partner in crime

Ludo "I do not lose at games," Ludo announces proudly, lifting its own cup. Beneath, instead of dice, fifty-two black pearls spill out, as if freshly drawn from the churning waves behind them. "Ta daaa," it says, clapping its raggedy tendrils together and gathering up both cups (and Paige's dice) to sneak them away into the void beneath its raggy body. "That was fun. What did you want?" it inquires, starting to arrange the pearls into what looks suspiciously like a smiley face, only if Paige tries to look at it from her angle, it will appear to be frowning instead.