[ the used tumblers and the lingering, recent scents of both caroline and leopold (the latter only an occasional occurrence indeed) were more than enough indications for klaus to come to an adequate conclusion for the moment he stood there.
then of course he checked his rooms and seeing them empty, picked up his phone.
the scenario that clearly didn't occur is the one his friend is assuredly exaggerating. he huffs quietly in his agitation and nearly resists rolling his eyes skyward. for one, if that were caroline's intention, he'd already be dead.
or at least there'd've been some evidence of a struggle. blood, perhaps. ] I very much doubt you did, but I am curious as to why you think so, besides the obvious.
One would think the obvious is quite obvious enough. [His syllables come quickly, accent thick as the words rush out.] Your Caroline very nearly made a meal out of me. If I hadn't been on vervain, I'm sure things would have gone quite differently.
[ frankly now klaus is veritably gritting his teeth in agitation at leopold's continued hysterics. it's not that he doubts the validity of leopold's unease; on the contrary, that's precisely what he would like to learn more about. considering caroline's not so far into a no-humanity spiral (last he checked, which was quite recently) and the man survived the experience, that's truly all the concern he has to spare on the matter.
(he's relieved his friend is all right. it's not out of the realm of possibility that he wouldn't be. which is all the more reason he's more concerned about this:)
(and for caroline:) ] All the more reason to start at the beginning: [ has it been mentioned klaus hates repeating himself? ]What did she say?
She said a good number of things. I'm quite well-versed in the means by which you restrain those of your kind who've switched off their emotions and become murderous.
[In the vernacular, he's quite shook over the ordeal.]
[ his lips press together, because of course. whatever her motives (and he can think of a few) for divulging such measures, it does result in leopold thinking the worst of it.
and the truth. klaus sighs and heads to the drink cart. ] I assure you, that is not what I aim to do. [ that's not saying he won't, if need be, but he's been long enough on this earth to know what does or doesn't work — and once a vampire's emotions are off, there is little words or violence can do.
Whether you aim to do it or not, it's best that you do. How else would you keep her from assaulting the first person to cross her path?? I'm absolutely certain that I'd be in pieces on your drawing room carpet right now if not for the vervain.
[ the decanter in his hand is slammed back on the cart with due force after he's poured his generous helping of whiskey; the furniture rattles and punctuates the end of leopold's frantic thought.
klaus takes a deep breath. the notable revelation of leopold's resulting harmony and acceptance with drastic and bloody measures aside, the truth is he's not quite sure how he would keep her from assaulting the first person to cross her path, should she be so inclined. it fills him with a dread he cannot countenance; he needs to do this for her.
they have an accord, he and caroline, yes. that he honors it is hardly based on anything more than what he believes is necessary at the time. it's only a question of what to do now.
leopold could just as easily be in pieces on his drawing room carpet.
he takes that breath and then releases it, leaning over the cart, hands at the edges. yes, that's klaus, quiet. super comforting. he totally has this in hand. ]
A door swings open and then slams shut. Someone's clearly home.
And she has really good hearing.]
You do realize it still would have been super easy to kill you, right? If I wanted you dead, you'd be dead. Plus, can you even imagine what a mess that would be if I ripped you to pieces? The blood would never come out. I'd probably just break your neck or rip your heart out. Much cleaner.
[She looks at Klaus, sticks her bottom lip out, her voice dripping with faked woe.]
I'm disappointed, though. I thought your friend was so understanding, but it sounds like he's perfectly willing to throw me to the wolves, after all. Guess I know why you two are friends.
[ if klaus looks as if he has never been more exasperated, that's because he hasn't, barring one long evening in spain, circa the seventeenth century. (kol-related, of course.) mostly he's exasperated because he's certain caroline's judicious telling of all the ways she could murder leopold has his resident scientist falling off the edge of sanity.
well that and caroline's flippant humor.
klaus picks up his third or maybe fourth drink of the day. ] Ah, yes, because just what the situation needs: more hyperbole. [ he raises his glass to her. ] You'll have to excuse Caroline, Leo; she's feeling a bit heartless. [ pardon the pun. ]
[His voice drops then, as if Caroline will somehow be less able to hear him that way.]
Klaus, is it safe where you are?
[He's already considering extraction options. It would be a challenge given the obvious power imbalances, but if he worked a distraction angle, then maybe...]
[ he can be as heartless as he likes and at no cost to his morality; her, on the other hand. he levels her with his gaze, entirely unamused and just a touch hostile. leopold's voice is soft in his ear but might as well have been spoken from behind a megaphone, for as easily detected as it is. after another long-suffering sigh, klaus downs the contents of his glass, hardly able anymore to appreciate the burning respite of the liquor, and oh-so helpfully plops it into caroline's out-stretched hand.
he brushes by her. ] As houses. I don't believe there's anything Caroline can do to me that she hasn't already done. [ he turns to look at her; now he's quite amused. ] Though not vice-versa.
[Her fingers curl around the glass and she turns to fill it up herself. Jerk.
Oh, she heard it all too clearly, and she smirks at Klaus' reply. With one hand, she pulls all her hair over one shoulder, bringing the glass closer to her lips.]
I'm sure I could think of something.
[And then she takes a sip, slowly, before lowering the glass and rubbing her thumb over her bottom lip before slipping it into her mouth to taste the remnants of liquor picked up by it.
[ the tempo of his breathing changes, quickening and deep. it's not only watching her thumb disappear between her lips and the tantalizing glimpse of her pink tongue, but the melody and challenge of her words. he's been angry, frustrated, embittered; unable to reconcile the teeming of emotions never-ending from the moment she arrived here from home.
he hears leopold's voice only distantly, that uncertain but trusting vow.
all he truly hears is his impulse, his desire, the pressure of days of helplessness and inaction building up inside of him to a crescendo. building and directed here: towards her, she who wrought it. she who he wants but can't have. he hangs up on his friend without another word and just as carelessly drops the phone to the floor, speeding over to knock her drink out of her hand—
to collide with her against the far wall, his hand at her waist and one buried in her hair, pulling it to the side to expose her neck.
perhaps his friend is onto something; perhaps he does need to tear her apart. ]
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
voice.
then of course he checked his rooms and seeing them empty, picked up his phone.
the scenario that clearly didn't occur is the one his friend is assuredly exaggerating. he huffs quietly in his agitation and nearly resists rolling his eyes skyward. for one, if that were caroline's intention, he'd already be dead.
or at least there'd've been some evidence of a struggle. blood, perhaps. ] I very much doubt you did, but I am curious as to why you think so, besides the obvious.
voice.
voice.
(he's relieved his friend is all right. it's not out of the realm of possibility that he wouldn't be. which is all the more reason he's more concerned about this:)
(and for caroline:) ] All the more reason to start at the beginning: [ has it been mentioned klaus hates repeating himself? ] What did she say?
voice.
[In the vernacular, he's quite shook over the ordeal.]
voice.
and the truth. klaus sighs and heads to the drink cart. ] I assure you, that is not what I aim to do. [ that's not saying he won't, if need be, but he's been long enough on this earth to know what does or doesn't work — and once a vampire's emotions are off, there is little words or violence can do.
at least when wielded incorrectly. ]
voice.
voice.
klaus takes a deep breath. the notable revelation of leopold's resulting harmony and acceptance with drastic and bloody measures aside, the truth is he's not quite sure how he would keep her from assaulting the first person to cross her path, should she be so inclined. it fills him with a dread he cannot countenance; he needs to do this for her.
they have an accord, he and caroline, yes. that he honors it is hardly based on anything more than what he believes is necessary at the time. it's only a question of what to do now.
leopold could just as easily be in pieces on his drawing room carpet.
he takes that breath and then releases it, leaning over the cart, hands at the edges. yes, that's klaus, quiet. super comforting. he totally has this in hand. ]
voice.
A door swings open and then slams shut. Someone's clearly home.
And she has really good hearing.]
You do realize it still would have been super easy to kill you, right? If I wanted you dead, you'd be dead. Plus, can you even imagine what a mess that would be if I ripped you to pieces? The blood would never come out. I'd probably just break your neck or rip your heart out. Much cleaner.
[She looks at Klaus, sticks her bottom lip out, her voice dripping with faked woe.]
I'm disappointed, though. I thought your friend was so understanding, but it sounds like he's perfectly willing to throw me to the wolves, after all. Guess I know why you two are friends.
voice.
She heard everything and she's going to kill him when he doesn't see it coming. This is it this is happening. Klaus won't be able to protect him.]
voice.
well that and caroline's flippant humor.
klaus picks up his third or maybe fourth drink of the day. ] Ah, yes, because just what the situation needs: more hyperbole. [ he raises his glass to her. ] You'll have to excuse Caroline, Leo; she's feeling a bit heartless. [ pardon the pun. ]
voice.
[:)
She moves towards Klaus and the drink cart, holding out a hand.]
I'll have one of those.
voice.
Klaus, is it safe where you are?
[He's already considering extraction options. It would be a challenge given the obvious power imbalances, but if he worked a distraction angle, then maybe...]
voice.
he brushes by her. ] As houses. I don't believe there's anything Caroline can do to me that she hasn't already done. [ he turns to look at her; now he's quite amused. ] Though not vice-versa.
voice.
[Her fingers curl around the glass and she turns to fill it up herself. Jerk.
Oh, she heard it all too clearly, and she smirks at Klaus' reply. With one hand, she pulls all her hair over one shoulder, bringing the glass closer to her lips.]
I'm sure I could think of something.
[And then she takes a sip, slowly, before lowering the glass and rubbing her thumb over her bottom lip before slipping it into her mouth to taste the remnants of liquor picked up by it.
Poor Fitz. At least he can't see this.]
voice.
I trust your judgment.
voice.
he hears leopold's voice only distantly, that uncertain but trusting vow.
all he truly hears is his impulse, his desire, the pressure of days of helplessness and inaction building up inside of him to a crescendo. building and directed here: towards her, she who wrought it. she who he wants but can't have. he hangs up on his friend without another word and just as carelessly drops the phone to the floor, speeding over to knock her drink out of her hand—
to collide with her against the far wall, his hand at her waist and one buried in her hair, pulling it to the side to expose her neck.
perhaps his friend is onto something; perhaps he does need to tear her apart. ]
voice.
Moving here...]