Declan Byrnes

Cause we find ourselves in the same old mess singin' drunken lullabies.

[lizzydobbs]

declan byrnes + saoirse byrnes: “really? do i look stupid?”

“Oh, absolutely. You’d be an embarrassment to yourself and to me if you went looking like that.” Declan replied, doing his best (and failing) to hide his own amusement.

Saoirse rolled her eyes, smiling, “Shut up.”

“A silly question deserves a silly answer.” He teased.

His sister truly did look beautiful. She was dressed in a gown she had found last minute for Sophie Connoghan’s 20s themed party. “You will be the prettiest lass there.”

She rolled her eyes again, “Now I know you’re teasing.”

“My dear sister, are you questioning my integrity?” He asked in mock offense.

“Absolutely. We both know that I won’t hold a candle to a certain friend of mine. No matter, I will settle for prettiest lass in the room — almost.” She laughed.

[crumbs-on-his-jacketses]

[lizzydobbs]

Deccie: "you're the one i've been looking for"

“Your father has different plans.”

“Damn him. And his plans. I don’t want that life. I want you. And I want my father to give me the trust and respect that I’ve earned. I know this business. I know I can do it, if he’d just give me one bloody chance. He looks at me and sees a fragile little child. But I’m not. I’m not weak. I’m as good as a son and I intend to make my own choices and my own mistakes. You are my choice.” She smiled at him, then, and for a moment it was soft before it turned mischievous, “And I’m sure time will prove you to be one of my many mistakes as well.”  

He laughed, “I’m thrilled to hear you have such confidence in our relationship.” He paused, sitting up, “Soph, I just – your father … does he know about us? Because I’d rather not end up at the bottom of the river, which is where I’ll end up if he finds out his daughter is dating his getaway car driver.”

She sat down beside him, “You’re afraid of him,” She said, teasingly.

“I certainly am. I may be a complete idiot when it comes to most things, but I’ve got more sense than to mess with him.” 

Sophie rolled her eyes, “Well, it’s a good thing you have me to protect you then.” 

[lizzydobbs]

Aaron Donovan + Declan Byrnes: “movies are made for watching, not for asking questions.”

“Ah, but this next question is a very important one,” Declan promised, “And it’s the last one.”

Aaron exhaled, grabbing the remote and (for the eighth time) paused the movie, “What?”

“Do you think Sophie would go with me, if I asked her?”

Aaron nearly choked on his beer, “I gotta say, Dec, you’ve done some stupid ass things in since I’ve known you, but getting involved with Sophie would have to be the dumbest. First of all, you aren’t the kind of guy her dad wants for her: no offense. Second of all, let’s say, for a second, that he decides to give you his blessing, do you know what would happen if you hurt her, in any way? Best case scenario: you end up at the bottom of the Charles.”

Declan laughed, “Oi, I’m not serious, Donovan. I wouldn’t, even if it wasn’t for her Da. I don’t see her that way.” He nudged Aaron, who looked stressed that he was even joking about this, “Relax mate, I’m not a complete whanker.”

Aaron eyed him suspiciously. “If you think I believe that any of that, then you are.”

[lizzydobbs]

Travel meme: deccie

Who always gets the window seat on planes: Declan def wants it so he probs is like “i’ll drink you for it!” or something stupid like that and that is the story of how they both got too drunk at the airport bar and missed their flight 

Who is in charge of the radio during road trips: I feel like they both fight for control, but Declan eventually gives into Sophie <3 

Who over packs:  Weirdly, i think Declan??? Like he literally packs everything b/c he doesn’t know what to pack and he’s carrying around a lot of crap that he doesn’t need and smh 

Who initiates car games:  DECLAN!!! Sophie is like “no” but Declan is like “yes” and so they play and Sophie has fun 

Who, without fail, accidentally leaves something important at home:  Declan 

Who takes all the free things (shampoo, soap, shower caps) from the hotel:  Declan b/c he’s poor

Who gets searched at the airport for looking ‘suspicious’: BOTH. Declan just looks likes his up to something and Sophie is probably armed and they probs get put on the no-fly list and have to drive 

Who wakes the other up at 7 AM to go eat the complimentary hotel breakfast: I can actually see this going either way??? But I’m gonna go w/ Declan who is super excited and then Sophie just wants to relax and he’s literally dragging her out of bed and she’s cursing him out and throwing pillows nd it’s beautiful 

Who insists on using a map to guide them around an unknown city:  Haha neither. Declan says he has a perfect sense of direction and they get lost and then he doesn’t want to ask for directions and Sophie is like GDI DECLAN YOU HAD ONE JOB ;D

Who is in charge of keeping up with the passports and other important documents: Please, please, please put Sophie in charge. 

Who buys the most novelty gifts for friends/family back home:  Declan!!! He buys stupid things for his sister and the Donovans smh

Do they go on more adventure type vacations or somewhere they can relax: I feel ike it’s a nice mixture of both (but probs more adventure than they counted on b/c it’s declan who is a problem and sophie who is a mob princess so ???) 

Who takes pictures of every single thing:  Declan!!!! He’s can def be camera happy sometimes and Sophie probably has to “accidentaly” drop his phone/camera in the pool/off the side of a buidling

Who is the first to try the local cuisine: Probably Sophie if it’s something weird tbh

Who forgets to put on sun screen and gets burned to a crisp:  Declan!!!! 

Who uses packing/vacation checklists and who just wings it:  I feel like neither of them are going to make checklists??? Like, they both are pretty impulsive people and I feel like they just go with the flow, etc. I do think if either of them have been to a place before but the other hasn’t, that there might be a list of places they need to show the other, though. 

Who says “I want to go back” the moment they get back home:  Declan!!! Sophie is happy for a break, but wants to get back to running/trying to run a mob ;DD

[laurenplayspeople]

"Can we pretend I didn't say that?” declan x sophie

Sophie had never thought this day would come.

People died all the time in their line of work, yes. It’s what came with the territory. No one was ever truly safe from the Grim Reaper’s far-reaching grasp.

But her father?

Her father, who had been almost immortal in her eyes. A paragon. A god.

Her father was dead. And it was the Morettis that killed him.

Sophie was a whirlwind rushing through her apartment and gathering any and everything she could get her hands on. Maybe the last time fucking Jack Donovan and her Nanny had been able to lure her back to Boston, but not this time… She wouldn’t let them talk her down this time. She didn’t have to answer to them anymore.

Who was left for her to disappoint anymore if she didn’t?

“Sophie…”

The voice that called out from her doorway was distant. Sophie wasn’t sure if it was because she didn’t want to hear it or if it was just the rage still roaring in her ears dulling everything but the screaming in her own head. Either way, she ignored the voice, shoving another pair of handguns into her duffel bag as she called over her shoulder.

“Get the fuck out of my bloody apartment, Byrnes, before I shoot you my damn self!”

She barely heard the Irishman’s sigh as he dropped his jacket over one of her chairs and wandered into the bedroom Sophie was currently tearing to pieces as she packed her murder bag.

“Will ye now? I’d love to see how you handled that. Thought all that rage was used more for Donovan or the Morettis, I’m flattered that you’ve turned it my way finally.” He said as he leaned against the doorframe and smirked over at Sophie who turned to him with hard eyes.

“I’m not fucking around, Declan. They killed my mother, now they killed my father, and I’ve got a sneaking suspicion they have something to do with the disappearance of my brother. The Morettis are the sole bane of my life and I will not rest until they are all six feet under the ground.”

“So, you’re planning on going in there, guns a-blazing, by yourself. Just you. Against all the Moretti guards, not to mention the Morettis themselves who are all pretty adept at fighting from what I’ve heard tell…” The man raised an eyebrow and crossed his arms over his chest. “And you think that’s a solid plan of attack? Aye, go on, then. And where would you like me to send the condolence card to Albert Mooney, again?”

Sophie paused for a moment or two, feeling herself shaking with the unbridled rage that had been building inside of her since the moment she’d seen her father lying cold and empty on the floor. All of it piling higher and higher as Declan, the one person she’d hoped would understand, stood there and mocked her pain. It was too much. All of it was too much.

“I’m going to New York. And I am going to kill every single Moretti I place my eyes upon. I don’t need your approval. I never asked for it or your opinions.” Her voice was dead and hollow as she zipped up her bag and hoisted it over her shoulder. Those crystalline eyes Saoirse had once called Fey settled upon Declan as she began to walk towards her front door, bumping his shoulder as she shoved past him. “I don’t know why you’re even here making such a fuss anyway. It’s not like you have any sort of reason to.”

Suddenly, though, a hand snapped out and stopped Sophie dead in her tracks. Declan pulled her back towards him, his jaw set and his gaze aflame as he grabbed her by the shoulders and shook her once.

“Now you listen to me, Miss High-And-Mighty Connoghan. Aye, maybe ye do have good reason to go out there seeking vengeance. I’m not sayin’ you don’t. But I’m not about to let you go out there and get yourself killed either!” His gaze flickered over her face as Sophie opened her mouth to begin to speak. “No, no no. I’m the one talking now, Sophie Connoghan… And I’m not about to let the girl I love get herself killed because she’s being a damn idiot!”

Sophie stilled then, feeling the anger draining out of her in an instant. Declan seemed to be having the same problem as she watched his face turn white as a sheet. He cleared his throat deeply and slowly let go of her shoulders. 

“Ah, Can—Can ye possibly forget I said that?”

For a moment or two silence lay between the two as Sophie examined his face, wondering if this too was part of the whole scheme to get her to stay. But it was awkwardness written all over his body. Not deception. He shifted from side to side, running a hand through his hair and looking up to the ceiling as if asking for guidance from some sort of higher power.

He’d meant it…

He’d actually meant it.

A thunk sounded through the empty apartment as Sophie dropped her duffel bag to the floor. A grin trailed itself across her face, lighting it up in a way that it hadn’t been for days and days as she lifted an teasing eyebrow.

“No… I think I’m going to hold that one over you for the rest of your life, Declan Byrnes.”

With that, Sophie stepped towards the love of her life, gently took his face in her hands and—finally—kissed him full on the lips as thoroughly as she’d been dreaming of doing since the first moment she laid eyes on him ten long years ago.

[laurenplayspeople]

my otps to end all otps: 6/∞

"how come in a room full of men who kill people for a living, I have the most trouble with you?" “because you like me best when I’m trouble, barman.” Alternate: He couldn’t help but manage a slight smile at the thought of him and Sophie together. What a mess that would be. They’d kill each other, surely, or burn the whole town to the ground. And as the man beside her fell asleep, Sophie watched him, quietly whispering to his back: ‘I love you… I love you Declan Byrnes.’

[laurenplayspeople]

“you’re hogging the blankets!” deccie

Honestly, he should have known better than to shake a sleeping mafia princess.

Half-asleep still and moving purely on reflex, Sophie had reacted by instinct at the hand shaking her shoulder. So she could hardly be blamed for how her own snapped out to bend the wrist back, slamming it against the mattress as she flipped herself over and pinned the imagined attacker to the bed as she straddled them. Thankfully for Declan, though, it hadn’t been her own bed she’d been sleeping in. Otherwise he’d have had something much more deadly than an empty hand at his throat before the girl began to come back to herself.

“Woah, woah, slow down there lassie!” Declan said softly (but not without some trepidation she was horrified to hear). “It’s only me. Only old Declan himself. Calm yourself. You’re okay.” He reached for the hand at his throat, gently peeling back Sophie’s fingers as her eyes flew open and she scrambled back onto her half of the bed, dropping him from her grasp like he was scalding iron.

“Declan! What were you thinking waking me like that?!” She hissed, heart pounding in her chest as she realized she had been mere seconds from trying to kill the one man she loved more than the world itself. “I—I could have really hurt you! What the bloody hell were you thinking?!”

The man laughed a little, propping himself up on his elbow before nodding towards Sophie. “Aye, well, someone happened to be hogging all the blankets and poor myself happened to wake up nearly freezing to death, so I thought you would mind it more if I were to just jerk ‘em off of you instead of gently waking you and asking nicely.” He chuckled and rubbed his neck a little. “Seems I might have been a bit hasty in thinking so.”

Sophie hoped it was still dark enough in the apartment to hide how red her face became at this.

“Oh. Well… If that’s all…” She coughed a little before moving herself closer towards Declan until they were nearly nestled together. “I guess we’ll just have to get a little closer then. That or you’re going to have to buy a bigger bed and bigger sheets.”

“You’d probably just hog all those blankets too. I’ll take my chances with this arrangement.” And was that a bit of a smile on his face? Sophie found her heart fluttering a little at the hope of it.

“I’m still going to murder you in your own bed if you lay a finger on me, Byrnes.”

“Aye, lass, you say as much every time.”

“And every time I mean it.”

Yet it came as little surprise (to Sophie at least) when the first rays of morning light trickled in through Declan’s window, that she found herself wrapped up in Declan’s embrace. Not to mention how the aforementioned blankets were tucked around the two of them like a quilted cocoon. A gentler smile traced over the girl’s lips as she glanced up into the serene face of a still-asleep Declan.

“Just a few more minutes wouldn’t do any harm…” She murmured to herself as she settled back down with the intention of going back to sleep. 

Yet, as she looked back up at the man next to her, Sophie decided that there was no better time to take a chance. And so the girl pressed a soft kiss to the edge of Declan’s jaw before nestling her head back in the hollow of his chest, eyes fluttering closed as she surrendered herself back to dreamland.

[lizzydobbs]

Sophie/Declan: "they were flirting with you"

Declan grinned, leaning over the bar as he cleaned out a glass, “Aye, that she was. Are you really so shocked?” He asked, feigning surprise, “Or perhaps that was jealously I detected in your voice?” He added with mischievous grin. “You may find me to be a goddamn ass, but most American lasses find me rather charming.”  

[laurenplayspeople]

Instantly Sophie felt her cheeks flushing a bright red, her Guinness halfway to her mouth as she stiffened in her chair. No… No, he couldn’t have. He couldn’t be talking about… He wasn’t supposed to have known!!

“Of course I’m not jealous. What would I have to be jealous of? I just was… Making a comment on how maybe you… Shouldn’t be flirting so much with your customers.”

Sophie looked away for a moment or two before slowly dragging her piercing blue gaze back to the man before her.

Perhaps it was time after all…

“Or at least… Not with customers that… Aren’t me.”

[lizzydobbs]

(Anon crush letter-Sophie @ Declan. sloppily written on pub napkins with an eyeliner pencil) You're an ass. A damn ass who cannot see an inch beyond his own bloody nose. If you could, you'd see that I'm in love with you. That I have been since you first came to this place. I even told you once but you didn't even listen, you damn fool. You and your damned smiles and your damned laugh and your damned heart that isn't mine. I gave you my heart long ago. Give it back if you won't make use of it...

Declan slid her napkin across the bar to Aaron, “I think you must have an admirer,” He said, grinning, “But be careful: she sounds angry.”

Aaron smirked, reading through it quickly, “Yeah, okay, but how do I know it’s not one of your’s?”

“That’s not the sort of lady I take out, mate,” He said, “… you on the other hand … “

“Correct me if I’m wrong, but you do spend a lot of time with Sophie Connoghan and she’s the damn angriest girl I’ve ever met.” He reached into his pocket for the bill, which he placed on the bartop, “You may wanna burn that. Mr. Connoghan wouldn’t be happy if he found out about it, somehow.”

“Burn it. Of course – yeah – I’ll do that. “ He put the note (carefully for something he planned to “destroy” it) into his pocket. “And tell her to lay off the Guinness while I’m at it,” He laughed.

As soon as Aaron had left, Declan turned and took the note out of his pocket, rereading the words over and over in her voice, before grabbing his coat and heading out into the chilly Boston evening to find her. 

[laurenplayspeople]

And as the man beside her fell asleep, Sophie watched him, quietly whispering to his back: ‘I love you… I love you Declan Byrnes.’

Sophie Connoghan (via laurenplayspeople )

[laurenplayspeople]

"When she gets a lad of her own she won’t tell her Da when she comes home. Let them all come as they will, it’s Declan Byrnes that she loves still."

"So picture my surprise when I had leaned in for a kiss and she just smiled and turned her head down… Classy girls don’t kiss in bars, you fool."

[declanbbe]

Damn Floor Polish | Sophie & Declan

[sophiebbe]

"There’s no point if life isn’t exciting." Sophie replied, laughing brightly. "I can’t stand stasis. Sitting around and doing nothing isn’t relaxing until you’ve burnt yourself to the core, so why strive for anything but the extraordinary?" She shrugged a little and watched Declan with a small smile as she quietly sipped at her drink once more.

Sophie’d never admit it to his face, but she’d take an ordinary life if it meant spending every day here at the bar with Declan. She’d always been very good at charming men and winning hearts. It was that same addiction to excitement that Declan would always tease her about. Men found it alluring, but never realized that Sophie was a fire that burned far hotter than she first appeared. They got too close, her father would catch wind of what was happening and it was all over.

And perhaps that was half of Sophie’s trepidation with Declan as well. Yes, he knew who she was, he knew the great secret of her life, so that was no obstacle… But Luke Connoghan still loomed heavy over Sophie’s shoulders, droning about the life he had slaved for to give his only daughter. There was no room in that life for her to be involved with the local barkeep. It wasn’t brilliant enough.

The girl was pulled from her musings, though, as Declan declared that Albert might as well come get her for all he cared. Sophie’s mouth twisted into a bit of a frown, forehead furrowing and arms crossing over her chest. “Well, if you’re so keen on having me ‘off your hands’ perhaps I’ll give the poor bloke a call. Hardly as if I’m waiting for you, Byrnes! Bring your damned star-eyed Colleen here to keep you company, then. Won’t have anyone else sniffing about your feet.” She said, perhaps a bit too snappily to be taken completely as teasing. Especially when Sophie continued to try and hide her frown with another glug of whiskey while Declan moved away.

She wasn’t jealous. Of course not. Wasn’t angry that Declan would even teasingly suggest that she was an unwanted distraction… That would mean something, and Declan couldn’t mean something. People that meant something to Sophie ended up in trouble or as recent events showed: dead.

As she watched Declan wandering along the bar, refilling drinks and casually joking with the other patrons, Sophie couldn’t help how her frown softened. He was wonderful, she had to admit. It was nice to come here, to get away from the life she was born into, even if she was barred from living it. Declan was one of the few people that really believed in her. Perhaps they didn’t talk about work or her life much, if at all, but he was one of the only support systems Sophie had left anymore. And maybe her family and the life she lead meant that she could only ever have Declan as this distant comfort, but Sophie knew she’d do anything to keep that. And by the time he’d come back to lean against the bar in front of her, the anger had mellowed away. It was useless to be upset with him over something that neither of them could change if they were ever to keep going this way.

They were always meant to be on opposite sides of the bar. That’s just how things were.

Talking of his sister helped too. They were both masters of distraction by this point. She laughed a little at Declan’s concerns about being outnumbered, raising an eyebrow. “Well, perhaps then it’s worth making friends with your sister. I’d be well-served to have the upper hand against you more often than not.” Sophie teased. “I can be less trouble than usual if prompted and given enough warning. Maybe you’ll even get a chance to see me on my best behavior, if you’re lucky.” The girl waggled her eyebrows exaggeratedly at Declan, lips spreading into another grin.

"Though I suppose then I’d suggest you not bring her ‘round after a night of you feeding Jameson and Guinness through my veins, because someone does have a tendency to do so whether or not they’ll admit it." She looked at the man pointedly. "I’ve got the headaches to prove it, too. And the bruises from falling on this damned bar of yours. There’s probably a ding or two that came off of my heels." She said, rubbing a finger along a couple of scratches that looked like they could have come from her heels. "Though I say it gives the place character to have a few dents and scratches… Makes it look well-loved like its owner" Sophie glanced up at Declan again, realizing what she had said a moment after it had flown from her mouth. Damn whiskey again… She rolled her eyes in an attempt to write the comment off as a joke, offering an easy smile and brushing stray strands of gold that had fallen from her bun away from her softly flushing cheeks.

It wasn’t like she hadn’t told Declan she loved him before. But it tended to be on those nights when Sophie was so drunk she could barely stand. The night her father had told her she would never be head of the family. The night she realized that Jack was boss in all but name. Or even worse, the night her mother died… Sophie had come to Paddy’s with a cloud about her and drunk until the world slipped away beneath her. Closing time had rolled around and Declan had insisted that she couldn’t make it past the front door, let alone all the way back to her apartment. So he’d taken her back home with him to his flat, letting Sophie collapse heavily onto his bed after some half-hearted pleading that she couldn’t sleep on the couch. He’d complained so loudly about sleeping there himself that Sophie had told him just to come share the bed if he was gonna be such a baby about it.

And as the man beside her fell asleep, Sophie watched him, quietly whispering to his back: ‘I love you… I love you Declan Byrnes.’

Sophie shook herself from the memory, pushing it away as she tried to focus on the teasing at hand. That was safe. That was familiar. She knew how to navigate this world. Especially once Jack Donovan was mentioned. The girl scoffed and rolled her eyes at the man sitting in the corner.

"Jack Donovan shouldn’t be trying much of anything if you ask me." She muttered, glowering into her drink. "He’s no better than any other Tom, Dick, or Harry at his job. He’s just been around long enough to fool my father into thinking he’s worth something." Anger was easier. So much easier than any other emotion. "Given half a chance I could mop your precious floors with Jack Donovan. Polish them back up real nice too." Sophie let a sigh out through clenched teeth in an attempt to calm herself.

"Don’t speak too soon when you classify me, though. Perhaps I’m more devil than angel. Wouldn’t surprise me." She sighed, draining her glass once more and scratching at the back of her neck. "Glad to hear someone would come cry at my grave, even if it was for such a selfish reason as seeing your bar go out of business.” Sophie teased back, fingers tracing the scratched designs on the bar once more.

"Your sister sounds lovely, regardless of how sane she could keep your father." Sophie flicked her gaze back up at Declan as a grin spread across her lips. "Saint or not, she’ll at least have some great dirt on my favorite barman." She laughed a little, winking at Declan. "I’m not above emotional blackmail for free drinks. Never have been, never will be."

When he agreed to dinner at her apartment, though, Sophie felt herself wanting to launch across the bar and hug Declan. Instead Sophie simply settled for a bright smile and clasping his hands in her own once more, squeezing them tightly. “You’ll really come? I know I may not have fancy new curtains, but I do have new artwork I could show the two of you.” Sophie tilted her head a little, as if thinking. “You haven’t been to the apartment since my birthday party last year, have you? I think I put up a few new pieces of mine since then.” The girl shrugged before looking back to Declan. “And I’ll tell O’Sullivan it’s important that I be given some privacy just for the night. She knows you, and I’m sure we can get a dossier on your sister quickly enough, O’Sullivan knows people…” Sophie waved one hand in the air, dismissing the thought as basic knowledge. “It’ll be a wonderful evening, I promise.”

[declanbbe]

"Ya better hurry if you're going to make that threat stick," He said, grinning broadly, " "Aren't you nearly thirty?" He asked, bracing himself for the reaction that was to follow, but dunking down towards the bar, "Mooney might fly over for the young lass he knew in Dublin, but now?" He said, teasing, "Ah, but then I'm not being fair then, am I? Colleen won't want me now, either," He said, patting his stomach, "I've grown old and fat, I think. Perhaps we should save them the price of flying across the pond and set the two of them up together. Sources say, they are both perfect."

He wasn't sure why he had added that last bit -- of putting Mooney and Colleen together, because what was left unspoken was that now he and Sophie would both be left alone ... or did it suggest that they pair up? He shook his head, ruffling his hair with his hand as if to mess these reacurring thoughts from his head, but he couldn't help but manage a slight smile at the thought of him and Sophie together. What a mess that would be. They'd kill each other, surely, or burn the whole town to the ground. 

But wouldn't it be terribly exciting? 

He laughed, "Ah, now that would be a sight to see. Maybe Mooney should like to fly over, just for that." He said, teasingly, "What does that look like, by the way? Sophie Connoghan on her best behavior. Now, is it all relative? Or do you truly know how to behave yourself for an evening?" He asked, his eyes sparkling mischievously, "Did that fancy school of yours teach you have to be a lady, as well?"

He shook his head, "No, no. I'll not be that foolish as to have her around here, if I can help it." He said. he was concerned about more than just Sophie's behavior with Saoirse. This wasn't exactly his sister's scene, but she could handle herself around a few drunks, if she had to. He was more concerned about the truths that alcohol let slip and the things she'd overhear. Not only would that get him in trouble with her, but that might also get her in trouble with them. The less she knew of everything, the better. 

"But if I know Saoirse, all my trying won't keep her out if she has a mind to. I'll have to make sure she keeps busy ... maybe find her a job somewhere else for the duration of her stay ... " He paused, realizing that he hadn't really considered any of this yet. Tonight she was exhausted -- she still hadn't quite recovered from the jetlag yet -- but soon enough she'd be on the right schedule again and then, well, wouldn't the first thing she want to do be to see her brother's bar in action? Sometimes, Saoirse caused more problems than she solved. 

"No matter, I'll figure all that out later," He said, waving his hand. There was always tomorrow, wasn't there? "I'm glad you like the imperfections, "He said, running his hands over the same dents and stratches she had touched a moment ago, "... even if you probably put half of them there, yourself," He added. Her comment about him being well loved didn't hit him as she might have feared, and he thought about it much more generally, "Ah, that's only because I serve them liquor, and any good Irishman loves his barman. Besides, I'm sure I look a little better through whiskey colored glasses, eh?" 

He realized, too late, that mentioning Jack Donovan in any form was a bad idea and watched the anger flair behind her eyes as she responded. He said, "Ah, wouldn't that be nice," in response to her comment about mopping up his floors, and then nothing more. 

Delcan raised his hands in mock defense as Sophie threatened to tease out secrets from his childhood from his sister, "Ah, don't do that! You'll never look at me the same way. And I'll not be able to show me face here again, you realize. Saoirse knows all my secrets, all my shame, and it's not a pleasant story." He said, laughing -- even though that was a lie. She didn't know all of his secrets. "And I think she'll be all too willing to sell them to the highest bidder: truth be told it makes a grand tale, but a poor life story," He said, hanging his head in mock shame. 

He knocked the wooden bar with his knuckles, "Alright then, sounds good enough to me," He said, "It's, uh, it'll be a ... date then, yeah? Give Saoirse the week to settle in and, we'll set a night?"

[libertyhall]

100 Guys (in alphabetical order) - [65/100] - Matthew Goode

[declanbbe]

Damn Floor Polish | Sophie & Declan

[sophiebbe]

"Exactly!" Sophie said in a matter-of-fact tone, looking at Declan as if he’d said the most simple-minded thing in the world. "I can’t be having you going off and having fun without me, now can I? You know how I hate hearing about adventures second-hand. I’d much rather have the fun myself." She leaned forward a bit more, her mouth twisted into a wry smile, watching the barman from under her eyelashes.

It was hardly a secret that Sophie was one to chase fun in any form. Though the quieter truth was the girl’s long game may involve a certain scruffy young man who owned a local pub. Luke had his suspicions, of course, but her Aunt Margaret was the only one who knew the truth.

At Declan’s mention of Colleen, though, Sophie was pulled from her smirks, instead rolling her eyes and leaning back in her chair as she took another swig of the whiskey in front of her. “Yeah, yeah, we’ve all heard the tale of Miss Colleen of County Cork. Rings on her fingers, bells on her toes, the whole nine yards.” She shook her head and laughed gently along with Declan.

"But it’s true. Anyone who knows anything knows that I’m your best girl now. Too bad you’ve still got half of Belfast running against you, too all these years on.” Sophie teased right back, grin softening into a mock expression of innocence, as she clasped her hands in front of her chest. “Ooh me true love! Tell me, are ye well? Where have ye been for so long? I’ve been knocking on your door and ringing on your bell fer ages! Come on out and have a drink at the pub, will ye?” She crowed, accent thickening past the soft twinge Sophie always carried from Mum and Da both before devolving into laughter once more.

"I’m telling you, Albert Mooney keeps saying he’s bound to leave Ireland to come here and snatch me up before anyone else does. It’s only that the PSNI has such a great need of him that keeps him from my side." Sophie’s eyes twinkled as she took another long swig of Jameson. "So you’d better be on your best behavior, sir, if you intend to keep your best girl loyal to ya."

The girl shook her head at his question about Saoirse though. “No, at least not much. You might have mentioned her once or twice, but never told me anything about her.” Sophie narrowed her eyes and pointed a finger in Declan’s face, her own expression serious. “You’re quite secretive about your life, Mister Byrnes. It’s very distressing for someone who deals in secrets, you know. And I’m not sure I approve of this ‘keeping you out of trouble’ business. If you stay out of trouble, how in the hell am I ever going to be allowed within five feet of you?” She grinned at him, though it slowly faded as Declan explained about bringing her over for dinner.

Saoirse couldn’t know about her father. Couldn’t know about the work her father did… By extension, couldn’t know about her or the life she wanted. Wouldn’t understand. Had to be protected. 

"I get it…" She said quietly, half-smiling at Declan before staring down at her drink. "People have to be kept safe." Sophie raised her glass again, mumbling into the whiskey: "whether or not they even want to be."

But Declan’s quick shift back to teasing certainly helped pull Sophie away from the black place thinking about ‘safety’ always sent her. She laughed a little, rolling her eyes at him and smirking. “If I remember correctly, someone has a tendency to over pour my drinks and start up certain Irish jigs in order to coerce a certain young lady into performing step routines on the bar.” Sophie replied, raising an eyebrow.

It’d happened quite a few times since she mentioned taking step dancing classes when she was younger to Declan a few months ago. And, to be honest, Sophie was never quite as drunk as she made out to be when asked.

"If that’s what you’re referring to as ‘fun,’ my loyal little pup, then I suppose you’re correct. Though I still stand by my suggestion that you make room for a proper dance floor. Perhaps then you’d get a slightly younger and ah, less violent crowd than you have now.” She smiled, glancing about at the other Connoghan crews lounging about. “Just a suggestion. I’m sure you hardly need my help promoting the place, though. Have Ned do it for you, if you’re so enamored with his ideals.”

Sophie preened a little at Ned’s description of her, a pleased smile settling over her face. “Face of an angel, Mind of a devil… I like it. But a shame that everyone seems to forget that the Devil was an angel too.” She teased. “So really I’m an angel on all fronts. Put that on my tombstone instead. ‘Daughter, and All-Around Angel.’ Maybe with an angel and a devil watching over me. It’ll be perfect. I so hope you’ll come leave me flowers on my birthday every year. Perhaps even shed a tear or two? Just to water the plants, y’know. All I ask.”

Yet Sophie quietly ignored Declan when he insisted that her father knew what he was doing. Maybe it was true, but Sophie just wished that Luke would let her in on the plans. It was her birthright. The torch should have been passed to her when Sean disappeared all those years ago. But instead she continued to have doors slammed in her face and well-meaning men telling her that they knew what they were doing, that everything would be all right. And yet her mother was dead. Because of stupid, stupid men.

"This is true. And what more could anyone need than a good shot of Jameson to keep you warm at night?" She finally said, trying to force a smile, force herself away from the anger boiling inside her gut. "Give me a good whiskey over a plate of pasta any day. Doesn’t make you half the friends that a good drink does, aye?" Sophie teased, draining the refilled glass in one fell swoop, turning it over as she slammed it on the counter and gave Declan a mad grin. "Especially when you’re a pretty lady who can hold her whiskey better than anyone else."

"And if Saoirse can convince you to not only clean up a dish, but also go out and buy curtains, I think she may just be a saint." She laughed, winking at Declan. "From the little I’ve seen of your flat, cleaning up the place to make it livable is quite a feat. And even moreso to convince you to do it yourself."

But as Sophie sat in silence for a beat or two as she pulled her hair up into a messy bun, an idea popped into her head, snapping Sophie’s gaze up to Declan’s with a wild, mischievous grin. “Wait, what if you brought Saoirse to dinner at my apartment? I’ll give Nanny O’Sullivan the slip and cook up a feast for the three of us. No mention of Da or the Connoghans, or anything remotely to do with the family. It’ll be fun. I haven’t had a real party with friends in… well, ever.” Sophie subconsciously reached out and put a hand over Declan’s, smiling up at him with an honest hope. “Please? I’d really like to make sure your sister feels at home here. Even if she can’t know who will be watching out for her. Besides, if she hasn’t gone yet, we could take her to the Commons. I’m only a few blocks away, and it’s beautiful this time of year.”

[declanbbe]

"Oh, I'm quite aware of that," He said, smiling at her with a sparkle in his eye, "You won't stand for anything less of ... exciting, will you? Although, it sounds like you had more fun messing things up here than you would have shopping for curtains with me and my sister. Or perhaps, that would have turned into quite the adventure then, eh?" He liked to think that his life was never dull (he avoided as many responsibilities to make it that way), but truth be told it was never as exciting as when he was with Sophie. 

"Aye and don't forget the stars in her eyes," He joked, looking off dreamily in an exaggerated manner. The truth was, Colleen was married and settled and had two little ones, but Declan often brought her up now and again to see if Sophie still got a little jealous. 

"Ah, good!" He said, "Tell him, I'll pay for his passage over, so he can take you of my hands. And I can keep from being so distracted and do a proper job here. Look, Donovan's glass is nearly empty," He said, forking a thumb over his shoulder at Aaron who was sitting with a pretty brunette, "And if he wasn't so worried about getting that young lady's number, he just might have noticed that I'm slacking a bit tonight." He winked at her, before moving down the bar to refill Aaron's beer. 

The truth was, of course, that he would be upset if Mooney suddenly did return from Ireland and marry Sophie. She laughed and teased about it, but sometimes Declan wondered if there wasn't some truth to it, after all. His feelings for Sophie were complicated and he couldn't sort them out. He was never good with that sort of thing -- his string of girlfriends had been girls he'd liked well enough, but he never had thoughts of settling down with any of them. He wasn't a serious fellow in that way (or in any way). All of his relationships had been in good fun and when the fun was over, so were they. So he couldn't pinpoint why he had this feeling in the pit of his stomach whenever she talked about Mooney. It wasn't jealousy -- Declan didn't want to be married to anyone, did he? He decided to chalk it up to the fact that Sophie wouldn't be in half so much if she was married and what would he do then? 

He was able to brush off these feelings and regroup: the conversation had turned to Saoirse and he could joke about that, well enough, "Ha, she's not likely to approve much of you," He said, winking, "Which is good, because if the two of you were friends, I'd be outnumbered." 

Declan caught her faint whisper into her glass, but said nothing. He knew she was talking more to herself than him and perhaps hadn't even realized she had said it aloud, as she was quick enough to jump back to teasing him in an instant. He knew what she was thinking of, but he want either of them to dwell on that longer than they had to, so he was quick to counter with, "I don't know what you are talking about," He said, grinning mischievously, "That I would let someone dance up on my bar, let alone encourage it. Can't have anyone scratching it up." He said, winking, "And what would your Da say about such behavior? He'd likely take my head off in my own pantry if I let a certain young lady dance drunkenly up on the bar."

He rubbed his chin, as he pretended to be deep in thought, "Ah, but a proper dance floor, you say? Perhaps that would liven this crowd up a bit," He said, "Although," He said, leaning in closer as he whispered, "I'm sure some of these blokes had better not try to dance, at all," He said, "Like Jack Donovan there." 

Jack Donovan was the designated driver for his brother and he was drinking cranberry juice and talking business in the corner with another man. 

"Ah, that he was. But a fallen angel at that. Perhaps that what ye are," He said, grinning, "An angel and devil both. And aye, I'd cry at your grave. If only because no one buys quite as many drinks as you did," He said, winking. 

He laughed, "That she is. She had me for a brother, so I was already as much trouble as our Da could handle. So Saoirse had to be a saint, otherwise we'd drive him mad. Although, I'm not sure I didn't do that already, even with Saoirse there to keep him sane." 

He paused, for a moment, considering her offer, "You know I'm always up for something at your flat," He said, "Quite a step up from mine, you know. Although, now that mine does have curtains, I'd say the competition is pretty stiff." He winked, "But, as long as you don't think O'Sullivan will come in, guns a blaring when she can't find you, then I'd say that we'd love to."

[declanbbe]

99 Problems | Saoirse & Declan

It was early -- well, early for someone like Declan Byrnes who kept odd hours running a bar. The sun was still shining outside, which meant only the lonely drunkards would be spilling into Paddy's. Declan wasn't a particularly neat or organized person, in general, but he was when it came to his bar. 

Of course, he would say that liberally -- his bar -- he would forever be paying it off to Connogahan (and no doubt his successors) and he knew that, no matter how hard he worked, it could always be taken away just as quick as it had been given. 

Still, it was his now, and he had shown that he could be responsible (if only in one area of his life). 

He had hired staff and the bar had been doing well enough that he did not have to be there every night anymore, but he wanted to be. It wasn't much like work to him. And even the time before they opened: the sweeping of the floors and the balancing the cash drawer -- wasn't so bad. 

He was behind the bar, now, drying out the glasses for the night ahead when he heard the door open. 

"I'm always up for the eager customers, but we aren't quite open yet," He said, his back turned,  "But take a seat, and I'll be with you in-- " He stopped short when he saw who it was. It took a real shock to take the words away from Declan Byrnes, and for a moment, he didn't know what to say or even how to feel. "Saoirse?"

His sister standing there with her bags in her hands, without any kind of warning, worried him. He was beyond happy to see her, but he couldn't shake the feeling that something must be terribly, terribly wrong. "What are you doing here? You'll be likely to give me a heart attack, showing up like this," He scolded, but he was smiling. 

He hopped up over the bar like he was still twelve years old and ran over to embrace her. "Everything's okay back home?" He asked, "Da and Grannie -- nothing's .... nothing's happened?"

[lifelinesss]

ENDLESS LIST OF FLAWLESS PEOPLE (in movies) ↳ Matthew Goode as Declan O’Callaghan (Leap Year)