entrancelogs | [OPEN] We'll Take A Cup of Kindness Yet

Entry tags:

[OPEN] We'll Take A Cup of Kindness Yet

Who: EVERYONE, but especially you!
Where: Wonderland Ballroom
When: New Year's Eve
Rating: PG - PG13 (will change if applicable)
Summary: New Year's Eve Party
The Story:

[The morning of December 31st, all residents will receive a handwritten invitation slipped under their door.]

You are cordially invited to attend a party
celebrating the New Year

Wonderland Ballroom
8 pm - 1 am

Semi-Formal Attire
Buffet & Bar
No RSVP Required

All Ages Welcome

For inquiries, contact E. O'Connell

[Punctuality in planning is important: the ballroom itself will only be ready for guests at exactly 8 o'clock, bedecked in glittering golds and the red-green of Christmas' vestiges, still clinging to the old year. Dining tables surround a central dance floor, bars and buffets dot the edges of the room and both holly and mistletoe are expressed liberally through the interior.

Mingle, dance, eat and be merry! The New Year will come in at midnight - the band will play and the drinks will flow for long after.]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

The uncertain raise of her eyebrows at his addressing her personally says more about the brunette than her ever-present shadow does, Kate's gaze flickering to her right as she feels rather than sees the latter's eyes upon her. She had agreed, rather reluctantly, to remain where he could see her this evening but she'd made no such promises regarding whom she would speak to or not.

"You would?" The smallest hint of a smile touching the corners of her mouth. "What makes you think I wanted something alcoholic?" Kate almost too easily drawn in by his pleasant expression and willingness to acknowledge her existence.

The uncertain raise of her eyebrows says something, but her flickering gaze to her companion says something more. Klaus' eyes do not need to follow so obviously to find the object of her attention. From his stead beside her he can see the figure she looks to well enough, and he will take an educated guess it's the same man with whom she entered.

Call him curious.

"I would. If I had a shadow." He smiles, somewhat conspiratorially, and inclines his head in Richie's general direction, but does not look.

Caught like a deer in headlights, Kate's mouth falls open, her mind racing to weave together a lie but she knows that as soon as she tries to articulate it, Klaus would see it for what it was. She was blessed with many things but an ability to lie had never been one of them.

He'd likely see it, the flash of irritation that's in no way aimed at him. The tightness of the smile she forces across her lips as she bobs her head in acknowledgment. There was no point denying it. For somebody who managed to evade the law for as long as he had, he wasn't the most subtle of people.

"Oh, that?" The huff that spills over, not as amused as she might like it to sound. "That's just Richie." And she knows only too well that he wouldn't like her referring to him that way, just as she knows he can likely hear this conversation.

That might have been the point.

Hers is an amusing reaction, made no less so by the aggravation that follows her surprise. He doesn't believe it is exasperation aimed towards him; the true target of such ire is obvious. "Well," he replies in all helpfulness and with commiserate disdain, "'Just Richie' need not ruin your night." He glances behind the bar, gestures to the line of beverages. "What would you like?"

Edited 2017-01-01 23:32 (UTC)

Again Kate appears taken aback, only this time there's no inner panic that comes from being caught. It's brought on by the simplest of questions, from being asked what she wanted. The disdain that had tightened her features a few moments ago slips away, the smile that touches her lips, genuine, even pleased.

"You did recommend the champagne." A little spark of something close to mischief glinting in her eyes.

He needs no further cue. With a matching gleam of impishness in his eyes and a curling smirk of his lips, Klaus reaches for a clean flute and one of the bottles chilling for anyone looking for refreshment. He twists the wire, pops the bottle and catches the flying cork with ease and little fanfare, and then begins to pour her a drink. "And what's your name?"

The smile lingers as she watches him, Kate unable to completely mask the look of awe that shines in her eyes as he plucks the cork from midair with perfect ease. Richie's watchful gaze has become momentarily forgotten and she appears all the more at ease for it.

"Kate." Inclining her head. "I'm - " The soft chuckle that sounds more breath than belly, is the first honest moment of humor she's felt since they began talking. "I don't imagine I need to tell you I'm new." She doubted he was, not with how at ease he seemed. The host alongside the uninvited guest she felt like.

Edited (Too many thats. I can proofread) 2017-01-02 01:25 (UTC)

She's certainly not uninvited, nor unwelcome. That is what he'd impress upon her anyway; he is mildly interested in her situation enough to say so. What is it about the young and darling Kate that her companion is so dedicated to hover like a hawk? Obsession? Protectiveness? A bond deeper than that? "I supposed you were." Klaus offers her the drink, the fizz of the champagne still receding down into the flute. He means no insult; the benign, teasing look in his eye communicates as much. "I've been here for some months. About half a year."

And with a charming smile: "You can call me Klaus."

Edited (i take it back. i can't do grammar but i can try my best) 2017-01-02 02:17 (UTC)

There would be check marks in all three of those columns, really.

That said, Richie's been watching out of the corner of his eye for some time now, and once his drink can no longer distract him enough to stay put, he 'wanders' over, giving a very poor attempt at nonchalance as he looks over Kate's new friend.

"Let me guess, that's what all your friends call you?"

He's getting weird vibes off of you, buddy.

Well, he could say the same about you, old friend.

Not that he judges, of course; in point of fact he was waiting for this. Frankly with that level of preoccupation it was in all probability only a matter of time before he met 'Just Richie.' Klaus is unperturbed by the appraisal and merely turns his attention to their newcomer.

He's actually a bit entertained.

"Ah," he intones, and moves his eyes back to Kate. "This must be Richie."

Before she can so can so much as form a reply, she feels and then hears Richie's arrival, mortification rendering her face completely emotionless as his words penetrate her thoughts. He was the one who insisted they come tonight. He was the one who tried selling her on the idea of her having a good time and now he was the one, making it impossible for her to do so!

She's grateful to Klaus for his smooth recovery, her own needing those extra seconds he grants her by responding. The smile she struggles with in reply is caught between embrassessed and apologetic as Kate clears her throat.

"Yes..." Her free hand flailing as she motions towards the new arrival. "Richie..." Enough of an edge in the way she says his name for her displeasure to be detected. "This is... Klaus." Which he made very clear he already knew. "He was nice enough to get me a drink."

"So I heard."

He has great hearing, Kate. So does everyone who is deliberately eavesdropping, but his is especially excellent. He wouldn't be good at his choice of career if he weren't.

"How thoughtful of him." His tone indicates precisely what kind of thoughtful he thinks that might be. His eyes stare at Klaus intently, not even bothering to check Kate's expression. He has a pretty good idea of what it looks like right now as he offers the man his hand. "Richie Gecko, though apparently I'm 'Just Richie' tonight. Pretty cold, don't you think?"

Excellent hearing isn't anything to brag about. Unless, of course, you're Klaus Mikaelson. In his opinion, anyway. So he's not quite impressed nor disconcerted by the rudeness of Richie's second attempt at introductions. Richie might not check Kate's expression, but Klaus does. He's quite interested in it: the embarrassment, the annoyance, the eventual steel in her voice.

Only after she's finished does Klaus deign to look at their interrupting party and then take his hand with no small measure of firmness. "Well, I don't believe it matters what I think. She was quite clear." About how 'just' he is.

And then, you know, just to up the dick quotient in this interaction: "I suppose the pleasure's all yours."

Kate can feel the color crawling up her neck towards her cheeks, the wash of heat that rolls over her with every word that passes Richie's lips and she would have given anything for the ground beneath her feet to open up and swallow her whole. Moments like this made her long for Seth's presence. He was the only person she'd seen pull him back when he was hurtling closer to the edge, even if he'd at times needed threats and or physical violence to do so. He could get away with it. Kate would never consider it.

Her eyes close as he uses her words against her, Kate's jaw locking in place with every angry word she'd like to throw at him. What did he expect her to say? Oh, that's my good friend Richie? Don't worry about him watching you like a hawk, he's harmless? Half of that was a lie and the other half was complicated. Which half was which seemed to change on the daily.

But if she thought things couldn't get worse?

You wouldn't go so far as to describe the twist of her features as awe but she certainly looks stunned by Klaus' easy reply. It only takes half a second for worry to rear up, Kate having seen how easy it is for Richie to be pushed over the edge.

"Richie." Trying to infuse as much meaning into that one word as she can possibly manage. The last thing any of them needed was for Richie to rip Klaus' throat open in the middle of the ballroom. It was the exact opposite of flying under the radar and she didn't want anyone to get hurt on her account, least of all somebody she quite liked.

While Klaus' grip is firm, Richie's tightens considerably as this 'Klaus' continues to speak, and all Richie can hear is that, not only is he clearly screwing around with...Kate (what is she to him anyway), but now the bastard is talking down to him like so many people do.

It's one of the things he hates most in the entire world. The feeling that he's somehow beneath someone else, that person so often his own brother. Second best. Not good enough.

Rage boils beneath the surface of his skin, and his eyes flare green, slitted like a reptile's. He can feel his teeth trying to press against his tongue behind his lips, which press against each other in irritation, and it's only Kate's voice that brings him out of that red haze of his desire for violence.

He wrenches his hand away, his eyes fading back to their normal color, his fangs folding back up where they belong before he speaks through his clenched jaw.

"Why don't you try to find another girl to practice your pick up lines on? And try not to slip anyone any roofies while you're at it."

Of all the transformations he could have expected, this one isn't a change he would ever had imagined, not in his wildest dreams. Not that Klaus expected one at all, but neither is he too moved when it occurs. Nor is he frightened as Richie's skin greens and his eyes slit; nor is he intimidated by the snake-like fangs that drop and extend Richie's lips. No, Klaus is still, silent, and unconcerned. He doesn't flinch at the grip of Richie's hand. Instead he is mesmerized by this challenge and vindication; instead his fingers tighten with equal strength within Richie's grasp. He does not give an inch and feels no impulse nor worry to do so; no, his curiosity has led to quite the discovery.

He lets Richie pull his hand away. There is no reason to provoke the man, certainly not anymore. "Well aren't we a different kind of beast," he says, his lips curled into a mockery of a smile.

A beat, and he turns to his new friend with no worry, in no rush, his voice lowered to create the intimacy of of exclusion. "If you'll excuse me, Kate; it's been a pleasure." He pauses, considers if he should valiantly offer her a way out of this unfortunate situation. Though perhaps not, for now. After all, she seems to have him well in hand. "Enjoy the champagne." With a last level look and smirk at Richie, he slips between them both and makes his exit.

Edited 2017-01-02 05:24 (UTC)

All the color that had been so quick to rush to her cheeks, fast drains away as Kate sees the change in Richie's eyes, her heart hammering so hard in her chest that the blood pounding in her ears, threatens to drown out Richie's words. She regrets, every single word spoken in frustration, the role she'd played in baiting Richie. It was a childish moment of rebellion that would now put both of them at risk and she would have agreed to stay by his side all night if he could just take back this moment.

With panic rising, Kate drags her gaze from Richie long enough to take in Klaus. She'd expected the familiar look of shock and fear that she'd experienced but what she saw instead? Perhaps she should have been worried by his calm and collected fascination. Should have questioned how anyone could have seen that without so much as a flicker of alarm but in that moment? She could only be relieved. If he'd started calling out for help... What was Richie going to do? Kill everyone in this room?!

Kate had been around enough violence these last six months to know how quickly things could spin out of control, the brunette tensed and ready to step between them, even as Klaus appears to be backing down? It didn't seem like the right choice of words. He was hardly running off with his tail between his legs.

"I - " Kate struggles with anything to say in response, his easy manners in the wake of what had just happened, leaving her flustered at best. The most she can manage is a pained smile and a hurried; "Thank you", Klaus' departure ending all hope of eloquence on her part.

Kate does consider going after him, finding a way to explain, offer an apology or just beg for him not to tell anyone. She suspected anything she might say, wouldn't help the situation and she believed just as strongly that doing so would only send Richie over the edge.

"I can't believe you just did that..." Disbelief offering him a short reprieve from the anger that would surely come.

Richie turns and watches Klaus go with tense shoulders, hands curled into fists, but his face stays his, if only because he can see Kate in his periphery, hear the sound of his name echoing in his ears, and he can't bring himself to move and start something he might regret later.

As long as she doesn't go after him, this is good enough. For now.

He makes a sound in the back of his throat as he finally drags his eyes away from the man's retreating back before he looks down at Kate. For what it's worth, he looks a little disturbed by the whole exchange, wincing as if the entire ordeal gave him a headache.

"The guy was a creep. I did you a favor."

The explanation is half-hearted, though, because he knows damn well he went too far. If it had been just him, he wouldn't have given a fuck, but...

...he knows what Kate's capable of, and it generally involves her getting shoved into the middle of a mess.

"You did me a favor?!" Shock gives way to incredulity as Kate rounds on Richie, the flute of Champagne that Klaus had mesmerized her with his skillful pouring of, set down on the bar as if to protect it from what would come next.

"Please explain to me, how any of that, was for my benefit!"

She works hard to keep her voice pitched low but you only had to see the poorly veiled anger twisting her features to know the conversation wasn't casual in nature. Richie might tower over her physically, but Kate, when she was angry, appeared to rise up beyond her modest stature.

"When you humiliated me? Or when you outed yourself to him in a ballroom full of people?!"

Richie's resulting expression at her outburst is both petulant and annoyed, and he reaches out take her arm and try to lead her to a corner of the room.

"And now you're causing a scene," he mutters under his breath. "He was a predator. Believe me, I know what one looks like. Or do you not trust my judgment anymore?"

She sure used to believe that he could see things.

"He was flirting with you, trying to get you to drink, and I could see it in his eyes..."

He grits his teeth and looks away from her as if unsure of how to go on.

"That guy is dangerous. I didn't even faze him."

There weren't a lot of things that Richie could have done to make things worse right now, but of course, he immediately went for one of the few options that would.

"If you don't let go of me right now, I swear, Richie. I will scream right here in front of all these people." Spitting the words out through gritted teeth as she shoots him a venomous look. She was about done with being dragged all over the place whenever a Gecko boy had a whim.

"Not when you're acting like this I don't!" Because where was your judgment when the snake eyes came out?! "He was being nice to me, Richie. He wasn't trying to get me drunk. We were standing at a bar!" At a loss as to how he failed to follow the same path of logic as she had.

It is, however, more difficult to argue with him about Klaus' reaction but that didn't mean she wouldn't try.

"So of course. That makes him dangerous..."

Just. Deadeyes, Richie.

He lets her go, though not happily, his eyes dark and shifting with paranoia, looking over his shoulder even as she speaks.

"You don't exactly look old enough to be standing at a bar, Kate. Maybe barely if his accent is even real."

All of his senses are on high alert now, as if every single person in the room might be staring at them. He feels guilt that he made them a target, but in the face of whatever the hell that was, he's not sure he had much of a choice, even if his impulses got the better of him.

"Yeah, it does. He clearly had no idea what I was, and he barely even blinked. What do you think that means?"

He'd see his mistake the second he commented on how old she looked, the sting his flippant words had caused, making Kate take a half step back. She knew she looked young, she wasn't blind but tonight she'd put on a pretty dress and she'd done her hair, her make-up but still he looked at her and all he saw was Little Miss Kate.

"So if I looked more like Santanico it wouldn't have bothered you as much?" Her voice more cold than angry now

"I don't know, Richie. What does it say about me." Because after everything she'd seen? She almost felt like she didn't have anything left to be shocked about. A week ago she'd buried the body of her friend in her backyard after her brother had killed her. At some point, don't you just stop blinking?

"Maybe, if you hadn't basically accused him of being a rapist? We could have found out." Kate at least appearing to reach a level of calm, even if she doesn't quite feel it.

"Santantico is a thousand times older than me. And she can rip someone's throat out without even blinking."

Just saying. Even if that's not at all what Kate's even asking. He realizes exactly what sore spot he probably poked at, even if that wasn't what he was trying to do.

"And she didn't listen to me, either."

At least Richie seems calm again too, his voice steady and almost monotone, trying to dull his emotions so that he doesn't fly off the handle again. "I'm sure he'll try to talk to you again. And maybe this time you won't smile at him like he's the best thing you've ever seen."

He's not jealous nope. Totally just pointing it out. Nothing to see here.

That is so not even what she was saying Richie and you damn well know it. This is why you're being scowled at right now, Kate's mouth forming a petulant pout as she stares him down.

"I wonder why." Tone so painfully dry, Kate reaching a point where she'll pull apart anything he says as a way of striking back for what had just happened. And perhaps for the perceived slight. (A lot for the perceived slight.)

Just when it seems that Richie has drawn a new line in the sand, he goes and finds another way to cross it and then will probably be surprised when Kate looks ready to explode. Now, would be exactly one of those moments, her hands curling into ineffectual fists at her side, her eyes flashing with anger.

"Just to be clear. You don't actually care about me at all, you're just worried that I might like him more than you..." Kate struggling to keep the tremor from her voice as emotion rises up, choking her words.

"Grow up, Richard." Kate actually thinking he's just going to let her walk away from him right now.

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