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Character of the Season
Frail in body but dangerously quick of mind, Nikandr is the sort of character who proves that curiosity can be just as perilous as any weapon. A necromancer, inventor, and problem-solver with more ambition than self-preservation, Niki approaches the world like a puzzle box begging to be opened, even when what’s inside has teeth. Blunt, dry-witted, fiercely independent, and carrying a history best left partially buried, he has a knack for making even failure feel fascinating. Whether he’s raising the dead, moving across Caido to King's End, or experiencing a hangover for the first time, Nikandr brings a wonderfully strange spark to Caido, and we can’t wait to see what trouble his brilliant mind wanders into next.
Congratulations, Niki!
Credits
Court of the Fallen was created in October of 2018 by Odd, Honey, and Crooked.
OG Skinning provided by Kaons, with functionality and many custom plugins made by Neowulf!
champagne, cocaine, gasoline; and most things in between
Mateo's gasp of horror is soft and theatrical, but not entirely feigned as she calls his fashion sense entirely Torchline, and whilst his hands are too busy pinning and fastening to properly gesture, his eyebrows raise beneath his crown of curls. "If that is true then I have been here for entirely too long, Theea. My home is Stormbreak, and I can assure you that their fashion sense is a lot bette-- er, different than it is down here." Grinning as if to assure her that she hasn't truly caused any offence, straightening up for a moment to look at the dress as a whole.
"I did have a great time," he agrees, his expression fond with the memories, if not a little mischievous. "I also learned how to climb out of windows very quickly to make a quick exit. Though I do not expect many people to be familiar with that experience, so do not fret."
Sweeping back in to accept another ribbon from her to pin it in place, a soft chuckle spills from his lips as he remembers his escapade with Melita on the rooftops. "One lady was particularly upset with us," he recalls. "I think she is the one who called the dragoons. And my father used to be Ludo's chosen, so I understand why you would be wary. Then again, it is also the reason I am alive, so I cannot be too upset at it."
maybe there's a way out of the cage where you live
I grin, laughing as I press a hand to my chest in mock horror. “My deepest apologies for the grievous insult,” I say, though I can’t quite keep the sparkle out of my eyes. “Clearly you’ll have to show me around Stormbreak sometime and expand my fashion horizons. Make me into a true connoisseur.”
His remark about climbing out of windows earns a snort from me, and I shake my head, still snipping away at a ribbon. “Oh, so you’re a scoundrel as well as a seamstress? Noted.” I waggle the ribbon at him like it’s evidence before dropping it onto the growing pile.
I keep cutting for a moment, comfortable in the hum of activity between us—until his casual comment about how he’s alive makes me perk up. “Wait,” I say, pausing with scissors halfway through a strip of silver. “That’s a story I haven’t heard yet. How Mateo came to be. Really, I don’t know any of my cousins’ stories. Those aren’t ones my mom caught wind of.”
champagne, cocaine, gasoline; and most things in between
"I would be delighted to show you around Stormbreak," Mateo says easily, his expression melting into something fond and vaguely homesick. "We can fly up in my skyship and go shopping, I can show you my flower shop, we can get dinner and drinks in the Silk Houses and stargaze up at the Spyglass..." He sighs wistfully. "You will love it, I am sure."
Snagging at the ribbon midair as Theea waggles it and lets it drop, Mateo flashes her a dimpled grin. "Among many other things," he agrees. "Though I am a botanist by trade. As fun as it is to pin ribbons, there is nothing quite like working with the earth." He leans in to set a few more slips of fabric in place, nodding his approval.
It's as he's stepping around her that he hears her next question, letting out a musical laugh and reaching for another ribbon. "Me? I am a dream come true, Theea," he tells her, with all of the brash confidence of someone being quite literal. "My fathers used to each have some degree of control over dreams. They created a little world just for themselves, and imagined a perfect little house and a perfect little family to go with it." He gestures to himself.
"Of course, that meant it was quite difficult for them to want to stay in the real world, and so Remi made a deal with Ludo, and here I am."
maybe there's a way out of the cage where you live
I grin as he paints the picture of Stormbreak, a little of his wistfulness rubbing off on me. “I’ve seen the Celestine and the old Dragoon training grounds,” I say, picturing them in my head, “but I’ve never really had the chance to look at the place. I can’t wait.”
When he mentions being a botanist, I lift a brow in clear intrigue. “That’s… actually a really interesting trade,” I say, glancing down at the fabric in my lap. “What’s your favorite thing about it? What made you want to become a botanist?” I certainly can’t imagine myself ever finding a trade that fits me that neatly.
But then his words about his origin settle in, and I realize I’ve stopped cutting entirely. I can’t help the quiet awe in my voice. “If I could create a life where my family was whole… I think I’d want to stay there too.” I smile faintly, looking over at him. “You must be so loved, to have been born from a dream like that.”
champagne, cocaine, gasoline; and most things in between
"The Celestine is one of the most beautiful places in Caido," Mateo says with the sort of confidence that only comes from walking through a garden blessed by the gods. "Though I cannot confess to have spent much time in the training grounds, despite knowing several dragoons." Or former dragoons now, he ought to say. But whatever.
His eyes light up as she asks more about his trade, Mateo dilligently pinning some more ribbons of fabric to the skirt of her dress, which seems to be coming together very nicely now. "I grew up in the Greatwood before moving to Stormbreak. Between that and our nonna, I have always been interested in plants." Reflextively his hand flutters to his chest, where the necklace of bones sits beneath his shirt. "I particularly enjoy making hybrid species, and extracting the useful parts of plants to concentrate their properties." That's I like to make monsters, drugs and poisons, to you and I.
Straightening up once more, his smile flinches a little at the easy warmth in her words - you must be so loved - and Mateo clears his throat awkwardly. "Something like that," he says, forcing himself to brighten again and gesturing to her outfit. "I think that might be a good start, you know. If more need adding after you sew this together, I think it can be done as a final touch."
maybe there's a way out of the cage where you live
I listen to him talk about plants, a little wistfulness creeping in despite myself. I never got that chance with our nonna—never knew her at all, really. I try not to let the bitterness creep in, try not to blame my mother for all the gaps in my life. I just smile. “Your trade sounds a lot more exciting than I expected,” I admit. “I’d love to see some of your plants one day.”
When his brightness flickers for just a beat before he covers it with cheer, I notice—but I don’t press. That feels like the kind of conversation you save for another time, in private, when trust and maybe a bit of alcohol smooth the edges. So instead I look down at my dress and let my grin widen. “Thank you,” I say warmly. “This looks amazing. I think I could really get used to being your cousin.”
I glance back up at him, eyes bright with easy affection. “I’m already looking forward to next time we get to hang out.”
champagne, cocaine, gasoline; and most things in between
"I will show you it all when I take you on a tour of Stormbreak," Mateo assures her with a sunny, dimpled smile. "I own a flower shop up in the Pacifist Plaza, but I keep all of my interesting work in a laboratory in the back room there." He winks. The sorts of things he studies have a tendency to try to get out if he doesn't keep them behind a locked door, you see. "You just name the time and the place, and I wiill be there."
Privately very relieved that Theea doesn't push the point of his brief discomfort, instead the botanist steps around to help snip a short opening in the back of the dress where she will be able to stitch in some buttons or a clasp; either way, it will allow her to step out of it and be able to look at it properly to begin sewing. "And I can certainly get used to being yours," he agrees, offering a hand to help her out of the soon-to-be outfit.
"As am I. And hey, when you get to Ludo's masquerade, do not do anything that I would not do," he reminds her with a fiendish wink. That leaves her with a very short list of don'ts, granted, but Theea has probably figured that much out already.
maybe there's a way out of the cage where you live
I can’t help smiling a little at the mention of his flower shop, my eyes lighting with curiosity. “I can’t wait to see it,” I say, the words almost bubbling out of me. “Especially these very cryptic things you keep hinting at. You make it sound like you’ve got monsters growing in pots back there.” Hell, he probably does.
As he steps around me to snip the back of the dress, I beam at his answer to being my cousin. And then I snort to his advice regarding masquerade behavior. “That sounds like a very long list of things you would do,” I tease with a laugh. “I don’t think I could ever catch up to your escapades.”
Carefully, I step out of the pinned-together dress, laying it across the table like it’s something delicate and rare. I just… stare at it for a moment, admiration softening my face. “Thank you,” I murmur, my voice warmer than I expect. “Those were my dad’s favorite colors. It means a lot.”
I glance back up at him with a smile that edges toward playful again, tilting my head. “Now… what about yours? Do you want help sewing yours together?”
champagne, cocaine, gasoline; and most things in between
"I do not intend to be cryptic, cugina," Mateo assures her with a sly smile. (And that's the travelling tongue for cousin, between you and me). "It is just that some of the things back there defy an easy description. Also, if I begin talking about them you may have to run away from me in order to get me to stop, so it is best to remain vague." As a botanist, it's not all that surprising that he can talk about plants for hours, but not everyone shares the enthusiasm, he's learned.
Tutting at her playfully and adjusting the dress here and there where she lays it across the table, Mateo steps back and rests a hand on his hip. "Never say never," he tells her. "With some dedication to mischief and shenanigans, I am sure you can make your own list of escapades in no time!"
His expression softens as Theea mentions her father, and he gives her shoulder a warm squeeze. "I think it will turn out beautifully. He would be proud," he says. "And do not worry about my outfit. It will come together at some point - I may even channel something to help me complete it."
maybe there's a way out of the cage where you live
“Run? Absolutely not,” I say with a grin. “I talk enough as it is—it’d be nice to listen to someone else for once. And plants are cool!”
I bend to gather up the scraps we’ve made, shaking my head at his comment about mischief. “Trouble runs in the family, right? I’m sure it’ll find its way to me… or I’ll just accidentally step right into it.”
His hand squeezes my shoulder and I smile, softer this time, looking down at the dress. “I think he would be too,” I murmur, then look back up at him with warmth. “Thank you. This would’ve been a complete mess without your help.”
When he mentions using channeling, I laugh under my breath, brushing hair out of my face. “Probably for the best. I’d just end up poking you with a pin.”
The thought hits me suddenly and I blink, glancing around the table. “…I don’t even have a needle or thread,” I realize aloud, a sheepish laugh following. “Guess I’ll have to go find a stall that sells it.”
champagne, cocaine, gasoline; and most things in between
"Plants are cool," Mateo grins, eyes glittering with the urge to launch into which are his favourites and why, though he tempers it down. He'll save it for when Theea does come up to see Stormbreak, for no other reason than he'll be able to show her the specimens in person while he's explaining. "And it certainly seems to. If we are not getting into some kind of trouble then something is wrong," he agrees of their family, plopping to sit back down at the table.
"Ah, I do not think it would have been a mess. But it was an honour to help you either way, Theea." Smiling, he casually waves a hand at the gathered fabrics he's assembled for his own outfit, as if to say that being poked with a pin is no problem to him, but his attention isn't fixed enough to dedicate as much time on his own outfit.
As for the needle and thread, he lets out a soft laugh and twists around in his seat. "I think I saw a stall selling that sort of thing at one corner of the plaza," he says. "Go, take a look. I can keep your seat," he offers.
maybe there's a way out of the cage where you live
“Exactly. Trouble’s practically a family tradition,” I say, rapping my knuckles lightly against the table as if to knock on wood. “Though so far—thank the gods—mine hasn’t been anything unmanageable since I got here.”
I glance up at him, eyes sparkling. “And mess or not, it was an honor to have your help,” I add, my grin widening. There’s amusement and gratitude behind it both, a little duel over who can compliment the best, and I know full well I’m being silly about it.
When he promises to hold my seat, I beam at him, warmth rising in my chest. “Thanks, Mateo. Don’t let anyone steal it. I like it too much already.”
The marketplace hums with last-minute chaos, music drifting faintly over the chatter of vendors, the air heavy with salt and the smell of food carts. I slip into it with a quick bounce in my step, already imagining what the finished dress will look like—too caught up in the moment to realize I’ve left my money pouch sitting neatly on the table beside my cousin.
