Even angels have their wicked schemes [For jackcaptainjack]

[lovewhentheyrun]

Klaus had been thinking. Admittedly, deep introspection was not his strong point, but that's what happened when you didn't have anything else to do. He could breathe in London, look back at how things had gone wrong in Virginia, try and figure out where he'd misstepped. Obviously, Esther had been something he hadn't counted on, and, really, he should have seen Stefan's betrayal coming, but he'd wanted to believe in him so badly.

Esther, though. That had been his real blindspot. In that way, at least, he knew his siblings were on his side. She'd wanted all of them dead, not just him, and Elijah was never going to let that happen.

That didn't mean Elijah wanted him back, or even that Rebekah did. What Jack had said, though, had given him hope. He was going back. He just...needed the right approach. The way in. Showing up on their doorstep, all, "honey, I'm home," actually had appeal, but it turned out he was a bit of a coward when it came down to it.

So, he was still in London. He didn't think Jack was, but he was hanging around the pub where they'd had dinner. That was getting boring, though, so he finally reached out, searching for him through the compulsion he'd already laid, and sent a call, strongly suggesting he bring himself back to Klaus's house for a visit.

Then all he had to do was wait.

Comments

[51stcenturyjack.livejournal.com]

"Things with me and mine are fine," he said, simply and honestly - at least in as much as he knew. "Dragged him out for a vacation, and I think it did both of us good. Trying to figure out... what you're doing about your family? Or other things?"

[lovewhentheyrun.livejournal.com]

"Both the family and other things." Like what to do about the bit of Elena's blood he had left.

There was a flicker of a shadow at the idea of Elijah going off on a vacation--though Klaus had no doubt he needed one. Mostly, he just wondered if it was a...getting over his death, thing. Like maybe Jack had been exaggerating how much they missed him.

"That's good to hear," he said, though. "Where did you go?"

[51stcenturyjack.livejournal.com]

Wanting to answer, but - there was still some evasion, there. Without outright lying. "A few nights in a nice hotel, good food and some decent music. A couple of clubs. Just blowing off some steam and taking a break."

He didn't quite understand the shadow, though he noted it, in passing. It was too fast for him to even be completely sure that it was there. Just a minor sort of... dissonance.

[lovewhentheyrun.livejournal.com]

There was a flicker of amusement, then, noting the bit of evasion, but not pushing for more information. "Sounds nice. Though I don't suppose I would have figured you for the nice hotel sort, given your aversion to butlers."

The last was a bit teasing, a smile curling his lips, pushing the shadow farther away.

[51stcenturyjack.livejournal.com]

"A really luxurious bathroom will make up for a lot of aversions," Jack said, with his own amusement. "Though I've never known a hotel, no matter how nice, to come with a butler."

Unless you counted housekeeping Staff and room service, and Jack didn't. Maybe something to do with the duration. Probably more to do with the metaphorical distance.

[lovewhentheyrun.livejournal.com]

"Haven't ever stayed at the Plaza in one of the suites then, have you?" he asked, amusement flickering. "They come with butlers--they even will draw your bath for you."

It had always been one of Elijah's indulgences if the house was closed up and he was only going into town for a week or less.

Speaking of butlers, Richard came in with the tea service about that time. He wasn't quite as old as Klaus had said--or maybe he just didn't appear that way, given years of vampire blood included in his diet. But he certainly fit the image of an upstanding epitome of British butlerdom...even if dressed down for the moment in slacks and a cardigan instead of a suit.

Jack got a curious glance, but he dropped off the tray with two cups and a teapot and a few sandwiches. Klaus thanked him and told him he didn't need anything else tonight, and he left after another glance at Jack.

[51stcenturyjack.livejournal.com]

"That sounds like a brand of 'nice' I wouldn't much enjoy," Jack agreed, with a self-depreciating face.

Then he shut up, and waited while Richard dropped off tea and sandwiches. He didn't flinch away or anything ridiculous, in fact he seemed completely at ease with being looked over. He just - was at ease and quiet until they were alone again.

"Don't have a lot of house guests?" he asked, leaning forward to pour the tea.

[lovewhentheyrun.livejournal.com]

Klaus wanted to say something about watching out for Elijah's tastes, then, but he remembered Jack didn't remember, so he bit back the comment. "Hopefully it won't be an issue, then," he just said lightly.

Jack pouring the tea seemed to amuse him, mostly because it was something he'd figure as his job, but he smiled his thanks nonetheless. "Not lately, no."

[51stcenturyjack.livejournal.com]

Jack just sort of - did things. And sometimes passively resisted being served by stepping in and doing it himself, because it was more comfortable. "Why not?"

[lovewhentheyrun.livejournal.com]

Klaus shrugged a little bit. "Well, here, I don't really know anyone but you to ask over."

And in Mystic Falls...no one had really been eager to accept his invitation. He had some hybrids out there still bound to him, but given Elijah's distaste for them, he was, for the moment, keeping his distance.

[51stcenturyjack.livejournal.com]

"Is there something keeping you from going out and making friends with the locals?" Obviously Klaus needed people around to some degree, if only for dinner. Though inviting your main course over for dinner was odd. Hell, odd enough that he'd gotten twitchy at even the allusion from Elijah, but still. If he wasn't the main course, it wasn't much of a problem.

[lovewhentheyrun.livejournal.com]

Klaus shrugged a little bit and gave him a crooked smile. "I've been told I don't play well with others."

[51stcenturyjack.livejournal.com]

"I'm sure you play with others just fine. The real question is how much fun others have while being played with." ...Cat and Mouse, Klaus, he hadn't entirely lost his mind.

[lovewhentheyrun.livejournal.com]

Klaus followed the thought just fine, and chuckled before settling back with his tea.

"I like to think they might enjoy it, but apparently, I've been wrong in the past..."

Okay, normally, no. He didn't much give a damn if they enjoyed it. And most didn't. He was being nice with Jack, really.

[51stcenturyjack.livejournal.com]

"See, that just confuses me." Jack took a drink from his cup and then leaned back, himself. "If you want them to enjoy it, and are doing the work to make sure they do, how can they not? Or are we talking fickle people who didn't like that they liked it?"

Sorry, Klaus. You've gotten him in a Mood.

[lovewhentheyrun.livejournal.com]

"Oh, well. There are plenty of those fickle people out there." Stefan Salvatore, for one, who liked to blame Klaus for everything in his life. Klaus hadn't made him what he was, though. He'd just tried to free him of the guilt of it. Caroline Forbes, he was beginning to think, was another. She liked it when she thought about it, then got back on the "but I shouldn't" train and tossed it all out.

"Though, to be fair to some of them, I have to be fairly invested to do the work."

[51stcenturyjack.livejournal.com]

Jack was a little surprised by the seriousness of the response and studied 'Nic' in silence, for a moment. Then shrugged, slightly. "Most of us have to be invested to do the work. The real problems happen when you won't even do the work necessary to get invested. And still blame the lack of investment for relative isolation or loneliness. At some point, you've gotta take the risk and gamble."

[lovewhentheyrun.livejournal.com]

In Klaus's mind, he'd done that a lot this past year, actually. He'd tried to woo Stefan back to the friendship they'd once had--offered him a fair deal, one he'd taken willingly, and then Klaus had asked very little but for him to be himself. He'd been kind to Caroline, saved her life, shown her a side of himself he hadn't shown anyone in centuries. He'd tried to make up with his siblings, had realized why they were angry and acknowledged their right to be.

Honestly, he'd worked harder at this shit than he ever had before.

He just, legitimately sucked at it, and no one had the patience left to show him a different way.

"And sometimes you have to pull back and lick your wounds from the last gamble before you're fit for the table again."

[51stcenturyjack.livejournal.com]

"You don't seem to be doing half bad right now," Jack pointed out, gently. He liked Nic, he'd enjoyed their time together.

Of course, that was based on what he knew and remembered, and god only knew what was going to happen if and when that changed, but the sentiment was sincere.

[lovewhentheyrun.livejournal.com]

Klaus gave him a smile, small but real.

"Well, apparently sometimes I can manage it."

[51stcenturyjack.livejournal.com]

"Given ample time to lick your wounds?" Jack got a sense of satisfaction out of the real smile, however slight it was.

[lovewhentheyrun.livejournal.com]

Klaus nodded. "Exactly."

He was starting to get antsy again, which signaled...he probably was about ready to make a move in one game or another. Honestly, he wasn't much suited for sitting around brooding. That was Elijah's game.

[51stcenturyjack.livejournal.com]

"Sounds like you're just about ready to get back to the the table, then. I'm glad."

[lovewhentheyrun.livejournal.com]

Another small nod. "I think so, yes. Putting it off any longer is getting...painful in a lot of ways."

[51stcenturyjack.livejournal.com]

"What's the next step, then? Do you know, yet?"