Wasteland

Ludovic stopped short, his paws sinking into the mire as she questioned his intentions with that statement. A slow grin tugged at the corner of his mouth, sharp but lacking teeth, the kind of smile that hovered between mischievous and genuine. She wasn’t bolting or spitting fire at him, so he considered this a win. She’d even continued to stockpile those mushrooms she was so interested in. Another win.

“Insult you? Not at all, Miss Pythia Abraxas.” He tried to clear the misunderstanding up, testing her name while he could, enjoying the peculiar weight of it on his tongue. Unique. At least she hadn’t swiped at him for that comment though.

He did notice something upon further, closer inspection though. Her eyes. The way they only shifted to him once he began to speak again… and how unusually cloudy they were. “And for the record,” Ludovic continued, planting one paw forward–while also testing her sense of hearing–as though daring the swamp to try and pull him under, “I’ve met plenty of girls who’d sooner bite my ear off than set a paw in muck like this.” His grin widened just a hair as he finally figured it out. She was blind.

Ludo let the moment linger before introducing himself, watching her with careful interest—how her pale fur caught the light, the muted expression as she tried to fix unto his location without sight. She’d figured out a way to navigate, seeing as he could neither smell nor see anyone around to assist her. He wouldn’t underestimate her. “I’m Ludovic Praetor-Inferos.” he offered in turn, shaking some of the condensation from his pelt as he readjusted his sliding footing. “So. You’ve got yourself a sack full of the swamp’s finest rot, Miss Pythia.” Ludovic stepped forward again, peeking at a cluster of mushrooms that hadn’t gotten picked yet, tone that of intrigue.

“Those fungi have a bigger purpose or something?” he teased lightly, voice laced with that same charm as he poked at one with a black metal talon. “Are you planning on turning blue and sprouting spots next?” Weren’t mushrooms supposed to be poisonous? He stuck his tongue out at the thought of tasting one of those moldy smelling things.

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