Dark Light; Little Idea [Open?]

[Kyrie Blaze]

Kyrie was restless. Restless and tired at the same time. She gently brushed her fingers against her eyes, looking out at a world that was several deeper, darker, shades of grey and black. By her estimation, it was perhaps one or two in the morning.

The night called out to her, as it often did.

The blonde couldn't quite face sleep. Not just yet. Her sleep had been far too troubling as of late, more than normal. The night was darker than normal--a new moon cast its dark light upon the Northern Hemisphere. And why, because she was within shadow.

The slender blonde stretched her hands over her head, and stepped from the dark, comforting embrace of shadowed night to visible existence. She had just been up at her first grove station, gently brushing her fingers against the sprouting plants with a tender awe.

...and she would leave behind something, though she may never live to see them finish growing...

It eased her a little, and now she brushed her feet against the grass in a mostly unspoiled park near the building. Blue eyes turned watchfully around, more easily able to sense certain things in the night, though her mastery over that was still far from complete.

"...I think...perhaps. It has been so long. Too long."

The murmur was said to the night. Kyrie tightened her grip upon her shoes that were normally upon her feet. Her pants, long and straight and wide of leg, brushed against the damp blades of green--a dark and deep charcoal green in the night. She slipped into a clearing and sighed as the breeze drifted by, leaning against the wind as she had once, long ago.

And somewhat recently.

Blue eyes opened back up, and she set the shoes down near the large shadow of a tree. She turned away, rolling her shoulders, and stood for a moment, feet spread apart. For a moment, she stood still.

For a moment, time seemed to stand still.

And then she moved, abruptly but fluidly, and twisted her body into an aerial cartwheel. When she landed, she could tell her leg was still out of sorts, and smoothly collapsed into a roll to take the pressure off her leg. Kiyr brought herself back up to her feet with a slight twist and took two paces to walk it off, thoughtfully.

The bauble at the end of her braid was now silent, her limp nonexistent despite the slight strain. Perhaps to burn off energy, she would begin patrols again. It would feel good to run, to lose herself in the easy flow of it. But for now, now she wanted to be at ease. To feel the familiar pull of muscles in a form, and to let her mind, hopefully, empty without running. Without parkour.

Stopping with her feet nearly together, the blonde tilted her head and shifted, raising her hands straight out in front of her, forming fists, and bringing them back, elbows not quite straight back as that would be too uncomfortable. She held them a little too far back, and adjusted, keeping her gaze ahead. Toes pointed outwards, rotating on her heel, then pressed down against the grass to lift her heels and move them outwards, bending her knees and sinking downwards, keeping her shoulders relaxed.

Her hands extended slightly, straightening to be flat before both shot downwards and crossed over her centre. Her wrists twisted after she brought her arms, still crossed at the wrists, up. Her palms faced skyward, and her arms pulled her hands back once again, forming fists. And yet, when she pushed her arm back, bringing her fist to her center and then moving the arm forwards using her shoulder, she paused.

And shook her head.

Instead of continuing after pulling her arm back inwards, Kyrie let out a sigh. She wasn't relaxed. So instead of continuing and trying to force it, she partially closed her eyes, just a little.

"Too many thoughts."

Indeed. Too many thoughts chased themselves in her mind, and her body had responded with tension, and it threw both her and the form off. She could not practice the idea of "little idea" if she was not soft, if she was not relaxed. So she just breathed, letting the tension leave her body bit by bit. Muscles slowly relaxed, and she gradually began tucking all of her thoughts away.

The dreams. The wedding. The project.

Her fears. Her dreams. Her hopes.

It was hard. So many thoughts crowded in and clamoured for attention. So many emotions tried to snare and drag her down. Just when she quieted one, another popped up, or broke free. Kiyr shivered, plucking at the black tank top beneath the bone dragon vest, and sank down against the heels of her feet, allowing the balls of them to act as firm but light stabilizers. This theory, ideal, way of life, was so much more easy to hold tight to when one of the worst things she had to worry about on a daily basis was whether her brother Bennett would stick a bunch of worms in her bed.

It was time to go back to basics, and implement something Delilah shared with her:

San-shin no kata.

So instead of focusing on trying to clean her mind, she breathed and relaxed her muscle groups. Her focus, instead, was on the smell of the grass, the feel of the blades at her feet, between her toes. The weight of the small piece of metal and glass charm binding her braid. The cool embrace of the dark. The peace that drifted around her. The gentle stirring of a breeze, carrying the smell of salt water. The fact that there was...that there was life all around her. She took comfort in that, and for now, lowered her hands. The feel of the flowing material of her pants. The touch of the pads of her fingers against the palm on her hand...soft, yet rough. The feel of the pull of her muscle and joints as she slowly lifted her arms back into place, fists firm, but relaxed. The way her body shifted, then relaxed, once again. The stars as she looked up, glinting down at her.

Kyrie drew it in, and slowly, experienced things for the first time, once more.

[David B.]

The air about Kiyr, while she was in her state of peace, would suddenly go still. Then the temperature would level at about seventy five degrees, as it always did when he was around. If Kiyr happened to notice, and should she look up, she would notice David, sitting with legs crosssed, hands clasped in his lap, watching her.

He said nothing.

The past nights had been a... Very strange time for him. He had seen much of himself that had been buried for years. What was more alarming was the things his brain had created for Kiyr. He didn't want to bring it up but...it had left him feeling uneasy. If she saw him, he would slowly lower himself to her level. Since taking the gamble fruit, David had developed a rather welcome power of night vision- he could see in the dark as though it were day. He loved it, especially when hiding in shadows.

He would sit there, in the air, as though waiting for something.

[Kyrie Blaze]

The sudden stilling of the breeze was interesting. And there was an added awareness that she felt as the air around her went still, and the temperature levelled out, becoming a little warmer. Temperate, even. Blue eyes swerved slowly, scanning around herself before they finally, slowly flicked upwards, as if she was uncertain if she actually wanted to look and to know.

She hadn't seen him since the day he came back to spar with Mathew.

And she still felt that wary caution, even despite her choice. Just because she said what she chose, didn't mean she couldn't be cautious. And then the dreams. With her slow blink Heavenward, seeing him sitting there, the dreams came rushing back when she had just started to achieve something akin to peace. It was more that she felt him, but she was used to looking out of shadows, as well. It wasn't perfect night vision, by any means, but it did the job. She pulled in a slow breath, hands slowly lowering even as he drifted towards the Earth.

As her hands lowered, she straightened her legs and took a step to bring them beneath herself once again, standing, seemingly at ease. She didn't say anything, unsure if she wanted to test her voice. So instead, she did something customary, though considering David's "resignation", perhaps something he may not expect.

She raised a fist over her heart, and inclined her torso forwards, slightly.

She wanted to ask of his brother, but her dreams...

Kyrie nearly sighed. They were merely dreams and the product of being too strung out over recent events and concern that would not die down with David leaving. Instead she stood, , giving her shoulders a slight roll to ease the beginnings of tension that were creeping up on her.

[David B.]

David watched her bow, a little surprised inwardly at her show of respect. He had take. An extended leave of abscence, though he supposed the other Dragons still referenced him as a leader. He didn't argue with it. He had come to terms with his withdraw, and hoped he would return. Her bow just made him more resolved to do so.

As she stood, he would lower his feet to the ground and stand, before looking up at the sky. He had taken the jacket from her, pulling her from the Sky force and refusing to allow her to feel the wind under her own wings. Didn't mean she wasn't allowed to feel the wind under his. It was strange, also, that he was so willing to allow her to that luxery. He wondered if she understood the gift of riding on his back. He found it humiliating to most, but she seemed so...excited by it, exhilirated by the love of flight and sky, and never looked down on him for it or treated him with disrespect.

She treated it like the gift it was, so he supposed that answered his question.

He would use one hand to gesture at the sky.

"Care for a ride?"

If she agreed, he would turn and allow her to climb on his back, the Storm Dragon hardly feeling the weight, even though he was already carrying some 1600 pounds. He would slowly lift them, taking higher and higher into the sky, though the warmth would never change. Finally, a thousand feet in the air he lay flat and took off, soaring high above the dark city below them.

[Kyrie Blaze]

She backed off with whispered steps to retrieve her shoes after straightening and pulling her hand back to the side. She let him look skyward as she slid them on, figuring at some point soon she would have to be on the move. Home or elsewhere. After all, she wasn't sure if she was the one disturbing him, or if he had simply been watching her.

That prospect she wasn't entirely sure she was comfortable with.

She straightened after pulling the straps tight and flexing her toes, wriggling them against the grass with a mild sense of disappointment that she could no longer feel the slightly damp grass. The blonde visibly paused at his question, feeling the leap of her heart at the prospect, though she cautioned herself against it at the same time.

"Pourquoi est-ce que vous offrez ce cadeau à moi..?" As if realizing her lapse, she shook her head, and repeated some of her question, tone still soft though English was not nearly so melodious as French: "Why do you offer..?"

Questions, as always. But she felt it right to be. She was, literally in fact, on her back foot, taken aback by the unexpected offer. The gift. Much as she longed to release a smile and accept without considering an underlying motive - he was Dragon, and family, and still important to her - Kyrie could not shed her inhibitions. She still trusted David, as the damage was done through her own actions, but Mathew's words hung over her. And the brand on her leg, though healed enough that it caused her no pain, was still a vivid reminder that she did what David cautioned her against as he made his offer.

With the curious gleam to her eyes was longing. Flight, even if not on her own, was a precious gift. The closest she could get to it was parkour. She held herself back, willing herself to make a clear decision, instead of bouncing forward like an excited puppy, eager for attention and affection, as she so referenced to herself she was akin to: one that always came back to the family with eager trust, no matter the abuse.

[David B.]

David watched her curiously, his blue eyes like clear and pupils slightly dialated. He said nothing for a few moments as she paused. Crouching, he ran his fingers through the earth, feeling it sift under his fingertips. He let out a deep breath. Clasping his fingers together in front of him, elbows resting on his knees, he looked up at her.

"I wanted to tell you something I haven't said to anyone since... Well, in a long time."

He stood, sticking his hands behind his head as he turned and walked a little ways. He cleared her throat before turning and looking her in the eye.

"I want to apologize."

[Kyrie Blaze]

Blue eyes watched his darkened figure crouching, and the flash of his hand smoothing against teh dirt. She wondered if he felt the same she had when she had been making the first terrace plots. If he had the same appreciation for the Earth as he did the Sky; and idly, she wondered if Mathew felt the same. His steps away had her blinking curiously after him, and she leaned forwards, as if to take a step, and then ebbed back to remain where she was. His first words drew her in out of curiosity.

And then he finished his thought after turning back.

Kiyr had to admit, she had no idea how to deal with this. Why the apology? Her brow furrowed slightly before smoothing.

"You have nothing to apologize for."

She left it a neutral statement, unsure if he meant because he left his post, or if it was from before that, when she went to him to resign and face the consequences of her actions. If it was the latter, the blame was upon her own shoulders for making the mistake in the first place, and even now she would not shirk the responsibility of her actions.

[David B.]

David smiled.

"For being a hypocrite."

He would walk back over, standing in front of her now.

"You see, i've had a lot more time to think about what happened that day. With you turning your back on the sky force. Though i had hoped to teach you a lesson, I realized I taught myself one as well. You see, I pride myself on personal freedom, on treating others as you would have have them treat you. But instead of following my own advice, I purposely took away your freedom, and manipulated your response and actions. I'm sorry for that. I don't think its right to make someone your pawn, even if your intentions are good."

He would bring down his hands and put them in his pockets.

"You don't have to fly with me, if you don't want. I just hoped to apologize through that gift, but I can see I still make you a bit...uneasy. I'll go."

He would turn and lift off the ground, beginning to slowly head back into the sky.

[Kyrie Blaze]

She listened, watching as she normally did, trying to take in the words. Oh, his lesson had been driven home remarkably well. In combination with Mathew's own, both had driven deep. She swallowed, slowly, but remained quiet to let him finish. There was a lump that was building in her throat, and she wasn't sure she trusted her voice.

The memory of the emotions that swamped her when he trapped her with his qi floated up, and she winced, very slightly, closing her eyes to cover it. She could clearly see she had a snap decision to make, right now, with his final words. Could she accept the apology..? As he floated up, her hand struck out from its relaxed position at her side, gripping his pant leg for just a moment--just long enough that he knew, despite the fact he could very well feel the air move. The tug from her fingers grasping the material, and another slight shift as she released it just as quickly. As she lowered her hand, palm up and fingers slowly closing, she worked the knot in her throat down with another slow swallow.

And spoke, softly, as was her norm.

"I accept your apology." She wasn't quite sure if she forgave him for that: torn between the desire to let the tension go, the knowledge that it was her fault to begin with, and the terrified state she'd been in. She wanted to, and that counted for something. So she would be honest. "I would like, and be honoured, to fly. However, I...do not feel I deserve such a boon, even as an apology."

Even as a gift, freely given. It felt wrong to receive it. She blinked slowly; it was hard to state as much, because desire warred with that fact. Just one more time, even if never again, she wanted to.

"It means much that you think to offer it to me."

[David B.]

David felt the tug, turning slightly in the air and looking back down at her a moment before lowering himself slowly. As she accepted his apology and stated she wasn't worthy, he did something he would never do again for another.

He clapped his fist to his heart and bowed- he didn't nod like he did to everyone else, he gave a full bow as was customarily given to your superior, like the one she gave when he saw her. Its why he had never done it before. He would speak while bowed.

"You will never understand until you have it, but power and strength brings a measure of superiority. When you become a named, pride is your greatest enemy. I will not let it be mine. Thank you for the lesson in forgiveness and humilty, despite the torture I and Mathew put you through."

The honor it bestowed on her was astronomical, but it was absolutely the last thing on his mind.

He would stand straight again after another moment or two, looking her in the eye.

"And i don't get me wrong- you will likely never fly again on your own. But-"

He would hold out a hand, offering her the chance, a smile creasing his lips.

"I never said anything about flying with another."

[Kyrie Blaze]

The blood drained from her face, and her blue eyes shot wide in surprise with the motion. She had to take a step back because, literally, she felt like she lost her balance. What was he even--

Why. Why show her such respect and honour when she did nothing to deserve it--when she'd deserved every bit of the punishment both Elders had given her? She would forgive him sooner than she thought, even without this, because she could not and would not hold it against someone she had already acknowledged and held in her regard as - at the very least - family. Because, to her, that was what family was about. Even Rai she had forgiven for his nearly fatal mistake.

She stared, and listened. And listened. And stared some more.

And finally as he straightened, she tipped her chin up, looking up through the full foot that was the difference in their heights, and her heart twisted. She didn't mind looking up, this time, still too shell-shocked to let an old annoyance creep in. Her hands closed, tightly for a moment, and slowly relaxed. Finally, and yet still with much hesitance, she began to reach out, her gaze falling from his. Gently, she set the tips of her fingers against his hand, as she did whenever she took another's hand for help, up.

If she was being set up to fall anew, she would enjoy her moment, and hope the impact ensured she couldn't get up, this time.

If not, and regardless, she would take and treasure the offering.

And give forgiveness for the gifts of freedom and choice when he had previously taken it from her with no thought to what he was doing.

[David B.]

No tests. No failures.

She would feel a slight tingle at her touch, as air wooshed through her fingers and around her arm, moving across her form gently. He would pull her over and onto his back as they were lifted into the air, a grin fleeting over his shoulder at her. She seemed very withdrawn, even reluctant. But that shy intelligence was part of the reason he felt she would be the next Named Dragon. Rai was commited, and strong, but David was unsure of his ability to grasp the importance of the title, where Kiyr already had that in the bag.

He would, after they reached about forty feet, speak softly.

"Hold on tight."

They would rocket into the sky, toward the moon, flying high. Higher than anyone had ever seen him fly. The air would stay strangely warm and easy to breathe- he was keepig it around them as they continued up, up, up.

Higher. And higher. And higher still.

Until there was a crack, and the sky melted into black. He would stop there, still able to breathe, looking around himself as he smiled at Kiyr again. Turning back toward the earth, they would see the Earth, spread out before them as the sun shone into the distance. David would take a deep breath, unable to help both the feeling of greatness and smallness he got from looking at it all. He would let her admire it for a while before flying leisurely back toward the earth, entering the atmosphere without the fire and death, as his speed was not conducive of destruction. They would re-enter California, flying over it at a pace that left a little breeze in your hair, but just felt good.

[Kyrie Blaze]

The gentle air current was refreshing after the stillness, though she had to put it out of her mind that it was his qi, and he had to move it, himself, which was like-- It was such a complete contrast to the overwhelming force she had been subjected to. For a moment, she forgot to breathe, and then exhaled softly, the peculiar, weightless sensation engulfing her even though it wasn't under her own power with the jacket. There was something peculiar she noted; with the shadowed spirals of his qi, and the tingling sensation, there was something else. It sparked her curiosity, and yet, didn't want to balk at the flight to explore it.

She was deposited on his back and her hands curled around his shoulders. Her gaze lifted to the sky, and she nearly missed the look and grin. Her eyes flicked to him, starting to come alive with anticipation, rather than quiet trepidation.

The easy ascent was enjoyed, and she shifted just a little, settling comfortably so she wasn't putting her weight against his shoulders. Though his words barely had time to register, her grip with both hands and legs tightened, and she was certain she probably left her stomach behind as they suddenly shot up. Her heart leaped into her throat, but not with fear.

He could drop her, yes, and she could fall, but this had never been about fear, to her. She hung close, as though scaling a wall upon a tall building to reach the roof, and had to remember to breathe, softly and slowly. Her head tucked down, but her eyes remained above, staring at the black circle of the new moon, and then around. A Disney melody chimed through her mind but she brushed it away. Her sister would be giddy about something like this; from her memories, Kiyr shared it with her and imagined her joy.

But she looked around, absorbing the sight of the blue earth, and the circle and deep black of space above them, wondering how he was able to keep the air around them, after the thought clicked into her mind, against the vacuum...

But she decided that, as curious as she was, she would enjoy this silently...and just let her heart be light.

As they flew over the state, she tipped her head up and back a little, letting a long exhale escape from between her lips. Her shoulders lost the remaining tension.

[David B.]

David spoke as they flew.

"I create a compact bubble around us, twenty feet in diameter, which hugs the oxygen to it by my Qi. It wont allow me to stay up there long as it drains energy quick but...its cool to see now and then- just in case you were wondering."

She would feel a slight pressure around herself as well, one that would make it impossible for her to fall off but still barely noticeable. Its not something he could do outside the atmosphere, though, which was why she needed to hang on. He would do a quick barrel roll, laughing a little at the feeling.

"So tell me, Kiyr- you have quite the attachment to family, friendship, love. Why then do you always seem so..I don't know. Standoffish to everyone in the Dragons? Isn't this what you wanted?"

His voice was not raised but easily heard, as though there was no win. Ah, the power that he had in those areas of miniscule control was almost...intoxicating.

Almost.

[Kyrie Blaze]

Interested, she nodded at the explanation with a quiet hum of thoughtfulness beneath her breath. The barrel roll was quick, and quiet laughter bubbled in her throat. She didn't let go, and the racing beat of her heart wasn't in fear, but once again in enjoyment, and excitement, and anticipation.

With his words, and his questions, she went still, holding her weight away from David's back as she measured her reply to him. This bordered on territory she didn't really want to talk about. But he had asked, and she would answer, and answer truthfully with the words she would say.

"I still prefer distance, to be honest. It makes some things easier. I can choose love, and do, but that does not necessarily mean that I will be holding hands with everyone." She didn't bother to try and correct his choice of words to describe it. That was his opinion, even if she may not have agreed. And despite the unease, she had said the things she was looking for in the interview, and his little training fight a few days after that. "Just because I hold myself away does not mean I love any less."