( Elena for her part has kept her box close. She refuses to open it, but if it's going to keep appearing everywhere then she's going to keep it with her. This way, she can keep an eye on it, and not be compelled to open it. Of course, the jury's out on whether she'll give in. For now, she's the stubborn Elena everyone remembers. Of course, it's annoying carrying a box everywhere. She'll tire of it eventually, and then wake up the next day with it on her bedside table. Because of this inevitability, this is the devil she knows. Carting around a big box.

Hell, it's smaller than a family of caskets.

She sees him from afar first, but, deciding what to say, if to say anything is taken out of her hands because he looks in her direction. There's a lot to say, and somehow the opposite. Instead of freezing in place, Elena steels herself and makes her way to the bar. She sees his box then, and looks down at hers. )

As far as gifts go, this is a relentless one. ( Not that she thinks anything about being here is a gift. ) Can I join you, or is that seat reserved for when you finally open the box?

( It's easier to make light of it, to refer to the box and not the past few months of their lives. They can get into that. )