Chiara stopped resisting for a moment, gazing longingly at the cane before looking back up at Phoenix. As the Scarlet Devil, she would never be vulnerable. She would never open up about her true emotions - and yet, she did.
"Because I met someone! I met someone and I need her, and I think she needs me, and I did something stupid and I need to make it right and I don't want to disappear!" She cried, weakening her attempts to subdue the other.
"please. Please just… I need to make it right."
Kore's eyes widened at the raw confession Devil had just made. Her grip on her energy loosened for just a second before she tightened it once more. Now Kore had to make a difficult decision, the cuffs tightened for a moment before returning to their old tightness. She stared down at Devil, "I want to believe you, I really do. But if I'm letting you go so you can… Can do what you need to do, we're going to need to make some type of agreement, got it?"
Chiara gasped as the energy tightened, a slow tear rolling down her dark features as she nodded.
"Y-yes. Of course. Of course just… lets work this out. Please." She mumbled, keeping her ashamed expression away from Phoenix.
"Alright," Kore said relaxing the cuffs ever so slightly more as she could see Devil was going to cooperate and they were more of insurance than anything else, "Would one week be enough to do what you need to do? And if you haven't done it in the time frame we agree upon you will turn yourself in willingly."
Chiara held her breath, closing her eyes as she nodded gently. "That is plenty of time. I…." She paused, extremely mystified by Phoenix's actions and behavior towards her. She was expecting no mercy, punishment for her sins. But instead she was treated with respect, as if she wasn't the most notorious villain in the area.
Nodding, she finished her sentence. "I will be able to complete what I must. I thank you, phoenix. You are very honorable."
Kore hummed a little as she slowly released Devil still keeping a tight grip on Devil's cane. She nodded her head as she stepped away from Devil. She knew all too well what it was like to be persecuted without a chance. It was her everyday life. She let out a little sigh, "Someone has to be. I'll let you go, but you must meet with me every night. A check-in of sorts. And I'll be keeping your cane, as insurance."
Chiara watched the cane, and Phoenix, wringing her hands together anxiously as she nodded. "Yeah. Yeah I'll do that. I will." However, the last sentence shocked her.
"Oh no please! Please, you can't!! My dad he'll-" She cut herself off before she revealed too much, looking up at Phoenix with fear. "Please don't take it."
Kore heard the fear in the voice and the mention of Devil's father. She knew Devil came from a line of villains, and. And it was enough to have her handing the cane back over to Devil, "Fine, you can take it. But I want something else of yours in exchange."
Chaira eagerly took back the cane, sighing as he heavy rod was rested in her hands. She looked up, tapping her boot while she thought. "Something… of mine? Like what?" She asked, thoroughly confused at this point
"Anything that you have on you that you can give me that you will a) miss and b) won't get in trouble for not having," Kore better explained as she carefully watched Devil, "I may have given you your cane back, but I still want some physical evidence of our deal here."
Chiara nodded, sighing as she reluctantly removed a small necklace - a locket with a picture of herself as a young girl, and her grandmother.
"Here." She muttered, handing the small gold chain to Phoenix. "Just please… please take care of it."
She started to walk away, glancing at the school and sighing in discontent. Father would not be pleased.
"I will," Kore replied softly. She put the locket away underneath the outer layer of her suit. She hesitated a moment before calling out to Devil, "I'll see you here tomorrow around the same time. If that works."
( @Lynn if you want to continue here. If not that's fine.)
Chiara turned around, nodding and making a mental note before disappearing back into the shadows.
On her way home, she felt the lingering throb of pain, starting at the cane she was holding, and circling through the rest of her. She needed to do something.
A lost dog, a quick movement, and a disposing of it was all she needed.
Chiara held back tears, making her way back to her home as she receded into sleep, waiting for the next day.
Kore waited a moment before going back to finish her rounds around the city. She wanted to stay out of her house for as long as possible, and when it finally seemed too late she made her way back. She had homework to do anyway.
Chiara found herself waking a bit before dawn, the very subtle light filtering through her blinds and barely detailing her room.
She begrudgingly noticed she was still in costume, so she slipped off the ring and changed into something a bit more presentable, though she didn't feel like putting on any makeup or doing anything to her hair.
Kore had remembered to change into her pajamas last night, luckily. She yawned and got ready for the day and groaned slightly realizing she needed to cut her hair, again. She began to get ready with the first thing she did being cut off a majority of her hair. Then once she was done she headed off to make the long hobble to school. Her foster mother wasn't going to drive and the bus… was too risky.
Chiara didn't bother getting breakfast, then slid into her jeep and started toward the school… but something compelled her to go back into Kore's neighborhood. She knew Kore was probably still mad about before, but she had promised Phoenix that she was going to do her job. So, she drove toward where the girl was dropped off, eyes searching for the girl on crutches
Kore kept hobbling down the street taking her normal route to school, which was the exact same route she had Chiara take yesterday. She wasn't being particularly vigilante knowing that the bus wasn't due to be around for another half hour or so. This was also why she had earbuds in and was listening to music as she made her daily hobble.
Chiara's gaze flicked betwixt the tattered sidewalks that laid in front of the cookie-cut houses lining the street. It was almost impossible to miss Kore, and a smile immediately was brought to the girl's lips. She promptly pulled over, rolling down the window before remembering what had happened the day before.
"Oh… uh… I…. d-do you need a ride?"
Kore frowned a little as she spotted the car pulling up next to her, and then she frowned even further when she saw it was Chiara. She had no idea what the other was doing here given Chiara should have gotten everything the other needed (and probably more) yesterday in terms of humiliating Kore. But, like yesterday, a ride is a ride, "Um, sure. I guess."
Chiara swallowed hard, turning down her music as she nervously tapped her fingers on the wheel. Once Kore answered, she promptly jumped out of the car, opened the door for the girl, and helped her inside while she stowed her crutches in the back.
"I'm so sorry." Was all the said on the drive there, her gaze solemn and emotionless.
Kore allowed Chiara to help her out into the car and sat there quietly. When Chiara apologized Kore hesitated for a second her eyes opening wider. Why was she apologizing? Unless this was some ploy so Chiara could hurt her further, but Kore wasn't sure. She was still reeling from letting Devil go the night before. she hesitantly asked, "What are you sorry for?"
Chiara drew in a shaky breath, pursing her lips as she slowly made her way through the streets. "For hurting you. The other day. I really didn't mean it. I feel so bad." She rasped softly, gripping the wheel until her knuckles turned white.
Kore apeared to be in even more shock. Chiara was legitimately apologizing for what she did yesterday? Chiara had to be joking or- or messing with her or something. She turned back out towards the window as she attempted to process the situation, "I- um, okay?"
