Erasthais Across Time

1 - Another night...another bar

As I sat at the bar, swirling whatever liquor was in this glass the bartender sat in front of me, I couldn't help but let my mind swirl back to simpler yet familiar times of centuries past...different taverns or pubs but the same vibe, the same feeling at them all. The man of tonight's choosing was rambling on at my side, trying to impress me as he talked about some white-collar job he had...shuffling stocks around, and boosting his ego...or was that Tuesday's man? Either way, I had lost interest the second he opened his mouth. The only thing that kept me preoccupied were the drinks he kept buying for me. Xena would remind me to say something every now and then to keep him interested but the truth is I couldn't care less. I wasn't looking for anyone, no one special anyway...that ship had come and gone long ago. All I needed was a bed warmer really, and even then I got my fix two nights ago so I was mostly here out of boredom. "...doll?" the stranger said. Hello? Earth to Danielle? Answer him! Xena chastised me from within. Hmm? What? I missed what he said...I replied. Ugh, he asked what kind of work you do...took him long enough, Xena grumbled. "Oh, hehe, I work as a manager's assistant," I said, as the lie quickly rolled off my tongue. "Oh really? What kind of work?" he said, trying to pull my bar stool closer to him. I felt his hand brush past my back and find its way around my hips and on my outer thigh. I cast my eyes downward to see him trying to fiddle his thumb underneath the hem of my dress. Oh he's a daring one, Xena scoffed. Well let's see how daring. Now I'm interested, I said. "Well, I mostly file back papers and such, ya know? Respond to emails...the basic boring stuff. Came out of school with a Bachelor's and am biding my time until I can afford to get my master's," I said, twirling a strand of my hair and biting my lip. His eyes were a bit glossy, telling me he was definitely feeling the alcohol though not quite drunk yet. "Mmm, is that so? I couldn't imagine your boss getting a lot of work done with you around..." he whispered into my left ear, giving my right thigh a quick squeeze before he turned back to face me. Oh my Goddess, please, let me kill him...just let me slash his throat right here and now, Xena pleaded. Hush, he's drunk, and an idiot but anything he tries we would be more than ready for, I quieted her. I let out a forced giggle, and turned my face towards him. "So..." I said, looking him up and down with just my eyes, sucking on a maraschino cherry, "are you going to buy me another drink...or did you have something else in mind?" His eyes were watching my lips as the cherry bobbed in and out of my mouth, but the moment the question registered in his mind, he looked at me with a devilish look on his face. "Well...are you sure you want another drink Miss..? Wouldn't want you to get too wasted..." he continued. "Believe me...I can hold my liquor. It's you, however, I think, could use a bit of water..." I said to him with a wink. It took him a second with all the booze and blood rushing from his head to his penis to decipher what I was saying but he quickly ordered me another drink of whatever I was having, and himself a water. Well, at least he took your advice, Xena chuckled. Yea, 'cause he realized he can't fuck anyone if he has whiskey dick, I chuckled back.

Not too long after we finished our drinks, were we stepping out of the bar. I tried to decide if I wanted to go to his place or my place but truthfully the only reason I ever have men over is because I'm too lazy to leave after sex, and besides – why not let them do the "walk of shame" home? I'll at least be able to sleep in my bed afterwards while they sneak out pretending it was their idea for a one-night stand. So, I requested the Uber from my phone, and when the time comes, I always offer to pay for the guy's ride as a "thank you" for buying my drinks. When in reality it was a way to keep tabs on them just in case a certain someone was out there keeping an eye on my lovers. When we walked out of the bar, I took a deep breath of the late summer night air and smelled something that caught me off guard. Firewood and...pomegranate? Xena said with caution in her voice. Where, I said. I knew better than to second guess her senses. Left! At the curb! Xena said, with more confidence in her voice this time. I slowly lifted my head up and turned it as if I was looking at the twinkling lights the trees held within their branches. And sure enough, there he was, standing in the shadows, with his hands in his pockets. Barely aged since the last time I saw him, only there was a scar that ran across his left eyebrow, his hair was definitely shaggy, he grew out a beard, and he was most certainly staring right at me.