Bad Blood (Core)

[Claire]

It was late when Claire left the house, sword in hand. Late enough for the stars to be out and bright. She dragged the sword out of the house, feet bare against the grass, dressed in breeches and a loose shirt. She walked in silence, stewing in silent frustration from the conversation earlier that day.

This man. This man that she saved, who thought he knew so much. Who thought he knew her so much. She wore the face of someone he knew once, loved once- she could feel sympathy for that but her nerves had long since been frayed from the events of the day. So, unable to sleep, Claire had drug this man in a sword out into the woods, leaving her tiny house behind in the dark.

After a while she stopped, toes digging into the grass under her feet. Her legs, bare from just below her knees to feet, were peppered with small scars- small, angry, lumpy but sharp marks between the deep, still healing bruises. She had somehow forgotten about them and now regretted not dressing further to hide them. She was typically not ashamed of scars but these- these were different. She looked down at her arms, covered by sleeves to the wrist, and she lifted the sword in her hand.

Claire frowned, then turned the blade to push it into the ground. She looked down at the blade, her fingers still tight around the hilt, then up into the empty space in front of her. “Show yourself, Citlali. We will have words.”

[Core Noru]

A cricket sounded just a few feet away from where Claire had stood. The sword, remaining lifeless and silent sense earlier this afternoon. He didn’t even say anything when Claire decided to take a trip out to her backyard. Even when she dug the tip of the blade into the dirt and commanded him to show himself once more. Core did not budge and remained silent. The sounds of the forest drowning out his silence for a few minutes while Claire stood there staring out in front of her.

Then finally after five minutes had passed. A hint of light emerged from the hilt then grew to bleed out the familiar blue glow of the sword around the rest of the blade. The blue glow was faint, but put off enough light to un-vail half of Claire from the darkness. Her legs and scars now visible by the light that came off the blade. However, Core did not emerge or show himself. “ We will have words? Oh, you mean you will exchange your feelings in the form of words. Very well. Let us exchange words.” Core spoke almost sounding as if it was coming from her own mind. The blade’s soft glow beginning to pulse very lightly as she held onto the hilt.

He could feel her frustration and her anger. However, even though he was trapped inside a vessel of a sword, in her possession at the time. He was not a slave or someone that would take being ordered around too fondly either. After all, she already made it clear that she didn't want to go by any other name but her own. So it was ironic for him to hear her call HIM by a different name. One that she gave him…. “Look who is calling whom different names. Funny, isn’t that what you are mad about? Not that I don’t mind being called Citlali, I just find it amusing that you think it’s fair to give ME a name that you find endearing, but I…. I can’t do the same. “He spoke with a voice that was sharp and sounded angry. The hilt of the sword becoming slightly warm under her touch as the blue glow cast off the blade. A half formed faint phantom of core emerged in the open space, his silhouette outlined by the blue light provided.

[Claire]

The silence stretched on as Claire looked down at the silent sword. As the minutes ticked by her shoulders slumped, the sounds of forest ringing in her ears. She slumped forward, pressing her forehead against the pommel of the sword. Despite her anger she was exhausted. She was about to give in when a bright light shimmered from the blade and she lifted her head, eyes going wide.

“I am not giving you the name of someone I loved.” Claire’s voice was quiet as she spoke, clearly tight from frustration. “Do not act like I am her. I already asked it of you- I am not her.” she looked up at the phantom light briefly, then back down at the sword. “I am sorry that you lost her. I truly am. But I am my own person, no matter how much I look like her. You will have to grow to like me for me.” Because she already appreciated this- man, spirit, thing. She wouldn’t go to this much effort otherwise. Despite his potential usefulness, he was easy to talk to.

As badly as this stung, Aria’s betrayal stung worse. It crept back into her mind like a splinter, festering back there. “But if you do not think you can, do you want to go back under Aria’s skin? To only speak with her and no one else? Did she ever think of letting you go? Letting you be free? Or did she cling to you like a child?” bitterness overflowed in her voice and she looked back to Core.

“You are a person in there and I will call you Core if you like but if you want to stay with me you will remember that I am my own person and not- not some kind of shadow!” Claire’s breath left her and she ducked her head again, her face burning from embarrassment and anger. She was getting way too worked up over this. The thought of Aria crept in again- she wondered if the girl always hated her. And that is why she betrayed her like this. “I want to help you, but we are going to have to work together to do that. Function together.” Claire’s voice was quiet when she spoke again. “Help me and I will help put you into a new body. A real body. You will be yourself again. Isn’t that what you want? Work with me and I will make you a man again. Core.”

[Core Noru]

The phantom remained silent as the silhouette of Claire played out in the dim light. She was angry and emotional; He could see that in the way her mannerisms and body language. If he had a physical body, she might have already punched him by now out of frustration. Hell everything that came out of her mouth stung like a blade seeping with poison to see this world through twisted lenses. Her venom sharp as she yelled out at him.

His brow knitted and a tisk sound escaped his transparent blue lips. The atmosphere around him changing as the tall man relaxed his shoulders and crossed his arms. His eyes now closed as he waited for Claire to finish. The hilt in her hand becoming much warmer to the touch. His features stern for the moment as he stood with arms crossed and eyes shut. " I see. Then Forgive my rudeness then Miss Claire. I won't make the mistake again. I had misjudged your character..." Core nodded his head, took a step forward and bowed. When he had returned to a straitened posture, did his eyes open to stare directly into Claire's. The slots that would be his eyes illuminated slightly, while a smirk slowly crawled up his cheek.

" My you must be imagining words leaving my lips. I haven't once said that I wanted to go back to Aria. Nor will I speak ill of someone I consider a friend. Aria is doing what she thinks is best through the means of her own capabilities. Now, will you stop wasting your energy and take control of your emotions!" Core answered, his gaze falling down to the sword after realizing he had slightly yelled at her. However, the smirk had long left his lips, a wave of seriousness coming from him as he turned his attention back to Claire. " This sword is truly wonderful and yet incredibly scary. The Sword of Light, a name that does not do it justices for what it can do. It is an iconic symbol for power. If my assumption is right, then the legend hasn't changed about this blade either. Which means whoever can hold and keep the sword is 'King of Thieves'. Which means, quit focusing on what Aria is doing and start thinking about what YOU are doing here." Core's voice was serious, however his eyes seemed no longer anger. His grin slowly returning while he took a few steps forward to stand directly in front of Claire.

" I help only the one who holds this sword.... If you are trying to get my cooperation, then bribery is not necessary. I am still a man, just limited to what I can do. As for a body, I think I already know how it can be achieved. Though its only a hunch and I am not sure if that person would help you." Core spoke ending his seriousness with a heavy sigh in his own silent frustration.

[Claire]

“Don’t- don’t taunt me with Miss. It’s Claire now. Just Claire.” Claire couldn’t quite look at him- she could feel judgement there in his gaze.

“What she thinks- what she thinks is best? What she thinks is best is to throw herself at the man who would have destroyed me! And she knows it!” Claire looked up at Core, something other than fury in her eyes. There was a deep, itching hurt there- she had nearly died in that pit. Everything could have ended there, and it was all to blame on that monster, the so called King. “Is this such a waste of energy? I am screaming for retribution and no one will listen to me! I will have justice for what was done to me!” the wound was still raw within her, a hurt that felt like it would never end. She thrust her finger forward towards him, hand passing through his chest. “You have no idea what it’s like, what it was like, to be trapped, to be down there alone, I thought-”

She couldn’t breathe. Claire clutched to her chest, face and eyes burning. She couldn’t let the sword go, her fingers were like a vice around the hilt. It was the only thing keeping her grounded. “I would have been worse than dead. I would have been- and then I was-”

“...no one deserves a prison like that.” she managed to murmur eventually. “No one- no one deserves a prison like yours, either. Tell me who this person is, and I will make them help you. I can be-” her fingers tightened their grip. “-very persuasive.”

[Core Noru]

" Someone is a little too touchy on pet names or titles...." Core responded under his breath, his hands tossed up in the air in a surrendering fashion. A brow raised at her refusal to look at him; yet again she made a attempt to tell the man trapped in the sword to call her just by her name. His lips pressed as he stared down at the woman before him. Such anger and hatred, much like the anger and hatred he felt so many years ago towards the same exact man. When she turned to stare at him with indignation. Core froze and for once did not try to interrupt. His eyes, hollow but yet the vibrant outline of blue could be seen illuminating within the darkness and his semi-transparent flesh. He said not a word as he watched and listened to Claire vocalize her thoughts on Aria and the trauma she had been put through while being in the Novian dungeons.

Core took a step forward to try and close the gap in-between them. To reach out and try to comfort the woman that no matter how much he had to remind himself wasn't his Eclair, was beginning to fall apart before his eyes. That was when he saw her hand extend out and suddenly go through his chest. Core stopped, his eyes no longer on Claire as they trailed down to look at her hand that had impaled him. Once again remaining silent until he saw that she was having trouble breathing; most likely sending herself into a panic.

" Thats a pretty big claim to say I have no idea what it's like. Of course I don't know what you experienced down there, How can I? I am not you. Just like you don't know what I've experienced, after all he is my twin brother and I am as you can see… Not as lucky to have a group of people risk their lives to rescue me. " Core spoke his words soft as he suddenly took two steps forward, letting her arm go further into his empty chest. The memory of his death returning to him as he stared down at the slowly crumbling girl. His lips pressed tight; not wanting to bring up his own painful past or experiences at a time like this. No, he would keep that to himself for now, knowing that it wouldn't do any bit of good. Her grip not going un-noticed by him as he slowly and cautiously reached out to touch Claire's cheek. Though sadly, he could not feel her flesh or nor could she feel his.

" Clam yourself. You would have not died in that pit. " Core re-insured trying to calm her as she began to ramble words out of rapid thought. Her breath finally catching as he managed to catch her murmur something to him. His brow raised as he stared at Claire; Withdrawing his hand from her cheek and popping off a small smirk. " Well now, there's the girl I know. I was getting a little worried there." Core smiled, taking note of the tightened grip. At least her spirit wasn't entirely broken. However, he was slightly concerned not knowing where this version of the witch's loyalty stood.

" She's a necromancer and most likely still working at the Palace. Her name is Mysteria; A servant in Noku's court, however, I'm not sure where her loyalty stands with the court or the King. So I suggest that you don't go to the castle for the while and try to gain allies…. If memory serves me correctly, the dragon lady fancies wine so you might have luck finding her at a tavern or bar around Nova somewhere. "