this is a chemistry lesson

[episodic]

Comments

[unforgivably]

Where's Beacon Hills?

( Damon does have two waiters, but he gets a ticket or two that pops up. So, he makes the drinks adjacent to Lydia, so he can still hear her answers.

And yeah, Lydia, he's a bartender. He'd hope he's more perspective than just a bartender, though. )

[beanchaointe]

California.

[She doesn't miss Beacon Hills, but she does miss the California weather.]

Most people haven't heard of it.

[unforgivably]

This isn't the part where I tell you I'm not most people. ( He sets the prepared drinks by a tray and sticks the corresponding tickets to them. ) But, that doesn't mean I'm not.

( One of his waiters walks over Lydia's order, holding the tray from the bottom. )

Right here. Bar one. The well-dressed redhead.

( Yes, within earshot of her. She knows she's well dressed. )

Not at all related, I still never got your name. Should you want to give it, I'd listen. ( He'd learn it. )

[beanchaointe]

[She adjusts her belongings to make space for the plate, before glancing up at him with a smirk. She figured he'd get around to that eventually.]

Lydia.

[Being her name.]

[unforgivably]

Thank you.

( He does let her eat and mind any messages in piece, as he's still working.

Soon enough, someone comes to relieve him, which means taking one of the registers in the back and counting. That takes only about twenty minutes and then he's properly tapping the machine and clocking out.

Ending up on the other side of the bar, he pulls on his jacket approaches a seat -- two away from Lydia. )

Do you mind if I take a seat? Some nights I stay after. Celebrate the job well done.

( There's also barely anything to do in this town. It's the Grille, the bar on the interstate, or Damon's house. Which is, much more compact compared to the Salvatore School aka the old boarding house. Without Stefan, that place is large. )

[beanchaointe]

[She shakes her head.]

Free country. And you do own the place.

[So she's not going to tell Damon that he can't sit in his own bar. She also is intrigued by him, but that's not important to his question.]

[unforgivably]

If you wanted peace and quiet. Privacy. I'd give that.

( But, she says it's a free country, so he takes a seat next to her. )

How did you like the county's best curly fries, Lydia?

[beanchaointe]

Not bad.

[She's had better, but she's not here to insult the owner of the establishment. And the only reason she'd call them better was because they were in Beacon Hills, and a staple of her childhood.]

For an air fryer.

[unforgivably]

For an air fryer.

( He speaks into his glass, his voice echoing as he half smiles. )

Ouch. I'll have you know we're state of the art in the Mystic Grill.

[beanchaointe]

Oh, I'm sure.

[She sounds like she's dubious of that statement, but it's mostly in good fun.]

I can almost taste it.

[In the fries.]

[unforgivably]

Go ahead. Knock us for the seasoning. Everybody knows seasoning makes the fries.

( He teases back, setting his glass back down. )

I'm sorry the torrential downpour changed your plans. I'm not sorry you ended up at my bar.

[beanchaointe]

I'll admit, it's becoming less regrettable.

[You're not terrible company after all.]

Certainly much better company than I expected.

[unforgivably]

What did you expect? Cat? Dog? Boyfriend? Girlfriend?

( No judgments, here, Lydia. )

[beanchaointe]

[She shrugs.]

Mostly a lot of small town stares. Coming from one, I know how people tend to treat the new girl.

[unforgivably]

I meant, back in DC. At the impeccably dressed apartment you must have.

( But, he'll let her stay mysterious. )

This town's not really the 'stare the new people' down, town. They're very much into their own lives. Their history. We have an event, like, every weekend.

[beanchaointe]

Oh. I don't live in DC. What was waiting for me there was a friend's couch until I caught my flight back to Boston tomorrow.

[She wasn't trying to be mysterious. She just misunderstood the question.]

That frequently? Sounds like people get bored pretty easily around here.

[unforgivably]

( His mouth forms a small 'o.' Boston. Tea parties. Red Sox. Boston's not a place he goes often. )

No, they love their town's history. It's not out of boredom, it's out of tradition.

[beanchaointe]

Is that better or worse?

[She has to ask, because she could understand boredom. Tradition is a bit more difficult.]

[unforgivably]

It's -- quaint.

( He points to himself with his drink. )

I'm a founding family member. It's in my blood.

[beanchaointe]

Well, isn't that prestigious.

[It's more curious than teasing, but there's still a little bit of teasing.]

I didn't realize I was sitting here with Mystic Falls royalty.

[unforgivably]

One of. We don't treat non-royalty differently. But, we do get roped into historical preservation. Our historical society dwindled for a few years there because we appointed other council members. I'm more a figurehead than anything now.

( Caroline heads up the historical society. )

[beanchaointe]

So you get to show up at parties and be important, but not do any of the heavy lifting.

[She smirks.]

I suppose I can respect that, as long as the parties are worth going to.

[unforgivably]

Most are. Some breeze by. I always make at least one appearance.

( It comes with being the only Salvatore in town. )

You'd think working would be an acceptable excuse.

( He finishes his drink and lets the bartender know he could have another with a nod. )

Want one more?

[beanchaointe]

[She nods, because why not? She's having a good time.]

Sure. Why not?

[She'll probably wind up crashing in town and going straight to the airport.]

And you would think, but I bet they likely assume you enjoy such things.

[unforgivably]

Of course. I'm the quintessential guest. I make the best smalltalk. And you should see me in a suit.