Niklaus Mikaelson

Elena had spent a couple hours getting herself ready for this ball. Part of her was nervous and she had no true idea why but she figured there might be some unfriendly faces in attendance, and it made her put her guard back up. No way was she going to let anyone get to her or scare her. Enough of that was happening lately. Upon entering the Lockwood mansion, she looked around in awe. It was gorgeous and elegant, just as expected. She thanked someone that took her coat as she entered the mansion and looked around, heading into the main room of the event to mingle and get a feel of who was there. "This sure is beautiful." She replied to no one in particular.

Klaus took one look at the incredibly familiar face and took a moment to analyze it - there was a lack of snark so it wasn't Katherine, Ana he certainly would've recognized, the sparkles on the dress didn't seem in Tatia's taste, which only left one. "Miss. Gilbert," he said, "and where are your two bodyguards?"

"So..." Landon said, nursing his fresh drink at the bar. Though honestly it was about 5 in already. "Question of the day," he asked, not turning to look at who was next to him. "If you knew what your future was going to be... would you change it?"

Raising an eyebrow at the question posed, he was amused by the fact that there was someone in this town who was openly conversing with him - wondering if the younger man knew who he was. "Well that would be dependent on what kind of future we're talking about. So unless you've got a crystal ball.."

❝ ⸻ I've never really been a grandiose ball person . I'm more of a party in the woods or club or bars . Tea parties are not my thing unless I have a kid in the future to play tea party with . ❞ Hayley looked down from the top of the stairs with a light smile on her lips . Everyone dressed to the nines and she was too . Who knew red was her color .

Klaus chuckled hearing Hayley's commentary of the ball. "For someone who isn't a grandiose ball person, you look breathtaking in that dress." he said, handing her the glass of champagne in his hand and smiling at her as they looked down at the rest of the people mingling. "Perhaps we should make having these kinds of balls a more regular thing."

Hope hadn't planned on attending. The order in the letter was too demanding but then... something else had arrived at the motel room she'd compelled herself into. A dress. A beautiful dress, one addressed to her directly. It was something she couldn't ignore, because no one would send her a dress like that. Maybe Landon? But... he didn't have that kind of money. Only one family did, and only one of those had she actually spoken to since arriving in this time. Her dad chose this dress. So, of course, she was going to wear it. She entered the Lockwood Mansion - after being invited in - and opted not to drink. She wanted to be focused on what was going on, to be on guard and watch for any potential threats. She positioned herself near the back of the room, watching and waiting to see what happened.

Leaving Hayley's side for a moment, he smiled when he saw that she'd received his gift. He didn't know what it was about the girl, but her story had resonated with him. And as difficult as it was for him to believe that someone could have such love for their father, he felt like he had some kind of duty, as the person she'd confided in, to do what he imagined a good father would do for their child in his stead, and by the looks of the dress on her, he still had a knack for dress selection. "Beautiful dresses like that one were made to be shown off," he said, approaching her as the people huddled in front of her parted like the red sea with the hybrid's steps forward. Smirking at her he offered his hand, "May I have this dance?"

He raised an eyebrow, seeing the array of emotions on the girls face like he was reading a book that he'd read a million times, but what was different was the fact that he probably shouldn't have been able to read her so easily - she certainly didn't seem like the kind of person to let anyone see the way that she changed when she talked about her father. "If he's anything like my father perhaps it's better that he remains a hallucination. I thought I was seeing and sensing my father long before I knew that he was still alive, but I think that can be chalked up to being haunted by him for all eternity - does you father haunt you? Or do you actually want to see him again?"

"Such loyalty and love for a father you barely got to spend time with," he said, chuckling a little as that certainly wasn't the experience he had with Mikael. "My father - recently deceased as he may be - tormented me for years. We spent far too long in each others company and then he spent the rest of the time hunting me down trying to rid the world of me." he looked down, not sure why he felt so comfortable speaking to her about al of it. "-- I suppose what I'm trying to say is for someone who wasn't always a good man, it looks like he found redemption in inspiring this much love from his daughter for only spending a year in each other's company."

"Ah no one said anything about pulling back. I don't think that I've met someone who's quite as fearless as you, love." it was one of the things that drew him into her, the way that nothing could get her to back down, and he wondered if that would change when she found out who he really was - assuming his reputation had preceded him. "You have no idea just how much," he said, chuckling at her comment about him wanting to be in control. He'd spent his whole existence trying to prove that there was no one more powerful than him, cementing his family in power just like he had always wanted for them, and now here he was completely smitten by this woman whose wit was just as sharp as his, always coming back to him with a sharp remark that made her even more attractive in the hybrid's eyes. "Thought it was pretty obvious, love. I want you. In about ten different positions all over this town and finally back in my bed.... but you've got far too many things on so something needs to be done about that"

"As real as one can be in this world," he said chuckling, he didn't make a habit of letting people get close enough to touch him -usually going for the jugular whenever they got close, but for some reason he trusted her. And had no qualms about proving that he was actually standing there. "Not sure what kind of trick someone would be playing on you bringing me into town, but you can rest assured that you are not what I've come to collect, and as long as things go my way things shouldn't interrupt whatever plans you have in Mystic Falls." Folding his arms across his chest again, he could have just left, but something made him stay. "Your father... you've mentioned him a few times. That's who you think that you're hallucinating?"

He raised an eyebrow, seeing the array of emotions on the girls face like he was reading a book that he'd read a million times, but what was different was the fact that he probably shouldn't have been able to read her so easily - she certainly didn't seem like the kind of person to let anyone see the way that she changed when she talked about her father. "If he's anything like my father perhaps it's better that he remains a hallucination. I thought I was seeing and sensing my father long before I knew that he was still alive, but I think that can be chalked up to being haunted by him for all eternity - does you father haunt you? Or do you actually want to see him again?"

location: bench in town square

He cannot help the eye roll that instantly graces his face as she feels the cushion of the booth seat that he'd previously peacefully been occupying puff up with the invasion of his little sister as she preened herself next to him and wiped the blood off of her cheek. "Some of us have actual things to do, little sister. As foreign a concept as that must be for you. Remind me why I let you out of your little box again?"

There seemed to be an overabundance of blondes demanding things in town and he couldn't stop himself from rolling his eyes, though the name she mentioned certainly gave pause. "Did you just say Hope Mikaelson? I think that you've got your wires crossed, love."

Lizzie's eyes widened in surprise, and ignoring his statement, blurts out the first thing her brain didn't filter. "Klaus... Mikaelson? How-- how are you alive? Wait, are we actually in a therapy box?"

"Wonderful, you've heard of me. That saves the whole introductory villain speech and we can get right down to why everyone seems to think that we're in a therapy box." he found her shock amusing, but she didn't look familiar - she wasn't in the usual Mystic Falls group that clung to Elena. "And who might you be?"

"Ah no one said anything about pulling back. I don't think that I've met someone who's quite as fearless as you, love." it was one of the things that drew him into her, the way that nothing could get her to back down, and he wondered if that would change when she found out who he really was - assuming his reputation had preceded him. "You have no idea just how much," he said, chuckling at her comment about him wanting to be in control. He'd spent his whole existence trying to prove that there was no one more powerful than him, cementing his family in power just like he had always wanted for them, and now here he was completely smitten by this woman whose wit was just as sharp as his, always coming back to him with a sharp remark that made her even more attractive in the hybrid's eyes. "Thought it was pretty obvious, love. I want you. In about ten different positions all over this town and finally back in my bed.... but you've got far too many things on so something needs to be done about that"

"Sweetheart if that was any kind of play this wouldn't be a game because I'd have already one. Whoever your father is, as terrible as he might be is no match for mine." he said, chuckling a little, looking at her quizzically not understanding why she was insisting that he had a daughter and she was her. He raised his hand, offering it to her, showing off that he was (immortal) flesh and bone and as real as anyone could be in Mystic Falls. "I can assure you I'm very much real, though your insistence that you're somehow related to me does seem like some figment of your imagination."

"As real as one can be in this world," he said chuckling, he didn't make a habit of letting people get close enough to touch him -usually going for the jugular whenever they got close, but for some reason he trusted her. And had no qualms about proving that he was actually standing there. "Not sure what kind of trick someone would be playing on you bringing me into town, but you can rest assured that you are not what I've come to collect, and as long as things go my way things shouldn't interrupt whatever plans you have in Mystic Falls." Folding his arms across his chest again, he could have just left, but something made him stay. "Your father... you've mentioned him a few times. That's who you think that you're hallucinating?"

"Definitely not here to win hearts and minds, love. I've also never been one to depend on others when I could very easily take what I want when I want it." he chuckled, smirking at how the things he said didn't seem to garner the usual reaction he got from others with Hayley. She seemed to just get closer, as if she was trying to figure him out and she looked like she wanted to know more. He certainly wanted to know more about her.

"Where the hell is my boutique? And why do I think Hope Mikaelson has something to do with this?"

There seemed to be an overabundance of blondes demanding things in town and he couldn't stop himself from rolling his eyes, though the name she mentioned certainly gave pause. "Did you just say Hope Mikaelson? I think that you've got your wires crossed, love."