Angelo & Ming 2

Angelo Sanguinis says, "Well, in any case... I believe I should tell you about what I've been up to."
Ming nods.
(Ming Xiao)


Angelo Sanguinis says, "Lately, I've noticed that Chaos has been more... Active. I was patrolling the caves with Nima-- By the way, the new name is Eagleheart."

Ming Xiao says, "Oh."

Angelo Sanguinis says, "We interrupted a demon, killed a few dozens of those, but well."

Angelo Sanguinis says, "We weren't able to put down any important magi, and on the only day we were not on patrol together, I got attacked by vampires. On our very spot."

Angelo Sanguinis asks, "I told you the story by now, didn't I?"

Ming Xiao says, "You-- did not."

Ming Xiao says, "Though it does not surprise me. The cainites are growing bold."

Angelo Sanguinis says, "Well. I got attacked, even though I told them I was crafthold. I'm pretty sure the three of them were too much for me then, but if I was accompanied... I'm fairly sure I'd have been able to push them back."
Ming nods.
(Ming Xiao)


Ming Xiao says, "Huangzhou.. the settlement, isn't moving against Apropriya yet. Because of Cruxati. But if I got a disguise as you do, I could."

Angelo Sanguinis says, "... I can arrange one for you."

Ming Xiao says, "That'd be appreciated, dear."

Angelo Sanguinis says, "Excellent. "

Angelo Sanguinis says, "I'll arrange that, and next time we go out... I'll make sure to pass by and call you."

Angelo Sanguinis asks, "But that's not what I came here for! I came here for your help. You were... Blessed by Order, at least partially, weren't you?"

Ming Xiao says, "I have found harmony with reality and strenghtened my connection with the Emperor-- if that is what you mean."

Angelo Sanguinis exclaims, "It feels kind of like Order. Or something like that!"

Ming Xiao asks, "It could be. Would you like me to show you?"

Angelo Sanguinis says, "I simply need... Well. I need help meditating. I remember the book saying it was one of the last steps..."

Ming Xiao asks, "There's a book?"
Angelo pulls the book out from his satchel, kept always at his side. It is a hard leather cover, with no visual or sensitive cues whatsoever that indicated it was a special book, except for the care that Angelo treated it with. To be honest, he always carried it around with him. It filled him with a tint of hope.

That something would be corrected. "As you know... I'm practically in disguise in Crafthold. I can't allow any of them to know what I'm doing or anything like that. But still..."

And then, he stretched his hands out, handing the book towards Ming.
(Angelo Sanguinis)

The Shogun reaches for the book, running her index finger over the cover at first, piercing blue eyes set upon it. She opened the book, skimming over the writing and her lips parting just slightly-- she's never heard of this book, and it seems like Raya was one of its past owners. Pages are flipped with her eyes running over each of them, though obviously there wouldn't be enough time to read everything.

"This is.. quite something, that you have here" she mutters, closing the book and returning it to Angelo. Some of the words she's read would stick with her, more often than not strenghtening her own beliefs-- though she would need a more context if she were to make a deeper reflection about it. "How can I help you, Angelo?"
(Ming Xiao)

Angelo let out a sigh, sitting down with legs crossed on the floor. He remained with the eyelids open, as if staring forwards onto Ming, and his breathing slowly stabilized. Upon having the book handed back to him, a hand reaches for it and simply throws it back upon the satchel at his back, before the rucksack itself is sent away from him-- To free him of the burden upon his back.

"Either help reading it... Or help with the meditation rituals. I need to find a way to attune, a way to connect, a way to make myself part of the whole-- I need to make sure that I'm not... Among others." He said, before closing his eyes softly.

"I feel like sometimes, I'm too close to the Chaos side of things, even if it is to maintain the disguise. Even if it is to maintain something fake like this." He said, fetching the yellow mask from the bag, quickly putting it over the face, covering the expression, now covered in a crude drawing of an eagle.

Then, he let out a sigh, putting the mask back onto the backpack. "I need some help with making sure I stick with the whole. To make sure I stand by the world, that I am here to maintain Order, not to... Sow Chaos."
(Angelo Sanguinis)

"Reading it sounds fascinating" she mutters, glancing at the rucksack where the book had been stored, though her gaze sets upon Angelo just a second later. Her hand reaches at him, softly placed on the man's shoulder, as she usually does when speaking to him, lightly squeezing it in a way of reassurance.

"Meditation is probably how I can help you the most, however. It's normal for my culture, and I'm sure that I can somehow aid you with your struggles. These struggles-

-I've felt them too, and I'm sure many others who walk the path of fighting Chaos also have. Especially in a place like we live in now, where they are so.. dominant. Widespread."

There was a slight shift in the air as Ming Xiao reached to the natural flow of energy around-- the lifeforms surrounding the watchtower, such as the grass, trees and the flowers diverting their energy towards the Qilin. Moreso, they echoed her feelings, pulsed them and it diffusely spread over the small they found themselves on.

"I have my Emperor's teachings to cling to. They keep me strong. You, too, will find something, Angelo. Focus on what are your beliefs and what can you reach out to when in doubt" she mutters at the man while the energy seemed to react with the bright blue leylines which covered the Shogun's face. An energy surrounded her, dimly at first, in a bright yet pleasant golden hue; although such visual details are likely to be missed by the blind man, but the Shogun's connection which reached at the reality around them weren't. As a more military person, the serene Qilin's reassurrance was something more akin to encouragement-- like a military leader who gives strength for his brother-in-arms to move forward.
(Ming Xiao)

The differing pulse of energy was felt by Angelo. Nevertheless, he closed both eyes, and slowly let a soft thrum echo through the floor, humming slightly on the lower floors as well. The echo itself was barely audible on where they were, but it was still there, softly.

It was obvious that this was how he sensed the world-- It was his own way of seeing through things, and now, the room glowed with a soft glowing holy energy, rippling through the stone that composed the very building. It didn't exactly contrast with hers, but it united, as if complementing hers but with a different tone by itself.

The sensations that derived from his own energy were weaker, and notably so. The encouragement that took him, was eagerly received and absorbed by him, until a huff of relief was released by the blind man. He shook his head from side to side slightly.

"I need something, then. You said... Krausites, right? You said I looked like one. All three of the book authors were Krausites... Should I try that?" His voice echoed forth, calmed down from what it used to be, each word pronounced slower than before.

Yet, there was still something that seemed wrong. Something about him that seemed to put doubt within his heart, and this much was evident by the way that his own essence dissonated upon slowly spreading throughout the room-- Perhaps felt by the Qilin.

"I just... Am I going too deep? Did I get too deep within Chaos' foundings to fight it from the inside? Am I at the risk of getting lost?"
(Angelo Sanguinis)

"If you think the teachings of Kraus speak to your heart, follow them. If you think the Fourfold Path speaks to your heart, follow it. I'll assist you however I can, every step of the way."

The Shogun squeezes Angelo's shoulder lightly, as she did before when they spoke, for her to reassure him. It worked better than a smile when talking to the blind man, and something she's grown used to do. Though there were concerns for his current state of mind, those were born out of the fondness she had grown to feel for him-- she trusted him completely.

But she paused, unsure on how to follow to get him to see that.

"Close your eyes. Speak to your heart within, reach out to your feelings. Are you going to deep, or does it feel right to do what you do?" she mutters with her usual soothing tone, the golden energy which surrounded her also reaching out to Angelo; it felt warm to the touch, like a fireplace in a cold night. "It's alright to question. It's alright to change your path when you think you are wrong."

She squeezes his shoulder lightly once more.

"I know this is not what you were expecting- it's not a straight answer. But what I can offer you, Angelo, is for you to find the answers inside you. You already have them-

-you need only to trust yourself."
(Ming Xiao)

If he did not trust that this was the perfect place, if he did not trust that this was the perfect situation for him to grow as a person, for him to reveal who he truly was and to drop the masquerades which he kept up on a daily basis, this wouldn't be happening. But the same trust that Ming had for him... It was reciprocate.

He nodded slightly in agreeance upon hearing the first sentence. And then, as she continued, he followed each instruction. Closing his eyes, the same sensation from himself echoed through the room, stronger than before, and then... He furrowed down his eyebrows.

His breathing quickened the pace, and after the golden energy converged upon himself, he calmed down. The pace slowed... He was rather used to it, after all. To meditate to calm down himself, to meditate at all, it was something that he had done before, just not assisted.

And then, after a few more minutes, he opened his eyes again. A serene, calm smile bloomed upon his face, and then he nodded towards Ming. "I think... I think I have the answer. I need to take myself more to the offensive. They're spreading, and yet... I am not doing much."

He let out a sigh, and then rose a hand to rub at his forehead slightly. "I think that's a good enough answer?" He said, quirking up an eyebrow slightly.
(Angelo Sanguinis)

"Then we'll take more to the offensive. I'm right with you" she squeezes his shoulder lightly again while a smile flourished across her lips. Not something she meant to do, but that she couldn't help it upon seeing that her friend was getting back up on his feet, even if one step at a time.

"Just let me know. You're not alone, Angelo."

Her hands reached down to hold both of his, squeezing them too. She wore leather gloves on both of them, as well as gauntlets, yet she often found this to be soothing, despite the armor. With eye contact being irrelevant for this, the Shogun closes her own eyes as well-- her state as a Qilin making it easier for her to feel what Angelo does, especially exposed as he was.

"And if that is not the answer, then we'll keep looking for one. Together. Remember, dear-- we are fallible beings. We make mistakes. It is the will to improve, to strive for progress, that sets us apart."

She spoke with her soothing tone, lightly squeezing his hands in an attempt of setting his feelings at ease.
(Ming Xiao)

It was, to say the least, reassuring. He knew he wasn't alone in the first place, but to know that there was more than just Nima and him in this was something that came rather to an unexpected rate to him. He trusted Ming, to an extent that perhaps the only person he trusted as much as her being Nima.

As his hands were held up, his head turned slightly towards them, a sorry expression slowly taking form upon his face. His nude hands, contrasting with the leather gauntlets, were stained with the countless days of punching ore and the work that he had to execute with the blades he wielded daily in combat.

Her closed eyes go almost unnoticed by him, until she speaks the last sentence by herself. He continues still, his hands enveloped around hers, standing almost perfectly still. It was obvious that in this moment, he was indeed vulnerable, but it was something that only happened because he so clearly allowed for her to see him like that.

Angelo was a stalwart,closed within himself as much as he could, and this very moment he allowed himself to drop this very concept. To drop the whole part of him not allowing anyone to see unto his true self, at this moment, he felt so tranquil, so serene-- Almost overtaken by her own aura, and to some point...

It replicated within his holy energy that emanated.

"I need help progressing, then, Ming. I don't know about my reasons-- I've... Found new motivation to try and be accepted into Order. To see myself become one Order Magi. To heal. To help. It was something that I always tried, but..."

He let out a sigh, closing his eyes again. The energy resonated within the room again, soft thrums echoing, small pebbles moving around slightly. "... I just need to focus. Focus..." He stopped, completely silent, lowering his head slowly.

Soon, he was almost akin to a hypnotized state, completely tranquil, alienated to the outer world-- Yet, any movements were felt, and he could react to them accordingly, perhaps due to the keening of his senses that the tranquility itself allowed the lack of a primary sense to enhance even further.
(Angelo Sanguinis)

"Then see your questions not as that you are flawed, but that you are striving to improve" she mutters at him, keeping her voice low as to not disrupt the serene concentration they both find themselves to be on. Though she could not truly see things the same way that he did, she could at least try to understand him to aid him forward.

"That is the first step, my dear. Don't doubt yourself."

Squeezing his hand, the Shogun exhaled slowly, reaching the wuxin state of mind, where her consciousness was only just there; she reacted based on instinct, with her mind being much more free to wander. Though the state of mind can be used for combat, it was primarily a meditative technique, not unlike what Angelo himself was going through-- just with different roots.

"Keep your motivation in front of your eyes. That is what you act for-- keep your purpose clear, know why you do what you do. Evaluate your life. Know what makes you content-- change what does not."

She was whispering at this point, her own voice sounding slightly hazy due to the current state of mind she found herself at. Although she could move and speak, these were more often than not doing instinctively, and to actively do it was-- difficult, yet something she could steadily grow herself used to.
(Ming Xiao)

Angelo's mind diverted in thoughts. He seemed to remain unfocused, roaming around, the world around him slowly taking its shape, burning itself within his mind-- There was still the soft rumble, but it was ever so lowering, requiring lower and lower vibrations for him to continue sensing the spot around him.

To keep the motivation in front of his eyes, he should keep his purpose clear. There was, indeed, a lack of purpose, or at least a lack of direction in his purpose for now. What they were doing was simply to... Make a stand against chaos. But against what part of it?

If they were going to take the offensive, there was something they should enforce themselves above. Something that they should act to stop, effective immediately, something that was so direfully cruel that it could no longer be maintained within the world while they lived.

Angelo maintained quiet, serene and simply thinking, sitting down in front of the Qilin, with their hands held to each other's. An instinctive slight squeeze given towards her hand, Angelo continued to evolve within his own thoughts.

"My primary concern... Vampires. Demons... Can be dealt with later. Vampires are a threat to all-- Those that can, and that can't be saved." His voice echoed, equally low in volume as hers, yet it reverberated through the very room they were still in, or at least, through the ground and walls.
(Angelo Sanguinis)

Instinctively, she nodded at Angelos' words, remembering the various descriptions of vampire attacks-- one of her friends dying in such attacks, and one of her current citizens being injured up to this day. The very thought of the injury made the Shogun's face grimace a little.

"The cainites are growing bold" she says in that hazy voice of hers, her thumbs running over his hand. "I agree with you. That is a focus-- our purpose."

This talk of vampires made the Qilin remember her own dealings with them-- from the first contact, when she was attacked, and her difficult attempt of forgiveness, only for them to keep hunting her people. Again and again. No matter how many times she tried to reach out a hand for peace, they only bit the hand that was offered-

-until she killed one of them. They were much more hesitant to approach her and the people under her wing once she had taken that measure, and yet, others still suffered under their hand. But was it right for her to turn a blind eye to them while other innocents suffered similar fates-- Angelo himself, her friend, having gone through the same?

This single question strenghtened her beliefs and the support for Angelos' words, which was in turn echoed by the Qilin's presence and the surrounding nature.

"I told you that you'd find it, dear. When you are in doubt.. think about that. Why you do what you do-- why we do what we do-

-and know that we can do this."
(Ming Xiao)

Angelo nodded towards Ming, a wide smile appearing within his face. He didn't have as many bad memories written within his memory like she did, probably due to the lack of age, but he felt the pain that the vampires caused by himself, all delivered onto himself, at the very least.

The phantom pain of his leg had waned for now, but he always felt it. He remembered vividly what it was like-- To lose it, to feel it hurting still to this day... It was something that he had forgotten in this moment of meditation. This moment of serenity, of compassion, that they both engaged with such renewed vigor.

He knew that they were corrupted, and yet, he had little reason or motivation to kill them all. He knew that there were those that could still be saved, those that were still not far from redemption, and it was only up for them to try. Yet, he shared the feeling.

That they were going to enact suffering as much as they could. That the only reason they would leave her alone would be fear in and by itself, but what burned through his mind wasn't a lust for revenge, simply the need to enact justice. To select what he judged to be best for all.

To stop them before they could harm more.

Upon her finishing words, Angelo opened his eyes again. The soft humming that echoed through the room waned away slowly, with the same smile blooming upon his face. If there was something that he had to learn, and today... He felt like he did.

"You'll come with us the next time we go out for a watch, yes? To... See if we can spread our arms to someone. To see if we can at least, spare someone from suffering more. By whatever means necessary..." He finished off, trailing off.
(Angelo Sanguinis)

Bound by a single purpose as they were, with her own emotion attuned to his, the Shogun opened her eyes at the same as Angelo did, squeezing his hands lightly for one last time before they slipped away, standing idly by her sides. A smile flourished across her lips as the piercing blue eyes were set upon the blind man,

"Yes-- I'll come with you."

There was a slight, thoughtful pause after she said that, remembering some of her past-- a chance to give tribute to the deaths of her closest friends, perhaps.

"Could you arrange me a black fox mask as a disguise?", she said with some certainty behind her tone. It's true that the Shogun wasn't very good at coming up with disguises - and some who knew of her past could possibly see through that one - but it felt right for her to use this. "I.. know what I have to do."

Judging from her tone, it seems that Angelo wasn't the only one who learned from this-- it was a grateful one for them to have shared this moment together.
(Ming Xiao)

"A black fox mask... I mean, it-- I think I'll try. I made the masks... They're just... A shape. If you want to dye it black, mold it to your will, I believe you could, but... Well." Angelo let out a sigh, before putting both hands above his thighs. He lowered his head slightly, in a curt bow directed towards the Qilin.

If only he knew the emotional bonds that happened with the black fox mask. Her two companions, from the first trip she took into Agartha, where the three of them landed as a flicker of hope within the shenghese colony, and one by one they fell.

To maintain their hopes up above all that was something that Angelo would definitely admire upon the qilin if he was to know about that. Yet, he nodded again. Still, he stood up, finally.

"We still need a name for the order. So far, we were taking mostly... Birds. They symbolize freedom, andNima said I was akin to an eagle in that, and he was an owl of light, so... I'm Eagleheart, and he's Owlight." And then, Angelo shrugged slightly, letting out a soft chuckle.

"I was thinking of something simple. Just... The New Order."
(Angelo Sanguinis)

"I'll figure something out" the Shogun says with her soothing tone, the glowing aura around her slowly fading away until it was naught but a chip of light-- that, too, dissipating. Her hold upon the flow of the natural energy was released, the excess of energy promptly returning to its natural flow.

"And a name, I-- I do need to be a fox. It's important to me."

Her tone was something akin to a plead at the blind man-- that pleading was just about the biggest 'outburst' of emotion the Qilin's had to him, even considering her time in prison. Though she did not precisely explain the meaning and her bond to this mask or this specific animal, the emotion put behind this was enough for him to see there was something, at least. Something strong.

Biting her lower lip, the Qilin allowed herself to make a silent blessing to those that departed-- Yagi and Kotei more specifically so. That was for them. There was yet one of the Black Foxes still alive.

"..please."
(Ming Xiao)

Angelo's eyebrows quirked up simultaneously, in what could be perhaps perceived by the qilin as something akin to pity, but not exactly so-- It was simply empathy. Even if he did not know why, the simple tone of pleading in her voice was something that he never sought to hear, and hearing it was...

... Unsettling. He felt like he had hurt her, even if without being on purpose, and simply rose a hand to pat at her head, before dragging her closer to a tight hug, with armor and all.

"You'll be a fox. You'll figure out the name, I'm sure. I'll get the armor ready for you, and... You can figure something out on the mask." The patting upon her back continued, the blind man seeking out his insides to muster a comforting smile towards the friendly gal as he parted the hug.

"Don't worry about it, alright? We'll do it." After all, what mattered now was that she felt like she was one of them. Not only because he wanted her in-- But because in the end, she was so intricately linked to his story and Nima's that there was no way to deny that she indeed was pretty much one of them.
(Angelo Sanguinis)

As she wrapped her arms around Angelo, hugging him back tightly, her memories were flooded with the time of Tongyishan. Twenty years, and she still didn't get over about how most of them died-- in fact, much of her actions were still driven by that single thing. This was, perhaps, a way to let them go-- to let the dead have their rest. By honouring them, as it was with the settlement of Huangzhou itself.

Kotei and Yagi. The Emperor's Judge and the Emperor's Executioner.

She sighed deeply, slowly letting go of Angelo and a brief smile flourishing across her lips-- though he couldn't see, there was a degree of relief spreading over her expression. Such a heavy burden wasn't one to be lifted rapidly, but it was a step in the right direction.

"Thank you" was all that she muttered as a reply. Relieved. Lighter, somehow. With a hand tight against her chest, she made to him a courteous bow with the shengese manners-- she was never sure just how much Angelo could perceive his surroundings, to understand what she was doing or not, but she did it all the same, piercing blue eyes set upon him-

-her resolve further strenghtened. She had friends that she could count on. The same advice given to Angelo was one she could take herself-- she did not have to burden the entire world on her shoulders.

"The New Order sounds good to me."

She took a moment to recollect herself, taking a step back from Angelo.

"I'll be the Black Fox", she added to Angelo, her tone leaving little doubt that it had as much significance to her as the animal itself. Likely something tied with the past-- one she rarely talks about to be sure.
(Ming Xiao)

"We're the New Order, then. Welcome to it, Black Fox." Angelo said, nodding again towards the qilin, bowing slightly in her direction. With a glad smile, he continued forth. If it meant that he had just acquired a new member for his order...

... And a qilin, at that, Ming Xiao, he had his objectives for the day fulfilled at least. The implications were more than wonderful, that not only he hadn't lost himself in the means he chose for his own ends, but for now, he also had company for these.

Whatever steps were needed for him to take, she was there for him-- And the other way around was equally valid. Angelo was there for her, no matter what they needed. This was much more than just the simple validation of partnership as knights in white against Chaos, but also a partnership for their whole life.

The implications that such a deal that they just agreed upon were, to say the least, lifechanging. It would be something that the three of them could count on each other to give up their own lives for themselves, to pursue their altruistic ways, to pursue the good will of the world...

... By whatever means necessary. It brought him pain to know that these they were now setting their target upon were once human, but they were unfortunately too astray. Hopefully, not all those under their influence were in that same situation.

"I'll... Go rest for now, Ming. I suppose you will as well, yes?"
(Angelo Sanguinis)