Oleander

Oleander ("Oli") is a young High Court Spring fae. When at court he is polite and proper, but he easily gives in to romantic or petty feelings (or both) as the situation demands. He is a diva and a flirt and expects love and adoration from everyone he meets. (He is frequently disappointed.) When confronted with negative or uncomfortable situations, he cries easily, and if threatened or betrayed he grows thorns and exudes a toxic sap in self-defense.

Power bottom and proud.

## History

Oleander was extremely coddled as a child and thus is very bad at dealing with negative emotions or experiences. He gets away with a lot by nature of others not wanting to deal with his tantrums.

Oli's father is a very High Court noble in charge of preparing the hard winter soil for new growth, a job which he takes very seriously and which Oleander abhors for being unglamorous. At a young age, Oli latched onto his cousin Altisse, whose duties he considered much more suited to his own nature (and in which he has no abilities whatsoever). When allowed to roam freely as a child (which was most of the time), he spent as much time as he could with Altisse and picked up a good deal of her mistrust of other courts, especially Winter.

Prone to catching feelings for anyone who looks at him the ~~wrong~~ right way, Oli found himself at the center of more than a few affairs and scandals within Spring Court in a very short period of time. Although he always managed to avoid responsibility for these, his parents determined something must be done to try to contain his...appetite. About 10 years ago, after much negotiation, Oleander found himself engaged to Verraine, the son of the Queen's seneschal. Though bristling over these attempts to restrain him, Oleander wasn't disappointed in Raine's appearance and was willing to give the betrothal a shot...until it became clear Verraine was very incompatible with his needs. He soon began hunting vigorously for a way out of the betrothal, and his scope of potential lovers widened significantly.

Only a few years after the betrothal was decided, Oli met Bron while observing a match at Fight Club and fell head over heels. Bron was loud and brash and constantly teasing, but Oli found in him an unshakable solidity, someone willing to roll with his own peculiarities while offering the strength Oli was looking for. He began to believe not only that Bron was the perfect partner for him, but that he could save Oli from the betrothal in which he had found himself trapped.

Oleander's hopes were dashed when Trae returned from a job with a dead twin brother. He blamed her at first, but even he had to eventually come to terms with the fact that Bron's death had been a pure accident. His friendship with Trae strengthened, but his heart remained shattered.

Oleander met Cillian at an inter-court function while his betrothal to Raine was not widely known. Although the resulting interactions were plenty passionate, the moment Oleander had clearly caught feelings, Cillian bolted. Already in a vulnerable position, Oleander did not take this well.

With his heart still smarting, Oleander encountered Zelse, a high-born winter faerie who had also had his heart broken by a certain suave autumn fae. As they spoke, they plotted revenge, but even Oleander wasn't prepared for how he felt about Zelse after their talk. The following morning, despite a heretofore personal ban on winter court, he determined to find Zelse again and explore these feelings even as they took their revenge.

## Abilities

Due to his family's duties, Oleander technically has the ability to condition soil for growth. But he never took much care in his studies and isn't very good at it. His thorns and sap could probably be controlled if he thought about it, but at the moment they're more involuntary reactions than anything else.

## Relationships

### Azalea

Oli's mother. They have more in common than he thinks or cares to know about.

### Altisse

Oli's cousin, on his mother's side. Oleander grew up idolizing her and wishing she were his sister. She's basically the only person he listens to. Because of her specific hatred of Winter Court, up until recently Oli has been avoiding any major contact with them.

### Bron and Trae

Despite a lifetime of flings, Bron was Oleander's one true love. Unfortunately, he is no longer among the living. Oleander continues to have a close relationship with his twin sister, Trae, who weeds out weak potential lovers for Oli by beating them in the ring at Fight Club. They get together and drink heavily every year on the anniversary of Bron's death.

### Cillian

Oleander fell hard for Cillian at an already emotionally vulnerable time, but this relationship went about as well as Cillian's other conquests. Oli's still not over it.

### Zelse

A fellow victim of Cillian's advances (and subsequent retreats). Oleander and Zelse have begun hatching a revenge plot on Cillian, but this came with some unexpected feelings on Oleander's part.

### Nutmeg

Oleander often finds himself at Nutmeg's cottage, spilling his ~~tea~~ heart out to her because she's one of the few who listens to him, even if she has ulterior motives. He'd never believe they're friends. (They are.)

### Ercis

When allowed to wander on his own as a child, Oleander stumbled upon Ercis's cottage, invited himself in, and proceeded to make a nuisance of himself. Oleander thinks they're friends. (They're not.)

## Trivia

* Oli used to dress up in Altisse's clothing as a child
* Because of his father's position in Court, he *is* in line (though not immediately) for the Spring throne. However, he's not really interested in ruling.
* Oleander carries a small chunk of amethyst with him, a present from Bron. He is convinced if he doesn't have it with him always, something bad will happen.
* He sleeps poorly without anyone else in bed with him.

## Original Meme

Oleander von SpringCourt is engaged to Raine.

Manipulative and a very loudly self proclaimed bottom.