Harvest Sun [Open]

[David B.]

Davids knee cracked the concrete, leaving a small indentation where he landed. His eyes snapped up in time to see a flying Kiyr drop-kicking him in the chest. He grunted, the wind being crushed from his lungs as he fell backward onto his ass. He winced as he hit, turning his head as Kiyr slid along the ground toward him, watching the feet rush toward his face. Just before they hit he would sit up, so she sort of slid a little ways past before he reached down and grabbed her leg. Pulling hard, he leapt over, attempting to pull her closer so he could climb on top of her.

Once there he threw two punches-

Into the cement.

His fists plowed into the asphalt on either side of her head, causing two small craters. He looked down at her, frowning, before he leaned in- and almost kissed her. He would instead plant his forehead against hers for a moment, closing his eyes, before he whispered.

"I win."

He would stand up off her and start to walk away, his sword floating back over to him as he did so, assuming, of course, everything he did had worked.

[Kyrie Blaze]

There was no stopping herself even as she saw him sit up. As he grabbed her leg, Kyrie knew it was pretty much game over though her thoughts weren't fast enough to comprehend this fact. Too busy with a rapid stream of French. French that the translation to English would likely be enough to cause even the most roughened individual of this day and age to blush, and deeply. He pulled. Leaped. There was nothing she could do. She had been prepared for the very likely occurrence that he would evade and or grab hold of her.

But a surprised squeak that sounded much like "Dieu!" escaped her lips all the same.

What the blonde wasn't prepared for was the fear that slammed through her body, heart, and mind as David moved on top of her. It stole her breath so she couldn't even scream. Chalk-white, she thrashed and freed one arm and thrust the heel of her hand up, towards David's face as the second fist slammed into the concrete, literally shaking her with the vibrations.

Too late. Too weak.

However, instead of hitting him, she stopped short, trembling, breaths coming in fast and hard pants. For a long moment, Kyrie closed her panic-stricken eyes as her hand and arm dropped back to the hot concrete, bent so her hand was still held up towards him. It was just combat. Just a fight. And it was just with David. Her eyes flicked open, calmer now, but still apparently rather perturbed, stared up from beneath half-closed lids. Her eyes widened as he leaned in, a breath of surprise puffing between her lips...before his forehead connected gently to hers. Settling and dealing with her squirming discomfort, the blonde closed her lips so she wasn't breathing hard against his face. Her fingers curled gently into the fabric of his shirt. She slumped, relaxing slowly. It was her choice, now, that she didn't ask him to get up.

The fight, then, was more internal.

It wasn't fear of David, not in the slightest. Fear of the position, and lack of control. Fear of being trapped. It was disconcerting. If it happened in an actual fight and her fear shut her down... The petite woman's lips curled into a slight frown at that thought. She couldn't afford to be vulnerable--that particular, instinctive, fear would have to be worked out of her. Sooner rather than later.

She sighed her acquiescence to his words.

Yes. He'd won.

While she wasn't tapped out, it wouldn't have been much longer - and doubtless with greater injuries to herself - before their fight would have ended. Such was the difference in their strengths and current capabilities. She fought him knowing she would lose--that was the only outcome at this point.

Which was, of course, the point.

Kyrie could never continue to truly improve unless she lost, and there was no shame in losing when she pitted herself against strength like his. She was still breathing fairly quickly, but no longer the hard gasps when he first pinned and defeated her. The small woman sat up, confusion evident in her bright gaze as he turned away. Pushing herself up and turning on her palm with a muted hiss of pain, Kyrie swept to her pile of weapons - feeling at a disadvantage without her qi - and stopped just long enough to gently pick Scarlet up. Curling her fingers around the tiny metallic Dragon and keeping her cradled close to her heart, Kyrie turned and sprang into a run after David, despite her protesting leg. She might have wrenched a muscle somewhat and only noticed now.

"David? Wait? Please--?"

It was up to him, if he would. But she likely wouldn't have far to run, considering he was only walking.

[David B.]

Scarlet promptly crawled onto Kiyrs open hand, concern etched in her tiny features, both for Kiyr and for David.

As Kiyr called out, David would stop and turn back, a small fruit in his hand. Once she was close, he offered the fruit to her, expecting her to take it and eat it. Once she did so he would pull from his pocket and "icy/hot" bandage he had found earlier, lifting his shirt and pressing it to his abs, where she had struck him. He would toss the wrapped Into the air, where it would float to a nearly destroyed garbage can. He would stare, Kiyr fully healed after eating that fruit, eyes now confused and almost wanting to retreat to the air.

"What."

[Kyrie Blaze]

Kyrie stopped in front of him, fingers curled loosely but still protectively over Scarlet. The slender digits opened slowly in offering with a tiny curve of her lips, obviously hopeful. She nearly, however, refused the small candy fruit...and then gently plucked it from David's expectant palm, and it found a home inside her mouth. It dissolved as she chewed, slowly, obviously taking the time to savor it as the scrapes and some deep gashes were knit, the pounding pain in her head and pain along her jaw fading as the fruit worked it's magic. The blonde quirked an eyebrow, curious and...and almost not believing David had found - let alone need to use - one of those patches. She sighed as she finished, feeling even better than she had before.

Her eyes searched his, seeing his need to leave. But perhaps, she thought, he needed company as much as he needed to get away. And Scarlet...

Kyrie held the tiny Dragon up a little higher.

"Will you stay for a little bit? I was working on gathering ripe vegetables...at the first grove, if you would care to join us."

So he wouldn't feel pressed upon by others.

[David B.]

David stared at Kiyr, not looking at Scarlet for several seconds.

"You are...alone?"

If she replied with a yes he would slowly let his eyes travel down to Scarlet, his gaze softening almost immediately. He spoke in a sort of hushed tone, like he was afraid she didn't wish to speak with him at all, or rather that she wanted to go back to Kiyrs embrace. He brought out a hand and stroked the tiny metal dragon carefully.

"Hello, little one."

She was standing, staring up at him. Glaring. But not like she hated him, more that she was pissed.

"How dare you take so long to say hi to me! If I hadn't missed you more than life, I'd bite your finger off!"

Instead, she rubbed against the fingers her had slowly brought over her frame. Leaping, she landed on his forearm and ran up it, like she had never left. She would jump and bite his ear playfully, landing back on his shoulder as he chuckled and turned to look at her.

"You leave again without me, I'll bite off something far more important! Understand?"

Davids eyebrows went up, and a small smile crinkled his eyes.

"Alright. Have it your way."

She would sit, and stretch out a leg to lick herself, preening rather proudly. David would sigh and turn his eyes back to Kiyr.

"Okay. Lets see them."

[Kyrie Blaze]

"With Scarlet I am never truly alone. Aside from her, though...yes."

She still needed solitude just as much as she needed the companionship of those closest to her. Kyrie watched as David finally looked to and greeted Scarlet. She wasn't nervous that Scarlet would reject David, but watched with quiet anxiety all the same. But her eyes softened as, despite her pointed words, she rubbed against David's finger. A soft giggle escaped her lips at her little companion's fierce adorableness that endeared her to the blonde time and time again.

She actually had to lift a hand to cover her mouth at the tiny being's threat with a light cough despite her soft laughter. Wiping the smile off her face, she lowered her hand and she watched a moment longer, eyes soft even as they met David's.

She nodded, lightly touching his forearm in gratitude, and turned to go retrieve her weapons that she had purposefully left behind. They were important for her self-defence, of course...but not so important as Scarlet or David. The latter of which, of course, could stave off many threats even though she was without her qi.

Most everything was back into place, and she attached Hulda to its rightful place as she walked. Eventually they would come to the tiered building that Kyrie had carefully constructed her first Grove upon. Unless stopped, she was content to lead him to the sixth floor roof on foot. Regardless of the way they arrived...rows of ripe vegetables that still had to be picked stretched out along the length of the sixth floor teir. She had only made a small dint with her eight large baskets.

[David B.]

Scarlet crawled most eagerly into his shirt, spinning around and dipping her head just out of the neck. Her clawed fingers came up over the lip as well, and she snuggled there rather happily as David followed the blonde. He didn't say anything or even try to fly as she led him inside, the usually curious and extroverted Blaze keeping to himself. As they arrived, he would set his sword off to the side and watch what Kiyr started to do.

Then, he would lean in and start picking up the food as well. Then he paused and cleared his throat for Kiyr. Once she stopped and liked over, he would hold out a hand, palm toward the rooftop. A few moments would pass before all ripe and read good would start to slowly rise, their cords to the roots cut as needed. Davids eyes were closed as he began seperating the vast amount of food into the baskets for her, taking deep breaths as needed at the control.

It was the least he could do, for hurting her earlier.

[Kyrie Blaze]

David would note that the only thing Kyrie did in the late afternoon sun, on the rooftop with its fresh and ripe life...was sit and gently brush her fingers over the leaves. The eight baskets she had brought with her were already filled. Her thoughts wandered and she simply enjoyed the quiet companionship, though undoubtedly she had noticed the change in him.

Next season she would need to see if they had enough spices and other such things to create a spray to keep the bugs and birds away. It smelled foul, but...it worked.

The blonde blinked quizzically as David cleared his throat and looked back, arms looped against one leg that was bent. A soft, questioning hum issued in the back of her throat.

As his qi twined around the rooftop, lifting the assortment of vegetables and snapping vines and stems, she watched. Somewhat awestruck, but a bit dismayed at the same time. While she undoubtedly appreciated the efficiency of David's qi, it also seemed like...a waste. She enjoyed working here, using her own hands and strength to coax new and sustaining life. But instead of chiding, her eyes softened. And she laughed, but softly.

"David, David~ Thank you, though I think I will be busy running back and forth to transport all of these this evening and night." Appreciation and gentle humour coloured her tone as she gently pushed herself back up, carefully moving through the swarm of vegetables and gently plucking a few sugar snap pea pods from the air as she made her way to him. She lowered herself to sit next to him, angled somewhat so she could easily see him and the little mechanical dragon that was curled up in the edge of his shirt. She offered a pod to him as she gently applied pressure to the other in her hand, popping the edge and gently coaxing out the smallest pea, lifting it in offering to Scarlet, should she wish to smell or bite it.

[David B.]

Davids eyes opened, hand still holding out the vegetables in the air. He frowned as she spoke.

"Hmm...your right. That is a problem...."

Jerking his hands to the right, the items flew, rushing off into the distance, he watched them, eyes opened, as he whispered into the breeze several words Kiyr probably couldn't hear. After several moments, he slowly lowered his arm, taking deep breaths, a sheen of sweat on his brow starting to grow. His arm went lax, and he would reach up and wipe his brow.

"There. They have all of it. Though I'm sorry to say...I took your reason for being up here. Though it is a...wonderful view."

He stared out of the city, face clouded in thought.

[Kyrie Blaze]

With a soft but sharp inhale, she watched the literal fruits of her labour careen away on the wind--even the packed ones from her eight baskets. She blinked rapidly for a long few moments, then bit into the pod, teeth and crisp veggie making a satisfying crunch against one another...but not nearly so satisfying as the taste. The rest of the treat disappeared moments later, and she gently touched David's arm. She caught the murmur but not even her keen hearing had caught the words he murmured--whether he told someone at the destination what he had done or if it was just to help his concentration.

"Thank you... But I may be back, if you did not clean the third floor terrace as well--and do not feel you should or need to." Her hand was still extended, offering the peas in their pod to him. A small and not terribly fitting reward for all that work...but a sweet and precious one all the same. Something to be savoured after months of work and waiting.

Her gaze trailed out, and the soft sigh that passed through her lips served as her agreement. The blonde turned her blue eyes back to David, studying him a moment.

"...what is on your mind..?"

[David B.]

David looked down, taking the peas with a small smile. Popping them into his mouth, he chewed silently, before she told him about her third floor and that he shouldn't feel he needed to do that one too.

"You have so much food...more than I imagined. I couldn't move and transport those even if I wanted to. A testament to the work you have done."

When she asked what was on his mind, he looked to her eyes, then turned and stared off into the distance.

"Honestly, I feel....alone. Like....every time I decide something that seems more selfish than selfless, everyone I...thought were friends to me flip and berate me. Attack me. I just....I don't know why I'm telling you this. It's not really your problem. I just need better friends, I guess."

He looked down at scarlet, cocking an eyebrow.

"Comfy?"

She nodded, then looked up at him.

"Would be better if you had pillows in here, like Kiyr. But your smell is...oddly comforting."

Plus, sitting like this...she could feel his heart. His muscles. The strength of his breath. Despite him being wounded there was something oddly...safe, when she was with him. Like nothing could touch her. She relished it.

[Kyrie Blaze]

Simple things were the best.

"...and then add in five more rooftop groves of varying sizes..." Kyrie mused, then sighed softly. "I could not find enough seeds for all of them, and even with teaching - and having help - how to make preserved food...we are not going to be able to get away with no rations for everyone. Not this year, perhaps not even next, but...but at least we will have local vegetables and some fruit to supplement them, so long as we get the seeds back. Some of the ones from this harvest - corn, beans, peas and the like - we will have to withhold for seeds..."

Kyrie was patient as she waited, holding his gaze with that quiet ease of hers. She blinked slowly and listened as he spoke, considering his words. More than that, she considered her own reaction to him leaving, and then considered others' on top of that. The problem with being able to empathize so well meant that most of the lines in the sand people had drawn were greatly faded for the petite blonde. She waited to speak, watching David and Scarlet with warm eyes--and then was quiet for a while longer with a blush on her cheeks at Scarlet's words. Had that been a squeak..?

"...I think you have good and great friends, David. The problem is that nobody knows exactly what it is like to walk as you have and do, just as you will not know their individual struggles, either... And, I think, they simply want the best for you and for everyone. Sometimes it means that as your friend, they have to push you through what you think your limits are. As it seems to be in this case, it was the wrong thing to do...you do need an opportunity to rest. It is quite possible if you continued, you would bend too far and it would cause more harm than good in the long run." She pressed her lips together. While they undoubtedly needed him, they could also make-do without, and it would be better. To have David fall could cause quite a bit of harm. More even than his leaving. The blonde knew he wouldn't abandon them, even at this time.

But time and space were still needed. And she couldn't blame him for that. After all, she had been doing the same on an infinitely more smaller scale. Working alone. Taking time for herself.

She gently brushed the pads of her fingers against his arm and then retracted the contact.

"It is obvious you need the opportunity to speak aloud some of the thoughts that have...most likely been on repeat for some time, now. If I minded, I would not have offered."

But she cared. So she offered and didn't really mind at all.

[David B.]

She was giving him a door- his previous words, about it not being her problem were said more to avoid the topic. But she gave him chance after chance to tell her what was on his mind. He reached up and stroked the little dragon, speaking softly.

"If only you were human, my little friend. You...I know I can count on."

The tiny dragons eyes closed blissfully at the petting, rumbling in her purring way against his chest. She spoke around her spindly tongue, which she used to clean the outside of her mouth.

"You can trust Kyrie, David. I do."

He leaned back, mulling it over, agreeing with her but also unsure. He had tried to trust Olesya but he just felt...empty, after their fight. Like he couldn't trust how she spoke of him to others, how she treated the gang. Had he made the wrong choice in putting the woman in charge? Should he have perhaps let Kazuya run them? He continued to stroke her, before turning his eyes to Kiyr.

"Have you...ever been in command of something before, Kiyr? I don't mean like now, I mean like...you run everything, and everyone?"

[Kyrie Blaze]

Kyrie tipped her head back, eyes closing. It was too nice a day to not bask in the sunlight. If she heard David's quiet conversation with Scarlet, there was no visible sign. As he addressed her, her eyes fluttered open and her gaze returned to him.

"Not in such a capacity, no." She paused, and continued, because the other half of what she had to say was no less true than the first. "But all the same, I understand and know portions of the burden it can be."

Too well she could understand the loss.

[David B.]

David nodded, then asked another question.

"Do you want that power?"