The Modern Cocktail

Poitín

The 24th of June, 2015

"Happy birthday to you!" Eggsy, Nicolette, Jamal, and Liam sang to Brandon.

The four then clapped and cheered while Brandon leaned forward to blow out the candle that had been put in his cake.

"And Nic made that for you herself, bruv," Eggsy said with a smile as Nicolette sat back and leaned into Eggsy.

"All by myself," Nicolette said with a chuckle.

"What, your personal chef wasn't available?" Brandon teased.

"Oh, shut up, Brandon. I'm a tailor, not a cake decorator," Nicolette said before leaning forward and grabbing a bottle that she had brought, "And you might want to play nice if you want some of this."

"Oh! Wait. Is that that Irish stuff right there?" Liam asked.

"Yeah. Ben brought me back another bottle from when he and Stacy went to Ireland for a holiday," Nicolette said as she opened the bottle.

"No, no. I ain't drinkin' none of that," Jamal said before pointing around the living room at everyone, "Last time here, I was wrecked, man."

"Yeah. But that's because you were a lightweight, Jamal," Eggsy said with a small smirk as Nicolette poured drinks for everyone.

Brandon and Liam let out hardy laughs and tossed Jamal a bit.

Nicolette was laughing as well as she handed Eggsy a glass.

"No, no, babe, I'm good. Not for me, thank you," Eggsy said as he kindly turned down the drink and placed it on the table in front of him.

"Oh, what? What's goin' on man?" Jamal asked, gesturing to Eggsy's drink.

"It's her mum's birthday tomorrow and we're goin' to dinner with her brother and his girlfriend," Eggsy started to explain.

"Fiancée," Nicolette corrected.

"Right, fiancée."

Brandon, Liam, and Jamal all let out some whoops at this.

"I want to make a good impression! So what?" Eggsy protested.

"Eggsy, my mum and brother have known you since we were twelve. Are you trying to make a good impression on Stacy?" Nicolette asked with a chuckle.

Brandon, Liam, and Jamal started to whoop again.

"Oi! I'll beat that thought out of your heads myself," Nicolette said in a slightly stern voice.

"Oh, yeah, Jamal, are you free to dogsit J.B. and Tori tomorrow night while we're out?" Eggsy asked

"Ah, sorry bruv, I've gotta look after my nan tomorrow," Jamal said, "But Liam's free, though."

"Oh, yeah?"

"I can't, mate. I'm allergic to dogs," Liam rebuttled.

"Bullshit," Nicolette said, not believing him.

"Dogshit, actually."

The group laughed, a few of them rolling their eyes.

"That leaves you, Brandon," Eggsy said, "What're you doin' tomorrow night?"

"Yeah, I'll look after your dogs, mate, but I got one condition," Brandon answered.

"What's that?"

"You have a drink with us."

"You gotta do it, babe. You gotta do it," Nicolette said with a laugh as she leaned forward to grab the drink she had poured for Eggsy.

Nicolette then handed the glass of poitín to Eggsy as Liam started a round of cheers.