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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!
A grin blooms across Flora’s face, unrepentant and incandescent. "Aha, so there is a way," she crows, snapping her fingers and pointing at Niki like that gif of so you're saying there's a chance. The expression is pure glittering mischief, head cocked and curls bouncing with every smug little bounce of her heels. "I’m not saying I’ll trick you into a sarong," she adds breezily. "I’m just saying don’t underestimate my persuasive talents."
At the thought of catching Kaisel mid-patrol, all grim determination and noble intent, Flora’s grin softens into something fond and faintly flustered. "I mean...it’s kind of sweet," she admits, voice lowered conspiratorially as her shoulders rise toward her ears in a hopeless little shrug. The blush blooming across her nose betrays her more than anything she says aloud. "I know it’s not necessary, but I think he just wants to prove that Torchline is his home now." She glances at Niki, aqua eyes warm. "And if we do bump into him, I swear I won’t ditch you for my patriotic himbo."
But Niki’s casual gesture behind her pulls her attention, and with the theatrical spin of a dancer catching her cue, Flora pivots on one toe to spot the missing torches propped smugly against the wall. "Oh my gods," she breathes, laughing as she makes her way over. "You little menaces," she says to the house at large, snatching up the torches like she’s won a scavenger hunt.
Now juggling the umbrella and both oversized, colour-shifting torches in her arms, Flora tips her head back toward Niki. "Honestly? Even if we don’t find the booze bag, Spice can just chill the drinks for us."
passion is a passing thing, it's accidental chemistry caught up in a feelin', it can be deceivin'. this is like breaking for me
Niki doesn't bother to argue about that, because of course there's a way - there's a way for most things (and Flora knows nearly all of them, he's also learned that much). But he does level a dry look in her direction to hear that he's not to underestimate her persuasiveness, and he gestures around them. "You told me within the first couple of times that we met that I should come to Torchline," he points out. "And here I am for two seasons now. When would I ever put your persuasive talents in doubt?"
Softening as well as conversation turns to Kaisel in earnest, Niki allows himself a small smile; he hasn't had the opportunity to really spend time with Flora's new-old-new? beau yet, but patriotic himbo does seem to fit the bill quite perfectly. "That is sweet," he agrees. "And who is to say that I will not ditch you?" Even the prospect of it is enough to have Niki laughing; there's no way he's going to limp off through the soft sand in the dark on his own, and they both know it.
Still chuckling as Flora rounds on the torches, as she gathers them up he at least takes pity and relieves her of the jellyfish umbrella. "I could create a small backpack for Spice to carry the lemons around," he suggests. "Shall we go and fetch that blanket now, too? I do not feel like we should put any of this down in case the house thinks it is a game."
my body's on the line now, I can't fight this time now I can feel the light shine on my face
Flora only scrunches her nose at him, that too-charmed, too-satisfied expression practically a trademark by now. It's the look of a woman deeply pleased that someone’s finally come around to her way of seeing things. She doesn’t need to say a word to confirm it: yes, she’s persuasive. Yes, he’s stayed. And no, there is absolutely no point in fighting her once she’s decided something’s going to happen. The spirits have learned it. The house has learned it. Niki’s just joining the glitter parade.
She gasps theatrically as he jokes about ditching her, eyes going wide like she’s just been betrayed in a soap opera. "Gasp," she huffs, pressing a hand to her chest like the very idea wounds her. But her lashes flutter and the corners of her mouth twitch up with something far more mischievous. "Although...Torchline is crawling with visitors during LongNight," she muses aloud, like a matchmaking bee buzzing with possibility. "You never know, Niki. You could run into some mysterious stranger on the beach. Tan, tall, carrying a tragic backstory and a bottle of rum. You’d be the arm candy, obviously, and they could do the feet-sweeping." Her grin turns sharp and playful as she bumps her elbow lightly against his.
When he relieves her of the jellyfish umbrella, Flora hums her thanks, twirling one of the chroma torches in her hand like a baton. "A lemon-carrying backpack for Spice would be adorable," she agrees, voice rising with interest and delight. "If it’s not too much trouble, and if you’ve got whatever you need, that would seriously be amazing. She’d be so proud of herself—like a little frosty sommelier."
Her eyes roll with faux exhaustion as he mentions the house reclaiming their scavenged treasures, but it’s clearly more amusement than complaint. "Ugh, you’re probably right," she sighs. "Come on then, let’s go rescue the blanket before it sprouts legs."
passion is a passing thing, it's accidental chemistry caught up in a feelin', it can be deceivin'. this is like breaking for me
"Yes, yes. You never know," Niki echoes, dutifully nudging Flora in response as if this is a part he has learned to play very well (and it is). Notwithstanding the tall, tan aspect of her description that he opts to ignore despite the way he can feel his cheeks trying to heat up, they both know that no party-goer in Torchline, whether a native or a visitor, is going to see him and decide that's the one for me tonight.
Much more invested in a lemon-satchel fit for a dragon, Niki is already smiling as he takes hold of the umbrella and turns to lead them out of the room again. "I do not think it should be too difficult. Leatherwork and sewing are not my forte, but I have had a decent amount of time to read and study whilst I have been away from the Greatwood. I would be happy to make a prototype for her - providing you think she will sit long enough for me to take measurements."
Heading back down the corridor, he peeps around for the rocking chair he's sure he'd spotted, brow furrowing as he considers whether he'd imagined it or whether the house has decided to spontaneously rearrange itself. "I promise, it was here," he says.
my body's on the line now, I can't fight this time now I can feel the light shine on my face
If Flora were a telepath, she’d argue fiercely against Niki’s assessment of himself. She’d insist that there would be people who’d pick him out of a crowd, that mystery and dry wit go a lot further than washboard abs when it comes to catching someone’s attention. But she isn’t, so instead she settles for a look that says all of that without a single word: soft and fond, just a little smug, because she knows the truth even if he doesn’t.
"Mmm...raw chicken is a pretty good bribe," she muses, visibly weighing Spice’s patience against the promise of meat. "That or mango slices. Depends on her mood." Her smile tilts, knowing full well that her little frost-dragon has the temperament of a moody princess who expects rewards for merely existing. "I bet if the spirits hold them for her to snack on, she'll sit long enough to be measured."
The smile vanishes quickly enough when they reach the living room only to find..nothing. No blanket. No rocking chair. Just the unsettling quiet of a house that knows exactly what it’s doing. Flora tips her head back and wails, dragging out the "puuuuuuuuleeeeeeeeeease,"like she’s been mortally wounded before dramatically collapsing her arms against her sides. When nothing appears except the smug echo of her own voice, she straightens again with a grumble and spins on her heel to face Niki.
"That blanket is non-negotiable," she declares with all the gravity of a general preparing for war. Turning slowly, she sweeps her gaze across the room and narrows her eyes like she’s daring the spirits to withhold their price. "All right you lot," she says to the air, "what’s it gonna take? A bribe? A song? A trade of equal coziness? Name your price."
passion is a passing thing, it's accidental chemistry caught up in a feelin', it can be deceivin'. this is like breaking for me
"Raw chicken and mango," Niki repeats slowly, trying and failing to hide the somewhat disgusted scrunch of his nose. "Hopefully not together. But, noted. I will see if I am able to successfully bribe her - you will be able to tell by the results of the backpack." Putting it on the little dragon is something he'll invoke Flora's assistance in personally, since he figures she's less likely to get her fingers frozen or bitten off.
Jumping a little at the sudden dramatics - and really, he ought to be used to them by now - and glancing pleadingly around the room as if the house might take pity and come up with the goods, when it stubbornly refuses to do as much, Niki is left smirking at Flora. Her declarations echo into the empty air, the boy cocking his head as if to listen for any response. And... wouldn't you know it? There is one.
It's the sound of the tea kettle faintly whistling from the kitchen.
"Do you think they would accept a tea bribe?" he wonders, raising his eyebrows. All signs point to yes.
my body's on the line now, I can't fight this time now I can feel the light shine on my face
"Oh, I don’t ask questions about dragon digestion," Flora says breezily, grinning as she lifts her brows and lets her shoulders rise in a shrug. "She could probably swallow a horseshoe and come out glittering." Still, there’s no doubt in her tone as she adds, "But I think you’ll do just fine. Spice has a soft spot for people with gentle hands and good intentions. She only mauls people who deserve it."
As Niki smirks in her direction, her expression narrows into something thoughtful and puckered, lips pursing and eyes squinting like she’s about to accuse him of something, only to be sidetracked entirely by the faint whistle from the kitchen.
Her head tilts, one brow arching, then she lets out a hum and a shrug, deciding, "Honestly? Even if it doesn’t summon the blanket, a cup of tea sounds amazing right about now." With a flick of her fingers she gestures grandly for him to take the lead. "After you, sir spirit negotiator."
passion is a passing thing, it's accidental chemistry caught up in a feelin', it can be deceivin'. this is like breaking for me
Feeling an odd fascination now towards the pale little dragon he's only really seen in passing, only time will tell as to whether Spice considers Niki worth mauling. Either way, a lemon backpack could very well be in the works, even if the boy ends up missing a finger or two by the end of the project. He's so engrossed in his sudden thoughts that he (perhaps luckily) misses the almost accusation that arrives on Flora's lips, focusing instead on tea and finding their ghost blanket.
"Sir?" he repeats with a smirk. "I was not aware that I had been knighted so recently." Regardless, he does lead the way slowly towards the kitchen, the sound of the tea kettle growing more insistent as they draw closer. "What kind of tea would you like?" he asks as they head through the doorway where, wouldn't you know it, there's the blanket all folded neatly on a chair.
"Thank you," Niki announces to the room, setting down the jellyfish umbrella and moving to fetch their cups. "There. You are all ready for Longnight now, I think."
my body's on the line now, I can't fight this time now I can feel the light shine on my face
Flora grins as she pads into the kitchen after him, her arms full of torch handles and fond amusement. "You were knighted the moment I handed you that umbrella," she declares, tone positively regal.
At his question, she tilts her head in mock contemplation before deciding, "Lemon-honey, if we’ve got it." Her words trail off as she spots the blanket, perfectly folded on the chair like it had never disappeared in the first place. With an exaggerated huff, she hurls a playful, singsong "Thank youuuuuu," toward the unseen spirits as she immediately claims it for herself, flopping down and wrapping it around her shoulders like a queen in winter.
Settling in while Niki moves about the kitchen, Flora tucks her knees up into the chair and nestles deeper into the blanket. "Hey," she calls lightly over her shoulder. "Is there anything you need before LongNight hits?"
passion is a passing thing, it's accidental chemistry caught up in a feelin', it can be deceivin'. this is like breaking for me
"Oh, I see," Niki says mildly. "I suppose if anyone has the authority, it would be a queen. In which case, thank you for the honour, Flora." Bowing his head in a solemn nod, he leaves her to also thank the spirits for finding - then losing - then conjuring back up - the necessary blanket and busies himself with the tea. They do have lemon-honey, in fact, and after taking the kettle off the heat he pours it for her, bringing it to the table before returning to the counter.
For himself, of course, he brews some black coffee, evidently feeling more comfortable in his preferences now that he's been outed as a coffee-drinker in the household. As for what he might need before Longnight, he raises his eyebrows and glances across to Flora. "I do not think so," he says slowly, returning to the table now as well to sit. "Like what?"
my body's on the line now, I can't fight this time now I can feel the light shine on my face
Flora hums under her breath, all sugar and smugness, as if knighting Niki is the sort of thing she does between sips of tea and casually reorganising reality. "You’re welcome," she purrs when the mug is set down in front of her, her thank-you airy and theatrical as she gently adjusts the handle and leans in to blow across the steaming surface.
As he settles across from her with his coffee, she watches him for a moment over the rim of her mug, expression soft. Eventually she shrugs, cheek dimpling as she chews at the inside of it. "I just mean...it’s a whole week of darkness, so most shops are closed, and going out gets harder unless you’re fully committed to the torch-wielding lifestyle." Her eyes flick playfully to the ones still leaning against the kitchen wall.
"Not that you don’t already tend to hibernate like a ghost with a book," she teases gently. "But I figured if you thought you’d get a bit bored, we could run out for something before it all kicks off. A new puzzle, maybe. Or more books. Or—ooh—new bedsheets." Her grin blooms again as she adds, "I’m an excellent enabler of mildly luxurious hibernation, so just say the word and we can go." With another small shrug, Flora will lift up her mug, still blowing across the surface. "Sometimes the week can just feel more stiffling knowing that you can't really go out easily, you know?"
passion is a passing thing, it's accidental chemistry caught up in a feelin', it can be deceivin'. this is like breaking for me
Listening quietly to Flora while she explains, Niki smiles over the rim of his coffee mug as he lifts it to his lips to blow across the steaming surface. "We get Longnight in the Greatwood too, you know," he teases her back, as if to remind her that he's not oblivious to the concept of an entire week of darkness where things are closed and it's difficult to get around.
"Thank you, though. It is sweet of you to always think of me, but I assure you I will be quite content with what we have here." His own company - or Flora's, if and when it's available, the books he's obtained and the projects he's started. It will be enough to keep him amused until the sun rises once again. "That being said," he continues after a quick sip of his drink, "if you would like to go out and look for something, I will of course be happy to join you."
my body's on the line now, I can't fight this time now I can feel the light shine on my face
Flora lets her head flop to the side with a fond little sigh, the blanket pooling warmly around her shoulders as she peers at him over her tea. "I know you do," she says, smile tipping gently, "but you’re staying here now. And while Torchlie is amazing, it’s also, like, ten times the size of the Greatwood. I just wanted to make sure you had everything you needed, that’s all."
The grin that curls across her face, then, is anything but innocent. "Ooooooh, I'd LOVE for you to come shopping with me," she says, tone rich with theatrical mischief as her eyes sparkle above the rim of her mug. "But not for puzzles or tea blends or snuggly throws. No no. I was thinking more of an outfit to wear out during LongNight." Her brows lift, the suggestion loaded with all the implications that come with bonfires, beach gatherings, and very little clothing. "Besides, I can always trust your opinion about how things look on me." Mostly on account of him having no interest in ever stripping them off of her.
passion is a passing thing, it's accidental chemistry caught up in a feelin', it can be deceivin'. this is like breaking for me
"Well, I cannot think of anything that I do not already have available here, but perhaps I will come up with a list if I sleepwalk over the next couple of days." Whether that list will make any sense is another matter entirely, but they can always hope. Or at the very least laugh at it later. Taking another sip of his coffee before surrendering it back to the table to wait for it to cool down properly, it's Niki's turn to tilt his head at Flora as she suggests going shopping for Longnight Outfits.
"And here I was assuming you were going to wear the blanket and the flamingo," he says dryly, before his smile betrays him. "Of course. Let me know when you would like to go and I will ensure my very busy schedule is clear." Between the afternoon nap, the novel he'd picked up and enjoying not being full of a cold or a flu and surrounded by frost, his calendar is remarkably full, you know.
my body's on the line now, I can't fight this time now I can feel the light shine on my face
