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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!
I feel it in the wind, my dear The sun is gonna reappear
A chill wind blew snow off the rooftops and swirled it along the square. It pulled on her skirts, tangled them up around her legs and whipped her hair before her eyes, obscuring the new gateway from her sight. Pulling off a glove, Maea dragged the White strands from her face and drew in a deep breath to settle the moths storming in her stomach. Turning to face Danta, she habitually began to plaster a smile onto her lips - then remembered the last conversation with him, and with Charlie, and thought better of it.
"I wanted to apologize," she said, cutting straight to the point. "I let myself get carried away and took my worries out on you. For yelling at you, and speaking out of line, I am sorry." It had required a lot of calming down to reach that conclusion. And while there was much she still stood by, this was one thing from their clash that she did regret.
Gazing up at the Theocrat, it was impossible for her to guess at what he was thinking. Danta had always been difficult to read, and more than ever Maea was reminded of how little she actually knew about him.
Let it be said that this time around, Maea chooses her timing impeccably. Having just created something to both better the Hollowed Grounds and also to honour his goddess, not to mention having been fucked by a gorgeous Dygra priestess in the last few minutes alone, Danta is about as easygoing as he's ever going to be.
Still bundled up as he strolls at her side, it doesn't take much to notice that one of his buttons is done up wrong and his hair is a desperate mess that isn't at all caused by the snow and the wind, and as she apologises, of all things, he blinks down at her in mild surprise. "And here I assumed you were planning to shout at me again," he says with a smirk curling across his lips beneath his scarf. "I'm very pleased to be wrong."
One might have expected an apology in turn - and maybe there might still be one, but not right now. "Are we meant to shake hands or something?"
if we're in love or if we're in pain?
Code blatently stolen from queen of codes, Sky!
Horns: Diamond - they look very similar to #2 in this image.
I feel it in the wind, my dear The sun is gonna reappear
Letting out a quivering breath of air, Maea grimaced ruefully and shook her head. "No, I filled my quota for the rest of the year," she murmured, "so unless you really want me to, I'll pass." This felt too easy; the last thing she had expected was a smile and jokes. She would have to treat Charlie to one heck of a shopping spree - no doubt the priestess had a lot to do with Danta's current good mood.
She did extend a hand to him though, with a small smile. "We could. If you'd like to. Or I could give you this." Hauling a small bottle from a pocket with her other hand, Maea offered it to Danta. "It's rum, from Torchline. Not really my taste, but I hear it's supposed to be good." A token of apology, or a bribe; he was free to interpret the gift however he wished.
"Not just now, thanks. If I get into a degradation kink in the next few weeks, though, I'll look you up," Danta says with a casual wave of a gloved hand. And she absolutely does owe Charlie a shopping spree and no shortage of other gifts, because as they trudge through the Inner Quarter, it's as if their previous argument has never happened. (Then again that might also just be the Maverick, whose mood spins on a dime).
Slowing his steps as she extends her hand, he's already clasping it before she produces the bottle of rum, and his eyebrows raise. "Bribery? Now we're talking," he purrs, clearly delighted. (And that answers that). Accepting the bottle in his free hand, it's with only the slightest narrowing of his eyes that he pauses. "This doesn't make you Ambassador again, though," he says slowly, as if realising he might be agreeing to something he's very much not ready to do.
if we're in love or if we're in pain?
Code blatently stolen from queen of codes, Sky!
Horns: Diamond - they look very similar to #2 in this image.
With the Hollowed Grounds’ alterations in landscape, some of the animals have grown a bit wilder. A bit bolder.
So while it may surprise some, and others not at all, a crow swoops down, snatching at clothing and bags with sharp, irritating, and annoying talons. Maybe you just lost a piece of bread, or a valuable keepsake!
I feel it in the wind, my dear The sun is gonna reappear
Her hand disappeared in his, and though it was only a symbolical gesture it served it's purpose in making the whole situation feel real. Maea felt shaky with relief, weak at the knees after worrying and ruminating over far more dreadful outcomes.
Even the permanent loss of her position was easy to swallow compared to potentially losing a friend. Maea nodded slowly, relinquishing both bottle and hand so she could tuck hers away into the pockets of her coat. "I know. Didn't expect it to." Tilting her head back to gaze up at the overcast sky, she shrugged one shoulder. "It's probably for the best. I'm not good at telling people what they want to hear. It was fun, though, while it lasted."
A raucous cry sounded from above. Anything else she had been about to say was forgotten as a crow came darting their way. Instinctively Maea threw a hand over her head to shield her eyes - though it appeared to be focused on Danta in particular.
"Oh, good." Slumping his shoulders and retrieving one hand so he might admire the rum she's gifted him properly, the Maverick's approval comes in the form of a gentle nod. Clearly a decent vintage. He's about to pocket the bottle and remark a little wryly to the pale Ancient as to who, exactly, had fun when, lo and behold, a familiar dark shape comes divebombing them.
And you know, Danta has had quite the fuck enough of it.
"Not this time--" Slipping the bottle away and reaching out, he manages to actively snatch the crow from the air, glaring at it dead in the eyes. "Cut. Your shit. Out." He scowls.
It croaks at him.
And that's that, it feels - only when Danta releases the corvid, she flutters and hops a bit before settling this time on his shoulder. He doesn't really notice or care.
"Want to go to the Dusklight and crack this open?" he asks Maea, patting at his pocket.
if we're in love or if we're in pain?
Code blatently stolen from queen of codes, Sky!
Horns: Diamond - they look very similar to #2 in this image.
I feel it in the wind, my dear The sun is gonna reappear
That was quite possibly one of the more peculiar sights she had seen in a long time. Lowering her arm and turning her gaze between Danta and the crow with growing curiosity, Maea wondered if she ought to say something about the way it settled on his shoulder.
"Uh, yeah, sure." Falling in beside him as they steered the path towards the Last Whisper, she walked in silence for a while. "Do you.. want to talk about it? Why we argued?" Glancing up at him, Maea was not exactly eagerto reopen any wounds. But not did she want to end up in that situation again. According to Asta, the Maverick had just as much difficulty trusting people as she did... and she had realized it was not how she wanted things to stay.
Pointedly deciding not to acknowledge the crow or her position on his shoulder (if he looks, it's real), instead Danta nods his acceptance of their plan and turns as well towards the Last Whisper. With the ruddy glow of the bonfire still at their backs, it's a pleasant enough walk, until of course Maea needs to bring up their argument and the Maverick lets out a petulant groan, tilting his head up towards the sky.
"Gods, do we have to?" He huffs, rubbing a hand across his forehead. "It doesn't matter now, does it? Just... know that just because you don't agree with something, doesn't make it wrong. Or cowardly." He shrugs. "You've never had to live under someone's heel and pretend you like it. That's a privilege."
if we're in love or if we're in pain?
Code blatently stolen from queen of codes, Sky!
Horns: Diamond - they look very similar to #2 in this image.
I feel it in the wind, my dear The sun is gonna reappear
Glancing askance at him, she chewed the inside of her cheek. Maybe they didn't have to, but they probably should. His comment proved as much, because it showed how little he understood about the place he was ruling. Or her own experiences. Maea realized she had herself to blame for that.
"But I have," she replied, quiet and matter of fact. "I was born in a prison. That's what this place was, you know? A cage for the Voice to keep her contained. The rest of us were just collateral, a sacrifice for the greater good. And I was abandoned. Not only shunned by the gods, but by most people too. I spent most of my life keeping my head down and apologizing for something I had no control over. I may not have had a sword over my head, but I really do know what it's like to not have a voice. Or a choice."
Rubbing the back of her neck, she wet her lips with a quick swipe of the tongue. "That's why I hate the idea of being pushed back down to that place. After just getting out of it..." Maea shook her head. The mere thought was enough to have her blood run cold.
Biting his tongue not to interrupt and scowling off into the snow as Maea speaks, the Maverick ends up sighing out a long breath that clouds the air in front of him. There are similarities between their situations, certainly, if you squint your eyes and look at it from a funny angle, but there are also far too many differences, too, and he has to stop himself from picking at wounds so recently scabbed over.
"That's where you didn't understand," he says eventually. "You thought us deciding not to fight every battle at every opportunity meant I'd let this place get trampled underfoot. That's right, isn't it?" He tilts his head at her. "Just because I live today doesn't mean I won't fight tomorrow. Especially for this place. What used to be your prison is my first taste of freedom."
if we're in love or if we're in pain?
Code blatently stolen from queen of codes, Sky!
Horns: Diamond - they look very similar to #2 in this image.
I feel it in the wind, my dear The sun is gonna reappear
"Yes," she agreed, nodding almost eagerly when he put his finger right on the spot that had triggered her so badly. Relieved that he understood. "I don't mean to dismiss or diminish your experiences, I hope you know that. Just, all I've seen of you up until now has been this," she gestured to all of his considerable self, so seemingly carefree and independent, "so when it sounded as if you didn't intend to fight at all, I was... shocked. Disappointed, even. It didn't fit with the man who told me he was going to make this place better than any of the others." She grimaced. "I jumped to conclusions. I'm sorry."
It felt good though, to hear him say he wouldn't let the Grounds get overrun. A knot of unease dissolved within, letting her breathe easier.
Snorting under his breath as she gestures to him and shrugging his shoulders (something that causes the crow to flap her wings before settling again) the Maverick turns to lead them down into the Last Whisper. "You couldn't dismiss something you didn't know about," he says, fairly reasonably all things considered - and yes, again, it's all about that timing.
Waving away her apology this time and making a beeline for the Dusklight, Danta clearly believes that the best way to put water under this bridge is to drink it there. "This place is better than any of the others," he confirms at the very least, sounding quietly certain of it. "Especially with the portal almost finished, and with Charlie here now. Astaroth is getting a new shrine underway, too."
if we're in love or if we're in pain?
Code blatently stolen from queen of codes, Sky!
Horns: Diamond - they look very similar to #2 in this image.
I feel it in the wind, my dear The sun is gonna reappear
Blinking in surprise, she quieted. Her points had been made, no new arguments had flared up - what was this new Danta? She had been prepared for a far longer debate before reaching this point, and was almost disappointed that she wouldn't get to explain more. Almost.
But for once she didn't press her luck. Listening to Danta instead, she held the door for him as they reached the Dusklight, humming thoughtfully as she considered the statement. That a new shrine was being built was new. "That's good. Where will it go, do you know?" The warmth of the establishment chased the chill from her bones, and the began to peel the coat off, glad for a chance to unburden herself.
