escordvi | second slash ⚔️ closed log

[The blizzard and all that snow was great and all, but he was now itching to get out there and find something interesting to fight. And while he could do this by himself....

giant moth u in?

He ended up texting Lightning on a whim. There wasn't really any real reason why, he just thought she could use the exercise, too. That and he's still curious about how she fights... Really he should ask (read: bug) for a spar sometime.

But she ended up agreeing, and now they've reached one of the forests the moth had been last seen around.]

So... How big do you think this thing is? And do you think there are more of them?

[Thought she could use the exercise? Excuse???

But no, it did not need much thought. With the cold weather and the blizzards finally gone, it was about time she got out and did something, and if Rokurou hadn't reached out to her to take it down with him, then she would have just gone and done it herself. Bounties were easy money.]

Pretty big if they gotta set a bounty on it. [A shrug. The bigger, the badder, and the more money they get.] And wouldn't doubt it. Where one is, there're probably more lurking around somewhere, so stay sharp. Last thing I want is for either of us to get blindsided by a giant bug.

[Good exercise!! Fun exercise!! Get that blood pumping!!]

If it's that big, it can't be that easy to hide.

[He smirks a bit before looking a the very large trees ahead.]

Maybe easy with these trees, but still.

Hmm.

[Speaking of the trees, Lightning looks to them, her eyes scanning the area.]

If there was a way to disturb a wide area of the trees, we might be able to force it out. No wind magic, huh?

[Somewhere, a windy lady's ears are tingling.]

Unfortunately no, just fire, and I don't think they'd be too happy if we started a forest fire.

[He's a daemon, but even he knows limits.

Though, well, if they had to he'd do it.]

[That's exactly why she hasn't thought to use her own magic. Lightning would be just as likely to start a fire, and she didn't come here to burn down a bunch of trees.

It's then that a thought occurs to her, as they reach the edge of them, and she pulls out her gun.]

This might work.

[She takes aim at a whole lot of nothing, in between a pair of large trees.]

Just be ready if anything comes rushing out.

[He looks at her curiously before he starts to get the idea and nods, his stance shifting and hands ready to grab his swords.]

On it.

[That is all the warning that he gets before Lightning fires off three loud gunshots into the trees. One of the bullets skims a tree before flying off while the others disappear into the woods and into nothing.

Her eyes scan the line of them once more, the silence piercing.

After a few moments of waiting and waiting, she lowers her gun.]

Well, that didn't work as well as I thought it would.

[Except just as she says that, there is a rustle of the trees and not a breeze to be found—]

Maybe we should have brought a large cow instead?

[It's said jokingly before there's that shift in the wind and in that moment he senses a strong aura like a killing intent.]

Careful—!

[But then comes a strong breeze and a thick cloud of dust. It's towards the both of them, but especially at Lightning.]

Edited 2026-02-05 01:14 (UTC)

[She would have told him that he would have had to carry it if they did, but something comes at them before she has time to react. A cloud of dust, or pollen, or something surrounds her. She brings her arm up to shield her face and her nose, trying to not breathe it in, coughing as she extends her sword.]

What the hell—

[It's muttered quietly into her arm, and a bolt of lightning strikes down just a few inches in front of her, the static charge enough to scatter the dust a little. Enough that she can get a clear view or a giant winged creature emerging from the trees at a speed that is unnatural for a bug like that.]

Guess that worked after all. Swords up!

[She blinks away the haziness that creeps into her vision and dives out of the way as the moth swoops in at them both, its legs out and wrapping like it's trying to grab one of them.]

Heh, not a problem!

[Rokurou was able to avoid the dust, only his sleeve getting a dusting of it as he just shakes it off while drawing his swords. He does glance at Lightning a little concerned, but his initial thought is maybe the moth was just trying to surprise them by blinding them first. To try and help cover for her, he'll dash in, avoiding the claw that tries to snatch him and instead slashes at it, aiming for both the claw and the underside of the moth as he passes under.]

[The moth rears back, trying to dodge his swords, before it flutters upward to the sky. Lightning, meanwhile, tries to strike it with magic, several bolts raining down around it to at least clip the damn thing's wings, but she blinks hard when her vision begins to blur again, and one of the strikes nearly hits Rokurou, landing just a few inches from his feet.]

Ugh, shit...what...

[Lightning looks over at him and grumbles his name, though he may not hear her over the beat of the moth's wings.]

Rokurou... cover me... I don't...

Edited 2026-02-05 04:07 (UTC)

[He has to jump when that lightning almost hits him, and he's about to shout at her but looking back and hearing her voice, his eyes widen slightly.]

Hey, you okay—whoa!

[He tries to voice his concern, but then there's a sudden blast of wings and Rokurou has to brace himself as he pushed back slightly before he has jump and roll out of the way as the moth takes another dive at him.

But why is it so focused on him? Isn't Lightning technically an easier target? Although the thought passes through his mind, he has to quickly adjust and plants a seal on the ground before hopping back, the seal activating as soon as the moth makes another dive and bursts into flames, forcing the giant bug to fly back with a screech.]

[Lightning tries to raise her gun to shoot at the damn thing, taking aim, but instead, she just ends up blinking as the world starts to shift strangely around her. She manages a shot but she misses completely, the bullet flying off in the wrong direction and disappearing. The sound of Rokurou's voice and the screeches of the moth seem to fade, and everything looks...

Different.

Like she isn't standing at the edge of a forest on some island and instead, she's...]

... Home?

[It's said audibly, but her voice and her eyes are distant, like she's been transported somewhere else as she stands on the beach of what appears to be Bodhum's shores.]

[The moth continues to focus on Rokurou, darting in and out as he tries to learn the rhythm and attacks. He manages to land a few cuts, but it flies off too fast for him to score anything deeper. Just as he's thinking he should just try and jump on its back, he notices it hovering in the air to look past him before it seems to click click its mandibles and suddenly shoots up high.]

Hey!

[But seeing that it's just...hovering there, he can't help but look back at Lightning.]

Lightning, snap out of it!

[What he doesn't know is that the sound the moth makes is activating the dust that had shrouded Lightning, making it more potent.]

[With every struggle and every screech of the moth, the world for Lightning only fades further. The trees fade into palm trees, the grass into sand and water that laps at her ankles. She's back in her Guardian Corps uniform, and—

"Lightning!"

She whips around at the sound of a familiar voice calling to her.

"Lightning! Help!"]

Serah!? Serah, where are you?

[She spins on the spot, searching, but to Rokurou, it will look like she's panicking, and definitely hallucinating something as she calls out her sister's name, as the moth just watches, waiting for Rokurou to let his guard down.]

[What is...]

Lightning? Hey!

[Although he glances up warily up at the moth, he has no choice but to try and run over to her.]

What happened?

[When he rushes up to her, and when he speaks, she staggers back, the grip on her gun tightening.

Because she does not hear or see him. Instead, it is Serah's voice echoing from the body of a Cie'th, a monster. It raises its arm at her, and Lightning raises her sword to block it—to block him.]

Get back!

Whoa—!

[When Lightning raises her sword, he has to skid to a stop to avoid it and he stares at her wide-eyed.]

Lightning!?

[She stares at him—at the Cie'th in front of her, his face obscured into something more crystal-like.]

Don't—

[It sounds so much like Serah, but something about this feels off. So off that after a few moments of staring well and good at this figure, she suddenly grits her teeth and shoves him off of her as hard as she can, sending them both stumbling backwards.]

I can't let her become one of you! This is all just a trick!

[Without any further warning, she lunges at Rokurou, blade drawn. She thrusts the sword forward, aimed for his stomach as lightning sparks around the tip of it.]

[He stumbles back a few steps, confused.]

One of me? What, a daemon??

[It's the first thing that comes to mind and—well he can't take offense to that, technically would be better if people didn't become daemons. But wait.]

Who are you—!?!?

[However, before he can finish that question, he has to quickly bring up his swords to parry the blade coming at him, pushing it away as he jumps back to create more distance between them.]

Lightning, it's me! Rokurou!

[At least now he's starting to realize she's not seeing him for who he is, but something else.]

Liar! I don't know who you are, and I don't care.

[Back to that soldier mindset—don't ask questions, just follow orders.]

It's my job to deal with monsters like you.

[Pull the trigger, ask questions later.

She follows after him when he moves back—oddly quick for a mindless Cie'th—and slashes at him. One, two, three. Up, down, middle. Meanwhile, lightning strikes behind him, cornering him between her blade and her magic.]

Well that's a little harsh—

[But he's having to block her sword with his own, mindful of the lightning that's also coming down at him from behind. Gritting his teeth, on the last strike he'll parry it and flash step behind her.]

Snap out of it Lightning! It's the damn moth!

[He's not really sure, but it's the best guess he can make with how that dust came out of nowhere and the moth right after. He can even see it still all over her. Could he try to blow it off somehow with one of his artes?]

[She grits her teeth when he moves behind her, but she whips around quickly, swinging her sword down low.]

It’s all! Just fal’Cie! Smoke and mirrors!

[Each word is punctuated by another swing of her sword, pushing him further and further back.]

Give me back my sister!

[She shouts those last words and thrusts her sword at him with a lunge again, only this time, the blade folds away quickly and she shoots instead, a bullet only barely missing his shoulder.]

The Flossy!?

[He knows he didn't say that right, but he's kind of having to quickly deflect her blades again. Usually he doesn't remain so much on the defensive, but this is Lightning—and she has clearly lost her mind or is under some kind of hallucination. With all his focus on just trying to avoid the swords, it's difficult to really get his bearings, but he's at least getting that much.

Until he has to hastily tilt his head to the side when he sees that gun and just manages to avoid getting hit. But not by much. The heat from the bullet lingers and he just stares at her wide-eyed.

Not good.]

Lightning! Dammit—

[Even though he didn't want to, looked like the only thing he can do is knock her out somehow. But she's a formidable fighter, so it wasn't going to be easy. For now, if she's resorted to her gun, then he has to treat her like any other long range weapon use or caster—get in her face and get in there fast. So this time, instead of backing away he'll lunge forward swords raised to strike but with the intent of not to kill but just rush at her.]

🦋⚔️ like a moth to a flame

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