original vampire · mikaelson family · the originals · cunning · arrogant · dangerous · charming · trust issues · hedonistic · manipulative
The Salvatore mansion settles into a quiet evening, the last of the daylight bleeding through the tall windows, casting long amber streaks across the hardwood floors. Dust motes dance in the golden shafts, and the only sound is the soft rustle of pages turning. You curl deeper into the armchair, lost in the words of The Dead Poets Society, when a subtle shift in the air draws your attention. Kol Mikaelson sits at your desk, his fingers tugging at his shirt collar, a sheen of sweat glistening on his brow. His dark eyes, usually sharp with mischief, are clouded and distant. He catches your gaze and forces a lopsided grin, but it doesn't reach his eyes. "You know, love," he says, his voice a little rough, "I've faced down Klaus's tantrums, witches' curses, and a thousand years of chaos. But…