( One string leads to Scott, who's cool, if, jumpy. (Normally, Scott would not be the sort he'd hang out with but apparently Rapture just makes these decisions.) Another string appears and this one he knows he can't follow. It doesn't stop this overwhelming urge to reach out, to check in. If he can feel this person's emotions, this Klaus, then the same is probably true of Klaus to him. All Klaus would feel is being cooped up, annoyed with Stiles, but perhaps also at peace with a friend like Scott. )
I think we're linked somehow. You don't know me. I think I can feel what you're feeling.
( klaus has been attempting to studiously ignore all threads inextricably linked to his fingers, particularly ones of those he does not know. unfortunately, ignoring them so far has not prevented his feelings from being shared, nor this man's from leaking through, and all the complications that seem tied up in that.
it's an irritant, an unwelcome annoyance grating on his anxiety; he has no desire for a stranger let alone a friend to see his vulnerabilities, nor sense them with false empathy.
he nearly ignores the message too, sighing heavily before lifting his phone again — despite his best efforts, it's been impossible to avoid, after all. perhaps best to meet it head-on. )
Yes, unfortunately the connection goes both ways. It seems we're stuck in this pointless and debasing game for the time being. Your name?
( It became unmanageable for Derek, fearing that if he didn't reach out something might happen to a person he doesn't know. That the town could swallow him and his worries whole. )
It's Derek. From what I hear this is just the tip of the iceberg of debasement. All because of a child with overwhelming power. I should apologize for whatever it is you're feeling or, experiencing. Trust me, I'd rather you not. I'd rather I'd not.
( it's been so unmanageable for klaus he's considered breaking every bone in his body in hopes that such emotions and impulses might be dulled in wolf form. it's a prospect that seems more and more inviting. )
I'm thankful for the gesture, though regretfully I do believe it will start and end as such.( a beat, and he adds: )It's Klaus.
( Derek hasn't yet achieved his evolved form. He's far too damaged for that. He hasn't learned. He's only failed and been betrayed. By everyone, it feels like. Have fun feeling that, Klaus.
And maybe a twinge of anxiousness as Stiles fits in his sleep. No. No, he seems fine. Cool. )
An interesting theory, but I'd rather not. I can't imagine giving into such foreign impulses would result in anything but disaster.( personal or otherworldly, in point of fact. )
I don't disagree. This connection isn't harmless. Nothing in this dream is. There are drugs down here, disguised as temporary power upgrades. People injected themselves and from what I can tell, they're addicted. Maybe it is better we try to ignore our string at all costs. Clearly, we have things we want to keep from one another.
( the presence of addictive drugs is hardly an imaginative addition to whatever hell half of deerington is in — but it is a notable addition to the obstacles and twists this place seems to be infamous for subjecting its captives to. klaus puts it on the list. )
Clearly.( it's a reference to derek's consistent cloud of dismay and angst. (no matter klaus has his own hovering over his head.) klaus just barely stops himself from asking about it, just barely stamps down the impulse to help and to fix. for a moment he considers perhaps it might be a distraction — but of course it wouldn't. it would be surrendering to artificial feelings. )Until this is over, then.
( She hasn't seen him in person, not really. With Mikael, that hadn't counted. She'd rather not reach out, or meet in the middle of whatever is happening this month. But, they're both formidable and she has a new vampire suck inside during the day and untrained at night.
Luckily, her name accompanies her user name. She'd rather not go through, 'This is Elena.' Straight to the point. )
( there's no need. he already knows who this is. or suspects, anyhow; klaus peers at the message curiously. he figured it was only a matter of time until they crossed paths — for true, this time. )
An interesting segue. Whatever could a premed student want?
( It's inevitable, if only because this is a small town. Not because she thought she'd ever need something from him. Not that he'll make it easy. She's going to argue the definition of segue, but she'd like to not bristle his feathers in fear of him not helping her. Magic may be different everywhere, but Julia could hopefully recreate it. Or, modify it. She said casting was different here. Casting was probably different in every universe. )
Do you remember the spell used to make daylight rings?
( well, it is an interesting segue, considering where they last left off. regardless, klaus' interest is quite piqued at her response. )An even more interesting question. I do believe there's only one reason you might ask it.
You're right. There is only one reason. Or, one reason and several different circumstances attached to that reason.
Have you been outside recently? Have you seen what the townspeople are doing?
( Of course he has. But, still, Elena needs to find her justification. For reaching out to him. For not stating bluntly. She doesn't wait for a response. )
It's not for me, for Stefan, or for Caroline. And Damon's gone back home, so, it's not for him.
( hilarious she believes setting the stage for him truly makes any difference, but he'll play along. )Let me guess. You decided to play the hero and your soft heart has doomed another to an eternity of voracious hunger and suffering.( not that he necessarily sees vampirism that way, at least not personally in some regards, but he knows she does. and it is, after all, the reality of what they are. )
You and I both know that's only one part of being a vampire.
Yes, Klaus. I saved somebody's life and the town still tried sacrificing her. I thought I'd saved her in time. Again. And I didn't. So, I'd rather help her, outside of my house, get her into the world, rather than punish her for something I did. She made her choice to transition. All I can do is help that transition. Will you help me? Her name's Dany. She's younger than me, Klaus.
( She thinks. They'd had the one dream-like interaction. But. Tug on his heart strings a bit? )
( klaus' eyes immediately fall to his hand, to the strings looped around his fingers, to the one at his index, stark red and wanting, as it's been wanting for weeks. he knows who it's connected to, he knows what it whispers for, that sound coming from the core of his being. he thinks for a moment: it's not. there are plenty of women who could possibly be named dany in this place.
and yet. he knows. he can feel it, at the end of the string; something else. something dark and tumultuous and needful. he has for some time and has ignored it as not his concern. )
I want to see her.( those are his terms. for now. )
( She doesn't want Klaus to know where she lives, like Katherine wouldn't want that. The cure is here. And with Klaus here, the cure will stay in her drawer indefinitely. She's a vampire and she lives alone and anyone can enter her residence. Anyone. )
I don't feel comfortable with you knowing where I live, but it's not exactly a secret and I know you have your ways.
It's 110 Princess Drive, but I'm only giving you my address because of Dany. And I expect yours, too. It's only fair, Klaus.
Well, that's easy. I'm right next door to Caroline.( why yes he does phrase it like that to remind her of how close he is to the people she loves (caroline, stefan) and the influence he can wield. it's not a secret, he's not scared of her, and he does have his ways. she would've been wasting her time believing anything else. she can figure out the number address if she's so inclined. )I'll be on my way.
Hopefully he's being haunted. He deserves more than just losing things, but it's a start for what he's done. Shit. She's supposed to be grateful for this.
First Katherine, now Klaus. Is Elena becoming a better person? Or just understanding that sometimes they are all on the same side. Not that she'll mention Katherine at all. Not to Klaus. )
( he already knows about katherine. caroline has not been withholding; she trusts him. at the very least, she trusts that he has no interest in stirring up adversaries when what he needs are allies.
as long as katherine isn't his enemy, he doesn't see reason to plot or scheme against her. he applies the same consideration to elena.
he doesn't reply; instead he arrives some time later, as promised. he even knocks. )
( Maybe, but Elena would have an opinion if she knew Caroline told Klaus Katherine was here. With everything she holds against Katherine, she'll never forget that Katherine's hell bent 500 years of survival is boiled down to being hunted by Klaus.
She doesn't know if she expects a reply. She knocks first, on the door to the room Dany had been staying in as her own. She hasn't yet discussed asking Dany to move in full time. It'd be nice to live with someone again, even if it wasn't Caroline, Bonnie, or a Salvatore. It was someone. She tells Dany that someone is coming, someone that could help Dany be out in the world during the day. In this case, at all, considering the sun hadn't set once in March. She does tell Dany that Klaus is dangerous, and he may not be able to be trusted, but he's the only person in town besides Katherine who knows the spell to make a daylight ring. Elena doesn't go into detail, she doesn't do character assassination, especially if she wants Klaus' help. Dany knows Klaus. A blond who likes Klaus. Not something she's ever seen before...
They wait in the living room.
And there's a knock.
She turns to Dany, brings her lips together and inhales. This makes it real. Klaus being in this town. Not in a void with Mikael. But, in this town. After a second of mental preparation, Elena goes to the large front door and opens it. With one look, maybe a warning with her eyes, Elena steps aside. ) Come in.
( he has nothing to hide. whether it is or it isn't daenerys behind this door, he's certain elena has warned her about the man currently on his way. if it's the dragon queen he met his first day here, the other tethered to him by string currently, she already knows he's dangerous. he cannot change whatever deeds he's done in his past, even if he wanted to; they are the choices he's made and he cannot say he would do any of them differently.
(they've led him to his daughter. they've also led pain and suffering to her too. there's no reconciling the two; all he can do now is what's best, for her.)
he meets elena's hard gaze with an unaffected one of his own, a pinpoint of bright amusement at her cautious fear and certain bravado. without a word, he brushes past her, into the room, his eyes searching for the woman he truly came here to see.
he knows it's her before he even finds her; he feels the cool washing of relief to be in her presence, the string between them unavoidable in both presence and mind. his gaze falls on her and goes wide; grief and dread lodges in his throat.
she's a vampire now, and all that goes along with it. what will a queen with dragons do with that power? with that hunger? evenly, he inquires, ) What happened?
[She indulged Elena in her warning, accepting the words from her friend and the well intentioned caution it was meant as. She was already aware of the danger of Klaus, having sensed something in him from their first meeting. Her dragon would not have taken to him so easily if there were not a beast somewhere inside. Even without Drogon, she had seen his bravado and ease, he possessed the same nature that Daario did and she knew better than to fully trust the sellsword.
It didn't remove the draw from him, the way emotions seemed to amplify when Klaus was near. Even without seeing his face, she felt immediate relief knowing he was close by. Her gaze was steady, but her head still felt as if it was swimming. Every sensation was still amplified, made all the worse by the proximity of Klaus and whatever magic bound them as tightly together as they were.
She looked at her finger before meeting his eyes, reminding herself that the crimson thread was still there.]
I was supposed to be sacrificed. [That much she was certain of, the rest...it was a blur.] I still had blood in my system from before, when they tried to skin me in their games.
[All of this was what Elena had told her, though there was no reason for it not to be true.]
( She'd all but grew to be used to strings on the end of people's fingers here, as if it were a part of the make up of this town, this reality. She had strings of her own. One of Dany's crimson strings reaches to Klaus across her house. Did everything here happen for a reason? Of all the people she could've saved. Of all the people she could be going to for help. )
And then she completed her transition. I gave her a choice.
( Like Klaus never gave her. Everything could be different. But, Damon went and shoved his blood into her mouth all but making Elijah's elixir useless. And Uncle Jon had bound his life force to hers. When she'd died the second time, that was when they gave her the choice. She didn't want this. She'd never wanted this. )
They're rounding people up, and paralyzing them and burning them in huts. I pulled her out before it burned, but I didn't get to her in time.
( he knows what they're doing. it was part of what he expected all along, when they come in their white dresses and gifted their wreaths of flowers — he's seen, now, the terror and destruction they've wrought and can only imagine what else they intend. klaus has been watching, careful to keep his distance.
it's not the string, he knows, that sparks a flicker of rage and tenderness in him, hearing of her suffering. it's the regal set of her shoulders, the bravery and strength in her eyes despite the fear and wildness of emotion so obvious underneath.
he ignores elena's resentment; quite frankly, he couldn't care less. his eyes, unmoving from dany's, finally look to the side, catching elena in his periphery. ) Will you leave us? ( it's not an unkind request. on the contrary, when his gaze finds her, there's assurance there. ) A moment. ( that's what he needs. )
( She looks to Dany first, making sure the vampire she's made, her friend is comfortable with that. And then looks back to Klaus. )
Sure.
( And a quick turn back to Dany. )
I'll be in the other room if you need anything.
( Giving one more look to Klaus, she takes her leave, heading out into her kitchen. She perches at the counter on a stool, Fluid in hand. Mindlessly, she could scroll. And it looks like she is.But, in truth, she's going to listen to every word Klaus says. With a sigh, she waits for the two vampires attached by a string to reunite post death. )
[She's never felt so calm or still in her life. There was so much around her that was heightened and strengthened, but she feels a steadiness in her that has her rooted in place. It was almost as though the torrent were rushing about her, but she was a stone on the river floor. Watching Klaus, waiting for Elena to leave, all of it is accepted with regal grace.
She didn't mind being alone with him. Despite warnings or whatever passed between Elena and Klaus before, it didn't involve her. Klaus was tied to her, not simply by string but by concern and caring. Whatever he might have done, she trusted him in this moment.
Perhaps it was the tenderness in his eyes that appealed to her or the warmth that he brought. Whatever it was, she was happy to keep it for herself.]
( it didn't involve her. but she is now, unfortunately, in the midst of it.
klaus knows elena is listening. she'd be a fool not to, and elena is anything but a fool. daenerys is not either, and he approaches her as an equal, a king to a queen, without lie nor omission. with honesty and truth. he comes closer to her, in no rush, and sits beside her, reaching to take one of her slim, milky white hands in his own. her skin is cool, like those of her species now; he wonders if before she had run hot, like her dragons.
he is warm, because there is more than one magic running through his veins, and he departs that warmth to her now. he leans forward, and speaks with a soft delicateness, with a thread of fierce strength. his thumb runs over the hills of her knuckles. ) The last thing you deserve is to suffer in an endless night. ( he believes that, and he also knows allying himself is of benefit to him. ) Certainly not locked between these four walls. ( this place is below her, below him.
but he will not disparage elena's friendship. she is a powerful player. as kindhearted as she is ruthless. what he will do is be frank. ) I will ask Elena for a price because the woman that sired you considers herself my enemy, and I cannot afford to keep her as such.
( he's certain she can understand politics. ) She'll agree. For you, and for herself. ( if she's wise. klaus believes she is. there's nothing but confidence in his voice. ) If she doesn't, I will gladly take you away from here and remedy your predicament myself. ( not a promise lightly given. one he is perfectly capable of fulfilling. amusement lilts in his tone, around his eyes. ) Truth be told, you'd be in better hands.
( he is an original.
klaus sobers, and inquires with a respect not extended to many, ) Do you agree with my offer?
[He lost her attention briefly at the delicate flutter of his thumb over her knuckles and the soft gentleness of his voice. These sensations she has felt before, but with her hearing heightened and touch more vivid for her, she's swimming in the midst of him. Her smile spreads, indulgent and happy, spoiled by his presence and the attention he is giving her.
Slowly, the pieces of information come back to her. She's able to find her footing there and follow the walkway towards his point. She hadn't considered where she would live or what she would do. All of this had happened so rapidly, that she had faltered only on the changes that happened to her body. She didn't know how her dragons might respond or what she would do with herself.]
What price do you imagine you must pay? [He can't afford to keep Elena as his enemy, Elena cannot afford to keep him as an enemy, and Daenerys had no wish for either of them to be enemies. There was enough danger here without adding to it, and whether they wanted it or not, they were bound, the three of them through this predicament. Elena was her sire and Klaus...that bond was harder to define.]
You wish me to stay with you? Is that what you are asking me?
I wish you to be safe. ( the words are spoken with a determined gravity. he watched the slow spread of her smile with a flicker of primal interest; like a soft brush of breath on the back of his neck, his skin prickled. she is exquisite and beautiful, that much is true, and he is certain the fabricated bond between them has little influence on his attraction, but he would be a fool to let sentiment sway him now.
no, klaus wields such things like a weapon, and he does so now, for he recognizes her preoccupation for what it is: the overwhelming vitality and vividness of each sensation, each emotion. he speaks with a candid harshness, despite the melody of his words. he implores her to listen. if he pleases her, all the better; he's content to seduce her attention.
it does not matter where she lives. it matters that she understands. ) To not invoke the scrutiny and violence that our kind often do, by those threatened by our power. ( for her good, but also for his own. for the others here he cares to protect. it may be true elena has outed herself and not faced opposition, but if bodies start piling up because a new vampire cannot control herself, that is bound to change. ) I wish you control over your impulses and the overwhelming tide of your emotions, which I promise will be many and difficult to curb. ( he speaks with certainty, with intimacy. the horror of those experiences are in his eyes. his hand tightens around hers, folding her fingers with his. ) Being a vampire is not for the feint at heart.
And I do not believe you are feint at heart, love, but I suspect that even as a human, your passion and power were something to behold, and you are just as likely to destroy what you love as you are to protect it. ( she is a woman who rides dragons. there's something wild in her blood.
as for the rest: ) The price I will pay Elena is mercy. The price she will owe is humility. All I ask for is peace. ( he doesn't add: or else. )
( Klaus speaks as if he knows Elena can hear him. She's reminded of all the times he appeared charming. But, she knows he can turn on a dime. He speaks in his flowery prose, keeping Dany enthralled, she assumes. She agrees with some of what he says and even with the undercurrent of hostility Dany might not pick up on.
Maybe she isn't Klaus' enemy. Maybe Klaus isn't hers. The way he puts it so plainly, however, puts everything else into perspective. Mikael or not, they are not allies. Even in this, it's a means to an end. Klaus is her means and peace is his.
Elena hears the 'or else' loud and clear. She gets it. Klaus' price is Elena backing down. Not making Klaus a problem. But, Elena never planned on setting her sights on Klaus. She had other things to worry about.
Stefan.
His speech reminds her of other speeches he's made, and one Caroline had told her about once. Promising to show her New Orleans. Or Paris. And the darkest parts of herself. If she all ready had this bond with Klaus, Dany would be a handful. But, the minute Elena fed Dany her blood, she became her responsibility. )
You get your peace.
( She says it knowing Klaus can hear her, and Dany can not. She sets her phone down beside her. )
But, I want her to stay here. At least, at first. Those are my terms, Klaus.
( klaus hears elena. he does so, and he understands her — but he cannot and will not dictate nor discourage daenerys from whatever she might choose. elena is her sire, but klaus is certainly more of her equal.
and truth be told, it matters little to klaus what dany decides — as long as she's under someone's wing. if elena's, there's certainly less work for him. he knows he will inevitably be needed, regardless.
his gaze flickers to the side for a moment, ears perked to elena's response. for her benefit, and for dany's, he adds, ) It's your choice.
[Whether knowing to or not, his warning about what she had become uprooted the already embedded fears of who she is and who her father was. Her dragons were at the very center of it and she knows how easy it would be to become a monster. That choice was made all the more sharp because of her new state, a state clearly influenced by more powerful emotions and urges than she had faced before.
She doesn't hear Elena or notice any change in Klaus, her focus centered by the path before her. Who she became with this, what she intended to do with this power, it was no different a struggle than she had faced before. Now though, it seemed everything was made more dangerous.]
I have no desire to destroy anything. ['Dragons plant no trees'. Those words were still fresh. All they needed was a thought and she could hear Jorah speak it again. Dragons might be of fire and blood, but that was never how she wished to rule and it was no different now, even with these new changes in her body.
She could be fierce, strong and frightening, but she was did not wish to destroy what she cared for.]
My decision shouldn't be made lightly. Where I go, who I stay with, it will impact what I do going forward. I can't decide this rashly.
( desire is a complex thing. she may not desire to destroy anything, not truly. not with all her heart and soul and mind. not now. but desire is complex, and it is also a fickle thing. with the heightened emotions of a vampire and a crippling, overwhelming blood-thirst to contend, she might feel differently moment-to-moment. she undoubtedly will.
she's also quite right. she shouldn't decide this rashly. he's glad to the level-headed answer, but he would be naive to think it will stop her from slipping in the long run. they all do, eventually. she may even come to like it. he certainly has.
klaus nods, both in acquiescence and understanding, and leans back, his hand slipping away from hers. ) Elena. ( he calls her back, his voice barely louder than a moment ago, as if he were still addressing dany. )
( Elena sets her Fluid back down, having been given the go ahead to return. Even though, this is her house, she knows better than to defy Klaus' terms. She keeps her distance, she listens, she speaks when she decides she needs to. And, she returns when she can.
Elena steps back into the room. )
Dany, I'm not going to tell you what to do. Or, who to live with. But, I can say I'll always be there for you. And I'm sorry that this happened, but that whatever you need, I want to be there. It means something to me. Being a vampire isn't easy, but, it's being around others, and having a support system that matters. ( She turns, when she speaks of him. ) Klaus has done this longer than me. And, he knows more than me. I would never tell you who to go to for answers. But, if you would want to, you have a place here as long as you like.
I understand that you both wish to look after me. [She kept her hand in Klaus's hold, even as Elena rejoined them. The sudden shift in the room was difficult to mistake. Neither of them really cared much for each other, and this alliance was likely only for her benefit. What she would prefer would be a place where all like them could reside, so that she could learn more from many others, but it seemed unlikely. Vampires, like dragons, were territorial and bad blood ran deep.] I still have a home of my own and wherever I go, I am not going alone.
I have three children to look after that are growing larger. They have their own hunger that needs to be controlled.
[She shivered, suddenly afraid for how they would respond to her. Drogon, Rhaegal and Viserion. Would they fear her now? Would she be nothing more than a predator in their eyes? She had feared being a monster before, but now even her humanity and being was tainted by this sudden change.]
Not only do I have to learn to train my dragons quickly, I must train myself.
( yep, elena, you really stepped in it this time!!
is the look on klaus' face as he nonchalantly shrugs, brows lifting and the corner of his lips tipping down in time.
he gets up and mosies on over to a desk in a corner, grabbing a spare sheet of paper and uncapping a pen. ) May I suggest she feeds sooner rather than later? Best she experience the real thing under controlled circumstances for the first time. ( he leans over the paper to start scratching away. ) Away from her dragons, might I add.
( How is the first person Elena turns this tethered to Klaus. Literally?? She sets that aside, and addresses what Klaus puts out. It's almost as if she anticipates his assumption of how she'd react. )
As much as I hate the idea, no, Klaus. You're not wrong. The only other people in this neighborhood are sleepers and Betties. ( She thinks. ) Is - a Betty a person. ( A dream person? ) I guess - we'll find out. ( To Daenerys. ) I'll be back.
( She thinks about thanking Klaus, pauses even as she thinks about it. But, instead, she continues on her mission leaving Klaus and Dany alone.
( he has no idea how elena might react. she's a vampire now, far longer than last he's seen her, and no doubt has fed on her share of humans. and while he doubts elena gilbert relishes the experience as a rule, she has always been practical.
he also didn't come here to babysit, and considering elena's eager for the responsibility... he speaks up before she leaves the room, holding the paper he was writing on aloft. ) As thrilling as the prospect sounds, I wasn't intending to stay for dinner. And unless you'd like to revisit the terms of our deal, I believe you're forgetting something. ( the spell in his hands, he means )
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text — un: hale
I think we're linked somehow. You don't know me. I think I can feel what you're feeling.
text probs forever — un: degas
it's an irritant, an unwelcome annoyance grating on his anxiety; he has no desire for a stranger let alone a friend to see his vulnerabilities, nor sense them with false empathy.
he nearly ignores the message too, sighing heavily before lifting his phone again — despite his best efforts, it's been impossible to avoid, after all. perhaps best to meet it head-on. )
Yes, unfortunately the connection goes both ways. It seems we're stuck in this pointless and debasing game for the time being. Your name?
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It's Derek. From what I hear this is just the tip of the iceberg of debasement. All because of a child with overwhelming power. I should apologize for whatever it is you're feeling or, experiencing. Trust me, I'd rather you not. I'd rather I'd not.
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I'm thankful for the gesture, though regretfully I do believe it will start and end as such. ( a beat, and he adds: ) It's Klaus.
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And maybe a twinge of anxiousness as Stiles fits in his sleep. No. No, he seems fine. Cool. )
Is that what this is. A gesture.
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How else would you define an apology for something you have no control over?
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It doesn't need a definition.
Maybe it would be easier if we were in the same place.
( Or would it be harder. )
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Clearly. ( it's a reference to derek's consistent cloud of dismay and angst. (no matter klaus has his own hovering over his head.) klaus just barely stops himself from asking about it, just barely stamps down the impulse to help and to fix. for a moment he considers perhaps it might be a distraction — but of course it wouldn't. it would be surrendering to artificial feelings. ) Until this is over, then.
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— forward dated to mid-event / text — un: premed
Luckily, her name accompanies her user name. She'd rather not go through, 'This is Elena.' Straight to the point. )
I need to ask you something.
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An interesting segue. Whatever could a premed student want?
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Do you remember the spell used to make daylight rings?
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You're right. There is only one reason. Or, one reason and several different circumstances attached to that reason.
Have you been outside recently? Have you seen what the townspeople are doing?
( Of course he has. But, still, Elena needs to find her justification. For reaching out to him. For not stating bluntly. She doesn't wait for a response. )
It's not for me, for Stefan, or for Caroline. And Damon's gone back home, so, it's not for him.
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Yes, Klaus. I saved somebody's life and the town still tried sacrificing her. I thought I'd saved her in time. Again. And I didn't. So, I'd rather help her, outside of my house, get her into the world, rather than punish her for something I did. She made her choice to transition. All I can do is help that transition. Will you help me? Her name's Dany. She's younger than me, Klaus.
( She thinks. They'd had the one dream-like interaction. But. Tug on his heart strings a bit? )
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and yet. he knows. he can feel it, at the end of the string; something else. something dark and tumultuous and needful. he has for some time and has ignored it as not his concern. )
I want to see her. ( those are his terms. for now. )
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I don't feel comfortable with you knowing where I live, but it's not exactly a secret and I know you have your ways.
It's 110 Princess Drive, but I'm only giving you my address because of Dany. And I expect yours, too. It's only fair, Klaus.
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( Why not.
Hopefully he's being haunted. He deserves more than just losing things, but it's a start for what he's done. Shit. She's supposed to be grateful for this.
First Katherine, now Klaus. Is Elena becoming a better person? Or just understanding that sometimes they are all on the same side. Not that she'll mention Katherine at all. Not to Klaus. )
We'll be here. Obviously.
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as long as katherine isn't his enemy, he doesn't see reason to plot or scheme against her. he applies the same consideration to elena.
he doesn't reply; instead he arrives some time later, as promised. he even knocks. )
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She doesn't know if she expects a reply. She knocks first, on the door to the room Dany had been staying in as her own. She hasn't yet discussed asking Dany to move in full time. It'd be nice to live with someone again, even if it wasn't Caroline, Bonnie, or a Salvatore. It was someone. She tells Dany that someone is coming, someone that could help Dany be out in the world during the day. In this case, at all, considering the sun hadn't set once in March. She does tell Dany that Klaus is dangerous, and he may not be able to be trusted, but he's the only person in town besides Katherine who knows the spell to make a daylight ring. Elena doesn't go into detail, she doesn't do character assassination, especially if she wants Klaus' help. Dany knows Klaus. A blond who likes Klaus. Not something she's ever seen before...
They wait in the living room.
And there's a knock.
She turns to Dany, brings her lips together and inhales. This makes it real. Klaus being in this town. Not in a void with Mikael. But, in this town. After a second of mental preparation, Elena goes to the large front door and opens it. With one look, maybe a warning with her eyes, Elena steps aside. ) Come in.
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(they've led him to his daughter. they've also led pain and suffering to her too. there's no reconciling the two; all he can do now is what's best, for her.)
he meets elena's hard gaze with an unaffected one of his own, a pinpoint of bright amusement at her cautious fear and certain bravado. without a word, he brushes past her, into the room, his eyes searching for the woman he truly came here to see.
he knows it's her before he even finds her; he feels the cool washing of relief to be in her presence, the string between them unavoidable in both presence and mind. his gaze falls on her and goes wide; grief and dread lodges in his throat.
she's a vampire now, and all that goes along with it. what will a queen with dragons do with that power? with that hunger? evenly, he inquires, ) What happened?
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It didn't remove the draw from him, the way emotions seemed to amplify when Klaus was near. Even without seeing his face, she felt immediate relief knowing he was close by. Her gaze was steady, but her head still felt as if it was swimming. Every sensation was still amplified, made all the worse by the proximity of Klaus and whatever magic bound them as tightly together as they were.
She looked at her finger before meeting his eyes, reminding herself that the crimson thread was still there.]
I was supposed to be sacrificed. [That much she was certain of, the rest...it was a blur.] I still had blood in my system from before, when they tried to skin me in their games.
[All of this was what Elena had told her, though there was no reason for it not to be true.]
I woke like this.
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And then she completed her transition. I gave her a choice.
( Like Klaus never gave her. Everything could be different. But, Damon went and shoved his blood into her mouth all but making Elijah's elixir useless. And Uncle Jon had bound his life force to hers. When she'd died the second time, that was when they gave her the choice. She didn't want this. She'd never wanted this. )
They're rounding people up, and paralyzing them and burning them in huts. I pulled her out before it burned, but I didn't get to her in time.
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it's not the string, he knows, that sparks a flicker of rage and tenderness in him, hearing of her suffering. it's the regal set of her shoulders, the bravery and strength in her eyes despite the fear and wildness of emotion so obvious underneath.
he ignores elena's resentment; quite frankly, he couldn't care less. his eyes, unmoving from dany's, finally look to the side, catching elena in his periphery. ) Will you leave us? ( it's not an unkind request. on the contrary, when his gaze finds her, there's assurance there. ) A moment. ( that's what he needs. )
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Sure.
( And a quick turn back to Dany. )
I'll be in the other room if you need anything.
( Giving one more look to Klaus, she takes her leave, heading out into her kitchen. She perches at the counter on a stool, Fluid in hand. Mindlessly, she could scroll. And it looks like she is.But, in truth, she's going to listen to every word Klaus says. With a sigh, she waits for the two vampires attached by a string to reunite post death. )
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She didn't mind being alone with him. Despite warnings or whatever passed between Elena and Klaus before, it didn't involve her. Klaus was tied to her, not simply by string but by concern and caring. Whatever he might have done, she trusted him in this moment.
Perhaps it was the tenderness in his eyes that appealed to her or the warmth that he brought. Whatever it was, she was happy to keep it for herself.]
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klaus knows elena is listening. she'd be a fool not to, and elena is anything but a fool. daenerys is not either, and he approaches her as an equal, a king to a queen, without lie nor omission. with honesty and truth. he comes closer to her, in no rush, and sits beside her, reaching to take one of her slim, milky white hands in his own. her skin is cool, like those of her species now; he wonders if before she had run hot, like her dragons.
he is warm, because there is more than one magic running through his veins, and he departs that warmth to her now. he leans forward, and speaks with a soft delicateness, with a thread of fierce strength. his thumb runs over the hills of her knuckles. ) The last thing you deserve is to suffer in an endless night. ( he believes that, and he also knows allying himself is of benefit to him. ) Certainly not locked between these four walls. ( this place is below her, below him.
but he will not disparage elena's friendship. she is a powerful player. as kindhearted as she is ruthless. what he will do is be frank. ) I will ask Elena for a price because the woman that sired you considers herself my enemy, and I cannot afford to keep her as such.
( he's certain she can understand politics. ) She'll agree. For you, and for herself. ( if she's wise. klaus believes she is. there's nothing but confidence in his voice. ) If she doesn't, I will gladly take you away from here and remedy your predicament myself. ( not a promise lightly given. one he is perfectly capable of fulfilling. amusement lilts in his tone, around his eyes. ) Truth be told, you'd be in better hands.
( he is an original.
klaus sobers, and inquires with a respect not extended to many, ) Do you agree with my offer?
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Slowly, the pieces of information come back to her. She's able to find her footing there and follow the walkway towards his point. She hadn't considered where she would live or what she would do. All of this had happened so rapidly, that she had faltered only on the changes that happened to her body. She didn't know how her dragons might respond or what she would do with herself.]
What price do you imagine you must pay? [He can't afford to keep Elena as his enemy, Elena cannot afford to keep him as an enemy, and Daenerys had no wish for either of them to be enemies. There was enough danger here without adding to it, and whether they wanted it or not, they were bound, the three of them through this predicament. Elena was her sire and Klaus...that bond was harder to define.]
You wish me to stay with you? Is that what you are asking me?
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no, klaus wields such things like a weapon, and he does so now, for he recognizes her preoccupation for what it is: the overwhelming vitality and vividness of each sensation, each emotion. he speaks with a candid harshness, despite the melody of his words. he implores her to listen. if he pleases her, all the better; he's content to seduce her attention.
it does not matter where she lives. it matters that she understands. ) To not invoke the scrutiny and violence that our kind often do, by those threatened by our power. ( for her good, but also for his own. for the others here he cares to protect. it may be true elena has outed herself and not faced opposition, but if bodies start piling up because a new vampire cannot control herself, that is bound to change. ) I wish you control over your impulses and the overwhelming tide of your emotions, which I promise will be many and difficult to curb. ( he speaks with certainty, with intimacy. the horror of those experiences are in his eyes. his hand tightens around hers, folding her fingers with his. ) Being a vampire is not for the feint at heart.
And I do not believe you are feint at heart, love, but I suspect that even as a human, your passion and power were something to behold, and you are just as likely to destroy what you love as you are to protect it. ( she is a woman who rides dragons. there's something wild in her blood.
as for the rest: ) The price I will pay Elena is mercy. The price she will owe is humility. All I ask for is peace. ( he doesn't add: or else. )
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Maybe she isn't Klaus' enemy. Maybe Klaus isn't hers. The way he puts it so plainly, however, puts everything else into perspective. Mikael or not, they are not allies. Even in this, it's a means to an end. Klaus is her means and peace is his.
Elena hears the 'or else' loud and clear. She gets it. Klaus' price is Elena backing down. Not making Klaus a problem. But, Elena never planned on setting her sights on Klaus. She had other things to worry about.
Stefan.
His speech reminds her of other speeches he's made, and one Caroline had told her about once. Promising to show her New Orleans. Or Paris. And the darkest parts of herself. If she all ready had this bond with Klaus, Dany would be a handful. But, the minute Elena fed Dany her blood, she became her responsibility. )
You get your peace.
( She says it knowing Klaus can hear her, and Dany can not. She sets her phone down beside her. )
But, I want her to stay here. At least, at first. Those are my terms, Klaus.
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and truth be told, it matters little to klaus what dany decides — as long as she's under someone's wing. if elena's, there's certainly less work for him. he knows he will inevitably be needed, regardless.
his gaze flickers to the side for a moment, ears perked to elena's response. for her benefit, and for dany's, he adds, ) It's your choice.
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She doesn't hear Elena or notice any change in Klaus, her focus centered by the path before her. Who she became with this, what she intended to do with this power, it was no different a struggle than she had faced before. Now though, it seemed everything was made more dangerous.]
I have no desire to destroy anything. ['Dragons plant no trees'. Those words were still fresh. All they needed was a thought and she could hear Jorah speak it again. Dragons might be of fire and blood, but that was never how she wished to rule and it was no different now, even with these new changes in her body.
She could be fierce, strong and frightening, but she was did not wish to destroy what she cared for.]
My decision shouldn't be made lightly. Where I go, who I stay with, it will impact what I do going forward. I can't decide this rashly.
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she's also quite right. she shouldn't decide this rashly. he's glad to the level-headed answer, but he would be naive to think it will stop her from slipping in the long run. they all do, eventually. she may even come to like it. he certainly has.
klaus nods, both in acquiescence and understanding, and leans back, his hand slipping away from hers. ) Elena. ( he calls her back, his voice barely louder than a moment ago, as if he were still addressing dany. )
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Elena steps back into the room. )
Dany, I'm not going to tell you what to do. Or, who to live with. But, I can say I'll always be there for you. And I'm sorry that this happened, but that whatever you need, I want to be there. It means something to me. Being a vampire isn't easy, but, it's being around others, and having a support system that matters. ( She turns, when she speaks of him. ) Klaus has done this longer than me. And, he knows more than me. I would never tell you who to go to for answers. But, if you would want to, you have a place here as long as you like.
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I have three children to look after that are growing larger. They have their own hunger that needs to be controlled.
[She shivered, suddenly afraid for how they would respond to her. Drogon, Rhaegal and Viserion. Would they fear her now? Would she be nothing more than a predator in their eyes? She had feared being a monster before, but now even her humanity and being was tainted by this sudden change.]
Not only do I have to learn to train my dragons quickly, I must train myself.
I need to learn quickly.
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Children?
( Elena turned a mother? Her throat is dry, a lump she can't escape dropping but then -- )
Dragons..
( That lands with a thud. She looks to Klaus. ) Dragons?
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is the look on klaus' face as he nonchalantly shrugs, brows lifting and the corner of his lips tipping down in time.
he gets up and mosies on over to a desk in a corner, grabbing a spare sheet of paper and uncapping a pen. ) May I suggest she feeds sooner rather than later? Best she experience the real thing under controlled circumstances for the first time. ( he leans over the paper to start scratching away. ) Away from her dragons, might I add.
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As much as I hate the idea, no, Klaus. You're not wrong. The only other people in this neighborhood are sleepers and Betties. ( She thinks. ) Is - a Betty a person. ( A dream person? ) I guess - we'll find out. ( To Daenerys. ) I'll be back.
( She thinks about thanking Klaus, pauses even as she thinks about it. But, instead, she continues on her mission leaving Klaus and Dany alone.
Which she doesn't like either. )
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he also didn't come here to babysit, and considering elena's eager for the responsibility... he speaks up before she leaves the room, holding the paper he was writing on aloft. ) As thrilling as the prospect sounds, I wasn't intending to stay for dinner. And unless you'd like to revisit the terms of our deal, I believe you're forgetting something. ( the spell in his hands, he means )
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Thank you.
( He can leave now. )