Nekirinidai

* Dragon form
* Human form

 *—Nekirinidai*

**Nekirinidai** (値切擩緹) is a dark and earth dragon known for his serious and aloof disposition.

## Appearance

### Human Form

In human form, Nekirinidai appears as a tall, robust male with dark skin and a well-proportioned, burly body. He has a sharp, angular face with a strong jaw and sharp nose. One of the most striking elements of Nekirinidai's is his piercing red eyes, sharp and hooded, complemented with red eyeliner. His brows are sharp and thin. He has thick, short, black hair that is pushed back.

Nekirinidai has a deep, horizontal scar on his left cheek and another deep scare down his back. He has other scars scattered about his body from past battles.

Typically, Nekirinidai wear only a black robe and pants (begrudgingly). He despises footwear of any kind and prefers to trek barefoot.

## Personality

Nekirinidai is a reticent, stoic person who appears to be very cold and cruel. However, underneath his stubbornly self-reliant nature lays a dark past laced with betrayal and loss. Although that is expected with any thousands-year dragon, Nekirinidai's is what others describe to be a "particularly tragic case." Not many details of his past have been revealed since he prefers to keep it a secret. However, one crucial event included the betrayal and death of his ex-best friend, Shinzu. The two were very close; Nekirinidai's old name, Tendzumu, was inspired by the character's of his name. However, though the context is not clear, Shinzu ended up betraying Nekirinidai, nearly killing him in the process. Out of self-preservation, Nekirinidai was left with no choice but to kill him. He recounted once to Tairami that he still remembers the smell of his blood that stained his hands for days. Although Nekirinidai has experienced other losses, that was the one that has scarred him the most. According to Vieidryth, "he has never been the same after that."

Now a more solitary individual, Nekirinidai is aggressively protective of his privacy. He does not reciprocate friendship easily, having been described as being "impossible to befriend." However, to those who have earned his trust, he shows great loyalty and care. Although not observable upon first glance, Nekirinidai treasures his friends more than anything else, even being described as a "softie at heart" by Tairami.

Despite how much his personality has shifted over the years, one trait has remained firm since the beginning: his unyielding ethicality. His opinions on issues of ethicality are extremely strong, though he voices them only at select times. Due to his past of consistent betrayals, he is an excellent judge of character, able to intuitively read anyone like an open book. When under the rule of corrupted authority, he will do anything to overthrow them. He neither forgives nor forgets easily and holds extremely strong grudges, best demonstrated through his remaining spite towards Vieidryth. This, matched with his cold demeanor, give off the impression of not only a person who is critical and cynical, but also astute and iron-willed.

## Relationships

### Vieidryth

* Originally didn't/couldn't forgive him (dark ages) (complicated,,,) (was very conflicted) (currently still is). (and he is so stubborn that this became a point of contention between others (especially friends like hualianxia) who advocated forgiving vieidryth)
* **Still** has not forgiven him

### Koryukaiyushizaukensei

 *—Nekirinidai*

The two have had a vicious rivalry since the beginning the beginning of time.

Nekirinidai despises Koryukaiyushizaukensei and does not fear him in the slightest, which is something that he does not hide. He actively defies Koryukaiyushizaukensei and seizes every opportunity to humble him.

Part of his dislike for Koryukaiyushizaukensei is personal. The two have vastly different values and beliefs. Nekirinidai's strong moral compass versus Koryukaiyushizaukensei's lack of morals is the most common cause of arguments between them. A particularly heated argument occurred during the Wyln Rebellion due to Nekirinidai's and Koryukaiyushizaukensei's conflicting views on interference in human affairs. They engaged in a physical altercation that lasted for weeks, destroying the villages of Erith and Veran in the process. The fight only stopped when Vieidryth intervened.

Another part of Nekirinidai's hatred for Koryukaiyushizaukensei stems from grudges he holds against him. Nekirinidai has known Koryukaiyushizaukensei since the very beginning. Therefore, there is more history between them. He holds a grudge against all that Koryukaiyushizaukensei has done to him and others. To this day, Nekirinidai refuses to forgive or forget all that he did.

The dark ages was the peak of Nekirinidai and Koryukaiyushizaukensei's rivalry. Many arguments came from their disputes regarding Vieidryth's corruption. However, the biggest point of contention was Nekirinidai's disapproval of Koryukaiyushizaukensei's treatment of the situation, citing it as "blatant tyranny" and "abuse of authority that he is not deserving of." Nekirinidai was one of the only individuals who actively defied Koryukaiyushizaukensei and attempted to "overthrow" him. They engaged in what they intended to be a battle to the death. This nearly led to Nekirinidai's demise had it not been for Hualianxia's and Dieguiyu's life magic. After overseeing his recovery, Dieguiyu temporarily stuck Nekirinidai in Cistrinia to protect the recovering dragon from Koryukaiyushizaukensei's wrath as he sought him out with murderous intent. For the remainder of the Dark Ages, Dieguiyu and others worked tirelessly to keep the two separate and, therefore, alive.

Interactions between Nekirinidai and Koryukaiyushizaukensei only resumed centuries after the return of Vieidryth. They seldom get into altercations like they did in the past. However, their disdain for each other remains.

### Hualianxia

* one of the few ppl nene trusts completely and actually rly likes

### Baoling'an

 *—Baoling'an*

Nekirinidai's feelings toward Baoling'an can only be described as ambivalent. Both individuals are infamously morally-righteous and stubborn, which often results in occasional clashes. Typically, Nekirinidai does not care if one likes or dislikes him. However, he cannot stand the way Baoling'an talks down to him and is not fond of his self-important attitude.

Interestingly enough, despite their dislike of each other, Nekirinidai has saved Baoling'an on multiple occasions in the past, and vice versa. During the Battle of Kings Hill, Baoling'an had been severely harmed from a powerful ice blast, and Nekirinidai found him and brought him back to Vieidryth to be healed. On the reverse, during Death's Rise, Nekirinidai was losing a battle up against a dozen other enemies, and Baoling'an was the one who came to his assistance. For those reasons, Nekirinidai has grown to better respect Baoling'an and appreciate his contributions to his community, as well as the many times he has helped him.

### Tairami

 *—Hualianxia*

Nekirinidai and Tairami are extremely close friends. He is one of the only people whom Nekirinidai confides in and has opened up to.

Nekirinidai is fully comfortable around Tairami due to his calming, accepting personality. He compensates for what Nekirinidai lacks—optimism and a cheerful, effervescent spirit—without being too much to handle. He appreciates finally feeling understood by someone.

The two enjoy traveling the world together. Their favorite pastimes are visiting trinket shops and solitary tea houses.

## Trivia

* Nekirinidai's flower is the black gladiolus. It symbolizes strength of character, faithfulness, moral integrity, and remembrance.
* (that one pet that he had; the white fluffy cute thing)
* Nekirinidai is very superstitious, which he now keeps a secret after incidents of others using it to tease him.
* The main reason Nekirinidai cut his hair was for practically, though another reason was because he didn't want to be matching with Koryukaiyushizaukensei.
* In his human form, Nekirinidai prefers to wear no clothes as he finds them uncomfortable. However, after being scolded by Vieidryth for indecency in human company, he has since been required to put on at least a pair of pants.
* The first time Nekirinidai and Baoling'an interacted was when Nekirinidai asked a "shifty looking water snake" if he had seen a pendant that Imirian dropped in the ocean.
* Nekirinidai is very skilled at spear-wielding.
* He is one of the few elder dragons who does not utilize his advantage of seniority.
* In fanarts, Nekirinidai and Tairami are one of the most popular ships within the fandom.
* Nekirinidai has a very low amount of literacy. Some fans believe that he has dyslexia, though A.B. has yet to confirm this.

## References

1. ↑ The Gladiolus Flower: Meanings, Images & Insights