You Changed Your AUX Core Without Me?

do not fret my friends my roots will always be moraghid no matter WHAT

sometimes you just need to write something silly. also i think i joked about this in my friend rose's (RoseOfATHeNs dm's once and if you have not read his fics WHAT are you doing. go there now (also i gift to you because you deserve gifts!!)

Mòrag wakes up to a room engulfed in pink light.

Such is the case, ever since she awakened Brighid, her blue glow illuminating--

Wait.

She shoots up, arm immediately grabbing the whip-sword she keeps at her bedside, and manoeuvres as quietly as possible. Taking in her surroundings, she can't immediately see anything out of sorts. As her vision adjusts to that of night, she can tell that nothing has been moved--the door is still locked, the curtains drawn.

Mòrag slowly stands as her eyes land on the corner of the room, just adjacent to the window where the desk that Brighid frequents is. But, the pink glow is not that of Brighid's: pausing, Mòrag takes in the silhouette that appears to be settled in the chair. The buns on the side of their head are styled so similarly to Brighid's--tightly wound to perfection, not a single hair out of place.

But. Brighid's flames are blue, signifying just how hot her fire burns. Brighid is purple and amethyst, the colour of her passion and drive and desire--altogether made that which was simply Brighid.

Mòrag may be jumping to conclusions, but there's no one she knows better than Brighid. She knows that people inside the palace are not too pleased with her treating the 'Jewel of the Empire' as an actual human being; that there are people who dislike His Majesty's rule. It's fully plausible someone could have planned an inside job: that they could disguise themselves to look so like Brighid to get to her.

But Mòrag Ladair cannot be fooled so easily.

Not taking any chances, Mòrag strikes. She grabs the back of the chair, causing a startled yelp to come out of the intruder's mouth. Mòrag uses her right arm to ensnare their ankle with her whip, and her left to grab their arm--their arm was pink, too, but so like Brighid's--and the person tries to use their other arm to push on Mòrag's chest, but Mòrag flicks her whip so it releases and smacks the ground next to the intruder's head. This startles them and Mòrag takes the opening to to swing her leg over the side of this intruder, who is now lying with their back to the floor. She moves so that she is kneeling on the person's waist, and as she's about to bring a hand to their neck, a burst of fire is released around her wrist, causing her to yelp and pull her hand back.

As Mòrag grabs her wrist, it doesn't hurt for long, and she realizes the fire that was around her wrist for a split second was blue--only one person, one Blade, was capable of such a thing.

"Lady Mòrag, what in the world are you doing!?" A wave of shock goes through her as that voice pierces her senses, a voice all too familiar--the one that greets her each morning and whispers sweet nothings each night; the one that calls along her in battle so in sync; the one that she would recognize anywhere.

"Brighid?"

Mòrag can only blink as she stares at the body below her: the tear-drop shaped core crystal; still blue--but with a black dress and golden sequins, but as her gaze trails up to her face, it is clearly Brighid, the same soft jawline and lips pursed in clear annoyance at her Driver.

"What happened? Why are you awake? Why are you--you're pink," Mòrag knows her expression must look absolutely ridiculous, but, what the hell.

A beat of silence. Brighid says nothing, but Mòrag can tell she's staring into her soul, even with her eyes closed.

Perhaps, she can be a bit foolish, when it comes to Brighid, at least. Her Blade has mentioned her hot-headedness can be a bit of a detriment, sometimes....

"Don't tell me you've never seen me like this before?" Brighid finally says, her tone is a mix of incredulous and exasperated, and Mòrag still can't seem to blink. "....Huh. I suppose I don't do it that frequently."

"I--you can change your ... colours?" Mòrag cringes at herself, because of all the ways to put that ... that was not exactly the most elegant.

Brighid raises an eyebrow. "Sometimes I get bored. But I can't just ... do it. I just felt like changing my AUX core."

"Your--but," Mòrag stumbles. A rare display from her--but somehow Brighid always knows how to make her do so. She thinks for a moment before finally settling on a normal question. "Why in the middle of the night?"

"Oh. I couldn't sleep, so I decided to journal. But my words weren't coming out properly, so I thought a change of pace was needed. I ... really didn't mean to frighten you, Lady Mòrag."

Mòrag, once again, is speechless. Both at her own foolishness, for rushing Brighid without a second thought, and the fact that Brighid can just ... change colours with an AUX core.

"Lady Mòrag? Are you okay?" Brighid says, faint concern lacing her words.

Mòrag nods. "I .. yes. You just caught me by surprise, is all."

A huff from below her. "I can see that. Really, is it that shocking?" Brighid pauses, but Mòrag watches as she frowns in thought. "Well, I suppose it is, actually. Not many Blades can do this with AUX cores. You have to be rather powerful."

Mòrag says nothing once again, instead choosing to take in Brighid's new look. Though it was dark, she could still see most of it, thanks to Brighid lighting up the room, and also the fact that all the light she needed was already surrounding her subject.

Brighid's hair was bright pink, fading into a lighter colour at the ends. Her arms and legs were much the same, and it made the black and gold of the dress pop even more. Despite the difference, it was still extravagantly Brighid, and Mòrag thinks this look suited her well.

"Also, as much as I'm enjoying your current position, Lady Mòrag, do you not think it would be better suited for our bed?" Brighid breaks through her thoughts, and Mòrag blinks.

She was so distracted she'd forgotten that she was essentially straddling Brighid's waist, pinning Brighid to the floor.

Clearing her throat, she stands and extends her hand, which Brighid takes gracefully. Brighid lets go to dust off her dress before turning a raised eyebrow her way, waiting for her to speak.

"Brighid?"

"Yes, Lady Mòrag?"

"....Apologies, for that outburst. I just wanted to ensure that..." Mòrag feels ridiculous as the words get stuck in her throat, but luckily, Brighid has always been able to read her mind.

"I understand. You thought the worst, didn't you?" Brighid chuckles, not in a malicious way, but in one that says she knows exactly how Mòrag's brain works.

Mòrag says nothing, simply smiles as she pulls back the covers for Brighid. Brighid gets in, and Mòrag can't help but admire her figure as settles in. Brighid truly does look beautiful in any colour.

"Out with it, Lady Mòrag," Brighid says, breaking Mòrag from her thoughts.

Mòrag takes a moment before responding to settle in next to Brighid herself, because she feels absolutely absurd with what she's about to ask. At least it fits in with the rest of the night, she supposes.

"Do you ... have any other AUX cores like that?" Mòrag asks, and the laugh she gets from Brighid envelopes her; makes her heart warm at the sound of her blade just being so happy, in such a silly yet tender moment between the two of them.

"I do. I would be more than happy to show you them, Lady Mòrag. If you like, you can even help put me put them on."

Mòrag turns to face Brighid, who she can tell is smirking in the faint glow that surrounds the room. Brighid brings her arm above the pillow, signalling for Mòrag to come closer. She does, and before finally going back to sleep, she takes a moment to gently trace the ether markings shaped as a heart on Brighid's forehead--currently pink, but still Brighid, through and through.

"It would be my pleasure."

does this make sense? is this how aux cores work? i don't know i just wanted to write moraghid being silly!!!

i hope you enjoyed~~