Mackenzie awaited James's arrival, drumming his fingers.  He was in a bad mood today, much like almost every other day, and he was getting irritable.  He had came here, out in the open with lots of other people in one place (one thing he hated) and James was late. 

He asked for some kind of alcoholic beverage, and took little sips as he waited impatiently.  The Hogshead was crowded, and he didn't like that one bit.  Too many people who could notice him.  He was in a public area, and yet, he was in pursuit by the ministry of magic, just waiting for his friend.

They weren't up to much, just having a drink or two.  Mackenzie had said it was on the house, a recent wand thieving helped him with that.  He had more than enough funds for it, as long as James didn't go over the deep end more than he already did.

Jame's nose still hurt, and it was twisted funny as well. He walked into the Hogs Head, the only other bar he could go into with out his head being chopped off by the bartender. It was extremely busy. It was never busy, 2 or 3 people at the most. He had a few galleons in his pocket and wanted a big bottle of vodka.

Mackenzie MacDonald had been Jim's roommate in Hogwarts and they had stayed friends for the past 4 years or so. Mac was a bitter critter, but James was one of the only people to get Kenzie to lighten up. He hadn't talked to his former roommate in a few months, he was glad Kenzie had extended the invitation first. James was dressed warmly and he trudged through the rain walking through Hogsmeade.

He could see Hogwarts from his place next to the pub, he thought of his little sister, did she even remember she had an older brother? This dampened his mood as he walked into the bar, awaiting his free drink from Mack. He plopped down next to his friend and buried his head in his arms.

"Hi, it's raining outside" his voice was muffled, he didn't want Mack to see his scrunched up nose.

When James walked in, Mackenzie breathed a sigh of relief.  He thought James would never come, but when he did, Mackenzie couldn't help but notice James's nose, which was crooked and a little blue.  Of course James had a broken nose.

 "Hi, it's raining outside," he said through his arms, his voice suppressed.  "Thank you, Captain Obvious," Mackenzie replied sourly.  The pitter-patter of raindrops on the roof would only go unheard if everyone in the bar was deaf.  "So, how did you manage that?" Mack gestured to James's nose, hoping that he was looking.

"What d'you want?  I mean, a beer, whiskey, name it, I'll buy it," He questioned James.  "I saw this muggle brand called "Bacardi" and it's quite nice.  It's a spirits company.  But I know you'd rather have vodka." He looked at James, waiting intently.  He pushed James out of his hunch-backed position.  "Ouch."

Mackenzie was about the same size as Jim, but when Mack grabbed his shoulder and pulled his head up he felt like a 9-year-old kid. He wanted to lie and tell Kenzie an epic story of saving a hot girl falling from an airplane on his broom, but he picked to tell the truth, knowing MacDonald would figure it out anyways.

"So I was being nice, brought Mark and his girlfriend breakfast, when I find that Mark is under some weird love potion, Julie stupefys him, I'm going crazy, I revive Mark, the Julie kisses me, which wasn't all that bad." Jim thought of the taste of her in his mouth. "Anyways, because he's high off this potion, he slugs me twice, hence the nose." James gestured to his twisted snoz.

"What d'you want?  I mean, a beer, whiskey, name it, I'll buy it,"


"I need to find my way home, so I guess I'll just have a dark lager." James wiped his runny nose and shook his head, sending water droplets spraying the people that sat near him.

Mack listened carefully to James's story, not quite believing what he heard.  "So... let me get this straight.  Mark's girlfriend kissed... you?" He was a little confused.  Mark and Julie were quite close-knit, and he knew exactly why Mark would punch James, but why would Julie kiss him?  That story reminded him of another experience similar to that situation.  He couldn't quite name exactly what he was thinking, maybe some teenaged student had told him about it once.  But he dismissed it.  "Dark Lager, okay...  What have you done with James?" He said sarcastically.  He ordered the drinks anyway, but he asked for a bottle of whiskey as well.  He handed a bottle to James.  "Bottoms up." 


   

"Yes Julie kissed me in an attempt to make Mark snap out of it. Which only made him want to shatter my skull a little more."

Their drinks arrived and Jim looked at his beer, then at the whiskey bottle. He groaned and reached for glass of lager. He took a sip, and grimaced. "Ick, too sweet." Jim slid the glass away, and wrapped his hand around the other bottle sitting on the table, he raised it to his lips and drank deeply.

He shook his head and placed the bottle down. "Ah, good stuff, so, whatcha been doing lately?" The thing about James even though he wouldn't care, he didn't know all of his friends had succumbed to criminals. He would have been the most likely to make it into Azkaban, but Mark and Kenzie, they were the good kids, Jim knew that Mark was an independent potioneer, and Mackenzie was a dragon trainer, not much else.

Yet he was still the one getting in trouble for bar fights, doing stupid  crap, but he would never be sent to prison for that stuff, he wasn't a criminal, but he might as well be one.

"Ah, n-nothing much," He replied weakly.  He really messed up right then.  But, James had taken a swig of the vodka, claiming the dark lager was too sweet, so Mackenzie was comforted that by the time they left, he'd probably have forgotten anything Mack said. 

He really should have thought about that, made up a lie about his cover job, to cover up his falter.  So he did.  "We got a Norwegian Ridgeback egg a while ago, and it finally hatched.  We called her Bessie, the name I gave her." He hoped that would do the trick, but he seemed insincere. 

He was almost sure that James saw right through him, realizing that he was in fact, lying.  He grabbed for the vodka, hoping James would snatch it back and take another swig.  He called for two more bottles, and, surprisingly, the bartender did not deny, he didn't even say, "Drink responsibly!" 

Something was a little off about the way Mack replied, but James paid it no mind. He looked at the bottle longingly, he wouldn't be able to get halfway through it, and it pained him. He needed to lean to take it easy, but now was not the time. he grabbed the neck of the bottle and took a swig.

He needed something a little heavier. He pushed the bottle away from him. "What do you have for shots?" He said, desperate for hard liquor. He waved his hands. "No wait, I want a round of Bacardi 151" The bartender put down the small tray.

James winced as he picked up the first shot glass, he just wanted everything to go away. He opened his mouth and the Bacardi slid down his throat like gasoline set on fire. He coughed. "You want one?" James said, pushing the tray towards Kenzie.

"With pleasure," He replied, taking a shot.  He was glad James didn't appear to be suspicious, so he didn't have to tell his friend he was a criminal straight to his face in public.  He also took a big gulp of whiskey, but he wanted more.  He polished off the first bottle and continued to the next.  He began to feel a little silly and off-balance, giggling as he slipped in his seat, hitting the floor.

Mark walked into the familiar bar, his coat collar buttoned tightly up. He stepped in, running a hand through his now thoroughly soaked hair. He started unbuttoning his jacket, scanning the crowd for James. Ever since the fight in the Leaky Cauldron, this was James' new drinking place. He finally found James, and walked towards him. James was not drinking alone. And clearly, not lightly either. Mark took a deep breath, and blinked slowly as he approached.

"Hey, James." He said to his friend. Mark looked at the other man who was sitting beside James, and his face fell. Mackenzie MacDonald. The man who ruined Hogwarts. Mac was always stealing James away when Mark was hanging out with him. Mac constantly was trying to win James over. He was constantly picking on Mark as well, and now, he was sitting next to him.

And as the cherry on top, he was the only sober one here. Poor Julie, she was never going to catch a break with Mark not in a fight. There was no way he was getting out of this bar in perfect condition.

After a few more shots, Jim joined Mac on the floor. He saw another wet headed person he knew. "Hey, hey, Kenzie, look, it's Mark, the guy who broke my nose!" James squealed, pointing at his own face. "AGH! Where's my nose! You took it!" Jim pointed at Mark, accusing him as the nose thief.

James started crying in his drunken state, "Give me back my nose or I'll kiss your girlfriends again." He braced himself on the barstool he had been sitting on, grabbed another shot and downed it. "You want one Markie?" James held out the empty glass. He was completely and utterly wasted.

Mackenzie laughed along with James, but grew angry when James said that mark had stolen his nose, he rose to his feet, stumbling into Mark, and promptly aiming his foot in between Mark's legs.  He laughed. "That... Is the last," He belched loudly, almost falling to the floor.  "...Time... you steal my lady's nose.  Jimmie and I don't wanna see your face... Ever... Again," He stated.

Mark crumpled to the ground, where he resisted every urge not to crawl into a little ball and cry. He staggered back to standing, and said horsely, "I probably deserved that. And so, I am not going to fight back." He said. "I'm sorry, James. Julie slipped something into my drink, then tried to counteract that. I was not in my right mind, and I am deeply sorry." He said.

"And James? Buddy, we gotta sober you up. Tina doesn't like you drinking." He said, trying to smile. "And, you are free to punch me back since I punched you." He said. "An eye for an eye."

"A nose for a nose..." James scratched his head, trying to piece together what Mark was saying. He used the counter top as a crutch and stood to hug Mark. He couldn't remember why he was hugging him, maybe he just wanted a hug. He smacked the back of Mark's head, the closest thing to a punch he could muster at that moment.

"I wanna go home, Tina's going to rip my eyes out." he said, still crushing Mark in a too-long man hug.

Mack stumbled on James and hugged him, too.  "Heh, heh... Mark, you sexy beast.  So... Knockturn Alleyish." He had no idea what he was saying, but he knew it was true, regardless.  "Mr... Poh... Shunmuggler.  Mr.. Potion smugg ler.  Hava... Drinkm-ark," he was slurring his words, big time.  He giggled, releasing Mark and James and falling on his bottom.  "Crah... shuh.  Landing!  Mayd... Ay!" He said. "Call... duh... med... ick," He laughed at his joke.  Leh.  Sugo ride... Ponies off int, ooh the suns.  Et."