Chiara jumped backwards, hissing as she lowered her eyes at phoenix. "Damn you…" Was all she said, approaching Phoenix with her cane. "I just had a fucking shitty day and you had to fucking come and make it worse!! Damn you!!" She growled, throwing her cane as buring, passionate anger coursed through her.
Kore casually dodged the cane given how recklessly it was thrown. She frowned slightly as she glared at Devil a fire burning behind her eyes. Though her body posture remained calm and composed, she needed to keep her reputation. And even if she wanted the school to burn just as much as Devil apparently wanted to, she couldn't just let it happen, "And that gives you the right to burn down a school?"
Chiara hissed, circling Phoenix as the pent up rage manifested itself right there, with the help of the ring.
"I'd be doing someone a favor, sweetheart."
She raised her arms, the shadows on the ground materializing into tangible substances for her to throw at Phoenix
Kore was slightly confused, but she didn't let it show. She readied herself for the now shadows on the floor that Devil was ready to throw at Kore. She felt the energy build-up at her hands as she called back ready for a fight, "That still doesn't give you the right. Though this being your first instinct makes all too much sense."
Chiara scoffed. "Really?! Glad you know me so well!"
She angrily thrusted the shadows, attempting to subdue Kore through her blind fury
Kore moved to dodge as many of the shadows as she could having only one end up hitting her in the foot. She then thrust her energy in the form of solid flame-like whips back at Devil in her own attempt to subdue the villain. She went silent as she did this focusing on her current job. Catch Devil, not let the school burn down.
Chiara tried doging the best she could, but her lack of self control overcame her and she was struck down. She cried out in pain, stumbling across the ground as she took heavy breaths and looked up at the Phoenix. A glint of fear flashed in her eyes as she lowered her head in surrender, holding up her cane.
Kore let the energy return to her but kept it close as she approached Devil. She was watching the villain carefully to ensure her safety, though the slight fear in Devil's eyes made Kore assume the other wasn't going to do anything. She grabbed the cane from Devil and let her energy gently wrap itself so that Devil would be handcuffed behind her back, "Scarlet Devil you are under arrest for, well, you already know."
Chiara growled, the thought of coming this far, just to be locked up? She simply couldn't do that. She… couldn't leave Kore behind like that. So she resisted as hard as she tried to grab the cane to at least use some of her abilities. I can't leave her!
Kore moved the cane further away as she tightened the hold on Devil's bindings. She was frowning heavily at the sudden surge in movement from Devil. Most villains tried to get away after Kore had caught them, but never to this extent. She thought for a moment before saying, "Why?"
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?"