Author's note: This was written for Klaroline Bingo klaroline-events. Prompt: Red dress. Klaus and Kol are drunk sex tourists who unwittingly stumble across a dangerous situation and meet mysterious women who have their own agenda.
Warning: Potential triggers - setting is a country that's a sex tourist destination.
"A country without bordellos is like a house without bathrooms."
— Marlene Dietrich
It was around the fifth venom-laced shot that tasted like honeyed pears when Klaus realized he couldn't feel the tip of his nose. Although, that didn't concern him nearly as much as the enthusiastic way his brother Kol was slurping shots out of the hairy bartender's bellybutton. He'd long since given up trying to pull his mischievous brother away, and instead lay back on the plush purple cushions, enjoying the brilliant lights that danced along the glitter-speckled girls. "Bloody brilliant, the colors and patterns are just...brilliant," he said with a contented sigh, mindlessly leaning into a warm touch.
"You said that already," the blonde said with an indulgent smile, running her fingers through his messy curls. "You look at us with an artist's eye. It's...refreshing."
Caroline. This radiant angel, so full of light, was called Caroline. She'd watched him with kind eyes when he stumbled into her embrace, and even helped him to sit when the room started to spin. He'd paid an exorbitant sum for her time, but she'd yet to lead him away to the private cabanas that dotted the darkening beach. He could appreciate a woman who knew how to take her time. Not that privacy was a concern among the patrons — most seemed quite eager to shuck their clothes as well as inhibitions the moment they crossed the threshold.
He lazily watched a couple in a shadowy corner, his cock twitching pleasurably. Palms slid over creamy skin as lips painted a seductive red smiled a knowing smile that invited Klaus to watch. How he loved to watch. He was intrigued by the lady's third nipple that the overeager lad kept toying with, but it was the way her tail wrapped around his leg that gave him pause. Confusion gave way to a silly grin as he told Caroline happily, "I like scales. So shiny."
Caroline arched an eyebrow, but barely gave them a second glance after she tapped her clenched fist and a bouncer discreetly closed gauzy curtains around the embracing couple.
He reached up to twirl a strand of her hair. Golden goddess curls, he thought contentedly. Everything about her was brilliant light and he desperately wished to bathe in it. He'd been hesitant at first when Kol first suggested this holiday in the decadently debauched country of Mystic. But the allure of exotic women and non-existent social taboos was too powerful to resist. And then he met this ethereal creature whose velvet touch made him dizzy with desire. "The red dress becomes you, love. Satin whispers of seduction that makes me ache to know you."
He frowned, fuzzily noting the greasy wankers across the way who kept groping the brunette twins despite the fact that both ladies seemed to be entertaining other clients. "Not right," he growled, stumbling to his feet with fists clenched, "You ladies are ladies and should be treated respectful, respectfulled..ly. I'll have a little chat with them."
Caroline's delighted chuckle made his heart feel light. She gathered his fists together and brought them to her lips. Her butterfly kisses were warm toffee. He loved toffee. Delicious, delicious toffee. "You're secretly very sweet," she whispered in his ear as she pulled him down to the cushions once more. "I appreciate an unexpected gentleman," she wryly observed, tapping her wrist twice and a hulking bouncer discreetly arrived to intervene.
"Greasy wankers," he hiccupped, "Bloody Salvatores, always grasping, grabbing what isn't theirs."
She trailed her fingers through the fountain, and Klaus could feel the gentle spray of its perfumed water against his cheek. Honeysuckle and sandalwood, he fuzzily thought. But his Caroline was all sweet vanilla and just a hint of cinnamon. She would taste divine. "How do you know the Salvatores," she asked curiously.
Klaus grumbled, rubbing the stubble along his jaw. "Got thrown out of the same boarding schools. Useless gits — their Wall Street father bankrolls their bloody lives."
Caroline flashed another of her secret smiles, blue eyes twinkling as she said, "Those boys have been running up quite the tab — at least we know they're good for it." She crossed her legs, the deep slit in her red dress parting deliciously up her thigh. Tapping her knee several times, a server knelt down as Caroline enigmatically said, "Kat and Elena look thirsty — bring them two green river surprises."
Odd name for a cocktail, Klaus mused. Quaint. He traced random circles along Caroline's thigh, finding it surprisingly rough. Cringing at the thought that he must have callouses on his fingers, he quickly withdrew his hand. "This place...it's different than I thought. Don't feel so empty," he mumbled, blushing slightly when he realized what he'd said out loud.
Caroline shrugged, her smile a touch bittersweet as she reassured him, "We're all empty." Her thumb grazed his knuckles as she added, "But you don't have to be. You have an energy that draws people in. I suspect you're even more charming when you're sober."
"You have a good heart," he sighed, hiccupping slightly. "And I'm...just spoiled. And selfish. Selfish son of Ansel." He clumsily shifted on the cushions, head somehow falling into her lap. Her touch felt divine, and he rumbled happily as she toyed with his curls.
"Ansel," she asked curiously, leaning close as she studied his face.
Klaus inwardly cursed, wishing she wasn't so blurry. Caroline deserved to be seen. "Yes, yes, the self-indulgent tosser who's so bloody famous he doesn't need a surname."
As though deep in thought, her voice was faint as she said, "I suppose dozens of Grammys, an induction in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and a knighthood will do that." Tossing back her long curls, she gestured toward Kol who was performing a drunken lap dance on the hairy bartender from earlier. "And is he your brother?"
"Half-brother. Raised together under the roof of a sadistic arsehole who only played happy families during campaign years." He nuzzled into her, yawning widely as she continued to ply her soothing touch. She feels safe, he thought, as his eyelids finally drifted shut.
Caroline continued to watch Klaus, a gentle smile gracing her lips as he started to snore. The server swiftly returned and asked in a hushed voice, "Will you need a green river surprise?"
"No," Caroline said sharply, laying a protective hand on Klaus' chest as he continued to sleep. "Klaus and Kol aren't candidates. They're just a couple of broke factory workers. Cade wouldn't be pleased."
She gestured toward the twins who untied the thick velvet curtains to block the patrons' view of the hallway. Where their candidates were being dragged. "The Salvatore brothers will fetch Cade a high ransom."
Blinking back the unnatural blue glow of her gaze, Caroline's touch was soft as she stroked Klaus' cheek. She didn't have a good heart. But she could try.
