royal_musings | doing as the tourists do - drink & go ghost hunting (for Kol)

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doing as the tourists do - drink & go ghost hunting (for Kol)

Piper had been the one to suggest the ghost tour and make sure that Kol would be on his best behavior. Which, when it came down to it, all she asked was he didn't bite any of the guests until after the tour. The day before, she had actually been looking forward to it too. She supposed it was only fitting. She had always enjoyed verbal sparring with others and doubly enjoyed anyone who could keep up with her.

That morning, she had gotten up and gone to the cabin where it had all started. Adonis had met her there, told her a bit of the history he and David had found all those years ago after the fact and talked to the little ghost girl who had remained. She'd seemed disappointed that Jordan wasn't with her and she couldn't bring herself to tell the ghost of all things that Jordan wouldn't be returning. Throughout it, she'd felt fine.

That was, until she'd returned to her hotel to get ready for that evening.

Within an hour or two, she'd started to feel lethargic and felt she needed to blast the AC, it was so warm in her room. Piper knew she needed to get up and at least look human even if she didn't particularly feel very human. She shot off a quick text to Kol (though she wasn't sure why she shared that bit of information with him) before leaving her room with everything she needed - phone, wallet... a knife just in case.

It was still warm and humid out for New Orleans but somehow, Piper felt even hotter. This wasn't a feeling she'd experienced since... well, before they had died. She wasn't going to assume it was that (though there was a very small part of her that was hopeful). She pushed all that aside as she came up on Kol just minutes after the last text and gave him a grin. "So, have I been ditched for a bachelorette party?"

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There is a bachelorette party there, four girls in sashes with a bride to be in white short shorts and a crop tee with a tiara on that is made up of bedazzled little penises. One of the girls in cut off shorts and a black tee with bedazzled penises on it.

There's definitely a theme that just leaves the original vampire a wee bit stunned. Not that it's stopped him from flirting and teasing because they would be tasty and less likely to remember what he'd done. He has to plan a little, doesn't he?

So when Piper comes up, he's just finished chatting with one of them. He looks up as she approaches, smiling.

'There you are," he says, leaning in and kissing her cheek. "I told everyone you'd be here soon," he says brightly, frowning slightly at the warmth of her cheek against his lips, not sure what to think of that except that perhaps she was rushing.

"You've just saved me," he whispers. "Though I was invited to the wedding next weekend. I might still go," he teases.

Compared to their outfits, her outfit was rather tame - wearing a pair of shorts and a simple tank top. She planned on wearing jeans that evening but couldn't stand the thought of becoming any warmer. Piper figured she'd never get the point of bachelorette parties like these but you know, to each their own she supposed.

When she'd made the connection to what her Ancestors had told her and Jordan years ago with what Kol had said that first evening in town, she'd tried to brush it off. She didn't dare think that it was just lore, after all, the Enchanted was just a prophecy - there was no telling who or what they were until it happened. But she'd had it confirmed with him and... well, everything made sense. Still, she found him interesting and had a great sense of humor. Enough that she was willing to spend her evening with him at any rate.

She laughed and pressed a quick kiss to his cheek, playing along with him and doing her best to ignore the heat. "Did you? I appreciate that. I would have hated to miss the bus."

"It would be rude to say no," she whispered back to him with a grin. "They did invite you after all. You must have made a great impression."

She gave her congratulations to the girl who had the penis bedazzled tiara then glanced around at the other people gathering for the tour. "Good to see that some things haven't changed - always plenty of people and tourists for the tours."

Edited (sorry, wanted to add a little more based on what we talked about!) 2020-10-20 02:42 (UTC)

Sliding his arm around her waist, taking advantage of the story he's already been weaving to the ladies coming onto him. How can he not make it work to this advantage, after all?

It's all different than the last time he's been in the city, but he's quickly adjusting to the modern world and how things are done in this world. How could he help himself when it's so wild and wicked. Maybe that hasn't changed in New Orleans, but it's different now, and he likes it.

"Want me to see if I can get a plus one? Might upset bridesmaid number two though,' he teases her in that low voice, rubbing his hand along her waist. "Are you feeling okay?"

Because she's warmer than she'd been at the bar. He'd been just as close to her, or nearly so, and he knows she hadn't been that warm.

"I trust you can handle yourself against a bridesmaid," Piper teased him in a low voice. "So what story have you been weaving to them, hm? What have I walked in on?" She slid her arm around him and raised her eyebrow with a teasing look. He felt a bit cooler to the touch and she couldn't help but lean into that a little bit.

She should have known he'd feel the difference and she hadn't quite sorted out what was going on. "Yeah, I'm feeling alright," she said automatically before pausing and exhaled a soft breath. "I've been feeling pretty exhausted and warmer than usual the last couple of hours. I'm really hoping it passes."

Piper felt much too young to be going through any sort of hot flashes due to menopause. Besides, as someone who was relatively immortal at this point, she wasn't sure how that effected anything! Not that she truly expected that to be the cause at all. In fact, she had half a mind to blame the little ghost girl back at the cabin. But truly, she hadn't felt anything off about her this time.

She'd extended her stay for at least the rest of the week at the hotel. There was still quite a bit she could explore and do in the city.

Edited 2020-10-22 14:33 (UTC)

"You'd be amazed at what I can handle myself against," he murmurs, enjoying the closeness between them as she plays along with what he's been doing. He likes that adventurous spirit about her.

"Nothing much. Just that I was certain you were running late because you were planning to propose tonight, but I couldn't let you do that when I have huge plans for next week," he teases, not having said anything of the sort but he can't help himself.

"Oh dear Lord, you're sick and going to give it to me," he says sounding shocked and aghast, and then he can't help himself and he winks at her though he leans in close again. "Are you up for this? I can take you home?"

He pauses before adding. "And be a gentleman even."

Piper grinned at the response. "I should hope so. You've lasted this long after all," she murmured, teasingly. Playing along with him on this was so much easier than dealing with her own very real and tumultuous mental landscape. It's when it's quiet and she has nothing to distract her that it gets harder. This though? Was easy and fun. Especially now that she knew exactly what he was. Knowing made it easier to anticipate and plan. At some point (much sooner rather than later, a little voice in her mind whispered), he'd figure out who and what she was other than a stronger than average witch. That voice was very unhelpful.

She pinched his side playfully and mock gasped. "Who told you? You were not supposed to know," she teased him before laughing. She figured he had not said that if he had been invited to the wedding.

It would be so easy to brush off the question and to ignore it as she did with anything remotely personal from anyone else other than Adonis. Truthfully, being close like this helped a little bit but she was not going to say that just yet. Instead of ignoring it, she went for honesty because if she did get worse, she'd need the assistance to get back to her hotel. "For now, I'll be okay," she admitted, truthfully. "This lasts what... around two hours? I should be okay for that."

"It involves a skywriter and a dolphin," he says with a smirk, trying not to laugh. "It took forever figuring out how to make him carry it and not swallow it. I lost a ring that way."

He might be making this up right now, or he may well have told the bridal party exactly that. Who knew.

Laughing as he leans into her, taking advantage of him setting them up as a couple so he could do just this.

Leaning in though, he presses his lips to her hair, yet it's not to kiss as much to feel the temperature, see if something seems off about her. "For now? I'll accept that. If you pass out though, I'm blaming it on me telling you no."

"I'm not sure which part I'm more impressed by - the effort or the dolphin," Piper teased him with an amused smirk. "I'm leaning toward the dolphin; especially here in New Orleans." She was trying really hard not to laugh and truthfully, being here was making her feel a little more alive than she did back in her hotel.

Piper leaned into him, taking advantage of his cooler body against her much hotter one. She knew this was all to pass off being some sort of couple and she didn't mind it. It frankly amused her and after so long, she could use all the little joys she could get.

She exhaled a soft breath and nodded. "We're agreed then," she said with a laugh. "I won't hold it completely against you if that's what it comes down to." Why now of all times did this have to sneak up on her? One of the things she hated the most was to appear weak in front of anyone and this made her feel a bit off balance.

"We're waiting on one or two people and then we'll begin. We're so glad you've joined us for a Haunted New Orleans trolly tour through historic New Orleans. So stick around the area and we'll get started very soon," the young tour guide called out to the group before talking to a group of girls who have likely been on the tour a few times already.

"It's really the training that takes so much," he admits with a chuckle, enjoying the play between them, the jokes that seem to come so easily having just met her. He suspects it's the witch thing, he's always gotten along well with witches, after all.

"So tell me," he says in a low, teasing drawl. "Did you figure out all of my hints when we met?"

He's curious to know if she knows what she's getting into, and because he still feels there's so much about her that is more than just a witch in New Orleans and despite all of that, he's yet to figure it out himself. There's something he's missing and he hates it.

He watches the tour guide and then whispers to her. "Which one you think he's hooking up with after the tour?"

Piper laughed and rolled her eyes playfully. She wasn't exactly surprised that she got along so well with the vampire. Her first boyfriend and her reluctant best friend were vampires so it didn't come too much of a shock. Still, it was the first time in a while that she'd met someone who didn't already hear of her/know of her and automatically either bite or try to kill her. She'd take those small wins. It was, of course, only a matter of time before he found out or she told him and after that, well anything could happen. Still, she'd take it.

"I did and after I texted you for the confirmation, I rolled my eyes so hard my head hurt," she said with an amused little grin. "Really, an priceless masterpiece?" There was, honestly, the little voice in the back of her mind that told her she was playing with fire when it came to him.

Piper closed her eyes for just a moment, pushing back the heat she felt and exhaled a slow breath. "Only one? You don't think he'll try to do some group thing?" she whispered with a teasing grin. "Though, if I had to choose, probably the blonde. She keeps touching his arm."

Kol certainly couldn't promise that he hasn't snacked on a person or two in New Orleans but they hadn't been the woman at his side so he's hoping she takes that as a win. Not that he's entirely sure he won't be snacking tonight. Just maybe not leaving a corpse. He could eat cleanly... couldn't he? Maybe. He's not sure he's ever tried.

"What else would you call it? I mean, come on. Can not be replaced, replicated, or replaced. One of a very limited collection. As for masterpiece... well..."

He poses a bit as if she can't argue there's nothing more than a masterpiece in what he is and how he looks.

"I don't think he's that good," he says with a snort. "If I wanted them though, I could do it. Like a buffet," he says, smirking because he knows it's the wrong thing to say.

Piper couldn't hold in her laugh at the pose and shook her head, giving him an amused grin. "I mean... I guess?" Her tone was teasing though as she took a moment to look him over. He was attractive, there was absolutely no denying that. Knowing that and recognizing who Kol was in the grander scheme of things both intrigued her and put her cautiously on edge. Still, that didn't keep her from enjoying his company for however long this lasted.

She did appreciate the fact that he hadn't snacked on her or attempted to snack on her. It was something, she wouldn't quite admit to anyone, that she sort of missed about David. Course, there had been years of history, trust and a relationship before he'd died. Which was to say that if this thing with Kol went somewhere and she was open about who (and what) she was... then she'd potentially be willing to be a snack at some point sooner or later. But they were a little way off from that and she had to get over whatever was happening with her body tonight.

"Well, I don't think he'd succeed but I wouldn't put it past him to at least try," she said with an amused smirk. "Well naturally you could but he doesn't necessarily have your skillset. And I don't mean just your charming personality and killer smile."

Literally.

"Alright, everyone! We're ready to go. So please make your way over to the bus, find yourselves a seat and get ready to take a trip through history!"

He knew that night he looked like anyone else in New Orleans. Certainly his clothes were expensive and he carries himself with a confidence most can't even manage but in the end, he's as casual as he gets.

And yet he is the oldest being in the city, in the country, and he's deadlier than anything he's run across. More so than most of his siblings even.

Yet here he is, going on this trip. Happy, laughing with a witch, and it feels odd and perfect at the same time. It's something he's needed for longer than he can even manage to find words for and he's not going to put it in words now. Not when any moment the darkness that is Klaus' jealousy could swoop down and ruin it all.

He gasps though, eyes wide. "Are you insinuating I would cheat with compulsion?" He asks in a low voice. "Wow, you know me well already," he teases, winking at her.

He looks up and gestures to her. "After you, my dear."

Piper truly had to wonder if the people on their tour had any sort of inkling of who they'd be sharing a bus with tonight. An Original vampire who probably made her own past life look like an innocent child in comparison and herself who, while not nearly as bad as Kol had done her fair share of shit. To be honest, it kind of amused her.

Being with him tonight like this, laughing and teasing each other like they'd known each other for far more than a few days, was nice. It was far more than she had expected during her return trip to New Orleans. It was fun and he made her laugh, something she hadn't felt in a while.

Piper watched his expression with that same amused smirk. "You just think you're so sneaky," she teased him before she laughed again. She turned and made her way over to the bus, got in, and found a seat near the back. The moment she sat down, she felt her body sink into the chair. Standing and walking had been good, she had something else to focus on. Sitting just made her realize just how tired her body was.

They were a dangerous pair and it's part of what he's liking about this evening. That they are dangerous and deadly and could be wicked, and he's picked some of this up from her as well. He loves how it feels being out there, pretending to be one of the normal children, to be mortal and let them smile and laugh and know they could kill them all.

Or perhaps he's the only one thinking that.

"Oh Piper, one day you will learn how not sneaky I am. I leave that to my eldest brother," he says, thinking about how Elijah would never do something like this, wouldn't find the fun in casual and lighthearted and fun. "But tonight I can try and be nice. If you ask nicely," he teases, sinking into the seat beside her.

He glances over, frowning slightly.

"Are you going to die on me? I'm going to be upset to be abandoned."

Although she wasn't sure where this would lead, the two of them, she was simply going to enjoy it for the time being. It had been a long time since she'd been around someone that she felt a bit more at ease with than she did most people. Even if he didn't completely know everything about her yet. She was sure that he picked up on enough to know she wasn't exactly who she said she was. Even if she hadn't said much about it in the first place.

She laughed and tossed him a look. "Oh darling, I picked up on that at that bar. You're not very subtle," she said. All that said though, she had no doubt that if push came to shove and Kol needed to be sneaky, he could be. "Though that's not exactly a bad thing. Hey, I haven't said anything about being nice. Just not eating people until afterward."

There was already a part of her that missed his arm around her, offsetting the heat just a bit. At the question about death and being abandoned, Piper snorted. "No, death isn't quite in the plans for a very long time." Which was the truth of it and perhaps said something more about her power and who she was if he picked up on it.

Kol sits back, his leg sprawling into the aisle. Taking up space and looking as comfortable as if he was sitting at home, comfortable on his own couch. Watching the others settle in, considering where they're going to be going around New Orleans and how good this is going to get.

Especially that last part. And what he's going to do.

"Right. Not until after," he teases, pursing his lips and considering. His arm slides along the back of the seat, leaning in close to her so he can whisper into her ear. "And what if it's just you I'm thinking about biting? When can I do that?"

Teasing and playful. It's not that he doesn't want to do it, but not that he has plans to do it now on this trip. Not unless she says so.

Piper watched him get comfortable and grinned. She then watched as everyone else settled into their seats, talking with each other about how excited they were for the tour. No one, apart from them, was magically inclined but she wasn't surprised by that.

She turned back to him with a raised eyebrow at the question. Of all the vampires in the world, she really shouldn't find him so damn attractive but she does. Not that she was exactly willing to say that out loud just yet. "Subtle," she said just a tad dryly but also amused. "My rule is, I don't become a snack until at least our one year anniversary," she responded with an amused smirk.

He knows he's playing hard games but he's got the feeling she can take it. He definitely thinks she's strong enough to handle the games he plays and take it on without him pulling punches.

"You love it when I'm honest," he points out, as if he's being outwardly honest. Except in the wanting to bite her. He definitely wanted to do that but it didn't have to be yet. He suspects there's going to be more times between them.

"One year? Okay. I can live with that. I'm counting from ten months ago when I said hi to you on the street though."

Because that never happened but it still makes him smile.

"Is that what we're calling this," Piper mused with a grin. "Because I think we're both operating on just this side of actual honesty," she said holding up her fingers spread just a little apart. Truth be told, she didn't expect anything different considering who they both were. They've only really known each other for a few days. She had no doubt that he wanted to bite her and that there were elements of true honesty that have happened so far between them but neither of them had gotten this far in life (or unlife) by simply trusting everyone that came into their lives.

Piper laughed and arched an eyebrow. "Is that right," she said. "It's funny because I'm definitely counting since you offered to pay for my drink and I turned it down at the bar three nights ago."

And although she was certainly being the smartass here, she found his play on words and elaborateness amusing - causing her to smile. She was enjoying his company and it was a nice distraction from how she was feeling otherwise. Piper leaned into him just a little, seeking out that coolness.

"Welcome, everyone to our Haunted New Orleans trolley and walking tour. There will be a few places where we will all get off the trolley and take a stroll along the most haunted places and streets we have available. So, I hope you have your walking shoes on! Our first location that we are heading toward is Royal Street."

"I think you know honesty from me more than anyone else has in a long time." Which in his mind is the truth. He's hidden his true nature from so many people and he's been open with her.

Yet he knows there's a lot she won't ever know about, things he likely won't ever take a risk in her knowing. Maybe it comes back that originals have done some of the killings they have, but not which one. He's glad to hide behind that anonymity.

"Wow, you're shooting me down from ten months ago? It's not my fault so many handsome men say hi to you," he notes with a smirk. "But come on. Fine. You know, I'll split it with you. Six months ago," he says, trying so hard to look innocent. As if he's truly offering her something.

His arm wraps more snugly around her, frowning at that heat as he rubs his hand along her arm.

"Ooooh, dark shadows," he whispers to her, leaning in until his lips nearly brush her ear. "Snack spots."

She smiled at the admission from him. "If it helps, other than a couple of others, I've been more honest with you than anyone else in recent years." And although he didn't know the truth about her yet, she'd been the more authentic Piper Allison with him than she has with anyone in nearly a decade. Adonis didn't count, they'd known each other for decades and he always saw behind the masks she'd worn. Eames and Arthur, well they were a different matter all together.

Piper laughed and sent him an amused grin. "Mm, how about half of that and go... three?", she teased him, watching his reactions. She exhaled a soft breath at his cooler hand sliding down her arm, leaning into him.

"You really should have eaten before you came," she said, her tone taking on a playful note. She glanced at him out of her corner of her eye with a laugh. "I'm sure bridesmaid #2 will be willing. She's the one that invited you to the wedding, right?" Piper had to admit, mostly to herself, that she enjoyed the way this felt with him.

They're both taking chances and he knows it. Truths, seeing one another again, and doing so in the middle of New Orleans of all places, it was taking chances but he's enjoying it. Just like he's enjoying having her in his arms.

"Oooh, three works for me. In three months I can taste you... at least your blood." Maybe he's hoping for the rest much sooner given the way he says it.

"I did eat, but she's throwing off so much desire..." He glances up, seeing her staring. He's about to make another comment when the guide starts talking again.

"If you look to the peak of the building to your right, you'll see a stylized letter M. They're all over the city, built into the stones and permanent parts of the city," he says.

Kol shifts, sitting up a bit straighter and listening attentively now.

"Many believe it's the initial of a powerful family that once lived in the city. They were known to run secret parties that were weekends of debauchery. Sex. Drugs. Even deaths."

"There were no drugs," Kol muttered softly.

"And if you ask the right people, these parties are still going on to this day."

That makes Kol frown though, tensing.

"If you know the right people, maybe you can even get an invite, but be careful. Many believe this is why so many disappear in this city."

"None of them are in this city and haven't been for over a century," he hisses, mostly because he's confused, kind of because he wants her to know why he's bothered.

Piper raised an eyebrow before laughing. "Hm, I don't know, I'm still leaning toward the one year anniversary for the blood part," she teased him. Though she said it, she was also well aware that things could change. It would have to happen after she told him who she was and that was the part she wasn't sure when to bring it up. Which, honestly, was more of a surprise than anything else. It wasn't even a matter of if she'd bring it up anymore. It was simply a matter of when.

As the tour guide started to speak, she noticed the change in Kol's demeanor. She listened to what the young man was saying and glanced at Kol. No, vampires would have no use for drugs - not the sort humans were into anyway.

She nodded in agreement with his muttering words and frowned when the guide mentioned continued parties to this day. "Didn't you warn me about a Marcel? Do you think that he's using you and your family's name/reputation?" Her voice remained low so they wouldn't be overheard.

Piper snorted when she heard a female voice, likely one of his groupies, pipe up and ask if he'd ever been invited to such a party. None of these people had any idea of what they were dealing with.

The teasing and talk of feeding is gone. At least for the time being. He's definitely sharply focused on something else entirely, and he wants to know just what has been going on in this town. Marcel might have been Klaus' favored child but he was not a Mikaelson and he never would be. No matter how their brother had treated him.

"It has to be him," he mutters. "My brother's favored, and yet he lets him run wild like this and kept me in a box. Well then. Maybe we should visit him. I can guess where he is."

The compound. It has to be. That massive house they abandoned when their father found them.

Kol straightens suddenly, gesturing the guide closer. He smiles sweetly, staring into his eyes, compelling him.

"Yes, just where are these parties held?"

The guide stares at Kol, his expression empty. "There's a place in the French Quarter," he says, wide eyed. "They call it..."

"The Abattoir."

"Yeah. You know it?" The guide smiles then, nodding.

"We should go by there, don't you think?"

The wedding party cheers at that, encouraging the change of plans."

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