As weird as the date was going, Jack had to admit that it was probably the best one he'd ever been on. He didn't feel the need to watch what he said outside of being overheard, and none of the other bar patrons appeared to care about his presence. It was a nice change from his last handful of dates with Augie.

Jack's eyes drifted around the bar and landed on a girl at a nearby table. He had trouble pulling his attention away from her and the bright green Jell-O in front of her. There was something off with the scene.

She poked at the lime green gelatin that wobbled on her plate, and Jack narrowed his eyes at what appeared to be a goldfish trapped within. She looked normal enough: pale, skinny, kind of pretty with a long nose and what looked like greasy hair. He pulled his eyes away as she stuck a straw into the wiggling green mass.

"Am I allowed to ask?" Jack whispered, tilting his head toward the girl.

Kieran glanced over then sneered as she began noisily slurping up her Jell-O. "A Nixe who's wandered away from her river," he said, loud enough for her to hear.

Jack shrank in on himself as the slurping grew louder. "You don't gotta be an ass about it." He pulled out his phone and stared at it before giving in. "How do you spell that?" he whispered.

"She's a river spirit. Relatively harmless to you," Kieran replied, smiling. "Not universally well-liked, but neither are my sort."

Ghosts, vampires, and river spirits. Did he want to know what else was out there? And considering his blood, did he count as one of them? It was an unsettling thought that he was part of a community he'd never known about.

"Neat," Jack said. If she was listening in, then he hoped it was taken as a compliment. "Say, uh… Is this place people like me friendly? Like, could I come here and not be harassed? In more ways than one. It's just everyone's kinda minding their own business, and everywhere I've been lately is more about the mingling. And I like the waitress's vibe. She's friendly and goes away."

Kieran gave a small frown before slowly nodding. "I can speak with the owner."

"You're not gonna get all anti-booze on me?"

"Why should I? You're an adult, and you've made your stance on vampires consuming your blood clear."

"Er…" It wasn't the reassurance Jack had wanted, but it made more sense than anything he could come up with on his own. He wasn't planning on getting drunk to the point of his past exploits. Farragut's decapitated corpse was a surprisingly soothing thought whenever the urge to binge drink came up.

"I would, however, ask you to be careful and mindful of your surroundings. Moreso than you would at a normal bar," Kieran said as he looked over the other tables.

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"Don't overdo it and stay alert. Got it," Jack said with a firm nod. His confidence slipped as Kieran slowly shook his head.

"Certainly follow that for your first few visits. However, do not ever forget to mask your scent when you come here alone. Even if what you use has worn off and barely hides it, you will still be sending a message and deter most of those who may show interest. Be clear and vocal if someone approaches you and makes you uncomfortable. Do not worry about being perceived as rude," Kieran explained as Jack nodded along, making notes on his phone. "Once you are established as a regular, certain others will be fiercely protective of you. If ever you need a ride home, I'll come get you."

"Thanks. I think." Jack looked up from his phone. He wanted to ask about what others would be protective of him, but he could recall times when Roger the bartender and even a couple regulars at his old bar had banded together to get someone to leave him alone. Sloppy drunks wanting a hug was enough to drive most people away. There was a strange comradery between that set of barflies, and he couldn't wait to regain it. Drinking alone next to each other, ignoring each other, but still having each other's backs. It had been great.

Since Kieran was in a sharing mood, Jack decided to push his luck and ruin every fantasy and delusion he had. Friends warning him of his habit of self-sabotage did nothing to dissuade the growing urge. He needed a solid answer.

"I've looked in a mirror. Face? Fine, whatever. But I know how messed up my back and arms are. Fuck. My arm still hurts when I move it a certain way. I'm damaged goods. So congrats on getting the ugly box discount."

His thoughts were out in the open, and he was curious as to how Kieran would attempt to reassure him. He held his breath as Kieran reached across the table and took Jack's left hand in his own.

Kieran slowly pushed back Jack's sleeve. He lightly traced the scar circling Jack's wrist with his thumb. "I've seen worse. Much worse. I've seen men and women who have survived being mangled by machinery and weapons, he said in a quiet voice.

Jack stared at his lap as he clenched his other hand and bit the inside of his cheek. He didn't think he'd been blowing his scars out of proportion. They were gruesome and unsettling. How could someone be so dismissive when even doctors hesitated?

"I'm not saying this to make you feel as though you've no right to keep them hidden, nor am I saying you are not justified in how you feel. I only wish for you to understand why I don't see them as something to hide, and why I am not put off by them." Kieran squeezed Jack's hand. "I see them as a mark of survival. Of how strong you are. Of what you've endured."

Jack sniffed and rubbed his sleeve across his nose, briefly hoping he could spot clean it later to avoid the laundry room. "I just want a normal life. I wanna be normal. I wanna not freak out over stupid things. I don't even know what you see in me past the way I smell. I mean, I'm okay, but not really worth the effort?"

"I see an intelligent man who has managed to survive and overcome the obstacles placed before him." Kieran paused and waited for Jack to look up before continuing with a soft smile. "Someone who's decided Kiki and Lucky Charms are appropriate nicknames."

Jack's stomach dropped. He remembered drunkenly texting Kieran, but he was certain he'd never let the Lucky Charms name slip. "You found out."

"Detective Fairchild may have mentioned something when I left the mask with him." Kieran's smile turned mischievous, and Jack braced himself. "Sure and begorrah, I'm not opposed."

Jack laughed and wiped at his eyes. "Too much!"

image [https://i.imgur.com/eZY0YUq.png]