when life is a little bit off

[lockwouldnt]

[Sometimes, normal, boring life is scarier than the supernatural. Tyler could handle big, nasty vampires; he could handle his inner wolf; and he could even handle his best friend's poor life choices. (Jeremy never learnt his lesson. Ever.)

What Tyler couldn't handle was returning to Mystic Falls, sans Jeremy, to finalize paperwork. He was 22 now - technically, he should've been a college graduate. He should've had a degree, be it International Relations or Sociology or something that proved he had potential. Instead, he had wandered between cities with Jeremy, before settling upon Savannah, Georgia as a home base.

It wasn't a perfect life, but it had been a stable one, right up until he gets that call from his family's trustee. As the only living heir to the Lockwood estate, he had to sign some papers and finalize his options for his future. In person, no less.

Once the meeting concludes, Tyler finds himself wandering into the Grill again, partially in search of a familiar face but also partially to figure out just how much has changed since he'd last been in town. Maybe... maybe things've settled down a little. After all, it's not like the Mikaelsons care much for this town anymore.]

Comments

[perilousness]

[Nothing ever truly changes in Mystic Falls, at least not when it comes to the supernatural. Caroline continues her education in the years after Tyler leaves, in the years after losing her best friend. But nothing much actually changes. People come, people go, but there's always some mess to clean up. There's always some trace of magic, some big bad supernatural being that wants to screw up every good thing they try and build for themselves.

But through it all, Caroline perseveres, because that's what she knows how to do. By day she's working on graduate studies, but there never fails to be something up. A new coven is the latest drama, but one that is, for the moment, being handled.

She hears through the grapevine that a certain someone is in town. It isn't hard to guess where he would be. So that night, dressed in a white dress and a clutch, she enters the grill and spots the familiar figure leaning on the bar. He looks much the same, a little older and definitely like his older brother. It's good to see him, she admits to herself.]

Long time, [Comes the voice behind him.]

[lockwouldnt]

[He turns, almost instinctively, and can't help the smile tugging on his face. Tyler's slightly taller than she might remember - his final growth spurt kicked in! - but he's taking care of himself.

She hasn't aged a day (and of course, she wouldn't, but it doesn't hit him until he's seen her face-to-face).] --No see. Hey, stranger. [He motions for the bartender to bring him his usual drink - and this time, one for Caroline too.] Looks like this place hasn't changed a bit.

[It's a slight lie: the neighborhood kids've grown up, and there's a new set of high-schoolers shooting darts and playing pool on the other side of the Grill. Doesn't really feel like that was them, only a few years ago.]

Ooooops

[perilousness]

[She has moved on with the times-- as much as she can. The teens don't bother her, mostly because she used to be them. It makes her feel good though, like life still goes on. So she doesn't pay them any mind, already pretty sure at least one is drunk by now. Her attention is on him. It's been awhile, and a familiar face feels pretty good.]

Had to hear it around town that you were in. [Care moves in for a hug. Despite everything they had been through a lot, and while neither one had really been in each other's life since the Klaus incident, that doesn't mean that she ever stopped caring about him.]

i saw nothing c:

[lockwouldnt]

[He returns that hug, wrapping his arms around her tightly as he allows himself to breathe in her scent - that hasn't changed a day either. While he's not sure exactly where they stand, they've been friends for far too long, and well, he kind of values those friendships more.

Apologetically:] It was a really last-minute thing. Like, I had to book it here from Savannah last-minute.

[The Lockwood trustee was incompetent. Tyler was so, so certain of it.] If I'd gotten more notice, I swear I would've called you sooner.

[perilousness]

[She doesn't seem bummed that he didn't tell her, but it's also Tyler. It's not like there isn't some serious history there. She's sure he would have been content if she didn't search him out. But then that's Caroline for him. Seeing anyone else from high school is like a shock of nostalgia. It isn't that she doesn't love her life. She's done a lot for the town, working on her graduate studies now. Regardless of what has happened between them, he has been a big part of her life. They ran in similar circles until he left.

Caroline smiles back at him, straightening a little after their hug. It's written on her face how happy she is to see him.]

Nothing too bad, I hope. How long are you in for?

[lockwouldnt]

[Her happiness is so, so contagious. Tyler can't help grinning in return, even the circumstances for his return were less than ideal. Maybe he could deal with his trustee's incompetence for a little longer.

After all, she had bothered to hunt him down. That had to mean something, right?]

Nah, just some paperwork for the estate. It's taking a while to process, so I'm in for about a week. Any longer, though, and Jeremy'll start making terrible life choices.

[His roommate / vampire hunter in crime tended to think with his libido and not his brain, which made the past few years a little adventurous - and also a little awkward. Tyler had seen one too many blissful dead vampires to think he could leave the kid home for long.

Hastily, he adds:] What've you been up to lately? Kicking grad school's ass yet?

[perilousness]

[The mention of Jeremy throws her off for half a moment, the thought of her best friend giving her pause. But Caroline's glad that at least her brother is being looked after.]

How is he? I bet he's doing great out there. [Less supernatural things to contend with-- Tyler aside. Still she wants to know that he's okay.] Is everything alright with the Manor? If I knew something was happening, I would have checked up on it.

[Of course she's a little worried now, and there's a reason why she hasn't been up to the Lockwood Estate in awhile. But his question about her diflects the worry for a moment. After all she does get to talk about herself.]

I'm good. Busy-- you know there's always something. But yeah, I'm getting my masters in theory now. It's great. Really great. You? [She isn't going to ask if he ever finished college, because that would be rude, but for all the hard work she had to do to get him at least thinking about college, she's hoping he has.]

[lockwouldnt]

[Someone has to look after Gilbert Jr, and since Alaric was falling woefully behind on parenting duty... Tyler got promoted to cool older brother. He doesn't mind - caring for Jeremy's a great excuse to not study or "dream big." Which, incidentally, is the reason he was called back home.] He's doing fantastic, yeah. He's gonna work for HerInteractive - the Nancy Drew company - as soon as he graduates.

The Manor's fine, I promise. It's more with me than the actual place.

[A masters in theory? Tyler's not too sure what that is, but it sounds like Caroline - and also just like her to do super well too. His smile falters as the question's turned back to him.

Savannah's a great city, but its academic scene is lacking. Tyler couldn't finish a degree there. (Or so he tells himself, when he's instead working in app development or one of their more artistically-inclined fields.) After a moment, he decides for a half-truth.] That's great! I've... been helping a couple of start-ups with their legal paperwork. Small stuff, nothing too big.

[There's a few start-ups in Savannah that needed legal expertise, and Jeremy recced Tyler to them - so while he's not a lawyer, he knows enough of the loopholes to help them navigate the app landscape. But one of his conditions for inheriting the estate was a proper education - and without it, it's gonna go to someone else. Great, Mom. Thanks for thinking that "it was an easy thing for him to fix."]

Sorry, hiatused for a bit

[perilousness]

That's good-- that's really good. [Caroline nods, genuinely glad things that are going well. For both of them. She wants to ask more, personal things, but she knows she needs to take this slowly. There are too many people missing in her life now, and she wants to reconnect in this moment. Even if he's only in for a week or so.]

I'm so glad things are going well-- Manor legality aside. If you need anything while you're here, don't hesitate, okay?

it's all good ❤

[lockwouldnt]

[They've been friends for most of his life. Of course he wouldn't hesitate - she had once been his best friend, even if he hadn't said so out loud. He manages a smile, accepting the drinks as they finally come around.

He holds out her glass almost shyly, as if it's something new, rather than something he'd done for years.] Of course. I don't think there's anything now, but give it a couple of days.

This is still Mystic Falls. I figured I wasn't leaving town without something going horribly wrong.

[perilousness]

[Certainly nothing has changed with Mystic Falls, and him bringing that up has her exhaling a small laugh. It's very true that there's no shortage of something always happening. Currently there is another coven that they are keeping their eyes on, though nothing notable has happened. Yet.

There's always a yet.]

It's been a little quiet lately, but we could always use your help around here.

[lockwouldnt]

Of course. [He doesn't even miss a beat. Good ol' Mystic Falls. Trouble doesn't know when to quit, and he figures - he grew up here. The least he could do is show some hometown pride and kick some serious ass.]

Get me up to speed a little, and I'll see what I can do. I can't look at paperwork all week, you know?