Techniques of the Three Year-old Heart [Kiyr]

[Delilah A. Black]

She listened and stared at Kiyr with wide eyes as she spoke her thoughts. Not at all designed to flatter, but containing genuine....praise? Admiration?

Instead of trying to pass it off as nothing or speaking boastfully about herself, Delilah felt humbled and moved. It was rare, truly rare, that someone saw the actions of the First for what they really were; duty out of necessity and desire to do right by others. A rather deep shade of crimson, Delilah would have to think a moment before replying.

"You know, not many are brave enough, or wise enough, to ask these sorts of questions. Worse are the ones who can't answer because the truth is too harsh a burden to bear. Honesty with oneself is the key to inner strength and assists the pursuit of inner peace, along with acceptance.

"The path you walk is a dark one, which is ironic for a shadow Qi user, but sometimes if you get to wrapped up in dealing with the darkness, it can lead you astray. Embrace the dark...but retain that light you hold. If you have conviction, you can do anything." she would whisper the last word vehemently.

[Kyrie Blaze]

Kiyr sat, absorbing Delilah's reaction. Here was a woman, she figured, that went without thanks; but what she did, she did without even the thought of doing so for thanks.

And Kyrie liked and respected that.

"Do we not all walk dark paths..? No path, any longer, is brightly lit. But if you would explain, I would be grateful--unless you are simply generalizing."

She would wait until Delilah responded to continue. She already had her next set of questions in mind for the altruistic woman sitting with her. Kiyr's approach to better getting to know Delilah was tailored to her, specifically. She had gotten a free pass with her Elders to question them freely, and from her past observations of the raven-haired female, had seen Delilah liked to speak and reason.

Of course, she hasn't known Kiyr was there when she was talking to David, but...well. Tricksy Hobbit is as Tricksy Hobbit does.

[Kyrie Blaze]

Kiyr sat, absorbing Delilah's reaction. Here was a woman, she figured, that went without thanks; but what she did, she did without even the thought of doing so for thanks.

And Kyrie liked and respected that.

"I have to be honest and say the last question I asked you would be particularly hard to answer. You have my respect for doing so, and I will heed your words and keep them close to my heart."

As did David.

"Do we not all walk dark paths..? No path, any longer, is brightly lit. But if you would explain, I would be grateful--unless you are simply generalizing."

She would wait until Delilah responded to continue, curious to her reasoning and what the woman could see of her from these questions. She already had her next set of questions in mind for the altruistic woman sitting with her. Kiyr's approach to better getting to know Delilah was tailored to her, specifically. She had gotten a free pass with her Elders to question them freely, and from her past observations of the raven-haired female, had seen Delilah liked to speak and reason.

Of course, she hasn't known Kiyr was there when she was talking to David, but...well. Tricksy Hobbit is as Tricksy Hobbit does.

[Delilah A. Black]

Delilah just grinned at Kiyr, impressed with her understanding.

"We do all walk dark path's at certain times, so yes, in a sense, I am over generalizing. That comes from a sense of universal community; we are all in the same boat. But we are also individuals. Ten thousand rivers collect in the sea. Your path, my path, the warriors path is darker because we must kill and do what is necessary for our own survival. Compare the depth of darkness in our lives for a civilian who never has and never will kill another human, and you will find one has more shadows than the other."

[Kyrie Blaze]

Kiyr nodded in response, brushing her thumbs upon the cover of the book she held. She understood, with Delilah's confirmation and explanation.

The small woman had already come to terms with her path and gave herself wholly to it.

And now, that satisfied, she could continue with her questions. With a slow, thoughtful blink, she began:

"Tell me one major virtue and one major flaw that defines you? Then, would you tell me one of each you place the most value upon?"

Because there was an important distinction between the two, she asked them both to stave off confusion. Still, Delilah's answers could still be the same. The blonde waited for Delilah's answers with the same quiet patience she had thus far.

[Delilah A. Black]

Delilah hummed at the new question, considering for a moment. She mentally went back and flipped through all her experiences, the most memorable ones. The kind of moments that shaped her into who she was.

"I think I can say 'loyalty' is my most defining virtue without sounding overly arrogant," she would say after a moment. "Though the ones I admire most is grace and wisdom. My flaw, or at least the one that crops up the most..."

She paused for a moment, listening to the resonating chuckle of the darkest part of her soul reminding her of it's presence.

"...Rage."

[Kyrie Blaze]

Kiyr gave a respectful nod.

"...and is rage the flaw you value the most, as well..?" She questioned, and would draw in a slow breath, regardless of Delilah's answer. She made the decision to share a portion of herself. It was pretty big, for her. She did not share these things lightly--chances were she wouldn't think she was safe to do so, freely, for a long time. "'Pitäsz baszú, piwtäsz igazáget.' ...it means: 'No vengeance, only justice.' And it has been an ideal I have tried to abide by, among others. As for flaws and virtues..."

She breathed softly.

"The flaw that most aptly describes me is: avaritia; greed. Not in a monetary sense, or even for personal items, however. The virtue that defines me: industria; diligence. As for what I value...as a flaw: acedia; sloth, to guard against it. Virtues...I can not decide between two, actually. Both have been integral parts of my life. Patientia; patience. Caritas; charity...sometimes better known as love."

She sat just as quietly as she had before her explanation, giving Delilah a simple, owlish blink. Not like she hasn't said anything, or even that what she had said held little importance. She was letting Delilah take it in and make of it what she would.

[Delilah A. Black]

Delilah would shake her head in a weary way. "No. Wrath only serves to provide an excuse for heat of the moment atrocities. It breaks your mind and your spirit. That is not something to admire; that is something to guard against.

"A flaw I would value is stubbornness. It can be detrimental, but if you have the instincts to back it up, I see nothing wrong with sticking to your guns."

The mechanic would fall silent as she listened to the girl speak about her own flaws and what defined her. She would fall silent as she thought on the girl's words, nodding as she took into account what she knew and believed of the girl. "I think that is both honest and accurate. Not many people can be truthful enough with themselves to see their own flaws and to accept them, to turn them into strengths.

"I agree. I think diligence is your defining trait."

[Kyrie Blaze]

Kiyr was glad that Delilah was sticking true to her current, thoughtful, form. This was, of course, in regards to both her response on wrath and the woman's words on her own self-description. Blue eyes were turned skyward. 'How much...'[/color] She wondered, tipping her head and reaching up to brush her hair and tuck several curled tresses behind the same ear.

"What do you see, Delilah?"

After the question, the blonde returned her gaze to her companion.[/font]

[Delilah A. Black]

At the blonde's question, Delilah would tilt her head up to the sky, basking momentarily in the sun's rays as she gazed at the clouds. The world. The universe.

"Potential." she would say with a nod. "Limitless potential."

[Kyrie Blaze]

Kiyr closed her eyes and leaned back against the solid tree trunk. Just for a moment. Just to relax and enjoy.

It was a general answer for her general question, and it fit with what she saw of Delilah.

"...and how will you begin to shape the potential you see..?"

Not when. Just how.

[Delilah A. Black]

Delilah barked a small laugh and shook her head at the blonde girl. "The how is determined by the circumstance. I don't plan. I see what is in front of me with clarity and honesty and I do what I can with what I'm given.

"Speaking of potential though; I would be more than willing to help train you, if you were at all interested."

[Kyrie Blaze]

Kiyr offered a faint smile. Delilah was keeping straight. Whether it was by design or a genuine instinct. She was willing to believe the latter unless it was proven differently.

"Perhaps I should change my wording." She mused aloud as she considered Delilah's offer. Not a question, but an offer, and still a choice all the same. She blinked a couple times. "I would be pleased and honoured to learn what you would deign to teach me."

Though her lips didn't move, a hint of a smile was in her eyes and in the feeling she emanated.

"So then, if you do not have plans, then how have you been shaping the potential you have seen?"

[Delilah A. Black]

Delilah positively grinned at Kiyr's acceptance of her offer and at the pleased look in the girl's eyes. She stifled her elation though, moving on to the question.

"By forming it situationally. I saw a friend in David when we reunited and later, when he took over the Dragons, an alliance with someone I can trust. When I met Marcus, I just rolled with it; hopped on his bike and got ambushed, nearly killed, saved both our lives and told him about Crows. 'Unfettered' did the rest.

"It's another one of those Asian concepts; letting things happen to you and handling them as they come, and then let them go. My sensei used to say 'Greet your opponent, deal with him, and then send him on his way.' That's how you deal with potential when it crosses your path; you take it, mold it and shape it depending on the situation and then release it back to the universe to sort itself out. It's the best way to keep yourself sane, too."

[Kyrie Blaze]

The concept that Delilah was sharing with her now was familiar to her. Over and above her few years studying martial arts, it was a concept, as well, for parkour. Choose the most efficient way over (or around) an obstacle - "Passement.[/i]" - and continue forward without breaking stride. Occasionally you would return, cross paths again, and perhaps the way you 'greeted' the obstacle before would not necessarily still be the best way over it once more. Kyrie definitely appreciated how such different activities shared core beliefs or even movements. WT, parkour, and fencing, and Delilah's own mix, had many ties and connections even though they had been created by different people in different cultures at different times.

"It is a good concept...one I am familiar with." The blonde let a ghost of a smile curve her lips, fingers gently brushing over the book's surface once again.
[/font]