Wasteland

It was strange the way the fog parted just enough to reveal her. A pale figure, almost pinkish—or maybe yeah, pink in some places. Dotted in others. And her eyes—something was off about them. Something he couldn’t put his claw on.

For a moment, his gaze softened, interest flaring behind his dual toned orbs. The tension in his muscles eased somewhat, now that he wasn’t worried about a tiger folding him up like a picnic blanket. Then again though. Danger comes in many forms.

But this was another kid, roughly his age—who wasn’t one of his dozen siblings or cousins. Thrilling. She was tall but delicate, sleek where others might have had more of a hulking shape. Her voice commanded his attention, but now that he was looking at her fully, Ludovic couldn’t quite decide what interested him more—the strange mushroom clamped between her teeth or the ghostliness of her pale features. Probably both.

His smirk contorted, his voice becoming more appraising as he spoke. “Well, that’s unexpected.” he said, voice losing a fraction of its usual drawl. He was too invested in this interaction to mask his excitement. Ludo’s gaze flicked to the mushroom again, then back to her face, a brow arching. “I mean. Most wouldn’t take a stroll this deep into a swamp for a fungus. Girls even less so.” The words could have been condescending, but the nonchalant boyish charm in his tone made it clear he meant otherwise. He’d meant it more like an observation, one laced with the faintest touch of admiration. Xina wouldn’t be caught dead in this place.

Ludovic tilted his head as he settled into an easy approach, his gaze trained on her. Toes lightly bringing him closer, watching to see if she would fight or flight, even if he meant no harm. “What's your name, miss…?” The chimeric boy asked, a playful edge attached to his words like wisps of smoke. He treaded carefully. After all, the swamp had given him a surprise—one that wasn’t as unpleasant as the rest of its muck and mire.

"Ludovic Praetor-Inferos"