[ Nikolai is at that table. In fact, he's not so much at the table as living there, lounging back in his chair with his booted feet crossed on top of it. He sits up a little straighter when Kaz approaches, but only enough to shoot him a crooked grin.

Thanks to his very helpful bardic magic, he's nicely disguised; red hair instead of blond, green eyes instead of hazel, a nose that looks to have been broken several times, and a face that's less handsome than it ought to be. Which still makes it fairly handsome, in Nikolai's own humble opinion, but that's hardly the point.

The point is, he's wearing the face he'd expect Kaz Brekker to know. If, as he suspects, he's a stranger to Kaz either way, then at least this will be the face he remembers.

Now. Back to that smile. ]

Mr Brekker! Quite the contrary; I've been waiting for you. Do sit down, won't you? I think it's about time we were reacquainted.

[ If he's at all disturbed by how different Kaz looks, he doesn't show it. He'd taken a few days to be sure that this tiefling was his man, and he's confident enough to act. Now, it's time to perform. ]