In Need of A Drink (Open)

[Riley Fletcher.]

It had been a stressful day for Riley. Trying to keep up with her usual routine of school and practicing in the forest in her panther form, as well as staying in good shape. She wanted to be prepared for anything, in case the Resistance called on her. She was also trying to keep up with her social life as well, because she needed to have some fun and loosen up a bit as well.

Though today wasn't exactly a good day for her. Her friends seem to like drama a lot. Always gossiping about everyone and the latest thing that they heard or saw. It was impossible to keep up with it, but she would always manage to some how. Due to some latest rumor, a couple of her friends were not speaking to each other, but for people who seem to be not speaking, they sure liked to yell. They were trying to get her to pick a side, and Riley refused. Before she could explain why she didn't want to pick sides, they both turned on her and some how managed to bring up the topic about her parents. That sent Riley over board, causing her to blow up at them and headed to her room before she did anything else, like turn into a panther and rip their heads off.

Mostly people in her house, as well as a few people in the other houses, knew what had happened to Riley's parents. During her second year at Hogwarts her parents were killed in a car crash. Her whole world came crashing down after that, but over time, Riley eventually picked herself up and tried to move on with her life. Both of her parents were Muggles and she was very close to them. Many times she wished they were still around and she could tell them different things, like how she was doing in school and what she has been up to, though she wouldn't tell them everything. She just really missed them.

After a few minutes to cool down, Riley decided that she wasn't going to allow herself to sulk in her room for the rest of the night. She was going to go out and have some fun, or at least a few drinks to ease things up. Quickly going through her clothes, Riley found a nice black dress and some heels. She then put on some make-up and fixed her hair to look nice. Then with one last look in a mirror, she headed out to Hogsmead.

Knowing it was late and that she wasn't suppose to be out, Riley had to sneak out of the castle. Instead of taking the path to the town, and getting caught, Riley headed for the forest. Once among the trees, she transformed into a black panther and ran through the forest. Eventually, Riley made it to the edge of Hogsmead. While still covered by the trees, Riley transformed back to her normal self. Quickly fixing and readjusting herself, Riley then made her way into town.

Once Riley stepped into the Hog's Head, she glanced around the room. She didn't seen anyone she recognized, which she didn't mind. Riley walked up to the counter and ordered a fire whiskey. She then walked over to an empty table and sat down. As she sat there sipping her drink, hopping that something interesting could happen or that the drink could finally take effect.

[James King.]

The day had been a rather enjoyable one for James. He’d had a rather enjoyable one all things considered. A nice long lie in was followed by a leisurely lunch and some chatting with his friends. Then he’d gone into Hogsmeade on an errand, getting some new quills, ink and parchment. That had at the time seemed a rather boring blot on the day. However when he’d gotten there he found out that the bitter wizened crone that he usually saw there was not present, and in her place was a slim young redhead who’d turned out to be a sparkling conversationalist, and had slipped a couple off sickles off his bill and replaced them with her phone number. As if to put a cherry on top of the rather enjoyable day James found a shiny golden galleon in the street outside, which covered most of the expense of his new stationary. Still he decided that this windfall needed to be used properly and spent on something of proper value...preferably something strongly alcoholic.

The Three Broomsticks, from what he could see of it down the street, was filled to bursting. It wasn’t students, James was technically out after hours, but as luck would have it no one had decided to call him out on that yet. If he heard the catcalls right someone was having a rather lively bachelor party. Part of him was half tempted to slip in and see what all the hubbub was about, but the Hog’s Head was closer and, as always, much quieter.

Much, much quieter actually. It was mostly the pub’s grizzled regulars in the bar, either slumped over the bar in various states of inebriation or unconsciousness, or resting in booths far in the back. Putting a couple of sickles on the bar, he ordered a fire whiskey. He surprised himself with how thirsty he was, he had downed his glass almost immediately. A few more coins appeared beside the shrapnel he’d already deposited in front of the proprietor, and the glass refilled faster than it would have had it been done by magic.

Deciding that sitting with the strange men at the bar was a rather depressing experience, he turned around to look for a better seat. The booths in the shadows looked a tad foreboding for his liking, but the few tables were mostly full. He glanced from table to table, dismissing them out of hand. Several were full. One had a free seat but the table’s owner appeared to be muttering angrily to himself. Another had a chair set between to men furiously whispering and glancing furtively about them. Not a good bet there then.

Then he finally spotted a good table. Two seats, one of which was free, and the other of which was occupied by a firecracker of a woman in a little black dress and heels. With a semi-preparatory smirk to himself before he started moving, James walked over towards her and stopped beside the chair. ”Excuse me, but is this seat taken?”.

[Riley Fletcher.]

Nothing of interest was going on in the pub. Riley was beginning to wonder if this was a good idea, but she needed to escape her life for the evening. Besides the night was still young. There was still plenty of time for something to happen. Though she did wish that she had brought someone with her. It was looking a little odd for a young woman to be in a pub and on her own too. She knew she was asking for trouble.

It didn't take long for her to finish her first drink and then she ordered another. She would occasionally glance around the pub. Usually everyone kept to themselves, talking amongst each other, though she would sometimes catch a few looks at her. She would usually give them a small smile and look back at her drink. No one seemed interested in approaching her. She sort of wished someone would, so she could at least talk to someone.

Riley was about half way through her second drink when a hot guy walked in. He seemed familiar, like she had seen his face somewhere before, she just couldn't figure out where. He headed straight for the counter. She wasn't sure if he was there just for a drink, or maybe waiting for someone.

Riley turned her attention back to her drink, which didn't last for long. She heard a voice asking if the seat was taken. When she looked up, there was that hot guy, standing there looking at her. "No. No one is sitting there." She said to him with a smile. She took a sip of her drink as she waited for him to take a seat. She looked him over, getting a better glance at him, since he was standing in front of her. "So what is a guy like you doing in a place like this?" She asked him, getting a little bit curious as to why he was really here. It was very rare to find young good looking guys like him in a place like the Hog's Head.

[James King.]

James could see little of interest in the bar, other than the mix of strange, drunken or mentally disturbed men that filled the bar. Still the hour was early enough, something could miraculously jump out of the blue and make the night an interesting one. But so far nothing had caught his attention yet.

Cradling his second drink in his hand as he approached his destination he grinned at the very attractive young lady that was sat at the table. A quick once over confirmed his first impressions of her. When she mentioned that the seat was free he set down his glass on the table and sat down across from her. ”Well that’s good, I’d have hated to be left with only the sparkling conversation of our friends at the bar”. The drunkards there either didn’t hear or didn’t care. Or both.

In response to her question he smirked. ”And what might a guy like me be?”. After her answer he decided to answer her own question. ”Well I found a galleon on the street and decided that it needed to be spent on something worthwhile. I considered the three Broomsticks, but it’s packed. I think there’s a bachelor’s party going on”.

Sipping at his drink he added. ”The real question though is what such an enchanting young woman as yourself is doing out unescorted in a dive like this. It’s very irresponsible of your boyfriend to leave you alone in a place like there”. Taking another sip of his drink he found his glass was empty. Without looking to check her glass he asked ”Would you like another firewhiskey? My treat?”.

[Riley Fletcher.]

Riley watched the guy standing before her as he placed his drink down and sat down on the chair across from her. He was definitely hot, and it wouldn't hurt if she flirted with him a bit. Riley needed to have some fun every once in a while.

The guy joked about the other customers at the bar, and their liveliness. Riley couldn't help herself, but let out a small laugh. "They are a very talkative group aren't they?" She asked them. She glanced around the pub and noticed a few people staring at her, but everyone seemed to not care about what was going on around them.

Riley smiled at the guy when he asked her, what a guy like him is. She was about to answer his question, when he started up talking again, explaining why he was there. Apparently he found a galleon on the street and decided to spend it. When he mentioned that the Three Broomsticks seemed very busy and that it looked like it was a bachelor's party going on, Riley was glad that she didn't go there instead.

The guy was a real charmer, and quite amusing. He definitely had a way with words. He asked her why she was here, and why would she come here alone. "Well I needed a drink and since I don't have a boyfriend, I came on my own. Besides, I find that you can run into some really interesting people when you come alone." She told him with a smile. He asked her if she would like another drink and that he would pay for it. "Sure, I would love another one." She told him, still smiling. She had finished hers a few moments ago, and it wouldn't hurt to have another one. Riley was glad that she wasn't a light weight, since most girls she knew would be almost gone after their second drink.

[James King.]

James kept an eye on the girl as he took his seat opposite her. She was obviously the hottest person in the bar, although that didn’t really do her justice since the next hottest (other than himself of course) was a transvestite in the far corner. Still, she was definitely hot enough that flirting with her would just make a great day better, anything more than that would just be the cherry on top.

James smirked and nodded. ”Oh yes, sparkling conversationalists one and all. Politics, religion, music, there’s no subject that they haven’t a dazzlingly intelligent opinion on”. The bunch at the bar of course ignored him further. The only thing that really interested them was seeing how much firewhiskey remained in their glass, and how much more they could afford to get.

James smirked when she mentioned that she hadn’t a boyfriend. ”What? A charming young girl like you with no boyfriend? That needs to be rectified”. When she mentioned that she would love another firewhiskey he smiled and took both of their glasses up to the bar. Putting the big gold galleon on the bar he told the barkeep ”Two firewhiskeys, and keep them coming”. The gold coin disappeared and the glasses were refilled in not much more than and instant. Returning to his table he set the girl’s glass in front of her first, then sat down and took a sip from his own drink.

James glanced at the girl again and then gave another of his often used grin. ”So, Miss...”, he left a pause for her to fill in her name. ”You never told me what “a guy like me” is, or why it would be strange that I’d be here. Is it strange for me to like grotty little pubs like this?”.

[Riley Fletcher.]

It was hard not to keep her eyes off the guy. He was hot and she could tell that he knew it too. Though when she was able to take her eyes off him, she would occasionally glance around the room. She didn't know why, but she just had a feeling she had to stay on her toes, just in case something happens. It was the type of place where you can always find trouble and if someone found out she was muggle born and they were a pureblood, then she would be in deep trouble.

After Riley had mentioned that she didn't have a boyfriend, she noticed the guy smirk. She listened to him as he charmed her, saying that it wasn't right that she didn't have a boyfriend. "Well I just never found one who is able to handle me." She told him with a sweet smile. The truth was, she was always too busy and never really had time for one. Besides, no one has really bothered to ask her out anyways. "Wouldn't your girlfriend be mad at you for spending time with a stranger? That is, if you have one." She asked him, with a little smirk herself.

Riley watched him as he took her glass and went to buy some more drinks. She knew, she was going to have to watch herself and how much she drinks, because she still had a long run a head of her to get back to the castle. An image of a drunk panther trotting through the forest and to wards the castle flashed in her mind. That would be interesting to see, though it wouldn't be good either. "Thanks." She said, when he came back to the table and placed her glass in front of her. She picked it up and took a few sips from it.

Riley smiled at him as he casually tried to get her name. "Riley and you are?" She asked him coolly, still smiling. She listened to him as he asked her again, what a guy like him is and why would it be strange to find him here. "Well, you are very attractive and definitely hot. Which is what you rarely find in a place like this, unless there is some sort of event going on here." She told him, glancing around the place and then drinking some more fire whiskey.

[James King.]

James was finding himself unwilling or unable to look away from her, or maybe a mixture of the two. The few moments not spent looking at her though, he glanced around the room. Apart from the crazies and wierdos there appeared to be one or two rough customers. Still the barkeep here knew how to keep things under control. The usual bouncer here had to have at least a bit of giant blood in him, and the barkeep himself was the kind of individual who would have kept a shotgun behind the counter if he were a muggle.

James grinned. ”So you’re pretty tough to handle then? Well that’s good. Women who aren’t are boring. Besides, I like a challenge”. He smirked when she managed to casually managed to drop in a reference to a girlfriend into the conversation. ”Well since I don’t actually have a girlfriend I don’t think anyone would mind if I spent some time alone with an attractive young woman such as yourself”.

”No problem” he replied when she thanked him for the drink. Some part of him was wondering how high her tolerance to alcohol was. Most girls he knew would be hammered about halfway through the third glass, but something told him that it would take more than that in her case. Not that that worried him, he had plenty of money on him and all of the light to while away here. He could afford to test her level of tolerance.

James smiled back at Riley, now he finally had a name to put to the face. ”James, he replied, matching he smile with one of his own. He smirked as she finally managed to answer his question. ”Oh, so I’m “very attractive and definitely hot”, am I?”. He grinned at her and continued. ”Well Riley, I can tell you that the feeling is very mutual”.

[Riley Fletcher.]

Riley couldn't stop herself from smiling as she listened to him. Apparently he likes a woman who can challenge him. Though he would be surprised if he found out the other sides of her. She may appear harmless, but there was a fierce beast in her. She can turn into an animal, literally. "Well, I guess we'll have to wait and see if you really are up for the challenge." She said, while looking him over and smirked.

After casually asking the guy if he had a girlfriend, he replied to her saying that he didn't. This was going to be quite an interesting evening. Two single people, sitting in a bar together drinking. It almost seemed like anything could happen, like getting drunk and having a one night stand or something. Riley wasn't sure about having a fling with a stranger, but if she got drunk, there wasn't much she could do about that.

With a smile, Riley sipped her drink. It was her third drink, and almost half way done it. She was already beginning to feel the effects, getting a little buzzed, but she was still holding strong. It would take more for her to get drunk. Though, she thought it would be best if she slowed down a bit, and not drink as fast. So she would be able to prolong the evening a little more.

Not long after she introduced herself, he told her his name was James. Now she had a name to call him, instead of the hot guy from the bar. She smiled at him, when he told her that the feeling was mutual, since she told him that he was attractive and hot. "So what do you do besides come to a bar and charm people?" She asked him. Riley then tucked a strand of hair that had falling in her face behind her ear, as she waited for him to reply.

[James King.]

James smirked at her words. He did like a woman who was a challenge. While he hardly minded when a girl fell under his spell without much effort, it was more fun when that happened after the enjoyable back and forth of flirting, and someone with willpower was better still. ”Oh I’m sure I’m up to the challenge, I’m more worried about whether or not you can handle me”.

This evening was proving to be rather enjoyable. The day that had preceded it had been a lucky one. The evening though was better by far. He’d found an interesting woman and anything might happen in the near future. He might return to school a little tipsy, or he might wake up in the morning with a skull that felt like it was hosting a heavy metal concert, but with the knowledge of just what she looked like without that little black dress.

Sipping at his drink, James smiled. It was his third drink and he had yet to feel any ill effects. Why should he? He was Irish after all – that was one stereotype that people got right. Irishmen took to alcohol like ducks to water. It would take a lot more than this to get him out of it. As if to emphasise that he downed what remained of his glass and gestured for the barkeep to bring a bottle of the fiery drink to the table. He smirked across at Riley. ”It sure beats getting up every few minutes for a couple of new glasses”.

James grinned again. ”There’s other things for me to do? Usually I just go into bars, find the most interesting person in sight and turn the charm up to maximum”. He then decided to throw the question back at her. ”And what are you up to when you’re not using your considerable natural gifts to get all the firewhiskey you can drink from guys like me?”.