mystic falls | people will say we're in love

[recrudesce]

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.

Comments

matt donovan/jeremy gilbert

[healthinsurance]

Matt Donovan grew up in Mystic Falls. He'd be out there mingling if he could but he pulled the short end of the straw and got the afternoon shift. At least he doesn't have the night shift? Bother him! He's behind the bar and waiting tables.

He also roped Jeremy in through seniority. So, Jeremy gets off a half day form the first day back to school and he has to go to work. Being a teenager sucks sometimes.

matt or both }

[hitchhiking]

Anna is perched behind the bar, as per usual, fixing drinks for those who wish to remember as little of this day as possible. She can't really say she blames them. Not that there aren't a slew of potential alcoholics in Mystic Falls, but all the same, it's odd to see them all in one place.

She waits for Matt to swing his way back over before flashing him a smile. "Do you think this is going to work?" The him bidding for Elena thing.

[healthinsurance]

Matt sets his tray down, wiping it down with his rag. Drunk college students spilled their pitcher.

"Who knows. Does anything we want to work in this town work?" At least, how they want it to. "I set money aside." But, it's what Elena wants. "You're okay with me bidding on Elena, right?"

[hitchhiking]

She shrugs. "It's better than her being won by Damon. Besides, she's your best friend."

[healthinsurance]

"She is." She's also his ex-girlfriend but no reason to rock that boat. "Besides, we have plans later on, right?"

[hitchhiking]

She grins a bit at that. "We do definitely have those. So I'll just see you later."

[healthinsurance]

"And I get the best of both worlds," he says with a grin.

[hitchhiking]

She laughs, shaking her head. "Lucky you." Then she gives his shoulder a bit of a shove. "Now, get back to work."

[healthinsurance]

Hey, Matt's worked her longer than you have. But, she's still his boss because of her age. So, he laughs, grabs his rag and moves off to clean a nearby table that's been cleared.

jeremy }

[anendlesswar]

Zoe isn't entirely sure why Shane wanted her to come to Mystic Falls of all places, but she wasn't complaining either. She knew that Jeremy was originally from Mystic Falls, and there's a part of her that missed him.

A lot.

But the girl that walks into the Grill is far from the timid girl who Jeremy knew in Colorado. She steps with purpose, so much more sure of herself than she was then, and only pauses at the bar for a moment to pick up on where he's busing a table, before making her way closer, clamping her hands down over his eyes from behind.

"Guess who."

[typically]

Wiping down tables. This is the life. Something he's not expecting? Hands covering his eyes. Bonnie wouldn't do that - not after Anna. Jeremy's not quite sure who else would do that, but then he hears her voice.

"No way," he says, turning around. "Zoe? Hey!" He sets down his dish tub and wraps her arms around her. "You're here."

[anendlesswar]

She leans into the hug eagerly, letting her chin rest on his shoulder for a moment as she soaks it in. "I'm here." She won't explain if he doesn't ask, but she's pretty sure she can milk the surprise for a moment longer before he starts.

[typically]

"What are you doing here? Did your dad move again?" Because he needs a reason to be irresponsible and stop working for a few minutes.

[anendlesswar]

Her dad sort of doesn't know where she is. Oops. But given what Jeremy knows about her dad from the few times he met him, the truth doesn't exactly sound implausible. She cringes a bit, before looking down at her hands.

"I actually sort of ... made a break for it?"

[typically]

He wasn't aware people really did that. Once upon a time Vicki had "run away." But, here she was - away from her dad. She had just left. Just like that. Her dad hadn't seemed that bad. He'd actually seemed nice. He'd liked Jeremy. (What parents didn't like Jeremy. Then again, his first two girlfriends had been absent two parents - or, Pearl ... yeah, just thinking about this confused him.)

But, Jeremy wasn't the type to judge that kind of a choice. It was hers and hers alone.

"Well, I'm glad you did. You surprised me."

[anendlesswar]

She appreciates the lack of judging. And she knows her dad can put up a good front. But right now, what she's focused on is the fact that he's happy to see her - and that he might be able to help her out.

"Yeah, well, I figured if there was anywhere I can go where someone would be happy to see me, it would be Mystic Falls. Besides, I missed you."

[typically]

He grins. Hard not to with her.

"I missed you, too. Everything's okay, though?"

[anendlesswar]

"Yeah, everything's great." She feels better than she has in ages, a kind of power that she didn't think she could have before. It's almost like a high and she's going to keep riding it until she crashes. "I just need to figure out where I'm going to stay, and I'll be golden."

[typically]

"You don't have a place to stay?" Right, she'd run away. Or, flown the coop, made a break for it. He thinks for a second. "I have to talk to my sister -" And more importantly, Alaric. "But, we have a guest room." He also has a bed. He could do that... "Do you want to stay with me?"

[anendlesswar]

She perks up a bit at that, trying not to look too eager about it. "If it's not a problem? I mean, I've got a little cash so I could probably get a room at this bed and breakfast I saw? But ... " Staying with a friend would be really good.

[typically]

"You're not staying at the bed and breakfast." So, he's already deciding. She doesn't get a say. "Save your cash. You're staying with me tonight."

[anendlesswar]

Her smile widens even more, nodding in agreement. "Okay. Sounds good." Some of the tension melts away from her shoulders before turning and waving a hand in the direction of all the Founders merriment. "So what is all of this?"

[typically]

"It's Founders Week. And tonight's a bachelorette auction. They're setting it up in here. In a few days, there'll be a parade." He looks around him when he speaks. "It's kind of our town's thing. It celebrates itself. Its history. ...Constantly."

[anendlesswar]

She laughs a bit at that, before glancing around some more. "Maybe it just really wants to make sure you don't forget it."

[typically]

"That's a big part of it." He's grinning wide. Matt Donovan, fresh off the nearby table's order, approaches.

"Jer," he says. "Hey," he adds to Zoe, to not be rude. And then he's off again.

"Sorry, my shift's still going... But, I'll be here tonight for the auction. If you want to be. Or, want to meet me here."