Shaken and Stirred: A Pub ~August 29, 2025~

Proper description in the original post... though this happens before that.

It is a beauty of time travel.

Or of lazy people who don't want to describe a place again.

Whatever XD.

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Jackie opened the door to the pub, not waiting for Darien to come in, and sat on the bar stool.

Darien sighed and sat next to her, on another identical bar stool.

"A couple of fire-whiskeys here mate," Jackie said to the bartender. Once placed on their place, Jackie turned to Darien. "Alright, why don't you tell me exactly what happened?"

Darien remained where he was, facing the bar.

He sipped at his firewhisky.

"Why should I tell you exactly what happened?"

"Well I just bought you a drink for one thing." Jackie said rather pleased with herself. "I could also just get you really drunk and make you give me the memory, but I prefer that you talk to me." Jackie smiled at him sweetly.

Darien glared. "I went to talk to her. We fought again. End of story."

He downed the remaining firewhisky.

"What did she tell you?" Jackie persisted. "Hey another round here!"

"I don't know." Darien glowered at the bar.

"I thought-I thought she was implying something but, she just wasn't."

"What did you think she was implying?" Jackie asked drinking her own whiskey.

"It doesn't matter." Darien replied, sullenly gulping down some more firewhisky.

"Bet I can guess," Jackie said. "I bet its about the baby isn't it?"

Darien downed his second glass of Firewhisky. "Maybe."

"Stop drinking those so fast!" Jackie said gesturing the bartender for more. "I am only a mere healer after all."

"What did she say?"

Darien rolled his eyes, but merely sipped at his next firewhisky rather than inhaling it as usual.

"She just-She said she wanted me there when it was born and all, then when I asked her, she started talking about some promise to Nick...So I figured...But Casillas only found it funny. ...Made me look like a fool." Darien snarled, taking another gulp of alcoholic beverage.

"He isn't an it... he." Jackie corrected. "Hmm... that does seems odd doesn't it?"

"Whatever. It's not my concern." Darien took another gulp of firewhisky.

"It does. I didn't realise she hated me enough to make me humiliate myself."

During this time of Darien's self pitying, Jackie asked for a glass of water... which she proceeded to throw in the direction of Darien's head.

"Bloody hell!" Darien shook his head, to clear the water from his eyes. "What was that for?!"

"Slow down," Jackie reproached, "You're going to drink yourself silly."

"And besides - I want to make sure you listening to me," Jackie explained.

"Anyway, so let me get this straight, Diana told you one thing, while Nicolas told you another... Diana's you're ex-wife obviously you still have feelings for her, and she for you, while Nicolas well he's just a boat load of fun ain't he? And you're believing the one who doesn't like you very much and would probably say anything to get under your skin?"

Darien ignored her advice and downed the remainder of his third drink.

"Whose side are you on?"

"Don't know yet," Jackie said drinking her drink, "I think I might be going on Nick's side to be honest, you seem like a right idiot to me."

Darien glared at her, before requesting another firewhisky from the barman.

"Good. Cos there's no way I'm going to see any of them again." He hissed. "I'm going home." He downed his remaining firewhisky and began to slip off the stool.

"And if he is your son?" Jackie inquired.

"He isn't." Darien's voice was cold. "I thought we'd established that."

"If you say so," Jackie said raising her glass to him.