Well I lock my hands behind my head

[historyrepeater]

Who: Stefan Salvatore, Damon Salvatore
What: Damon takes the reins regarding Stefan's blood problem.
When: Day 9, Route C
Where: Damon's cabin
Rating: PG-13 for language quite possibly

Comments

[miseternity]

After a day spent out on the decks of the cruiseliner, Damon returned to his cabin with a heavy heart. Not because of any shortcomings of the entertainment, but rather because he knew what was awaiting him inside. His hand hesitated on the handle, but he pushed it open and stepped through the threshold, eyes scanning the room.

Panic sparked at first when he realized Stefan was nowhere to be found, but the rest of his senses caught up with his vision -- he could smell and hear him outside on the deck. He slammed the door to make sure his brother would hear him, turning the deadbolt and walking into the living area. From the mini-bar, he grabbed a bottle of something malty (strawberry? watermelon? whatever, it was pink), popping it open and going to join his brother out on their private deck.

"One hell of a vacation," he commented in a chipper, airy tone that implied a degree of carefreeness but his brother would surely catch onto the way it was masking something annoyed and stressed.

[historyrepeater]

Stefan heard the door open, including the slam after, but he chose not to turn around. Damon would be happy to learn he had played the part of good, rehabbing brother by staying away from anyone and everyone. Piper was probably worried. Maybe. He assumed they were friends. And he hadn't spoken to Jack since they discussed the possibility of their ... arrangement. But, he had to do this. This was his responsibility. Keeping others safe.

"And I thought we'd had it easy," he said, no lightness in his own tone. By having it easy, he had meant they hadn't dealt with a Kraken, mutiny or that tiny alien creature he wanted to drain - and that had nothing to do with his ... problem.

"Everyone enjoying themselves ... on the island?"

[miseternity]

Damon couldn't help it -- he snorted derisively at the word 'easy.' Nothing about what Stefan had done could get this little getaway filed under the category of easy things. Painstaking, perhaps. Complex and frustrating, definitely. Potentially ruining. Never easy. But, he didn't say anything more on it, instead taking a sip from his drink.

"Oh, they're having a blast. The ones who don't have gaping neck wounds, anyway. I figured if you were allowed to go all Helter Skelter on Lana's neck, I might as well have some fun." He kept his face straight, completely serious, with no indicator that he was exaggerating. "Quid pro quo, little brother."

It seemed like the safest way to bait Stefan into admitting that he'd been out and about enough to see that there was no real damage done.

[historyrepeater]

"I don't think you have a leg to stand on right now once you jump off that high horse of yours," he said, turning. A switch had been hit, perhaps it was the very condescending way Damon referred to Stefan as his little brother. As if Stefan hadn't known. Stefan hadn't known any better. He was just being Stefan. "I may have bitten Lana but then, who was biting Lilah?"

Yes. That had been the drop point. He would've bitten into Lilah and then compelled it away but he saw those two tiny holes all ready there in her neck under that scarf.

"I couldn't bring myself to bite your midnight snack." It was his way of blaming Damon for this.