open ; welcome to the inner workings of my mind

[persevere]

Who: Caroline Forbes + You + Closed Starters
Where: Everywhere
When: July 6th to the end of the month
Rating: This will get gory, most likely.
Summary: Caroline returns to Wonderland, but she's not quite herself these days...
The Story:

Deux Lux

[Caroline Forbes is here most nights, drinking the night away and dancing on any flat surface she can find no matter the height. She never drinks herself into oblivion because she wants to be at her best, on guard for any of her 'friends' that might feel the need to step in.

She doesn't want help. Anyone with half a brain could see she's just fine.

She's more than willing to dance with anyone who's willing, just don't let her pull you off to that dark corner or you might end up with a few puncture wounds and missing any recollection of the last couple of hours.]

Lake

[She actually carted an inflatable lounge chair out here, and anyone in her path would have seen a blonde blur as she doesn't even bother to hide the fact that she's different. The sun is out and she's in her bikini, hair tied into braided pigtails, sporting a pair of dark shades as she lazily kicks around in the water, catching some rays.

Sometimes you can catch her sunbathing on the edge of the water, too, laying casually out on a towel. Vampire or no, she still likes catching some rays.]

Mikaelson Rooms

[Those who are aware of her living arrangements or any of the others that live there as well can find her lounging in various common areas, usually with a drink in hand, and can be summoned to answer anyone who might knock at the door. She's almost always bored, biding her time with liquor and playing with her phone, stalking messages in search of juicy gossip and drama.

Or maybe she's looking for a snack. It's probably just fine, though.]

Choose Your Own Adventure

Feel free to set up anything anywhere. I'm very flexible.

Comments

[screwedontight]

[Seth definitely isn't looking for it. He's just going with instincts, which are never good when he's been drinking. Especially to the levels that he's been drinking.]

Yep, shoo shoo.

[He waves his hand at the other man, focusing on Caroline.]

Well then, you're welcome. No one with your beauty should be bored. I promise to try harder.

[His hand sliding along her hip, moving in close to her as he sways with the music.]

What's going to keep your attention the most, Beautiful?

[persevere]

[She tilts her head, long blonde hair tossing over her shoulder as she follows his lead, hips shifting under her hand as the music pulses.

Speaking of pulses, the side of her thumb strokes over the pulse point in his throat; she can hear the steady beat of his heart even over the heavy beat from the speakers.]

Keep flattering me and maybe you'll get to find out.

[screwedontight]

[Another time and Seth might have worried about what the ink on his neck covers, the truth behind the thick black lines. Now though he's too caught up in pity and pain and alcohol to give a shit.

Instead canting his head slightly, arching the muscles in his neck to press to her touch even as he rocks with the music. Using that rhythm to shift closer, his body pressing against hers if she doesn't move away, play the tease.]

Well that's not hard. I can't believe I've never met you before though. Obviously I've either been blind or dumb.

[Or he's being dumb now, and he knows it and knows he's laying it on thick.]

What's your name?

[persevere]

I've just been coming here a lot more often lately. Better late than never, hm?

[He's being dumb and she's all about it. Quick pleasure and an easy meal; she's not about to complain.]

Caroline.

[Her smile is coy, meant to draw him in.]

What's yours?

[screwedontight]

Lucky me then. I guess I'll be counting my blessings then.

[Not that he's not going to regret this. For sooo many reasons.]

Seth, and the pleasure is all mine, Caroline. Definitely all mine.

[Both arms sliding around her now, closing that bit of distance between them, swaying with the music more than he is dancing to it.]

[persevere]

[If things keep going her way, so many.

Not that he'll remember all of them.

She dances like no one's watching, even though she knows full well that someone is. If not him, than someone else, any number of people who feel like they need to keep an eye on her.

Call it putting on a show.

She tilts her head in as they dance, his cheek warm against hers, her lips near his ear.]

Do you live alone?

[screwedontight]

[Seth doesn't give a shit about who might be watching, what's out there. Even those he cares about, which would be better than those that may be watching Caroline.

None of that is a concern, even if it should be for a guy whose come to realize that he's very human in Wonderland, and that feels like a minority so much of the time.

None of that is in his mind as he feels the sweet curves of her body against his own, focusing more on that sensation than the music. Which is why he groans, perhaps too loudly, at her question.]

My brother's in Wonderland. I know a few empty rooms though.

[Forget emotions. Forget caring. Alcohol and sex and connecting with those wrong sides of himself he's left behind before Wonderland all seem right in that moment. Which is entirely not good.]

[persevere]

[Neither does she. Let them watch. She wants them to see. She can let loose and still keep herself on a tether.

Even if she doesn't want to.

Sadly, her tether isn't as short as some would like it to be.]

Empty is good enough for me.

[Her fingers entwine with his and she starts to pull him off the dance floor toward the exit.]

[screwedontight]

[Lessons are rarely learned by Seth and he certainly hasn't in this case. Not when it's a beautiful woman, and he's that drunk, and there's no interest in his mind in anything but the woman before him and the next few hours.

Not resisting her touch, following in her wake easily. Something about this place is finally working out in his favor, and Seth is all for that.]

Lead on, Beautiful. I'll follow you anywhere.

busts in whoops

[poppycock]

[ he's perfectly aware of what this is: a farce playacted by her for his benefit; an amusement, for her. she's particularly interested in pushing buttons she knows better than to push. she wants him to react. he knows she wants the power it will give her.

klaus watches her mindless gyrating from the bar with a ramping measure of blackened discontent. his grip on his glass would shatter it into pieces if it were any tighter; he feels the integrity of it compromised at turns. but she's only doing what she will, what she said she would, and he steals from his shallow reserves a modicum of restraint.

that is until this particularly mouthy (and handsy) upstart inserts himself where he's not wanted. (a lingering touch to her waist and his rage stirs. that groan of his has him choking on the desire to rip his innards out. caroline's skin and limbs entangled with his make his actual reaction inevitable.)

she could be planning to simply sink her teeth into his neck, take her full, and send him on his way. it doesn't matter to klaus. he knows it's just as likely this man will attempt to indulge his baser appetites and she's invited it (klaus has, as caroline's pointed out, been a bit uptight on those points of late) and he's not about to let some unfortunate imbecile touch what is his, nor allow the culmination of caroline's games be unanswered.

they've hardly exited out into the empty hallway before klaus is behind them. he grabs seth's collar and with entirely too much force, flings him with a blur of motion behind him.

the thud of his body against the wall is satisfying.

he locks eyes with caroline, brows lifted. ]

busts in whoops

[persevere]

[She hadn't decided, actually. She thought she might have a bit of fun before she got to the main event. If she's being honest, she never entirely thought she'd get there; she's surprised Klaus lasted this long, really.

His brows are lifted expectantly at her, and she smiles knowingly, her gaze spiteful yet amused.]

I'm perfectly capable of taking care of both of you, if you're into that sort of thing. No need to fight over little old me.

[Except that's exactly what she wants. She wants to see if the blood will flow, if he'll tear that poor man apart for daring to look at her. If he leaves it alone or gives her a show, she gets exactly what she wants either way.]

[screwedontight]

[Everything happened way too fast for Seth to keep up. One minute heading for a fun time, the next he's seeing stars and tasting blood where his teeth caught the inside of his lip, maybe his tongue.]

Fucking hell.

[Muttering to himself as he wipes his mouth with the back of his hand, looking at the blood. Too drunk for too many days to truly be aware of how hurt he might be, and not giving a shit as he braces himself against the wall to push himself to his feet.]

Fuck that shit. You two have fun. I've got enough shit in my life with other men than to deal with this.

[Bringing the tip of his index finger to his brow with a roll of his eyes, lurching as he turned to head down the hall.]

Good luck, Beautiful. Probably going to need it.

i believe compulsion was ordered

[poppycock]

[ perhaps he was waiting this long to justify some well-executed violence in a conveniently secluded and empty place. perhaps it was that, or simply the obvious need for actual foresight and discretion executed by somebody here. her retort to his forceful intervention goes without response, not that it needs one. there's only the darkening impatience in his gaze, the pursing of his lips into a frown. only when seth speaks does klaus deign to remember and acknowledge the man is there; with somehow even less patience his eyes flick to the side.

he'll give the man this much: he has some semblance of smarts to want to leave.

unfortunately —

he can't necessarily allow him to do so, not like this. if only for her. klaus moves preternaturally quick to halt seth's stumbling escape. his fingers wrap without pressure around his neck; his pupils dilate as he holds the man's gaze to compel him: ] You're going to forget this. You must've fell down some stairs, walked into a door, got into a fight; [ some dark amusement touches klaus' lips ] something like that.

[ that done, he lets seth go and strides back to grab caroline by the arm none-too-gently. yes he is going to drag her off to their rooms okay. like a caveman do. ]

[persevere]

[Caroline watches all of this happen with mild disdain, her arms crossed over her chest and her expression judgemental and annoyed; literally all of her fun has been stomped on within the last 30 seconds, and this isn't going the way she planned at all. Sure, she wanted Klaus to get jealous because he shouldn't have been watching her in the first place, but Seth wasn't supposed to bail on her at the first opportunity.

Whatever, he was probably gonna puke or something anyway. His blood would have tasted terrible.

The hybrid grabs her arm and blurs away with her, dragging her along as she goes mostly unwillingly, and she tries to rip away from his grasp as soon as they're out of earshot. It's not like she can pull away if he decides he doesn't want to let her, but she's going to try anyway. No doubt he'll get them back to at least their floor before he lets her do anything.]

Let go of me, I'm not five.

[poppycock]

[ ​​​​he's aware she's fighting him every step of the way and he also doesn't particularly care, his grip a vice around her arm. good, is what he thinks; she should fight back and realize how futile it is to do so. only when she wrenches herself hard and they're well on their way downstairs does he pause. with a yank of his own, pulling her to face him closer, he admonishes, ] If you weren't acting like that, I wouldn't have to treat you as one. [ ​​​​his eyes hold a madness; his anger and frustrations at her display and what it signifies have not abated. with another tug, he continues at a human pace with her down the hall. ]

[persevere]

[There's a sharp tug on her arm, and suddenly she's face to face with him and his angry stare. Her gaze holds his, defiant and burning, likely no less mad, though hers is tinged with traces of sick amusement and apathy in equal measure.

She can't feel, but he can, and it's on display now.

And then he's pulling away but dragging her along regardless, and annoyance fills the rest of the space inside her, what little there is, her voice laced with venom.]

Just because you're jealous doesn't mean I'm the one that's acting like a kid. You don't own me. I'm totally cool with some hot hybrid hate-sex or whatever, but I don't have time for this whiny bullshit.

[poppycock]

[ he can feel, and it's what drives his ruthlessness now. he stalks down the hall with her in tow, veritably huffing at her snide remarks and crueler intent: he knows, underneath all the anger and ill-wish, that she is right. this only grates on him harder despite his silent admissions to her accusations.

he is jealous. she meant to make him so. (as such she should deal with consequences, he thinks just as blithely.) he doesn't own her. he can't make her stop, but it won't stop him from trying. outside these thoughts, there is only the irritation at her careless insults. klaus stops again and tugs her forward so they are face-to-face just as before.

(she is right. he also knows that his anger and jealousy aside, she wouldn't have forgiven herself for kissing or biting her new friend. and quite frankly, he knows how close she is to killing.)

his words are succinct and harshly dealt. his fingers dig into her skin. ] I don't have time for your incessant attempts for attention and entertainment, [ she was baiting him and she knows it; she meant to provoke this reaction and it's hardly his concern if it didn't play out in her favor. perhaps she should have known better. ] nor for the cleaning up of your inevitable mess. [ that same sick pleasure that was in her empty gaze enters his. he leans in to add, ] So I suppose we're all inconvenienced by this behavior.

[ with a whoosh they are in their bedroom. klaus releases her so that she falls atop their bed mid-movement.

there. that's better. his expression seems to say so, too. ]

[persevere]

[She squirms against his grip, but faces him with a defiant grin all the same. Perhaps she should be afraid, but she isn't. She needs to feel something to feel fear, and even then, she's almost certain he won't take his violent impulses to the extent he would need to to actually break her.

And if he did? She knows he'd be living with that guilt for a very long time.]

I never asked you to be there in the first place. You're practically stalking me. Maybe I just wanted you to leave.

[And that may have been part of it, but she feels vindication either way. Inconvenienced is a good word for how she feels about all this, though she's sure it cuts him far deeper than it does her.

Being unceremoniously dropped on a bed isn't exactly her idea of a good time, though. Not unless he's going to, you know, actually do something about it. She pushes herself up onto her elbows provocatively, not even bothering to adjust her dress, which is no doubt hanging rather astray from being jostled.]

You're the biggest hypocrite I've ever met. You don't actually care if someone drained that guy dry or screwed him senseless. You just don't want it to be me. You want to think I only did it because you were watching. Well, news flash Klaus, I'd be doing the same damn things whether you're there or not because I want to and it's fun. Just because you fathered some miracle baby after screwing the werewolf slut that got between me and my ex and had some sort of come to jesus moment doesn't make you a good person. You're not saving me. You just can't stand the thought that I might do something as sick and depraved as you.

[poppycock]

[ maybe she did just want him to leave. maybe she did in part seek to punish him for his weaknesses, for his black heart full of jealousies, for how he does hover and stalk. she's right; it does wound him. it does cut him deep, but what her taunting display and cruel words won't do is make their mark.

his eyes darken; his anger stirs, particularly at her insistence, at the jibe meant for hayley, the indirect mention of tyler, and the glib reference to his daughter. how unsubtle, the blows are, and if they do make some mark he refuses to show it. refuses the quarter for it. he grabs her ankles, drags her to the edge of the mattress, and leans over her, his lips inches from hers.

every word he speaks is true: he never claimed to care what happened to that man. he wouldn't. he is not a good person and his actions now are not in an attempt to be. he's perfectly capable of accepting the darker shades of her. under different circumstances, he would probably enjoy and revel in them. ]

On the contrary, I'm perfectly comfortable with whatever sick depravity your mind can conceive, and I don't believe or find joy in saving you from yourself. [ he is simply mitigating the damage. ] I would have gladly let that man's blood flow if that's what you truly wanted, but you don't want to have fun, sweetheart. You want to have power, because you've never felt more helpless in your entire existence. [ his voice a murmur, eyes flashing and dark, he says, ] I'm not the one with the complex.

[persevere]

Bullshit.

[The word flies out of her mouth the instant he finishes, her lips nearly brushing against his. His statement is a lie, one that she doesn't think he believes for a moment. He's right, she does have a complex, but she's never claimed not to be a control freak. He'd claimed she wouldn't take the cure given the chance, and she hadn't tried to deny it.

Becoming a vampire may have been the best thing that ever happened to her.

She liked being strong. He could call it a complex but he couldn't claim he didn't have his own.]

You're like the freaking king of complexes. Daddy issues, Mommy issues, abandonment, desire for power, intense paranoia. You practically have a freaking God complex so don't even try to stand here and try to convince yourself I'm the only one with the problem here.

[poppycock]

[ ​​​​he never claimed not to have plenty and then some. neither is he ever thrilled to hear them listed with such easy and complete logic and malice, particularly from those soft, pink lips that stir in him both perfect rage and frustrations. he leans back as she deals them, his already dark gaze nearly black, his expression calm and steady despite his burning anger.

it probably says something about his character that he's more bothered at her ripping into his god complex than any else. (or perhaps it's just the easiest and more relevant one to latch onto.) ] Gladly. [ he answers without pause, hovering more fully over her. ] But I am stronger, and I am faster, so that means you have to do as I say.

[ ​​​​and with that, he grabs her by the meat of her thigh, flips her over and yanks her legs fully off the bed. it's a dark, possessive impulse that drives him and one intent on proving his point. or at least goading and riling her up enough to stumble. he absolutely does smack her soundly on the ass.​

because he can, and entirely to rub her face in it.​ ]

[persevere]

[He thinks he has the upper hand because he's The Hybrid. Unfortunately, he's going to have to try a little harder than that, and as far as she can tell, the only one losing their cool is him.

The noise that leaves her throat is a coo instead of a gasp of rage, and she tosses her hair over her shoulder to look at him with raised brows, lifting her hips every so slightly as the smirk spreads across her face.]

Does that still apply if you're doing exactly what I want?

[She rolls over, her top half spread out across the bed, lifting her legs to hook around his.]

I always did like it when you got rough.

[poppycock]

[ he doesn't need his calm. klaus has has rarely if ever had one; his impulse has always been both his largest asset and greatest weakness. or perhaps that's her, here and now, tempting and taunting him to an edge he is always teetering on; a tension he did not realize was stretched so thin before it snaps.

the problem is he likes demonstrating his dominance a little too much. he likes and frustrates at the challenge and welcome she poses from it. he wants to bend and bruise her and put her in her place. he likes that she wants him to; they've always enjoyed the push and pull.

it's lust and rage that have him grabbing at her, uncoiling her from him with a speed and strength she could not fight if she wanted to do so. he pins her face down on the bed, a hand around the nape of her neck, his body pressed down on hers. it takes him a moment, his nose pressed into her hair, breath shaking, lips against her jaw, to remember exactly why he cannot take what he wants.

his exhale is heavy and long. he pushes her head slowly, further to the side to whisper to her, ] One day soon, I will.

[ he pushes himself off of her to retreat into the common area. she's still on house arrest okay. ]