this is a chemistry lesson

[episodic]

Comments

[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. )

[beanchaointe]

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

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