[sup][h1][center][img]https://i.ibb.co/9mVRb1Tc/dd481008ff3d3f667ad169071c234896.jpg[/img][/center][b][center]  
[color=#000000] Sir Nikolai Dragos Berova [/color]
[color=gold]Sir Nikolai Dragos Berova [/color][/center]
[/b][/h1][/sup][COLOR=gray]
[b][color=gold]Time[/color][/b]:Evening
[b][color=gold]Location[/color][/b]: Ballroom
[b][color=gold]Attire[/color][/b]: [url=https://media.discordapp.net/attachments/1461196182406561894/1461196183321182320/ChatGPT_Image_Jan_14_2026_10_06_13_PM.png?ex=69f0ce3d&is=69ef7cbd&hm=c5a08b3d93be8a04d4defce4799f1db287c4c0048bd015facbd8c2c1c422edc0&=&format=webp&quality=lossless&width=576&height=864]All black with mute gold/grey embellishments.[/url]
[b][color=gold]Interactions[/color][/b]: [@CitrusArms] Stratya, [@Redking0380] Fareed, & [@princess] ?????
[b][color=gold]Mentions[/color][/b]: [@samreaper] Kazumin & [@Potter] Elena
[center][SUP][sub]___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________[/sub][/SUP][/center]

Nik turned from Stratya and Fareed for a moment when he heard the music change and noticed the crowd turning to look just in time to notice [color=limegreen]a blonde fool[/color] as he pranced, hopped, and skipped to the beat of his own song. Even Nik had to admit that it was hard [i]not[/i] to be entertained by him. There was an air about him that Nik liked too, reminding him of some of his old buddies. 

He made a mental note to find that [color=limegreen]blonde fellow[/color] later and get to know him. Men that made spectacles of themselves were either idiots… or useful. 

As he moved his attention back to the group he’d been entertaining, he then noticed a[color=#fff4b1] striking young woman[/color] enter who looked, at least in dress, like a gender bent version of himself. [color=#fff4b1]Elena Pawonska[/color].... [i]Oh! [u]That[/u] family… Well, that might be interesting…[/i] He thought to himself, a smirk growing on his lips. A second later, he was pulled back by [color=#EFA73B]the very tall man[/color] speaking to him again. [i]Right.[/i] 

[color=#EFA73B]”I am known as Fareed, of Alidash. Might I know who speaks to me?”[/color]

Nik let a slow smile creep onto his face. He had no idea who this man was but if he was from Alidash, he carried weight. And weight like that was always worth something. However, before he could respond, Stratya was introducing him.

[color=peru] “this is Serr Nikolai, of Varrian. Ooh, Nik. We’ll ‘ave tae sparr sometime, I’d like tae see what ye’ve got.”[/color] There was a playful edge in Stratya’s tone to match her grin. Nik chuckled, nodding his head. 

[color=khaki]”That we must. I need to see if I have what it takes.”[/color] He replied with a light tone, though he knew enough from looking that Stratya was no push-over and Nik learned most of his skills from his less than reputable friends so his habits were often less than… honorable. She might have much to teach him yet. He watched as Stratya spoke to Fareed, listening as she spoke about the cuts on her and the dagger that had been used to do it. A curved dagger? Brilliant. That only narrowed it down to… half the world. 

He was about to say something more to Stratya, ask her about the dagger, when [color=#39FF14]another man [/color]appeared. This one wore black, severe and almost priestly, if Nik had to guess. He watched those green eyes stare right past him at Stratya. He blinked for a moment as he listened to him speak. 

[color=#39FF14]“Dance with me.”[/color] the man demanded. [color=#39FF14]“...You will find, Captain, that when the world is finished applauding your little rebellion, there are still men willing to show you where a woman belongs.”[/color]

His smile returned. [color=#39FF14]“And I am not a man who enjoys being refused.”[/color]

Did… did that normally work for him? Gods, Nik almost wanted to see the success rate. Almost. 

Nik blinked once, slow and then dragged his tongue over his teeth to hide the laugh threatening to break through as Stratya replied, telling him exactly where she thought he belonged. Then, before he could say anything so much as protest, she was gone. Like a bat out of hell. He couldn’t blame her but…

Nik slowly looked from Fareed and then back to the [color=#39FF14]priestly looking man[/color]. 

[color=khaki]”Bold strategy. How often does it fail this spectacularly?”[/color] Nik asked aloud, watching him. 
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