ive just read one of ur posts abt nikolai w an autistic reader, and mentioned in that drabble is that he changes his personality around thr men, i thought that was a really unique perspective!!! can we have more depth into how he changes his personaility for price, simon, johnny, gaz, laswell (the ones u mentioned in taht drabble) TAJNSKKSKSKSKS
This is all purely personal headcanons. But looking at who Nikolai is as a person, looking at his team, Chimera (wiki link), at his contacts, connections, and all those things. It has me believe either he is or has been involved in the bratva, or other mafia(s). So i feel like, much like a spy or undercover whatever (terms are not my strong suite), he learned how to adapt to his enviroment to fit in and not get caught. With Johnny, Nikolai becomes younger.
Not literally, but the energy shifts. His posture loosens. He smirks more. He talks with his hands. He exaggerates stories. Lets himself be teased.
He plays along with Johnny’s chaos because it keeps things light, keeps morale high, keeps eyes off the more dangerous parts of himself.
He’ll bump shoulders with him in the hallway. Toss him a knife handle-first. Laugh when Johnny calls him an old man even though they’re not that far apart in age. And despite all the hoopla, Nikolai also values Johnny's intelligence, and Johnny is happy to have someone see both his brains and his 'childish' side, and accepts both part of him.
Johnny brings out the reckless, charming bastard version of Nikolai.
Gaz gets the strategist-lite version.
Still casual, still humorous, but more grounded than with Johnny. With Gaz, Nikolai sharpens his words. Becomes a little more observant. Less theatrical.
He respects Gaz’s intelligence. You can see it in the way he listens when Gaz speaks instead of talking over him. The way he gives him half-smiles instead of full grins. The way he tests ideas with him.
Gaz gets the “you’re competent, so I’ll be real with you” version of Nikolai.
With Price, Nikolai is controlled.
Measured. Polished. Every movement intentional. Every word weighed before spoken.
He doesn’t joke as much. Doesn’t posture. Doesn’t push boundaries.
This is the version of Nikolai who understands power dynamics intimately. Two men who know exactly how dangerous the other is, circling politely.
He sits straighter. Keeps his hands folded. Maintains eye contact longer than comfortable. Speaks with respect but never submission.
Price gets the politician-spy-broker version of Nikolai.
With Simon, Nikolai becomes quiet.
Not cold. Not distant. Just… careful.
He doesn’t waste words because he knows Simon doesn’t either. Their conversations are shorter, but heavier. Long pauses aren’t awkward between them. They’re expected.
He watches Simon more than he speaks to him. Tracks micro-expressions. Notes shifts in posture. Learns the unspoken language.
Simon gets the observer version of Nikolai.
With Laswell, Nikolai is razor sharp.
This is verbal chess.
No flirting. No bravado. No theatrics. Just intellect meeting intellect. Every conversation has layers. Every sentence carries implication.
He doesn’t try to charm her. He respects her too much for that.
Instead, he becomes precise. Controlled. Strategic.
Laswell gets the mastermind version of Nikolai. And Nikolai has no issue switching which personality he uses, and knows how to switch with only a few changes to his body language, his tone, his everything. And yet, he doesn't remember who he was before he was Nikolai, who was that man? That child? It's so far back in his memory that he doesn't know who he truly is anymore, only who he can be with other people. A master at a friend to all, a friend to none. He hopes being like the others, talking to them, hanging out with them, that he can save them from his fate. That they continuing being their own person, so they don't question who stares back at them when they look in a mirror.