Harvest Sun [Open]

[Kyrie Blaze]

The day was glorious.

Kyrie tipped her face to the golden rays of sun as she finished filling the last of eight baskets to the brim. She was on the second tier of her first Grove, packing away an assortment of vegetables. Despite there being eight baskets, she was the only one on the roof. The plants smelled crisp and fresh, still, and the blonde's hands were gentle on the ears of corn as she packed them closely together in the basket. She had two baskets of peppers, two of cucumbers, one of carrots, another of peas and beans, and one other basket of corn. There was still more to pick and pluck, but eight baskets was definitely a good start.

The rich loam beneath her hands was divine.

The blue-eyed woman sat for a moment in the dirt, completely at ease with a skill she had learned from her mother--completely at home with the earth and softly growing plants. With the life surrounding her that would ensure the lives of the Dragons would continue in more comfort than they had so far.

She kept her face tipped to the sun, basking Autumn's glowing warmth.

The baskets were packed, and she would have to tote them with her, back to where they would be prepared and she could teach those that didn't know about the wonders of preserving food.

...and keeping seeds.

A soft smile curved her lips. Days like this, moments like this, made her appreciate all she had gained even more. There were no more apparitions since that one day. The other day had been the meeting Olesya had called to order. The blonde stood up and gently dusted her hands off, moving to the edge of the roof on the sixth floor of the building. Three stories below on the opposite side there was another rooftop grove.

Kyrie lightly hopped up on the ledge surrounding the roof. The sky was clear and a deep, fathomless blue. The sky in Autumn always did have a depth none of the other seasons could match. The bountiful harvest and gorgeous day saw the blonde relax, stretching her arms up to the sky and letting them fall. One to her side and the other resting its forearm gently on the top of her head. She stood, weight on one leg, the knee of the other bent, slightly.

[David B.]

Davids hand curled gently around the petals of the flower, holding it gently. It was a common, front of the house flower- but was growing up through the cement in the middle of the street. He stared at it, sun beating on his back. It had been two days since his fight with Les, and he had yet to come to terms with it. With what was said, the outcome. He had felt a restriction in his chest, a sort of confusion that bubbled over into his every day life. Since leaving the dragons, David filled his days with killing Barkers men and fixing houses, never really talking much. Just...smiling. Nodding. Living.

He stood, simple sword strapped to his back, buildings rising up around him. He closed his eyes and tipped his face back into the sun. Feeling that familiar anger welling up inside. Olesya had challenged him... Of all people, why her? Why would anyone? Davids teeth clenched again. Kazuya would never. Not Kiyr. Or Del or Marcus or...anyone. Why Les? And if she did, could he trust any of them? David probed the area around- this area was void of life, thankfully, at least on the ground. He opened his mouth- and screamed.

It was him trying to let out his anger, so as he screamed, the windows from the ground clean to the top of any building on the block shattered, the glass of which David held in the air with his Qi, allowing them to remain suspended, twirling. He looked back down at the flower, the glass floating closer to him and beginning to spin, like a tornado, but quite a bit slower. It was a signal. A sign for anyone, and was just outside the gates of dragon territory. It would be see able from quite a distance though, as it rose into the sky.

"You better live, little one. Such is my hope for you."

He crouched and floated a bit of muddy water from a cup on the counter in a ransacked building nearby to his hand. He would slowly pour it onto the flower, and wait for someone to answer his call.

[Kyrie Blaze]

. o O ( By request, this thread has been shifted in the timeline to come after the events of "Anytime. Anywhere." <3 It's also been confirmed that until Kiyr breaks the 45 base cap for CHA, she will be unable to use her qi. Current base for CON is 35; CHA is 45. )



The blonde enjoyed her break, practically sunning herself in the afternoon on her rooftop ledge. She would need to make four trips at the very least just to transport all of this. With a lack of qi since the recent incident versus the creature she had slain and the aftermath of the bite, and even though she had only had her ability for just under a year...the blonde felt a rather keen sense of loss. She could understand how...

Blue eyes softened as she looked up at the sky. The clouds were wisps on the horizon. It wasn't likely to storm, let alone rain. But that was okay, considering they would be attacking her Groves voraciously to bring the ripe vegetables and small selection of fruits in. To speed the process, she could probably retrieve her team, but she couldn't deny that some time alone was nice. The blonde was still caught between needing solitude and needing some regular human interaction.

She turned and stepped from the ledge, back to the loamy soil, and paused as a scream tore through the air nearby. There was the shattering of glass that accompanied it. When she looked along the tops of nearby buildings, there was a wisp of twisting shadow...and the flashes of light from an innumerable amount of glass shards in the sun easily catching her attention. The tone of the shout itself was somewhat familiar, but the spiral of wind was a dead giveaway.

With no more thought - though part of her mind remained dazzled and awestruck at the beautiful display - as the blonde leaped on light and quick feet over the baskets and headed directly for the rigging and rope that served as a pulley system between this sixth floor grove and the third floor one below. She jumped, catching the rope to careen down, her gloves protecting her hands from rope burn. From there it was a simple matter of leaping down stairs, back and forth over railing, before bursting through the doors at ground level and taking off towards the source. Despite that she tired more easily than normal these days and couldn't touch her qi, it didn't stop her from responding.

The scream...she couldn't quite decipher it, but it worried her nevertheless.

Rounding the last corner and closing in, the blonde quickly slowed, directing her momentum down from a sprint to a jog...and to a walk as she neared the whirling, swirling storm of qi and glass.

"David?" She called his name as an inquiry, posture held with nothing but concern. But, she didn't stop her forward momentum, even walking, as her breathing returned to normal. Unless she was rebuffed, it was clear her intent was to walk directly to him, fearlessly, straight through the vortex of sharp glass.

[David B.]

As Kiyr walked forward, the twirling shards of glass wouldn't move, but as her body touched them, they would seem to lightly float away, spinning off the momentum from the gentle push. David would turn his eyes on Kiyr, slowly, still crouched, the glass now slowly dropping to the ground. Every shard made a "tink tink" sound, and from the earth about them a melody seemed to rise up. The cup he had been using was on the ground, the flower now reflecting a little light from the water droplets that covered it. He stared, hard and long, before standing slowly, turning them back to the flower.

"Olesya challenged me for my title as Storm Dragon. She believed it was worthless to me out here."

He turned to face her fully, now.

"Is that what you think?"

David already knew what Kiyr's presence here meant. What he wanted from it. That didn't stop him from asking questions when he required an answer. As she spoke, he took the blade off his back, still in it's sheath, and would float it over to rest against the wall. He cracked his neck and knuckles, demonstrating to her why he wanted someone here as well.

[Kyrie Blaze]

The shards of glass sparkled in the sun, even as they fell. The sudden, glittering, symphony of sound was just as beautiful as the sight had been. Blue eyes took in David's form as he slowly rose from his crouched position, spotting the small flower and cup. Her gaze softened a little before taking in, easily, that something was wrong. She didn't know what, of course, just that something was setting him off. It was in the weight and almost stabbing nature of his gaze, the tension in his body, the set of his lips.

And then she found out as David spoke.

The blonde's eyes widened in surprise at first before immediately narrowing. The blonde had realized from an earlier point in her apprenticeship to Mathew that a Name did not mean one was an Elder. And a Name was that person's. In response, her gaze darkened...and then almost twitched in surprise at the question.

But it was a justifiable question.

"The only person that is the Storm Dragon is the man standing before me. David Blaze. And even if she won," As Kyrie had no clue of the outcome, but she could feel all personal respect for Les loosening, just as she could feel her back straighten with that familiar urge to defend and protect. And perhaps, even a portion of the respect for the woman in any sort of leadership capabilities. But she struggled with that - against losing it - as there were multiple sides to any story. The question she focused on. "She could never truly take the title, because the title is you, not the other way around."

It wasn't something you could claim or grow into. And Kyrie did not ask for the outcome of the fight, as it did not change that fact, in her mind. David would always be the Storm Dragon.

Kyrie watched the sword floating towards the wall, and turned on her heel, towards it. As she moved to where he deposited his weapon, she was shedding her own. Multiple daggers and knives - all gained through her trials, from the old man to Mason and then her flight to Mexico City - were set in a respectful pile before she unhooked the sword Tristan had given her, setting it along with them and turning to give David her back. Then she simply popped the small blades set into her gloves out and added them to the pile.

Judging by his state, the words, the question, the obvious intent...it would be much safer for her tiny companion to remain in the sun on the sheathes of her weapons. Divesting the small mechanical Dragon from her hiding place upon her person, Kyrie brushed her lips across Scarlet's head and set her upon the scabbards as her heart picked up a quickly racing beat. She pulled the necklace Delilah gave to her - just in case it were to react to the coming fight - and set it down next to Scarlet. The remaining necklace tucked beneath her clothing seemed to only get heavier and to sap some of her strength a bit more.

"It is your job to keep that safe for me, Csitri. I have no doubt you will do an excellent job."

Her heartbeat slowed as she rose and turned, stepping out across the glass as much to test her footing upon them as to put some distance between their collected piles of weapons and the much more precious Dragon sitting atop them. She didn't think or even worry that David would cause harm to her, but the blonde knew that this was not like before, where he told her to attempt hitting him while answering questions.

This?

This was going to hurt, she didn't bother to presume otherwise, but nor did she back down. Nor did the thought to ask him to take it easy on her even touch her mind. She simply took a steadying breath...and faced him, gaze calm and clear.

Ready.

. o O ( Stats are as follows:

STR: 32 (27)
DEX: 37 (42)
CON: 35 (42)
INT: 33 (35)
WIS: 34 (36)
CHA: 45 (51)

The items "Bladed Knuckles" and "Hulda" were removed. )

[David B.]

David crouched as she began taking out items, not looking at the tiny Dragon he hadn't seen in over a month. He wrapped a small vestile of wind around the flower, protecting it from them and their attacks. Their fight. It was obviously what David was going to do- fight her. He would speak under his breath.

"I've heard that before, only she had said it."

Or something like it.

Yet she still cut him with the words, and challenged him. He spoke in almost a whisper.

"I can't trust any of you, can I?"

He wouldn't wait for a response. He would just stand and Lazily wave her forward.

"Come and fight me, then, if only one more time."

He didn't explain, expecting her to question it herself, or come to her own conclusion.

******************************

Scarlet blinked, stretching on the area where she had left him, letting out a yawn before turning her red eyes to David. His presence hurt. She wanted to run over to him, bounding happily as she expected him to grin and wink and take her into his arms.

Only he didn't.

He didn't even look at her. She spoke to Kiyr.

"He is wounded, Kyrie. Be careful with him."

She sat, unable to show any strict sense of sadness, waiting patiently.

[Kyrie Blaze]

'I know he is, Scarlet.' She thought, eyes reflecting it clearly with a saddened and pained blink before she left her with a tiny smile. Reassuring.

David's frigid gaze froze something inside her. She could realize and understand that she wasn't the cause of this, that Olesya was and he was reacting badly--taking his frustrations out on everyone. It wasn't right of him to do so, of course, but she was certain she could take it, all the same.

And Kyrie didn't have to return it.

The question hurt, and she set her teeth against themselves, but with a breath, her eyes softened. And she did question his words: it was thinly veiled beneath concern and another, deeper emotion that was reserved for him. Instead of springing forward to fight, the blonde moved close, striding until she stopped with only a foot or two between them. Of course, she had to look up at him, then.

"I think I will allow my actions to speak for me, David. If you feel you can not trust me, then I will strive to prove otherwise, should what I have done previously not be enough." As one's actions, indeed, spoke louder than words, especially when it seemed apparent that others had broken their word.

If it was that he didn't trust her, she had willingly and purposefully placed herself in an extremely disadvantageous spot. Though, honestly, any spot that was even in a mile radius was probably disadvantageous, considering the difference in their strengths and the fact that Kyrie herself was without her qi.

So, if he didn't, she invited the first strike.

[David B.]

David watched her come forward, and after she spoke, he would stare at her, eyes almost a mix of critical and uncaring. In truth, he was feeling a bit...unwilling to do this. To fight. But the rest of him wanted one last memory of combat with someone he cared about, not Delilah or Marcus. He didn't blink, just staring, waiting for her to attack.

If, after several minutes, she didn't attack, he would lift and hand and slam the heel of his hand into the front of her shoulder with the aim to stumble her backward. Yeah- he would push her.

"Come on, then. Lets go."

[Kyrie Blaze]

The slender blonde would meet David's gaze unflinchingly, though she did search for some kind of visible sign in his gaze...after about a minute, she decided the fact he hadn't struck out despite the lack of change in his gaze was answer enough. Even if that answer was that he was undecided.

Kyrie's chin would dip in the most scant movement of a nod; there would be no need for David to push at her.

Her initial strike was simple and straightforward. The petite woman simply brought her hands up, right curled into a fist and left open and up to cover her centre...and struck through to his. Her fist aimed to land against his solar plexus as she shifted upon her feet - heels - to add power through the torque of her body.

[David B.]

David grunted, his right leg shifting back from the force of the blow. Pain reared its ugly head- but also cleared his mind. He was in a fight, now. His instincts took over. Knowing that any punch thrown was probably retracted on contact, David would straighten, his face straight as he ran his left hand across his stomach to assuage the pain.

"Good. Again."

She had gotten much stronger since they last fought. Good. As she came in close, assuming she would rush in, he would spin clockwise on his left foot, whipping his body around and lashing out with right leg in what was a modified right-heel kick, aiming for her chest. His body would be almost horizontal from foot to head, his left foot still planted on the ground, holding him up.

[Kyrie Blaze]

Kyrie advanced as he stepped back, as though he lead and she followed in a dance; David wanted a fight and she would treat it as such, so, she wasn't about to wait for him to beckon her on once again. She would continue to drive forward on the offensive, knowing she was in range and had to press whatever advantage she had, no matter how small. Her fist, of course, retracted with the blow as he knew it would. As it did, her left shot out to strike her palm just over his heart. If he continued to fall back she would continue her forward momentum to remain within her own strike range.

It likely cut off his words.

And then her arm collapsed to bring her elbow straight down as she continued to move into him so it was possible, likely connecting to the back of his hand as he rubbed his abdomen. She had no need to rush as she kept her pace timed with his own, but the kick was still too fast for her to dodge at such close range.

And yet, luckily for her being so close to the centre of the kick, it lessened the power.

Still, her upper right arm was struck, knocking her easily out of the way, shoulder and arm smarting even as she tucked her body into a roll and ignored the sharp glass shards that dug against her clothes and skin, using both the momentum and her arms to push back to her feet and pivot. Yes, that certainly stung; more, even, than she expected and her shoulder ached already. Rolling it to loosen the muscles, she would in turn move to snake her way back into range directly towards him for the moment. Even though it was a disadvantage, it had the potential to lessen the force of some of his own blows, as just demonstrated. And she couldn't hit him from back here, unless she wanted to throw glass.

And that was cheap.


. o O ( Slight edit on where she was hit (my bad, haha), but lemme know if something doesn't jive~ C: )

[David B.]

SPOILER: Click to show

OOC: Have a Theme

After the first blow, her other blows came along- so rather than rub his stomach, he would use that hand to block each strike with his palm, moving his hand into the path of her blows. As he threw the kick, he felt it make contact, but as she hit the ground it wouldn't actually dig into her back. The glass would scatter away from her body, and as she rolled would continue moving out of her way. David threw both hands wide, the glass tinkling as it was thrust out of the road.

He would leap forward, aiming a hard right punch for her left cheek followed by a gut-strike, with the intent of sending her body flying back into the light post, maybe. Unless, of course, she avoided it, to which he would act accordingly.

[Kyrie Blaze]

There was no glass cutting into her body. Odd, and entirely unexpected. But she was thankful--she didn't really want to have to worry about the glass cuts getting infected--be it from the cuts themselves or whatever coated the glass from exposure without being cleansed. It gave her a moment's hesitation before she was moving forward. Though he'd taught her the importance of being able to have one's mind go off on tangents and think ahead while her body acted and reacted, she was far from perfect.

In irony, it was probably that split moment that saved her from intense pain so early on in their fight.

David held nothing back on his speed, and, she could imagine, he would hold little back by way of strength. There was no time to think, she reacted on instinct alone and threw herself into a roll at an angle, using her hands against the ground to twist herself to her feet, land, and launch herself in a sprint towards his back. If she was quick enough and if his back was towards her still by some stroke of luck, she would jump, one foot planting against his lower back in a small hop; her shins would land on his shoulders - or so she was aiming for - and cinched her knees and legs against his neck. Instead of the normally brutal twist that snapped necks...drove the momentum forward by flinging her upper body forward. She had changed his center of gravity, and hoped she'd caught him off-guard if she had been able to, tucking her body in. If she was successful, upon "landing" in a roll, she would release the tension of her legs and allow them to separate, perhaps even regaining her feet with the leftover momentum.

[David B.]

David, as he charged forward, followed the girl with his eyes as she rolled past him. Though he was able to watch her easily, his momentum was already moving forward, and turning/spinning so quickly would throw anyone off balance. So he would stop, but stumble forward a bit as she jumped onto his back. Growling, he would start to reach up, only she was already throwing herself forward.

Too late, he realized what she was doing.

David was lifted off his feet and hurled into a car, his body smashing it and driving the wind from him. Not a second later he was back on his feet and launching at her. Leaping into the air, he would spin counter clockwise, using his right leg to attempt a spinning kick for her cheek. Once he landed, whether she ducked or moved (As the force of his blows was unlikely to allow much room for blocking, and obviously assuming she didn't get hit) David would throw an open palm at her, blasting a jet of black wind at her in the hopes of knocking her on her back.

If it worked he would leap into the air and stick out a knee, attempting to hit her in the chest. This blow was very damaging, but also easily dodged if she was aware of it. If she moved, His knee would smash the concrete, spider cracks splintering around it.

[Kyrie Blaze]

Kiyr skid even though she regained her feet, then rocked back on her heels as - 'That worked? That worked. DIEU, THAT WORKED--' - she saw David land against the car, surprise giving away to scrambling shock (at David popping up like a daisy though she heard him smack against the metal of the car; just a testament to his strength and how much punishment he could take) as she flung herself backwards in response to the rapidly approaching threat.

Not fast enough! He caught her jaw and sent her sprawling, vision wavering and darkening. The blast of his qi rocked and flipped her on to her back, sending her skidding against the concrete, though she wasn't sure how far. The wind, despite the punishing use, was refreshing and the fresh pain brought her back to full consciousness. The world spun as she gathered her wits, knowing without seeing him that she had to move by instinct alone. Being grounded was not a good thing, and she couldn't afford to stay down to take whatever David planned on dishing to her. And always, her focus was to get back up. Panting with a portion of her chin hurting, the pain radiating along her jaw, not to mention that where she landed was rubbed raw and the shallow cuts and friction burns were oozing blood (temple, cheek, shoulder, arm, and even against her back), she flung herself into a twisting roll to the side, only hearing and feeling the rumbling protest of the concrete as David's blow created cracks.

Catching herself and twisting her body to spring back up and ignore the stinging pain along her shoulder, arm, and back, the blonde leaped, low and quick, hoping to plant both feet against the side of David's chest to knock him down. If she managed to land it, she would use him like a springboard and arch her body, hands flipping behind so they landed against the ground first, her body curling and compacting before she unfurled like a coiled spring to snap back to her feet.

It had the unfortunate side-effect of taking her eyes off him, but if she had managed as she intended and he was still on the ground... Once back to her feet, she would shoot after in pursuit, bracing herself for more pain as she slid the last two or three feet in jeans against the concrete, her foot aiming to clip the side of David's head.