[hider=Nikolai "Demo" Markov]
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[color=ed1c24]Name:[/color] Nikolai Markov
[color=ed1c24]Nicknames/Aliases:[/color] Nik, Kolya, Cole
[color=ed1c24]X-Men Code Name:[/color] Demo
[color=ed1c24]Gender:[/color] Male
[color=ed1c24]Age:[/color] 16

[color=ed1c24]Physical Description:[/color] Standing in at 5'10" and weighing around 150 lbs, Nik doesn't immediately stand out in a crowd. He worked hard to make himself noticeable, spending much of his teenage life cleaning up his face to near spot-less perfection and making sure his appearance was "god-like," as he likes to put it. Nik typically wears some combination of jeans and a sleeveless shirt, though in the winter months adds on a beanie and black peacoat. He manages to keep his hair combed back and to the side at most times, spending an inordinate amount of hair product to make sure his hair stays exactly where he wants it. Jet black hair, stormy blue eyes.

[color=ed1c24]Mutations:[/color]
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[*][color=ed1c24]Blast/Fire Absorption:[/color] The kind of power that helps you jump on top of a grenade and live. Nik is able to absorb the blast of explosives and energy attacks without taking so much as a scratch. The absorption of an explosion helps to minimize and negate the shrapnel that usually accompanies it, usually resulting in a zero-sum gain from this power. In some incidental experimentation, bullets and any other type of attack are still very much effective.
[*][color=ed1c24]Bomb Generation:[/color] If Nik chooses to, anything he touches can become a homemade explosive. Anything from a pebble to a football to a door can detonate. The radius and power of the explosive seems to be determined both by the size of the object and by Nik's mood. The detonation time is the only factor entirely determined by Nik's force of will and intellect. Explosives can detonate in reaction to physical touch, based off a timer, or by other factors and parameters laid out by the creator. Creating a bomb does require energy that needs to be gained back through either his natural metabolism or through blast absorption.
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[color=ed1c24]Personality:[/color] Similar to the explosions he creates, Nik is inherently hot-headed and easy to anger. He believes himself to be superior to most, and the development of powers only heightened this disposition. That being said, Nik is insanely self-conscious. As a younger Russian-American, he was chubby and picked on for his accent. In response, Nik changed everything about himself. He spent every day changing his appearance and making his accent disappear, inevitably leaving behind every aspect of his Russian past. As a result, Nik is one to blend into a crowd or group of people and tends to lack strong convictions in an effort to remain "likable."

[color=ed1c24]Background:[/color] 
A second-generation immigrant, Nik was born to Natasha and Mikhail Markov in Seattle, Washington. Mikhail had gotten a job at one of the largest software-hardware manufacturers in the U.S. (and even the world) as a programmer. Mikhail spent many days and nights working overtime to optimize the software for the company as part of a team, so Nik spent most of his time being raised by his mother. Nik's parents were sweet and supportive, and still are to this day. When Nik was 3, his mother gave birth to twins (a brother and a sister) named Misha and Anya.

Nik started in public school up until 6th grade, where he switched schools at the end of the year due to bullying. He changed everything about himself to seem more American and attractive before being placed in a private Christian academy. There, he was more well-accepted due to his pleasing nature, though a few physical altercations had broken out between Nik and other students. Nik was only suspended once, however, as Nik's friends would often help him make the case that he was just defending himself. The opposite would usually be more accurate, as the boy had a nasty temper that would manifest itself through violence.

Regardless, Nik achieved moderate success until he reached high school. Due to the manifestation of his powers, Nik accidentally destroyed part of the school building and was ultimately expelled. Since the explosion couldn't be directly linked through evidence to Nik, he was not arrested or charged. His parents did their research and ultimately agreed that Nik needed special education and care, and was therefore sent to The Ashford Institue for the Gifted. 

[color=ed1c24]Recap of your mutations awakening:[/color]
There was nothing that pissed Nik off more than a rich kid preying on someone who couldn't afford to get his uniform fixed after a tumble. Scuffed shoes and worn knees on the pants of an unassuming freshman while Nik was a sophomore was apparently enough for Kyle Masterson, the son of a wealthy donor, to chastise. Nik held his temper for a few minutes, trying to just get the books from his locker and get to his next class. But the arrogance and classist behavior sent him over the edge. The Russian-American went for the throat of the bully, and the two tussled for a minute before teachers came over and forced the kids off of each other. The two kids were sent to the office. Nik received an immediate 3-day suspension, while Kyle got off scott-free.

Nik was beyond furious at the injustice. So much so that when he returned to school, his only goal was getting even. So he broke into Kyle's locker before school started and lit a bunch of firecrackers in it to ruin his ties and schoolbooks. Kyle put the pieces together and decided to up the ante. Nik doesn't exactly remember what happened, except that Kyle had thrown something at him. Everything after that went black. The next thing Nik remembers was being driven home by his parents who were scolding him. Given Nik's understanding of his powers, it was clear Kyle had attempted to create a small chemical reaction to hurt Nik. But it didn't work. And Nik must have gotten his hands on something that caused a slightly bigger explosion. Nothing big enough to cause pain. Just enough to scare the shit out of Kyle.
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[hider=Relationships]

"Used to be a social butterfly back at my old school. But when your classmates can shoot laser beams out of their eyes or throw you around like a doll... I've been a little more reserved."
⟢ 🎆Respects ⟡ 🌓Neutral ⟡ 👋Acquaintance ⟡ 🙇It's Complicated ⟣
⟢ 💛Friend ⟡ 💙Good Friends ⟡ 💜Best Friends ⟡ ❣️Ex-Friends ⟡ 😈Frienemy ⟣
⟢ 💘Infatuation ⟡ 💓Loves ⟡ 💗Couple ⟡ 💕Basically Family ⟡ 💞Family ⟡ 💔Ex-Lovers ⟣
⟢ ♨️Tense ⟡ 💀Dislikes ⟡ 😡Hates ⟡ 👿Enemy ⟡ 👹Absolutely Loathes ⟣

[b]Drake[/b]
💙Good Friend
"For two guys who can cause a lot of damage, it's a surprise our room is so clean."
The second best Friend that Nik has on campus. The two roommates get along incredibly well, despite their 6 year age gap. He's the only person he's told about his current crush, yet often ends up dispensing wisdom to Drake.

[b]Una [/b]
💘Infatuation 💜Best Friend
"She's bold, uncontrollable, and burns you if you don't treat her right. Kind of like my powers."
Perhaps the person Nik spends the most time with on campus. They study together, and he's been assisting her in the Danger Room. He won't admit he has feelings for her to nearly anyone, mostly because he honestly believes that she wants to just be friends.

[b]Khloe[/b] 
👋Acquaintance
"She's the... Ice Girl, right?"
He honestly hasn't had that much time to get to know Khloe. He remembers her a little from the first day of class, but hasn't really run into her outside of that. He's heard only nice things about her.

[b]Sally [/b]
💛Friend
"Couldn't dislike her if I tried... no, seriously, I'm pretty sure Drake would kill me."
They never really spend time together without Drake present, but she's been a fun individual to see around.

[b]Nathan [/b]
👿Enemy ♨️Tense 💀Dislikes
"Who, Control Freak? He's just a coward who doesn't belong here. Una will see that one day."
While not an enemy in the "I want to fight him to the death" kind of way, they are very clearly rivals for Una's affection. Nathan always seems to be around, so Nik has made a game of getting Nathan riled up and in a bad mood, whether Una is present or not. Is seriously concerned about his relationship with Una.

[b]Isaac[/b]
😡Hates
"Fucker."
While Nik wants to give the guy credit for giving Nathan a good whooping, he can't exactly get over the fact that he started beating up his friends on the first day. Nik would like a one on one rematch when he gets a better grasp of his powers.

[b]Cleo[/b]
👋Acquaintance
"Don't know too much about her, but she hasn't tried to kill me and isn't a complete tool."
Cleo and Nik haven't interacted much, mostly just passing waves in the hallways. Have also interacted marginally while hanging out with Drake.

[b]Aya[/b]
🎆Respect
"WHAT?! She can leave her... but... how... what?"
Has only really heard of Aya through rumors and hearing what it is she can do with her powers. Maybe not as cool as blowing shit up... but that astral shit has earned respect from Nik.

[b]Elijah[/b]
👋Acquaintance
"He looks, sounds, and even smells like the rich kids from my old school... but Elijah's pretty cool."
Nik's never been a fan of the rich kids skating by on their popularity. But there's something magnetic about his personality, and it seems like the two get along when talking.

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