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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!
You will never do anything in this world without courage.
Zavien felt like a child who'd spilt their milk or wet the bed. He'd made a mess of everything and everyone knew it by the dark, rancid stickiness darkening the fabric of his shirt. It was hard to tell if it was originally tan or if it had always been a puke green. Nodding at Koa's instructions, he lifted the barrel to lug it away.
Lucky for him, in continued to slosh against the sides, adding his sleeves and chest to the list of casualties. Perhaps it was punishment for almost losing the ring. Zavien tried to contain his expressions, but an unmistakable crinkle of his nose and watering of his eyes was evident of the embarrassment putrid scent. By the time he dumped the barrel of slorp into the disposal, it looked like he'd slid through the substance. Even as he walked away, the smell followed him.
Thinking better of his choices, he stripped off his shirt and dropped it in with the barrel's contents, having no desire to try cleaning the clothing. It was a lost cause anyways.
He then walked shirtless across the Plaza, attracting a few confused and appreciative glances at his physique that he failed to notice as he wiped his eyes. Zavien disappeared into his house, which sat just off the square, reemerging with a black shirt (a smarter decision on his part). Although the visible nastiness was gone, the smell appeared to have seeped into his skin and he grabbed a flower growing nearby to try distracting his nose. He'd need about fifteen baths after this. Reluctant to accost anyone else with his smell, Zavien rejoined the others at a distance.
Zavien disposes of the barrel and changes his shirt.
The whole event had spiraled into one of those silly comedy shows; they very well could have been performing on a stage in the Plaza at this point. Her eyes widened as she watched, back and forth, from Koa’s rampant cursing, the soft plink of the ring, Pip’s grabbing of said object, Zavien covered in the sludge, and then all the way to Everest’s bribery attempts with a long, slow breath. “Gods,” she whispered, and then tried not to laugh – because between the stench, the ridiculous charades, and the sudden relief, she couldn’t help but start giggling.
It didn’t stop while she scrubbed either, though she did try to whisper her apologies to the Dragoon. “Sorry. It’s just been so ridiculous.” She sent a hum of appreciation towards the dragon too, for the way things have been salvaged, and persisted in scraping away any more portions of the nasty mess.
"Like something out of a bad play," Koa agrees, grinning at Lena across the fountain. A farce, to be sure, but so far nothing has gone disastrously wrong.
Everest takes the bribe thing more seriously than he needs to, something Koa really should have foreseen. Smug and delighted at this turn of events, Pipsqueak pads behind the Aviator amiably, the ring still clenched in needle teeth. She watches his shopping with the attention of a predator who has learned the virtues of getting others to do the 'hunting' part, her ferret-like body perched in a sitting position, long, plush tail thrashing the ground. Ever's theatrics elicit a growl, the dragonling already licking her lips. Lowering the ring onto the ground, she eyes the offered morsel speculatively...
...then springs up abruptly, leaping onto Everest's shoulder as she goes for the larger withheld piece, ready to swallow it in one gulp.
By the time the dragon is bribed and the Dragoon is dressed, Koa and Lena will have finished the hard work of fountain cleaning. Rising up into a stretch, the youngest of their party glances around to make sure no new disaster is about to occur. "What do you say we break for lunch, then finish with the rest of the trash?" It might not have been the most productive morning, but at least the fountain is clean, and their harebraned plan to get Ever to touch the ring seems to have worked.
Last round! Reconvene, break for lunch, and we'll finish the cleanup after we eat!
"Ahem." Ever tuts mildly as the dragonling finds her way onto his shoulder, greedily aiming for the piece of meat he'd been saving as a proper bargaining chip. "Manners." He reminds the little creature, and as he holds out the meat for her to take, mindful of keeping his fingers back a safe distance, he slyly palms the ring with his free hand and slips it into his pocket.
Walking toward Koa either with or without a draconic pauldron, the aviator tips him a wink to silently communicate that all had gone according to plan, which, no it hasn't you boob, but of course Everest doesn't know that.
"How are things in the Celestine, Lena?" The aviator asks conversationally, having never really had the opportunity to speak with the caretaker unless it was just before or after their regular council meetings of which she no longer attended.
All in all, the commotion seemed to have gone into some amount of success; even if they were a bit wearier and exhausted from some of the strategies put into place. Putting her things away, and surveying the cleaner fountain now with a myriad of satisfaction, lunch sounded fantastic. Her attention turned back to Everest at his inquiry though, surprised somewhat, given how last interactions within council meetings had gone.
But she’d remain steadfastly polite if he was. “Did you end up getting the ring?” Her brows raised upwards, impressed after everything, with a smile to match. “They’re all right. Keeps me busy. How are things with you?”
You will never do anything in this world without courage.
Joining the rest of the group, he surveyed their faces for any signs that they could smell him. As long as no one was gagging, Zavien supposed he should count it as a win, especially considering that Everest now held the ring. That had to be worth it, right? Right?
The mention of food was more than welcome and he visibly sagged. "That would be divine." As if to confirm his anticipation, a large rumble came from his stomach, making his ears flush red as he ran a hand through his hair. To distract from it, he lingered on the edge of Lena and Everest's conversation. Nodding to the man, he added, "Thanks for your help earlier! I would have been beside myself if I'd lost that ring." It definitely wasn't a lie. Zavien also wasn't sure he could've faced Lena or Koa again in this lifetime.
Ever doesn't need to speak companion to be able to interpret Pip's unimpressed look; manners have no priority where food is concerned. But she does acquiesce at least somewhat, displaying a marked gentleness in the collection of the snack.
In other words, she doesn't bite Everest. Which is really the most he can expect.
With rings gathered and bellies full, the afternoon session goes off without a hitch. By the time the sun has started to set the Plaza is spick and span, litter gathered and fountain clean, the water within no longer rancid brown. Not until the next big party, at least.
"Great work, team!" Koa beams to his friends and helpers, smiling face sporting a streak of dirt. "Lena, you sure you don't wanna join the Dragoons? We could always use a dragon handler," He laughs, only half joking as he eyes his own chaotic companion.
With a final knowing glance his co-conspirators way, Koa turns his grin the Aviator's way. "Ever, when are we grabbing that drink?" He asks brightly, reaching out to grasp his friends shoulder and then stopping as he remembers Ever's aversion to touch. It's such a familiar dance of well intentioned bumbling that for a second Koa forgets about the whole infected with space germs thing, transported to easier, simpler times.
"Sure did!" Everest confirms with an easy smile, before his expression grows polite as he nods. "About the same. There's talk of expanding some of the flight paths, so we'll see." He mumbles conversationally, before turning his attention from Lena and to Zavien. "No problem at all. Here—" Reaching into his pocket the aviator pulls out the ring, offering it out to the other man to take.
Thinking nothing at all of the entire ordeal, being infected hadn't given Everest sudden insight into the actions of others so that could be crossed off the is of possible side-effects, the aviator matched the dragoon's grin. Despite the jilted motion, Ever uncharacteristically doesn't shy away from Koa's outstretched hand, and had he continued the motion, the dragoon would have felt the gesture reciprocated.
"Anytime you like, just name the where and when. I'm in Torchline pretty frequently these days, but I can definitely make time."
07-26-2024, 05:18 PM (This post was last modified: 07-26-2024, 06:27 PM by Zavien.)
You will never do anything in this world without courage.
Zavien tried not to snatch the ring back, terror beginning to recede as the metal touched his hand. He slipped it onto his finger with a sign of undisguised relief. If he'd been the reason they lost Safrin's gift... he couldn't even think about how he would face the others. So with a visual sagging of his shoulders, he smiled gratefully at Everest. "Thank you."
As he listened to the man converse with the others, he wondered at the reasoning for having invited Everest. Nothing about him seemed infected. The Attuned was polite, helpful, and overall friendly. He didn't have any horns or purple eyes. Nothing seemed unusual to his own eyes. Had they gotten it wrong? Would Safrin consider their quest complete if Everest wasn't really tainted by the Void? Pushing aside his worries, Zavien just tried to appreciate the fact that he hadn't lost the ring altogether, enjoying the company of friends for now.
