BURN BABY BURN.

[EMERSON HUNTER AVERY]

LOOK INTO MY EYES ,
see someone you don't recognise.

With a drink grasped tightly in his hands, and the heavy smell of firewhiskey hanging heavily in the air, you would never find a happier Emerson Avery. Except perhaps when he was flying atop a broom, soaring through the sky and dodging enemy players who sought to fire heavy balls at him which... well, they hurt. It had been far too long since he'd allowed himself the comfort blanket that was inebriation, everything had been too hectic of late. With the qualifiers for the World cup taking place all over the world he had been jetting here and their for his job. Whoever thought that a sports star did no work was a complete chump, if he wasn't playing he was training and if he wasn't training he was doing publicity.

Damn publicity, he mumbled under his breath, tipping the remains of the good old muggle pint back into his mouth and swallowing it quickly, enjoying the taste of the unknown brand with a palate that had been denied of late. You did get bored of champagne and firewhiskey sometimes after all and the muggles had something right. Around him in the little pub there were patrons drinking themselves into a stupor that they wouldn't be able to climb their way out of until morning, in the corner a group of pensioners were singing long forgotten songs of their days in the sun, from countries that their blood said they belonged to, yet their body had never visited. It was a welcome background noise for the young man who sat alone with nothing but his drink and his mind for company, well after he had drank the last drop of his lager, it seemed he was missing one companion.

Pulling himself slowly to his feet, his step slightly faltered due to the amount of alcohol he had ingested, he made himself to the bar, smoothing down the length of his wool sweater though it was unnecessary, no one was looking at him here, no one cared that Englands golden boy was sat within their midst, drinking himself into a stupor that would rival their own. Reaching the bar he leant his weight against it and with a grin, ordered another, his mouth already waiting for the sweet liquid to assault his taste buds once more. There really was something in this alcoholism, it didn't half serve you well when you had nothing else better to do.

[talie]

she had bought the gown for the halloween bash only last week, and now her mother was pulling her out of school, yet again, to find a few gowns for the approaching winter holiday. as she slid on yet another strangling dress, that held her tight around the hips and fell rather low at the chest, she tore herself free of some expensive fabric that left very little to the imagination and slipped into her original outfit, before apparating into a rather dark alley of muggle london. she had nearly snapped her wand, which was balled in her fist, in the process.

she was praying to a god she didn't believe in that her mother had been too preoccupied with her youthful fantasies to hear the sound of natalie's dismissal from behind the curtain of a changing room. bloody woman, she muttered, tucking her wand into it's holster and slipping out of the alley. she walked along until her eyes fell upon a tavern she had never been inside before. just as she was figuring she would grab a few drinks to take off the anxiety her mother had caused away, her eyes fell upon a familiar silhouette through the window.

she watched for a moment as he stumbled toward the bar, and the anger that had first rose in her at the sight of him turned into a sort of sympathy. mainly, she was a little disappointed. she pulled the door of the tavern open, the bell ringing in the most obnoxious welcome, and made her way to him. she stood beside him for several moments without him noticing before she spoke. what the bloody hell are you doing? she scolded. natalie figured the rules of drinking she followed should apply to everyone else. if you ever get drunk do so with at least one companion. she placed her hand on his shoulder. em! she wasn't sure if he was even hearing her. she wanted to give him a good slap and call him a twat. perhaps that would get his attention. are you alright?

[EMERSON HUNTER AVERY]

LOOK INTO MY EYES ,
see someone you don't recognise.

Sliding onto the rather comfortably bar seat, that had looked awfully hard from where he had been sitting earlier, he waited patiently for the man behind the bar to return to him with an overflowing glass. Resting his face in his hands he placed elbows on the bar, not caring how the sticky soiled wood might ruin his expensive sweater, it wasn't like he couldn't buy another was it? Eyes sweeping upwards he admired himself arrogantly in the reflective surface that muggles always seemed to place behind the mounted liquor bottles. His eyes looked slightly tired around the edges but apart form that he looked fine.

Preoccupied he didn't even here the sound of the bell as the door opened, and gave no thought to whichever little muggle might make their way into the warm haven that Emerson had become so fond of in no time at all. When a girl drew even with him though and a barking voiced demanded a voice from him he turned slightly confused eyes upon her, registering who she was immediately and splitting into a less than suitable grin. Well if it isn't my little Slytherin Princess he didn't both to lower his voice, no one would know what he was talking about anyway. Just as he spoke a pint was set down before him and he turned away from those disapproving eyes. What did she want anyway? Surely she couldn't be angry with him for having some fun for once.

As she placed a hand on his shoulder, well he assumed it was her hand, he was shocked back towards her, taking his attention away from the drink with a childlike sadness. Twisting in his seat he turned solemn eyes on her. She looked exactly how she always looked, pissed off with him. Oh how he remembered such an expression. Though he hadn't been expecting her words as she enquired to his state of mind. Raising one eyebrow he remained silent for a moment before forcing out a few words and a shrug, another smile already slipping on his face, I'm fine.. turning back he grasped his cold glass and raised it, Thirsty though with another grin he raised the frothy drink to his lips and took a mouthful, wiping away the white moustache the drink left behind with his sleeve, want one? see he was a gentleman really.

[talie]

natalie cocked her head to the side, her expression softening. she had never known emerson to be this drunk. sure, he looked alright but there was a sort of hazed look in his eyes and he didn't hold himself with his usual composure. it seemed unlike him to drink very much during the quidditch season. he stared at him while he drank, her face continuing to soften until he expression seemed nearly usual. yes, she practically snapped, an idea forming in her head. yes, i would, she reached forward and snatched his pint away, taking a long drink. she needed that drink for her mother, and when she took a second she needed it for emerson.

after her two long drinks, the glass was around half empty, and she slid it out of his reach. you wouldn't lie to me would you? she began. alright, i know, i'm a bitch. you've always known that, though. if i apologize for it though, will you talk to me? tell me why you're drinking?

[EMERSON HUNTER AVERY]

LOOK INTO MY EYES ,
see someone you don't recognise.

A puzzled and slightly outraged expression passed over his features as he saw the image of his pint swoop across his vision and the feel of it vanish from his hands. As a world class Quidditch player you might have thought his reaction times would have been a lot better, but with a few hours of drinking time behind him, he was feeling slightly foolish at letting her out smart him. If she'd have just asked for her own he would have happily shelled out the money to buy her one, but this, this was an outrage, fixing her with a disapproving look he leant dodged around her, determined not to be separate from it and extended his arms to full in order to pluck it from where she placed it. Prize won he didn't spare any time in making his escape in a rather child like and not very daring way.

Of course his plan was foiled when she opened her mouth and with a slight reluctance he danced back towards her, taking a tight grip of her arm and leading her towards his little table in the corner, whilst she spoke to him. With a strangely uplifted mood he crashed into his seat, leaning a little too far over which left him fighting to keep his drink steady. Steadying it finally he set it on the table, letting a chuckle leave him before he looked up to address the girl that was looking at him with a strangely warm expression. Did he really look like that much of a prat?

Listening to her closely he felt his eyebrow hitch up, she was taking such a serious tone with him, was there something he was missed? Was the alcohol overflowing his brain that much. Peering at her curiously he processed her words. Yeah you're a bitch, no I wouldn't lie to you, and sure, all you have got to do is ask with a slightly toothy grin he suddenly became aware of how easy a target his drink was and he pulled it towards him, cradling it in his hands.

[talie]

natalie shook her head in disappointment. like a mother whose child wouldn't give up drinking. sure, this wasn't going to lead to alcoholism or anything so terrible. finding happiness in the bottom of a bottle, however, never seemed like a good thing. if you found happiness there once, you'd hope to find it there over and over again. that was alcoholism and though she had a strong doubt that this is what this one night would lead to, she was being cautious. she was being unselfish, and she rather wished he was sober enough to notice this rare moment.

she rolled her eyes as he called her a bitch and smiled. you're never supposed to agree with a lady when she calls herself a bitch. she was staring at the glass now, still smiling but obviously not happy with his decision to keep on drinking. especially, after nearly falling on his bum. it's a good thing for you, i'm not a lady, she pointed a finger at him. don't agree with me on that! she laughed a little but let her features contort into a concerned expression. why are you drinking?

[EMERSON HUNTER AVERY]

LOOK INTO MY EYES ,
see someone you don't recognise.

Watching her movement he wouldn't help suddenly feel like he was doing something wrong, but for all his might he couldn't exactly pinpoint what it was. Of course Natalie had always had a flare for the over dramatic and no doubt she was dreaming up worries and explanations that even he couldn't fathom. Not wanting to hurt his brain by trying to break her expressions down he decided maybe the drink in his hand would offer solitude and took a large mouthful, draining half of what was left in the glass vessel.

As she rolled his eyes he gave another chuckle, choking down the liquid as he became overcome with the urge to laugh, here she was, eighteen years old, trying to mother him, him! It was undeniably amusing, he was twenty two for gods sake and the law said he was a grown man, and the law definitely said he was old enough to drown himself in a nice pint of lager. As she spoke he raised a single eyebrow once more, its movement almost constant now. Well you shouldn't be so cryptic then, and if you don't wan me to agree with you, you shouldn't tell the truth there was a sincerity in his tone that could not be fake, he truly did believe she was a bitch in this moment and time, after all, she'd provided enough evidence for it over the years.

Though his mouth was already open to speak, a sentence that had not quite been a disagreement but more a slightly lewd comment about how he definitely knew she was a lady, he closed it quickly, her interruption causing him to rethink his words. As she laughed he gave a small shrug, wondering what had caused such a strange change in her Shouldn't you be trying to slap me or something? settling back in his seat he fixed her with an unfaltering gaze, he may not have been sober, but he still had his mind. A laugh escaped him at her words though and he pushed past it Honestly? Well I just got bored of putting on the front, no one wants to be Mr Amazing Prince Charming 24/7 you know making a face he nodded towards her and added with a teasing voice Though since you got here I'm simply drinking you pretty would she snap at him? She just might, but only a fool would believe he was speaking any truth.

[talie]

oh trust me, love, you're no prince charming, she smirked, but his next comment felt like an unnecessary blow. she kicked his shin from under the table, but laughed into the palm of her hand. she, too, noticed a change in her own character. here she should have been glaring and swearing and kicking and screaming. instead, she was laughing as if they were just young school children. i suppose i'm just in a good mood. i have those every so often, she snapped, a playful giggle in the back of her throat. she scowled at his glass. or perhaps i've been drugged. i don't recall ever giggling before in my life.

she slouched in her chair. you know i'm gorgeous, don't you dare deny it. she smirked. are we friends em? she asked, wondering if she could count how many friends she had on one hand or two. perhaps she wasn't as frigid as she thought. perhaps she wasn't as frigid as everyone though. emerson knew her rather well, perhaps he could tell her. she looked to him for a long moment waiting for him to answer, before catching a whiff of someone's perfume in the air. her face contorted. oh merlin, not again, she stood quickly. every little smell or...makes me sick these days, she used that as a dismissal and took off for the bathroom.

muggle bathrooms were dirtier than wizarding bathrooms, but the floor hurt less to kneel on. it took her several moments for her to empty whatever had been in her stomach for the last few hours and took her several minutes to even want to stand again. she pulled her hair out of her face and washed up in the sink, rinsing her mouth for most of the time she was in the bathroom. finally she returned the table, surprised that he hadn't left. sorry, she muttered, sitting back in her chair.

[EMERSON HUNTER AVERY]

LOOK INTO MY EYES ,
see someone you don't recognise.

A grin split his face again, Hey just tell that to my legions of fans of course he wasn't entirely fooling everyone, a day didn't go by when he wasn't being crucified in the press. Pictures of him with women were everywhere, even his Mother had been features, he'd particularly liked that headline 'Avery goes for a more mature woman' he hadn't laughed like that in along time when his mum had thrown the Prophet at him. Even remembering brought a nostalgic glint to his eye but he instead continued to make nice with Nat. That was until she felt the hard edge of her shoe collide with his shin.

OW! he exaggerated loudly, if he had been stood up this would have been the opportune moment to grip his leg and hop up down in mock agony. Fixing her instead with a sullen glare he took another mouthful, if only to piss her off for hitting his leg If I can't fly I'm sending the entire country down on your head you know what an empty threat, of course he'd be able to play the pain was already fading, but it was fun to throw such a thing at her. It was the laughter she had barked at him after her little attack that made it all worse, he didn't like being made a fool. Yet just like a child, his sullenness quickly disappeared thanks to the alcohol. A good mood? eyeing her suspiciously he hid behind the rim of his glass, though he had taken to making sure his sips were small and sparing, he didn't fancy another trip to the bar. I vote drugged, you're never in a good mood ok maybe she was, but he couldn't quite remember such a mood recently.

Rolling his eyes he set the pint glass down, listening to her words that were so full of arrogance they could easily rival his own. Yeah yeah, and of course we're friends waving his hand he moved the subject along, right now any problems they had seemed insignificant. As she flew to her feet however his eyes widened in both shock and concern, but as she garbled a few words out at him he wasn't quite able to take a handle on the situation before she was running from their table in the direction of the bathroom. Looking at her dumbfounded he heard an old woman from the next table giggle and lean over the separating stools to speak to him. Turning his head numbly he accepted her words and gracious smile the sickness is the worst, she must not be that far along then her face seemed to warrant an answer, but all he could muster was a blank look and silence. Far along? Far along what?

As Natalie sat down again he swung his eyes upon her, listening to her apologize. Attempting to keep his tone steady he took a deep breath and swallowed the bile that was rising in his throat as thoughts that he couldn't process right now swam through his mind. Um.. Nat do you have something to tell me..?

[talie]

natalie got comfortable in her chair once more, taking a few deep breaths through her nose. her brows furrowed as she tried to figure out why the woman sitting a table away was smiling at her. what the hell is wrong with these muggles? she began to think that perhaps everything sold in this tavern was laced with something. hopefully, she had just sent whatever she had swallowed to the sewers of london. she quirked a brow. you're a twat? congratulations on your last quidditch win? she suggested. any of those right? she reached forward for his glass, hoping a sip of beer would help to remove the after taste that the water of the bathroom sink hadn't removed. just one more drink? she asked this time.

[EMERSON HUNTER AVERY]

LOOK INTO MY EYES ,
see someone you don't recognise.

Watching her closely he didn't know what to think. Part of him wanted to dismiss the kind woman as being batty and go on with his night, but part of him - the sober part no doubt - ordered him to stop, assess the situation and scream at the young girl before him. Well maybe the scream was his drunken side making a reappearance. As it was he kept staring at her, slightly slack jawed as if he might be able to figure out what had just happened by looking at her alone. When she spoke he half snapped out of it, and a frown furrowed his brow, That wasn't necessary... true, not not necessary as she continued to guess he didn't show any sign of amusement though he was rather proud of his Quidditch win and the words 'I think you already congratulated me enough for that' were desperately longing to leap from his mouth.

As she reached forward however he snatched it away from her, knowing she would no doubt spit angry words at her for the gaul of it! Pulling it towards him he glared at her, not sure what other expression to put on his face. I don't think you should be drinking right now how blood stupid did he sound saying that?

[talie]

natalie cocked her head as he pulled the glass farther from her. was this revenge from earlier? em! i don't have any bills on me and highly doubt that man will take my gringotts coins - he'll think i'm some loony foreign slag, she reached forward again. i asked this time. please, i really want this taste out of my mouth. there was really nothing else she could say or ask without nagging or begging or like a silly prostitute. i complimented your win, it's only fair you share. she licked her lips and let them fall back into that familiar pout, blinking slowly and doing her best to win him over. or give me a few bills and i'll head up and buy you a refill and take a few sips off of the top, she offered.

[EMERSON HUNTER AVERY]

LOOK INTO MY EYES ,
see someone you don't recognise.

Keeping narrowed eyes on her he shook his head slowly, if she wanted to think he was being selfish than let her, it was easier, and a much more desired reason for his reluctance than the truth, stupid old woman burying strange ideas in his brain, it wasn't fair to play such tricks on young men like himself, especially when he wasn't thinking straight. As she reached forward he quickly raised the drink up and downed the last drop in one, taking a mouthful that was slightly too large and meant a couple of drops spilt over down his chin. Shaking his head he gulped audibly, feeling slightly sick himself. With a disgusted look her looked back at her. You only said it as a joke anyway, and you kicked me cocking his head to one side he gave a grin therefore, I owe you nothing.

The offer she made was strangely appealing but there was that nagging voice again and he blurted out a rather loud NO which definitely caught the attention of those around them. Feeling slightly sheepish he set the glass down, noticing vaguely why the woman who had interfered so annoyingly only moments later, was leaning back over to whisper something to Natalie that sounded like maybe you should take him home, it must be frustrating after all, what with you not being able to drink in this condition in the back of his mind he couldn't help but grin at how Natalie would react at being called 'in this condition.'

[talie]

natalie raised her brows, resisting calling this woman anything along the lines of cow, batty, and telling her to mind her own damn business, as her mind was questioning her words. what condition? sober? you look rather slender, though, you must not be very far along, the stupid twat continued. then it hit her and her jaw fell open, her eyes grew wide. i'm not bloody pregnant! she had half a mind to pull her wand from her holster and giving this woman a good talking to. one of those wand to woman talking to's, that is. natalie blushed, realizing that emerson's outburst had grabbed one half of the taverns attention and hers had grabbed the rest.

she blushed, madly, glaring at the woman and standing from the table heading out onto the street. she wrapped her arms around herself and took several deep breaths. she now understood why emerson was being so stubborn, and smiled a little, at least it showed her cared some what for her safety and the safety of the child she wasn't caring. she looked down to her belly, raising her shirt and running her fingers along the bare skin. she was praying again to that god she didn't believe in that she was still as slender as she thought she was. before she pulled her shirt down, she heard the bell ring above the door. she pushed her shirt down and crossed her arms over her chest again, feeling quite miserable.

[EMERSON HUNTER AVERY]

LOOK INTO MY EYES ,
see someone you don't recognise.

He couldn't help it. As soon as the diminutive Slytherin across the table reacted in shock to that bothersome old hag he let out an all mighty roar of laughter that was part alcohol, part hysteria and part genuine amusement. The night had genuinely taken a turn for the interesting, though maybe he wasn't quite taking it as serious as he should be. Finally settling himself he saw her pick herself up from the seat with a haughty expression on her face and dash for the door. Pulling himself after her he gave a wink to the woman and spoke You know what they're like, hormones chuckling to himself he left the small pub, his mind screaming WHY ARE YOU NOT FREAKING OUT RIGHT NOW at him loudly.

As the cool air of the street hit him however, it's clearing effects were not welcome and he exclaimed loudly, and forcefully What the fuck Natalie? before whirling towards her, the dazed expression from the alcohol temporary scared away by the assaulting wind and... well, logic. Looking over to her he saw the way her shirt was slightly uneven but brushed past it, his eyes pleasing with her to calm him, sure she had said it wasn't true but... Are you SURE you're not pregnant he stressed as heavily he could on the world sure and kept eye contact with her, what the hell would they do if she was?

Emerson had never reacted well in circumstances that required him too, outside of work that was, and his wide eyes showed a panic that could only be fueled by his current condition.