All the good girls go to hell

As the blonde approached the bar Lawrence realized where he recognized her from. She was one of the harvest girls, he was certain of it, but she was alive? The last time he checked all the girls, bar Davina, was dead and the ritual hadn't gone as planned. Davina had filled him what happened afterward, and truthfully if he was in that situation he too would have run after watching other witches getting their throat slit in front of him. The other girls would have done the same if they had the chance.

The young witch didn't appear to have aged, so Lawrence assumed she had been dead for a while, but no one stays dead around here, especially not witches. What had the blonde given to the ancestors in return for her life, he pondered.

"Good evening" Lawrence welcomed the girl with a friendly smile. There were a few perks of working in a bar, one was the cheap drinks and two was the opportunity to meet girls. He enjoyed both of course.

“Do I know you from somewhere?” The girl's comment confirmed his recollection of her. "Uh… spend some time in New Orleans or somethin’? I never forget a pretty face,” Lawrence laughed. So she was attractive and flirtatious. Bonus. "Yeah, I lived there for a while. The name's Lawrence" He replied, and leaned forward on the bar, "Aren't you one of the harvest girls? I thought you were all dead?" He wondered what the girl was doing in a bar like this. Did she want to die again? There were some merciless vampires in the Blood Den, but the witch had signed the waiver anyway, so it was none of his concern really.

Even though he had only been working at the bar for a few weeks he had seen his fair share of girls coming in seeking danger and looking for a thrill. Often he found himself wavering between the innocent naive girls and the reckless girls who don't consider the consequences. His intention with these types of girls differed though. The reckless ones, he wanted to have sex with, but the innocent ones he felt drawn to on a deeper level. They were the ones who drew him closer to his humanity and reminding him of what he was like before turning. Innocent and obedient. He should stay away from the wild girls because they're the ones that pull him off track and lead him towards darkness. Given where the blonde witch was, Lawrence presumed she was one to seek menace. Would she draw him towards darkness?

"What would you like to drink?" Or was she just here to flash her pretty eyes at him. "We're offering 2 for 1 on vodka soda" Lawrence pushed himself up off the bar, "Or we can do shots of whiskey together?" He suggested, playfully. Working in a bar is the only job where Lawrence would walk out after work and have lost money due to spending his wages on alcohol that night.


CASSIE LUANNA

Lawrence watched as the girl's eyes shot towards the staff door. Was she was waiting for someone? That would possibly explain the fact she was here, putting herself in potential danger. Before he had the chance to ask her, she was quick to speak again. He wore a small smile as the witch spun herself around in the barstool, "Of course" He responded.

“Were you one of the shitty vampires that fucked that up for us? ‘Cause if you were, then, like, fuck you.”

Lawrence knew what "shitty vampires" she was referring to, but he took a back seat in the whole ritual business. If the witches wanted to sacrifice their young to the ancestors, then so be it. The vampire had his own opinions about the ritual. It was ironic for the witches to turn their backs on vampires because they fed off humans, but it's okay for them to kill their children. It wasn't an opinion he was going to share with Cassie anyway. There was no point bringing up the past, and dredging over old ground.

"Nah, I wasn't one of those shitty vampires" He chuckled, "I'm glad things worked out okay in the end though" It was a genuine comment. No one wants to see a good life go to waste, and it seemed Cassie had come back with the desire to live her life.

"Never done whiskey shots?!" Lawrence exclaimed. He turned back and grabbed a bottle of whiskey off the shelf, and pulled out two shots glasses from below the bar. Poison her? The vampire shrugged, "I can't make any promises" He poured them both a shot and handed one to Cassie.

"Here's to being alive" A smirked appeared on his face. "Technically" The vampire was referring to himself. With that, he knocked back the shot of whiskey. The dark liquor provided a sense of warmth as it hit the pit of his stomach. It was a perfect remedy for keeping his urges at bay.

"So" Lawrence poured them both another shot, "What is a cute little witch like you doing in a bar like this?" He could smell the mortal blood running through her veins. She was inviting food for some of the customers, and he couldn't help the blonde if someone wanted to feast on her. It was in his contract. Don't save anyone who has signed the waiver.

CASSIE LUANNA

“Same. I’m Cassie, by the way. Since you’re not planning to jump over the bar and strangle me now.” Lawrence laughed, "Well the night is still young" Again, he was joking. He doubted the young witch was going to bring trouble to the bar, but he was concerned she had signed the waiver so freely when she entered the Blood Den. Hopefully, no one would try and sink their teeth into her. "Nice to meet you, Cassie"

Whiskey was a drink he liked, so he knocked the shot back with ease, but noticed Cassie didn't like the liquor as much as him. It had taken him a while to become accustomed to the taste of whiskey, but if they were doing shots of vodka he would have had the same reaction as her. He laughed as she shivered in response to the shot. "Come on, it wasn't that bad! Here, the next shot is on me" He grinned, as he poured them both a second shot. He wasn't going to take no as an answer from the young witch, "Whiskey is the best spirit... that and rum" He set the whiskey bottle back down and leaned on the bar, "What's your favorite spirit? Or are you more of a wine girl?"

The Blood Den was the last place he expected to find a witch. The majority of them disliked vampires, so why would they ever step foot in somewhere that was designed specifically for vampires. "Oh, and who's that?" Lawrence questioned. There weren't many permanent staff at the Blood Den, so the chances are he would have crossed paths with the person Cassie was looking for. "Lucky for you I'm an excellent drinking buddy" He pushed himself up off the bar and picked up his shot glass, ready for the next round, as he observed the blonde.

“Okay, I’m doing one more, and then I want you to make me something fruity, sugary and possibly blue-coloured. Whiskey kinda sucks.”

Lawrence pretended to be shocked, "But, you looked like you were enjoying it" He smiled, "Fine, I'll grab you something blue and sugary after this" He pondered for a moment, trying to think of what drink would meet her specific criteria. First, she would need to knock back the shot he handed her.

Cassie was hesitating, which made Lawrence smile even more. “Can you pour me a soda or something to chase it with?” He rolled his eyes, in a joking manner, "If you insist" He turned around and grab a can of soda from the fridge behind. He poured it out in a glass for Cassie and placed the glass on the bar. "Now are you ready?" It was a rhetorical question. Lawrence clinked his shot glass against Cassie's and knocked his back before she had the chance to change her mind. Alcohol one of the things that kept the urges to feed at bay, so he was always keen to drink. The burning sensation as the whiskey traveled down his throat was welcoming and gave him a warming sensation in the pit of his stomach.

The vampire set the shot glass back down and shrugged at Cassie's question regarding why he left New Orleans. "Here's the only place that would hire me without asking any questions" He responded. Everywhere else tended to ask him for ID or some proof of identification. He couldn't exactly hand over his driving license which said he was 103. "I fancied a change of scenery, and all the partying in New Orleans was getting exhausting" When he arrived in the vibrant city everything was so new and exciting, and he overindulged in both drinking and vampire-related antics, but after 50 years it was starting to get tiring. He decided to move to Mystic Falls for a break, plus he was trying to be a better vampire and not feed on humans all day every day. He was doing well so far, but he knew if he moved back to New Orleans he would easily slip into old habits. There were also times when he thought maybe was just lying to himself by saying he could be one of the good vampires. It would be so easy for him to 'fall off the wagon', but he felt it was less likely to happen in Mystic Falls. "I have also enrolled at the Salvator School near here, to finish my studies. You know the one for the supernatural kids?" He wasn't sure if Cassie had heard of the school or not. "What brings you to Mystic Falls?... Manage to cut ties with your coven?" Or had they loosen the reins enough for her to leave and come here, to a bar crawling with vampires.

"How about a blue lagoon? Vodka, Blue Curacao, and Lemonade" Lawrence asked, in response to her earlier request for another drink. It lacked the fruit but had lots of sugar in it and of course, it was blue.

CASSIE LUANNA

Lawrence shook his head when she mentioned vodka, with a face of disgust, "Vodka makes me feel queasy" He still drank it if it was offered to him, but to him, it tasted like paint. He chuckled when Cassie mentioned wine was extra gross and strong. "Yeah, no, red wine is a killer," He admitted. He hated the sluggish feeling that came with drinking the heavy red liquid.

The blushing cheeks didn't go unnoticed by Lawrence, and he smiled softly. What the witch was doing running around with a vampire was none of his business. He shook his head at her question, "No, he's not in today" He watched as she leaned forward like she had something important to tell him. "Is he… like, cool? Have you worked with him before?" Lawrence started to laugh. What did cool even equate to nowadays? He had only spoken with Lincoln a few times, so he couldn't really rate him on how 'cool' he was, "Worked with him a few times, yeah. He seems nice enough" He paused as he sorted out their next shot, "It seems you have a little soft spot for him"

A grin formed on Lawrence's face as Cassie sang out the words thank you. She certainly had a lot more energy and character than most of the customers he had seen recently. He knocked back the shot, collecting the two shots from the bar and putting them down in the sink underneath.

Lawrence's blue eyes lifted as she started to as she shifted in her seat, edging forward again as she rested on the bar against her hands. "You left New Orleans because you were tired of partying so much?" It did sound bizarre, but it was true. The drinking and late nights were getting too much for him after half a century. He needed a fresh start, but here he was. Drinking, staying up late, and partying all the same, but on a lesser scale. Mystic Falls would never match the vibe of New Orleans. "I'm not that old!" He exclaimed with a laugh, "104 this year, which is relatively young compared to some" He tipped the scale towards a baby vampire realistically. "I thought Mystic Falls would be a fresh start, but it seems the supernatural love here just as much as New Orleans" There was no escaping the beings.

Lawrence was attempting to hit the pause button on his life and finish his education, but that was becoming less and less likely by the day. As much as he loved the school, it was almost impossible to juggle a job and go to college. Also, bring restricted to just animal blood was taking its toll now. It had been nearly 12 months since he last drank human blood. He was slower and weaker than he should be for a vampire his age. Cassie was right, though; it was never too late to finish. He had eternity to finish his studies, and maybe now wasn't the right time. He noticed the witch's gaze drift over his arms and torso, causing him to stifle a grin.

Cassie's reply to his question was somewhat ominous, but he had a feeling she didn't want to indulge any information as to why she was in Mystic Falls. He shrugged carelessly, "Sounds exciting" Coven business was never usually exciting, though. It tended to be serious and business-like. He certainly didn't miss being bossed around by his Coven.

"Coming right up!" Lawrence set off to make her blue sugar requested beverage, as he glanced back towards her as she asked him if he was allowed to drink with her, "Lucky you chose a quiet night; otherwise I would get stolen, and you'd be left to drink alone" He threw a bit of extra vodka in for the blonde, along with the other ingredients. He grabbed a plastic spoon from the holder and stirred the drink. The vampire placed the glass down on the bar in front of Cassie. Lawrence leaned forward on the bar slightly, "Don't worry, I won't leave you drinking with..." He then lowered his voice slightly, "The weirdo vampires" He smiled as he stood back up straight. Granted, there could be some questionable figures that graced the Blood Den "Cash or card?"

CASSIE LUANNA

Lawrence chuckled gently as he watched Cassie's cheeks burn red, confirming what he'd stated. She did have a soft spot for the vampire, "Well, he seems like a nice guy" Seems being the operative word. He had only spoken to his co-worker for the briefest of moments, so he didn't want to assure Cassie he was a good person for him to then rip her throat apart. He would feel partly to blame for pushing the young witch towards her crush.

The vampire nodded to Cassie's request to start a tab, "It wouldn't be wise of you to skip out without paying the bill. The owners of this place are…" He paused for a moment, searching for the correct word, "Savage" He couldn't imagine Latimer glossing over someone running off without paying for their drinks. He turned back to the til and set up a running tab for the blonde. After a few seconds, he spun back around to face the blonde.

As always, he completely forgot a human's tolerance to alcohol was so low, so he was happy to keep Cassie's glass topped up, along with a few more shots. In fairness, he had only served her a handful of drinks when she announced her department to the bathroom. Blue eyes watched as the blonde got to her face and stumbled a little.

“I don’t feel so good.”

Lawrence didn't even have a chance to react to Cassie before she darted off towards the bathroom, albeit staggering as she did so. He leaned against the bar, sighing deeply. Despite the array of bars he had worked at over the past few decades, the vampire hated people being sick. It was a chain reaction. Hearing someone being sick, Lawrence would automatically feel sick as well.

Cassie was definitely being sick; he could hear the sound travel through the walls into the bar.

Perhaps it was best to let her get everything out— a fresh start. Lawrence grabbed a glass from nearby and filled it with water for when the blonde returned.

Casse had only been in the bathroom a few minutes when Lawrence stopped a pair of female vampires lurking near the bathroom, talking to each other.

"You should go in. The girl's trashed, she won't put up much of a fight" The pair laughed. Lawrence sighed again, as he ran his fingers through his hair, feeling worried for Cassie. The witch had signed the waiver, saying she was a free meal to anyone who wished to take her, and because of that, he shouldn't get involved in what was about to happen. That moral voice in his mind was telling him to get involved though. She was only young and had already died before. No one should have to die twice so young.

The brunette vampire stepped forward, making her way towards the bathroom door. Before any carnage could happen, Lawrence picked up the glass and headed over to her.

"Out of order, you'll need to go upstairs and use the bathroom in the Underground Club" The vampire announced as he drew closer to the girls, both of them glaring at him. "Well I don't want to go upstairs, I want to use this bathroom" The brunette went to push past Lawrence, but he stuck his arm across the door, his jaw tightening slightly, "Go find someone whos coherent" He paused, watching her, his body tense, ready "Let's not escalate this to unnecessary violence, just go upstairs" The brunette sighed, and turned away heading back towards her friend.

Lawrence pushed the door open, "Cassie? He called out, as he stepped inside the bathroom. It felt bizarre, almost unnatural, to be stood in the women's bathroom. He peered into one of the cubicles to find the young witch hanging over the bowl. He couldn't help but chuckle, "Here, I've brought you some water" He held the glass out for her to take, "Look, I know you're probably smart enough to know this, but you really shouldn't be hanging around in a bar like this" She had her magic, but it all depended on how well she could use it. When faced with a murderous vampire at 19, Lawrence panicked and ran. Thinking back there were so many things he could have done differently to stop the sequence of events that unfolded thereafter.

CASSIE LUANNA

There was that cabinet at home where his parent’s stored their grown drinks. His parents instructed him and his sister to keep out. Lawrence snuck into the cupboard once just to see what was actually in there. Curiosity got the better of him, but he found he hated the smell of the alcohol and the thought of taking a sip made his stomach turn. Phoebe on the other hand happily drank from the bottles.

During his human years, he drank alcohol once or twice. Again, out of curiosity. Telling himself maybe the taste wasn’t as bad as the smell, but it was for him.

His vampire years however we’re a whole different story. He drank to suppress the cravings and to have something warm sit in the pit of his stomach. Often forgetting mortals can’t handle their drink as well as vampires. Now poor Cassie was clutching onto the toilet bowl. He felt partly responsible for her sickly state.

Lawrence laughed as Cassie put up a peace sign. An indication she was okay. He handed her the glass of water, watching as she rinsed her mouth out, “Apparently if you yak you don’t get a hangover the next day” He shrugged, never having experienced a hangover. It was just something he heard humans talk about in the bar.

Nonetheless, he wasn’t here to lecture her, but at the same time, he didn’t want to see her getting killed in the name of fun. Lawrence had seen it too many times before. People seek a thrill and end up drained in an alleyway. A problem he was part of back in New Orleans but wanted to prevent in Mystic Falls.

The vampire leaned against the bathroom stall door as the young witch continued. He nodded in response to her comment about the harvest girl shit. A ritual he never agreed with but it wasn’t his place to say anything. He was a vampire, they were witches. Sworn enemies to some. He exhaled slowly as Cassie mentioned that he should understand where she was coming from. Here she was preaching to a person who spent 50 years in one city because he craved somewhere to call home and feared loneliness. He hadn’t exactly lived his life, but he was hoping to change that.

“Getting revenge won’t change anything. You still died... that’ll never change. Coming from a person who spent decades hung up on the fact his coven and parents abandoned him it’s better if you just move on. What's happened has happened. Make the most of life otherwise you’ll look back and realise you’ve wasted years on something that was never worth your time” He had spent decades wrapped up in his desire to get revenge, or discover a cure, or even to find a way back home. If he accepted his fate from the outset life would have been easier for him. It would have saved him years of crippling emotional pain. The type of that pain that would consume him, as if he were drowning in his own emotions. Running his tongue over the bottom lip, he glanced over at Cassie, “You’ve been given a second chance at life. Don’t let anyone tell you what to do with it… unless it’s me telling you to stay away from this bar” A soft smile formed on his lips.


CASSIE LUANNA