If there was one thing Darren was known for, he would probably claim that it was his cynical nature and need to irritate those around them. Those who didn't know him, though, would probably suggest it was the dark gaze that he used to sweep across everyone he passed, while he tried to size them up. He was so attentive regarding others that he often failed to notice what he must look like to others. Good looks aside, Darren didn't always come off as attractive to those around him because he tended to have a disapproving frown on his face at any given moment.
For once, Darren was not walking into the Leaky with the intention of bothering whomever he found there. Declan, behind the bar, often did what he could to keep from chuckling at the younger man's antics. But the owner would often cut in if it seemed to be getting a little out of hand. When Darren walked in, the older man gave a nod, pouring up his typical glass of rum, and set it down in front of Darren before wandering off again.
Despite the fact that he should probably have noticed the girl sitting next to him as soon as he sat down, it took Darren pulling out his social psychology textbook and lifting the glass to his lips for him to glance over at the woman in question.
His eyes fell to he pages in front of her, one eyebrow lifting when he realized what she was studying. Immediately, he looked to her drink, his eyebrow lowering so he could tug both of them together. Everyone else in the pub, he noticed, seemed to be doing a fairly good job of avoiding her gaze, and even seemed to be trying not to look in her direction unless it was out of mere curiosity. And she seemed rather comfortable with it.
Despite his original plans of getting some notes written out ahead of time, Darren lifted his glass to his lips, and just started watching her, waiting for her to look up or say something.