Angelo tries to recover Ming's hope

[17:04] A hand -- Not the one clad in mythril, but the one actually made out of it -- rises towards the Qilin's face. The same one that he lost in the fight to protect Huangzhou, the same one that was immediately given to him. He knew for a fact, even if his presence was brief... He had planted a faint seed of hope in there.

That there were those that would not take his lesson unlearned. The metallic thumb rubs upon her face slowly, before the index finger lifts her face up, to look towards him. "Don't lose hope, Ming. Renewal will bring something new to you. We will drive them back."

"... We will stand our ground, and see where it leads. And if they manage to defeat us, we'll retreat to fight again. And if they manage to corner us, weaponless... We'll fight with our bare hands and teeth, until every bone of our body is broken. And when this happens... We will spit in their face." The man spoke, aloud, with the familiar chime of Order echoing around him. It was obviously something meant to be motivational, the very energy filling out the air around, yet the words were what was supposed to stick to her mind.

And it was true. Eagleheart himself would forever fight, no matter the cost. He wore a mask to protect those he loved, and as long as the risks involved only himself... He would gladly throw himself in front of any risk he could, if the cause was righteous.
(Eagleheart)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

[17:12] Ming Xiao sighed deeply-- once the Shogun of Huangzhou, now taking a new mantle. Yet that lack of enthusiasm was evident on her face; self doubt. Regret. Mixed emotions as the mask of serenity had completely slipped away, feeling the touch of Eagleheart's hand; piercing blue eyes were set upon the man's mask.

"I have faltered. Again. I thought that, after Tongyishan, I was no longer-

-but I've faltered. Zabuza. I knew what he was, I've seen him for what he was, but he was a child. And that stayed my hand. I did not want to kill a child.

Nanyang's rape. It's my fault. I hesitated."

Her gaze hardened, her eyebrows furrowing. Eagleheart's speech, the chime of Order echoing around her, was enough to reignite the flame within her, but not the serenity. She was not yet in touch with the calmness she's usually displayed- plaguedby guilt over faltering, plagued by regret over enjoying Zabuza's death. Truly enjoying it-

-it felt like vengeance, not like justice. The Qilin knew the difference well, and she knew that it was the former. The fact that his death was a justice didn't change what she felt it in her heart.

"I liked it. Watching him die. Watching an Oscuri-- by the Emperor, an Oscuri mangling him, painting the walls red. I enjoyed it.

I was wrong. I-"

But she interrupted herself, sighing deeply. She still had some modicum of composure left, and she wouldn't break down here.
(Ming Xiao)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

[17:32] The man listened closely. Whatever emotions he had, they were hidden underneath the mask, covering every single inch of flesh that would hint towards his true feelings. Yet, he rose a hand, with the index and the middle finger touching at her forehead.

Then, it lowered itself to her stomach, and touched there, and then a single tap upon each shoulder. If she was thinking about it, that was clear-- A cross, the symbol of the Krausites. "Ming Xiao. Qilin of the Emperor. The reason why I approached the Krausite way of life..."

Where he tapped, a single beacon of Order remained behind. A faint glimmer which served to symbolize what he needed at this moment, what she needed as well-- Hope. Hope that someday things would turn out for the best. And then, at the end of all that, he couldn't do it anymore.

A hand rose to slowly remove the mask, revealing the man underneath-- Angelo. His silver irises, possessed withholy energy, attuning to the very world around him. For the first time in his life, he looked towards her.

Eyes meeting hers, the blind man moved both hands around her, pulling her into a hug. His mythril-clad hand, the organic one, patted at the back of her head. "You're not at fault for that, Ming. It is repenting that allows us to recover. He was a man unwilling to do that... Without being even fooled by his own fate."

He still remained soft-spoken, and even without the mask, everything seemed to still resonate on the surrounding environment. It wasn't simply the mask that allowed him to do so-- His powers were, after all.

"It matters not what lies in the past if you're willing to put all that behind. If you're willing to see it stand behind you, to mitigate its consequences... To spread good will around. And in the end..."

The hug was parted, with both hands holding towards her arms. There was a slight hint of the same smile he always maintained, yet it seemed to be long gone-- The imprisonment wasn't as rough on him as it was on Nanyang, but it was demoralizing nonetheless.

"Hope shall be our guide. We will go out, we will strengthen ourselves... And when we surface back again, we'll correct mistakes. Ours... And others."
(Eagleheart)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

[17:54] It didn't seem like she knew much about what to do. Her eyes met with Angelo's for a few seconds, and for some time, he made her remember some of the good she's done; but guilt was not something that would be easily taken from her. Her gaze lowered, staring at the grass beneath them-- her hand raising to softly rest upon the blind man's shoulder, something she's always done with him, squeezing it lightly.

She knew this, if nothing else. That Angelo was there for her. Always has been.

"Thank you" the woman muttered, almost inaudibly, taking a very deep sigh, slowly, to recover her composure. Her arms wrapped around him, then, tightly bringing him closer to her, though they were both separated by armor. Her chin rested upon his shoulder now, breathing in very slowly before exhaling; it was similar to the breathing exercises one does upon trying tomeditate, though at this moment, she was just trying to find her center.

Shed your skin. Born anew-

-Golden Fox.

"I will keep trying. Strive to be better-

-and next time I won't stay my hand. I'll learn from my mistakes."

They parted, and her eyebrows were slightly furrowed still. It wasn't the same as before, and the regret wouldn't be washed away that easily, but it was something-- something to get her back up and willing to try once again. To raise her head high and repent for past mistakes-- learn from them. Unwilling to commit them again.

No more blood on her hands.

"Thank you-- Seeker."
(Ming Xiao)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

[18:11] The blind one remained for a few moments without the mask, holding it on one hand, close to his face. The blonde hair and every other detail was hidden underneath the cloak, but his face remained there. For the first time, there was the faint impression that he was, actually...

... Seeing her. That he was observing, that he could not only feel and imagine how she looked, but now he could actually see her. While they hugged, he remained steadfast-- For these moments, if Ming needed of a pillar to hold herself to, he would be that pillar. He would provide whatever support he could.

They both needed it. Upon hearing her words, he put on the mask again. His voice resonated, again. It no longer resonated exclusively because of the magic that he wielded, but also of his own movements. "You are a great master, Ming. Know that."

And then, a side glance to the place they were in. It was... Not much more than the outskirts of Crafthold, after all. This was, overall, risky. Even though pretty much no one traveled this far from the merchant town, they were still within enemy territory.

Yet, he needed to confirm something else. "Do you have a place to go and stay for now, Ming? If you don't... I don't." He spoke, clearly, before the stare again rested upon the Qilin. "I will not let you be the only one to carry the burden."
(Eagleheart)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

[18:18] The woman closes her eyes, shaking her head to the question. It gave her some pause, thoughtful-- thinking back to her times as the Ashigaru, where she had set up a few camps throughout Agartha. Truly, most of those were no longer safe, especially with the spread of the vampires from Apropriya.

"No, there is nowhere I can be.."

She sighs deeply at that. Her mind was still searching for a few places where she could be trusted to live and somebody else.. the Seekers had a good background as it was, and it wouldn't be strange. Places..

"I believe we can make temporary housing in a few places.. most likely Crafthold, for a while, but I believe we will be, more likely than not, out in the fields. Hunting, searching for supplies, and, well.. hunting" she added the last word with a strong emphasis, making clear that the last one wasn't meant towards food. A hand was brought up to some some strands of her out of her eyes,

"ah-- I'll need a haircut as well. We'll be fine."
(Ming Xiao)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

[18:38] "You think Crafthold won't argue against us? I've heard they're allied with the Vampires. When we make our first move... They'll backstab us." The man in the mask spoke. Truth be told, all he heard were rumors-- A single one, but one that worried him deeply. They were as rooted as the ones that Huangzhou was allied with Crafthold, but in the end...

It truly was. They had disagreed on some things, but in the end... They sort of ended up allies, didn't they? It was by far, the safest, even though it was in no means safe. "I can't take back my identity as Angelo, but I'll work on that and get an armor for you. We'll stay on the surroundings, and... There are also other places we can try to stay around. No permanent housing. Always moving."

And then, he rose a single hand towards the northwest, where the plains laid. After all, even if they were mostly filled... There was a huge chunk of space just waiting to be filled. "We can work on your haircut any day, Ming. There are many residences which we can take to ourselves for a while..."

"... And we'll need something close to the caves. I still intend to deal as much harm as possible to those from Chaos." He spoke, even if his gaze did not leave the horizon, with newfound determination. After all, not only this whole situation motivated him, but most importantly, it allowed him to continue.
(Eagleheart)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

[18:48] "I don't trust Eiphraem in the slightest.." she made the remark while shifting her gaze to the side, a slight furrowing of her eyebrows displaying. "But it's a place to stay at for a day. And then-- yes, we keep moving."

A hand rose to rest upon his shoulder once more, squeeing it lightly, with the pale ghost of a smile spreading across her lips. It was something, at least, that she was getting back up after all of that.

"Let's work on that armor right now, then. Same as you can't be Angelo, I can no longer be Ming Xiao. I'd like to.. shed that skin as soon as possible-

-and then I can work on being myself again. One step at a time."

There was a few chips of light around her, though the golden aura didn't manifest fully. Closing her eyes, the Qilin managed to, at least, regain her composure, the mask of sernity washing over her expression once more-- she didn't feel at peace with herself, not yet, but she was at least able to be composed.
(Ming Xiao)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

[18:58] "Do not worry about the armor. I'll have to get your help... Do you think we're alright if we stay in Crafthold for today?" The man spoke out, with the same tone of confidence resonating within himself. And then, he looked east, towards where Crafthold lied.

"I'll stay near, but not in Crafthold. It's too risky to stay in there, at least for me. I'm sure they'll try to jump at me because I'm a krausite or... Something like that. Surely Eiphraem will hesitate once he realizes who I am, but." He stops for a moment, unsure. Still looking towards the horizon, he took a while to think, to collect his own thoughts.

"I'd rather not risk getting us both imprisoned." And then, the man stopped. The resonation of Order seemed to chime in, starting to resonate within the very woods that they were in.

A brief meditative state, no less. His eyes scanned the environment, a soft breeze-like sensation following the grass around, and onto the horizon.

"We can work it out later, Ming. For now... Know one thing." He glanced towards her again. A hand rose to slightly disposition the mask, allowing for her to glance towards his face, even if only barely sideways.

A gentle smile, one that he hasn't given in a year now, was present there. "I'm glad you're always with me, Ming. You're a true blessing."
(Eagleheart)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

[19:04] Her gaze shifted towards Crafthold, with a brief nod given at Eagleheart. A few more chips of that golden energy materialized and vanished very quickly, emitting a few brief spots of light surrounding her figure. A brief sigh followed as she added,

"We can stay here for a night or two. I'll buy a few things that we'll need, but I wouldn't stay any longer than that. Ming Xiao needs to disappear quickly if I want it to vanish from people's memories."

She looked back towards the masked man, a brief, though genuine smile spreading across her lips upon seeing his face again, even if only just, and squeezes his shoulder lightly one more time-- she knew that he couldn't see her smile.

"No retirement for the Emperor's Chosen. I'm with you."

The hand on her shoulder reached down, sliding over his arm until it squeezed his hand lightly, pulling it towards the bridge, on the path to Crafthold.

"Shall we?"
(Ming Xiao)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------