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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!
Remi’s return to the grill is heralded not just by a clink of cold bottles but by a flicker of mischief tugging at the corners of his mouth. One beer is passed smoothly to Ronin with a press of fingers warm from the sun, and the other is cracked open for himself before the Bastion takes a slow, indulgent sip. "Apron confidence and meat," he echoes under his breath, gaze skimming down his husband with appreciation that is absolutely not subtle. "I’d argue you’re overqualified."
His attention swings next to the newcomers, and with a fond, familiar warmth, he tips his bottle in greeting to Hadama. Then it’s Nova and Calypso —all colour and sunshine and chaos. Remi gives a low laugh as Nova plants a kiss on Ronin’s cheek, raising his eyebrows and lifting his bottle in an approving toast. "You’re welcome to kiss the cook, but remember who he belongs to." The warning is theatrical at best, softened by the curl of amusement in his voice. "Good to see you both."
To Sunjata, Remi’s smirk sharpens just a touch."Ohho," he hums, feigning scandal as he glances sidelong at his husband. "If Ronin lets you touch the grill after turning me down, I will have to fight someone." There’s zero actual heat behind it, of course, and to make the joke clear he wiggles his fingers midair—where claws form in a shimmer of gold and bone before he promptly uses one to skewer a sizzling bit of meat off the edge of the grill with surgical precision.
Code blatently stolen from queen of codes, Sky!
Speaks with a thick Italian accent.
Force and magic can be used against Remi without permission.
05-04-2025, 08:11 PM (This post was last modified: 05-04-2025, 09:15 PM by Koa.)
I don't want to wonder if this is a blunder
Koa follows Kaisel with more resignation than enthusiasm, his arms crossed over the blue tank top that kisses flamingo-printed shorts. "There's no such thing as being late to a Torchline party - the things never end," he grumbles, albeit without much heart. Between trying to keep an eye on Noe and trying not to cast constant glances toward where Flora and Sohalia sparkle and laugh and generally loom like the two-headed specter of all Koa's heartache and regret, he's feeling pretty overwhelmed. At least there's plenty of meat on hand, offering a delicious distraction from all the other fucked-up shit.
His plate fully loaded with sticky meat, Koa has a slice of brisket shoved halfway in his mouth when Melita manifests beside them, all chaos in a fiery shell. "Mel!" he greets around the mouthful, the word barely decipherable. Swallowing down the poorly timed BBQ, he tries once again. "Have y'all met? Mel, this is my cousin, Kaisel, and my sister, Noe." He gestures with his fork to each one, then turns back to Melita, a mischievous grin spreading beneath mirrored aviators. "And this is Melita the Honeybee, zombie demigoddess of Ludo, mistress of ducks, and single-handedly responsible for the recent baloonpocalypse in the Nest, if you recall."
Koa
When I kiss your lips I want to sink down to the bottom of the sea
He's gathered a plate of assorted foods, though it's mostly meat because, well it all looked good. Especially the shrimp. He's midway through tearing a shrimp from a skewer when he catches the glint of Flora and Soh. They're distant still, and he offers a hand wave in greeting when they glance over, but simultaneously alarm bells peal inside his head. He steps back beside Koa, a quiet offer of support, as he gulps down his grilled seafood.
"You good?" he checks in carefully, though he's sure the answer will be a hissed no, full of accusation for bringing him here. Truthfully, Kaisel just likes a good party, something he thinks Koa and Noe both could do with a bit more. He hadn't really thought too much about the other people that would be at the party, although he kinda hopes something happens between all of them because the limbo they're skating through has got to be even worse. After getting in a bit too deep with Flora on her boat though, Kaisel is trying his best not to get more involved than necessary. He's said enough, and Koa can manage his heart just fine on his own, kinda. Well, actually he can't, at all, but Kaisel can't either so they're fucked.
As Melita approaches with a warm greeting, Kaisel stills, frantically wracking his brain for who she is. Because she doesn't say, hey, Koa! She just says hey! while staring at them both. Thankfully Kaisel isn't left treading water for long as Koa's returned and enthusiastic greeting clarifies and demystifies the stranger. "Hey Melita the Honeybee, zombie demigodess of Ludo, mistress of ducks, and baloonpocalypse creator," he grins. "So, what exactly does being a mistress of ducks entail?" He's expecting her to be fluent in quacks.
Blowin' up I'm fucking flawless
Wearing a watery blue, faded and stretched-out sparkling hair tie on his left wrist
champagne, cocaine, gasoline and most things in between
Eating a chicken wing in one and gracefully setting the bones down on his plate, Mateo's smirk follows a beat after Vesper's appears, licking his fingers and shrugging towards the glittering waves in the near distance. "There is still time," he says. "And I do my best not to disappoint. The waves do love company though, so I've heard." And if he's going to be shirtless and bobbing around in the shallows, why not have the demigod join him? At least an hour after eating, of course.
Plopping down onto the towel in the shade at the offered space Vesper makes, Mateo works about dismantling a pineapple ring and flicks his gaze to the rest of the barbecue - which is fairly buzzing by now, he notes. "Why not both?" he wonders idly, tipping the other man a wink. "I can stir up trouble while relaxing, no? But for right now, I am content to play the part of interested observer," he decides - especially as Koa shows up at last, providing the last dramatic piece of the puzzle he's been mentally building in his mind.
"In particular I am wondering how far my friend is going to shove his foot into his mouth today." He nods at the Dragoon and nibbles at his pineapple. "He is involved, more or less, with both my sister and her best friend. It is a wonder he has not been slapped just yet."
I roam the city in a shopping cart a pack of Camels and a smoke alarm
Eating fire is your ambition to swallow the flame down
The brief introductions made her snort, then snicker, standing a little taller so she could fulfill her role as mistress of ducks and balloonapocalypses. Very proud instead of ashamed, her eyes flickered over to Noe nearby; as she knew her well, remembering the brief broadcasts from earlier and y’know, wondering about all of that shit.
But instead of voicing it out loud, look some discretion, she glanced back at this younger version of Koa in Kaisel. “Eh, I just summon them from time to time,” she gathered by way of explanation – which barely did it justice. “My brand is mischief, regardless,” and then she reached into her bag, pulling out several rubber ducks in her hand to display the ridiculous prowess. Some were glittered. Some were very tiny. And some were the spitting image of various flowers. Except…with a beak.
to be lit up from within, vein by vein to be the sun
daydream about me, and i know that you hate the nights without me
Deftly keeping his attention on the fringes of Ronin while he speaks, Sunjata can’t help the bubble of a laugh that escapes him as he rolls his eyes. “Finally, something I’m good at.” These days, at least. But his smile twists toward Remi as he snags a plate, letting his soft laugh continue as he nods his head and situates himself beside Remi in a strange shift of how things had been leading up to last year.
“Could go all kraken and give us all the complete Torchline meal? Dinner and a show?” A crooked smile is flashed toward Remi, the bouncing of his brows an indicator that he’d very much like to see it, before he’s snagging a ramphire burger from the plate where the meats have finished cooking and gets to finishing up adding the toppings to his burger.
SUNJATA
No permission needed for power play!
Feel free to use magic/force on Sunjata, without killing him <3
Sunjata speaks with an Australian accent and has a passive magic that makes him produce a subtle scent that matches exactly to whatever those around him most desire him to smell like.
Flora was as perfectly wonderful as she always was, pulling Soh and Theea in as though sharing a secret with giggles and fun; she smelled of the sea, and the beach, and of the cherry lip gloss that Soh always begged to borrow, and Soh couldn't help but laugh along as she explained their current game to Theea - a game that she failed horribly as Koa arrived, and she glanced his way from beneath the dark sunglasses that Flora had loaned her. Then she turned back to Theea, studiously pretending that she hadn't slipped up. "Oh, totally," she assured the girl. "We can work out the details later, but it'll be nice to have some company!"
Flora turned the attention to Ronin and Remi. Ronin, she'd met several times and liked, even if he had left her hanging in her plans to retake Stormbreak. Remi, though, she'd yet to meet personally. At Flora's offer, Theea seemed a bit nervous, and Soh reached out across Flora to squeeze her arm, a friendly smile on her lips. "We've got you," she said reassuringly. "Don't stress."
there's no life without you here
Minor powerplay allowed without permission.
Feel free to use force/magic on Sohalia.
Ever since their failed expedition to Halo, Noe had been wary of trips with Koa. But she loved Torchline, and when he'd suggested a Longheat trip to the beach with Kaisel, she hadn't been able to say no. Besides, she knew what he was up to now - and therefore, she reasoned, she could avoid any attempts to "cure" her. Arriving alongside her brother and cousin, Noe was dressed in a black bikini with a white and gold sarong wrapped around her hips, and she was almost as eager to get to sunbathing as she was to partake in the barbecue portion of the event.
Still, the smell of cooking meat was delicious, and she'd selected a cheeseburger for herself by the time the trio were approached by a familiar-looking redhead. Melita, Noe remembered just as Koa introduced her. "Dunno if you remember, but we met once, a while back," she told the demigod with a grin. "Nice to hear your full title, though." When Melita pulled out a handful of ducks, the girl laughed, delighted by the tiny ones. "Aww, how fun!"
Recognizing that there was, perhaps, simply too much noise for Sunjata to have heard his question, Hadama simply inclined his head to the cooking crew a final time and then faded back. Or at least, faded as much as he could when he was the tallest man on the beach today, even if it was not by much. He took another bite of his grilled rhampire kebab and set his bare feet to wandering over the hot sand, ambling until he found a palm tree that had not yet been claimed.
He settled into its shade, surveying the party with solemn contentment. It was a day of fun and food and, so far at least, comparative peace. Not quiet, of course. Torchline parties were never quiet. But no blood appeared to be spilled yet and the food was ample and cooked to perfection while the beer and pina coladas were flowing freely.
Hadama let himself relax, taking the day for what it was and determined to enjoy the party in his own quiet way until someone needed something from either the local King or one of Safrin's demigods.
Tell the tales of the trail of dead Lovers learned from slower hands
Liam hadn't meant to wander into a beachfront barbecue, and yet, here he was.
Recognizing Ronin and Remi, he made his way to the cook's station to say hello. "Ronin, Remi," he said warmly to both demigods. "This is quite the party. Is it open to anyone to join in, or am I crashing something?" Once he'd been invited to join in the revelry, he nodded to them both with thanks and made a plate of ribs. Looking around, he realized that he knew very few people here, and in the end, he settled with saying hello to Hadama.
Although he didn't know the merking well, they'd met a few times, and the soldier liked and respected him. With that in mind, he ambled over towards the solitary palm tree under which Hadama sat. "Hello, Hadama. May I join you?" he asked politely, shading his eyes against the sun. It occured to him that Hadama might have sought solitude purposefully, and he waited to see if he had overstepped.
There was a face he had not seen in some time. He watched Liam's approach with stoic serenity and nodded in welcome when it became clear that the other man was coming to see him, specifically. He continued to stand at ease, taking another bite of his kebab, but made room for the other man in the shade of the tree he had taken up residence beneath, inclining his head in response to the question.
"Yes."
If he was surprised to see Liam in Torchline he did not show it. But then, his expression so rarely gave much away. He turned his gaze back to the barbecue but his voice was relaxed, courteous if quiet, as he took up the thread of conversation. "Have you been well, Liam?" A volleyball went wild, ricocheting past the two men, but Hadama only tilted his head to the side to let it pass unhindered, clearly used to such dangers while on the beaches of the Ahi Coast.
Taking another bite of her burger, Nova doesn't hide how her gaze watches Vesper, curious as Calypso spreads out the juicy gossip. It's so juicy, it fills her faster than the food, her eyes spinning to her sister's as her eyes widen in shock and she lets out a small giggle. "'Playing nice'? Vespy doesn't 'play nice' with people." At least no one but them. That's one of the things she loves about him, but now he's out there making friends with people? Not that the two men are acting anything like the friends she's seen, all whispery and dark glances. Very suspicious.
A small pout graces her lips as she asks, "And what do you mean 'two'?! Is he trying to replace us?!" She knows it's impossible, but the thought comes nonetheless, and she's suddenly staring daggers at the back of Mateo's head, daring him to take their brother from them.
Nova
Cause I got that sunshine in my pocket, got that good song in my feet.
"Yeah, and sometimes the ones she summons are the size of a small house." Koa laughs, waggling his eyebrows at Melita. That had been quite the unexpected assault, but hilarious in retrospect. "I still have one on my desk, and I know Pip's stashed a few around the house." Including a sparkly silver duck the dragonet had been particularly fond of, and which Koa had one morning been surprised to find peering up from his sock drawer.
Feeling his worries ease off steadily, Koa lets himself simply enjoy good company and good food. "Why do I feel like I'm going to regret it, if the three of you become friends?" he asks with playful skepticism, copper gaze dancing between his cousin, his sister, and his friend. If any three people were to gang up and make his life a mischievous mess, it is certainly these ones. But Koa wouldn't mind a little mirth and mischief, and he's delighted to see his companions click. Especially Noe, who he has decided definitely needs more friends outside Jude and Vox.
Koa
When I kiss your lips I want to sink down to the bottom of the sea
"Oh," Kaisel laughs as she explains, the sound deepening as she demonstrates. "Now that makes more sense. I was picturing like, a duck duck, yanno?" he offers a few of his best quacks along with a free hand serving as a bill with his fingers and thumb moving with the noise. "These are cute too, and less messy," he nods.
As Koa clarifies that some are as big as a small house, Kaisel's eyebrows rise up. "Now that would be terrifying if it was a real duck," he admits, imagining being swallowed whole by the beak with a grimace. "However, if it was one of these? I'd totally rock that as a house." Speaking of, he's in the market. He should probably stop evading the task of moving out of his parent's house and just take the time to look at the available spots around town. He wants to move out, but that also sounds like a lot of terrible work to do that.
Taking another bite of food, Kaisel smiles without teeth at Koa's very earned worry. "I don't know what you mean cuz, I'm pretty sure we're all sweet and innocent." He flicks a bit of the potato salad at Koa as proof, winking at Noe and Melita, suggesting they should join in.
Blowin' up I'm fucking flawless
Wearing a watery blue, faded and stretched-out sparkling hair tie on his left wrist
