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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!
The lantern light is barely enough to see through the darkness, casting the deck in a golden hue as she works at her task, squinting to see the wood and hay beneath her fingers. She works diligently, a hum filtering across the ship, too bright and carefree to be eerie. Flashes of light and magic spark around her, occasionally illuminating her hunched form, blonde hair falling over her face to hide the tongue sticking out in concentration. There's a creepy focus to her that wards people away, creativity and determination flowing off her like waves of glitter that might pull people in if they get too close. It might also have to do with the gaudy highlighter pink outfit she wears as if she's trying to fight the darkness.
Suddenly, like a spontaneous combustion, Nova jumps to her feet, a bright and victorious grin spreading across her face. "Yes!!" Her hands release the magically infused object, placing her hands on her hips to watch it flit along the deck, sweeping without anyone moving or guiding the motions. She giggles when it shimmers then twirls in another sweep that pushes away a pile of her creative debris.
Turning to look around the Ark, she calls out in the dark, bouncing lightly on the balls of her feet, "Jack! Jack! Come look at what I made you!" And when he joins her, he'll see a bright yellow wooden and straw broom cleaning his deck with the occasional golden shimmer, a pink pompom hopping excitedly around to watch it work.
Let your light shine, no matter how dark the world around you.
Nova has absolutely been left alone while she works her magic and generally wards people away with chaos and colour, but that doesn't mean The Ark's deck is empty. Having left Torchline, they aren't able to spill out onto the beaches to make bonfires and drink and be a general nuisance like they usually do, and so the crew has crafted their own little get-together on the ship. Those who haven't gone to search for a warm bed and finer company in the House of Midnight, that is.
Jack has considered heading out that way himself, but for now he's sharing a drink with Murphy at one of the burning braziers, turning up the collar on his coat as a bitter wind blows through and a few snowflakes drift down. Nova's call has him glancing up, her voice accompanied by the spark of her thoughts, and he gives a nod to his first mate and parts from the festivities to go and find her.
"What you made m--" Cursing in surprise as the sentient broom sweeps past him without a care for the fact that he's standing there, Jack raises an eyebrow and watches it for a second before turning back to Nova. "...You did that? On purpose?" It seems obvious, yes, but he has to check.
when I look at something, I see it for what it could be
when I look at something, I see how it ends
The broom spins past Jack like a bungy string is pulling it along, barely brushing the wood as it sweeps the deck of debris in a parade of subtle light and brilliance. Nova hops to a stop in front of him, beaming a smile while her blonde hair bobs from the aggressive nodding. "Mhm! I figured since you're letting us stay here and I don't want to do the sweeping, I'd show my appreciation with a one-of-a-kind magical broom made by me!" Her hands splay in proud presentation of the roving cleaning equipment just as it pushes a pile of dirt off the deck into the open sky below, giving a subtle glow of gold like any 'Nova original' should.
She won't admit that she'd gotten the idea from Vesper a few weeks ago, prattling on about her new creation like a proud mad scientist. "He seems to be doing a pretty good job so far and I haven't even given him directions! I was thinking of naming him Crisweeper Columbus." A giggle filters through the darkness of the air, her arms dropping to clasp behind her back as she rocks forward, expectance glittering in her eyes. "Well? What do you think? Do you like it?"
Let your light shine, no matter how dark the world around you.
Jack glances back at the broom with a mix of suspicion and mild curiosity, watching it for a moment longer as if waiting for it to accidentally sweep itself right off the edge of the ship. When it doesn't, instead continuing to rove around with subtle swirls of magic, he turns to Nova once again with a mildly surprised raise of his brows. "Huh," he says. "Thanks, I think. I imagine some of the deckhand are gonna be a lot more grateful than me."
And given that those responsible for sweeping and swabbing the deck of the ship are also the youngest and least mature members of the crew, he's got no doubt that if they didn't have a crush on Nova before, they will now. The hybrid goes further, though, and Jack buries his hands in his pockets as the broom sweeps further loops around them and she christens it with its name.
"...Right." A smirk twitches at his lips. "Well, so long as he ain't gettin' in the way, he's welcome to keep the deck as clean as he likes." And no, he will not be calling the broom Crisweeper out loud, no matter how funny it is. "Looks like he's workin' fine, though. You did a good job."
when I look at something, I see it for what it could be
when I look at something, I see how it ends
Jack doesn't give praise often beyond a subtle smirk here or a flat 'good' there, so when he flat out tells her she did a 'good job,' Nova almost doesn't believe her ears. Maybe the darkness has muffled more than just her sight, because she's fairly certain she's never heard those words come out of his mouth so easily. Nothing about his muted enthusiasm, pocketed hands, or willingness to keep Crisweeper around prepared her for it, making the moment all the sweeter.
She lights up - literally and figuratively - granting a soft glow in the dark as her face breaks out in the brightest of smiles. "Thanks! If you want anything else, just let me know, I've gotten pretty good at making things!" The offer comes easily, already craving more of the approval, the tiny taste of it sparking across her brain while she works to further convince Jack of her brilliance. "I've made Vespy a flask and Caly a necklace to protect her, but soon I'll be making things for everyone!"
Crisweeper twirls behind her as she leans a little closer, another giggle chiming when she whispers. "Don't worry, I'll make sure you're always at the front of the line. You're a VIP after all." - meaning 'Very Intimidating Privateer.' One she'll keep in mind after his recent support and consistent presence.
Let your light shine, no matter how dark the world around you.
Jack almost has to squint against the light suddenly fizzing out of Nova, and he mentally reminds himself not to be so free with his compliments from now on unless he's already wearing sunglasses. Still, her thoughts are a breath of fresh air in the gloom of Longnight, especially given what he's used to with the crew, and the smirk remains on his lips as he watches Crisweeper get rid of some more debris off the side of the ship before finding more dust to conquer.
"Oh, I believe it," he drawls of her getting pretty good at making things. "Every time we speak you've got some new magic to show off. You'll be challengin' demigods to fights soon." If she hasn't already - and he's almost sure she has. "If you get the time, feel free to make the broom a mop to match. But make sure there's somewhere for 'em to live too - sometimes I want the crew to do the work themselves, y'know?"
Winking, he beckons her over towards the braziers where the rest of said crew are drinking and enjoying themselves. "C'mon - you can be a VIP at this get together, since we're all stuck here 'til sunrise."
when I look at something, I see it for what it could be
when I look at something, I see how it ends
The glow isn't quite as sharp or sudden anymore, but Nova certainly has her own golden bioluminescence about her as Jack praises her magical growth. She grins, body twisting back and forth like she's soaking it in then making sure it settles permanently in her memory, laminated and written in glitter for all to see. It fuels her ego more than is probably healthy for her, considering how her last time challenging a demigod (other than her brother) hadn't ended in her favor. Regardless, she's practically floating along with Crisweeper, taking the suggestions as something easy enough to do.
"Yessir!" Nova gives hm a playful salute, ready to get back to work just as he's winking and calling her forth. It feels like a secret joke between them, his offer opening a door into someplace quieter and more intimate despite the ruckus of laughter and company beyond the threshold. She doesn't think on it beyond a thrill of excitement for something new and unexplored, proudly leaping without a second thought.
Giggling, she leaves Crisweeper to his work and bounces after Jack. "Are there games? Music? What about rum?"
Let your light shine, no matter how dark the world around you.
"Music an' rum for sure, but I ain't sure about games. Probably, though." Jack is already moving further up the deck where the braziers have been lit and several members of the crew are making themselves comfortable with booze to warm their bellies and snacks to pass around. Someone is singing (badly) in the hopes that it'll start up a singalong, but thus far his efforts haven't borne any fruit.
With any luck Jack will have found something else to do with his time before he's successful, but for now, he grabs a bottle of something dark and spiced and pours a measure into a mug for Nova, passing it to her and then taking a swig directly from the bottle for himself. "Go on, have fun," he invites with a nod and a smirk. "You can go tell 'em all 'bout your magic broom."
when I look at something, I see it for what it could be
when I look at something, I see how it ends
There's a small squeal of delight, ready to sing and drink with the best of them - or worst of them, depending on the definition. She might even drag some of them into dancing with her around the fire once the music starts. Or even before. Nova always has her own jaunty tune playing in her head and it's much better than whatever gods-awful bellowing is going on right now.
One way or another, she plans to have fun, and Jack's encouragement only echoes her thoughts. She grasps at the mug, grinning bright and chiming a "Thanks!" that's infused with an infectious giggle. Taking a deep swig, she steps into the firelight and scans the space with the bubbling skill of someone expecting every gaze to pull her direction. Her face stretches wide to see the attention already drifting towards her appearance. "You guys are going to love Crisweeper!"
[FIN]
Let your light shine, no matter how dark the world around you.
