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((UUMMMMM HELLO!? YOU said 'kiss it' first, so don't you ******** start with me.))

Nikoli smirks. "Yeah. The black lotus. Hades filled me in on the details, but it might be ... well, not THE cure you're looking for, but certaintly A cure- sort of."
He sees the confused look on their faces. "Black Lotuses are anchors of Ethereal energy on the mortal plain- more specifically, they anchor a concentrated amount of infernal energy. As such, they are deadly poisonous. Consuming one draws your own spiritual energy through the anchor- in essence, you die. However, the lotus anchors you to the mortal realm, meaning that if nothing goes wrong, you return to life, your body and spirit cleansed of foreign ailments, like this disease of yours. But..."

Nikoli takes a breath. "There are complications. Sin weighs heavy on the soul, and a soul burdened with sin will become dragged down by the Geists that roam the upper Netherworld, keeping you from returning through the lotus. You'll... stay dead. It's quite a risk- but if there was an emergency..."

"...Wouldn't something like that need to be tested on animals first?" Core asked. His hand was on his chest now, over the burning area he felt.

Nikoli puts his hands up. "I know, it's a risky solution, but it's the only one we've got thus far. I have a small sample of lotus leaves on me, but it doesn't hurt to collect more,if you come across it. God knows-"
Nikoli shakes his head. "I can't use it."

Nikoli shrugs.
"I'm a shadowdancer- the only one of my kind in the world. I was murdered when I was two years old, but I hadn't earned place in heaven or hell, so Hades sent me back here- as such, I've got resonances akin to demons and a strong link to the underworld. Getting sent over the Threshold by the lotus is something I wouldn't come back from."

Nikoli eyes Aislin, as she looks uneasy. "What's the matter? Oooh. I get it- the demon thing. See, here I was thinking I'd finally found a place full of tolerant people, and somehow, SOMEONE has to prove me wrong. Sure, it's risky, but it's not like this is my idea. And as much as nobody wants to die, so far I'm not sure if I've met anyone who's been dead as long as I have. I wouldn't wish that on anyone."

Nikoli takes a breath, and turns to Core. "Do what you like. I'm only providing options." He casts a sideways glance back at Aislin. "Helping out. It's what I do, whether or not you believe that is up to you."

Nikoli's eyes are aflame as he squares with Aislin.
"What the HELL did you call me? Undead... you really don't get it, do you? I am ALIVE. Just as much human as the rest of you. My aura may be tainted with demonic resonance, but that's because I spent ELEVEN YEARS of my CHILDHOOD in Hades, NOT because I am a demon. Not that you'd know what that does to you, anyways. And last night I took down a dire wolf not two hundred yards from here- and do you know what the price was for that? NOTHING. How DARE you accuse that which you do not know?"

Nikoli tried his best to calm down, casting an evil eye at Aislin.
"Core. Right. Ex-Academy. Gotcha." He turns to face Core, and sees Core tensing, like Nikoli was going to punch him.
"...What? Like I care. I just got here- and as of that moment, you were on the right side, so take it easy."
He extends his hand.
"Nikoli Az- egh..." Nikoli paused, angry that he'd almost said it twice in as many days. "Just call me Nikoli."