curiously, while last year the bonfires seemed quite segregated by human or Monster, this year, there is more of a noticeable mix at each, and Mirrorbound are invited to join the games and festivities quite happily. Characters are invited to try and jump through the bonfire's flames to burn away any poor relationship experiences, be it romantic or platonic, past or present; to aid them in this, those at the Eastern Bonfire will give those participating rune-etched accessories to protect them from the fire. The city has quite a bit to offer for this holiday: shared rose baths at public bathhouses and pleasure establishments that increase feelings of friendliness and talkativeness, poles draped in ribbons meant to be danced around, wrapping a ribbon around the pole to bring good luck for the summer, food stalls whose offerings are meant to be shared, and fortune-telling set up by Divination students of the Coven, who can tell your day is going to go. To see last year's Boaltinn prompts, you can take a glance right here! Much of it, including the bonfires, baths, and entertainments will be similar this year, so feel free to use those in your top levels.

II. An Unusual Arrival (3rd on) A full year from the arrival of the first group of Mirrorbound, the 1st passes quietly, with no one showing up in the mirror-lined halls of the Looking-Glass House. Dates and times are important in most kinds of magic, and this is strange enough that some Witches of the Coven get together on the night of the 3rd to try a probing ritual, attempting to gather some kind of clues that could be useful in prying out the cottage's secrets. Boaltinn is the best time for such things, when the boundaries are thinner, and magic is stronger. Those who are awake that night at 3 am might notice a pulse of harmless silvery light that spreads like ripples on water throughout the whole city, originating at the Looking-Glass House, but nothing further happens, and the Coven receives no answers. Well, nothing happens in the Looking-Glass House. Before long, the reports start coming in: people are emerging from mirrors, regular old mundane mirrors, all over the city. Anything with a particularly reflective surface could be an entry point for someone from another world! Inhabited homes, businesses closed and locked for the night, pools of still water in fountains or the river, these unorthodox Mirrorbound pop up anywhere and everywhere, causing chaos for the City Guard (folks aren't happy to find strangers in their bathrooms at 3 in the morning) and the Coven both. Out of nowhere, a glint of light catches your eye; your heart thunders in your ears as your body moves on its own, your mind consumed with inspecting the source. Your reflection stares back at you, just as curious from the surface - a mirror, a pool of water, your most trusted sword, something fleeting that your mind can barely remember - then ripples at your touch. If you are one of these unfortunate arrivals, it's likely a rude awakening for you, to find yourself somewhere inconvenient, somewhere other than where you've been. It only makes sense to be confused. Hopefully someone finds you and explains to you what's happened to you. Resident Mirrorbound will hear a message from Miss Nessie shortly after it begins, a call to arms: "Dears, I'm quite sorry to disturb you, but it seems your fellows are arriving elsewhere than the Looking-Glass House this month! We're trying to track them all down for the usual welcome, but we could use a hand or several! If you could just bring them by the Coven, the usual spot, that would be lovely." She'll give her usual orientation and pass out Watches, but no doubt the Mirrorbound will be more helpful in this regard, with so many arriving.

III. The Goblin Market (All Month) Life goes on in Aefenglom, despite the addition of so many new residents. With the City Guard decidedly busy dealing with the sudden flood of break-ins (or, more accurately, break-outs?), the vendors of the Goblin Market find opportunity to set up their stalls more openly than they have since the crack-downs some months ago. They pop up all over the city, but clustered more often in the Residential Districts and the Harbor District, where there are even fewer law enforcement agents out and about to run them off. These sellers, while not as devoid of morals as those major players of the Black Market, still have very few compunctions when it comes to lying, cheating, fencing stolen goods, and misrepresenting their wares to unsuspecting buyers. It's also the place to find those things that are- not quite legal, shall we say. They won't say a word if you don't. If confronted, they are quick to pack up their things and slip away, however; they know this city and its hiding places a lot better than you do. With a brand new batch of what the natives assume are Mirrorbound, many undergoing rapid transformations into their Monster forms, many of the wares on display are potions: supposed cure-alls for aches and itches, calming draughts for the full moon restlessness, some even claim their brews can halt changes entirely! Some concoctions are meant to increase a Witch's magical ability, or decrease it, or provide them a finer control. They offer potions that they say will eliminate the need for a Bond, or temporary Bonding potions of their own that they claim are more pure, stronger, than the ones offered by the Coven. Claims are only claims, though. A few remedies for the pain of changing or some regular temporary Bonding potions can be found here and there, but for every potion that works, there are twenty more that have less than pleasant side effects. A brew that will cause everything you touch to turn to solid gold for up to an hour; a potion that will invert your sense of direction - trying to turn right will make you turn left, trying to go forward will cause you to walk backward; a potion that will remove all traction from your feet, causing you to slide around as if cobblestone are the slickest ice. Worse, some shadier vendors sell things more sinister, including a potion that gives you the appearance of being moderately to heavily infected by the Cwyld. Even if you don't drink any, the vendors are not at all careful where they're sloshing those bottles around, trying to show them off, and they all activate on skin contact.

IV. A Wilde Hunt (7th - 22nd) All Mirrorbound, temporary or not, are likely to feel it. Monsters are always affected by the full moons, but this month, it is more. Stronger. Instincts rise to the surface as the Sisters emerge full and visible in the night sky, and for many Mirrorbound, they are undergoing rapid transformations into whatever type of Monster they are meant to be. Curiously, the natives get along like they usually do, noticing nothing out of the norm, other than the increased agitation and restlessness from Mirrorbound Monsters. Monsters' aggression fades when the Sisters start to wane, but as the new moons approach on the 22nd, Mirrorbound Witches will notice their magical reserves overfilling, and will find themselves stricken with the overwhelming urge to use it, until casting spells, pushing one's magical limits, is almost a compulsion. Those who are not in proper Witch-Monster Bonds will feel it even stronger, with no stabilizing magic to consume (for Monsters) or avenues to expend magic (for Witches) other than casting spells. (For those who are interested, the Coven does offer temporary Bonding potions which can be used to help alleviate the effects somewhat.) The Coven Witches notice the signs, and they take decisive action on the morning of the 6th, the day before the full moons. So many Mirrorbound, likely to be so heavily affected by the lunar cycle this month, many of them coming into new features and abilities at a breakneck pace, only spells danger for the city. They barricade off a massive chunk of Wilde outside Aefenglom, largely free of Cwyld and totally bereft of farms, homes, and Wilder outposts. They invite anyone who feels the effects of the moons too strongly to control to come out for a Hunt. The hunting grounds will be open nightly to anyone who needs to work off restless energy or overflowing magic; all participants will be warned that their safety cannot be guaranteed from others, but they won't be able to harm bystanders out here. The woods are thick, with the river cutting through them, and full of wildlife. There is room to run and chase prey, or room to play with your developing magic. Play cat and mouse with your friends or Bondmates, or stalk a stranger. If playing games isn't your thing, there is something else to hunt out here as well. With the deep Wilde entering into Winter, this patch of land so close to the city is much warmer, and fearsome Shades have emerged to search for prey. These were once living beings, Monsters, Witches, or animals, who have been overtaken by Cwyld infection long ago, leaving them dead but for the infection, white-eyed and seeking out sources of magic to consume and infect. Anything could become a Shade, but the most common out right now are the ferocious remains of bears, wolves, and nomadic Arachne and Turnskins. If not killed, these Shades threaten the people of the Outer City, when they inevitably escape the barricade. Careful to limit your contact, though; anyone infected upon their return to the gates will be escorted straight to the infirmary.

Welcome to May's Fourth Wall event, An Inauspicious Arrival! The comms are now open to comments from all registered users and will be until June 1st. Current players, if you don't want fourth wall characters tagging your posts, just say so in your text. Fourth wall characters can use this post for their own network top-levels, or this post for log top levels. This event is game canon; threads from this fourth wall can be used as application samples later and current players may use these threads for AC. As always, be courteous to each other! Let the mod team know if there are any problems and we will handle things.

As always, please direct your questions to this thread!

Comments

wilde hunt.

[killuwatt]

[ Maybe he thinks he's well-hidden, but even without his nen here, Killua's instincts are still just as sharp. He can sense someone nearby, hear the faint sounds of his breathing. The way it catches, muffled but clearly upset.

It doesn't take long to find the source.

Wide blue eyes peer down at the curled-up young man hiding in the bushes, and Killua crouches down beside him, appearing suddenly as if out of nowhere, moving silently less for sneaky reasons and more just because it's automatic for him. ]

Hey. You get hurt in there or something?

[ He's assuming from the way the stranger is hiding near the gate that he just ran out, or something of the sort. ]

[radishlobbyist]

[ A-Ning, you are...! She trails off, unable to find words for what is happening to him that aren't utterly bizarre. So whatever kind of creature he is going to turn into will be one susceptible to either sunlight or light in general then? Now that's alarming.

She looks around, hoping to catch sight of someone selling a hooded cloak or something else that would cover him up nicely but there is only the stall with the large hats. Her eyes narrow at the seller. ]

My brother needs this. I'll pay you later. [ Then she simply grabs the largest hat from the table and moves to place it on Wen Ning's head if he doesn't prevent it. ]

[weiward]

[and it's a very convincing maiden act! really adorable!

but wei wuxian has seen your porn collection, you little deviant.]

Because everyone who arrives here becomes either a witch or a monster, and a lot of monsters have tails. Mine hasn't come in yet.

[he doesn't actually look, but he does give him a little pat and - nope, nothing back there that shouldn't be there.]

I guess you're a witch. [he grins at him again.] Nie-xiong, that might be true for you. But I've been here for months. Even your brother has been here for awhile.

[weiward]

Aaaah!

[you startled him again! wei wuxian hops back, shielding his face with his arms. he lowers them slowly, just peeking over the top at first. it really is just a kid.]

Me? [he points at himself as if to confirm it. and then he gets a good look at those robes. wei wuxian sighs, fear subsiding (almost) completely.] Great. A tiny peacock. What're you doing out here alone?

[lookslikeacinnamonroll]

[ When Wei-gongzi looks down, so does Wen Ning, noticing just how soaked he is. He shrugs sheepishly, but follows Wei-gongzi wherever he will lead him. ]

Do you know where we are? I'm very confused...

[lookslikeacinnamonroll]

[ He absolutely does nothing to prevent the hat from being firmly set on his head, grateful for the cover from the sun. He gives the shopkeeper a quick bow to try to keep him from getting too mad, but once that's out of the way, all his attention is focused on Wen Qing. ]

What is this place? How long have you been here?

😍

[sparkstrikes]

[Oh.

As soon as he turns around, familiarity strikes, and so do the memories of him. When they'd met, and when they bumped into each other at the masquerade... the two that stick out the most to her. And of course, that general cheekiness that she had grown so used to during her time here that it was almost a comfort, in a strange way.

Except this... this is downright embarrassing.

She wipes the water with her eyes.]

Didn't think to check the pools of water on the side of the road? I expected more from you.

[Might as well play along. It's all she has left.]

[finesseblade]

[ His ears shoot upright at the sound of her voice, equally familiar even in his changed state. Even in the dark, his eyes pick out the outline of her face , the golden hue of her hair the most distinct thing he can see. The wings are new. So are the feathers. But the smell...

Felix's nose quivers as he lifts his face, scenting the air, and confirms that actually, yes, it's her. His tail starts to tentatively sweep back and forth, recognizing someone familiar; Felix immediately whuffs and rocks back on his haunches, flattening it before it can do any worse. ]

It's Felix, [ he says, his voice still a growl. ] just differently shaped than you're used to. Since when do you have wings?

[fairyherder]

[ he just stares for a moment before he remembers, oh. he's got dog ears... that's... well that's stupid! he doesn't look like an actual dog, does he?! who is scared of someone with dog ears? Wei Wuxian is an idiot. ]

Who are you calling a peacock? I have a name, you know.

[ he's slowly getting to his feet despite his shaky limbs. the transformation kind of aches and he hates it but this is a good distraction at the very least, and he's calming down somewhat. ]

... I was just... ... going to participate in the hunt.

[detonatability]

[ The clay is, actually, perfectly normal clay — it doesn't become combustive until Deidara has manipulated it, pressing his magic into the material. The actual technique isn't too different from what he'd done before — on a surface level, at least. He bounces the bird up and down in his hand, tossing and catching it. ]

A few.

[ He answers, maybe a little bit coy, but actually he has something like a utility belt around his waist that's weighted down with processed but mostly unshaped clay. But that isn't, actually, all he has on him — knowing his magic is still temperamental, he's also procured himself some kunai; or at least the closest he could find to what he's used to using. ]

You mean those monsters, mm?

[ It's not like he forgot about them, but now they've been mentioned he cocks his head, listening for signs of their approach. ]

So, have you fought them before?

[stopfen]

They call anyone not human that. Even if they were human before... I'm used to being called worse. [Beast, devil, slave. Monster was one of the tamer things and she'd been called it enough times to be used to it before arriving.]

Yeah. That's normal here. There isn't magic where I'm from, but everyone with it lost it when they got here. It just doesn't work here. [She pauses for a moment. A hand reaching up to scratch at her chitin covered neck.]

Removing whatever it is probably won't work. A lot of it seems to regrow.

[radishlobbyist]

[ When told to look up she does so obediently, giving Melisandre the opportunity to observe her eyes while she also blinks rapidly a few times to do her own inspection. The black sludge seems to be gone, with only some irritation and the accompanying redness remaining. ]

I believe that was all of it. If there is nothing else to it, I got away lucky.

[ Which is the problem, she would have to be truly lucky for the potion to do nothing but leave her with an itch and red eyes. There is, however, also nothing she can do right now other than waiting for any side effects to show themselves.

So she focuses on the woman who had been so kind to her and inclines her head respectfully. ] Thank you for your help. You have helped me out in an embarrassing situation. [ She looks down at her clawed hands. ] It is not easy for a doctor to be unable to do the simplest things to help herself.

[demonass]

Wouldn't have been the first time you crash landed into a public work.

[ Just. Saying.

(Granted that's not the same as literally coming out of a fountain, but he can't not point that out.)

Nero, for one, is definitely not celebrating. While the original intent was to go save Dante and take down Urizen, getting rid of the Qliphoth was part of it too. A decent part. But he's got things he needs to address on it still--some pretty damn confusing but equally important things. Personal things. Selfish? Maybe. But he thinks he's got a right to be right then.

So, yeah--the absence of the giant devil tree isn't something to be happy about. It makes him antsy, because this isn't the resolution he was looking for. (He actually isn't sure what he's looking for, he just knows he needs to do something rather than piss off.)

Nero tightens his jaw, his left hand clenching into a fist as it becomes visibly clear that he's not pleased with this turn of events. ]

Yeah.

[ With a sharp huff through his nose, he stomps away from the fountain. ]

Then let's get off our asses and figure it out.

[ Nero prefers to be a punch first, ask questions later kind of guy, but situations like this make that more difficult. Luckily for them, there are people milling about, though they seem to be keeping a wide berth of the scene he and Nico made. ]

Hey!

[ He tries to wave down a man walking by, who pulls his hat closer on his head and shuffles away quickly. Well, failed. He turns his attention to a woman walking in the opposite direction. He'll try nicer this time. ]

--Excuse--

[ Nope, she walks right on off too.

Nero isn't pouting, but the frown edges the border of one. ]

Okay, so I'm guessing the people here aren't really chatty with strangers.

[ Can't blame them too much for that. Fortuna isn't know for it's tourism and hospitality. ]

[radishlobbyist]

[ Now that her brother has stopped smoking like he is about to catch fire, Wen Qing permits herself to relax a little. She tugs at his sleeve, though, trying to pull him away from the angry merchant who is now barking something about thieves. Wen Qing pointedly ignores him. ]

Not much longer than you. I fell out of a mirror. I was told about people turning into animal-like creatures or gaining more magic. [ She thinks of mentioning she is pretty sure she is turning into something with wings but thinks better of it. ] Do you know what is happening with you?

[zewu_jun]

[ Lan Xichen would be grateful to hear that Jin Ling hasn't yet had to take on that mantel. He's too young and has already been through enough without that fatal end on his shoulders. He steps closer to Jin Ling and apparently decides to accompany him on his own, settling in like he's joining him for a meeting out. ]

Well, it's similar, but the prey is somewhat different than usual. And we don't have the same abilities or items we are used to. It's important to be cautious.

[ And, in case more dismissal is coming: ]

Maybe we can go together? I would like the company.

[meteodrives]

[ Tifa follows right behind him, heading over the pile of crates just after he does and taking his hand when offered. For the most part, she's contemplative, because she's already started exhibiting some of the changes he's mentioned. The magic part, at least. The bonds, the fact that witches may or may not explode... That's all pretty new to her. It might not be a kind subject but the honesty is appreciated, if nothing else. ]

I've heard a bit about the full moon. The goblins were saying they had a few potions to help around it, when things get bad.

[ How bad is still the question, but Cloud's painted a good picture. When they hit the wider road, she walks beside him once more. ]

I've been able to use magic. [ That's one confirmation out of the way; it's why she doesn't look different. ] It feels weird. It's not overly different than casting with materia but it's... I'm probably overthinking it.

[ Where materia is the catalyst for magic, Tifa has found she fills that role more or less now. It's been a hit-or-miss endeavor. ]

Ready for what, though? And...which are you?

[unsundered]

[It's a response that draws a blink, clearly not expecting that answer. And a quiet look to follow, eyes drifting to the side, to a space somewhere beyond Amal's head. It was- a different answer.

Not pity, nor a halfhearted-guilt of self-centered inclination. Oddly proactive. Though the Ascian remains deeply disturbed at the seemingly universal constant that his death provided him rest, Amal's expression of it earns a nod of acknowledgement, attention returning to the smaller man's face.]

Will they? Well... I'll wish you better luck than I at that. I could certainly use the break.

[He decides not to clarify that he hadn't yet met that apparent and impending rest. Though still serious, his voice attempts a more mild lilt.]

But for the time being, it seems we share a world once more. For a singular mercy, it's not one that requires your personal heroism to save it, nor does it warrant any ruinous attentions from my kind.

[That is to say, they weren't necessarily in conflict now. Something Emet-Selch had a harder time reminding himself of, these days, but- if nothing else, he was learning that all of these Warriors were different, despite originating from the same person.

So who was this hero? Perhaps one day he'd learn better and give up trying to find out- but yet here he was again, staring down this Amal, conflicted and resentful and tired above all, and yet... wondering of him, nonetheless.]

B

[marchrabbit]

[ Forgive the deep inhale on the other side of before he can get himself to speak. He just needs to psyche himself up! Listening to the radio was comforting when he was confused... And now they're taking calls if you're feeling just that!

Not to mention, he kind of recognizes that cheerful voice behind the slightly off typical radio quality! Hopefully at least, even if Momo is not that unique of a name. What has Mitsuki got to lose. ]

...Hello, Momo-san! This is Mitsuki. Mitsuki Izumi, and I'm a new arrival!

[ His confidence naturally builds the more he talks. ]

How are you doing today, Momo-san?

Haha, I kind of rushed to call in, so that was the first question that came to my mind. Sorry. But if you've got a job on the radio, I'm curious!

[ In case this is not the Momo he knows, at least he's providing something entertaining for the other listeners before he gets cut off. ]

[northernmist]

[ The flat look certainly doesn't fit any kind or noble person, and Ao Lengshan's stance is much more defiant, like he expects every person to question his authority at any given moment. But the pouting does have an effect. The dragon looks at the young man with his ears and tail showing and seems to deflate somewhat, unable to fully maintain his ruthless front in the face of a sulky puppy. ]

It's probably useless. Things like that wouldn't cost so much and be easily found. If it were that special, then he wouldn't be selling it on the street like a cheap snack.

[ It's not like he cares, but somehow watching Jin Ling's reaction reminds him of... well. ]

If you want something real, you have to be more selective. Don't go to just any ugly face selling potions. Especially not those faces.

[bravers]

[It won't come to exploding, with her. Cloud's sure of it. They've got time- and if worst comes to worst, he'll get her a bond. He's certain. As for the potion thing...]

Don't buy from 'em. The coven make them, and they don't give them out to the natives. Whatever these guys're selling, it's some kind of knockoff. Who knows what it'll do.

[Besides. The coven's ones are free. And safe. He can attest to that. Needless to say, he'd been on them for a while before he made other arrangements. His gaze moves to Tifa as she speaks, nodding.]

You're a witch, then. [Not good. But it's not like being either a witch or a monster was anything close to it.] ...You've got time. But eventually, you'll start feeling weird. It's the magic, building up inside you.

[She's... probably got more time than most. He doesn't know the half of Zangan's style of martial arts and what it entails, other than the obvious- the fact that she can clear more or less anything unarmed. But... it's got to involve willpower. And discipline. That might help her control the magic better than other people. But either way, even if not, there's the potions.

As for her question:]

For a bond. It's pretty much a spell, the coven casts on you and someone else. Your magic goes into them, and it humanizes them. But your magic keeps building, and it wears off from them.

[Her other question. There's a slight pause- shame, almost- before he responds.]

I'm a monster. A Turnskin.

[Small pause.]

I've changed, already. [Nothing on the outside, at least. Not yet. This world had focused on the most fractured parts first. The freshly broken parts, those easiest to alter. His mental state, still healing, still malleable from the Northern Crater and from Mideel.] But I want to get back and settle up before I turn into something that's not me.

[An acute fear. One that perhaps Tifa would see holds a special meaning for him.]

C

[demonass]

[ They're just two peas in a pod then, aren't they? It's probably fitting that Nero would be undergoing similar changes, given when he now knows about their relationship. (What he should have known this whole time?) So it's no surprise that they would both turn to a similar outlet of his new rush and need to strike out. Nero's always been a hothead, but even he knows that this is different. Knocking heads around to burn energy and anger is something he understands. This delves much too deep for that.

Something more basal.

Which is why one of the wolves never makes it close enough to Dante to be his next target. Instead, it's grabbed by the neck as it charges forward and is slammed face first down into the ground. Nero looks up from the squirming creature towards Dante--bluish scales crawling up his own neck, a single horn on the right side of his head protruding forward and hooking downward in the same bent shape as his yet discovered Devil Trigger. ]

Why's it you always try to have all the fun?

[gynvael]

[ Which way? Geralt takes a second, blinking once. When she turns to leave, the glimpse of matching scales trailing up her neck answers the questions he has. Also opens up a few more. ]

You know him? [ Her friend? Ward? Or is she a dragon, too, whose taken human form? In any case, she's turning the wrong direction. He doesn't say so out loud, but he falls into step beside her and gestures west where the dragon flew.

So much for a simple hunt for deer. Maybe a monster or two. How is it dragons are incredibly rare and yet he's been roped into helping one twice now? ]

C!

[meteodrives]

[ How could she say no to wandering on a night like this, to watch the bonfires and the people celebrating? Even if she doesn't partake in the games, Tifa's gone to watch and to experience the event first-hand, to enjoy everything she can. The food is amazing, the sound of laughter like music to her ears. Everyone here seems happy, the planet seems healthy, and there's nothing more she could ask for.

Just stepping out of the fortune teller's booth, more for fun than anything serious, she hears a melody that's familiar enough to quicken her step until she finds a cause for the song. From the back, she's a little taken aback by the antlers(?) she sees, but the suit is a dead giveaway. Even more so when she wanders close enough to really see who it is.

She waits until he finishes before she claps quietly, smiling. ]

That was nice. I didn't know you could play.

[ She doesn't know much about Rude at all, really, but the imposing figure he cuts seems such a stark contrast to what he'd just been doing. ]

[barbeardian]

[ Grog is probably not smart enough to be considered a connoisseur of anything (although he would certainly claim to be if asked) but he is definitely as excited as Nico is about the weapons. ]

Yeah, exactly! Sometimes you gotta just get in there and chop some heads off, yeah? Can't do that unless you go in with your blades and your bare hands!

[ He is way too enthusiastic about that idea. ]

You wanna give it a try? Hey! Hey, you, mister!

[ And there's the goliath, trying to get a merchant to let Nico hold a sword that probably should not be used by anyone. ]

Hey, we want to see that one there! Yeah, come on. My friend here wants to test it out.

[meteodrives]

[ Tifa backs off just as she hears Lightning speak again, and she sees the light bounce and crackle along the creature's body. It's in much worse shape now than it was before, a sure sign that what they're doing is working, and magic is the way to go. It gives Tifa a burst of confidence. When the Shade seems to curl in on itself, she takes the opportunity to hit it once, twice, power snapping over her knuckles until the creature backs off again.

She bounces back on her feet, tossing her head back to regard Lightning. ]

Right. I'll launch it, you strike?

[ Lightning seems to have the better handle of power of the two of them, after all.

Which is why Tifa jumps back in, punching it several times once more, most of them landing with snaps and pops of power. When it nearly wilts, swiping at her, she turns to take it to her arm so she can sweep around and deliver an uppercut to the monster and launch it once more for Lightning to take care of. ]