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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!
and you'll wake up all alone, on an old beat-down dirt country road and you'll crawl back through fire and snow
Chuckling a low sound of agreement, the butcher nods toward Thal with that same bright grin he’d had, distracted from any previous difficulties in regards to corvids of any kind. “It never hurts to have a fall back.” He agrees with a playful hum, a twitch of a smirk on his face. However, as she looks to his own grouping, the butcher grins wider and lifts them so that she can see each option. The blood red one with the starburst cut, then the dark grey that looked like it was a poor attempt at quilting. “I did, yes. I imagine he would appreciate these options.” He doesn’t have much time to dwell on it, either, satisfied with his gut instinct.
“For myself, I was searching for a waistcoat.” He confirms, before he exhales a small and amused sigh. “I have not seen anything here, admittedly.” Though his features pinch a little in confusion as he thinks about it. “At least, nothing for my normal attire. I am sure Danta would have a field day with options for my security detail.” He sighs a little dramatically, inclining his head toward her to the side as his dark gaze slips from the racks of clothing back toward her with an amused smile.
He wasn’t the biggest fan of the security outfit, but he did know it gave him quite a severe appearance. “It is certainly for the patrons more than myself.” He adds with a slightly wider twitch of his smile. Typically, it was set with clothing with cut outs not unlike this one for Danta, but in a way that revealed the scars on his back, the ones he typically opted to keep hidden. Pair that with a sleek rest of his exterior and an intricate muzzle and yeah, nobody messed up enough to get the butcher involved on those days. And that was nice.
She smiles at the questionable choices, content with those selections at least, but as for Asta, things seem to be more complicated. Having not seen him in his security attire (and certainly not the muzzle), she doesn't quite understand his meaning; however, she can read between the lines better than most people, and she doesn't have any difficulty catching how it's not for him. Whether it's the pinched smiles or the dramatic sighs, she just knows.
Shrugging her shoulders dismissively, Thal gives him a feral smile and spins on her heel. "Then I think it's best we find another store, because you deserve something for you." There's no room for argument in the clipped sound of her boots or the determined lift of her head as she makes her way back to the changing room, and within minutes, she's at his side again, items secured and ready to pursue their next task with a challenging glint in her eyes. "Lead the way." What might be incorrectly perceived as an eager young woman enthusiastic about shopping is more accurately described as a pirate captain delivering an order for a thrilling mission, expecting to be obeyed and refusing anything other than victory.
and you'll wake up all alone, on an old beat-down dirt country road and you'll crawl back through fire and snow
Perhaps one of those days that she deigns to visit the Dusklight he will be wearing it. But only time would tell, and as she makes her decision that they should continue their explorations, the butcher beams an easier smile toward her with a nod of agreement from his horned head. “Yes.” He did deserve something for himself. All of this work had been dreadfully hard, after all.
So while she changes back, the butcher purchases their items, and by the time she’s returned and given her order, the butcher snorts and nods his head. She’s put up with his shenanigans, so the least he could do is give into hers as well.
Not unlike her crew, the butcher obeys and guides her back out of the shop to the plaza again, aiming this time for the stuffier portions — a unique store that harbored quite a variety of suits and the like. Inside is less chaotic than the previous store had been, with multitudes of varying fabrics and colors likely imported. And already the butcher is avoiding the series of purple hues in favor for the golds or reds. It’s an entire isle on its own, varying patterns on the suits and waistcoats sprinkled throughout.
“I have plenty of floral patterned ones.. Perhaps something different?” He muses half to himself and half to Thalassa, his dark gaze drifting toward her as his tail flicks low against his ankles.
There's no surprise in her eyes as Asta follows her order, knowing that she's left him with little choice in the matter, but she still flashes him a cocky grin as she joins him on the street. They make quite an odd sight, all fanged grins and pointy edges, each dangerous in their own strange way that has people staring glancing as they pass. Thal doesn't mind, no longer hiding her Ancient features behind a hood, if anything, her tail flicks a little sharper as she walks by his side.
Their next shop is very different than the previous, more 'prim' and 'proper' with its tailored waists and stiff collars, elaborate textiles and precise stitching. She's somewhat impressed by the sight, her eyes roving the displays - because they're much too intricate to be just 'racks' anymore. Thal gets the feeling that stealing something from here might make her a fortune, but she shuts down that line of thinking as Asta leads them with obvious intent. If it isn't black, she isn't the most skilled shopper, but she spots a waistcoat with swirling patterns of glinting black embroidery over a deep gray while another has an elegant pattern of diamond shaped texture running down the breast of its golden fabric. Trailing her slender fingers along the lapel, she asks, "Like one of these? Or something more... garish?" Her eyebrow raises curiously, wondering what exactly the Butcher might be searching for between simple and baffling.
and you'll wake up all alone, on an old beat-down dirt country road and you'll crawl back through fire and snow
Drifting toward the warmer colors, the butcher’s attention lingers on a specific wine dark hue that nearly matches the one he’d picked out for Danta. However, as she finds some options, Astaroth abandons the red to head toward the gold she’s currently running her fingers along the lapel of.
“Oh, this is lovely.” He hums softly, appreciating the diamond pattern and the gold, trying to recall how much gold he actually had in his wardrobe. If nothing else, it matched the offset earrings in his ears — courtesy of the Maverick.
Running his own fingers along the fabric to feel the softness and stiffness of it, he seems quite pleased by it as he plucks it from the rack and looks back at Thalassa playfully. “Not too garish, of course. This is a beautiful find.” And it’s clear the tall Ancient is going to buy it.
Draping it over his arm, he snags another one in the grey, similarly to the first one she’d found, but it harbors a unique pattern of embroidery in a deep burgundy. Collecting that one, too, he flashes her a grin — not needing to try them on when he can bring them back to his favorite tailor. “Shall we, then?” His mood has vastly improved by now, and he thinks that the trek back home this time would be much easier than it had been getting here.
Flattered by him agreeing with her a second time that day, Thal's smile is sweeter, full of self-satisfaction as she leans on her usual playfulness. "Glad to know I'm not totally useless." She may not enjoy shopping as a hobby, but it's nice to know she has an eye for quality, and even more surprising - that she knows Asta well enough to find something that matches his preferences.
She chuckles at his decisive enthusiasm, the way he simply gathers his choices in his arms, no hint of hesitation or uncertainty. "As long as you're happy." Someone who didn't know her might find the flat statement rude or sarcastic, but there's a deeper meaning that lingers, one that Asta might recognize as genuine pleasure. Her head shakes in disbelief, but her smile remains, satisfied to see his mood so much improved. At least she knows exactly how to cheer him up next time.
