Little Lion Man

James Sirius Potter Gryffindor Seventh Year Disappointment

[james--sirius--potter]

Lovely.

[roxannethechaser-blog]

Yeah, but locking yourself in a room with an endless supply of alcohol won’t help anyone. [Roxy kept her gaze on her hands, fiddling with an old hair-tie around her wrist.] It wasn’t you because you weren’t there. There was literally nothing you could’ve done to stop it. I could have, though, but I didn’t. 

[james--sirius--potter]

Thanks for your brilliant input. I had no idea. *James spat, senseless anger bubbling up out of nowhere. For days he'd been upset, thinking about all that those blasted Death Eaters had snatched away from him. He was angry, not at Roxanne but at the situation.* What happened, Rox? You won't tell me, you won't tell anyone? Who... who did this?

[invisible-potter]

[Albus finally entered the room, closing the door quietly behind him, his confidence diminishing more with each step. He stood with his sleeves pulled down over his hands, fabric knotted into fists, staring at his older brother as if he was ready for an attack.] Not entirely… People keep asking me how you are, and I can’t give them a real answer because I haven’t seen you since… well, since you left, a-and we haven’t really spoken since your birthday. So I just… th-thought a visit was justified. Because I’m suppos-… I can go, though… [he cast his eyes down again, deeply frightened by James for no real reason he could come up with.] if you’d rather.

[james--sirius--potter]

No need to look so terrified. I'm your brother, Al. Not some bloody monster. *James sneered, making use of the bottle in his hand and pouring the contents down the hatch. He wrinkled his nose as the strong whiskey bite back, stinging his throat with a pleasurable pain.* Sorry 'bout the mess. If I'd have known there'd be visitors I'd have hide it in the closet.

[invisible-potter]

[Albus turned his face down, inspecting the bottle his brother held. It really wasn’t a surprise to know he’d been drinking, that had been an issue even before Fred… Albus shifted uncomfortably on his feet, still only at the entrance, he rubbed the back of his neck with his hand, and managed to pull an half grin expression to try and make himself seem less frightened.] C-can I… come in?

[james--sirius--potter]

Sure. *James shrugged, too tired to protest or ask to be left alone. Despite what he did- drink, leave owls unattended, lock himself up- no one seemed to catch on that talking was the last thing he wanted to do.* Let me guess... *He started, interrupting himself mid-sentence to take a swig of the amber liquor* ...you're here to check up on me.

[invisible-potter]

[Albus opened the door without knocking, doubting not only that his nerve would last long enough for him to wait for the door, but that it would be answered at all. He couldn’t quite muster up the courage to take a step inside, but he couldn’t back out now. Clearing his throat, forced a single word out.] James?

[james--sirius--potter]

*James had been nestled in his favorite armchair, the battered one tucked away in the corner beside the window. A half-empty bottle of whiskey rested in his hand as his cluttered mind drifted back to the horrible what-ifs that had been lingering in his head for days. Hearing the door squeak and the sound of his name pierce through the silence, he looked up and stared at his brother through squinted eyes* Al?

[cliftonhooch]

Hrmph, ugh. What?

[cliftonhooch]

Huh. Don’t I count as a patron any more?

[james--sirius--potter]

Not when you haven't bought a drink in over an hour. 

[cliftonhooch]

Hrmph, ugh. What?

[cliftonhooch]

… Why the hell not?

[james--sirius--potter]

Cause we've got patrons waiting. *James nodded towards the witch growing impatient over in the corner* 'Sides, the manager told me to. If it were up to me I'd say the hell with it.

[james--sirius--potter]

Lovely.

[roxannethechaser-blog]

You can’t really hide from it, either. [Keeping a foot or two between them, Roxy sat down beside him on the bed. She fidgeted, trying to find a comfortable position, and kept her eyes on her hands in her lap.] Why did it have to be him? He was one of the few decent people in the world and now he’s just gone. 

[james--sirius--potter]

I know. Been trying. *James sighed, resting quietly beside her as he twiddled his thumbs. Once she opened her mouth to speak, he glanced over to stare at her through heavy-lidded eyes.* I don't get it either. Been trying to figure that out. Why him, why not me? 

[nathalieblue]

Hello? Is anyone even here?

[Nathalie groaned and rolled her eyes.] This is an amazing establishment you people are running, truly amazing.

[james--sirius--potter]

Don't get your knickers in a twist. We're working on clearing a table. *James shook his head at the girl as he waited patiently for a pair of costumers to leave* 

[cliftonhooch]

Hrmph, ugh. What?

[james--sirius--potter]

You can't sleep here, mate. *James grumbled, swiping a dirty dish off the table* Need a nap, try getting a room upstairs.

[james--sirius--potter]

Lovely.

[roxannethechaser-blog]

It’s the truth, isn’t it? [In a desperate attempt to avoid his gaze, she crouched down to pick up all the bottles he’d knocked over again. Cleaning up seemed to be the only thing keeping her thoughts straight.] You don’t get it. People are counting on me to be okay. Mum, Dad, Frank, Lily, and everyone else. I have to be over it or at least look like I am. That’s just the way it is.

[james--sirius--potter]

Doesn't mean I like to hear it. *Giving up on his search for whiskey, James set the bottle back down on the nightstand and let himself take a seat on the edge of the bed. His shoulder slumped and his head hung low, he sighed as he continued to mumble.* This isn't something we can get over. It's always going to hurt. We just learn to put up with it.

[rheamonaghan-deactivated2014010]

So what's this I hear about a party?

[rheamonaghan-deactivated2014010]

Read More

[james--sirius--potter]

*Upon hearing his name roll off her plump kissable lips, a low growl sounded in his throat. It was intoxicating, feeling her press against him and succumb to his touch. For once, Rhea seemed to be granting him a victory, displaying just what he could do to her.*

[james--sirius--potter]

Lovely.

[roxannethechaser-blog]

We didn’t lose him, James. We’re not going to find him hiding in the kitchen or reading in the Astronomy tower. He’s dead and he’s not coming back. [Roxy flinched as a few of the bottles broke, taking several steps closer to the door] Yeah, but I’m done crying. I felt sorry for myself for two weeks, then I got over it. What about you? 

[james--sirius--potter]

You know what I meant. But thanks for that stinging reminder. *The bottle in his hand held nothing but a few droplet of amber liquid, not nearly enough to quench his thirst or do its proper job. Tossing it onto his bed, forgotten, James shoot his head at his cousin's words* No. You're not over it. None of us are, nor will we ever be.

[james--sirius--potter]

Lovely.

[roxannethechaser-blog]

You lost your best friend, I get that. He was my brother. I watched him…[Roxy trailed off and crossed her arms over her chest, not wanting to fight with her cousin.] But life goes on. You can’t just lock yourself away and try to forget because the world doesn’t stop turning when someone dies. 

[james--sirius--potter]

And whatever he was to us... we both lost him. *James began inspecting the bottles cluttering his bedside table, knocking a few over and sending them crashing to the ground in the process.* You cry, I drink. People wear black, I pour myself another. To each their own... or whatever.

[james--sirius--potter]

Lovely.

[roxannethechaser-blog]

I’m the pregnant girl who watched her brother die. You’re obligated to do what I saw. [The sentence should’ve sounded sad or, at the very least, hurt, but Roxy said it as if it was nothing out of the ordinary. Her tone was even, albeit a bit exasperated, as she paused to glare at her cousin.] Don’t make me start crying. 

[james--sirius--potter]

This isn't a contest about who has it off worse. You're hurting, so am I. Think that much is clear. *James shook his head as he rose to stand on his feet, his balance off but he still managed to hold his glare. For days he'd locked himself away, firewhiskey his only company and the only means he had to help make him forget* Why you think I've been drunking... why I'm pissed, hmm? 

[james--sirius--potter]

Lovely.

[roxannethechaser-blog]

It might. [After struggling to open the weathered window, Roxy poured the contents on the container down onto the plants below.] What you need is a shower. And some decent clothes while you’re at it.

[james--sirius--potter]

Really? Is that what I need? *Leaning forward on the chair, James cocked his head to the side and stared at Roxanne through narrowed eyes.* That's not what comes to mind for me.

[james--sirius--potter]

Lovely.

[roxannethechaser-blog]

You can’t keep this up forever, James. [With nothing better to do, Roxy set to work gathering the stray bottles into a pile on the floor. There had to have been at least ten, if not more, of all different shapes and sizes. The next thing she did was stack the letters neatly on the desk for him to answer when he decided to sober up and, lastly, she snatched the flask out of his hand.] Are you even listening to me?

[james--sirius--potter]

Yes, but one more drink isn't going to kill me, is it? *He slurred, watching as she made her way across the room, disposing of bottles left and right. James was able to down one last swig before his method of numbing the pain was stripped from his calloused hands.* Oi, I needed that.

[bigjazzboy]

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