"The only edible item in this bloody cabin is popcorn. When was the last time you went grocery shopping?"

"Uhhh, maybe...two or three weeks ago? Maybe even four... I don't remember, to be honest."

"Goodness. Well, I'm going to make a run to the shops tomorrow. Surprised that a college girl can't do the bare minimum to fend for herself."

"Oh please. I can take care of myself. I've just been so busy going through all these notes and trying to find out why your relatives are thirsty for my blood. Plus I've been practicing, I'm gonna be the Jimi Hendrix of my generation, just you wait and see."

"Ah, right. Is that why your fingers still refuse to cooperate and play a decent G chord?"

"Hilarious."

"Did you know I saw him play live in Stockholm in 1969? I better get free passes to your show, whenever it is, being the ever-benevolent coach I am."

"I keep forgetting you're like two hundred years old, and no, you're rich as tits so you better pay up."

"A hundred and forty years old, to be precise."

"Uh huh. Still old."

"And still hungry. I should have stopped at a restaurant on the way over here if I had known that you're living in squalor."

"My abode is perfectly clean and tidy, it's only missing a bit of food."

"Missing a lot of food."

"Fine. If all you wanna do is complain, why don't you go ahead and do something about it?"

"Because I just got here and I don't want to leave!"

*pause*

"...what?"

"This used to be my home too, you know, until I had to sacrifice it to a non-witch such as yourself. I haven't been here in weeks so I thought to...visit it for a while."

"So, let me get this straight. You miss... the cabin?"

"Like I said, hadn't seen it in weeks and didn't want the poor thing to feel neglected."

*pause*

"It doesn't."

"Sorry?"

"The cabin. I mean. It doesn't feel neglected. It is very... appreciative of all you've done."

"Oh."

"Yeah, it tends to get lonely, really lonely, in fact. It's had a bad history with loneliness, this cabin. So, it's grateful for whatever company it gets. Even if said company is in the form of an old ass vampire."

"Well then. I'm glad that I could be here."

"It's glad you're here too."

*long, intense pause*

"So, I'm getting kind of hungry as well. Would you like salted popcorn or salted popcorn?"

"Tough choice, but I'm afraid I'll have to go with salted."

"Wise decision."

"Thank you."

"Oh by the way. The, uh, cabin would like to know how long you're here for? Ya'know, just being a good person and conveying information, is all."

"I should be heading out by night-fall. Alex thinks I'm still in Peru and she's dreadfully impatient when she wants something done."

"Hmm, right. We wouldn't want to upset your surrogate mother."

"Hilarious. I might be back sooner than yo- I mean, sooner than the cabin expects."

"That's great! I'll be sure to have more than a few kernels to offer you next time."

"And maybe a lovely song to serenade me with, perhaps?"

"Slow your roll, 'coach'. Rome wasn't built in a day."

*significant, comfortable pause*

"This popcorn is actually delicious."

"Anything can taste gourmet when you're starving."

"What can I say, I'm a simple girl with simple needs."

"Nevertheless, I'll drop off a couple of groceries tomorrow. Maybe when I'm in Mystic Falls for more than a day I can cook for us."

"I might be biased, but I don't think your cooking can top this popcorn."

"Is that a challenge?"

"Maybe, maybe not."

"It is very un-lady like to laugh with food in your mouth."

"God, stop! Don't make me choke on this popcorn, don't need something else try to kill me."

"Which reminds me, here's this month's stock. It may not be food but at least these pills help you out."

"Thanks..."

*pause*

"Is something wrong?"

"What? N-no. Just... waiting for when this is all over."

"I'm sorry, this is indirectly my fault."

"No. If it wasn't for you I'd be probably strapped to a table or dead right now. I just get the feeling I'm just delaying the inevitable. Something big is going to happen and it's not good."

"You need all the time you can get, collecting answers while you can. We'll get to the bottom of this. I'm not going to let the armory hurt you."

"...thank you."

*they look at each other, she smiles and shyly looks down; he gazes on and sees something in her that he was blind to before*

*phone buzzes*

"Oh my gosh it's Caroline! I've been trying to get her number for hours, she's been so busy with the kids and work." *pause* "Um, do you mind?"

"Wha- no, not at all. Go ahead."

*she hurriedly moves to the small porch outside, her voice animated as she talks to her best friend*

*he shakes his head in amusement as he finishes the last remnants of the popcorn. it is one of the most memorable meals he will have in his absurdly long lifetime*

fin.