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[poppycock]

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[coy]

[ again, she rolls her eyes at his smirk before her eyes lift to meet with his. they linger for a moment, her teeth running along her bottom lip. she's only mesmerized for a brief moment before she pulls back, moving to get her footing even, breaking the spell.

she can still taste damon on her lips. and she doesn't like it.

clearing her throat, she moves to step around him, letting go of his hands.] When did you find this place?

i'd pay good money

[poppycock]

[ he's mesmerized, by her eyes, remembering her lips, by her, essentially, and for a moment after she breaks away. his eyes trail her; his body pivots to follow her, and his arms fall to his sides. (it hasn't escaped his thoughts she's come to him from a mistake for all his feelings, nor has he stopped considering why or who.) ]

Sometime after the rains. I've been moved by some curiosity to know our surroundings. We're making maps, Velma and I, but I think I'll keep this one secret. [ except for her. for her, even. ]

me too

[coy]

[ she catches his meaning, at least, thinking that he means she should keep it secret as well. she looks at him with a small smile.] Thanks for showing me this place.

[poppycock]

[ well he does mean that, partially at least. he wouldn't much like to share it with just anyone. it's a moment before he follows her, his hands clasped behind him as he stops beside her and meets her gaze. ] You're welcome.

[coy]

[ she keeps eye contact for a long moment before she looks back towards the waterfall. her mouth twists a little before she takes in a slow sigh.] I can't run away from my problems. [ she reaches up to tuck her hair behind her ears.] I never have. [ or, well, she has but not for long.]

[poppycock]

[ of course she doesn't. she's brave, loyal, compassionate. since before he can remember, all klaus has ever done is run or hide: from the demons hounding him, from his weaknesses and family, if elijah and rebekah are to be believed. (if he were back home, he knows he wouldn't ride and hide against the troubles facing them now. but there's nothing he can do.)

he looks away and to the waterfall as well. ] Sometimes there's no choice in the matter. But they do tend to catch up. [ he pulls in a breath, hesitant, unsure. ] I assume you're avoiding Elena.

[coy]

[ she hesitates before she answers him because she wonders if answering in the affirmative would make it obvious that she'd slept with damon. as much as she was hurting and hating him, she didn't wish any retaliation from klaus on damon. no, she'd rather kick damon's ass herself.]

I'm just avoiding going back to my hut. [ but she knows her voice gives it away, she's never been a great liar unless it was something insanely important.]

[poppycock]

[ it does make it obvious; at the very least it confirms a few suspicions he set out to test. it's impossible to dread something already figured, and yet he feels the blossoming of the embittered, angry twisting in his chest. he feels the weight of whatever anguish she must feel.

his lips part and all he manages is a breath; he looks away. aka he loves you caroline and damon is up shit's creek without a paddle no wait without even a canoe he is going to drown in shit. ]

Well, if you're going to avoid your problems, you might as well enjoy doing it. [ there's a small, somewhat tender smile on his face as he turns towards her and inclines his head. ]

[coy]

[ she laughs quietly, the first time it's probably sounded genuine since she arrived in his presence. caroline doesn't think about the fact that klaus is connecting the dots and concocting a plan in his head. ] Are you suggesting I go for a waterfall dip or something?

[poppycock]

[ hey now he never said that. ] I wouldn't stop you. [ said so innocently and non-suggestively. his smile widens and it's not flirty at all. ] On the contrary.

[coy]

Sometimes, I swear, you're such a guy. [ she laughs again, rolling her eyes.] I'm not getting naked under a waterfall, no matter how much I need a shower right now.

[poppycock]

[ it does seem to please her when he is. his smile lingers and he bows his head, tempering his chastisement and the dark feeling that befalls him at that last part. he lifts his eyes to her and gestures instead to the rocks, goes to sit down. ]

[coy]

[ she glances at him, moving to sit on a flat topped rock.] Aren't you supposed to play the sage mentor or something? Urge me to face my problems head on, blah, blah, blah?

[poppycock]

[ he lounges back against another propped rock, brings a foot up to brace himself. he's a bit amused at her expectations. ] Well, if I didn't doubt you'd agree with my methods, I might. But typically yes, Caroline, those who transgress deserve a lesson, and sometimes problems are better addressed head-on. [ oh damon you in trouble. ]

Although I doubt much will keep you from doing whatever in your heart seems right.

[coy]

[ she shifts uncomfortably, looking away from him.] I meant more, like, you'd tell me to go home.

[poppycock]

[ perhaps someone should. she's run to him, of all people, and he's no fool. whatever comfort she was expecting from his presence was not in his reassurances or his counsel. the idea that perhaps she'd traded one shameful interaction for another has crossed his mind. or perhaps his presence is the quietest, most accepting or punishing place she could choose.

he looks away as well. ] Elijah was urging me to do something similar before I arrived here. That I had to tend to what was broken. He was right. [ in many ways, he was. ] You should go home.

[coy]

[ she looks at him now, trying to study his face despite it being tilted away from her own.] What did you break? [ perhaps surprisingly there isn't a this time implied afterward.]

[poppycock]

[ he'll make her study easy however unintentionally, turning his head towards her at the question. the answer is too revealing, but he thinks it: rebekah is what broke, her and her lies and betrayal, him and his paranoia and fear. ] Our family. Our kingdom. [ his eyes shift to the waterfall. ] I was ensconced in our pursuits [ in genevieve, in his painting; both which led to their ruin ] while New Orleans teetered on the brink of war between the factions: humans, wolves, witches, us.

It was our home. Our first true home, decades ago, before our father found it. [ before rebekah led him to their doorstep. ]

[coy]

[ caroline didn't like the tiny flare of annoyance she felt upon hearing that he was torn up about new orleans, the place he'd gone off to. the place that tyler left her for too. but she doesn't let it show, she keeps her face even for a moment before she looks down and then back up at him.]

I remember. That's why you left, right?

[poppycock]

I left because I received a letter from Katerina detailing a witch's plot against me. I stayed because my progeny, someone I thought slaughtered at the hands of my father, had done everything in his power to steal our home and power in my absence. [ he stayed for his kingdom. for his family. for hayley and for elijah. for the baby. ]

[coy]

[ her lips press together as she nods, biting her tongue because of course, it's about power. it's always about power. her mind flickers briefly to damon and thinks that it's about power for him too.]

I sure know how to pick 'em. [ she muttered a little bitterly before moving to stand up.] I'm sorry your friend or... sire-- [ she made a face as she tried to choose the right word] or whatever, stole your life from you. [ the apology somehow managed to sound mostly sincere despite her general annoyance with the idea of it. she shouldn't feel that way, it was a good thing that he left, it was better for them all.] I'm guessing if you haven't won yet, you will.

[poppycock]

[ how can it not be about power after everything? after mikael's blows and his mother's rejection and abandonment? but the truth is it's not, not anymore. he loves marcel. he loved him and still loves him; he was and is like a son, a friend, a companion, someone he decided to share the load of leading with, despite it all. (and grappling for this power, for control; he has a mess to clean up. he has a daughter who deserves a safe home and hayley who deserves to give the same to hope.)

perhaps it'd be all the same to caroline, but her words still strike him, anger him, slice him through.

he reaches for her as she stands; his hand snags her arm and he straightens. ] I love Marcel. He has been a son to me, family as much as any. I love my family, Caroline, and I meant to secure a home for them free of my demons.

[ it shouldn't matter to him, what she might think. what judgements she might make. yet it does. he may be a monster, but what drives him is not cruelty. he is not his father. ]

[coy]

So why would you pick New Orleans? [ if it's so complicated, so messy. wouldn't that mean there are demons lurking the shadows? she doesn't pull away from him when he grabs her arm, she just looks down at him.]

I mean, you're rich and you can pretty much get anything you want? Why wouldn't you pick somewhere like... Italy? Or France? [ all she knows of new oreleans is good food, jazz, and drunks barfing in the streets during mardi gras.]

[poppycock]

It's my home. [ his answer is immediate, despite her point. perhaps the thought of taking hayley and hope and leaving the city behind has crossed his mind after genevieve attempted to kill them both. it does now. ] And those demons are hell-bent and my responsibility to strike down. There'll be no safety, no peace, without a fight.

[coy]

[ she just nods before her shoulders slump a bit.] And what happens when you run out fights? Out of people to fight?