Chapter Text
She checked again, just in case – nope, nothing in her pockets. Her very small pockets. Had she really dressed like this when she was 19? Or however “old” she was here.
Here. Right.
The Mystic Grill in Mystic Falls, Virginia. Covington Smovington – she was in Virginia, at least according to everything she could find so far. Not that she looked too thoroughly, but waking up on a park bench in a body she hadn’t had in at least a decade made her want to find something that felt familiar, and The Grill was the only thing she could think of that might do that. Besides, if she were going to have a psychotic break in a body that probably hadn’t experienced a hangover yet, she was at very least going to do it with a drink or six.
The Grill was darker than she expected for so early in the day, but that worked in her favor. She just needed to be confident, ask for her drink, and hope she can charm someone into paying for her tab by the end of the night. She shook her hair out and walked towards the bar. Her flimsy flip-flops squeaked with each step, hindering her effort to exude an air self-assurance. Oops.
She made it to the bar and made eye contact with the bartender, pulling herself up onto the seat as unawkwardly as she could. The man behind the bar could likely hear her muttering about stupid tall bar seats, and stupid short shorts, as she maneuvered with the grace of a newborn foal. He finished drying a glass and approached her, eyebrows raised.
“What can I get you?” Amusement did not bode well for her chances.
“Titos on the rocks, with a splash of water please.”
“Lemon or lime?” SCORE he was gonna do it. She tried not to grin.
“No, thank you.”
“No problem. Can I see ID?”
She winced. “I am kind of stranded here, my friends left me behind and took my purse with them. I am waiting for one of them to come back for me.” The man's face fell. She deflated and waved him off. “It’s fine, I know I look young. You can’t serve me without ID I get it. Can I just have a soda water while I wait?” He nodded, relieved that she wasn't going to argue, and poured the not-vodka drink.
She laid her head on the bar and finally let out the groan she’d been holding in.
UGHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH
“Difficult day?” A new and vaguely familiar voice interrupted her. She contemplated ignoring the newest apparition of her imagination but ultimately looked up.
“Of everyone in this fantasy-land of a town I could run into, it had to be Alaric?” She whined, which was fine. She looked 19 and teenagers were allowed to whine.
He looked down at himself, fingers plucking at the black button up with a frown.
“Granted, the wardrobe could use some assistance.” He slid into the chair next to her, oddly graceful. “What has you griping so loudly in the tavern barely past noon?”
“I don’t have my purse. They won’t serve me because I look 19.” She laid her forehead back onto the bar and sighed, “I haven’t been 19 in a long time.”
He chuckled. “I know the feeling.” He called the bartender over, and the leather of his chair groaned as he leaned forward. “Give the lady what she asked for. She is of age.”
Surprisingly, the bartender did just that. Huh, they must know each other, she guessed. He made short work of her order, and she finally lifted her head, sipping the now-vodka drink gratefully.
“Had I known you'd ordered a glass of vodka I’d have given you a flask and sent you to mingle with the local vagrants.”
She scoffed into her drink. “It’s been a long day.” Setting the glass down, she turned and assessed him properly. “You’re being weird.”
“Am I?”
He seemed amused again. She swirled her drink, considering. He looked young. He was in his early thirties, at most. That would put him in his Isobel-grieving-'oh wait she's actually a mean vampire' period. It was arguably one of his gloomiest. So why was he here, skipping the end of the school day, looking so... light, and unbothered?
It hit her. She looked up again with fresh eyes. “There –“she choked on nothing, cleared her throat, tried again. “There doesn’t happen to be a decade’s dance soon, at the school here. The one that you… work at?”
He grinned. “Tonight, actually. Funny you mention it; I’m quite looking forward to the event myself.”
Ho-ly shit. She couldn’t help herself. She tipped her head back and cackled. “Oh my god,” she wiped tears from her eyes. “I was so creeped out thinking Alaric was going to hit on me, but you’re not Ric at all. You’re Motherfucking Klaus.” She shook her head, finally more excited about her weird day than annoyed. Perhaps delusions could be fun after all?
NotAlaric, on the other hand, had gone perfectly still. His face was blank, eyes calculating. She knew he would probably kill her (can she be killed here?) but she was determined to have fun with this while it lasted. When in Rome, right?
“Aww come on Klaus, it’s not my fault you picked Creepy Teacher Guy to possess. Don’t get me wrong, it makes sense, but also – ew.”
She took another swig. He didn’t move. “Listen, before you go all murdery on me just hear me out. I could really help you actually.” She cocked her head. “Oh my god that’s brilliant. Yes! I can help you literally so much you have no idea.” She downed the last of her drink, setting it on the bar with a clink.
“How, pray tell, would one such as you have the means to help me?” His voice was barely above a whisper, and cold as ice.
She frowned. It would have been kind of hot had he had his own body. She shook her head and focused enough to answer.
“Well for starters Elijah is in town – shit, no Katherine already told you that didn’t she. She’s probably in Professor Hangs-Out-With-His-Student’s apartment right now, stabbing her leg if I remember right?” Her voice trailed off as she noticed he looked even angrier, which she hadn't known was possible. “Oh! You can’t kill the doppelganger!” He scoffed, and she scrambled to explain. “No, no not because of that. No, it’s your– the Original Witch. Part of the binding spell or whatever. You won’t be able to make hybrids if she dies! But she has to die for the binding to be undone, of course, but as with almost everything here there is a magical loophole.” She waved that away. “Also, going to the dance tonight to kill Bonnie won’t work. You’ll both live.”
He was looking at her now with something closer to curiosity. Good, she thought. Be curious.
“How could you possibly know these things. What are you? Witch?” He spat the last word at her.
She played with the frayed edges of the denim underwear attempting to cover her legs. “Well, it’s kind of complicated. I’m not totally sure how to respond? Not a witch, definitely not. I am human, but I am not from here.” She put her hands up, indicating everything around her. He was most definitely not following her explanation. She sighed deeply. “Think of it like clairvoyance. I’ve seen things relevant to you and a few other key people’s lives. I swear to you Klaus, I can be helpful.”
He leaned towards her.
She hadn’t even given him her name, and here she was pledging to help the Original Hybrid because she 'knew his future'. He was hopefully thinking that she was extremely reckless, but honest. More likely he figured she was in league with his enemies.
“We will have to see about that, won’t we, love?” His voice was gravel in her ear, and she shivered as he grabbed her arm and dragged her away from the bar.