Jude was out wandering again. In recent times it had become second nature to her to just step out of her apartment and head out on a journey with no destination or purpose, sometimes not returning to her home for days or even weeks at a time. She would say it was simply because she enjoyed exploring and travelling, but that was only half true, the main reason being that she hated to stay in one place for too long, because that was when the terrors that hunted her would catch up with her.

Jude’s aimless wanderings had today led her to the self-proclaimed ‘fast food district’ – a strange and scruffy area of town, home to all manner of people. And some of these people, Jude knew, were far from human.

The sky was growing dark as the sun slowly set behind an uneven skyline of mangled concrete buildings, and the litter-strewn streets were quiet. And yet Jude, dressed simply in scruffy jeans and a pale long-sleeved top, looked neither nervous nor anxious to get anywhere as she strolled along. She saw an odd sort of beauty in this run-down district – it felt like something once modern and man-made reverting back to a primitive state. An urban jungle.

Something drew Odin to this part of town this time of day in this area. It was as if his name was being called and his body was being forced in a certain direction. He was on a hunt this evening but wasn't exactly sure what he was looking for.

He had on some clothes he'd thrown on in a haste. Black baggy pants that were loose around his waist and a white shirt that clung tightly to his upper half. Thrown over top of that he had a black trenchcoat and on his feet were heavy black boots that came all the way up his calves. His boots thudded heavily on the sidewalk as he walked, determined to find what was causing this strange attraction.

He tied his red hair up but left without make-up or any of his jewelry, his blue eyes haunting and icy. He was looking like the predator who knows their prey is around somewhere but just can't seem to... Aha!

"So it's you." A smirk tugged at his lips.

(I apologize for the wait. I didn't mean to take so long.)

She heard him before she saw him. She was suddenly aware of heavy footfalls heading her way, and she looked up immediately. Catching sight of the strange young man wandering on the other side of the road, Jude abruptly slowed her pace, but did not stop. The boy was, for the moment, at a safe distance, but his gaze was piercing, and as Jude saw the look in his eyes she knew one of the terrors she'd been dreading had finally caught up with her. Or maybe she'd just blundered straight into his trap.

The boy was quite short, and Jude had initially assumed him to be a few years younger than herself, but his striking features made it difficult to tell. And still she did not like the look in his eyes.

She kept walking...

He caught up to her, mimicking her pace once behind her. His boots continued to thud softly and rhythmically on the sidewalk as he walked in unison with her steps. Right foot, left foot, right foot, left foot...

"So... draw me here and not even so much as a hello? In some cultures they'd call that rude. I just call it distasteful." His expression was blank as he talked, his voice sweet and sultry. His beauty and seemingly innocent persona simply betrayed the beast inside.

(sorry it's short.)

Despite the descending aura of peril, Jude found herself feeling irritated by the way this fair-featured but decidedly eerie young man was walking so close behind her. So she suddenly stopped and whirled to face him, fixing him with a look that was somehow both wary and bold at the same time.

"Hello, then." She offered the greeting politely, her smile pleasant but wavering. The last thing she wanted was to make this stranger angry. But she was finding it difficult to meet the boy's sharp contenence for more than a few moments - instead she found her gaze wandering to possible escape routes...

Wary and bold? Odin would have preferred to call it stupid.

"What's your name, pretty? Why you looking so wild...? Having an off day?"

Odin laid gentle fingertips on her wrist.

I won't hurt you. Yet.

(Sorry it took so long to reply!!!)

The young woman actually jumped as she felt the boy put his hand to her wrist - it was not like her to be so easily startled, but it was such an unexpected move that she could not help it.

As politely as possible, Jude slowly moved her hand away from Odin's and replied, "My name's Jude." She then smiled grimly before adding, "And this isn't a look - it's just me. I always look like this, unfortunately. That's what comes of...ah..."

She trailed off and resumed looking around anxiously.

"What comes of...what, darling Jude?"

He moved closer to her, obviously not aware of a little something called personal space.

"You can tell me."

(Doooooooood. Sorry for taking so long to reply.)

(OOC: Tis fine. ^_^ )

"Yeah..."
This time Jude held her ground as Odin moved closer, and the worried expression she had been wearing suddenly became more steely and knowing.

"Yeah, I probably can tell you. Heck, you probably already know. It's what comes of being set up as hunting practise for resident psychopaths." She threw her hands up in exasperation and started taking slow, purposeful steps backward, as if about to break into a run at any moment. "It doesn't matter where I go - you always find me!!"