this is a chemistry lesson

[episodic]

Comments

[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.

[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. )