video; private
[ There's something almost surreal about watching the message. This man should be hiding in constant fear for his life, but no, here he is - chatting away about potential living accommodations.
It takes him quite a while to decide whether to respond or not, giving him some time to fish through the public messages. Just enough time to let the red clear from his vision and let it instead constrict in his chest, tighten in his jaw. There's nothing extraordinary about this human, nothing at all worth fearing on his own merits, and perhaps that's exactly what makes the situation all the more infuriating. Klaus has known for a week now that this man is here, so very much alive again, and theoretically killing the latest vessel for Esther's failed machinations should have been on the top of the list of crimes to commit. Let Stefan believe his bargaining is the reason for the stay of execution (it's almost necessary to allow Stefan to feel that his actions and choices matter every once in a while). The actual reason is prison itself, his relatively fresh memory of being under the effects of the ankle bracelet, and the threat of it being forced upon him again. He doesn't doubt his ability to get away with a single murder, but he won't attempt it with his own hands, not just yet. For all of his uncontrollable rage Klaus is truly an animal at heart - fear will guide his decisions and he won't make a move that leaves him potentially exposed.
Of course that doesn't mean he won't attempt alternative methods to sinking his teeth into the school teacher. ]
Current living quarters getting a bit cramped? [ The humor in his voice, or what little there is, doesn't translate to his expression. ]