Last couple of drinks (Steve McMillan)

[Stephen Colly]

Stephen was finally out of hospital and walking on two legs again. To celebrate his release he was going to spend his last couple of evenings in the pub near the barracks, he had been posted out to France next week as he was fit and healthy now.
It was approaching 8:00pm so the sky was darkening and the wind was picking up, it was going to be another cold night in England.

Stephen walked along the pavement; he was wearing his brand new army uniform as his old one had been blown to bits by shrapnel. Pulling his army jacket over him more he walked on, the wind picking up with every step he took towards the pub that glowed warmth and light up ahead.

Stephen had been stuck in a dammed hospital for over two weeks, he had been visited by only one visitor and that had been McMillan who had been very kind to Stephen like he always was. But now Edward McMillan was fighting out in France somewhere, Stephen didn’t even know where…he had gotten a few small letters from the Sergeant but hadn’t had any recently and, for McMillan’s own safety, Stephen was starting to worry.

He entered the pub at 8:02, the pub was crowded with soldiers, half already drunk and half chatting up the women who lingered round handing out drinks and taking orders for a very long time at different tables. Stephen made his way through the crowd to the bar, nearly being knocked over on the way by a drunken Private and went to sit down on a stall by the bar.
”A beer please.” Stephen said, the barman looked tired and nodded slowly as he made his way to the beers. Stephen waited, tapping his fingers on the wood as he watched the room with interest.
The barman came back almost immediately, handing Stephen his beer. Stephen thanked him then paid and just sat, sipping the cold drink.

”Oi, Stephen!” a fellow private, David Taylor, came dashing up to the 18 year old. ”Haven’t seen you in here for a long time! How are ya? How’s your leg?” his eyes trailed to Stephen’s trouser leg and then back up to his face.
”It’s alright David thanks.” Stephen said, smiling. David was an old army friend, many a time had David been beside Stephen in battle and the two had always pulled through.

”Out to France next week huh?” David said, the man was over excited and slightly drunk with drink.
”Yeah, back to mud and blood.” Stephen said almost jokily but his smile faded at the thought.
”I just came over to say hi and how ya doing, got to go back to Lucy over there.” David jerked his thumb over his right shoulder and Stephen looked round to see a woman watching them.
”Alright David see ya!” Stephen smiled as David bounced off into the crowd, probably to go and have a night of passion.

[MSG. Steven J. McMillan]

OOC: Ah! Not sure why I would be in England, but I’ll come up with some sort of reason…


Master Sergeant McMillan was slouched against the bar-top, taking an occasional swig from out of his pint of bitter every so often. He was unshaven and rough looking, in all honesty, Steven had hardly a chance to get himself cleaned up properly; He was shipped out to England in a hurry with a bunch of random soldiers, spanning from new recruits, to experienced ones, all of which were to play a job of their own; Steven’s job in particular was to get some men ready for the combat on-going in France, train a few men, run them through their paces and set them off on their merry way. It wouldn’t be long until he entered the fray himself.

So the Master Sergeant sat there, sipping on his beverage, lost in boredom, contemplating the thoughts of battle to come. He wasn’t quite sure whether the rest of his unit would be shipping to England, before hitting the frontlines, but all he did know, was that his card was calling and he’d be throttled into the thick of it sooner or later - it was always the same. “Another day in paradise…”[/I] he mumbled beneath his breath, as he lodged the bottle between his lips, forcing back a long swig, swallowing a mouthful of the warming beer. Urgh.

Quietly watching the room, he clunked the heavy glass back down against the bar-top and shuffled his sleeve back to look at the time; Only to notice he wasn’t wearing his watch. “Well that helped” he muttered a little sarcastically to himself, dropping his sleeve back down to pinion a look around the room, his hand reaching out to tap a young British soldier talking to someone. “You got the time?” he asked quickly, but the British lad shrugged and turned back to his mates - all of which pulled an amusing look towards the Master Sergeant who didn’t know the time. Taking no notice of their boggling eyes, he took a deep breath and got up, dragging his helmet from off the bar-top to perch beneath his arm and adjust the Thompson SMG that never left his side…

He’d been on a day out, training with some of the recruits he was ordered to get spick and span for the assault deep into Europe; So the Master Sergeant’s uniform was quite dirty in places, he should have thought so, as the British weather was utter diabolical! It never stopped raining and when it did, it left everything moist and muddy for days on end. So he wasn’t quite enjoying the climate he last experienced many years ago, back in Ireland growing up. Turning to a small table at his side, he looked to the young private who’d just stopped talking with someone - the man waltzing confidentially off to a young girl. “Lucky guy eh?” he said towards the young Private sitting at the table, grinning. “Don’t suppose you have the time, do you Private?” he asked the young man, looking pretty neat and clean.

[Stephen Colly]

Stephen waved David off with a grin he was about to take another sip of his beer when he heard a voice just behind him, an American sounding voice by the sound of things.
“Lucky guy eh? Don’t suppose you have the time, do you Private?”

Stephen gave a soft laugh and turned to face the master sergeant probably so he could talk. ”Yeah, David always seems to get the girls.” His accent was Devonshire, completely different to the American. Taking a sip of his beer, Stephen watched the man in front of him with interest. The man’s uniform was filthy and muddy to say the least; he had obviously been out on training this afternoon or this morning.
”No, not really, have been too busy injuring me-self!” Stephen laughed at the next statement that the American said.

As he spoke, he took from his pockets the packet of cigarettes that McMillan had left him as a present and a sort of get well soon card. A quick scribbling of words were on the packet –
To Stephen,
Hope you get better,
Yours –
Edward M

Stephen lit up a cigarette and offered the packet to the American. ”Want one?” he asked raising an eyebrow at the older man. ”I’m Stephen Colly, should really introduce myself, or rather Private Colly.” he added.

[MSG. Steven J. McMillan]

He broke a vague smile as the Private spoke of David always getting the girls, it brought back memories of one of his few good friends, being quite the womaniser. Unfortunately, the young Private eventually said he didn’t have the time, other than injuring himself? Steven couldn’t really care for the small-talk, he just wanted the time, so as the Master Sergeant took a long strafing look about himself, trying to catch a glimpse of someone perhaps thoughtful enough to be wearing a watch, he soon found his attention being diverted to the young Private saying something beside him.

Steven turned his head back towards the young Private asking him if he wanted something? It took a brief moment for the Master Sergeant to recognise what he was offering, until he nodded appreciatively to clunk his heavy steel helmet against the table, so he had a proper hand free to take the pack of cigarettes - sliding one out, he placed it upon his lips and looked to the Private. “Thanks…” he muttered from out between his lips holding onto the cigarette, but his eyes soon caught the writing on the packet; Edward McMillan, he knew this man? Pausing, he pulled the cigarette from off his lips and closed the foil down on the packet, dropping it down onto the table. “You can keep them” he said a little less happier or bolder than before, half looking to the Private as he introduced himself.

Puling out a seat across from the Private, Steven slowly sat down and began to wonder; Maybe it was worthwhile in staying? It seemed as if he could find out a little more about his pathetic Brother from this soldier, the feeling was mutual between Edward and Steven. “Master Sergeant McMillan -- Steven McMillan that is” he said with a grim smile, placing the cigarette back upon his lips to reach over his helmet to the lighter on the table, used by the Private to light his own cigarette. Sparking the flint, he rolled the flame over the tobacco and inhaled to get it lit. Dropping the lighter down with the case of cigarettes he’d put down onto the table, he fell back into his chair and stared at the Private curiously.

“Before you say it, yeah, I’m Edward’s brother” he said a little not-amused by the subject, knowing sooner or later the young Private would have poked him with the question after hearing him introduce himself as Steven McMillan. “So tell me, you a good friend of Edward’s?” he asked in a curious tone, taking another drag on the cigarette to puff out in a bellow of smoke, adding to the room’s musk atmosphere. Waiting for a reply from the young soldier, Steven adjusted his weapon clunking against his side a little, to get that tad more comfortable. He wasn’t quite sure what the Private would say about Edward, but he could tell the man held him in high esteem - something that would make Steven annoyed; Partly due to the fact this Private seemed more of a brother to him, than himself.

[Stephen Colly]

Stephen watched the Sergeant as he took the cigarettes and took one of the packet, handing it back to him. Pocketing the packet he just watched, listening to what the Sergeant said. So, this Sergeant was a McMillan….
He took a puff of his cigarette and watched the smoke go into the already stuffy and steamy atmosphere, “Before you say it, yeah, I’m Edward’s brother”

Edward had never mentioned having a brother, Edward hadn’t mentioned much at all about his family Stephen realized, Stephen had told Edward about his family but McMillan never about his.
His brother, Steven then asked if himself, Stephen was a friend of Edward.
Stephen nodded, ”Yeah, we are pretty good friends, Edward is real kind to me.” he said quickly, hoping there was no bad relationship between the brothers.

"Edward never mentioned that he had a brother." Stephen commented after a few seconds of silence between the two. "He is really nice, well to me that is..."