forum We have no choice. Or do we? O/O (Closed, but stalkers are a vibe)

Started December 11, 2021 by @ShadeStar

tune

Chiara tried her best to brush off the snide comments about ruining the gimpy kid's life.
"I'm not harassing her or anything! She's my friend!" She would retort, but that only made them laugh harder
She dodged through the crowd of people hurrying out the door as she tried to win in the race to her car, when she saw Kore standing amongst the sea of tired highschoolers.
"Kore! Hey! Need a ride?"

Kore fumbled when she heard Chiara's voice. This was not what she wanted, this is not what she had planned. She moved a little bit faster to get away from Chiara as she tried to spot her "mother's" car. She really didn't need any more attention on her than she already had at the moment and hopefully, her "mom" was finally there to pick her up on time, for once.

Chiara quickly caught up to the girl, panting a bit. "Goddamn… youre fast on those" She huffed. "I dunno if you heard me, but I can totally take you home if you need it."

Kore couldn't see the car so she stopped in her tracks. She let out a slight sigh as she debated whether or not to actually accept Chiara's offer. On one hand, she would get out of school sooner, on the other hand, the long term ramifications would be irreparable. She looked over at Chiara before softly nodding, "I, sure. Um, where is your car?"

Chiara grinned excitedly. "Sick! I'm parked over there in the lot over." She gestured vaguely to where the majority of the students had their cluster of beat up cars. "Wanna come with? I can also just go grab it and pick you up if that's easier."
One of the pretentious groupies Chiara hung around with caught ear of the exchange. "Shit, Kara, are you kidnapping the gimpy kid now?"

Phoenix ducked her head don immediately after she heard the comment. This was a bad idea and her point was just solidified how bad it was. But, if she didn't leave with Chiara then she would be the object of their torment for another thirty minutes. She began to move quickly towards where Chiara had pointed, "I'll just head with you."

Chiara glared at the group, flipping them off as she took Kore by the shoulder. "Fuck off, Im just taking her home." She sighed, striding to her car and opening the passenger side for the other girl.
"Want me to put your crutches in the trunk?" She asked softly

"Um," Kore thought about the offer for a moment having not expected any of what just happened. She shifted sided to side as she debated biting her lip. It would give her more room if they were in the trunk, but then Chiara could drop her off and leave her stranded without them. She ended up nodded a little as she went to sit down in the passenger seat, "Um sure. Just, uh, be careful with them?"

Chiara chuckled. "Don't worry. I have a little cousin with cerebral palsy, so I have experience with being careful."
She helped Kore into the passenger side, grabbing her crutches and tenderly placing them in the back. "You alright? You seem a little… I dunno." She shrugged. "If its my asshole friends i'd be glad to beat them up for you." She laughed, starting the car and backing up to the street. "Where do you live?"

Kore hesitated a moment debating as to what to say to Chiara. It wasn't exactly her friends alone, it was more the consequence Kore would probably be facing the rest of the week from the entire school for doing this. She decided to keep quiet since Chiara didn't seem to know any of this and maybe, maybe Kore could finally have a friend? Unlikely, but she could at least maybe hope right now, "Um, near the corner of 5th and Ashen."
Kore didn't give Chiara her actual address, but a place close enough that Kore could get there on her own.

Chiara nodded, turning on her music as she started toward the destination. He tapped her fingers on the steering wheel to every note Kurt Cobain sang, muttering along with the words. "Do you know Nirvana?" She inquired, turning into the neighborhood as she squinted at street signs.

"Um, maybe?" Kore responded as she listened to the song. She didn't exactly recognize it, but it sounded familiar enough. Her eyes kept track of every street sign knowing her house was far enough that walking was absolutely miserable for an abled person, and hell for her. She glanced over at Chiara for a moment, "Is this one of their songs?"

Chiara chuckled. "Yep. One of their most popular too. They formed in the late eighties and broke up in the nineties because the lead singer died. I'm only into them because of my dad, he's like a huge fan. He knows pretty much everything about grunge." She chuckled. "Sorry, I'm kind of ranting. Um… anyways, are we any closer?" She asked, a bit embarrassed. She never had anyone listen to her like Kore did, and felt the need to just… tell her everything.

"It's fine!" Kore responded quickly happy not to keep up a conversation. After the day she had (and what she was going towards) she really didn't feel like talking. She had lost her place glancing over at Chiara in an attempt to seem attentive. She looked back out the window to catch the next street sign and noticed they were fairly close. Only a few more blocks till the first turn, "Umm you need to turn in two blocks."

Chiara nodded, turning down the volume softly as she eased down the road.
"So, what's your family like? Got any siblings? I don't have any, so it's kind of boring at home. Plus my parents are pretty much never around, and my Abuela likes to yell at me for no reason…" She stopped, flushing slightly at how much she was talking. Chaira had never been like this before. He turned her gaze to Kore for a moment, smiling genuinely before looking back at the road.

Kore's face flushed in slight fear as Chiara started to ask about her family. She turned her head towards the window and began to breath in and out slowly attempting to keep herself calm. Everyone at school knew about her home life, it was part of the reason no one spoke to her, so Chiara must be poking fun at her and Kore was not giving her the satisfaction of letting her get under her skin. She said nothing and firmly looked out the window.

Chiara watched as Kore turned to the window, then bit her lip as she squoze the steering wheel hard. She didn't know what to say, tears welling up as she thought what would happen if she had already made Kore feel bad.
"I-I'm sorry. You don't have to answer that. I just… I didn't know." Chiara muttered softly, stopping where Kore had asked her too.
"Well, uh.. here we are." She said with the same lack of enthusiasm, getting the other girl's crutches out of her trunk as she helped her out of the car. "You okay?"

Kore remained silent the rest of the way and after Chiara's fake apology. She swung her legs to hang out the car and put her backpack on while waiting for Chiara to hopefully bring her her crutches. She hated herself for thinking that this might be a legitimate attempt to become her friend. Of course Chiara was just like all her other friends. She took her crutches and got up on her own to the best of her ability. She finally responded to Chiara with a cold, "I'm fine," before she hobbled her way towards her house.

Chiara winced, her eyes turning red with tears as she sniffed. "Um… see you tomorrow.." She choked out, muttering a few fuck me's as she kicked her car's bumper and started to drive off toward her house.
She turned up her music all the way, speeding recklessly. "Great job, you fucking idiot. Now you just lost the only real friend you might have had." She mumbled, rubbing the remnants of tears from her face

Kore made her way into her foster parents house, it wasn't her house and it never really would be. Not when they constantly brought up how grateful Kore should be that they took her, the crippled child of two of the most destructive villains, in. She wasn't ungrateful for them, but she definitely wasn't grateful and that infuriated them. She took a deep breath in and put before opening the door mentally embracing for the onslaught that was to come.

Chiara made it inside her small townhouse, about to stomp into her room before her father stopped her.
"Chia. Sit." He motioned to an adjacent chair with his dark eyes. "We need to talk."
Anytime her father spoke, Chiara's blood ran cold. But something about now seemed even more formidable

Kore hobbled into the house and tried to be quiet as to not disturb Linda (her foster mother) who was most likely sleeping in the living room. She made it safely to her first-floor room and quickly dropped her bags and switch into her hero suit. She needed to just get away from everything for a little bit, even if she might be noticed.

Chiara slowly approached her father: a tall, brooding man with sharp features and an emotionless expression. He motioned for her to sit next to him, in an equally ancient chair as he tapped his dark fingers on the arm.
"We're nearly deprived of power, hija. You need to go out tonight. And you really need to try."
Chiara started to protest. "pero papá, I went out last night! How can-"
He slammed his hand down on the armchair, glaring hard. "You want to endanger our familia, hurt everyone that has loved you, then fine. But you do not deserve the anillo if you're going to-"
Chiara pulled away, scowling at her father. "Fine. I am worthy, and I will keep this family safe." She huffed, standing up and starting to her room.
Her father smiled. "Good."

Kore finished putting her feather in her hair as she lets its power flow through her. She waited a moment before opening her window and hopped out and onto the roof nearby. She quickly made her way through the city towards the more high-rise area. Letting a grin take her face as a few folks saw her and waved at them happy to be loved by at least some people.

After that rather distasteful discussion, Chiara slipped off her ring, sighing softly as she stared outside at the slowly darkening world.
Arson… was the first thing entering her mind as the ring took the form of a cane, enveloping the girl in darkness and transforming her into the monster she was known to by the rest of the city. Arson would work, arson was easy. It was quick, caused fear, and would be something to protect her family. Plus, it was fun…
She shook the thought from her head, attempting to stay in control as she emerged from the trapdoor located in their roof, just for excursions like these.

Kore continued through the city until she took a break atop one of the highest buildings. She had the best view here and could easily see if any villains were out at the moment. Hopefully, none that her parents knew, or that she may have met, but she was here to clean up their mess after all. Atone for their mistakes and all. But that didn't matter right now, she needed to be vigilant.

Chiara stretched herself out, drawing back her hair into a hasty braid as she looked upon the city she was to cause deliberate chaos in. She sighed, the anger from her father, from her friends, and from the denial of companionship from Kore driving her fury as she expertly shadow walked across blocks, finding herself in front of her very own school. Fury burned in her eyes as she began to create fire in her gloved hands

Kore was watching the city vigilantly as she spotted The Scarlet Devil roaming about. The other hadn't done anything yet, but Kore couldn't be careful enough and she left her vantage point to follow after the villain. She kept to the rooftops being silent, or as quiet as she could, in her tracking. However, when Devil stopped in front of the school and a small flame formed in her gloved hand, Kore had to step in. She went to grab the hand of the Devil as she asked in an all too knowing way, "And what do you think you're doing?"