This characterization of Cardan is generally canon compliant following the TFOTA trilogy and the sequel duology with some personal deviations and is as always headcanon-heavy in terms of interpretation. He is the High King of Elfhame, an enchanting and hidden world coinciding with the current modern world wherein faeries and their ilk are well aware of mortals but mortals very rarely are aware of the true existence of faeries.
There is a healthy mix of Holly Black's own faerie lore from Cardan's original canon, as well as various folklore, fairytale, and mythological creature lore from various media. I have a deep love of fairytales, particularly dark fairytales, and this is very present in this interpretation. Cardan is being written post-canon and as such, everything written should be considered original writing with the exception of any references to the TFOTA source material.
FULL NAME: Cardan Greenbriar
TITLES: High King
GENDER: Non-binary (he/they)
SPECIES: Faerie
AGE: 28 years old
HAIR: Black as pitch. Shaggy, curly, and almost always unruly and falling over his brow and ears, particularly when accompanied by his crown.
EYES: Black with a ring of gold around his pupils. Always adorned with kohl, very thick and long lashes.
SKIN TONE: Cool toned, pale. Translucent. Always accented by varying glittering powders and creams along their cheekbones, collarbones, and whatever bit of skin he so chooses to reveal depending on his outfit for the day.
BODY TYPE: Lean and lithe. Thin, but strong muscle in the limbs. Very tall.
VOICE: Low and smooth. There's a musical quality to it. Bewitching and enticing. Capable of frightening those stupid enough to go against him, but just as able to command a room full of faeries and enchant just as many mortals with a mere whisper.
POSTURE: Impeccable when they so choose, which is rarely. Most often, they are perfectly content to lounge as much as they'd like and slouch even more, but it does not detract from the very obvious touch of easy decadence to their every movement.
SCARS: Terrible, terrible scars all along his back from years of abuse at the hands of one of his brothers.
NOTABLE FEATURE(S): His pointed ears. His long, thin tail which has a tuft of black hair on the end and is often decorated with gold or silver and jeweled cuffs. His extravagant taste in attire. The near constant presence of a glass of faerie wine in their hand. The sheer amount of jewelry they wear on a day to day basis, particularly rings and earrings.
MENTAL ILLNESSES: Depression. Alcoholism.
ALIGNMENT: Chaotic Good
VULNERABILITIES: Though fae have much longer life expectancies than humans, they can be injured and even killed. There are many ways to kill them, but a simple blade can do the job fairly well. Despite having grown up in court and amongst nobility, Cardan is a poor swordsman. He is clever, cunning in mind and in magic, but his physical prowess is certainly lacking.
POWERS: TBD...
CURRENTLY.
the high queen and her king consort. PRESENT DAY. TBD...
IMPORTANT: Cardan shares his throne with his mortal wife, Jude Duarte. He is wretchedly devoted and deferential to her. As such, Cardan is decidedly single ship in their main verse.
Okay, enough is enough, I'm going to give Claw Guy an unofficial name instead of just calling him "Claw Guy" but I like multiple names. Which one do you guys like best?
So I just finished Wu Assassins, and I ABSOLUTELY LOVE THE SHOW! I mean, it isn't perfect, but it's badass and they fight a lot, and badass women and superpowers and shit! (And my ship kinda sails, so yippie!)
Mr. Bley’s distilled his playing from a style based on bepop, particularly Tholonious Monk, down to isolated essentials, an angular chord, a pause, another chord, & a glinting fragment of melody.
