Notes: Kol POV! I wasn't going to post this until Monday or Tuesday but the reviews for the last chapter were crazy! I love how invested everyone is in Klaus' graphic novel. I don't want to drag it out too long so it should be mostly resolved by the end of the November section. Updates for my stuff will be a little slow this week, I've got a few things going on.

NOVEMBER – SUNDAY

KOL:

Kol wakes up smiling, muscles achy in the best of ways, and stretches leisurely. He reaches over, anticipating feeling soft, warm skin, only to find…

An empty bed.

He sits up, surprised. That's not right.

There'd been a scrumptious little brunette tucked in his sheets, after he'd done his level best to exhaust her, when he'd drifted off last night. Kol had quite liked her. She'd been sharp tongued and completely unimpressed with the lines that usually worked like a charm. He'd honestly been surprised that she'd agreed to come home with him. Giving up not being in Kol's nature, he had given it one last shot, fully expecting to strike out. The woman had been a part of the catering staff that his exacting little sister had run ragged last night, and she'd likely accepted his offer just to de-stress. Kol supposed he should thank Bekah (for once her shrewish nature worked in his favor), and he probably would, just to see how far she could twist her face in revulsion. Kol liked to think that he'd given his nighttime companion more than her money's worth.

And then she'd done a runner.

It was honestly offensive, if he stopped to think about it. Made him feel cheap. He'd planned to make her breakfast and subtly ascertain her name (he's not sure if she'd just not given it, or if he's forgotten it, either way he's drawing a blank, and that just will not do). With the pleasantries covered he would have then coaxed her into accompanying him to the grocery store, where he would woo her with his encyclopedic knowledge of fine cheeses. They would then return to his apartment, and repeat the glory of last night. Perhaps in the bathroom this time, assuming Caroline wasn't around to know about the rule-breaking.

But no, she'd snuck out at the crack of dawn. Like she was ashamed of him. Him! It was staggering. A blow to one's ego, for sure.

Luckily he had ego to spare.

Kol heaved himself out of bed, decided that he deserved French toast. No wait, chocolate French toast. With bananas. And strawberry sauce. He was pretty sure there was some heavy cream in the fridge, so homemade whipped cream was a given. Not that he was eating his feelings or anything, that just wasn't his style. He just liked breakfast.

He was going to enjoy every bite and not spare Little Miss Too Good For The Morning After another thought.

Kol's plans were slightly derailed by the sight of Caroline at the kitchen island. She was fully dressed, and her coat had been thrown over the hall table, indicating she's already been out.

He'd never understand her morning personness. It was positively unnatural for one to be so perky and alert before noon on the day of rest.

Caroline had her laptop open, miscellaneous papers spread out, and was speaking into her cell phone, "Morning," she greeted him, once she disconnected.

Kol grunted in response and went to the coffeemaker, where a half pot was blessedly waiting for him. Because he was emphatically not a morning person, and preferred not to engage in conversation before he had coffee in his system.

Caroline sighed, aggravated (they'd done this routine a time or two), before persisting, "Your friend seemed nice. Not what I'd pictured as your type. That's an insult to you, not her, by the way. I liked her."

Kol glared, but it was half-hearted. He wondered if Caroline had happened to catch her name, and how much shit she'd give him for asking.

"She's trying to expand her grandmother's catering business. I don't know how Elijah found her but I took her card. I've got a couple things coming up that she'll be perfect for."

Kol was careful to not let the expression on his face change and betray his interest. He had to get ahold of that card.

Caroline returned to whatever it was that she was working on. It seemed to involve a map, stickers, and a spreadsheet. Kind of odd, since he didn't think her work extended to planning scavenger hunts. Kol sipped his coffee and began pulling out ingredients.

The kitchen lapsed into a comfortable enough silence, punctuated only by the tap of Caroline's keyboard and Kol whisking together eggs and milk. Setting the bowl aside, and draining his cup, Kol wandered over to the island. Caroline had taped together 4 sheets of paper, making a large map of their neighborhood and its surrounding area. There were two black dots pasted on, roughly equidistant, and centered on the pages, and then there were blue and red dots, all numbered, scattered throughout.

"What exactly are you doing? Planning a siege, darling? That could be fun."

"I," Caroline said, looking up at him, "am sick of your stupid hints and teases, and of Klaus brushing me off, so I am getting to the bottom of this little mystery."

Kol raised a brow, "Do tell."

"I talked Marcel last night at Elijah's party, and he also mentioned that I might find Klaus' comic books interesting."

"Did he now?" Kol couldn't help being put out. He'd planned to string Caroline along, thereby making his usually collected and in-control brother squirm, for as long as possible. Damn Marcel for meddling.

"He also called me Violet."

Oh, the cat was definitely out of the bag, then.

"Now, every inch of me is dying to google 'Klaus Mikaelson' plus 'The Originals' plus 'Violet'" Caroline told him, "because I'm pretty sure I'd have my answer in under 10 seconds."

Yep. One peek at Google images should do it, Kol assumed.

"But," Caroline continued, "Klaus promised to answer my questions, so I don't want to go at him without all the info. I refuse to allow him to get around that promise. This has been driving me nuts for weeks, not to mention how weird and awkward I felt around him before when I was sure he loathed me. I want to have questions, and follow up questions. And follow ups to my follow up questions. I'm going to go full Olivia Benson on his ass."

"So the map and the dots are for what, exactly?"

"I'm going to track down all 49 issues. I thought it would be easy enough to do online, but apparently no one's told Klaus that e-publishing is a thing."

"Nik's just a snob about it. He doesn't spend hours slaving away on his drawings to have people look at them in pixels, he says."

"Right, so paper it is. The black dots are the apartment, and my office. The bookstores are in red. I called two and they think they only have the most recent releases in stock, but they're going to check for me. One said they might have a couple of compendiums, but that they sell out all the time."

Kol wasn't surprised. Nik's little art project was annoyingly successful.

Caroline was still explaining her strategy, "The blue dots are comic book stores, I'm going to start in on them next."

Kol scratched the back of his neck, "You know, Nik has tons of copies of all the issues. You could just ask him."

"Nope. I don't trust him not to do something weaselly and underhanded."

"Smart," Kol nodded, "I have some, if you want. A lot of them were lost on my travels but a couple made it into the stuff Elijah had stored for me."

Caroline eyes him skeptically, "Oh, now you want to be helpful? What's the catch?"

"I was only being un-helpful because my personal amusement was heightened by watching how annoyed you were not knowing, and how uneasy Nik is about you finding out. That's ruined now that you're on the right track so I have no problem speeding up your quest, so we can get to the fun, for me, parts again."

"You're a dick."

"I've accepted that. I rather enjoy it, truth be told. Do you want some French toast?"

Caroline rolled her eyes, "Duh."

"Right, clean up your mess so we've room to eat. Your machinations and calls will keep for a half hour."

Caroline wavered, and Kol could see the mental struggle play over her face. Food or plotting? She began to fold up her makeshift map, indicating that food had won.

As it should.

When she left to stow her things in her room, Kol darted to her purse to rifle through the side pockets, hoping she's stashed his overnight guest's card quickly. Feeling a promisingly shaped little piece of paper, Kol withdrew his hand. Jackpot. It was the card of 'Witchcraft Catering, contact Bonnie Bennett for more information.'

Hearing Caroline's door open again Kol quickly resumed his place in the kitchen. He'd have to sneak a picture and slip the card back later. But first, maybe he should keep Nik apprised of the new developments? It's what a good brother would do.

Kol:

[SUNDAY 11:12 AM]

The eagle has landed.

Kol:

[SUNDAY 11:12 AM]

No. Wait. How about the flower is in bloom?

Nik:

[SUNDAY 11:14 AM]

Are you drunk? It's Sunday morning, Kol.

Kol:

[SUNDAY 11:15 AM]

Stone cold sober! Bonding with my roomie. Who bonded with Marcel last night.

Kol:

[SUNDAY 11:16 AM]

Flower. Violet. Get it?

Kol:

[SUNDAY 11:16 AM]

Honestly. And you think you're the smart one.

Nik:

[SUNDAY 11:17 AM]

She knows?

Kol:

[SUNDAY 11:18 AM]

Not quite yet. Soon.

Nik:

[SUNDAY 11:18 AM]

Fuck.

Kol:

[SUNDAY 11:19 AM]

Cheer up, Nik. Perhaps she'll think it's romantic instead of stalkery and off putting.

Nik:

[SUNDAY 11:20 AM]

Shut it, Kol.

Kol chuckled to himself. He'd not been thrilled with how this morning started but things were definitely looking up.