InsaneJournal

Who: Vicky Frobisher, Percy Weasley
What: Vicky keeps her promise to George
When: Friday, March 27, 1998
Where: Vicky’s Flat
Rating/Warnings: Nope


Percy had promised to come over when he was done helping with Thorfinn Rowle's campaign, so Vicky settled on the couch with her knitting to wait for him after dinner. She was never sure what time he'd arrive--apparently Rowle sometimes needed to keep his support staff late--but she knew he would be by as soon as possible.

She worked on Margaret Thatcher's nest as she waited, knitting the orange yarn into snakes that she would eventually coil into a nest. She could have used the charmed knitting needles, but it was easy work, and it have her something to do while she thought about how to broach the subject of a costume with Percy.

It had been a long day for Percy, beginning with opening the joke shop and just ending a little while ago in Rowle's campaign office. There were snacks at the office, but Percy left wanting something more substantial. So, after leaving, he stopped by the Leaky Cauldron for some quick pub food take out. With his tie hanging loose around his neck, he came through the door to Vicky’s apartment and announced, “Merlin! What a day!”

He proceeded to walk toward the kitchen. “Some little hurricane of a child hadn’t been supervised by her parents and put the entire store into utter disarray.” As he passed Vicky, he paused just long enough for a quick kiss, and then continued on his way. “Then a shipment came in that needed to be inventoried, and then I got a floo call from a representative of a prospective carrier of our products in Paris, who ,needed my immediate attention.” He set his briefcase down upon the kitchen table and rummaged through the fridge for a butterbeer. “I finished my shift and still hadn’t organized the aisles from the morning. Then it was off to the campaign office, where some dolt hadn’t proofread the posters before sending them off, and I had to hurry to the printers to make sure people wouldn’t be voting for ‘Thorfinn Rowle for Sinister of Magic.”

He returned to the living room and sat in a chair near Vicky, toed off his shoes and sighed with relief. “It’s good to relax.” He took a breath, twisted off the cap of his butterbeer, then opened his take-out sack. “I hope your day wasn’t as hectic as mine, darling.”

“Just the usual. But I’m not working two jobs. Ada and I spent some time this morning brainstorming ideas for future shows. All subject to change due to current events, of course.” They’d talked a lot about the election and the way various candidates were presenting themselves, but had been careful not to come down as favoring one candidate over another. “I’ll be glad when the election is over, though. It’s nice to know there’s always stuff to talk about, but it’s getting hard to work other things in. I know you love it, but I don’t want to talk politics all the time.”

She set aside her knitting and leaned over the arm of the couch toward Percy. “Sooooo. Question. If I were to charm a top hat so it gave you bunny ears, could I convince you to wear it to work at the shop?” She paused and bit her bottom lip, wondering if the next part would be a deal breaker. “On April first?”

Percy had already begun munching on a potato wedge from his fish and chip dinner, so he didn’t answer until he’d finished swallowing. This also gave him a few moments to ruminate on her request. “Easter isnt until the fiffth, so it can’t be an Easter promotion. The first is the twins’ birthday… they’re excited about enchanting the shop, but want to keep it a surprise from even me. Why in Merlin’s name do you want me to wear bunny ears for the twins’ birthday, beside to give them amusement?” It showed how much Percy adored Vicky, because he didn’t tell her no, straight away.

"It goes with their theme," Vicky hedged. She'd promised George she wouldn't reveal more than absolutely necessary. "I promise all you'll have to wear is the hat and a pocket watch and your regular tux." Since the twins had agreed to let the tux stay green, it made Percy look quite dashing. A top hat and pocket watch would make it look extra debonair. Vicky was looking forward to seeing it.

The ears, well, Vicky had other ideas for those.

Pocket watch and bunny ears? That could only possibly mean, “The twins are doing an Alice in Wonderland theme?” Percy pulled out the piece of breaded and fried fish. “Yes, I’m familiar with the Muggle story. Are Fred and George going as Tweedle Dee and Tweedle Dum? Or as the Mad Hatter and March Hare? Or is that going to ruin their surprise?”

"George didn't tell me. I only know what I need to do I can do my part. Which I'm not allowed to talk about." But will you wear the hat? Please? For me?" She batted her eyelashes at him. It looked ridiculous, she was sure, but if it got him to cooperate, it was worth it. "I'm going to charm it, so I can promise it won't do anything unexpected. And you don't have to wear it to the party. Just in the shop."

Percy bit into his fish, chewed slowly and swallowed it down with a gulp of butterbeer, just to be a tease and make Vicky wait for his answer. “Alright, I’ll wear it. For you. And because it’s a literary classic. And, because I already have to put on that ridiculous tuxedo uniform at work, I’m quite used to wearing silly things.” He pointed at her with his fish. “You owe me one.”

“Oh, gee, however will I deal?” Vicky asked, deadpan. She was fairly certain that she’d enjoy whatever Percy asked for, and even if she didn’t, there wasn’t much she wouldn’t be willing to do for him anyway. “Just… not during the party, okay?” she asked hesitantly. She didn’t want to put restrictions on it since he was doing her--and the twins--a big favor, but she’d realized that going to the party meant more than just hanging out with Percy and the twins and their friends. Percy’s entire family was going to be there. And she wasn’t just going as Fred and George’s friend. She was going as Percy’s girlfriend.

“Oh, Merlin, no. I wouldn’t do that to you. You’ll be having your hands full, for sure. I wouldn’t even be surprised if Fred and George decide it’ll be the time to get their revenge on coloring their hair, being April Fool’s Day, and all.” That would be something Fred and George would totally do. “Oh no, I’ll wait to cash in on that, later. In private.” He finished with a sneaky smile. However, he really didn’t consider her point of view. “You seem a little out of sorts about the party,” he noted, as he continued to pick at his meal. “Why’s that?”

“Your whole family is going to be there.” It was clear from his expression that Percy didn’t really consider the implications of that. “You’re going to have to introduce me to your parents as your girlfriend, Percy. And to your older brothers. And your extended family, who I haven’t really met at all. We’ve only been dating for a little over a month and because I’m going to this party, I get to be introduced to the entire Weasley clan!” She took a deep breath and let it out slowly, trying to focus on his promise to cash in on his favor in private rather than her nerves about the party. “Honestly, it would be a relief if the twins got me back.Then at least I’d have something else to think about besides having to impress your entire clan all at once.”

“Oh. Yes. I see what you mean.” Percy frowned a bit, imagining himself in the same sort of situation. Eventually it would have to be his turn at meeting Vicky’s family. “That would be a bit of pressure. But you can be assured, that the Weasleys and Prewitts are a good natured lot. You really shouldn’t feel any pressure at all. Except, perhaps, from my mum, who would want to know all about you. But that’s to be expected, really?”

“Not helping, Percy.” He meant well, she knew, but really, telling her she shouldn’t feel any pressure and then mentioning his mother was not the way to calm her nerves. “I’m sure your mother isn’t the only one who will have a million questions, and the rest of your family is gonna give us a hard time. I’ve spent enough time around Weasleys to know that.” She hadn’t spent time around Prewitts, except in passing, but if Percy was lumping them in with the Weasleys, then she figured they couldn’t be that different.

Percy smiled to try to alleviate her insecurities. He picked up the paper napkin that came with his take-out so he could wipe the grease from his fingers. “You have absolutely nothing to worry about.” Putting his meal aside upon the side table, he got up from his chair to sit beside Vicky. “They’re going to find you absolutely amazing, the same way I do.” He placed a small kiss upon her lips. “I’ll be by you every moment to run interference, if need be.” He then took to nuzzling her ear.

Percy’s words, sweet as they were, didn’t really help. His kiss, however, and the way he nibbled on her ear… well, that was enough to make her think of other, far more pleasant, things. “Moving on to dessert?” she asked archly as she climbed onto his lap. “I want some.” She leaned in and kissed him properly without giving him a chance to say anything in response. This was much more pleasant than thinking about meeting his whole family.

“Mrph!” Percy pulled away from the kiss and protested. “My hands are all greasy.” He even held them away from her to keep from touching. “And I’m all sweaty from working today,I need to wash up.” He paused a moment to let his words sink in, but before she could protest herself, he slyly added, “Maybe you can help me?”

“I think that could be arranged.” Vicky slid off his lap, pulled him up after her, and took him by the tie. “Come with me.”