[ somewhere, in whatever suspended dimension klaus’s presence here had left the rest of his family, five would be having a conniption, were he to know klaus was having the most ridiculously casual conversation with lucifer himself about black-hole apocalypses.

but as it happens, none are the wiser, and in a way, history might be doomed to repeat itself with klaus’s openness.

though — it is curious how it’s the mention of the end of the world that really pivots the other man’s attention more and more to klaus, leaving his history book momentarily paused. it reminds him, perhaps erroneously, of reginald’s attentions. particular things of particular interest.

but it leaves him stepping a foot closer regardless, intrigued, to prop back against one of the library’s chairs, one ankle crossed over the other. he sighs — drawn out, nonchalance easily worn as a perfect mask, hiding away any deeper turmoil, rolling beneath the layers of eccentricity. ] Oh. Yeah, there were three, [ easy answer, rolls right off the tongue. just like the weather and expression pinched in a way that says ”crazy, right?”. he offers no other details on those, though he supposes he could. ] Though, I was pretty sure this last one was kind of looking like the real deal.

[ he hums, thoughtful: ] Maybe this is the afterlife and we’re the ghosts. [it’s not meant to sound profound. If anything, it’s either a real possibility or simply a good joke. ]