{Every day's another shot

[bestfuneralever]

Who: Klaus + Various
When: Month of May
Where: Solvunn + the Horizon
What: Various threads through the month
Warnings: Klaus' life lends itself to flippant references to child abuse/neglect/violence, mentioned and played out use of drugs/alcohol/other facets of addiction, mentions of death/the dead/ghosts, descriptions of depression/anxiety/panic attacks/suicidal ideation/PTSD; will clearly mark if-when it comes up.

I got high hopes lots of potential

But all I do is fuck it up

Comments

{Mind set on overdrive » Solvunn, Primary Settlement » Louis » backdated, early/mid April

[bestfuneralever]

Klaus has been in this strange new world for long enough he's already started to adapt. That stage never takes long for him, he's a chameleon to his surroundings, and he fell easily in step with the things his host family required of him in exchange for a roof over his head. He's had worse places to stay for more, so by all accounts, it's a pretty sweet gig, if he does say so himself.

While the rest of the house sleeps, Klaus slips outside and just... wanders for awhile. Aimless. No destination in mind. He just needs the time alone to try to center himself. That's what he keeps telling himself. He's just been too busy with all the newness of everything in this world. That's obviously why he hasn't seen Ben since he got here.

His powers were dampened that first week, but he could feel it was much closer to the surface now than it was. That's what makes him think it's a prime time to try to argue his long-dead brother to the surface and out of hiding.

He wanders a well-worn path in the woods not far from the edges of the settlement. It's better if... people don't see him talking to dead air. Even with the acceptance of magic in this place, he's just used to keeping his gifts more close to the vest than he did in his Academy days. People tend to think you're more than a little head-touched when you seem to be arguing with yourself.

"Okay," he murmurs under his breath with a roll of his neck, shaking out from his shoulders down his arms and his hands all in an easy glide of almost a single motion. "Come on, you can do this..." He takes in a slow, deep breath and curls his fingers into fists, trying to focus all of his thoughts on Ben and manifesting him the way he had in the theater. With that focus, his hands start glowing with a soft blue light that comes in a quick burst and sputters and dies out a moment or two later.

This becomes a cycle for a long stretch of time. Sometimes his attempts are interspersed with random interjections- "Come on!" and "Ben, I swear to CHRIST!" and "Please, please, please." ad other various swears and utterances. i Each time he tries anew, it fails. And each time, that light gets dimmer and dimmer, expending more energy than he's used to, in the effort of calling on his brother.

"Quit ignoring me, you ASSHOLE!" he shouts into the darkness, finally throwing his hands up in defeat. Despite the anger in his voice, it's softer than he'd like, watery the way he can feel the edges of his eyes getting. This can't be happening.

It just can't.

Can it?

[mobezon]

It hasn’t been long since Louis has returned from Nocwich, from having taken the cure to a succumbing he’ll surely still feel months later. At some point he’ll acknowledge it, and chip away the remains of residue still threatening to overcome him. He spent two weeks down there and two surviving in a tundra of snowy mountains. There are aspects of Louis’ life that he still hasn’t dealt with, and it’s been decades. He knows it’ll take some time. Today is not the day. He’d taken to walking almost every night since there are few people out past midnight.

He likes his alone time. Louis had been careful not to disturb Carl when he slipped out of their shared space. What he doesn't expect is to be walking by the woods and hearing mummers that end up frustrated yells. It's a crisp sound against his inhuman hearing, and he can make out every single word. Not everyone goes into the woods. Now that he can focus on it, there's a heartbeat. It's new. When someone's emotion is strong enough, sometimes unfiltered thoughts can come through, and the anger is reflected in broken pieces of words from brain to being said out loud.

He's quick when he arrives at the end of the edge, first watching before approaching. It isn't helping his case of creepy vampire doings he falls into, but he has to assess if it's safe enough to approach. All he witnesses is a young man with a faint glow to his hands. Now that he's more used to magic as a concept, he wonders if the stranger is magic touched? Certainly it has to be a new Summoned?

He makes his presence clear as he approaches, his steps quiet. It's his voice that gives him away, his accent hints of scattered places.

"I don't think this Ben of yours is going to hear you. Something else might."

[bestfuneralever]

He spins on his heel when he hears the footsteps, startled by the sudden interruption. It's made a little better by the fact that the guy is super pretty.

Even if he has to be Wrong.

"No, he's just- he's being an ass," he says, folding his arms across his shoulders. "He does this sometimes-" he seems to be talking to nothing, but calls sharply over his shoulder, "Like a brat!"

He's not ready to accept the possibility Tall, Dark, and Sexy is right yet.

[mobezon]

It could be the nature of his kind, but there's no denying the base. Louis knows he can be a striking sight. He would find it amusing if he didn't see the young man was having a crisis. Louis takes in the stranger's full attire, finding he has a sort of grunge aesthetic and he can smell the hint of weed underneath the fabric of the clothes. The other reminds him of his time when he frequented gay bars since there was no lacking in the sight of men like him going in and out.

"I've been well acquainted with a brat in my life," he states in a dry tone. He's mostly trying to ease the atmosphere as he steps closer, the moonlight making him gleam (but not sparkle - not to be mistaken). To an actual question.

"Unless. You speak as if he's nearby, but I'd know if someone else was around here." Heartbeats. He can only sense two.

[bestfuneralever]

"Haven't we all," he mutters, just a little annoyed. Or trying to force that up in place of everything else that threatens to topple over on top of him.

He frowns a little and slowly turns toward him. "You wouldn't be able to see him. He's a ghost." A beat. "I mean that literally. Not as a figurative expression. I- I'm a medium." For better or worse.

The frantic energy needs release and so he's pacing again. "Dead doesn't mean gone when you're me!" he throws his hands up in exasperation. "And ohhh, I know he hates it, he hates... being stuck with me, but this is- it- it's really a bad time for the games, yanno?"

The words spill out of him, utterly unprompted, rapid-fire, voice pitched a little higher as the panic starts to sink in. "And it has to be that. Because nothing else makes sense, right? I-it's been thirteen years and it's always. Been. The same."

[mobezon]

It’s quite the information. Paired off with the frantic energy would put anyone off. Louis has had his share of dealing with frantic on levels that included bizarre behavior. However, it’s when he knew the behavior, and right now it’s a random stranger. Who can see ghosts.

He has to find a way to stay rooted. He makes sure to keep a respectful distance, his speed still a backdrop in case anything occurs he has to be quick about. While Klaus’ voice is pitched, Louis’ will remain calm.

“Ever visited New Orleans? Growing up I was told it was one of the most haunted places. My mama was superstitious, but she was also Catholic. Told me every little thing would open a gateway to Hell if I didn’t behave. Now I’m undead. Not a ghost. Tell me about your Ben? Could help me in understanding.” Thirteen years is a long time, and Louis has a theory that Klaus won’t like so he needs him on a less frantic level to tell him. It’s his attempt.

[bestfuneralever]

He lets out a brittle bark of a laugh. "Fuck no! I don't want to go to the most haunted places in the world, dude. These aren't the friendly Casper kinda ghosts, okay, they're fucking terrifying. Blood-soaked, wounds on display... I was four the first time I really remember seeing one of them-" He presses his palms to his eyes and lets out a soft, frustrated noise. "I never asked for this..." It's an abysmal, miserable murmur of words drowned in agony.

He sinks where he stands, flopping haplessly on his back on the forest floor, staring blankly up at the canopy of trees above him. "He's my brother... he's Korean and a know-it-all brat bookworm... and I can't..." He shakes his head, "I can't do this. I can't do any of this without him..."

The thing is... while the rest of his siblings had been forced to get used to the idea of there only being six of them, Klaus never had. Not really. Ben never really... left. Faced with the utter lack of him, the grief he'd never had a reason to process is slamming into him like a sack of bricks and Klaus is just... not doing so well with any of it.

[mobezon]

Louis tilts his head as he watches Klaus sink to the floor. He's been there, but in a quieter manner that could be seen as dramatic to surround himself with books and let his house become a mess for years. It reminds him of when Claudia left and he didn't have anyone to reach out to but his own thoughts. What had been something he rejected in his innate vampire nature, had become a comfort in other ways. Louis steps forward and leans down, deciding he's going to make a bold choice. Klaus is too distress that he figures he might have to. He's not about to leave him here in the woods to become someone's lunch.

"You've been given something out of your control. I know the feeling of never having to be alone." He means literal since he's had Claudia in his head on occasion, then he had Armand in his head. Louis never truly gave himself time to be without a companion. Vampires were creatures that needed to be with one another no matter how much he rejected what their practices brought. In Abraxas he's left alone in ways he isn't able to reach out in intimate encounters. "Now we have to."

He gently pushes into Klaus' mind. It won't solve it, but it's a temporary relief if Klaus chooses to take what he is offering - a moment of understanding.

You can do it.

{Mage Hand fails » Solvunn, Primary Settlement » OTA

[bestfuneralever]

Magic exists in this place, the kind anyone can practice and participate with, and Klaus has just recently realized he's got something new at his disposal. And he has promptly started trying to use it all the time.

Feel free to catch him trying to use Mage Hand anywhere, at any point during the day. And failing epically in the process. Maybe he's in a tavern trying to lift a glass with the spectral hand only to spill its contents straight in his lap.

Or you catch him in one of the shops, admiring wares, and he tries to pick up one of the small clay containers and instead knocks over a small display of them– he's working off the price of the destroyed pottery for a few weeks, oops.

Maybe he even unintentionally knocks something out of your character's hands or general person? Go wild with the hilarity tbh.

[satanicpanics]

[ Eddie’s spent the morning making the rounds for Nadine, distributing the product that needs to be distributed, doing his best to rustle up more customers without throwing them a lowball price like he would back home. Eventually, he ends up in the tavern.

Solvunn gets fewer newcomers than the other factions, and their low numbers make it relative easy to spot the new faces. Eddie need only take one look at Klaus to understand what’s going on; he’s a newbie trying out his new powers. He watches for a moment as Klaus draws his glass to him, and then snorts as it falls right into his lap. ]

Man, there's a really good joke about not being able to hold your liquor here.

[bestfuneralever]

Aww, man- [The disappointed call can be heard quite clearly in the near vicinity, and if there was any question about it, the ridiculous pout on Klaus' face is enough to make even the most oblivious realize it was definitely from him.

He glances up at that comment and can't stop the snort of laughter at it.]

Well, why didn't you make the joke instead of pointing it out, man!

[satanicpanics]

Hey, never too late, right?

[ Ever the court jester, Eddie will take any laugh he can get. So he takes the opportunity to plunk into the seat opposite Klaus, steels his expression and offers a look so comedically serious, it can only be part of the bit. He gestures to the empty glass and repeats: ]

Looks like you can’t hold your liquor.

[bestfuneralever]

[Even expecting it and knowing the punchline, Klaus still snorts at his commitment to the bit.]

I’ve never controlled a ghost hand, sue me.

[satanicpanics]

Well, I mean, it is a ghost hand, right? Like, it doesn’t really have muscles or tendons or anything. Maybe start off with something smaller. Like, uh…

[ He pauses to glance around the tavern, spies just the thing, and jumps out of his seat to retrieve it. He swipes a full shot glass right out from under another patron’s nose and returns to Klaus’s table before the other diner even comprehend what happened. ]

Try that one on for size.

[bestfuneralever]

Good point. [He muses, nodding mildly impressed at the thought process. It's a little like channeling Ben in the theater but–

Well. That thought just twists something sharp in his chest and he shoves it down, watching him swipe the shot from another guy.

A snort escapes him, but he grins and then gets real theatrical about shaking out his limbs as some sort of focus ritual. And then he finally gets on with the actual trying again.

The spectral hand appears and once again, he tries to guide it to the glass. He tips it a little on the first attempt to grab it but it doesn't spill. He squints dramatically like somehow that might make it work better and carefully tries to wrap the fingers of his third hand– wink, wonk– around the glass.

IT WORKED! He picked it up... and promptly dropped it because in his excitement he broke his concentration and the spell ended.]

Dammit. [Yes, he is pouting about the spilled booze.]

[satanicpanics]

[ Eddie can’t help it. When the shot tips over, he has not choice but to laugh. There’s no cruelty behind it, just the amusement over the picture of Klaus with an ever-growing puddle of spilt alcohol in front of him. ]

Jesus Christ, man. What sucks more is that I already used the only joke I had. Here—

[ He reaches over to set the glass upright again. ]

How about trying it without the booze first? I mean, there’s no reward at the end, but it would be a real shame to lose even more of it, you know?

{Wildcard » Various » OTA

[bestfuneralever]

OOC

Note

HMU on Klaus' HMD / @ loyalwolf[#3540] on plurk[/discord] for something specific!

I. generalized prompts

OTA

• Wandering the Primary Settlement pretty aimlessly in and out of shops and around town just about anywhere, any time.
• Catch him being a goofball with local kids because he's a giant kid at heart anyway.
• He's stuck working in one of the shops where he broke a bunch of pottery wares, feel free to find him there anytime this month!
• Catch him wandering around the Horizon if you like. He'll be very nosy in there and rifling through people's domains.

Horizon

[restingstitchface]

[Dazzling sunlight. Spring breeze. Birdsong and leaves budding upon the branch.

This magical pocket is a bright and welcoming space. Flowers bloom and their scent draws guests towards a hall: a gothic and ornamental manor whose windows are surrounded by flourishing ivy.

Columns and arches line the interior corridors and grant pockets of space. Voices murmur indistinctly behind dark mahogany doors, locked from the inside. Small reliefs are nestled in the walls while mosaic tiles pattern the floor.

Upstairs? A small study. Its shelves are filled with journals and classic literature. Journals about psychology. Novels of classical literature. Psychiatric publications and periodicals.

Crane gently closes the door and says nothing. Today, his study entertains someone who shouldn't be there. Or is that something? He coughs to announce his presence. He isn't sure if this man's even human.]

[bestfuneralever]

[The thing is... the Horizon is weird.
The thing is... the Horizon is a little bit like whatever weird limbo space he went that time.
The thing is... Klaus is a nosy bastard.

Stumbling across the giant estate just felt like some kind of funny little twist of fate. It wasn't The Academy, but it wasn't not The Academy, either. Everything was extravagant, giant staircases, arching hallways, locked doors everywhere he seemed to look. It really was just like being home.

The interruption in his digging through the desk is greeted with a yelp of surprise. A quickly slammed shut desk drawer and another yelp, this time in pain, because he just slammed his thumb in the drawer.

A grin practically materializes on his face as he steps around the front of the desk, hands raised.]

This probably looks bad... it's not what you think... [his features falter slightly- ] depending on what you think... [this time it's a full-on facial shrug happening.]

[restingstitchface]

[The discomfort - the little cries of pain and embarrassment - barely raise a response. Crane has all the impassivety of a man used to hiding his emotions from criminals. Not that his heart isn't in a flutter about the suffering. It should teach the man a lesson.

Not that he expects it that lesson to lodge in the fool's brain.]

What I think is that you're a curious little man. All too eager to dig your fingers into secrets.

[His voice is equally calm and impassive. But he knows exactly what this looks like.]

[bestfuneralever]

Well, in that case… I guess it is what it looks like.

[Still, his hands go up in surrender.]

I didn’t take anything, swearsies! You can search me if you want— [Yes, that is exactly as suggestive as it sounds, thanks for noticing.]

[restingstitchface]

[Crane shuts the door: the heavy frame barely makes a sound as it clicks onto its latch.]

That won't be necessary.

[He strides towards the desk and immediately begins shuffling every note and journal back into place.]

Why are you here?

[bestfuneralever]

If you're sure– [He almost sing-songs the words, but shrugs at the question.]

It looked interesting? Aaaand maybe a little bit of nostalgia.

[He glances around the room, taking in a little more of the accents and actual architecture.]

Kinda looks like where I grew up. [He could have said 'reminds me of home', but... had the Academy ever really been more than a place to sleep?]

[restingstitchface]

[Childhood nostalgia - or the lack of - pricks his mind. There are thirty interesting ways to describe a loving home. Thirty less ways of dividing one's past from the present.

He walks over to his chair and rests a hand upon it.]

Then would you like a seat? If you haven't already done so...

[This brat probably doesn't have manners. Probably had his slobby feet up on all the upholstery.]

{We fly high, no lie » Nocwich Smoke Circle » OTA, no tag order, go wild

[bestfuneralever]

Klaus doesn't even really know how it happened, it was one of those things that just sort of fell together without really trying. He was set up somewhere in the square with an oversized blanket smoking and slowly but surely, eventually, one person joined, and another, and there was suddenly a group moving in and out of the space Klaus had dropped himself into.

It's a proper smoke circle, utterly informal, joints going in every direction. Join and sweep in and out at will.

"I'm just saying-" he takes a hit from one joint and passes it on, "pineapple doesn't belong on pizza-" there's a sweep of his hand at the people in front of him. "Don't commit pizza crimes!"