Nikolai Mikhailovich Petrov

Stubborn / Self-Destructive / Perfectionistic / Bunt / Mild-Tempered / Passionate / Polite / Non-Judgmental

Although he might come across as cold or antisocial, Nikolai is indifferent at best, and rarely has strong opinions towards other people. He simply values his own company, and is selective about who he lets into that bubble. That being said, he's surprisingly talkative once you get him going, and he's not opposed to chatting with strangers if they're interesting enough. Vulnerability and trust are separate issues, but he can handle socializing. If you do manage to convince him to open up, he's a snarky and creative person underneath his blank-faced front. It catches people off guard how forthright he can be, and they're even more surprised when they find out he has a sense of humor. It's also worth mentioning that around horses, he's far more lively than he is around people. He's not embarrassed at all being seen talking to his mare and giving her kisses on the nose, or rather: he's pretty embarrassed, but won't let you know that. His pride and reputation are important to him, after all.

He isn't the type to approach strangers, but will participate in a conversation if it's offered. Usually others don't reach out to him, however, because they get the wrong impression and assume he's anti-social. On the contrary, he appreciates the company of extroverts and thrives on other people's enthusiasm. He likes to talk more than you'd think.

Nikolai's health is affected by his self destructive habits and eating disorder. He restricts calories to an unhealthy extent in order to stay within the weight requirement for races. His actual weight fluctuates, but by default he has wide shoulders and a masculine build. His growth was somewhat stunted during childhood due to a combination of food shortages and illness. In spite of his shorter stature, he has a commanding presence and looks like someone who you don't want to bother. Really, he has a way of making others feel like their very presence is infringing on his personal space. He has a flat nose and long face, with icy blue eyes and an equally cold stare. 

backstory .
As he tells it, Nikolai was born into a life of crime before he had a say in the matter. His father would exploit others in their community so often that it tanked the resale value of homes in their neighborhood, which ultimately led to an intervention. Said intervention, in the typical Russian fashion, involved a young Nikolai nearly losing his fingers to a ransom demand. His father paid the sum and secured his son's safety, however, at that point their comfortable life in Russia was over. His father obtained a work permit in Ireland with some old connections, and the two promptly fled from the angry mob left in their wake. At 13 years old, Nikolai learned English and studied at a private school in the countryside. It was there that he became familiar with the country's culture and local delinquent activity. There wasn't much trouble for him to get into at first, but over time he begun to take after his father and inspired enough criminal activity to ruin the village's reputation. He made his father proud, of course, and eventually they settled down making their money off gambling and betting on horse races.

When his father was inevitably arrested and faced deportation for more serious charges, Nikolai found himself with nowhere to go but the race track. He was familiar with the scene and well-liked by the trainers, despite the fact he was constantly sneaking into restricted areas. One of them, a trainer by the name of Mitchell Riley, took enough pity on the kid to give him a job. From there on, Nikolai was a stable groom, and then jockey after getting enough experience under his belt to ride. 

The unfortunate downside to Nikolai's exciting childhood adventures is that they were all pretty traumatic. In hindsight, being constantly dragged through the criminal underground and running from the police is far from ideal father-son bonding, and has left Nikolai with some unresolved emotional issues. Mainly, he follows obsessive compulsive rituals to ease his anxiety, and has developed an eating disorder to make the weight requirement for races. As of right now, he keeps his self destructive habits to himself and avoids sharing too much that could imply he's struggling. 

family .
Although it was something his father avoided mentioning, his mother left the both of them for a better marriage. He knew several of his uncles in Russia, but hasn't been in direct contact with them since moving to Ireland. The only consistent family he had was his father, and as problematic of a figure as he was, he did show Nikolai love in the only ways he knew how. By protecting him and teaching him to protect himself.

education .
He graduated from high school, but neglected to attend college in favor of working for the local racing barn and getting his license to jockey. He received bellow average marks in school, but could've done better without his chaotic home life. 

occupation .
He's an up and coming jockey, determined to advance his career no matter the cost. He trains with his long-term mentor, Mitchell Riley, and his team of help. 

residence .
He started off renting a room from Cambrie Evans, in the house she rents fom her parents, but over time their arrangement has become less formal. She doesn't insist on collecting payment, and neither of them are what you'd call wealthy, so they've more or less agreed to collectively mooch off her parents. They don't know he lives with her.