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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!
His brow should’ve remained questionably and curiously arched for the entire duration, scanning both faces – first the Evergreen’s with quick grins, to the infant’s, and then treading lightly over towards the folder. Placing his bag down, and all its containments, so he could apprise his full attention upon the bared gift, he lifted the lid of the sleeve to gaze down upon the emblazoned macaroni artwork.
It had all the touch of Erebos’ juvenile chaos (he could imagine the child’s hands moving each piece around and Evie clinging to clue in hopes it would manage and stay,) and the Evergreen’s hardy persistence and stubborn tenacity. More affecting and stirring were the sentiments alone – striving to find something poignant and uplifting for the Sword, when he knew it could be a difficult measure. “A fine piece,” he noted with clear pride, holding it up in distinction and reverence as if it was a masterpiece and oeuvre; a massive grin emboldening his features. He took a moment to snag charcoal nearby and write the date (preserving for future teasing), before maneuvering around the counter and placing it along the fridge. “Such work needs to be displayed and shown off,” he mentioned to both, selecting a magnet to polish off the portions.
From there he placed a kiss on both their crowns, with a generous rumble of gratitude. “Thank you,” and perhaps a sentimental notion that they could easily peel away the layers of apprehension and trepidation now for things with far more meaning. A tease to follow, as his hands went to grasp at his bag. “Would you like yours?”
normality is a paved road comfortable to walk, but where no flowers grow
The delicate balance of cooking is thankfully perfectly wrapping up as she begins plating the simple breakfast, allowing her time to watch Deimos’ reaction. Her grin is immediate and self-satisfied. It’s clear he adores it, and her heart swells with love to see him so affected by a sentimental but otherwise simple effort.
“We’re conspiring to make another that says ‘Go Away’ for your office door,” she confides like a secret in hushed asides, blue eyes practically twinkling with mirth. “Your choice if it’s a smile or a frown.” Either option would be equally amusing, and it’s currently the upper limit of Erebos’ artistic abilities.
She leans into him as he kisses her hair, even if it’s only for a moment. Holding out one of the plates she uses it to bump into his chest slightly to usher him back toward the table. “Of course, but take this first or it’ll go cold. I need more hands anyway.” Not that her negging can conceal the excitement on her face as she sets her own plate down and immediately flexes her fingers in a ‘gimme’ motion the second they’re free. Domesticity comes in so many endearing forms she’d never anticipated as a young woman, and this charming shared lack of wrapping and presentation for gifts is one of them. There is so much to worry and dread, but these pockets of happiness are what keep her from forgetting all the good things she has that make fighting worth it.
While all the dread and trepidation would never quite leave his frame; not after it had spent a lifetime carving its way through his ribs, his soul, he wouldn’t relegate it to the forefront when there were moments like this. A conspiring laugh followed suit, imagining the outfitted macaroni, pasta, glue, and crayons adorning his office door. “Please. That would be most generous of you.” Wrinkling his nose in Erebos’ direction, he stayed slightly out of the way of sticky fingers, ruffling the youth’s hair while he took plates over to the table. “A frown would be delightful.” And could convey every ounce of how he felt about being in such confined areas at any given moment.
While she served breakfast, he snagged at the tomes in his bag, keeping them behind his broad back childishly until she was ready. At the ‘gimme’ hand signal, he snorted, grabbing hold of the first and placing it within her outreach – a plant book, adorned with a variety of ferns, flowers, and other ornamental designs on the cover, and certainly massive enough to keep her occupied in all manner of greenhouse potential. “You did not have that one yet,” he countered, waiting, because he’d always been observant of either of their libraries. Waiting until she’d accepted the first, he yielded the second; a much more humorous designation. “The next in that series of yours,” a newly released gem of her romanticized fantasy books; with the outlandish cover and title to suit.
normality is a paved road comfortable to walk, but where no flowers grow
Evie’s grin nearly splits her face with mischievous delight at the immediate conspiratorial agreement. Had she expected it from him? Absolutely. It’s still delightful. “Give him a year or two and we can update it with glitter.” Her laugh is nearly a cackle as she envisions the monstrous, toddler equivalent of a ‘fuck off’ hanging on Deimos’ office door. Someday - as soon as the combination of Erebos and glitter doesn’t make her skin crawl with terror.
Deimos hiding the gifts behind his back makes her chortle, covetous gesture only intensifying until the first item is revealed. Then she’s too busy gawking over the weight of the tome - and then the cover, which she recognizes. “I didn’t! They just released it a few seasons ago!” Practically vibrating, she flips through a few pages and a few muffled squeaks of excitement sneak out as she drinks in the diagrams and formulas that flit past. Magic or no magic, she’ll always be an apothecarist at heart.
The next book slides over the first, forcing her to close it, and Evie yelps a startled laugh as her face goes red all at once. There’s no need for embarrassment (technically) given she reads these in front of him but there’s a playful amount of cringing that always comes with discussing the elephant in the room. Face hot but nevertheless laughing with delight, Evie flips the book over to read the synopsis because trashy romance or not she’s invested. It also conveniently hides the atrocious cover. “How in the world did you buy this?! Did you swear the seller to secrecy?” If rumors that Deimos reads trashy smut start spreading she’s going to laugh herself sick - and then grovel for all she’s worth.
Blue eyes bright with mirth in her pink face, Evie shakes her head while laughing and leans onto her toes to kiss Deimos firmly. “I love them, thank you honey. And between us, the botany book is the one I read first.” Deimos would never share her secrets - even secrets as innocent as enjoying risqué fantasy romance books - but her impish grin makes it clear she finds the idea of him becoming her co-conspirator in presenting a studious facade more fun to envision.
“Glitter,” earned exactly the expression she probably expected – a wrinkled nose and sudden, but stealthily hidden, horror. Probably more for themselves than anyone else, but quick notions about utilizing incantations to clean up impending messes relaxed him a tad.
Besides, he was far too occupied in watching reactions from his gifts to worry too much about impending monstrosities. His own grin matched hers as she began to tear through the first, taking the opportunity to grab the copy of the indestructible board book to Erebos, witnessing his widening eyes and stubby fingers grasp hold and flail it around a bit.
The smutty bombardments cast Evie’s way made him laugh though; the inside joke still rampant. “No. I think I scared most of them in the shop.” Multitudes had shied away, which had been his preference anyway. And though he had no use for the trashy accompaniments, they made the Evergreen happy. “And you are welcome,” even if he didn’t believe her, casting another wink towards her regardless.
