Hogmeade Log

[hdmaster_cid]

Name(s): OPEN TO ALL!
Location: Hogmeade; various.
Week: 57
Time: Saturday. (Feel free to start logging whenever.)
Rating: Just keep it below R, people. Remember it is a shared log.

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The Hogs Head

[prfctpotions]

Szayel's hidden away in a little corner of the pub, cloak drawn low over his eyes so as not to stick out and end up in trouble. This was his one time a year where he should be allowed this sort of self degredation, and dammit, he was going to do it no matter what. He was already on his fifth mug of... some alcohol, he had long ago stopped caring what the hell it was, and was -- to be utterly blunt -- sloshed.

He raised his mug, toasting it to an individual thousands of miles away.

"Aquí está a usted, Señor mío. Usted siempre pudrición de mayo en el Trono del Infierno, maldita para siempre la codicia del Trono del Cielo." Here's to you, My Lord. May You forever rot on the Throne of Hell, cursed to forever covet the Throne of Heaven.

And with that said, he downed what was left in one gulp.

[urpersonaldemon]

Sebastian sighed, -unable to envision himself enjoying an evening with the other professors that were mindlessly gallivanting around and indulging in the inferior of the vices, namely vanity&drinking. Sebastian had, however, managed to convince himself that the fresh air would do him some good, despite the fact that he much preferred the solitude of that damnable Hell Hole, Hogwarts. Hn, whatever. He could at least garner some amusement from bothering and, more importantly, tempting, the drunken bastards laying waste to themselves in the assorted pubs.

He entered the one, looking around for a suitable target when, from across the room, it hit him. He smiled, chuckling quietly to himself, as he set his sights on a man in a cloak, -a half dozen empty mugs already enlightening Sebastian as to the drunkards' intentions. He ordered another, stronger, drink for the stiff whilst making his way over, .. but upon hearing that phrase, Sebastian nearly spilt it. Szayel? What

[prfctpotions]

It was probably because of the alcohol, but instead of turning into a stiff rag doll as had been usual, Szayel pressed forward. It wasn't very long before he turned the chaste little kiss into a demanding, heated kiss, and...

CRACK!

...ended with Szayel pulling away and slapping Sebastian as hard as he could.

"Go 'way," he grumbled, snatching up the drink the demon had brought and downing half of it in one gulp. "I'm allowed this once a year."

[urpersonaldemon]

Sebastian smiled, languidly, sinking back down into the seat only to find Szayel following, &forcibly laying unto him another kiss. It ended prematurely, however, as Sebastian soon felt the sudden tingle, as well as the inevitable sting, of his hand. It was one thing to be kissed, and another thing to be slapped, &honestly, Sebastian hadn't been expecting either.

He chuckled, though, blatantly ignoring the command. "I am not going anywhere." He sneered, watching as Szayel picked up the drink, -oh, it wouldn't be long now. "This. This. What is this." He absent mindedly fingered the burning print left on the side of his face.

"Is this stepping down from that pedestal so that you may, not only mingle with the filth of this despicable place, but drown your regrets &shortcomings in the temporary high of cheap alcohol, .." He looked absolutely disgusted. ".. my dear Perfektionist was but a delusion of mine. Pity. Now to whom do I owe the pleasure, Stranger."

[prfctpotions]

"Tch..." Szayel grumbled, paying more attention to the alcohol than the demon. Which, admittedly, was probably not the wisest of things to do, but he was not in the state of mind to care at the moment. "I sa' 'm allowed it. Hoy es el día que me dio la Espada al Ministerio."

Today is the day I gave the Espada to the Ministry.

[urpersonaldemon]

Sebastian growled, rather softly, though, as Szayel blatantly ignored him in favor of that damnable alcohol. He shifting, and taking a deep breath, Sebastian turned away. He was unable to keep his eyes on the, now, hollow man sitting in front of him. Recuerdo. ¿Es esto .. lamento? I remember. Is this regret ..?

[prfctpotions]

"Arrepentimiento? No. .. de socorro, sobre todo." Regret? No... relief, mostly.

Szayel sighed as he leaned back in his chair, sloshing about the remains of the drink slowly. A faint smile came to his face as he did so, sighing softly.

"¿Alguna vez has tenido el disgusto de estar en un calabozo español, demonio? Son más rango en la época estival." Have you ever had the displeasure of being in a Spanish dungeon, demon? They're rather rank in the summer time.

[urpersonaldemon]

He leaned back in his chair, and hailing one of the bar maids over, Sebastian ordered another round of drinks for Szayel. "ah. Ya veo." I see. He mused, returning attention to Szayel.

"No, no puedo decir que yo tengo. Ilumina mi, ¿verdad?, .. a menos que, por supuesto, reviviendo los recuerdos es demasiado doloroso." No, I cannot say that I have. Enlighten me, will you, .. unless, of course, reliving the memories is too painful.

[prfctpotions]

Szayel became rather subdued after that, gazing down at his drink before finishing it off. The bar maid came by with the next round, clearing off the other glasses before leaving. Still, Szayel did not reach for his new glass just yet.

"...not painful so much as... disgusting," he continued softly. "I went to the depths of hell back then. It... was terrible. It was that time I was at my lowest point... not now."

He lifted the glass then, guzzling it down.

[urpersonaldemon]

"Mm. I know. I am well aware of the tens, of hundreds, of sanitation laws that both dungeons, and prisons, violate. But that isn't the point. It's meant to ruin a man, and by the looks of it -it worked."

He chuckles, not bothering to hold it in. Hell and back. He doubts that. Szayel might have suffered, but nothing compares to the seven circles of Hell.

".. If this is relief, then why do you appear so unhappy. Shouldn't you be reveling in this newfound freedom. You could still be done there, you know."

[prfctpotions]

Szayel paused, giving Sebastian a serious look despite the drunken fog he was in.

"Freedom? Yes, I suppose..." he murmured, "but at the same time, I live every day in fear. What if one of them escapes? What if My Lord comes to me? I am not strong enough to stand up to Him; Hogwarts would be in need of a new Potions Master."

He let out a bitter laugh. "...I never wanted to be one of them. I believed them to all be morons. I only went along with it because I could do as I wished with, supposedly, no penalties."

[urpersonaldemon]

"Fear." He nodded, fingering the rim of one of the mugs that the bar maid had brought earlier. ".. what is the point of living in fear. Nn. It isn't really living, is it. Szayel, you may have your freedom, but whether or not you make use of it .."

He stared straight across the table at Szayel. ".. you may as well have just stayed that dungeon." He rested his chin in hand, and sighed. "But nothing is without a penalty." Sebastian managed a small smile, but it faded quickly. "Nothing, .."

[prfctpotions]

Szayel returned his gaze, actually looking sad... an emotion he did not experience too often. He sighed again after a moment, pushing his mug away.

"...you're right, of course," he murmured, before standing up, unsteady on his feet. "Let's... let's just go."

[urpersonaldemon]

Sebastian fell silent after that. he had said all that needed to be said. ¬hing more. He stood up and took a hold of Szayel. He pulled the hood down over his face, and drawing him closer, Sebastian lead him toward the exist of the Pub. He kept him closer, almost protectively so, though his grip loosened as they stepped outside. He looked away, wearing but a blank expression.

[prfctpotions]

Szayel allowed himself to be helped out, and he found himself snuggling close to Sebastian. For a moment, just a moment, he thought he wouldn't need to do this yearly ritual anymore to "feel better" about all the people he had betrayed, to wash away all the fears that he bore every day, waiting to turn the corner and see his Master again.

Just a moment, he thought maybe he could be happy. Then he remembered what he was dealing with, and let out a frustrated sigh.

[urpersonaldemon]

He flinched, tensing up, suddenly, as Szayel pressed into him. Sebastian, again, clung to him protectively, as though there was something to ward off at that exact moment. But nothing, and eventually, Sebastian released him. ".. I will not let him hurt you." He murmured, taking his arm out from around Szayel. "Just live."