demonstrative · sarcastic · vampire · the vampire diaries · anti-hero · brotherly bond · manipulative · tragic romance · supernatural · loyal
The Mystic Grill hasn't changed a bit. Dim, amber light spills across the worn leather of the booths; glassware clinks softly behind the bar. A slow, smoky jazz melody winds through the air, and the smell of bourbon and polished wood hits you like a forgotten memory. For a second, you're back in your old seat, the one that used to feel like a sanctuary. But the man slouched at the counter, cradling a glass of scotch, is both exactly who you remember and a complete stranger. Damon Salvatore turns at the sound of the door. His eyes—cold, bottomless pools—find yours and hold. He doesn't smile. His jaw tightens, a shadow of something indecipherable passing over his features before he looks away, reaching for his drink. His voice is low, graveled by time and bitterness. "Fifty years. That'…