The Passage of Time [ David ]

Kyrie sighed, sipping at a cup of still-warm water cradled in her hands. There was a bit of lemon and a drop of honey, with a curl of lemon zest drifting in the water. She looked down at the slightly reflective surface. It was night, early on, and just two days after meeting Alek.

Alek, who had brought up her going to him, again.

All things considered, she didn't think it was a good idea.

Not because she couldn't get to where David lived, tucked away in the forest, but because by all logic and reason, it would do nothing. Not even after the recent battle, where they'd finally exchanged words for the first time in four and a half years. The words themselves, as well, hadn't been entirely pleasant.

The blonde finally sighed, draining the glass, and - setting the cup on the counter - whirled away as she caved.

She had to collect her weapons. Not that the trek would be hard, but, she rarely left them alone, now.




The trek, indeed, had been uneventful. Simply because her power enabled her to slide into the shadows, travel along a different plane, without trees, beasts, and others getting in the way to stall her progress.

Upon arrival, she looked down at her feet, but it was up and into the normal plane.

The silvery quality, much darker with the night, wasn't entirely diminished, allowing her to see quite readily.

Cautiously, she crouched, pulling herself back to the woods of the forest with the familiar disjointed feeling of being flipped upside down, rightside up. Slender, pale hands brushed over the trunk of one of the massive trees, and the petite blonde wholly deliberated just climbing the tree unannounced. Given the recent attack, though, that would likely be a good way to be taken out. And, it was David's space.

"David..?"

She'd seen the dim flicker of lights when she had looked. She knew he was there.

Kiyr would feel a little gust of wind whip past her hair before silence. Then, a slight scratching noise. She would see after several moments, the glitter of metal before a tiny dragon stopped in front of her, craning it's neck to peer at Kiyr. It's small red eyes blinked before it's soft words indicated it's surprise at seeing here there.

"It's been almost five years, since I've seen you at the trunk of this tree, shadow walker. I have missed your presence here."

Scarlet would glance back up at David's body, which was now leaning on the railing and staring down at them. His forearms were resting on it, and in his hands was a cup, steaming with heat from whatever he was drinking- which turned out to be hot cocoa, at this moment. He would call down, not loudly but loud enough for them to hear.

"Who do we have, Scarlet?"

OOC:

David's home, "The House in the Sky":

The blur of wind had the blonde jerking slightly, her senses suddenly on alert in the dark: her place of reign. Still, it took a few moments to finally see the teeny-tiny metalwork dragon. But when she did, her shoulders and body immediately relaxed, softening with cautious joy and warmth.

"...Scarlet..~" She breathed the name, familiar yet foreign upon her tongue after these years. But, quietly, she returned: "I am sorry, Csitri, for being away. I have missed you."

And her gaze followed the arc of Scarlet's head and glittering eyes to look up at the owner of the house whose front door - of sorts - she was gently touching.

Just a tricksy Hobbitses, that's who. He probably knew who, all things considered, but...it would be rude to not introduce herself, or to do so with sarcasm. And, being that he was addressing Scarlet, she looked at the tiny dragon, reaching out to almost brush against the metallic scales, but her fingers stopped to hover, letting the little creature do what she deemed she wanted--both with the introduction and whether the affection was indeed welcome.

Scarlet gave a rumbling purr at the touch as she responded.

"It's Kyrie, David."

David's eyebrows came down a little, and he stayed silent for a long time. He had assumed, after the battles, that things would have gone back to normal. She would have moved on as usual. Now he was unsure how he should proceed. His fingertips tapped the cup as he stared down into the darkness, trying to decide what to do. Did he go down? Did he let her come up? He didn't know if he wanted her in his home after so long....he turned away, walking back into the house.

He pulled a lever, the ladder sliding down and thunking into the ground on her left. Scarlet would scurry up her arm to rest on her shoulder, so they could climb together. David would walk over and lean on the post by the platform outside his home, waiting for her to arrive.

Kyrie's lips curved into a gentle smile as she softly stroked her fingers over Scarlet's side and back, pleased with the quietly-rumbling purr emanating from her tiny body. Scarlet was a relieving, welcome constant, with all that had transpired.

She waited quietly, the blonde silent yet fully prepared to turn away yet again if no reply would come. Or if he would send her away.

And, she wouldn't be able to look back, then.

Her senses told her he turned away, and she didn't bother to listen or otherwise sense after that. She waited, and would wait a few more moments, she decided. If not, then she had tried, and the only thing she could blame herself for was giving in to the impulse. Life would return to how it had been, and she would find contentment again. The clanking of the descending ladder was a surprise.

In fact, she had to blink at it a few times, staring, as though it would spout claws and a jaw full of teeth and leap at her if she looked away.

It was also to see if he would come down, but with no sounds of him descending, and Scarlet scurrying up her arm to her shoulder... Well then, an invitation inside it was. With a glance around the night-struck forest, she quickly ascended, keeping her awareness on the area around her rather than who she was probably climbing towards. Upon making it to some of the last rungs, she finally looked up, and pushed up, and into the house she hadn't been in for what seemed like a lifetime.

"Thank you." She moved away from the entrance, simply so he could retract the ladder and close up. She moved no further than a step away, remaining on the platform. Her eyes, naturally, quickened around the space, noting details she'd forgotten since last she was here, and any changes for the familiarity of the space, before her blue orbs flashed back to David.

She would notice a new painting- titled "The Eyrie handing in the corner. His furniture had been rearranged, and his house was quite clean. David would nod, turning back into the house so she could follow. It was very open, free formed and flowing with the tree. Clearly, he didn't believe in doors or windows- he liked to feel the wind inside, since he generally refused to feel it any other way. He would step into the kitchen.

"Would you like something to drink? I have lemonade, iced tea....or water."

He was trying to play the unsuspecting host for now, before he moved onto the why of her arrival. He would grab whatever she asked for and pour a cup to bring to her. If she asked for nothing he would still head back into the living room, his bedroom up the stairs to the right and a long hallway behind him for guests.

"To...what do we owe the pleasure."

Scarlet jumped from her shoulder, gliding back across the room and landing on the front of his shirt, skittering up it and down inside the collar to vanish there. He didn't seem to notice, ignoring her actions.

The painting was gorgeous; vibrant colours and motion that invoked a feeling of freedom. She absentmindedly reached up and brushed her fingers over Scarlet once again, not even thinking about the action or the motion of it. There was a sense of coming home, even if it was just with Scarlet. She wouldn't lie to herself and say it was also him and his place. Not now.

The offer of a drink had her deliberating. Lemonade sounded divine. Still, even if he was unsuspecting and gracious host, she wasn't here to impose upon him any more than being here, and why, would.

"I would be grateful for some water."

Perhaps another time - if there would be another - she would go with the lemonade. For now she simply followed, watching, to accept the cup with an inclination of her head in silent thanks. Then, she fell back in step, though her eyes trailed along the familiar hallways and stairs. He'd put such love into his space, and it showed.

Yet, now she was stuck feeling like she was in an interview. Not quite an interrogation, as he wasn't displaying any hostility. He was simply quietly distanced and neutral, much like herself. Still, it wasn't quite comfortable.

'That is what five years can do.' She mused, half-laughing within her mind.

"I...came with the intention to ask to talk." She'd watched Scarlet's movements briefly, but turned her gaze back to David's. "Would that be acceptable to you?"

David would chew his lip. Did he dare give her a moment to speak her mind? He knew what she was hiding from him. What she thought he didn't know about his brother. Still, he was no coward, and locking horns with her after so long was not something he was afraid to do. He would nod and hold out a hand toward his couch for her to take a seat, and he would follow, sitting on the end. He'd hold the cup with his right hand, the one toward the center of the room, while his left elbow planted on the back of the couch and rested there, propping up his head with his hand.

"What did you have in mind?"

He knew Kiyr. She was a match for him and he would have to play his cards carefully. He wasn't sure where she was or how she felt or who she aligned herself with. He didn't want to let what used to be between them ruin everything he planned for the future. So, he look a little sip of his drink and waited, watching patiently.

She nodded at the motion to sit, and moved to settle herself, keeping some space between them, and sitting at the opposite end. Her body was angled towards his, one leg curled under herself. There was no fight in her, she was tired of it. And had been when he'd completely cut her off, and out, when she had tried. This way, at least, it was his decision if he would let her speak, as she was asking from a position of vulnerability.

She blinked owlishly at the question, and responded: "You are smart enough, you know, or have an educated guess. I want...to discuss the things that happened five years ago. All of it, including the aftermath. Not...all in one sitting, I think, unless you want to simply get it over with..?"

All at once would likely be overload in itself.

Her gaze was still clear and direct, though. She took a sip of her drink after speaking.

...and water was infinitely better than vodka.

David stared.

Then he took a deep breath.

"Well, I doubted you came to discuss my hairdo."

He didn't laugh, nor was the terribly cheesy joke meant to be funny. He was glad she was direct and to the point. He would return the favor to her by kicking it off plain and simple. Laying out the facts as he saw them. Then he would listen to her side, finally. He figured it had...been long enough, he could stomach it.

"You left with my brother to fight, and Damien broke away against your orders. He took several arrows and was put on his ass. Then you ran. Those are the events as they sit, no?"

He stared, almost daring her to challenge him on it.

A brow quirked at his words. No, not his hairdo. She didn't laugh, but, it was a fair ice breaker, a sort-of-acknowledgement to her, at that. She took a slow breath in, prepared to speak, when he started. The breath died in her lungs, and it was all she could do to exhale what now seemed to be ash.

She thought she was ready to speak of it, but him knowing the basics of it completely threw her off.

So she stared a moment, intent. Not hostile, or even angry, but surprised and with a focused search.

"It is not entirely that simple." She stated, not entirely agreeing yet not disagreeing. That was a large part of it. Was it truly just "on his ass" so to say? She didn't remember him sitting, but maybe that statement wasn't to be taken literally. She had no clue who told him. Maybe one of her siblings. Still, when she posed the question, it was simply that: a question. "Did your...source say what else occurred?"

David shook his head, setting down the cup and standing, turning his back on her.

"No. Scarlet was thrown from Damien when the arrows hit, and all she saw was you leaving before she scurried away. You left my brother to die, Kiyr. You could have protected him. You....could have at least brought back his body. Or done what i would have for any of your siblings- even Armand- and rushed out to fight with him. Instead....you watched him get thrown to the dirt and left his body to the vultures."

His anger was rising now.

Scarlet?

Surprised, Kyrie turned her eyes to where the tiny bump of the dragon was beneath David's shirt before he turned away. And listened as his words were coated with the beginnings of anger. Even if his tone remained level, just the speech patterns were enough to tip her off to it. She wanted to leave. He was getting angry, she didn't want another fight. He hadn't said he wouldn't, of course, and her leaving would only solidify the guilt she bore in his mind.

So, gathering her courage, she spoke, her tone and words cutting clean through the air.

"I could have protected him, David, yes, and I would be just as dead as Damien as a result." She took a deep breath, steadying herself, forcing herself to continue. Five years she'd been denied from telling him her side of things, he would not deny her, now. "Even going to retrieve his body would have resulted in the same. There were dozens of them, from what I could see in the flashes, and more. That...would not have stopped me, normally, but Damien called out--asked, told me that there was a power inhibitor on the field, and that I leave. That I had to leave him there. I left because I had no chance, no choice. I did not leave him because he defied me, or that I did not care. I've lived with that knowledge and burden every day since then, and it still can tear me apart."

It was doing so now, with David's words a reminder of what she would have done, but didn't.

What she wanted to do, but couldn't.

The blonde sat straight, pride keeping her spine rigid, tension coiling inside her stomach. If he didn't listen, this time, she would leave; she was all but ready to get up, set the cup down, and walk away. If that's what it took to stop this from escalating, that's what she would do. She had said her piece, the major portions of the puzzle David was lacking, the things she hadn't gotten to say before. It was fully up to him how he reacted to it. Her fingers wrapped around the glass tightly, the edges of white to her knuckles showing. Her eyes stung, but she blinked back the tears. Bad enough there had been a slight hitch in the last words she said, worse if she should break down. She didn't want to cry, would not use her tears to garner sympathy. Kyrie sat, waiting, eyes pinned against his back.

David's hands clenched as she spoke, then unclenched. Just as dead as Damien....David had come to terms with that phrasing, despite his disagreement with it. He sure as hell wasn't about to argue the point with Kiyr of all people. However, her story continuing generated a cocktail of emotions. Seething anger. He was almost feeling like turning around and shouting at her that she was wrong and incompetent and a killer. Next, fear. Afraid she was right, afraid he was dead. Him shouting at her while bloody on the field, saving her life...that sounded like Damien. Finally, pain. He took a step forward, putting his hand on the back of the chair that was seated in front of the island in his kitchen. He gently brushed the lump under his shirt, causing Scarlet to stir.

"Is...this true, Scarlet? Is what she says true?"

Scarlet whispered something Kiyr wouldn't be able to hear. His shoulders seemed to ease, to relax just slightly. He wouldn't turn back, his eyes a little glazed over as he stared off out his kitchen window, unfocused. Somewhere else. He stayed that way for a long time before his words would find her.

"And if I say I believe you, what are you hoping to accomplish by telling me this? That I'll forgive you, we'll hug and pick up where we left off? What is it you want from me?"

He didn't sound angry, or accusing just....curious.

The tension easing from his shoulders was the only thing that got her to stay. She still sat straight, but the stark had eased the rigidity of her own spine, until she was simply sitting. Still, if there was no response soon, she would leave, just to give him time with his thoughts. The blonde closed her eyes, waiting, and they opened again when he finally spoke.

Her brow furrowed a little.

"...all I seek is the understanding as to what happened. Forgiveness and anything else is entirely up to you, and however the future works out. It would be foolish to put such expectations on this one conversation alone; this has...been festering for five years, I would think that whatever outcome would take time, do you not think?"

Immediate forgiveness, in her mind, wouldn't exactly be entirely true. Understanding, at least, was more of a reasonable step. He'd never heard the parts she had just told him, and much to how it might help break down some of the walls, she didn't dare to think it would all just "go back to the way it was".