#i cant stop adding sparkles to stuf its so fun

[ashleighxx]

Klarolinemashup Day Two

Saturday15th|ObjectPrompt|A belt, a coffee mug and a notebook

Klaus had been living on the streets go around a year now. His father, Mikael, had found out he wasn't his son and got seriously drunk. So by the time Klaus had come home from an art exhibit, the sight had not been pretty at all. He was always harsh with him, lashing out with his fists sometimes when he was sober, but if he had a drink it always ended up much worse, Mikael favouring his belt after a few scotches. After his beating, Mikael kicked him out with all he had on him at the time, not wanting him around his family. Klaus didn't have any friends, he loved the solitude and preferred to be around his siblings if he needed conversation and connection so he had nowhere else to go. His funds was cut now that he wasn't a real Mikaelson and his pride left him to leave to city he called home invade he bumped into his siblings. He sold his phone and some rings he had on him, took the next bus out of Chicago to New York City, and that's where he has stayed ever since. The one thing he hated living rough, apart from the weather at times, was the looks of pity people cast him. He could deal with the ignorance, the dirty looks off some businessmen who reminded him of the reason he was in that situation. The weather wasn't so nice either, especially now it was winter. It had been constantly raining and he was soaked to the bone, the little covering he did have wasn't enough, so he was huddled in a ball, shivering. Looking down a pair of black heeled boots stopped and pointed at his direction, and once they didn't move for a few minutes Klaus looked at the see what they're problem was. He lifted his gaze to follow up the knee length boots, a sliver of tights peeking between the boots and a black fitted trench coat, a leather satchel in the brightest yellow slung on the person's waist. Carrying on inspecting higher, he saw two disposable hot drinks cups in gloved hands, matching scarf, then the most beautiful sight he had seen stood before him. Soft, blonde waves, framed the stunning pale, skin as she had her head tilted down towards him. Pink rosy cheeks, probably from her drink warming her up, and sparkling, blue eyes staring at him intently.

She looked like an angel.

An angel sent down to him in his time of need.

"Hi." She said softly as she thrust her hand with one of the drinks in toward him. "It's for you." She paused. "For you to drink." She added a bit more cautiously, his face must have looked incredulous. "Thanks." He spoke in trepidation. "My names Caroline." She smiled down at him still. "Klaus." "Come one then." She demanded as she took a step to the side and started walking. "Come where?" "I can't study in the rain." She looked at him with a slight frown, as if he was to know that bit of information, as if he knew her. "I'm not..." he began to say something, he wasn't sure what though. "I'm not gonna ask for your life story or whatever. Just thought you might appreciate someone to talk to in a warm and dry place. Well if you insist." She shrugged and started to walk away. He shot up quick and grabbed his bag before he knew it, following. The blonde woman, Caroline, tilted her head back to make sure he was following behind, smirking as he realised she caught him out. She slowed her steps so he walked with her and began talking about herself. Coaxing him to do the same.

She took him into a large public library and she and the librarian at the desk greeted each other warmly before she carried on into the building.

They silently walked through the library before Caroline directed him to an empty table and she placed her bag down at the table, shrugged her coat off and hung it on the back of the chair before she sat on it. Looking up at Klaus through her long lashes, a beautiful smile on her face, she nodded for him to sit down too, and after her not so subtle encouragement, he shuffled his way opposite her. He brought his hot coffee mug down in front of him and he cradled it between his hands to try and keep the warmth in them.

He watched in confusion as she grabbed a few books out of her bag and she put them about the place in a neatly manor, spotting books on various topics which he assumed was part of her college degree. He was so confused and wary at this young woman’s display of kindness and compassion towards him.

Klaus had mixed feelings of the topic.

He hated feeling weak and accepting help from anyone, he refused a lot of help throughout his time of being homeless, but he simply didn't understand why he suddenly felt grateful now. It simply couldn't be that she was beautiful, though that did have an added bonus, but he thinks it was because she hadn't treated him luck scum, she hadn't tried to belittle him and knock him down while he was already at rock bottom. No she simply saw him, saw him as a human going through a little difficulty and as though all her words can magic his worries and make his life better. Especially when her smile reached her blue eyes and they twinkled.

He berated himself for acting weak again and he looked down at his steaming coffee, getting lost in a world of his own.

Feeling eyes on him, he glanced up at Caroline who was looking at him shyly before she turned away to look around. “What?”

“We are in a library, why don’t you grab a few books to read or you’ll be bored stiff. I'm gonna be here all day.”

Chuckling to himself at her demand, he stood up and walked a few aisles of the library and grabbed a few art books, checking out some new artists local to New York always eager to learn new techniques.

Hours passed and Klaus and Caroline were having fun. The dark haired woman from the reception desk had come over a few times. It turns out she was Caroline's friend, and this was her part time job to help fund her degree. He tried not to listen into their conversations as he was a gentleman at heart. He had to admit teasing the blonde was amusing though, even though it was sort of ungentlemanly of him. But he adorned the way her eyes flared up when he proved she was wrong and the way her forehead creased while she concentrated on her studies. She had relentlessly teased him back though and he enjoyed her look of triumph when she had beat him in a little quiz she had to do for one of her coursework.

Seeing her so passionate in her work made him feel a little somber, he couldn't remember the last time he held a paintbrush in his hands, a pencil even to sketch, and oh, how he longed to draw this stunning goddess that gave him time of day.

“What's up?” she whispered, as if she felt his sadness radiate from him.

“Nothing.” “Come on Klaus, tell me. It may help to clear some stuff off your chest.” her voice soothed him, like a balm for his soul and healing his pain.

“It’s just reading about art. Its one of my passions and I haven't been able to draw in a while that’s all.” He explained, carrying on reading his book in front of him. “I miss it.” he confessed.

Sensing to leave the topic alone, Caroline carried on reading her own book, drifting them into a comfortable silence.

Evening was fast approaching and Caroline grabbed another notebook out of her bag before scribbling some stuff onto it, ripping the page ut and folding it. She slid it towards Klaus. “There's directions and location of the homeless shelter I work at. Food, shower and a roof over your head. Please go there, the storm is rolling in any day now.” She threw her coat on and stuffed her books back into her satchel, ignore him and any signs of protesting, which he was going to. “I’ll see you around, Klaus.” She called over her shoulder as she left the library, and him behind.

Safe to say he didn't turn up at the shelter that night.

.

Caroline found him two days later. She had hoped he had come to the shelter after their time spent together, but she saw the stubbornness set on his face. It was why she fled quickly, trying not to give him time to reject the idea. She had helped loads of people on the streets, day after day, but she couldn't understand why he was so different. Why she connected with him so fast, why she was desperate that he kept safe from the upcoming snow storm.

She walked around the streets of New York looking for him. She knew she was being stupid and that she may not find him in the metal jungle but she was determined to find him by tonight, before the first snowfall.

She felt foolish these past few days.

The night she left Klaus, she headed home only to bypass an art supplies shop, taking a few steps back, her feet compelled her into the store and she browsed the lavish stock they had. Caroline bought a few stuff though. A sketch pad and some pencils, hoping she would bump into him on her shifts at the shelter, but he was nowhere to be seen. So they sat in her apartment, still in its gift wrap, awaiting to be torn open by its rightful owner.

She finally spotted him across the street and she jumped through traffic to get to him on the other side. He looked up at her, startled when he registered who’s face it was under the hat and scarf she wrapped herself up in.

“Hello, love.” he smiled at her, causing her to frown at his happiness, while she was worried about him.

She  huffed and stomped her foot slightly, mentally curing herself for acting like a spoilt brat but she carried on when his face morphed into amusement. “You!” She pointed at him, “You're coming with me, whether you like it or not.”

“I cant, sweetheart. The shelter would be closing right about now.”

Damn him and his stubbornness and for refusing her generosity. “Well it's a good thing I'm not taking you there. Now grab your stuff and move it.” She put on her best commanding voice, channeling her inner cheerleader and he raised his eyebrow at her before getting his stuff together and follow her.

She led him back to her apartment and opened the door, wondering if this was a good idea after all, but she trusted him and she trusted her gut, so Caroline widened the door to let him inside. Her home was a tiny one bedroom apartment but she had gone out and decorated it in light and homey colours with soft furnishings. She was proud of what she had achieved in life, no matter how little.

Caroline walked over to the sofa and pulled it out into a bed, leaving Klaus stand in the room alone as she grabbed spare sheets and bedding from the closet. He watched her, no, gaped at her as she settled into her task of turning the living room into a bedroom for her new guest.

“I don’t need your charity, Caroline.” He tried to growl at her, but it came out more of a shocked grunt.

Giggling she walked into the tiny kitchen space that was opened out into the living room and she fixed herself and Klaus a sandwich and a drink, turning to look at him. “Tough, you're getting it.”

She brought them back into the living room and was glad when she saw Klaus had took off his jacket and had sat down on the edge of the sofa bed, looking at the side table. Looking at his name scribbled on a piece of card on top of the wrapped art supplies.

“Thats for you. You would have had it sooner, but you didn't show up.” She bit into her sandwich and turned to television on, glancing over at him now and again to make sure he was eating, and opening his gift. He gasped in surprise once he did and he choked a thanks before looking away.

It wasn't even half an hour later when she heard the tell tale signs of pencil scratching over the parchment.

She really was excited to have him stay as a roommate.

Telling him he was staying was going to be a challenge though.

But she never backed down from those.

#klaroline #klaroline fanfiction #klarolinemashup #Ashleigh's fanfiction

[tegwin]

The Counterfeit - Chapter Seven

So.. Valentines Day. The big day. But, no Valentines Dinner for Grace and James, since Grace has to work, to make Valentines Day a happy day for other people. That´s unfortunate, don´t you think? Maybe there´s a way for the young love to have a dinner or a picnic even if Grace has to work on Valentines Day. I´m sure James will be smart enough to find a way.

*******************************************

"Oh, and I should tell you from Hannah, you should  take a look in on number three. She says she´s got a problem with the Manet man." Amy told me casually, as I was already there stuffing my last things in my purse. I looked up from it. "What kind of problem?" I asked. "James been quite tame those last weeks. I thought he wasn´t making anymore trouble.". Amy shrugged. "This time he obviously does. But who knows. Maybe he found a new color on the Manet he didn't saw before and just fainted!" she joked. "Or he crept so close to the painting that he was drawn into it!" She laughed shrill over her own joke. "And you must go and free him, cause he cant get out on his own."she sang. "Because your his fairy godmother!". I grabbed a box of tissues and threw it into the direction of her head. "That´s just crap!" I said. "Which is your favorite thing to say, by the way!" Amy squealed. Whereby she was right, which I had to admit.  "I'm on my way now." I informed her. "And I'll find out what´s wrong with James.". "You do that. And I´m going to clear everything off. Then you don't have to that later on." Amy chirped cheerfully. "Have fun then."she called after me and let her eyebrows suggestively bounce up and down. "Have Fun?" I wondered. And while still going out I saw Amy who suddenly clapped a hand over her mouth. Like as if she would have said something she wasn't supposed to say. So something was not right. And Amy knew exactly what it was,  but would not tell me though. She had, however, almost betrayed her promise. I wondered for about two seconds if I should turn round and go back and ask Amy. But then I decided rather see immediately after James. Whatever it would be what Amy was careful to hide I knew that in a brief moments time I´d knew it too. 

 When I arrived at room three, or number three, as we used to call it, the door of the passage was closed and Hannah was standing right before it. "Hannah?" I wondered. "What's the matter?". She said nothing, but just stood stiffly in front of the closed door. "Has he made any nonsense?" I asked, now seriously alarmed. Abruptly the thing that Amy had said earlier went through my head. That James had come too close to the Manet. Maybe this was not to far fetched. Perhaps he had really come too close to the canvas and now it was damaged. Wich was why Hannah had locked him in the hall. Because she knew that I loved James. Perhaps to let me see the damage first, to see if I could do anything to even it out. In the hope that this way we could save James life. Or ... Was there another alternative? Anything else that could have gone wrong? "Hannah, what's wrong?" I asked breathlessly. She took a deep breath in and let it back out. Then she said: "I can´t tell you that I´m afraid. I was just told to wait for you to come." I frowned. "That's not very helpful." I commented. Hannah grinned. "Just go in, then you´ll see.". I tilted my head. "Does that mean he hasn´t damaged the Manet?" I asked because the fear inside was still eating me up. Hannah giggled, but fought it down it again. "You're afraid that its about the Manet?" she chuckled. "Believe me when I say that´s got nothing to do with the Manet. The Manet's all right.". Phew! I breathed. It was not about the Manet. "Hmmmm .. But if it's not about Manet, why are you standing here like as if you're supposed to be guarding something?". Hannah grinned slightly. "Just go inside. Then you'll see." she said. I stepped closer to the door and had already placed my hand on the door handle. Then I looked back at Hannah. "Do I want to?" I asked hesitantly. Hannah nodded seriously. I straightened my form and breathed deeply again. Then I opened the door.

 The room was bathed in dim light. Which was why I stopped and took a few seconds to find my way around. I had never seen the room in that light. Usually the rooms  in the gallery were illuminated with bright white light to get even the last detail out of each painting. Startled, I looked around. "There you are at last." I heard James's husky voice. It came from the bench that stood near his favorite picture. Almost exactly in front of the  Manet. "James!" I said and walked shakily towards him. Still, I was afraid that something bad might have happened. Who knew that. If it wasn´t about the Manet, maybe it was another painting that had been damaged. Anything was possible. As my eyes became accustomed to the half light I saw on the bench a red-white checkered table cloth. On a it stood picnic basket and two plates, silverware, and a vase with a single rose. "Anything is possible." I whispered surprised. "Even if it is not about a painting". "What are you saying?" James asked, I heard the faint laughter in his voice. "Nothing .. I just thought." I looked up at him and squinted my eyes to see him clearer in the dim light. "Hannah stood guard outside and Amy told me to come here. Because you'd make trouble. And I thought that you and Manet.". I broke off. "I would have stolen the Manet and Hannah would have caught me red-handed?". His eyes sparkled. "Maybe not stolen. But I thought something like that would have happen. I thought that maybe the picture ..." I trailed off again. I was terrible ashamed about what I had thought him capable of. How could I have only ever been able to assume that James, who was so fond of art, could possible destroy or harm any of those treasures?

 I looked ashamed at my feet, while I heard James chuckle with delight. "You thought I had damaged the picture!". He was amusing himself. "And I sat all the time in here and waited and feared, Hannah would look so sternly that you would be horrostrucken and you wouldn't come at all." He took me by the arm. "I thought I had it all dragged here for nothing.". He pointed with one hand on the table, or rather the covered seat. "You have organized a picnic." I said softly. "Yes, for Valentine's Day.". "But today it´s not Valentine's Day yet." I noticed critical. "Yes, I know. But I thought since you are not free on Valentine's Day and I´m busy later on we just have our date right now and here. Otherwise I´m afraid I have not chance to have a real one with you. Because even though I love spending my lunch breaks with you, Fish n´Chips and Burgers don't count as a date. At least not for me." he said. "Or do you beg to differ?" I did not answer. "We don't have to if you don't want to." he said sounding worried now.  "I just thought, since you are really busy and I am too and we don't have time to go somewhere, we might have our date right here and right now. So instead on going on a date, the date comes to us. Kind of." He looked at me expectantly. "But.. it´s not allowed." I said meekly and immediately it struck me as something terrible dumb to say. How could anyone be that idiotic? James organized a great surprise and a picnic and all I knew to say to that was to quote the rules! Was that a proper thing to reply to a compliment? "I mean, normally its forbidden to bring food into the rooms." I tried to even my stupid comment out. In the faint light I saw that James bit his lips and nodded seriously. But still his eyes flashed with amusement. Even while he was walking a bit more in the direction of the "table" and seemed to pick up the stuff that was lying on there. "And since you are the one that works here as a museums educations officer you are right." he took my answer serious. "I think we cannot allow that the paintings are going to be smeared and touched with dirty fingers.". I made a step towards him and punched him soft on the arm to silent and to stop him. "I´m so sorry, its all right. You know, that's just some kind of reflex. If you have to remind people of that all day long, you have a hard time to get out of there. You´d think people would be able to read signs, but no.." I moaned. James laughed. "I know that." he said soothingly. "And usually I stick to those rules. Even just because I know for a fact, that Hannah or even you would throw me out of here, if you´d see me misbehaving. Or just because I couldn't have lunch with you if I´d bee eating the whole day long. But I think," he threw a conspiratorial look towards the passage door behind which I had left Hannah, "For now that's fine. Hannah at least did not say anything as I carried all these things in here.". He sat next to the bank down to the ground. I sat down next to it. "I think she thinks we can behave quite well. And that you do not blot anything I know for sure. Out of experience from our lunch breaks." James chuckled. I grabbed one of the napkins, wrinkled my nose and threw it in his direction.

 "A little more respect if you please." I said. "There are enough people that can see and hear you, James. I hope you are aware of this.". James looked surprised. "Randy." I said and meant a colleague from the guards, who could see the gallery on his screens. When James still did not seem to understand, I pointed to the corner where I knew the cameras where. Even though I could not see it now, I knew that Randy and his colleagues were able to see us. "In every corner there's a camera mounted. You see. And next to the important paintings, such as your personal favorite, there is one too. Randy and his colleagues are probably preparing popcorn right now." I whispered, watching his expression in the little light there was. "Shocking. So did you tell me that, so we can give them a decent show?" James breathed. A wide smile graced his features. "If you want to. I wouldn't say no to that." he added yet. I pushed myself closer to him. "You wouldn't say no?" I whispered, "That sounds rather well behaved and controlled. I think you can do better than just that. Or don't you think?". My hand stroked his thigh. But I only came up to his knee. Shortly after his knee he stopped me. "Slowly. Give an old man time to breathe." James chuckled. "After all, I had to carry tons of stuff. And I had to run around and persuade hell of people.". He looked at me meaningfully. "Old Man!" I snorted. "Oh come on. It couldn't have been so hard to carry this little basket, But if you want to deceive Randy and his friends and if you don´t want to have some fun tonight that's o.k. with me." I shoved away from him in a demonstrative manner. "I definitely will not force you." James said: "I would be deeply sorry to deceive Randy and his friends, not giving them anything to have fun starring at.". He made a pause in which he fished a strawberry out of the basket and ate it slowly. "But, I think Randy is so nice as to not be there at all. If you understand what I mean." he said and licked his fingers. I gasped and stood up, walked over to one of the cameras in the corners. From below I stared at it for a while. There was no red light. I blinked. Checked again. No red light. The cameras were off.  I whirled around. "You mean there's no one here? The cameras are off?" I gasped breathlessly. James just sat there, laid back and a bunch of grapes stopped right before his mouth. He looked up. "Well," he he said and tapped with his free hand to the pillow next to him. "Except you and me of course." he smiled as I sat next to him again. "Grace!" He laughed when he saw the horror in my eyes. "What's going on?". I shook my head. Trying hard to regain control over myself. "Nothing, it's just a weird feeling knowing that the gallery is without any guard and that there's just the two of us." I observed. "This has never happened before. I think.". "And it scares you and now you do regret that you came here." James said. "No, not at all." I blurted out. Then I grabbed one of the strawberries and looked at it thoughtfully. I took a bit  and licked the juice from the fingertips. "To be honest it is better like that. Only the idea that Randy and his friends could see what we would be doing was so putting me of!"  I said and tried to make a happy face, despite the mixed feelings inside of me. I grinned and shook my head to get rid of the discomfort that was fighting against the joy and agitation inside of my chest.  James grinned. "I thought so." he said simply. "And to be honest, I had the same feeling about that.". 

 "And you thought I really would change my mind?". I tilted my head to keep him better in sight while we walked through the corridors and saloons of the gallery. He took a sip from the glass, which he held in his free hand and came to a halt in front of a painting with me at his side, his other hand stroking absent minded over my hip. "Yes, I did. The last moment was when I told you, that the cameras and Randy were off duty. Then  I really thought you'd take you things and leave me straight on." he said and we both turned towards the naked woman who lay stretched out before us. James pointed his glass towards the image. "You have this one in your tour included as well?" he asked. I grimaced. "This one? Never!" I snorted. James pushed out his lower lip. "What a shame." he sighed. "A Shame?". I thought my ears deceived me. "Come on, that's horrible! She´s horrible! Just by looking at her you could say this. The way she lies there. spread out with all her soft white flesh and so ... fat. If her skin tone would be darker, more grayish, she might be mistaken for an elephant!" "Oh .. That´s a bit hard to say, don't you think so?" James asked, looking down at me. "I don't think anyone would like to see this.". "You're sure? Don´t they say, that true beauty lies in the eye of the beholder?And that one can not quarrel about art and taste?" James asked. He took the hand of my hip and moved closer to the painting. "It´s quite..." he whispered. "She´s very pretty.".  "Very pretty! Indeed!" I snorted. James turned to me. "Yes. Just look at her eyes. They are very pretty. They are of a beautiful color and look just how the artist painted the eyelashes. She must have been a real beauty.". He let his fingers remain just in front of the image, where the eyes were to be seen. And then moved them in a line above the eyes  to indicate the line of the lashes to draw attention to that detail. I stepped closer. Saw what he suggested and had to agree. Her eyes were really pretty. Actually, her whole face was pretty. With the large soft brown eyes, perky little nose and the light blushed cheeks and a few freckles . "True enough." I admitted reluctantly. James gave a little cry of triumph. "But because of that naked ass, that she shoves into the beholders face no one will notice her beautiful face!" I added dryly. "Yu had to say that." he teased. I snuggled back into his arm and pulled him away from the fat lady on the picture. "Maybe?" I said vaguely, holding up my face towards him, so that he could kiss me. "You smell good and you taste good." he said wistfully after the kiss. I brushed a strand of hair from his face. "That´s good, is it?" I asked cheekily. He rubbed his nose against my forehead. And fell silent for a while. "I don't know yet." He then said thoughtfully as he pulled me closer to him. "Wouldn´t you agree we should put the glass somewhere where it´s safer?" I suggested. "We don't want it to fall out of you hand by accident and smash on the floor, so that someone might notice it in the end the next morning and we´re discovered.". He kissed me again. "Afraid to get in trouble?" he asked. "A little bit maybe.". He looked down at me from above. "If you ask me I´d prefer to get to a more comfortable environment anyway.". He looked at his wristwatch. "We cant stay much longer anyway. I could persuade Randy only to give us till midnight. And after that we would have either to pay with a good show or to try and sneak out of here." he mumbled. I laughed. "Until midnight." I said. "Yes. Then Randy start his shift, and we need to sneak out here.". "Midnight and sneak out. This is worse than a fairy tale.". James leaned down to me. "Who knows, maybe this is a fairy tale?" he whispered close to my lips. "And you're Prince Charming?" I asked, eyeing his broad slightly chubby face with the square forehead. For a while we kissed again. Then he said, "Sure, why not? Or you're in doubt?".