Fuck this. The sea stretched out before her, and she watched with little emotion. Her eyes were flat pools of pink, almost dark in the dusk, and her ears were pressed against her skull in some sort of permanent disappointment. Where were the glittering cities, the towering castles, the great citadels? She'd come to Auster searching for something she could control on her own, and instead she was given an empty grey coastline and a few spiders. The femme paced wordlessly along the rocky shore. It had recently rained and the world was cold and wet, but Leera didn't mind the dark cover of clouds as the sun retreated below the sealine. She kept her stare fixed on some point in the distance, but every few minutes she'd glance down to find a spider picking its way along the rain-glazed rocks, and she'd gently touch her nose to it before squashing it with her paw. Where were all these spiders coming from anyway? There must've been a nest nearby. Eventually, Leera got bored with her arachnid massacre and settled down near the rolling waves, tucking her paws beneath her as she let the night set in. She turned her gaze to the stars, which were only just beginning to shimmer to life, and she wondered if they might tell her something.

ooc; this is open for anybody! <3

It seemed the south was riddled with ghastly beasts and riddled jokers. Hannibal had only called these lands home for a short period of time and had already met many oddballs. Favoring some more then others, especially the boy who struck his heart with an arrow. Spider. It was an odd feeling to find romance so early on in his journey and especially so soon after ending his nomadic life, but it was not time for wedding bells. Hannibal's lusty needs were not so easily satisfied and he had yet to see Spider since their first encounter. For now, the oddball would just be a fond memory tearing away at Hannibal's cold heart. The phantom hated the winter but mostly the snow, thus he was making it a point to stay far far away from the north. He heard haunting tails of billows of snow, even encountering some when Erovrare was formed. Therefore it was to no surprise the beast found himself in Auster once again. Slithering his way through the deep south with narrowed eyes and pointed ears. The male was unfamiliar with these lands and made sure to keep his wits about him. His usual air of dominance was clear as well, a black and white tail flew high and his saunter was as cocky as ever. A little smirk even slipped across his pale lips as he neared the cove. The smell of a femme entered his moist, dappled, nose as his large paws hit the sands. The sun was finally falling which made the journey just that much more pleasurable for the phantom due to his skin condition. Soon, as he grew closer his mismatch eyes fell upon whom he assumed the scent came from, which was a cream colored Wolfess. Hannibal took a moment to eye her before moving to 'close the distance' between them. Stopping at about seven tail lengths away to stare at her with a wicked gaze. "Evening." speech action

The longer she stared at the stars, the smaller and smaller she felt. What was it about the night sky that could make her feel so insignificant? Her ears flattened against her head as she continued to watch those twinkling lights with distaste. It was true that sometimes, when her ambition was brimming, she felt as though she could reach up and pick the stars right out of the sky with her teeth. Chew them. Taste those glittering flecks that had been alive for millions of years. Now was not one of those times. This corner of the world was lonely -- save for the spiders. It was empty, dull, and grey all at the same time. But as Leera began to detect a scent in the cool evening air, it was clear to her that perhaps she wasn't as alone as she'd believed. The hair along her nape and spine raised silently as the female scoured the area for the stranger. He was a large man, quite taller than her, and he wore two different hues on his pelt like the gods had been confused while making him. White clashed with black, and his eyes dualed pinkish and blue. Handsome enough, she would decide as he moved to join her, but her hackles remained raised until he greeted her. For a moment, she stood there wordless. Eyes narrowed, watching him, the sharp lines in her face expressionless as she tried to read him. Eventually, she allowed her hips to drop to the ground and she turned her gaze back to the stars. "Tell me something..." she murmured, flicking the end of her tail. "Do you despise the nighttime as much as I do?"

The nighttime was Hannibal's playground. It was when the clock stuck 12 the male would begin his day. The sun was hell for the albino beast, the rays beat down on his pathetic pink skin. Burning his flesh with only minutes of contact. Perhaps with the help of his oddball, Spider, there could be some resolution to this problem but for now the beats would avoid the sunlight like the recluse he was. Tiny scabs littered his back and scalp, remnants of the summer when he journeyed to these lands and braved the sun's blight. They itched just thinking of them, but he ignored it due to the dull familiarity of the sensation. With all of this being said, as this woman spoke of the nighttime the man rose a brow and shook his head to signify his denial. "Quite the contrary, love." Seeing as she lowered herself into a seated position the male did the same. His rump hit the sand with ease and that fluffy tail curled against his lower form with ease. Hannibal eyed the babe with shameless curiosity, they seemed to share a similar color palette with pinks, whites, and grays. But, he was much more full of contrast and oddity as for her pelt flowed like a painting. He knew he was a freak of nature, the odd ways his markings just seemed to stop and his pigmentation issues. It is as if he had been stitched together in the womb. Albinism ran in his family but not in such an odd fashion as his. "The nighttime is my sanctuary." A pink and blue gaze flicked upward towards the starry sky with a mild smile. Pearly whites flashed under pink lips. "The gentle illumination of the moon is what makes my heart flutter." He did not want to go into the details of his health issues just yet. The poetry of his dramatic tones would do for now. Hannibal's eyes flicked back down towards the woman with a questioning look. "Explain yourself. His voice was laced with a seducing venom. "What is it about the nighttime that irks you so?" speech action

She knew he was watching her, but she kept her gaze cast upward, allowing him to enjoy her angles as the moonlight set a silver glow to her pelt. It would be a lie to say she didn't enjoy the attention -- she did -- and she knew she deserved it. She deserved everything the world gave her. When he spoke again, she didn't move an inch. She was still, quiet, absorbed by those faraway oddities, but she noted every word of his. "Quite poetic, aren't you?" Leera glanced at him briefly, taking in more details of his mismatched complexion. But just because he was a poet didn't mean she agreed with him. "And to answer your question, it's not so much that it irks me but rather that it unsettles me." Maybe he knew what she meant. Maybe he didn't. The darkness, the quiet, the emptiness... these were all things that came with the setting of the sun. Although she was a dark-souled creature, she preferred when days began. "I prefer mornings. The promise of a day that's mine for the taking." It was true; she liked the idea of possibility, of making things go exactly her way. That was the best part of the day. Once more, her small pink eyes fell onto him. Their expression was flat, almost unconvinced as she watched him, but all in all she was enjoying having some company for a change. "So. What kind of things do you do during the nighttime that make you love it so?"

The male enjoyed those who did not completely agree with him. Back home he was flooded with women and men who nodded along with anything he said. Here he was no one. A simple commoner in a pack and a ghost to the rogues. It was nice to be such an empty canvas, to be challenged by others. It kept the phantom on his toes. Thus, this little chance conversation between the two pale Wolves brought his grin to thicken out of sheer joy. He did not look gleeful but perhaps just indifferent but on the inside the male was happy. In his own odd way. As he spoke the woman did not take her eyes from the heavens. It seemed she was lost in the stars but he knew she was listening. His worlds were illustrious and complimentary to the aesthetic of the night. Thus, the truth came forth as she eventually responded and even taking note of his prose. And as she glanced he attempted to make brief eye contact before she looked away again. Hannibal took in that vibrant pink gaze which was not similar to his own. His pink eye was dull due to his condition, hers was healthy and natural. But, he quickly shook away his thoughts and drank in her words for a moment before responding. "I am no poet." A beat. "I just put care and thought into my words before I speak them." Hannibal listened to her explanation with interest. One black and one white ear flicking as she spoke. He agreed with her ideology completely and if it weren't for his skin condition the male would also prefer the day time. He prefers to explore in the daytime on a cloudy day, but when the sun is out and he is getting burnt it is just not worth it sadly. Thus, as she spoke he offered simple nods of mild agreement but not speaking until she finally proposed a question of her own. The wording of her inquire was different and it made him think for a few moments. His tongue idly slipped across his teeth before he connected his eyes with her own once again. Hannibal was a daring creature, fond of testing the social limitations. Most cannot handle extended eye contact but he adored it. The window into the soul, if souls were to exist that is. "The nighttime is freeing. The moonlight is gentle enough to illuminate but to not burn my fragile skin. I can explore and hunt without being blistered or boiled." Perhaps with that information the woman could piece together his little puzzle. His pink nose and dull pink eye gave away that he had albinism, but there would be a chance that she had no idea what that even was. "Though, if I were not cursed I would also prefer the daytime. But, alas I am forever chained to the darkness." speech action

So he used his head before he spoke. The woman nodded slightly, a tiny dip of her chin; she despised those ignorant enough to do otherwise. It was always the imbeciles, she found, that were quick to open their mouths and flap their tongues. Day in and day out, she'd have to bear the pain of merely hearing them speak, until the day she decided it would be no more. She was going to do the talking. Leera listened to his explanation, about how his skin would blister in the day and how the night was his free pass to do whatever he pleased like hunting and exploring. She thought about this for a moment, watching him, her eyes following the jagged change of coloration that was present on his face. "A slave to the sun," she concluded about him, almost gently, as if she were uncovering some sort of hushed discovery. What a shitty lifestyle... she thought, frowning a bit. To be bound to the ropes of darkness was a burden she couldn't imagine. Pity settled over the femme, but she remembered something she'd learned many seasons ago. "There are oils that may help you. Found in the crushed petals of lilacs -- I know because my brother used to get burns as well. We lived in the desert." Why was she telling him this? Perhaps if she helped him, he'd repay her with information. "All you would need to do is crush the flowers in your mouth and then smoothe the oils into your skin. It won't block the sun completely, but it'll give you back some of your daytime hours."

Back home Hannibal had a servant who knew of his weakness, which was usually kept quiet, but she would rub aloe on his burns in order to heal them. But, he had nothing to prevent them. Thankfully he had met Spider who had Comfrey, which was apparently good for the skin as well. But, this oil she spoke of was news to him and could very well improve his way of life. Event if it was just a little bit. He had already adapted to the nocturnal lifestyle and was completely fine with it, but these oils would be crucial if there was an emergency and he had to go out into the sun for extended periods of time. Perhaps a siege or even war.. The last thing the beast would want to be worried about when fighting is his skin blistering to the point of agony. Thus, as this temptress spoke his smirk turned into a grin. Hannibal took in every detail she revealed to him like a thirsty rat. Petals of Lilac crushed in the mouth and smoothed onto the skin. He would be retelling this to Spider when he sees him next in hopes the boy could do exactly that for him. After allowing the woman to speak the male nodded ever so slightly. "I will be testing this out as soon as possible." His raised a brow with a curious gaze, "I am attuned to my current lifestyle but having the ability to be of aid to my pack in the daytime would be divine." His eyes aimed to connect with hers. He was not familiar with the other packs therefore he had no recollection with their scents, but he had an inkling this woman was a rogue. Perhaps she would be interested in Erovrare but he was not here to preach. If she latched onto his mentioning of it then so be it. It seemed many of the Wolves he came across were rather skilled in healing and herbs, it made him wonder if he should be as well. But, with Spider he had his own personal medic, so perhaps not. The male shifted ever so slightly and his tail flicked idly as his own eyes moved to the sky. "Who are you?" A simple question with no flourish or thrills, just simple curiosity. The woman was beautiful and seemingly intelligent. Both attributes that peeked Hannibal's interest. speech action

Whether or not the male took her advice or not, Leera didn't care. It was up to him if he believed her spiel about the lilac petals, and if he didn't, then it was on him. Besides, healing others wasn't something Leera was after. Actually, she was after much more: information. There was so much she needed to learn about Auster and Boreas alike, and the only way she could weasel her way into a high position was to gain insight on the packs. Her ears pricked when he mentioned his pack. The end of her dark-pointed tail curled and uncurled in silent thought. "A pack, you say," she croned gently, a darkness flickering behind the warm magenta of her stare. She hungered for information regarding this pack's location, density, and anything else that would be useful to her while she made her decision. "My name is Leera," she answered, closing her eyes and dipping her head in official greeting. She remained in her sitting position, tail curled tight around her paws as the starlight twinkled above. The woman watched her new companion now with interest, trying to read the expressions on his patchwork face. "And who do I have the pleasure of speaking with?" Formalities. What she really wanted was some insight.

Hannibal knew which game they played. The game in which information is slowly revealed in passing and they both come out feeling like slippery snakes. It was something the phantom was very use to. It seemed like everyone wanted a slice of information from the beast but little did they know he was just as clueless as everyone else. Yes, he was in a pack. Did he know very much of the members? No. Has he spoken to Tyranis since the claiming? No. Thus, he had little to not vital information about anything to do with the pack or any other packs. But, did this woman know that? No. And that is all that mattered. A charming smiled slipped across his delicate lips as mismatched eyes continued to stare into her own magenta. His tongue idly slipped across ivory teeth before a nod could be seen in response to her inquire. "Yes, I am a member of Erovrare." He raised a brow as he eyed her for a few moments. "And you? Are you chained to a pack?" For all he knew she was, but he hated to assume too much about someone. This woman could be a grand Alphess and he wouldn't know the difference. Hannibal perked up as she revealed her name. It was nice to get some information in return for his own. He spoke the name of his pack and she spoke the name of herself. The kingdom would soon be known to all, thus it's name was of little value. Thus, just after speaking her name she beckoned for his own. Something he predicted would happen for it aways did. The phantom offered a more divine smile now, "Hannibal Iber Klein." The long name rolled off his tongue with his very distinct flourish. It was a name passed down, partly his mothers and partly his fathers. Though, the natives of this land would have no recollection of such. It was now the name of no one. "Leera, what brings you to this infested cove?" A final question derived from pure curiosity. speech action

Erovrare. Leera watched the half-albino and ticked her chin down. She'd hardly heard of it, not even so much as a whisper on the wind, and so she dismissed it as a smaller band, an insignificant one. But bands, as she knew all too well, grew. They could grow up from two to three wolves into a pack and then rise into entire empires. Even so, she was seeking out the most rumored. The pack name on every tongue. "A pleasure, sir Hannibal," she spoke, almost indifferent as she watched him. Night poured over them, drowning them in the inky darkness. "I haven't found my place among the ranks. Yet. I don't fancy the loner lifestyle but at the same time I won't settle." No, she'd never do that. She was worth too much as a pawn in a capital to waste her energies on mediocracy. "You can understand that, I'm sure. Tell me what drew you to Erovrare."