Wouldn't you like to know?

“Yea, yeah actually grew up here, not in the quarter itself but not far enough away that I would have to drive. ” he paused holding up 2 fingers to the bartender, an old friend he went to school with, and she poured them each 3 fingers of bourbon. “What about this friend, they from here?”

“Pleasure, I’m sure.” Not that she knew for sure, this was a random man she’d never met before, she was honestly a little cautious. “No, I just got here…” How did she explain she had died and been brought back? You didn’t. “I take it from your question, you haven’t been here that long either.” 

“you’d be right,” he winked, teasing with a chuckle. “ah, well, that makes two of us. it’s been a long time since i’ve been here. you know how things change,” he smiled. “if you’re interested, we could check one out together,” he offered with a little shrug.

“Well, you’re certainly in the right place. New Orleans is full of bars,” Elijah hummed, voice even as his head cocked to the side just a touch, assessing the other male where he stood. He supposed indulging the request would be entertaining enough for the night. “Really, all you need to do is pick one, and they’ll probably satisfy the requirement of a good drink. But I do have my favorites, if you want my specific recommendation. There’s one not too far away I can show you to.”

“so it would seem,” he chuckled. “and yes, i would like a favorite. anyone can pour liquid into a glass, but the art of making a good drink, is, well... just that... an art,” he chuckled. “i’d be much obliged if you’d give your opinion,” he smiled.

    Coming back was odd and she wondered if this was how davina or kol felt like when they came back once before . Three times for davina . She wanted to find her daughter but as far as she knew they were in mystic falls . How many years has it been since she was last alive ? So many questions , she had hoped to find someone she knew at the bar . At least it was an excuse to get a drink and figure out what she will do and find out if she was back for good or was this just temporary . 

     “—Sure .” Hayley nodded towards the stranger who stopped her . “ I was actually on my way to the bar right now if you want to follow . “ She suggested . “ I’m Hayley , by the way .”

she looked fairly deep in thought, though he was glad she was directing him towards a bar. he certainly needed it. “nice to meet you, hayley. i’m deke,” he said with a smile as he nodded for her to keep walking. “you seem like you know your way around this place. least better’n me,” he laughed. “been here long?”

“exception can be fun too,” she added playfully as she walked in front of him before turning around walking backwards with a smirk of her own. “avalon. what about you? tall, dark, and handsome?” 

“very true, sweetheart,” deke grinned. “friends call me deke, but i’m not opposed to tall, dark, and handsome comin’ from a pretty little lady like yourself.”

“Luca, pleasure im sure.” He smirked as they entered the bar. “Yea bourbon and tequilas are my poisons of choice.” He paused “ what brings you to nola”

Her grin grew wider at his suggestion, head nodding just a touch. “That sounds perfect,” she hummed, chewing on her lower lip absentmindedly as they walked down the street. “No, actually. I only got here recently - but I always make it a point to do some exploring when I get to a new place, so it never takes me long to find somewhere I like. I call it a gift,” she emphasized her sentence with a bit of a dramatic, pleasant sigh, her head turning enough for her to look up at him easily. “I love this city though. Absolutely gorgeous. And the people I meet only seem to be making it better.” She glanced further down the street, tiny form stretching up on her toes as a pleased sound escaped her. “There it is, up there. Best bar I’ve found in my time here, at least.”

“a gift, indeed,” deke chuckled, eyes on her as they walked. “yeah, there’s a hell of a lot of history here... and i’m glad i could make it better for ya,” he said with a little wink. another chuckled as she all but squeaked. “lookin’ forward to it,” he said, opening the door to the bar for her and following her inside. “what’s your poison, darlin’?” he asked as they approached the bar.

“i haven’t found one yet but i’m sure there’s always an exception to the rule, right?” she asked with a tilt of her head. she’d been there a few times, though she wasn’t really that old in vampire years. she chuckled and nodded. “definitely. they’re my favorite.” 

“usually is, yeah,” he nodded with a little smirk. he hummed at her response, tongue licking over his lips as they walked. he glanced over at her and gave her a smile, “pretty little thing like you got a name?”

Luca smiled at the older man, “you asked the right person, come with me” he clapped the older man on the back as he started walking towards Rousseau “this place has the best bourbon, pretty good mixed drinks too. And its run by a family so its got that nice cozy feel.

“perfect,” deke smiled. “i do love a good bourbon... name’s deke. nice t’meet ya,” he said as they walked towards the place. “cozy and bourbon... great combination. you drink a lot of bourbon?” he asked with a smirk.

avalon had always enjoyed wandering around big cities. she liked finding the fun places that tourists didn’t take the time to find. she turned when she saw then man and his charming smile before raising her eyebrow at him. “it’s new orleans. is there a place with bad drinks?” she asked playfully. “but i might know this little hole in the wall that i found the other night.” 

“well, i don’t know,” he chuckled. “it’s my first time here,” he lied with a smile. truthfully, he’d been here years and years ago, but so many things had changed, so many advancements in technology made... it was almost unrecognizable from the new orleans he’d once known. “holes in the wall are the best places if you ask me,” he said, gesturing for her to lead the way.

the redhead smirked a little, nodding her head then at his question. “yeah i’m sure, i’m twenty-seven. but if i look questionable to being old enough to drink i guess i’m doing something right.” rhiannon mused, taking another drink from her beer. “you work for this school thing?” she said, talking with her hands as they moved around to motion around the room. 

Winter perked up a touch at the question from the man, her head cocking to the side. She hadn’t dared go back to the bar she’d flirted her way into the first night she’d been in New Orleans, mostly afraid of seeing the man she’d met there and realizing that he had no intention of calling - but showing someone the bar was the perfect excuse, right? At least, that’s what she’d tell herself. “I know just the place,” she offered, pushing a few stray blonde strands of hair out of her face before she was nodding towards the end of the street. “I can show you? It’s actually pretty close.”

“Yes, I suppose it can be.” She rathered it loud, more chaotic it was just how she’d lived so many years, but slowly she was settling down. “Sure, I have nothing better to do.” She turned on her heel and started making her way towards the pub. “I’m Nora, and you are?”   

“Nice to meet ya, Nora. Friends call me Deke,” he smiled as they walked. “You been around here long?” he asked, making casual conversation.

Nora had found herself wondering the streets of the city. This was a strange place but over all it was lovely. She was stopped and eyed the other, she’d been wondering around enough to find a couple places. “Well, there is a pub down the street if you’d prefer quiet.”

deke was always torn between absolute chaos and deafening silence, but given as he’d just endured chaos (and was that a twinge of regret for hurting tobias?), he decided on the latter. perhaps not so deafening if he could help it. “sometimes quiet can be good,” deke smiled sweetly. “care to show me where it’s at? i’ll buy ya a round as a thank you?”