Very Emerson, the way you reveal your soul.

After leaving New Orleans, without his brother, Stefan mostly sets about the task of blending in with the allied forces. He isn't bad at it - he's had many years of practice after all, and while none of them are a substitute for Damon, who knows him better than anyone, and had actually seen like he wanted to make amends and move forward instead of being trapped in the past, it's enough. It's being out among people and not feeling the need to manipulate or destroy them.

He feels like he's starting to feel like a person again. It's been a long time since he's felt something like that so he's trying to revel in it as much as he can - though not too much. Too much indulgence might make him forget the dangers that come when he forgets restraint and he never wants to become that person again.

He does, however, make frequent use of the various bars and officer's clubs that they visit on their way to ship out, hanging out and drinking with his friends and applauding loudly when the talent (usually girls) hits the stage in full swing. Most of the time the acts pass without notice, but one night he's in the middle of a bourbon when a very familiar voice takes the stage. His head picks up almost instantly, turning towards he stage with wide eyes as he takes her in.

"Diana?"

[Continued here]

[Continued from here.]

Ten years, as promised, and Stefan doesn't forget. Evening of the first night of the World's Fair has him standing on the bridge facing the statue of Saint Louis, hearing the faint sounds of revelry in the distance. There is so much he wants to do and see, but a promise is a promise, and he isn't going to abandon his date for the evening.

Provided, of course, that she remembers and elects to attend, but that's another matter entirely. For however long it takes, he will wait.

The past decade hasn't been a particularly easy one. The absence of his brother is starting to weigh on him, and while he wishes he knew where Damon is or what he is doing, he also knows that Damon promised him an eternity of misery. That is a promise that he knows Damon fully intends to keep, no matter how sorry Stefan is. He can only hope that he can keep being better, top prove to him that he isn't the burden that Damon believes to be saddled with.

Damon left because Stefan couldn't control himself. Clearly allowing Lexi to teach him control and prove that to Damon is the only way to try and bridge that gap between them.

All the same, he stands and waits for Diana, the first thing he's been excited for in almost ten years. If she doesn't arrive on the first night, he'll continue to wait for every night until she does arrive. Hopefully it will be sooner rather than later, though. There is so much of the fair to see.

[Continued here.]

Stefan lives his life in a haze of blood, with little regard for the things around him. He dances to the tune of the compelled fingers and visits war zones to feed without getting caught. The world is more beautiful, more intense than it ever was when he was human and he just wants to revel in it without all the complications.

He sneaks into the battle camp late at night, dressed in the makings of a soldier and following his nose to the scent of blood. It won't take him long to find some unwitting victim, someone on the edge of death who's death will go unnoticed, but odds are, it won't be long before he doesn't really care anymore. Someone healthy means someone he can play with for longer, compel into dancing or playing or whatever else his mind can come up with.

They're only human, after all. He is so much more than they will ever be.

But for now -- he feasts.

[Continues here.]