Though it was not something I chose to dwell on often, the immense amount of time I had spent in bars as of late was becoming troublesome. Much to my (un)delight, business meetings found themselves held in those sorts of establishments as appropriate locations, something I wasn't terribly sure I approved of. I had a love for a good scotch, a good whiskey... A good time, yes. But bars? There was something distinctly ... sticky about their environment that I loathed and often felt the need to scrub away in a scalding shower post-loitering inside their muggy walls. My distaste was an affliction that had become chronic, infecting me from all kinds of sources. Bars, ignorance, children masquerading as pub hosts... You name it, it has more likely than not bothered me at one point in time. The young woman apprehensively leading me to the office of the owner of the establishment seemed to be the point of origin for my current infection, though it was more of a humored one than something viral. As she all but trembled in her boots, satisfaction wrangled my features, illuminating my crystalline eyes with mischief. Damon might know the expression well as it was routinely characteristic, synonymous with my general existence though his redheaded compatriot, seated at a less than comfortable and distinctly intimate distance from him, may not have understood this. For her benefit, the displeasure dissipated from my eyes though they narrowed at Damon's exclamation that the girl was 21.

She was not!

"Are you sure you don't have that number problem where you swap them? She's 12. You should hire someone new to do your background checks."

Matter of factly did I offer those words, waving sardonically at the girl, Emily as she walked past, absolutely biting my tongue to keep from asking if she was going to see Frozen on Ice at the local auditorium or play house. Or whatever. Perhaps her 'I Love Taylor Swift' shirt was merely worn beneath her uniform. Instead of watching her waltz down the hall with a little too much haste, I turned my gaze to my vampiric friend who looked content with my appearance and my investigation of the business he had begun with the help of his redheaded friend who - ... It would seem, is filled with some kind of warm welcoming towards me. I wouldn't have expected delight as a consequence of my presence, though it was more than accepted and appreciated with a softening of my own features as they lit with something other than the scathing blaze that had been lit behind my eyes. Our shared experience and initial meeting had been less than desirable, though it had been then that I earned something of trust and respect for the young vampire.

The environment of their office remains jovial and light hearted, especially when the Shadow climbs onto the desk located in the room, and begins some kind of bizarre attempt to look through anything on the shelves, irritably sweeping whatever objects might be placed there onto the floor. Without paying the behavior much mind as it was vaguely characteristic, at this point, of the ethereal pain in my ass, I turned my attention to the offer of a drink, nodding my acceptance at the mention of bourbon or whiskey. Either spirit would do, though my Shadow seems to prefer the latter by looming precariously over Damon's shoulder, standing on the desk chairs shadow and spinning in a fashion that allowed the real chair to move. With practiced lack of attention paid to the shadow, I unceremoniously seated myself in an open chair to accept both my drink and Isolt's greeting.

"Actually, I'd prefer blood. I've become newly accepting of your culture and I feel as if I should assimilate."

My words were wrapped with sarcasm relatively customary to my voice. Surely Isolt would appreciate the reference, though teasing; to my positive reception of her and Damon's existence as before I had only regarded their species with voracious contempt.

"It is even better to see you," I replied, genuine friendliness infiltrating what had previously been a darkly humored voice. "I believe, Isolt, you owe me a drink. What better time and place to collect my prize than your establishment?"