Founders Kick-Off Party: I'm dropping the "Day" because cripes, we've been at these Founders' Festivities for over six months. I'm leaving "Kick-Off" there, only so we can discern one party from the next (and, of course, so you can mock it). While there's no place Damon would rather be, Stefan would rather be anywhere but. "I liked you better when you hated everybody." Damon smiles at that as he surveys the crowd. "I still do. I just love that they love me!" Hee. Damon then needles his obviously uncomfortable brother about cravings and urges. He adds "Is the whisky you've been drinking all day doing it's job?" so we'll be prepared when this stone-cold-sober Stefan appears three sheets to the wind, five minutes from now. Damon also gives Stefan a little dose of truth. "We are who we are... Pretending doesn't change that." Stefan cripes that nothing would make Damon happier than to see him give in. Since Damon just thinks it's inevitable, there's nothing more for them to discuss, and Stefan takes off to find Elena. Damon calls after him, "Don't embarrass me, young man."

Stefan grabs someone else's drink, disposes of the swizzle stick and swills it down. Meanwhile, Mayor Lockwood and Ty are speaking privately with Kelly and Matt. It seems that if your kid dies, you get a special invite to Founders Events and one-on-one time with the Big Dawg. Kelly, Matt and I are not impressed. Once it's over, Kelly stalks off in search of a drink. She should have stayed with Matt, because once his father is off to schmooze, Ty returns with an entire bottle. Matt warns Tyler that his father will beat him down. Matt has a sudden change of heart and starts chugging. This ought to be good.

Elena finds Stefan... drunk. He explains about booze taking the edge off and tells her to enjoy his inebriation while it lasts, pointing out that drunk Stefan doesn't have to be brow-beaten into dancing. The problem is, nobody else is dancing and the music is very, grown up party mellow. Stefan goes off to get the DJ to change things up. Kelly tells Elena it's futile. Carol Lockwood (who isn't on camera this week) has issued her mellow-sound stylings edict and that's that. The DJ wouldn't budge, even with the promise of a $20.00 bribe and a "date." Oh, so skanky. Of course Stefan lays the thrall on the guy, and the jam -- she is pumped up. Kelly heads to the dance floor. Stefan follows and takes her for a whirl. This is all contrived to give Damon a little alone time with their girlfriend. "Have I entered an alternate universe where Stefan is fun?" Elena just wants to know if Stefan's going to be okay. Damon: "Eventually.... One way or another." Eek.