regret_tomorrow | mystic falls | people will say we're in love

A fun fact about Mystic Falls, they celebrate everything - especially if it's even remotely historical. For Founder's Day, they set aside a week of events. The kickoff party has passed. It was lovely and it was at the Lockwood's like always. But, tonight, tonight is the Bachelorette Auction (amended by Mayor Carol Lockwood to be hip and have a twist of tradition. never one to color too outside the line, Miss Mystic Falls Caroline Forbes endorsed it - so everyone did). The bachelor auction is held inside the ~~world famous~~ Grill.

During the day, the town readies for Founder's Day as they build floats, stages and put up stands. There's even a half day off school and a cookout. The usuals: hot dogs, hamburgers, any condiment you'd like and lemonade better than your relative could make. Live music. Lively fun. Enjoy the festivities.

In the Grill there's a buffet of fried goodness and for those of age (or who can compel people things) it's happy hour. (Carol Lockwood likes her booze)

Each woman steps up to microphone and says something about themselves while bachelors throw out bids.

After, everyone splits off back into the town square for music and the winners get what could be called a date.

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So, Damon's a big fan of keeping your friends close and your enemies closer. Also, everyone seems to think he should come to some sort of agreement/detente with Buffy. So, consider this his detente. Also, he's a terrible date, didn't plan on anything and he did just pull a flower off the fake trellis and hand it to her.

Buffy is skeptical of that flower. She's skeptical of this date in general, but she's not about to make waves when it's not her town and she's on very thin ice with the people around here as it is. Especially considering she just bulldozed her way into things.

"So aside from making my boyfriend explode, what exactly were you looking to get out of this?"

"Besides being in Carol Lockwood's good graces," who, admittedly, has always liked him, "I thought you and I should bury the proverbial hatchet. Preferably not in anybody's back," he says. He never sounds serious and it's probably not helping his case. "But, I had to win someone. I'm a founding family member. And considering Meredith is my best friend's intoxicated girlfriend and I've been there/done that with Caroline..."

The answer was clear.

"By the way, love the name change. It's so... fuzzy. You gonna make it US official?" Okay, so, she's not the only one on thin ice.

"Sorry. Name mishaps happen. Are you a music lover?"

"Nuh-uh. You don't get to just segue into music when you just admitted that you bought me because you felt you had to." She's not in the mood to be some kind of pity date because he couldn't get the girl he wanted. "Look, we don't have to go through with this. We can just say it happened and I can go find Riley and spend time with someone who actually wants to be in my company."

Because she certainly doesn't want to be in his.

"I didn't feel like I had to," he clarifies. "I felt like I should." Not that that's any better, Damon. "What, your G.I. Joe boyfriend?" He's so... milquetoast. "Because spending an hour - at most with me is that unappealing," he says, tilting his head forward. "Look, let's just both do this, get this over with and maybe we'll learn something about one another. For instance, I like snarky blondes..."

Well, Buffy? Feel like playing along?

It'll make things so much easier.

No. She really doesn't. But she'll make it seem like she does for just a second. "That's so funny, because I like to punch vampire assholes in the face." She flashes him a bright and entirely sarcastic smile.

"You're right, this is fun."

"What is your problem with me, anyway?" he asks, wondering what he did exactly to receive such ire. "Last time I checked you don't know me that well. Or, Elena for that matter. Or, any of us. Actually, I have another question. What are you all still doing here?" What, did she extend her vacation because Mystic Falls is that quaint? "You found us. There are other vampires, ooh -" he adds, wiggling his fingers.

"What's the big deal, anyway?"

"The big deal is that we don't know anything about you. So we're finding out. Never mind the fact that major magic keeps happening in this town."

"Newsflash, we both have members on Team Witch. You're surprised at our major magic?" He rolls his eyes, looking away and then back. "We told you. That major magic was mother Original and they? Are long gone. So, if you want a former bratty vampire family? I can work on getting you a forwarding address. But we were fine without you. We had things under control."

"Your death rate was astronomical and you think things were under control." She shakes her head. "You live on a Hellmouth. Things are never going to be under control."

"Our death rate was always astronomical. It's not like it's gone up." It's middled - for a hundred or so years. "I live on what now?" Excuse him? "Is that something they teach you in Slayer school?"

"A Hellmouth. A mystical source of energy that attracts trouble. Why do you think vampires have been here for so long."

"Because they've always been here." Anachronistic Vikings? "There's no rhyme or reason." He's wrong, but he's not backing down. "That's why you put down roots. Because you think vampires are drawn here? FYI, hell is religious fanaticism. Not a real thing."

"Yeah. Tell me that after you've been there." Which she has. Sort of. For the record. "It's not as fake as you think."

"You can give my ticket to someone else. I'm busy that night." No concert hell for him. "A little bummed you didn't bring me back an 'I went to hell and all I got was this lousy brimstone singed t-shirt.'"

"Sorry. They were all sold out." She rolls her eyes a bit. "I'm serious, Damon. On Hellmouths, bad things happen."

"You are serious. As a heart attack. Can slayers have heart attacks?" He's been wondering. And now, he's just being childish. "OK. How about this. I believe that you believe," he says, speeding up his words. "Thathellisallaroundus." A smile. Good enough? "So. Music? I'm feeling... Alanis?"

She rolls her eyes again. "Fine. Don't believe me. But you're the one it's going to bite in the ass."

"Hundreds of years from now. If that." Hopefully, never, but if it has to happen - centuries later? It can happen. "I'm finding it hard to remember why I bid on you in the first place."

"See, that's what I've been trying to find out. Because it doesn't make any sense."

"Says the vampire slayer who thinks we're all going to hell."

mystic falls | people will say we're in love

buffy and damon

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