this is a chemistry lesson

[episodic]

Comments

[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.

[beanchaointe]

[Oh, she's certainly picturing it.]

I guess I'll just have to leave it to my imagination. I probably won't be sticking around long enough to attend one.

[unforgivably]

Right. You veered off course.

( He takes another sip from his drink. )

Should you be interested, I have my own collection of whiskey back at my place. Fire pit. It's quieter. Did you have a place to stay the night?

[beanchaointe]

[That is tempting, a handsome stranger offering to entertain her for the evening. But is it the smart thing to do? Yet to be determined.]

I assume there's some kind of hotel here?

[unforgivably]

B & B. We don't host many out-of-towners. Most know someone who lives in this town. There's talk of adapting a luxury hotel-slash-spa. It's all talk.

( Tyler Lockwood isn't selling his family's house. Lotta red tape there. That, and, it's his. )

[beanchaointe]

B & B's are cute. I love a good B & B.

[Plus, you know, trying to be a smart person.]

[unforgivably]

They have their appeal. Small number of rooms. Free HBO.

( Or, is that just motels. )

The minibar in a B & B can go a long way.

[beanchaointe]

Sounds like my kind of place.

[But she's not ready to go check in quite yet.]

[unforgivably]

It doesn't, not from what we've discussed but I'm not about to say what's your speed. It's cute, it's quaint. And they still might check you in.

( He drains his glass and sets it back down, offering her his piercing blue eyes. )

If you'd like, I can walk you there to make sure they have a room open.

[beanchaointe]

[She weighs her options again, finishing off the last of her second drink, before turning to slide off the stool.]

I take it its not far if we're walking?

[unforgivably]

Two corners. Four street lamps.

( She can hold her phone in her hand the entire time. He doesn't say that, though. )

[beanchaointe]

[She reaches into her purse to pull out cash to settle her tab, before glancing out the window.]

Will I get into trouble if I leave my car parked here?

[unforgivably]

( He'd fight her paying, but that's forceful. He knows she can afford it. )

Not overnight. Maybe after a month. Maybe not even that.

[beanchaointe]

Okay.

[She turns to face him with a small smile when she finishes.]

Let's take a walk.

[unforgivably]

( Okay. He waves to Brady, the bartender, holds open the front door and begins the shortest walk possible. But, more time with Lydia is nice. He hasn't had this in a long time. Just a nice conversation with mutual interest involved. )

Nice rental.

( Not a bad car for a rental, too. They either give you someone out of - well, a human price range - or something completely generic. )

What do you do back in Boston, Lydia?

[beanchaointe]

Teach math.

[Because that really is the simplest answer.]

I'm working on my doctorate at MIT. By day, I try to enrich young minds, and by night I stare at numbers until the proofs start to make sense.

[unforgivably]

Or, until the sun rises and you teach more youths.

( Make no mistake, despite his joke, his eyes make it clear, he respects her work. )

You find it rewarding.

[beanchaointe]

I do. Math has always had a way of making sense when nothing else does. There's no ... room for interpretation. The math either adds up or it doesn't.

[She shrugs.]

And teaching it to kids who equally love it is very enjoyable.