It's Friday night on their second weekend as a couple, and they've just stepped into at a pub Daphne frequented before starting to go out with Donny. She's explained beforehand that it would be better if they're discreet for now and forgo the pub she and Donny used to go to together, as she doesn't want to hurt him more by running into him with Niles as her current sentimental partner. Niles understands, but can't help the slight pang of jealousy. He's jealous of every man that has ever been involved romantically and sexually with her, especially since she entered his life. He's aware that it's irrational and absurd, and that the only important thing is that she's with him now, and of course, he'd never externalize that primitive instinct of possessiveness, unless of course someone started to openly flirt with his girl in front of him. But apart from that, he's determined to rein in his jealousy, and he's willing to comply with Daphne's desire to spare Donny's feelings, for the time being at least. It's a reasonable request and anyway Niles would do anything for her.
The barman and quite a few patrons know her by name and treat her with easy familiarity, asking how she's doing and joking around her. Niles feels thrilled when she introduces him as her boyfriend and he's given handshakes and friendly pats on his shoulders. He almost grimaces when one or two of them start to call him Niley, but he swallows down his displeasure. After all, they look like well-intentioned people and he isn't going to make a fuss out of a stupid nickname. He tries not to show any discomfort, for Daphne's sake. Luckily, she's too distracted talking animatedly with her old acquaintances to notice anything.
"You're a lucky dude, you know?," one of the guys says. "Daph used to be our heartthrob around here, some of us yearned for her, and still do, but she's never payed attention to any of us. The times she's come here with a playmate, it's been someone from out there. Looks like we aren't enough for our picky Daphey, aren't we?," he says loudly enough for her to hear. She turns around and Niles flinches at the man's taunting.
"If you lot cared to wash yourselves from time to time and stick your tongues into a bleach container to wash it too, then perhaps you might have a chance to seduce a goat, and that goes especially for you, Jeffie," Daphne retorts without missing a beat. Everyone laughs, including the chastised Jeffie, and no one bats an eye, as if those kinds of jabs are the rule here. Niles attempts to relax again, but his face must have shown something, as Daphne looks at him with a slight concern, while the others resume their loud chatting and drinking.
"Are you okay, dear?," she asks, and her use of the pet name warms him. "He means no offense by that, really. It's just how these rogues talk about everyone and everything. And I know how to handle them. Remember, I grew up in the suburbs of Manchester with eight brothers and a bunch of nosy neighbours, and everybody was foul-mouthed," she appeases with a teasing smile.
Niles's admiration for her shoots up a few more notches. He knows about her background, of course, she's mentioned her old life in England often, and he wonders once more how this magnificent creature came up from such a rough environment. True beauty appears even in the least expected places, and Daphne is living proof. "I'm okay, don't worry, sweetheart. It's only that I have to get used yet to this kind of sense of humor, it's all," he admits, smiling back at her. He feels centered again just by looking at her lovely face.
"You sure? We might go somewhere else if you don't feel comfortable here," she offers honestly, and that gesture touches him.
He shakes his head as convincingly as he can. "No, no, I'm good here, truly. In fact, it's been a while since the last time I tasted a good pint of dark beer. Do you fancy one, honey?," he asks, genuinely willing to taste again the strong beverage after so long, even if it's not one of his favorites, but he doesn't dislike it either.
"Oh, yes, I love stout. But remember, my treat," she reminds him with a lifted eyebrow, and they both head for the counter to place their order. The barman serves their pints and Daphne pays.
One of the compromises they've reached, apart from their agreements regarding their attendance to shows and other varied places, is that Niles pays when he chooses, and the same goes for Daphne. It's only fair, and although Niles has to struggle a bit with his old-fashioned habits which dictate that a gentleman always pays when a woman is present, he hasn't argued. Daphne is quite a traditional woman in many aspects and likes to be treated gentlemanly, but in the matter of money, she hasn't relented. She's independent and self-sufficient, and she only allows Niles his pampering and attentions because she knows that he does it out of true care and concern for her wellbeing and happiness, and not as a means to win and buy her through money.
And anyway, when it's her turn to choose, she picks places she can easily afford, so it's a reasonable agreement.
Niles ultimately doesn't care where they go, as long as they're together.
They sip their pints and Daphne tilts her head, pointing at the dart game, excited. "You fancy trying that?," she challenges.
Niles remembers his time in Cambridge. He played a few dart games, and he found out that he had much better aim than he'd expected. Perhaps if he can dust off his rusty skill, he might be able to impress Daphne. She's very good at pool, but he isn't bad himself at darts, or that he hopes. He recalls, years ago, a dingy bar, a bunch of ruffians and Daphne looking so sexy playing pool like a professional, standing up to the riffraff, only to lose in the end, forcing her, Niles and Frasier to run away from the den. It had been strangely funny and exhilarating, a true adventure, and by then Niles had already surrendered himself completely to Daphne's charm and liveliness, though he was chained to his marriage.
"Why not?," he accepts, in high spirits again. "I'm not new to that game. I sometimes played darts when I was a student at Cambridge."
"I'm glad. That way there will be more competition," Daphne replies animatedly, paying for their round in the game. They get ready to start. "It was fate what made you reside in my country for a while," she teases, and Niles makes a courteous gesture, indicating that she goes first.
"Perhaps. Either way, I'm glad that I was just a few dozens of miles from you," he says with a soft grin. "If I had met you, I'm certain that I would have noticed you by then. You're like a magnet to me, Daphne."
"You're so sweet." She leans forward and kisses him for everyone to see. Niles feels his chest swell with love for this incredible woman.
And then, the game starts and they spend a great time competing against each other, stealing kisses between shots and sips from their pints, and trying to mess with each other playfully. In the end, Daphne wins, but Niles doesn't give a damn about losing.
Not when they have kept kissing, touching and laughing all the time.