Give Me Love.

@ momentai.
Ashlyn laughed at his words before shaking her head at him, "It'll be just like when we were children, Kol. We can say goodnight to each other every night before we go to bed." She replied with a grin. When they were young and attached at the hip, their parents never let them sleep anywhere but their own homes, so Kol and Ashlyn made habit that every night before they would go to bed, one would go to the other's home and say goodnight. Once they became teenagers, the two would often times sneak out of their houses to go spend alone time in their favorite part of the woods. That spot was where Ashlyn found Kol after he had became a vampire and she found out what his mother had turned him into. Even then, she wasn't scared of him. Kol had a temper, and it only increased when he became a vampire, but Ashlyn was the only one to never be scared of him or his temper.

---

(Not exactly sure what to post for Klaus without constantly repeating myself, I'm sorry)

(No worries~ We can skip some time, perhaps? Have Klaus and Alice meet in the art district, perhaps?)

“Just like old times, love,” Kol said with faint amusement, though it twisted something inside of him because it wasn’t like old times at all. No, now they were both vampires, and he was with Davina. Shaking his head to dismiss the thoughts, he looked towards the sky to see how dark it had grown, and he looked back towards her, tilting his heads. “Well, if we’re going to do what we used to, now’s as good a time as any.” He grinned, then, arching a brow as he watched her, because he was sure it wouldn’t be too much of an issue if they fell back into their old routine. “Good night, love.”

@ momentai.
(we can just skip for everyone after this post)

Ashlyn grinned at his words before he bid her goodnight, "Goodnight, Kol." She replied before she walked back into her bedroom, closing the balcony doors behind her. She quickly changed into her pajamas as she got into bed to get some rest for the next day. She had a feeling she was going to be seeing a lot more of Kol lately, and that's exactly the best thing she could ever hope for in reuniting with her best friend. It had been so long since she had seen him, any contact with him would be great contact. Ashlyn fell asleep dreaming of Kol.

(Okay!)

A few days had passed since Alice’s arrival. Marcel had filled her in on a few things, but a lot of it didn’t make sense to Alice. Regardless, since Marcel wasn’t allowed in the Quarter, she hadn’t bothered to go there lately. Today, though, she decided she wanted to spend her time away from Marcel, not for any particular reason aside from the fact that he seemed to get busy with other things and that often left her to her own devices, anyways. Looking around the Quarter as she walked, she wandered around until she found the art district and her gaze took it all in.

---

Today, Davina was in the compound with Kol, practicing again. Kol had made sure they didn’t go to his room, worried that Ashlyn might peer in and spot them, and he instead watched Davina in the courtyard while she practiced. It was silent between them, as it usually was when Davina practiced, so that Kol wouldn’t break her concentration, but Kol was again growing bored. As much as he loved magic and watching it, his mind was completely occupied with thoughts of Ashlyn instead of focusing on helping Davina.

@ momentai.
Ashlyn brushed some hair out of her face as she wandered into the compound, obviously looking for Kol. She saw him in the courtyard and smiled widely, clearly not seeing Davina, "I'm thinking about getting a dog. My place is just way too dead, but would it be cruel to keep a big animal in the apartment if it's on the second floor. What do you think?" She questioned as she walked in, her eyes fixed on Kol the entire time. It was only after she finished her question that she looked over and saw that there was a girl sitting at the table, a spell book laid out in front of her, "Oh! Hi! I'm sorry I didn't realize that there was someone else out here."

---

Hope was with Hayley for the day, so Klaus was given the day off. He was ready to be out of the compound. He needed to get his mind off of Alice. He knew that it would be hard, but he had to work on getting her out of his mind. Marcel had done the right thing in taking away her memories of Klaus, and he was right when he said that nothing good ever came from being around the Mikaelson family. Klaus knew it more than anything, but it still didn't change how he felt about the fact that now he had lost Alice twice. As he wandered through the art district, his eyes drifted to the woman that had been taking up his thoughts for the past few days.

Alice’s eyes scanned over the artwork she saw, always fascinated by it all. New Orleans always seemed to inspire something in people; everybody there that she knew of had been affected by the city in some way. They’d make art or music. They’d throw parties and have celebrations. New Orleans just seemed to fill people with wonder and it was always amazing to see the results, like the paintings. Turning, she went to look at the opposite wall, but she paused when she caught sight of Klaus. Offering a small smile, she waved. Sure, Marcel had told her a little about what had been happening, but she wasn’t really the type to just ignore people. “Hello, Klaus,” she greeted from where she was.

---

Kol blinked when he heard the familiar voice, his eyes going to Ashlyn and he felt a sense of relief and excitement fill him at the sight of her, although he knew he really shouldn’t allow himself to feel that. “A dog, love?” he asked, arching a brow with mild amusement, “You wouldn’t rather have a cat? Although, you wouldn’t have to get a big dog, I suppose. Perhaps one of those tiny lap dogs that just scamper around and bark like lunatics.” He grinned jokingly before realizing that she’d spotted Davina, who looked over with shock. “Um, hi,” Davina greeted with a small nod, “I’m Davina. And you are…?” Because she and Kol clearly knew each other, and apparently well from how casual their conversation was.

@ momentai.
Ashlyn gave a smile before biting her tongue briefly when the girl introduced herself as Davina, "Ashlyn Erikson." She introduced before she turned back to Kol, "I don't want a lap dog! I've always wanted a big dog." She replied before turning back to Davina, "I'm Kol best friend from when we were children. We grew up in the same village." She explained, clearly feelings how confused Davina was on how the two knew each other. Ashlyn made point to not talk about how she and Kol used to be in a relationship. There was no reason for Ashlyn to bring it up and cause tension between the three of them, "What do you think? Dog or cat?" She asked with a smile. Ashlyn may be jealous of the girl, but she had no reason to be rude to her.

---

Klaus looked over with a smile when Alice greeted him, "Hello, Alice. How have you been?" He asked gently. He motioned for her to walk with him as they took in the art from the patrons of the city, "The art around here is actually quite delightful. This district is one of my favorite places of the city." He stated as he looked over one of the pieces that he hadn't seen yet. Klaus had always loved art, and at one time it was a shared interest between he and Alice. The two used to look at art together, and Klaus even painted her at one point. That was all in the past now, though. He couldn't bring it up.

Alice smiled slightly and nodded as she moved to join at his side, peering around at the artwork. “I’ve been well. Trying to get used to the city again, but things are surprisingly calm. And yourself?” she asked, arching a brow as she peered over at him, watching him for a moment. She only allowed herself that moment, though, and she looked back to the paintings, smiling fondly at the sights as she nodded. “Artists in New Orleans always have a very unique perspective,” she mentioned lightly, taking in the darkness and brightness of several paintings. “No matter the year or decade or how long I’m away, that’s always held to be true. The art of New Orleans has no comparison.”

---

Kol watched Ashlyn for a few long moments, processing her words. She’d kept it simple and hadn’t explored their whole past, which he was sure was for Davina’s sake more than anything. Ashlyn was too kind to just throw out their past relationship, he knew, so he hadn’t been worried, but a part of him wondered how things would have gone if Davina was aware. Davina blinked with mild surprise but offered a small smile and nodded. “I’d go with a dog. They’re adorable,” she decided eventually. “Girls and dogs,” Kol sighed out, shaking his head, “Does nobody see the enjoyment in the simplicity of a cat? I’d much rather have a cat curl up nearby than have a dog tackle me when I come into a room.”

@ momentai.
Ashlyn smiled at Davina's words before Kol spoke, "Um excuse me, Mr. Mikaelson, but Davina and I are not 'girls' we are women. Just because you may be a thousand years older than Davina and a few month older than me, does not mean that we are children to you." She teased as she placed a hand on her hip. When they were younger, Kol used to tease Ashlyn all the time because she was a few months younger than him, but Ashlyn was always able to stand up for herself, which usually included tackling him into the mud, "So what I think you meant to say was women and dogs." She added before grinned at him, "And when a dog tackles you when you come into the room, that shows how much they missed you. A cat just brushes against your leg and then leaves you alone the rest of the night. Dogs are better."

---

Klaus shrugged, "I've been better, but I'm still doing alright." He replied with a smile. When she spoke again, he grinned over at her and nodded, "I have never agreed more with something that someone has ever said like I agree with that." He stated. Klaus was glad that Alice still held the same high regard for art today like she did back in the day, "Have you been to Paris, though?" He questioned curiously, "The art is almost as wonderful there as it is here, just in a fancier and high class way." He explained.

(Ahh Klaus's is short, I'm so sorry. I just blanked and felt like I needed to have at least a paragraph and it's probably shit I'm sorry)

(No worries!)

Alice looked mildly amused but she eventually shook her head, her focus focusing on the art in front of her. “While Paris’s art is amazing in its own right, it doesn’t hold the same… Emotions that New Orleans art does,” she said carefully, “In Paris, the art is beautiful, but that’s usually all it has to offer. Just beauty. No feelings, no experiences. Sure, you occasionally find a diamond in the rough, but… In New Orleans, every painting expresses something. Pain, death, love, life, music, the list goes on. Every painting tells its own story in New Orleans and I’ve always felt like that’s what art’s about - the story it tells, the feelings it evokes within us, the way the art speaks to us.”

---

“I would rather a cat brush up against me than to be tackled by a dog every five minutes,” Kol said with mild amusement, though he shook his head, “And, you, even after a thousand years, you won’t let me forget that you’re only a few months younger than me. I call foul, love.” Davina listened to them quietly, though a part of her felt like a bit of an outcast in the conversation, even though Ashlyn had attempted to involve her earlier. It felt strange and the feeling of isolation felt familiar to her, but foreign when it came to Kol. “A cat wouldn’t be so bad,” she mentioned after a moment, looking between them, “I mean, the fact that they rarely give affection would make that affection all that much more important.”

@ momentai.
Ashlyn rolled her eyes at Kol's words before Davina spoke once more, causing Ashlyn to nod, "You're right on that part. I just feel like a dog is so much fun, but a cat would just give me lots of snuggles, and I wouldn't have to walk it. Alright then it's settled, Davina, you've convinced me. I'm gonna get a cat." She said with a smile as she looked over at the younger girl with a giggle, "You think a black cat would be too typical for New Orleans?" She joked with a smirk on her face as she looked between the two.

---

Klaus couldn't help but laugh at her words and nodded in agreement, "You definitely know what you're talking about in that regard, love." He replied before he stopped at a painting that was quite familiar to him, "What do you think of this one?" He asked as he gestured to the painting. Of course there was no way to know that it was his painting, but he wanted to get an unbiased opinion of this one. Alice had always been brutally honest with him when it came to his painting and what she thought of them, and he hoped even with her memories gone that he would still get that from her.

Alice grinned slightly before she tilted her head and moved closer to get a better look at the painting in question. “Dark, brooding, tormented,” she listed off, eyeing it before she lifted her hand, not touching the painting but pointing all the same. “But, there’s a dash of bright color there, which means the artist still has some hope for a bright future. Or, at least, that’s my perspective. You never truly know what an artist thought while painting. We can only assume based on what the painting seems to be telling us.”

---

Davina looked mildly amused with it but she shook her head. “Actually, I don’t see many black cats around. People still believe in that bad omen superstition and, with New Orleans, who knows what’s true and what’s not?” she chimed, tilting her head. Kol nodded gently in response as he listened to the pair, offering a smile over to Ashlyn. “Do you think you’ll be getting one right away, love?” he asked with mild curiosity, arching a brow as he watched her, “I’m sure neither Davina nor myself would mind accompanying you to adopt one.” Davina blinked, looking over, before she pouted. “Actually… I can’t,” she mentioned, “I still have to practice.”

@ momentai.
Ashlyn laughed lightly at Davina's words before Kol questioned her about if she would be getting one straight away or not, "I hadn't really thought about it, but now that it's the topic of discussion I think maybe I will." She replied before Davina stated that she couldn't go with them because of having to practice, "I understand. Would you mind if I stole your beau away for a couple hours then? I promise I'll return him the same way I found him." She asked with a smile. Ashlyn felt weird having to ask if it was okay for her to spend time with Kol. Usually it was the other way around or someone asking Kol to spend time with Ashlyn.

---

Klaus smirked at her review of his painting before he nodded, "I would say that you have a really good eye then, Alice, and thank you for your honesty." He said before he neared the painting himself, "If I'm being completely honest, it's not my best work, but it is one of my favorites." He stated with a smile as he looked over at Alice, taking in her reaction, "I couldn't tell you what was going through my mind when I painted it to be honest, but I think you're probably right about the hope for the future."

Alice blinked with mild surprise as she processed his words and she looked over at him with shock. “You mean this is your painting?” she asked with confusion, because that was surprising. She’d sensed so much pain from the painting, besides that one dash of color, and she found herself curious about the full meaning of the painting. When he announced he couldn’t tell her what he’d been thinking, she assumed he meant he’d forgotten, and she huffed quietly, folding her arms over her chest with a pout. “Oh, that’s hardly fair. What kind of artist forgets what drove them to paint? Shame on you.”

---

Kol looked to Ashlyn, watching her when he heard her question. He knew it must have been awkward for her to ask - difficult, even, considering their past, - but he didn’t mention it. “Of course,” Davina decided eventually, offering a smile, her voice breaking Kol from his thoughts. “I’m sure it shouldn’t take too long to find a cat.” She nodded once before looking to Kol. Kol offered a small smile in response and he eventually moved to stand up. “Well, in that case, shall we be off?” he asked, looking to Ashlyn with an arched brow. “We’ll scour the city for a cat that might fit any preference you may have. Come along, love.” With a nod, he led the way out.

@ momentai.
Ashlyn smiled widely at Kol's words before she gave a quick wave to Davina before walking out with Kol, looping her arm through his as she walked, "She's pretty." Ashlyn stated once they were out of earshot, "Little, but pretty." She added. Ashlyn didn't want to think about how jealous she was of the girl, but instead she wanted think about that Kol was happy, and that was all she could ever ask for, "I was thinking about a kitten instead of cat, because I would love to watch it grow, and kittens are a lot more playful than older cats are." She blurted as they walked down the streets of the Quarter. Ashlyn was more than willing to have something in her apartment to make it more alive. She was essentially dead so everything was just very dead feeling in her apartment, so she needed something else.

---

Klaus smiled and nodded at her words, "It is." He replied and then laughed at her following words, "I mean if I had to guess, I would say someone in my family had betrayed me so I was angry, but the light color is probably the future thought of us one day being happy as a family." He explained. Klaus had painted to many paintings over the years, and didn't usually think about what drove him to the painting. It just usually happened spontaneously when he needed to think or get out his anger.

Alice listened to him quietly, her eyes scanning over the painting once more. “I suppose that explains why there’s so much pain in the painting,” she mentioned softly, eyeing it, her expression softening. “Betrayal is a terrible feeling to experience. The anger and grief that come with it, especially with what we are… It makes it worse.” Their anger could turn to rage and their grief could tear them apart and, while Klaus hadn’t mentioned grief, Alice knew that it was an emotion that came with betrayal, whether he’d admit it or not. “So, is the painting for sale, maybe?”

---

Kol arched a brow when he heard her words and he peered over at her, admittedly a little surprised that she would mention it. “You think so?” he asked, shocked that she’d say it since he had been worried that she’d end up being jealous about it all. He never wanted to upset or hurt Ashlyn, after all. She’d meant everything to him - she still did, even though he’d only recently discovered that she was alive. He nodded once and looked ahead. “She is,” he admitted, “She absolutely loves standing up to Nik, too, which makes things rather entertaining.”

@ momentai.
Ashlyn nodded at his words, "Of course I think so." She stated. She could see the shock on his face at her words, "Kol, you were my best friend before you were ever my boyfriend. You have a type, I always knew that. You like brunettes who are feisty and can make you laugh. Who aren't afraid to have a good time, and someone who can deal with your temper." She explained as she looked up at him while they walked, "If Davina is who can give you all of that now, then I'm happy for you." Ashlyn said and forced a smile at him, "I'm gonna be jealous at times because I was Davina at one point in our lives, but I'm not going to stand in the way of anything. I'm just happy to have my best friend back. I wouldn't rather have anyone else to help me pick out a kitten."

---

Klaus nodded in agreement at her words before she asked if the painting was for sale, "I mean I can definitely make it for sale." He replied, "You need not spend your money on it, though." He added before he picked up the painting, handing it to Alice, "It is yours." Klaus stated. He was more than willing to give the paining to her. He couldn't think of anyone else he would rather give it to. If he knew Alice, he knew that she was more than likely to protest, but he wouldn't have it, "I don't want to hear any protests from you. It's yours. I want you to have it." He stated before she got a chance to speak.

Alice blinked, her eyes widening slightly, and she quickly shook her head. “No, no, I definitely can’t take that without paying for it,” she complained quickly, because that wasn’t fair on him. He’d likely worked hard on that piece of art, so he deserved to get some kind of reward and money was usually the best option for it. She pouted, though, to his later words, and she shifted uncomfortably, staring at the painting for a long moment. “I can’t,” she said firmly, shaking her head once, “As much as I love the painting, I can’t just take it without giving you something in return, because artists are supposed to be rewarded for the work and effort and adoration they put into their art.” Regardless of him telling her she couldn’t protest, she couldn’t just accept it.

---

Kol nodded slowly as he processed her words, supposing it made sense. She knew him better than anybody ever had. That made him feel guilty, though, especially when his thoughts were constantly consumed by her, even with him being involved with Davina. He knew it wasn’t fair on Davina, but there wasn’t anything he could really do to stop those thoughts and it bothered him. “You’re oddly supportive, love,” he teased lightly, offering her a smile, despite his internal conflict with himself. Shaking his head, he looked ahead. “But, alright, if you’re certain. We will find you the best kitten possible. And, if you do end up having momentary lapses of jealousy, I apologize in advance.” Because he already felt guilty for it, which left him in shock.

@ momentai.
Ashlyn gave him a light smack on his arm, "I've always supported you, Kol!" She defended with a laugh, "Well except that one time you wanted to climb that tree at the village that was a hundred feet tall and you fell out and almost died." She added with a laugh. Ashlyn nodded at his second words, "Well thank you for your apology." She said with a laugh. There was a pet shelter that they were closing up on, causing Ashlyn to grow excited. She hurried inside, ready to find a kitten to take home with her, "Oh my gosh! Kol, look at how precious they are!!" She exclaimed as she hurried over to the pen of kittens.

---

Klaus knew she would protest. He didn't think he would just get away with it that easily. He quickly handed her the painting, "You can pay me by going to dinner with me." He blurted. He couldn't help himself, he just said it. Klaus just wanted to spend more time with Alice. He was determined to protect her from anything that came her way. Marcel's words be damned. Klaus couldn't just sit here and do nothing while she was here. Klaus had always been drawn to her, and there was no way he was stopping it now.

@ momentai.
Ashlyn gave him a light smack on his arm, "I've always supported you, Kol!" She defended with a laugh, "Well except that one time you wanted to climb that tree at the village that was a hundred feet tall and you fell out and almost died." She added with a laugh. Ashlyn nodded at his second words, "Well thank you for your apology." She said with a laugh. There was a pet shelter that they were closing up on, causing Ashlyn to grow excited. She hurried inside, ready to find a kitten to take home with her, "Oh my gosh! Kol, look at how precious they are!!" She exclaimed as she hurried over to the pen of kittens.

---

Klaus knew she would protest. He didn't think he would just get away with it that easily. He quickly handed her the painting, "You can pay me by going to dinner with me." He blurted. He couldn't help himself, he just said it. Klaus just wanted to spend more time with Alice. He was determined to protect her from anything that came her way. Marcel's words be damned. Klaus couldn't just sit here and do nothing while she was here. Klaus had always been drawn to her, and there was no way he was stopping it now.