Rub-a-dub-dub
Lurid
10-30-2020, 11:21 PM
Despite his best attempts to keep her troubled mind from keeping her in a state of unease, all Alastor seemed to be able to do was momentarily distract her before Lurid slipped back into her distant thoughts. He understood why; she had a lot weighing on her mind and even more riding on her shoulders. There were very real threats and consequences they needed to deal with. He knew Lurid was the type of wolf to maintain control over everything, and whenever she lost her grasp around even the smallest detail, the gorgeous fae let it eat her up alive. It was the one inherently harmful trait Alastor had ever seen her display, but it was one that had plagued her for as long as he had known her. That's why Alastor did all that he could do remind her not to take life too seriously. Why bother? It was all so fleeting, so temporary anyway! Why not enjoy the moments you have now? You never know when they might be your last... he thought to himself with a grim smirk as he reflected on all the lives he had cut short in such an abrupt manner. How many of those wolves woke up on their last days not knowing that their lives were about to be snuffed out before the end of the day?
Lurid's laugh when he managed to splash her yet again made a genuinely mirthful smile replace his typically cold and painted smile, abyss-like eyes shimmering with life as he watched the patches of her white fur disappear to reveal the soft pink skin beneath. She truly was a beautiful sight to behold, and she had only gotten more exquisite with age. The red brindled man opened his mouth to reply—but a sudden ear-splitting roar from nearby cut off both of them. Alastor turned his grinning face toward the trees, peering past Lurid and watching for signs of movement. He recognized the bellowing voice of Ilyn, the little polar bear Lurid was so fond of, calling out for something or someone. And then, before he knew it, a small smoky-gray wolf pup came bounding up toward them. The pup was still small, showing just how young the boy was, and judging by how he called out to Lurid, Alastor needed no explanation to piece together that this was her adopted son. He watched the little gray fuzzball with his characteristic smile, although the usual malicious edge was replaced by an honest softness uncharacteristic of the dire wolf. If there was one thing Alastor afforded a little care towards, it was pups. Not much—but enough to not try and frighten them intentionally.
As he watched while Lurid greeted the small wolf with a kiss, Alastor began to make his way back onto dry land, his coat dripping and running with excess water as he waded his way out of the river. The pup fixed him with a wary stare—not that Alastor could blame him, the pup clearly had better instincts than most wolves—and asked who he was. Alastor sat down and lowered himself to his belly so he could be eye level with Kichi, smiling his wide, toothy smile all the while and onyx eyes meeting the boy's. "Hello, Kichi!" he greeted the stormy-coated boy with a warm and cheerful voice. "I'm Alastor! I'm a friend of your mother. I've heard so many good things about you! Can I be your friend too?"
Although he had no children of his own and no prior experience with children, Alastor had always been fond of them. They were like tiny little wolves without all the negative traits that came with adulthood and the world that so cruelly twisted and deformed everyone into worthless wastes of life and meat. Perhaps that's why he had never had any problems with killing. No one deserved to live. But the pups... Ah, there could always be exceptions to rules! Alastor's red-dipped tail wagged excitedly behind him in his prone position, betraying his joy and getting to meet Kichi. Watching how Lurid interacted with her son cast the pallid empress in an entirely new light for him, a motherly one he had never imagined her in. She wore it so well though, like a finely tailored accessory to her otherwise perfect ensemble. That didn't surprise him, of course; she was fantastic at everything she did. That was why she was the leader, after all!
"Speech" — Thoughts