By The Light Of The Blood Moon

What's A Drink Between Friends

Alastor had planned to go up to his room, he really had, but as he walked back inside and saw Husker sitting at the bar wiping the already clean glasses, he decided that he didn't want to be alone in his room while he waited. Although Husker would probably be grumbling about being bothered, Alastor decided that he would just wait at the bar for Angel to return.

"Husker, my fellow" called Alastor, making his way across the room, "I'd like a bourbon, please". He took a seat at the bar, sitting at the corner seat and turning his back to lean against the wall as Husker sat the glass down in front of the deer demon.

"So what did you do with the pimp?" growled Husker, "you were gone long enough" He took another slug of the cheap booze he had sitting beside him. Alastor tossed back the shot of bourbon and lightly tapped the rim of the glass, indicating he'd like another.

"Oh, we went for a nice walk downtown." Alastor answered, a malicious smile on his face. "I left him in the company of some...friends" he said, lifting the glass and taking just a sip this time.

"You know what," Husker said gruffly, his eyes wide, "I changed my mind. I don't even wanna fuckin' know, but I hope you killed his ass."

The two demons sat in companionable silence, each sipping away at the liquor in front of them, every once in a while Alastor would indicate that he needed a refill, Husk tossing another shot into the glass the first few times, then just swearing and leaving the bottle on the bar for Alastor to help himself, which he did.

"You celebratin' or something?" Husker asked, eyeing the bottle, now half empty.

"Nope" Alastor answered, lifting his glass in a salute, then downing the whole shot in one gulp, the refilling. "Just having a couple of drinks with a friend." he smiled at his companion, taking another sip.

"yeah. right." said Husker. "Whatever." He wiped the bar down again, stopping to lean on the bar when he was in front of Alastor again, "Don't expect me to carry your drunk ass up the stairs."

"I am not drunk, you lout." complained Alastor. "I've only had three drinks."

"Mmmmhmmmm." said Husker, looking up with just his eyes, "three drinks in the last fifteen minutes, that is." He barked a short laugh. "Five bucks says you have the hiccups in less than thirty minutes, ya lush."

Alastor slid his hand into his back pocket, never one to turn down a good bet. "I'll take that wager" he half-shouted, slapping a five dollar note on the bar. Husker pulled a five out of his pocket and sat it on top of Alastor's, using a salt shaker as a paperweight.

"Alright" he said gruffly. "It's three fifteen now, so we'll see"

"That we shall" said Alastor, downing the rest of his shot. "Ya know somethin' Husker?" Al was beginning to feel the effects of the bourbon, his head felt a little dizzy right behind his eyes, and he was having some difficulty keeping the static to a minimum. Husker was looking at him expectantly, so he continued, "You..are...you're a decent fellow, Husker. I've always liked that about you."

"Oh shit." mumbled Husk. "Here we fuckin' go. You gonna be the philosophical drunkard now, Al?" Husker rolled his eyes and laughed in spite of himself. If he was getting this pickled this quickly, it was going to be a real doozy. It didn't help that Alastor almost never had more than one drink. Even for a demon he was a real lightweight when it came to liquor. Husk knew he should probably cut Alastor off, but how the hell do you cut off an all powerful overlord? Husker damn sure wasn't going to find out today.

"Ha!" exclaimed Alastor, "It's been thirty minutes, hasn't it?" He grinned widely "That means I've won!"

"You dumb ass" complained Husk "It's been fifteen minutes. You still got fifteen minutes to go, princess." He looked pointedly at the liquor bottle. "You done with that now? I would like to put it up." He reached out to take the bottle, but Alastor snatched it away, tucking it into the crook of his arm.

"No," he said, then repeating himself "No, oh ho ho." he filled the shot glass yet again. "This," he said, looking at the shot glass full of liquid "this is mine." Husker noticed that one antler had grown a little longer than the other, giving Alastor a lopsided look.

"Whatever you say, lops." he chuckled, under his breath.

"What was that?" asked Alastor, followed by a quick "hic" and then the sound of radio static and a few random words. Husk sat down to enjoy the show. This shit never got old.

"Here we go, and look" he pointed at the clock "only took ya twenty minutes this time!" Husker laughed as he scooped up the two fives on the counter.

"Wai-hic-*static*-in today's news" Alastor looked positively dumbfounded. "I don't have the-hic-*static*-music countdown" He opened his mouth to say something, but there was only another hiccup, followed by static and this time a snippet of music.

"I think I should sit down" Alastor said, his head in his hands.

"Hey, Jackass," teased Husker "You're already sittin' down."

Alastor looked up at Husker, glowering, and then another hiccup, followed by static and then what sounded like a boxing match. Alastor laid his head on the bar. This was so embarrassing. There was nothing worse than having the hiccups, because each and every single time he would hiccup, it would be followed by static (as if someone was switching channels) and then random snippets of radio noise. Too late, he remembered why he didn't drink often or very much at a time. He needed to get upstairs, but he was not going to be in any shape to do so if he waited too much longer.

"Just the guy I needed to see!" called out a familiar voice coming through the door.

Alastor turned to see Angel Dust walking towards the bar. He sincerely hoped he was done with the hiccups, just as another one happened. Alastor wanted to hide under the bar, but Angel didn't make a joke, he just sighed, then leaned forward to pick up his soulmate, laying a kiss on his forehead.

"C'mon, Al." he said gently. "Let's get you upstairs. I think you have had plenty to drink, doll."

Alastor wasn't sure if he was more embarrassed or relieved to see Angel

Angel wasn't sure if Alastor would be pleased or pissed off about being carried upstairs.

Husk watched the entire scene, mouth hanging open. "What the hell?" he said, taking a large drink of the bourbon before putting the almost empty bottle back up on the shelf. "I think I need stronger booze."