There's Blood on Your Lies || Closed

"Damn," Stefan murmured as he closed the hood of his red Porsche, resting his hands on the hood as he glanced around the seemingly empty area around him. His battery had died, without any prior warning, and he wasn't sure if there would be anyone around to jump the engine so he could at least get it somewhere to replace the battery. A heavy sigh left him as he pulled his cellphone from his pocket, checking to see if he had service. Regrettably, he seemed to have been stranded in one of the few dead zones of Mystic Falls. Shoving his phone back into his leather jacket pocket, he turned and leaned back against the car as he reasoned with either walking to town or back to his house to call a tow truck. He crossed his arms over his chest, chewing on the inside of his cheek before movement out of the corner of his eye caught his attention. A small rabbit was bounding off into the woods that surrounded the road. His brow furrowed slightly before he pushed away from the car; a small snack couldn't hurt before he tried.

---

Zelda leaned against the bar as she kept her bright gaze on the bartender, who was busy taking stock before what she would assume would be their dinnertime rush. It was only about one in the afternoon, and in a small town like Mystic Falls, she supposed there weren't too many day drinkers around. A smirk curled her lips as the young man bent over to lift a keg of beer under the bar, eyes studying him closely. He was cute enough, perhaps she could catch him as he left for his change of shift. It'd been a while since she'd had a live feed and this gentlemen, she decided, was hers for the taking. She downed the rest of her drink--a twist of lemon peel and top shelf vodka--and placed the beverage back onto the bar with enough noise to draw the bartender's attention to her. He shot her a grin and she turned to him completely, locking eyes with him and licking her lips in a subtle sort of way. "You wouldn't mind getting me another one of these, would you, darling?" She asked sweetly, a slight rasp to her voice, as she tapped the sides of her tumbler with her fingertips.

"Sure thing," he replied, eyes wandering over what he could see of her as he grabbed her glass and got to fixing her another drink, briefly forgetting about his other duties to appease her. I probably won't even have to compel this sucker, she thought, watching him closely. Maybe I'll have to play with this one for a bit before feeding. If I wanted an easy meal, I'd stick to blood bags.

@ salander.
Rory was driving into town, she was just outside she could see the welcome sign a few metres in front of her when she spotted a red Porsche parked on the side of the road. However there was no one standing next to it. Confused she pulled over switching her engine off she got out of her vehicle and walked over to the parked car. Looking into the window she saw there was no one seated in there but there were keys still in the ignition. Sighing she tried the door, seeing it was open she pulled it open and turned the key.

Dead.

If only she knew where the owner was, surely they hand't walked back into town, however nothing would surprise her. She had a pair of jumper leads in the boot of her own car. She debated whether or not she should start the car for the owner so that if they came back they would be happy to find that it worked. However with the keys in the ignition and a charged battery it was fair game for anyone to steal. Instead she decided that she would stay until the owner returned. She had no plans for the day. So why not.

---

Damon had been cooped up inside the Salvatore mansion all day and he decided now he would go out, he had no idea where Stefan was, he assumed he was Elena. Which honestly didn't surprise or shock the raven haired male. Grabbing a jacket from the hook he slipped it over his shoulders and headed it out. The streets were beginning to die down as it was late afternoon. People were heading home from their jobs and school and here was Damon heading to the bar to drink. A favourite hobby of his, that and making sure Elena didn't kill herself and of course tormenting his little brother. It didn't take him long before he came to the only bar found in Mystic Falls. Walking inside he saw that it was slow so there were several seats spare up at the bar. Walking over he sat and ordered a bourbon. As he sat there his eyes wandered around the room and he noted that Matt wasn't on. In fact there was no one in here that he knew. His eyes landed on a female she seemed to be giving one of the bartenders eyes. His light eyes trailed over her, she was easy on the eyes he wasn't denying that. However he didn't make a move because the bartender was over to her in an instant and he had begun to strike up and conversation with her.

Stefan caught the rabbit quickly enough, made a quick meal of it, and turned to make his way back to his car. It wasn't until then he heard the rumble of an engine near his car off at the road and his brow furrowed slightly. His eyes then widened and he began to jog back to where he'd left his car, knowing this was his off chance to jump his engine and get the car back to his house to replace the battery. As his car and the one behind him came into view, he noticed a petite brunette woman circling around his car and a small grin curled his lips. His first instinct was to think it was Elena, but a breeze drifted a scent through his senses that was definitely not the human teenagers. Stefan crossed the line of trees and stepped over to his car once more. It then became astoundingly clear just who was waiting for him at his car. "Rory?" He asked incredulously, his bright hazel eyes lighting up at the sight of an old friend. His first instinct was to wrap her in a warm hug, but he thought against it almost immediately. So much had changed in him since the last time they had parted and he wasn't sure if she'd changed either. "What brings you here?" He continued as he stopped just beside her. He couldn't help but to glance her over once; nothing on the outside had really changed, spare the clothing and style, but she still looked the same. Last he'd seen of her, it had been the 1920's or 1930's, times were different then...he was different then. And he could only hope she didn't judge him for what changes he had made.

---

Where are you from? How long will you be here? What do you do? How's the weather? It was all the same with these modern gentlemen and if there was one thing that would make Zelda angry, it was small talk. It seemed to be the only thing men could do these days. When the bartender in front of her decided to start asking her about her favorite sports team, she reached out and gently silenced him with a press of her fingertips against his lips. She was smiling at him, sure, but it had tightened slightly and her jaw jumped a few times--a telltale sign her patience was wearing thin. Now, she couldn't very well slam his head against the bar like she wanted to as she felt eyes on her, but she could get him out of her face for a few hours or so. "You look busy, darling. Why don't we meet up later? Out front of here...say...seven-ish. I'll take you to dinner. My treat," she told him, bottom lip slipping between her teeth as she gave him her best smoldering look. It was all the bartender could do to mumble his reply and get back to his job. Her eyes followed him for a moment before slipping over in the direction of a newcomer at the bar. Her head tilted to the side slightly as she studied him, her annoyance slipping away rapidly as a dazzling, wolfish grin curled her features once more; an expression full of mischief and bad intentions. The raven-haired man beside her both looked and smelled incredibly familiar, and she knew she should recognize him, but she'd seen too many faces in her long years to remember them all. Instead, she lifted her hand and gave him the tiniest wave of her fingertips before returning her attention back to her drink.

@ salander.
Rory had heard the person approaching but there was something else, it wasn't a human, there was no delicious scent of blood pumping through veins. She turned and her eyes widened at who she saw. After all these years she had never thought she would see him again. She was certain he had left Mystic Falls and was never coming back. At least that was what he had told her when they had first met.

"Stefan?" the name fell from her lips full of surprise. A huge smile spread across her face and in an instant she had wrapped her arms around him in a tight hug. It had been so long, he looked different, happier? naturally his attire had changed with the changing of the decades but he still looked as handsome as the day she had met him. "I didn't think you were ever coming back here?" she said as she removed herself from him and stepping back to look at him and take in his profile once again after all these years. There was something different about him, he didn't seem as animated as he had once been. The first time she had met him there had been a cockiness about him, a dangerousness about him. Now it seemed that had faded and become dormant instead he was... different she wasn't sure how to put it.

---

Damon's eyes widened when the female at the bar turned to look at her, it couldn't have been. Surely not. Zelda. It was her after all these years, she had barely changed. Excluding the fashion and choice of hairstyles but that wolfish grin, the smouldering persona about her was still the same. Damon down his glass before speaking.

"Zelda?" he knew he was right but he still couldn't believe it was her sitting there in The Grill in Mystic Falls. So many questions buzzed around in his mind that he didn't know where to start. He moved off his seat and stepped toward her his light eyes drinking in the familiarity of her. The last time he had seen her it everyone had moved into a new decade. 1920. So many years and he still remembered her face. Considering all the other people that had come and gone in his life he was surprised that he remembered her but there had always been something about her that had captured his attention.

Stefan was quick to return the hug, wrapping his arms around the familiar woman and pulling her against him for a moment as a wide grin curled his lips. He hugged her back just as hard as she was hugging him, memories of their time spent together flooding back to him. When she took a step away from him, he mirrored the action, slipping his hands into his pockets. "Yeah...well...here I am," he said with a soft chuckle. His eyes darted over her once more, trying to take in every minute detail that could have changed in her the past few decades they hadn't seen each other. She was still as beautiful and as lovely as his memory of her served. "How have you been?" The grin fell slightly as he knew she probably sensed something different in him. No longer was he the charismatic ripper he once was. He no longer found pleasure in ripping someone's throat out or playing with his prey. Clearing his throat, he glanced over to their cars. "The battery in my car...it's dead and my cellphone doesn't get service out here," he said, eyes darting back over to her. "You wouldn't happen to be able to give me a jump, would you?"

---

Her fingertips traced the rim of her glass as she stared down at the condensation dripping down the side of her glass. Zelda's head shot up when she heard her name, her sharp, bright blue eyes zeroing in on the raven-haired man who seemed so familiar to her. Her eyes narrowed in thought for a moment before recognition flashed across her features. A smirk curled her lips as she spoke a name that she never thought would pass her lips again. "Damon Salvatore," she said, shaking a strand of wavy, sandy blonde hair from her eyes as she stood and turned to face the man fully. She downed her drink without a wince and set the glass down on the bar. Her eyes wandered over him fully, bottom lip tucked between her teeth as she studied him. He was still just as devilishly attractive as she remembered, maybe even more so with the passing of time. A soft hum left her as her eyes met his once more, taking a step forward. "Well, aren't you just like a fine wine," she murmured, more to herself than to him as her eyes shifted between both of his. "What are the chances we'd meet here, of all places?" She questioned, lifting a hand to brush down his chest slowly, a cheeky grin on her features.

@ salander.
"I am good... I suppose... I mean I am back here for some reason," she laughed her light eyes scanning over the male and seeing the way he held himself. He most certainly had become more... modest? was that the word? He seemed more curled in on himself and stood slightly deflated. The female wanted to ask what had happened, what had caused him to become the opposite of what he used to be but she held her tongue instead she nodded her head when he bought up giving his car a jump. "Well Mister Salvatore it is your lucky day because I do happen to have some jumper leads... I will be back," with that she turned and began rummaging through the back of her car before producing them waving them for the male to see. With a wide smile she walked over to his car and began to hook it all up. "Right... I'll just turn the engine and you should be good to go," at this stage she was standing in the doorway of her car, turning the key her car started and she watched Stefan.

"So... what brings you back to Mystic Falls?" she hoped it wasn't love but knowing her luck it would be. Why else would've he returned? There wasn't much in Mystic Falls, it was a rather small town known for the supernatural beings that walked around.

---

"Hmmmm..." the male purred his blue eyes looking over Zelda, she was still as sexy and alluring as he remembered. Such a heartbreakingly beautiful specimen he had to admit. "And I see you are the same as you have always been, sexy, alluring and oh so aware of it." A smirk spread across his face as she trailed her hand down his chest. "Astounding, isn't it? The two of us in Mystic Falls...speaking of, what brings you here?" he asked grabbing her hand and pulling it from her chest arching one of his brows as he looked at her. It had been a while since he had seen her but that didn't mean he had forgotten her.

He could never forget her, the memory of her was permanently branded into his mind. It was the 20's. A time of Jazz, the depression and the Prohabition. A time when clubs were filled with women dressed scandalously, their hair cut short and partying was a must.

Stefan let out a soft laugh at Rory's comment, eyes lighting up just a bit as she spoke. He took just a few moments longer to look her over before she mentioned having jumper cables and he grinned even wider. "Ah, it's not very often the savior comes in the form of a beautiful woman," he said, shooting her a slightly crooked smile as he pulled open the driver's side door so he'd be ready to turn over his engine. Hopefully, his car would roar back to life and he wouldn't be stranding on the side of the road any more. He watched as she dove beneath the hood of his car and hooked up everything. He could have commented on how he didn't take her for knowing much about cars but decided against it. They'd spent so much time apart--there was bound to be surprising new things to learn about each other. Once she started her car, he slid into the driver's seat and turned over his engine. It turned over a few times before it started completely. He left the car running and stepped back out of the car, closing the door. He carefully pulled the leads from his battery before starting toward her.

"Homesickness, I suppose," he murmured, only being half sarcastic. "And to see to matters out at the house. According to the lovely townspeople of Mystic Falls, I'm a distant relative of the Salvatore's that used to live here." He let out a soft chuckle as he pulled the leads from her battery and closed the hood of her car for her. He stopped beside her and eyed her for a few moments, a thought coming to mind. "Why don't you follow me back home? We can catch up some place we can actually be ourselves and talk freely," he suggested, extending the jumper leads out to her with a grin.

---

Zelda eyed Damon for a moment, a soft laugh vibrating in her throat as she grinned over at him. "Oh, stop it," she said, playfully batting a hand at his arm, "you make my heart go pitter-patter when you say things like that." She rolled her eyes as her teeth found her bottom lip and gripped it for a moment as she locked eyes with Damon. They just didn't make them like him anymore and she supposed she'd been searching for someone comparable since they had parted decades ago; someone who treated her well, but was always game for causing a little chaos and trouble. She drew in a deep breath of air as she tilted her head to the side, her cat-like eyes flashing for a moment. "I'm on a road trip to D.C. and I figured I needed a stop from all the hustle and bustle of highways," she said with a shrug of her shoulders, glancing over to the hand that had grabbed hers before meeting his eyes once more. "That...and I was feeling a bit...peckish... and bored of just snacking." She let out a soft hum as her eyes wandered over him freely before her gaze locked with his once more. "I figured I'd try out some of the local cuisine and Virginian hospitality, " she finished with a sharp grin, eyes glinting with a predatory leer that to anyone else would be lost under the guise of an innocent-looking face.

"What're you up to in this quaint little town?" She asked, shifting her weight as she gently pulled her hand from his as she crossed her arms over her chest. "Doesn't seem like much of your style, Damon, if I'm being honest." Her eyes shifted to the bartender for a moment, who she noticed was leering over at the two of them from behind the polished bar top.

@ salander.
A blush spread across her cheeks at his compliment, he still had a way with words that was for sure, perhaps it was just the Salvatore charm. Rory was taken aback slightly by the male suggesting she come back to the Salvatore Mansion and catching up with him. She nodded her head a smile spreading across her face, even though she hadn't seen him for a while nothing seemed awkward which was something she was grateful for. Seeing the years they had been apart the two had so much to catch up on that it would take more than just a couple of hours.

"That sounds great," she reached out and grabbed her jumper leads, "I will follow you," with that she nodded her head and turned chucking the leads into the boot of her car and jumping in the drivers side while she waited for Stefan to take off. She had so much she wanted to talk about with him. The first time she had seen him had been December 30th 1919 at a New Years Eve party. The two had spent the night dancing, talking, laughing and enjoying the night and the last time she had seen him was June 16th 1925 when she had moved away.

---

"Believe it or not Miss Eriksson I was feeling rather home sick." that was a lie but she didn't know the real reason he was in Mystic Falls. She didn't need to know that he had returned for Katherine. A woman he had loved so deeply however she had not returned the feelings, instead she had chosen his brother. A cruel reality. However she was still trapped in the tomb, unable to exit due to a spell Bonnie had placed on it.

"If you are seeking a place to stay there are six rooms in the Salvatore Mansion if you wish to stay until you move on," Damon knew that there was enough room where he lived, also the two of them had a lot to catch up on. It had been several decades since the two had met. "Plus I do believe we have a lot to catch up on."

Stefan grinned over at Aurora as she accepted his offer. He studied her for a few moments longer before he spoke. "If we get separated, I'll pull off and wait for you to catch up. The house isn't too far from here." He shot her another look before turning and starting toward his car. Slipping into the driver's seat, he put the car in drive, checked to make sure the coast was clear, and pulled a u-turn. He glanced in his rear view to make sure Rory was following him, his mind reeling a bit from encountering her on such a chance.

He checked his rear view ever so often to be sure she was still following him. It wasn't hard to get turned around on these heavily wooded, winding roads. Before too long, he was pulling into the Salvatore household's driveway and rolling up to his garage in the back. It'd be easier to change the battery that way. Killing the engine, he stepped out of the car, taking in a deep breath of air as he waiting for Rory to park before entering the house.

---

Zelda let out an amused laugh, looking up at Damon with a sly grin. "'Home sick'," she repeated in a questioning tone, "l wasn't aware such a word was in your vocabulary." She lifted a brow at his offer of a room for the night, head tilting to the side once more. "I don't know, Damon. I may prove to be a bit demanding. I do get bored easily and we both know what that'll lead to," she said, only somewhat joking. She put on a thoughtful expression for a moment, though she knew she had already had made up her mind about staying. "If you're up for the challenge, I suppose I'll stay. I actually don't have anywhere picked to go, so it's very convenient I ran into you."

She suddenly sucked in air through her teeth. "But I do have that date with the bartender," she said, leaning casually against the bar as she looked up at Damon. "I told him I'd take him out for a bite." She sighed dramatically, tapping a finger against her chin as if she were thinking. Her eyes shifted between the bartender and Damon a couple times, as if she were weighing her options. "I suppose I could reconsider my date...if you made me a tempting enough offer." She grinned up at Damon fully, knowing exactly what game she was playing with him.

@ salander.
(I am sorry for the lateness)

Rory was quick to follow the male as soon as he pulled off and heading into town toward his home. Within seconds of the male stepping out of his car she had pulled up and switched her engine off. Grabbing her bag and stepping out of her car. Lifting her gaze she had a proper look at the building she was walking toward. It was huge, there had to be around six room in a building this big.

"Nice house," she walked toward the front door with the male. "How have you been Stefan?" in comparison to all the questions she could have asked this one seemed slightly stupid and it wasn't until she had asked it she realised. "Wow, seventy odd years since seeing you and all I can ask is how are you? Okay I am now realising how stupid that sounds now." she laughed awkwardly looking down at her shoes. "In all honesty I have no idea what to ask you first." she sighed looking up. It was the truth there was so much to ask him that she honestly had no idea where to start. Maybe with where he had gone? One minute he had been in Chicago the next he had moved on without so much as a word.

"Where did you go?" that seemed like a more appropriate question at this point in time.

---

"There is quite a bit you don't know about me. And yes, this place has a familiarity that I miss from time to time," there was no lie in that statement, for some strange reason he did in fact, sometimes, miss his hometown and the energy and power that could be felt as soon as you crossed the welcome sign.

"Of course, entertainment is something I am very good at, if I don't say so myself. I am sure I can keep you from doing anything too serious." he smirked knowing full well what she was getting at. The dark haired male looked at the bar tender. He didn't know him, if it had been Matt Donovan that may have been a different story. However this was a random nameless guy that was staring at Zelda.

"Oh no buy all means, continue with your date. Please. I can wait until you are finished. I have all night. No where to be. Please... I insist. Just don't be too obvious... there are families around here that would have a steak in your heart before you could utter a single word," it was the truth. As Damon scanned the room he could see at least three people in here that would kill Zelda in the blink of an eye.

(That's quite alright!)

Stefan shoved his hands into his pockets as he stepped up beside Rory, grinning over at her as he watched her appraise the house. It was an old house, but it had a sort of timelessness to it that most modern houses couldn't beat. For as many bad memories as the place held, Stefan knew he'd never be able to call anywhere else home. He murmured a thanks to her as they walked up to the front door. He opened it for her and motioned for her to step inside. A soft laugh left him as she spoke next before he pulled his bottom lip between his teeth to watch her "Well...to answer your first question," he said, pausing for a moment, "I've been better." He drew in a deep breath of air as he glanced around the house, noting that Damon's car wasn't parked in the usual spot. That would be for the best. His brother had a habit of causing trouble where ever he went.

His mind halted with her next question as he let out a heavy sigh, expression dropping slightly as he shook his head a bit. "It's a long...complicated story," he said quietly, eyes locked on hers for a few moments. He knew he owed her an explanation after how they had parted, how he had just up and left. They had been close and she didn't deserve they way he had left her. "Come on inside, I'll fix you a coffee or get you a drink something and I'll tell you everything." This was it, he just knew it. This would be the moment where he'd let her know he'd changed from the man she once knew and she'd up and leave him. He wouldn't blame her if she did. The Stefan that she knew was driven by blood, driven by the hunt of finding his next meal, but now...now he lived off of the blood of animals. Granted, it did make him a lot weaker, but he just couldn't control himself when he fed from humans. It was a slippery spiral; if he fed from one, he'd want to feed from another and another, until he got himself killed for being too conspicuous. He could probably get away with something like that in a big city, but there were too many eyes and ears open in Mystic Falls for a couple of murders to slide.

---

Zelda let out a soft, playful scoff at Damon, shaking her head slowly. "I know enough about you, darling," she said softly, lips curling up wryly at one corner. Her eyes drifted around the room, noting a few individuals had stopped in for lunch. They were watching her and Damon with rapt attention, their mouths moving quickly as they studied him. "Oh, small towns...they don't miss a new face, do they?" She said through a sigh before tucking her hair behind her ear. Her eyes drifted back over to Damon and she grinned up at him. "It has been a while, Damon. I do hope you haven't lost your touch," she said, only hoping to egg him on. When he spoke next, she lifted a brow, intrigued with the fact he didn't try to stop her and keep her attentions to him. Her eyes narrowed slightly with thought before he finished speaking. A sharp laugh left her before she replied.

"Don't tempt me, Damon," she told him softly, though the jest in her tone was gone, "you know I could end their miserable existence before the thought even finished crossing their mind. Flirting with danger is such a turn-on." Her eyes snapped over the bar before she could say anything else as the sharp smell of blood had reached her delicate senses. The bartender was cradling his hand over a cutting board of half-cut lemons. She supposed he'd nicked his finger while cutting them, but it was sending her mind spinning. "Maybe I'll have to cancel that date," she murmured distractedly before her eyes flickered over to Damon. "Don't be too obvious, you say," she said before a wide, toothy grin curled her lips. She quickly rounded the bar, grabbing one of the small hand towels from behind the bar and pressing it to the wound on the bartender's finger. He looked up at her for a moment before a slow smile curled his lips.

She smiled an innocent little smile up at bartender. "Why don't you take a seat, darling?" She asked, eyes locked on his. He nodded slowly, taking a seat right were he stood. She followed him to the floor, kneeling beside him so that they were both hidden behind the bar. She kept her eyes on his as she spoke. "You're not going to make a single peep from what I'm about to do...and when I leave, you're going to tell them that you slipped while holding the knife you were using to cut up lemons. Someone should really dry the floor up around here," she said, eyes growing dark, veins appearing beneath her eyes, and fangs extending. In a flash, she had clamped down on his neck, knowing this would have to be a quick, fatality-free feed.

@ salander.
Rory saw how deflated the male became when he spoke, instantly she wanted to know what was going on. What was causing Stefan to be like this, why was he so upset, so not himself. She nodded her head and walked into the house looking around as soon as she entered it was huge. The inside was just as beautiful as the outside. She was so busy looking around that she had to snap herself out of it.

"Sorry, you really have a beautiful home," she apologised again, something she seemed to being more frequently when she was around the male vampire. She followed him into what she assumed was the lounge room, a selection of leather seats were scattered around. "I'll take some alcohol if you have any, scotch would be good." with that she walked over and sat down on one of the many leather chairs looking around but every now and then her eyes wandered over to the male.

He was such a beautiful specimen, she used to become a jumbled mess around him back in the day, however now she seemed more apologetic of everything, how things had changed. She was eager to ask more questions but she waited with what Stefan was about to tell her maybe everything would be answered.

---

Damon smelled the blood as soon as Zelda did, he turned his attention to the bar tender that had clumsily cut his finger. The male rolled his eyes, humans were so clumsy all the time. Damon turned to Zelda as she spoke before watching as she walked over to the bleeding male. He knew what she was doing so he simply turned his head the other way and drank his bourbon. He listened to her unable to stop from smiling, she had a way with words that was for sure.

"When you're done with your drink perhaps we should go back to mine, you know, since I have to keep you entertained," he called over the bar in a softer tone so no one else knew there was anyone down there. He finished his drink before placing it down on the bar and walking away hoping that the female would follow him. He exited the bar and felt the cold night air on his skin inhaling he stood leaning against a lamppost as he waited for Zelda to finish.

Stefan kept a close eye on Rory as he lead her into the house and to the lounge of the house. He took his time, as he could see she was quite distracted from looking around at the house and the decor. Most people he invited into the house found it fascinating and in any other circumstance, he'd probably had stopped and guided her around the place. But being as he felt the need to explain himself to Rory was greater than giving her a tour of the house. If she still wanted to be around him, he'd have no problem showing her the place. He was quite proud of the home he and his brother shared, even if Damon seemed set on destroying things every now and then or getting blood on some of their more precious collectables and furniture.

"There's no need to apologize," he told her gently, shaking his head a bit as he settled himself at the myriad of liquor bottles and decanters at the rear of the room. "You stick around long enough and I may get to show you the place," he added with a small grin. He poured themselves both a hefty helping of Scotch, knowing that they both could handle it, being vampires, and stepped over to her. Extending the glass to her, he settled into a spot just beside her, close enough that he didn't feel like he was too far away, but far away enough so that he didn't feel like he was encroaching in her personal space.

"Rory..." He started before taking a sip of his Scotch, hoping that the burn of the liquor would help ease his nerves. "I'm not exactly the person you knew me to be anymore. I can understand if my...new way of life leads you to want to...leave." The last word came out quietly, his expression slightly pained. The last thing he wanted to do was for her to leave. "I'm not sure if you knew this at the time, but I was what they called a 'ripper', when we met. I'm not in control of myself when I drink human blood. I'm driven by it, even more than a vampire is driven by blood. I killed, not to feed, but because I enjoyed the rush of overindulgence." He drew in a deep breath of air as he paused, taking another sip of his Scotch before continuing. "One night, I came to close too getting caught by cops at a speakeasy and...I just realized how...stupid it would be to get myself or you...or anyone else like us killed because I wasn't in control."

---

The rush of a feed in such a public area was almost as sweet as the blood that filled Zelda's mouth. This is what she would occupy an eternity of endless youth doing; skirting so close to death for a second time. When she felt the young man shuddering(but more importantly had satiated her need for a snack), she pulled away, grinning a bloodstained grin over at him before closing her lips and swiping her tongue over her teeth to clean them before she left the building. Taking in a deep breath of air, she calmed herself as much as she could, feeling her fangs slip back into her gums, the inky color leave the whites of her eyes, and the veins under her eyes smoothing out. "Thanks, darling," she cooed wth another broad grin, leaning forward to press her lips against his cheek before righting herself.

She glanced around the restaurant and noticed that no one was looking in her direction, which would make her exit even easier. With a broad grin on her lips, she sauntered her way out of the building, soaring off the feeling of a recent feed when no one--aside from Damon--had suspected a thing. She exited the building and immediately spotted Damon off to the side, unable to keep the genuine smile off of her lips at the sight of him. In a move that may have been out of character, Zelda was going to blame the feeling of euphoria after snacking, she stepped over to him and threw her arms around his torso, nuzzling into his neck and leaning into him with a smile. She paused for a moment, relishing the fact they just so happened to be in the same place at the same time.

"I missed you," she breathed before pulling away just enough to look over his features in close proximity. "And don't act like entertaining me is such a chore, Damon. You entertain me, I entertain you in return. It's a win-win situation." She gave a shrug of her shoulders as she grinned up at him. Zelda pressed a quick kiss to his cheek before pulling away completely. "I can follow you to your place if you tell me what you're driving," she told him, crossing her arms over her chest as she watched him.

@ salander.
(Sorry I have been MIA for a while but I am back now :))

Rory sat down and grabbed the glass from Stefan's extended hand before watching as he sat down, not right next to her but less than an arms reach away. Turning on the seat she made sure her entire upper half was facing him as she held her drink waiting for the male to speak.

When he started to speak she listened intently as she thought back to the first time they had met. It had been in a night club, Stefan looked dashing in a suit with a wide toothy smile spread across his face and his demeanour was one of confidence even the way he spoke. She had seen glimpses of him indulging a little too much on the humans that were scattered around the room, but he did it in a way that was subtle. Or at least that was what she thought. Of course at the time she had been a new vampire and had yet to control herself.

"How... How did you get better?" she wasn't sure if better was the right word because to be honest he seemed worse off now than he had back then. She took a sip of her drink as she waited for the male to elaborate. She was interested to hear more, about his life after the two of them had met, after he had disappeared on her. Where had he gone?

---

Damon allowed a smirk to spread across his face when he felt Zelda's arms around him. He wasn't going to deny that it didn't feel nice... was that the word? chuckling he turned to look at her, she had a little blood on the corner of her lips.

"You might want to clean that off," he said zeroing in on the blood before locking his eyes with hers. "Well actually, here's the thing... I didn't drive her... in fact I walked... yeah... a nice nightly walk to liven the senses." it wasn't a lie but it wasn't the full truth either, he had been brooding over Stefan and Elena. However Zelda didn't need to know that. "So... shall we?" he asked extending his arm for her to take. He was a gentleman at heart, he didn't always show it, but it was there.

(Oh, you're fine! The last week and a half have been hectic at work and around the house, so I haven't been online much. Glad you're back though!)

Stefan took another sip of his scotch to help calm his nerves. He wasn't quite sure why he was so anxious to tell Rory about how he’d changed. Perhaps it was the fact that in their short time of knowing each other, he knew he prized her company greatly. In a time where he was full to the brim of opulence and indulgence, she somehow managed to keep him grounded. Well, she kept him as grounded as a Ripper could be kept.

He valued her opinion as much as one could when they hadn’t seen each other in decades. The last time he’d seen her, her hair had been styled in finger waves that framed her features, she wore a beaded dress that hit just below the knee(scandalous at the time), and a few strings of pearls around her neck. So much had changed since then, beyond mere fashion and topics of small talk. So much had changed in himself that the person he was then seemed like someone else.

At her question, he heaved a sigh and tapped his fingers against the side of his glass. Here comes the judgement, he through bitterly to himself. His eyes met Rory’s and he told her, honestly, “A change of diet.” He paused for a moment before tossing back the rest of his scotch and setting the glass aside. “If I feed from humans, I can’t control myself, so I feed from animals instead.” He bit the inside of his cheek, eyes slipping between hers as he tried to read her. “It makes me a little weaker and certain powers don’t quite work right, but it’s better than slaughtering half of Mystic Falls before anyone finds out.” There was a brief pause before he continued. “I’d understand if you want to leave. Not too many have been that understanding of why I have to do it.” His mind rested on his brother, who seemed bent on trying to have him snap and go on a slaughtering spree. “In fact, some of them seem to want to see me go back to the way I was.”

---

The dirty-blonde vampire smirked right back up at Damon, swiping a finger on the corner of her mouth and sucking the remnant of blood off of her fingertip with a soft hum as she kept her eyes on his. “Maybe I was saving that for later,” she told him smartly, “I wouldn’t put it past you to starve a girl.” She shot him a wink that let him know she was joking and if that wasn’t indication enough, her crooked grin was.

She raised a single brow at his admission of walking to the bar and she gave him a wary look. “I suppose one has to delight in kicking it way old school from time to time. Take the time to smell the roses or snack on the neighbor…or however that adage goes,” she murmured, looking up at Damon innocently and shrugging her shoulders. “I suppose my bag and car won’t be any trouble for one night if I leave it. I can always get it tomorrow.” Zelda spared a glance over toward the dimly lit parking lot next to the grill before turning back to Damon. She happily looped his arm through his, cradling his arm against her body. “We shall, Mr. Salvatore,” she replied in a chipper tone.

Truthfully, Zelda had never been to Mystic Falls, so she wasn’t sure exactly how far they had to walk, but she was in good company. She guessed she could enjoy a leisurely stroll every once in a while if she had someone as handsome as Damon by her side. “What’ve you been up to since we last spoke?” She questioned, glancing up to him and tilting her head to the side slightly. It had been a while, surely he hadn’t been in as small a town as Mystic Falls since the 20’s.