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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!
"It absolutely isn't." Ronin agrees with a good natured laugh, nodding to Zavien as he keeps an eye on the burgers he's continuing to cook through. "Fences, shifts, and a lot of vigilance, yeah," he continues. "We considered bribery too, but then figured we didn't want the cows to come running whenever they saw we were around." Better to discourage such behaviour until their child is not looking quite so tasty.
Stepping away from the grill after flipping his burgers so he can help a few people start to assemble them or those who have brought along more fixings (with a name like the White Knight Ronin can't help himself, truly), when he does return, it's with a cold bottle of beer for them both as a reward. "Kind of like it's happening to someone else and you're just watching it to see what happens next?" he guesses - because that's how it had been for him at least, the Knight opening their beers and offering one out to the other man.
"Makes sense to me, if so," he says, taking up his spatula again and smiling softly. "After the war up in the Cordillera, Remi and I stayed away from people for... gods, almost a year I think. We just couldn't take it."
Life can be tough, there's no doubt, But hope is the thing we can't do without.
Ever the soldier, he catalogues the precautions and gives a curt nod of approval, certain he wouldn't have done it any other way (although perhaps having a plant for a child). Flipping some of the half-done patties and pulling off the finished ones, he laughs at the image of the demigods being swarmed by high-land cows every time they landed to check on their kid. "Oh no. Bribes never hold as strong as people hope."
The grouping of people slowly continues to grow, drawn by the tantalizing smell. While the White Knight steps off to save the people from the hungry monsters clawing at their stomachs, Sol finally lands next to Zavien. The Dragoon is defenseless against the rumbling chirps and wide golden eyes, chuckling as he drops one of the darker slabs of meat onto the ground.
It's as the dragon is inhaling the first of many burgers that Ronin returns, seeming to easily pinpoint exactly what Zavien had meant. "Something along those lines." Kind of like the out of body experience after getting off a treadmill, feeling like the world is rushing past while your body goes into autopilot to keep up. It's a little disorienting, his brain not keeping up with the path beneath his feet. And yet his heart continues to race, under the impression that it's still needed, that its purpose is too important to stop or slow down, even if the goal has already been reached and the demand is gone.
He accepts the beer with a curve of his lips and a passing "Thanks," enjoying the chilled glass against his hand, the spatula still held in the other. Zavien purses his lips at the thought of leaving, of finding his own quiet somewhere so the calm can convince his mind it's time to slow down. But the urge to stay and help his people pulls at his chest, the logic of his new role doing nothing to release its hold on him. Glancing sideways at Ronin, he's not shy or embarrassed in asking for guidance, getting the feeling that he might actually understand what Zavien's going through. "How did you let go of that instinct to lead so you could leave? And when did you know it was time to come back?"
Zavien
Right things with joy will come about... In good time.
"Or in this case they might hold too well," Ronin agrees, a boyish grin spreading across his face. Either way, he's not at all keen to get the attention of the cows more than he already has, and between he and Remi they're at least managing the area quite well, he thinks. Speaking of his husband, though, he nods towards the burgers. "When we're done here, I don't suppose you'd mind if I took a few of these with me? I'll be in big trouble if Remi finds out I went to a cookout on my supply run and didn't bring anything back."
Settling back beside Zavien and smiling to see that the square is gaining more people by the minute, many of them with more food, drinks and snacks both sweet and savoury to hand, he glances sidelong at the other man and flips a burger, wincing ever so slightly at his question. "Er," he says around a sheepish laugh, "my husband sort of... stuck his hand inside the god Caido to pull out something that was making them sick," he says, explaining it as best he can.
"It hurt him quite badly, and so we stayed in the Cordillera after the fight to rest and to heal." The man he loved had been more important than any region after that. "And it was a combination of time and my family, honestly, that made me come back. Things felt further away, more manageable, and I could see that my kids needed me. Does that make sense?"
Life can be tough, there's no doubt, But hope is the thing we can't do without.
Still grinning at the idea of two demigods being swarmed by a herd of cows, Zavien finds it easy to laugh at the simple request. "Please. Take a whole platter along with any other dishes. I get the feeling we'll have more than enough." He takes a sip of the beer, admiring the culmination of foods and people, convinced that Erika would be proud of their work.
Sol gives an insistent grumble, pressing his nose into Zavien's leg until he drops another patty onto the ground, the meat tax apparently having increased recently. When he looks back up, it's with an expression of wide disbelief, his motions pausing to admire the circumstances that had led to Ronin's separation from leadership - and his husband's near death.
Shaking his head, Zavien offers a baffled smile. "Oh wow. That'll do it." Anyone who sticks around after that would be insane or lying about their love, and Ronin doesn't seem to fit either of those categories. So when he nods his agreement, it's not with veiled politeness or sympathies, but true understanding. "It does." Not that it helps him. Zavien doesn't feel any closer to knowing what to do with himself, to finding comfort in his new situation when it didn't feel like he was needed anymore.
However, there's a glimmer of hope - knowing that it's possible to find belonging after losing so much - and the sigh that follows isn't one of dejected hopelessness, but quiet acceptance that only time would tell. "I'll just be happy when it's all behind me," he says with a tired smile, trying to make it true as he takes another swig of beer and portions out more burgers that look slightly less burnt than before.
Zavien
Right things with joy will come about... In good time.
"I will hold you to that," Ronin says through a laugh, raising his bottle of beer in a grateful toast and taking a sip before he turns back to the grill, more than content to stand and shoot the breeze and cook a mountain of burgers with Zavien. He grins, too, at the sight of Sol peeping up against the other man's leg, expectant for more burgers, and if he glances up he might just about catch the pale slip of a shape against the sky; Sugar, drawn out from hiding by the smell of cooking meat.
"It sure will," he agrees with a scoff of quieter laughter; the memory is bittersweet, but it has long passed by now, and Ronin can regard it with some objectivity. "One day," he assures Zavien, "you'll look up and it'll be behind you. Might have even been behind you for a while and you didn't notice." Sounding quietly certain about that, he flips a burger with a little flourish to set it land and sizzle back on the grill.
"But for today, let's make sure these people are fed and watered and have a good time, yeah?"
Life can be tough, there's no doubt, But hope is the thing we can't do without.
Happy to keep his word to the demigod, Zavien chuckles and tips his bottle to Ronin in silent promise. The fathers are sure to use all the fuel they can get and based on the amount of food still flowing in from the community, he doubts two extra mouths will even make a dent. Older folks settle onto nearby benches while their plates are assembled by the energetic younger kids who decide their frail grandparent can suddenly consume their body weight in food. Parents and workers laugh and mingle, bonding over their shared distaste for the heat and the delicious array of food. A few linger near the grill, nodding their heads and grinning at Ronin's demonstration of his skills, taking a chance to catch a free show with their free meal.
Smiling softly at the scene, Zavien doesn't even bother to attempt the same, choosing instead to toss one more patty to the dragon at his feet. He lets Ronin's words soak, his smile thinning with the effort of holding hope, yet holding all the same as his bobs his head and hums. "Hm. I'll let you know when I get there." 'When' being the key word he clings to.
His attention settles back on the task at hand, the hungry people still coming and going in the bright sunlight. "Agreed. We might have enough burgers." He laughs, looking to the tray of cooked meat, the mountain having grown to an impressive altitude. Even if people chose to stay for dinner, he finds it hard to believe they would run out. Zavien halfheartedly wonders if it might be time to slow down their production.
"Were there any specific supplies you needed?" he asks, green eyes sliding to Ronin and the task he'd originally come for.
Zavien
Right things with joy will come about... In good time.
"I look forward to it," Ronin says warmly, smiling across at Zavien. The day when he gets there will be a good day indeed for both of them. For right now though, the Knight similarly takes in the little scene, feeling his smile grow to see both old and young enjoy the barbecue, and he feels as though Zavien was right in his estimations about the amount of food they've got to hand.
Especially burgers, and Ronin lets out a laugh as he glances across to see the mountain of patties. "Yeah, I think maybe you can handle this grill alone from here. Have yourself a break and see if anyone can make a dent in them," he suggests, finally laying down his own spatula and sidling out from behind the fire and embers.
"Mostly food and ingredients," he says of the supplies, glancing across the square. "I'll likely find everything I need right here. Speaking of which, I better get a move on, otherwise no amount of burgers I bring back will save me." He grins.
Life can be tough, there's no doubt, But hope is the thing we can't do without.
"I think you're right." He laughs again and sets aside the patty he'd been about to set on the grill, nodding to Ronin as he retreats from the grill. "Thanks for the help," he adds, an appreciative smile on his face and a reluctant plan forming to step away and find his own food.
Chuckling at the threat hanging over Ronin's head, Zavien doesn't try to hold the man up. "Well, we can't have that." His spatula slips under a few burgers and sets them onto a place offering it forward along with a friendly grin. "Travel safe and let me know if you ever need supplies delivered, or just want some company out there." Ronin and Remi probably have all the company they need in each other, but Zavien has been known to make a great babysitter, and if they're staying out there all season, they might want a visitor or two. For now, he leaves the demigod to his errands, focusing on the people who have gathered for food.
[FIN]
Zavien
Right things with joy will come about... In good time.
