Problem Child [Mathew/invite]

[Bastille Amtrum]

" you missed a title pixie" bastille commented bluntly on Kyries remark. She didnt sound mad though. She looked at Delilah with her tired gaze. "Visuals decieve the truth..." She muttered in reply. She held up a two extra cups. "Tea?" As always, she ignored mathew, save a small grip of his hand to keep balance.

[Kyrie Blaze]

"My apologies, Bastille, but I only used Earth Dragon and First Crow for Mathew and Delilah, respectively." She inclined her head in apology along with her words and blinked as Mathew spoke once again. "I am not the only one under your watchful eyes that needs to make a choice, Sir."

But she swallowed slowly. She didn't respond to Delilah other than a blink of acknowledgement.

"It was one of the things I was coming to speak to you of, among other things. To which, I saw the letter, so I assume you already know of 'Sidervib'." The offer for tea was a bit surprising, and a bit humbling, due to its unexpectedness. She gave Bastille a curious, wide-eyed blink. And glanced quickly at Mathew, then back to Bastille. "Only if it is not making me a nuisance; I would be grateful for the tea."

[Delilah A. Black]

Delilah would wisely back away from Mathew and Kiyr towards Bastille. It wasn't her place to interfere, not that she had reason to. She nodded at the new mother, smiling. 'Please, and I'll take mine however you like it. But I wish you would let me do that for you,"

Letting Mathew handle everything.

[Mathew Amtrum]

"Oh please, go on. Full report apprentice."

He folded his arms over his bandaged chest giving Kiyr the evil eye.

[Bastille Amtrum]

Bastille just stared for a moment then looked at delilah... "Sure,.....milk and sugar please." She was too tired to care about whatever this was. She made a mental note to ask mathew later while putting his reheat coffee in a cup and shoving it at him.

[Kyrie Blaze]

Nor did Kiyr want or expect any aid. If anything, it put her a little at-ease that Delilah wasn't going to try to interfere--she was just consciously coming to terms with the Dragons being family. And she had to work on the Crows, too, considering her current bond to Delilah. If the raven-haired woman had stepped in, it would have not only thrown Kiyr completely off, but made her uncomfortable and feeling rather humiliated, to boot. And as it was...this was bad enough.

Even if her choice wound up being between the Sky Force or Mathew's continued training, she stood by her word. She'd never done anything less.

So she explained what she had been doing. From her focus on working with Levi (physical and qi combined, as their powers worked in tandem when they were careful), to her interaction with David and the acceptance of his terms, to working with the Sky Force (keeping her word to David but letting Mathew know that she was essentially serving as a scout and intel-gatherer), and her talk with Delilah before tailing David in via shadow-stalking, not to mention gathering info on the likes of Orion and others...and following a bond with the Crows via Delilah, that she immediately started working on infiltrating the Crow Territory. Her general rebuilding work for the Dragons' benefit, civilian and members alike. AND OTHER THINGS THE WRITER MENTIONED OVER SKYPE 'CAUSE FUCK CAN'T REMEMBER NERVOU--including a report on Rai's apprentices and the presence of Sider on the occasion of Rai initiating two into the Dragon Core.

She drew in a slow breath. Swallowed.

And waited.

[Delilah A. Black]

Delilah would make the tea for her and Bastille, politely pretending not to hear aaaanything that was going on.

She felt bad for the blonde. It would have been better that she had come out with it herself rather than Delilah inadvertently mentioning it. Instead she would sit and keep Bastille company, TRYING VERY HARD not to inquire about the babies.

squee

[Mathew Amtrum]

Mathew took the cup and set it down on the table untouched as he listened to Kiyr. All traces of a smile wiped off his face as he listened to her talk. The air around him could almost vibrate with silent rage, however his face remained stone.

"So with that it's time to make a choice I suppose. Break your promise to David and tell me what's supposed to be kept from me. Right here, right now."

He didn't care who else was here.

[Kyrie Blaze]

The hair on her arms and the back of her neck rose, but Kiyr closed eyes that were bordering on pain to the world around her at the choice that Mathew laid out before her. She did not bolt, but stood her ground even defenseless as she was.

'...b-breathe...just breathe...'

...she was in the Sunlight. Tension dissipated by a soft Breeze. The Earth beneath her feet...

[/i]

"...two wrongs do not make a right." She said finally, opening her eyes. "And I am not so naive to think that if I answer you I would go unpunished, still, but, I am bound by my word to both, and thus can not favour one above the other."

Her first loyalty was to Mathew. But she also had a connection to David. And she could and would own up to the fact that she should have considered this more, should have asked Mathew. But she was human, and yes, she was flawed--she did not pretend otherwise, but strove to hold herself up. And in doing so, always held herself accountable. Even with such a mistake.

Doubtless this would land her in cutting winds with David, as well, even though at this point she had nothing detrimental to him. She was still breaking her word, and it was a slow, internal bleed-out--twice, now. She went into this fully expecting that David would, indeed, cut her tongue from her mouth and banish her. And given that the Dragons were now family, it was both a fate worse than death and condemning her to death itself.

She lost one family.

Kyrie could not take to lose another.

She lifted her chin and strove for calm as she continued on.

"I implore you, even despite my answering you, to take counsel with the Storm Dragon--with or without me. I now face not only one, but two Dragons' wrath. Thus far I have not been sent out on any missions to gather information upon enemies of the Dragons.

"I am one of three Dragons at the head of David Blaze's Sky Force, and Ghost Leader of the Sky Force itself. Within that Division, accountable to David, but can not - nor would I - shirk my duties or refuse an order from another Elder. Simply put, the only things we have worked on, thus far, have been training and preparation, from physical means, to...pain tolerance, should I be captured. I have not been sent out upon any missions, as I said, but my instructions were that if asked, I would not be able to say under pain of having my tongue cut out and thrown from the ranks of Dragon-kin."

Two wrongs definitely did not make a right. Kyrie swallowed, trying to quiet her gaze and ultimately, failing. But still she did not turn or flee. She knew what she was doing, or so she thought. She was facing her fate--the only thing left for her to do.[/font]

[Mathew Amtrum]

Mathew moved over to Kiyr, his pace slow and his face thoughtful but stern. His hand snapped out quickly to grab her jaw in his callused hand as he lifted it up forcing her to look him in the eyes as he leaned in. His voice a low growl as he recited her sacrifice.

"I have nothing of material value to bestow upon you as a sacrifice. A small keepsake from happier times, while it means something to me, I do not feel it is enough. I have nothing of value aside from myself.

So to you, Mathew, I freely offer my undying and unyielding loyalty, and the trust that you use it justly and keep it safe. This is not a light decision, since Barker destroyed the world, I have only trusted myself and my own wisdom to survive."

He flicked her face away from him as he straightened up. A mix of rage and disappointment on his face as he shook his head just slightly.

"You've betrayed me Kiyr. By agreeing to those terms, from a former enemy no less. Whether or not there is malice behind it shows betrayal."

He pinched the bridge of his nose and let out a long sigh. Forgetting the children sleeping upstairs, or the other women in the kitchen with him.

"A Dragon is more than a title. It's a symbol, it's a promise. And by honoring your promise to Blaze you are not honoring your promise to me. In my mind there is no way to honor both."

His distaste at having to have this conversation was apparent. And it was taking all of his will power to keep himself this level and calm. He was trying to be a better person. For his girls.

"My first thought is that I should snap your neck right here and now. Or to banish you from any land I hold dominion." He would turn to glance at Delilah. "And hope that my allies would honor that banishment as well until such a time it was lifted."

He expected the Crows would since he read the Sidervib letter.

"Against my better judgement though I will offer you another choice. You can choose to continue with the Sky Force. Or you can choose to continue your path to try and obtain an Elder Dragon title. Know that if you choose the Sky Force I will never grant you my blessing and the title will not be in your reach."

He couldn't say what David would do if she quit the Sky Force.

"If neither option is to your liking then you may have this choice. Banishment. Or death."

[Bastille Amtrum]

Bastille unlike Delilah was now paying keen attention- a resigned 'i told you so' look on her face, mixed with a devils smile. But alas it was ruined my the fainy prickling of her hair and the soon followed sound of cry. She shot glance at mathe, subconsioucly chiding him on his energy probably waking the girls up, but she too had gotten excited (albeit in the wrong way) so he wasnt really to blame. "Ah, and so it goes.....complications. Dragons never fail on one repute....amusement. Come Delilah, you want to meet the girls?" She said taking her tea and passing kyrie toward the stairs. "Never trust a dragon, but trust a man" she whispered kryptically then shot a glance back to mathew. "See you later love, and please remember no violence in the house...the angels enjoy it too much" she teased, leading Delilah upstairs. She hopped her comment would not only remind mathew that he had kids, but in a way to disarm him from hurting her....too badly. "Good bleedin luck ta you garden knome...he's one tough cookie and he hasnt had sleep either...looks like he fought a bear too, i'd say odds aren't in your favor. Dont take this as us ditching you, trust me I'd love to stay and watch...chow" she was practically dragging Delilah up the stairs.

[Delilah A. Black]

Delilah would watch with a small expression of despair for Kiyr before letting it pass over her vision. She noted Mathew's meaningful glances; she knew she would have no choice. But only if all three Elder Dragon's agreed on the law. Otherwise, the alliance would crumble.

And then, in the background, the cry of a baby. Two. A smile leapt to Delilah's face. Oh, what she wouldn't give to see them...

--AND THEN BASTILLE GRABBED HER HAND AND DRAGGED HER OUT OF THE ROOM.

TO SEE THE BABIES.

And it was an exciting day for all.

[Bastille Amtrum]

Bastille slumped her shoulders once she was out of shot of the other two and paused a moment.

"sorry, stairs are still difficult" She said gripping the railing. C-sections sucked. period. end of story.

[Delilah A. Black]

Delilah would stop up the stairs, looking back Bastille with alarm. C-section huh? Damn. The woman should barely even be out of bed. Medical care was not what it used to be.

Without saying a word, Delilah would take Bastille's free arm and sling it over her shoulder, using the other to brace her around the waist. Gingerly and with great care, Delilah would help the red-eyed woman up the stairs to the floor where her children cried for their mother.

[Kyrie Blaze]

Kyrie's eyes partially closed as his hand struck out, and yes, she flinched. But she fully expected a swift retribution to save David the trouble. His hand on her jaw - even though the grip was a far from tender - and her eyes shot open. Clearly surprised. She had to move to the tips of her toes with how far he lifted her chin.

This wasn't what she was expecting.

But then, if the implications were as she was seeing them, she hadn't expected such a chess move from David, either. Even the tricksy little Hobbits wasn't immune to falling into a trap. With Mathew's words, Kyrie went ashen and sank beneath the surface in shame. She had never forgotten her words, or the exact wording she had given them in, but having them smashed back into her face was not an experience she ever cared to repeat. And his response to her shone in her mind. Liar. Cheater.

Had she set herself up from the beginning?

She swallowed slowly.

What was there left for her when she broke her word. Until Bastille spoke up, however, her world was centered around one person, and one only. Who it was wasn't hard to decipher. But when Bastille whispered to her, she jerked slightly; a jolt of surprise. '...then why are...' Kyrie's mind couldn't comprehend why she said that. Not right now. Her eyes flashed to Bastille and then Delilah.

'...n-not ditching. H-hah.'[/i]

Mathew would undoubtedly be able to feel the fine tremours that had started partway through his words. When Delilah and Bastille left, they began to become visibly apparent. Bastille's words only confirmed that that was exactly what she was doing. For a few moments, Kiyr kept her jaw clenched. Not because of an unwillingness to answer, but that she was fairly certain that if she didn't, her jaw would start jack-hammering away and she may as well go knock down some buildings or something.

And as with David...she was stuck between a rock and a hard place. Again.

She didn't even need to ask if he wanted her answer now. Though she would have liked to speak with David, just so that he knew what was going on, he would only see that as an affront and further betrayal. And that wasn't what Kiyr wanted.

If asked why, she didn't know if she could reason it out. It wasn't because of the jackets. Perhaps it was that she simply thought that she could withstand the challenge and keep both ends. She hadn't thought that David would move against Mathew. Perhaps she had trusted him too much.

She couldn't choose death--and banishment was death, one way or another.

As it was, this would kill her internally enough.

She could see what this was.

Her eyes closed. Then opened. Her choice was made. Perhaps in the future, the door she was closing now would open once again. Once she wasn't a possession. If she survived.

"I will choose the path to strive for a title." Though there was no guarantee David would grant her his approval. Not after this. "I will resign from the Skyforce, but I will do it myself on my own terms, in my own words."

If she was set down, released, she would slowly sink down, the anxious tempest internally too much for her to stand tall right now. For now...undoubtedly, she was defeated. A slow chuckle slid between her lips, and blue eyes flicked up, then down to the floor. It was hard to hide the hurt--even knowing she had brought her destruction upon herself. She could only imagine what her encounter with David was going to be like, much less after.

"...will you take me outside to shoot me now, or save it until after Da-- ...the Storm Dragon works through me?"

What good was a dog that wasn't loyal to her master? Bastille had said no violence in the house. And if her previous mistake - and watching Rai with his - with Mathew was any indication...

Well.[/font]