On the Border (Open?)

[Titus Halo]

Titus sat at the edge of the Dragon's territory. His legs were crossed, elbow just above his knee and chin resting on his fist in the classic thinking men's position. His gaze was fixed on the territory before him. He switched to laying down on his side, resting his head on his fist, while the other made itself comfortable in the top part of his pants. He sighed as he scratched with his unexposed hand, How should I go about this... No way do they like random people just walking into their turf.

[Levi Kayamei]

Levi sat on the stage of his dueling piano bar, legs crossed and eyes closed. His mind was focused outward, his senses reaching out and touching each Qi signature for several hundred miles. He was meditating for the purpose of testing his abilities, making sure he truly could recognize each signature and determine friend, foe or stranger.

hm?

One Qi took Levi's interest as it sat directly on their border line. His abode was in neutral territory for the purposes of scoping out potential threats and new entrants before they could get too far into their territory; This certainly required a look. Levi stood up and slowly walked outside, putting his red tinted sunglasses on and hoping onto the rooftop of his home.

He's not far.....lets go see....

Traversing by rooftop shortened his trip to a mere few minutes. He stopped on a nearby roof that allowed him to overlook the area, his silver eyes resting on the lounging man. He chuckled softly to himself as he hopped down and began slowly walking towards. At least he's comfortable....?

Levi moved into Dragon territory and faced the man on their boarder, a neutral expression on his face as his eyes continued to evaluate the stranger from behind crimson lenses, "Greetings, I'm not sure our boarder has ever been used as a rest area." Now was the time for introductions and gathering the info his eyes alone would not be able to collect. The Japanese man gave a small bow as he spoke, "Levi Kayamei, Dragon Commander and you are?"

[Titus Halo]

Titus smirked as he started to stand up, dusting off his pants, "I'm sure it hasn't been used as a lot of things but that's besides the point. Still, better that then a battlefield."[/b] Then then man introduced himself and Titus smiled, "Perfect, I knew one of you would find me sooner or later. Titus Halo, unaffiliated and looking to join the Dragons."

[Kyrie Blaze]

Unseen by the male lounging at the border of the Dragon Territory - but certainly felt by Levi - was one blonde, fuckin' tricksy, now extremely vigilant, and incredibly paranoid, "Hobbits". Kyrie's wide blue eyes peeked and peered as she stalked back and forth, pacing within the alter-plane that her qi enabled her to traverse. Oddly enough, it wasn't long until Levi showed up after that.

His sudden arrival wasn't seen until he landed, and she bolted backwards, withholding an inward hiss of alarm until she realized who it was. One may have expected her to relax with a friendly face around, but she did the opposite. Instead, her gaze sharpened with increased intensity. Her gaze flit around, though she trusted Levi's sensory abilities, scanning and feeling as far as she could within the building's shadow without actually expanding it or doing something that would otherwise give away her position.

She did not reveal herself. Oh no. The blonde kept her vigil, however, not apt to trusting the newcomer. Any newcomer.

The slender woman trusted that Levi, of course, wouldn't give her away. It would have only been a matter of time, yes, but little did he know that someone already had tagged Titus as someone to watch. His reply to Levi sparked further suspicion. True, the Dragons were very renowned...she just couldn't get over the fact that Barker's men had infiltrated so easily and frequently. Not after what happened.

[Levi Kayamei]

Levi's expression changed to one of intrigue as his left eyebrow rose, "Oh? And why would that be?" Levi's tone and behavior was calm, but his mind could not have been more suspicious. Recent events had made him, and surely a few others, weary of strangers, if not a little paranoid. Was this man another Barker spy or actually an interested party? Levi was pretty sure no one had ever simply "applied within" and it was a gesture that made the Dragon Commander weary of his new acquaintance. One did not simply ask to join the Dragons.

[Titus Halo]

Titus crossed his arm over his chest, frowning intently, "Because I don't like the alternatives and I can't do it on my own."[/b] Then, he turned his frown upside down, "Well, that and Crimson Dragon has a nice ring to it don'cha think? Not that you would know anything about the crimson part."[/b]

[Kyrie Blaze]

Perhaps she was being too analytical, too eager to find fault and make the man's obstacles before potentially joining the Dragons higher still. But this one's attitude didn't sit well with her. Passive-aggressive, not-so-subtle insults, no courtesy. He was already so sure he would be an Elder? The blonde glowered before her eyes darted off again, searching to make sure nobody was around. In some ways, she found him worse, even, than Cain.

'...something about counting chickens before they hatch.'[/color] She thought to herself, crouching and continuing to observe, looking 'down' at her feet to look 'up' and watch the two and the surrounding area.[/font]

[Levi Kayamei]

If this were an anime, the vein in Levi's head would have popped out. Titus was taking this all too lightly, Crimson Dragon has a nice ring to it?. Still, Levi had more questions and he didn't want to write the man off immediately. His brow raised slightly as he continued his questioning, "The alternatives? What do you mean? The other gangs?"

[Titus Halo]

"Well, them and..." Titus whole body shook in anger as the words come through gritted teeth, "No, I won't even dignify them by saying their name. How could anyone work for that guy!? Everything is his fault! Everything!!! He let out a few hard breathes before closing his eyes and taking a calming one, "So yes, I want to join the honorable and respected Dragon gang." He took a knee like a football player, lowering his head, "If they'll have this man full of anger and resent at this world. With, honestly, no other place to go."

[Kyrie Blaze]

He had his redeeming qualities, kind of. But with the blonde's mindset as it was, she was scrutinizing his every word, his every action. 'Barker? Someone else? Either way it could very well be a ruse to get a foot into the Dragons, undetected and trusted.'[/color]

Her hand slid up, fingers curling around the hilt of the dagger the old man had used against her. It was an unconscious gesture; more than anything just something to do, physically, while she watched and listened intently. But unconsciously, she was ready, come whatever may.[/font]

[Levi Kayamei]

Levi wasn't convinced. There was serious doubt as to whether or not the man had seriously considered the other options and how much he really knew. Add to that: Anger and desperation potentially had the makings for issues the Dragons didn't need to deal with. Thirdly: The sudden change in tone, from casual and somewhat insulting to humbleness and flattery.

Titus's behavior raised suspicion: He was either oblivious to the way he was coming off and was simply behaving as he normally did or he was trying way too hard to convince Levi to let him join for some ulterior purpose. Still, the man didn't act like the typical spy and Levi didn't want to let him go without knowing more.

Levi folded his arms as he held an inquisitive look on his face, silver eyes looking down at the kneeling man, "You clearly have a lot of anger towards someone.....depending on who that is, we may want no part in your revenge."

[Titus Halo]

Titus clenched his jaw, eyes still on the ground, "Barker... That man... No, it doesn't deserve that distinction anymore! It did this and it needs to die if the world has any chance of not being this anymore."

[Levi Kayamei]

Levi's nerves relaxed somewhat, this man had been wronged by the same man most of them had and was understandably angry. The man's anger was strong, but that could be directed and honed into power to be used against Barker given time. Sending the man away entirely wasn't a good option: Given the man's apparently rash temperment, it seemed likely he would try to take on Barker himself should he find him. Still, Titus's odd behavior required further observation before deeming the man to not be a threat to their organization let alone an asset.

Levi let out a quiet sigh, "Request denied..." Levi reached into his pocket, pulled out a civilian badge and tossed it to Titus. He turned on his foot, his eyes catching Kyrie's for a moment with a beckoning gesture as he spoke to Titus, his back now turned to him, "You may, however, remain in Dragon territory probationaly. You will be monitored during this time and any supicious behavior will be noted. After this trial period, if we deem you to not be a threat to our mission, you will be granted full citizenship...."

Levi began walking away briskly, "...and the right to reapply for membership into the Dragons.....welcome to Dragon territory Mr. Halo."

With spies waltzing in and attempting to replace their ranks, this was now the protocol if there was any doubt at all about someone wanting to enter their territory. Though it probably discouraged some, it was a necessary measure in these times of war. If Kyrie had chosen to come to him he would stare straight ahead as he continued to walk, speaking softly, "I'd like you to monitor him: Learn what you can about him. We have to be sure he can be trusted before we take our eyes off of him.....also see to it that he finds a residence and stays away from Barker." Levi knew Kyrie was wanting to remain to herself after recent events, but she needed this. Recent events did not exclude her from her duties and Levi knew this would be good for her.

[Kyrie Blaze]

Revenge was such an ugly thing.

Granted, not everyone thought the way she did, or held the same beliefs. Kyrie much preferred to take a route of systematic destruction after gaining as much information as possible; knowledge was power and if one didn't go in to something like that with a clear head...

Well. It was highly ignorant to think of Barker as something other than human--to objectify him was to underestimate him. And to underestimate him was to underestimate his power, his knowledge, and the whole package of the man who brought the apocalypse upon the world. And that would get him killed.

Not to mention any potential allies he had that were unfortunate enough to be there with him.

Still, she couldn't deny that it would give him drive and willpower, it just seemed to her that it would too easily burn away and die off. And the speak of revenge and the venom in his voice? The slender blonde bet that he was liable to attack with minimal provocation; was he unstable?

Even before Levi's gaze passed over her spot she moved to the edge of the shadow and crouched, waiting, one finger skimming the bottom of the plane at her feet, and the very tip of her finger emerged to what would be the normal plane. A bit of maneuvering enabled her to cross into Levi's shadow using a bridge of her own qi.

She didn't approve though she full-well understood the need to scrutinize him.

She listened as Levi spoke, though her gaze was still constantly seeking around the area and the stranger himself. Paranoia and hypervigilance at its finest had set in over the past few days and Kyrie was practically constantly on-edge, but quietly so. Her brow quirked; as though she would not have tailed him anyway. Kyrie was unconvinced of anything aside from what she observed from body language and tonal usage.

"...understood." Came the quiet intonation from the shadow-dweller, though she would not be able to take away from her other duties to put a spotlight on the stranger twenty-four seven...

...then again, that was for what the night was for, as she had been sleeping very poorly - if at all - as of late.

[Titus Halo]

Request denied, those two words cut into Titus's spirit as turned around dejectedly to go and was hit in the back by the badge. He look down at it over his shoulder as Levi continued with his back to him, "Okay, that's nice and all but..." Then he starts walking away and mentions reapplying, Titus's releases a sigh of relief, "Well thanks, I guess it's a start but what I am supposed to do in the meantime? Besides staying out of trouble. Ah screw it, I'll go find a gym or something... I don't know. Better go tell the old man we're moving." With that he takes off back home with the semi-good news.