InsaneJournal

Cheese okay? Or no?
Who: Percy Weasley and Audrey Baxter
When: Circa June 20th
Where: Baxter Bakery
What: Hanging out.
Rating/Warnings: Low/None
Status: Complete


Audrey was behind the counter at the Bakery. New and exciting things were happening thanks to her new relationships and new employees. There was a sign up about the Gala party being held at the bakery on July 13th, and if anyone had any insight or stories to share about this bakery, or the history of bakeries in general, there was a drop box and a stack of paper and pencils. There was also a sign-up sheet for local artists and musicians to perform or hang artwork during the party.

Then there was the “Audrey Sandwich” contest going on. One of Audrey’s employees decided that Audrey needed a sandwich, so there was a drop box for that one, too, where people could write down what they thought “The Audrey” might be, and slip it into the box. Then there would be a vote at the Gala in mid-July.

Audrey had been busy. She was helping a customer currently, laughing at a joke, and eyeing the glass of iced tea she had sitting on the counter waiting for her.

Seeing as Audrey was busy, Percy actually saw fit to wait in line to order his tea and lunch time snack. Which was fine, because it gave him time to squint at and read the signs that were hung up about the place. A gala sounded interesting, he supposed. A little too much in the way of public socializing for Percy, but interesting anyway.

He filled out a little form about the Audrey sandwich while he waited, his handwriting tiny and exceptionally neat on the card.

Audrey broke into a bright grin when she saw that Percy was next in line. She came around the counter and stole a quick hug--very quick, so as not to get awkward--then dashed back around to the register once more. “Tea? Sandwich?” She asked, not wanting to assume.

"I'd like that," Percy replied, slightly dazed by the near run by hug. He adjusted his glasses awkwardly, and then put on an almost smile. "English breakfast this time, if you please."

“Of course!” Audrey beamed. She’d learned exactly how Percy liked his tea, so she was able to make him the perfect cup. It was a point of pride, really, that she stopped and chatted with what customers weren’t in a hurry, so that she could make the perfect drink every time. She let one of her baristas take the next guest while she worked on Percy’s order.

“Do you want to try something new?” She asked, setting the tea to steep while she grabbed some bread for his sandwich.

“Did you have something particular in mind?” Percy responded to her question with a question. Not the most polite thing, but he doubted she would mind. “If you’ve an idea, and it doesn’t involve meat, I’m probably just fine with it.” Not that he was really a vegetarian, but sometimes he forgot he wasn’t.

“Well, I thought I’d toss together a variation on the Mavis sandwich.” It was vegan, no meat. Audrey totally assumed that Percy was a vegetarian. --Also, she didn’t mind him answering a question with a question. That was common place around here when she asked things like ‘do you want to try something new?’

“You like pine nuts and pesto, right?”

It was much nicer when people just assumed he was anyway. It was very difficult to explain how he ate meat, but wasn’t terribly fond of it, and often just forgot it existed until his boyfriend made it for dinner.

“I do,” he agreed, scooting over a little more so that he wasn’t in the way of the slowly dying down line. Apparently he’d walked it right at the tail end of a lunch rush. “I’m sure whatever you make will be just fine.”

“Cheese okay?” She asked. “Or no?” Audrey loved cheese. She’d put it on anything and everything if she could. It seemed like a little mozzarella would be lovely on a sandwich with pesto, pine nuts, sun dried tomatoes and fresh basil.

“Perfectly fine,” Percy agreed, even as he moved to stick his little card in the suggestion box. “I like cheese.” A pause and then he fixed his glasses on his nose again. “How are you, then?”

"Much better than the last time we spoke," Audrey confessed, putting the sandwich on the grill. She closed the press to cook it for him. "Things with Merlin couldn't be better, really."

“Oh, good,” Percy said, looking a bit pleased for her. “I had been a bit concerned for you, but had hoped you’d work it out.”

"Thanks, Percy." Audrey said, giving him a smile. "I can't tell you how much I appreciate your support. I know I was being a bit stupid, but I'm really glad you talked some sense into me." She opened up the grill, turned the sandwich over and by 90 degrees, and then closed it again to give an interesting grill pattern on the bread. “I think... I don’t know. It’s all happening so fast. I’m head over heels already.” They’d been friends for a while first, so maybe that made all the difference?

Percy only gave an indulgent, if not understanding smile over that sentiment. “That happens sometimes,” he murmured with a slight raise of his shoulders. “It’s rather nice though, isn’t it?” It was a bit of a silly question, but it was the truth.

“It is. I never thought it would be like this. It’s like a fairy tale, or something else as ridiculous.” She blushed a bit, admitting the strange things she’d been thinking. “And Merlin is magical. No really, I mean... magical. He does magic.”

Percy flushed a little over that too, going a strange pink. He knew what she meant -- she wasn’t doing euphemisms so much as just talking about his dreams and things, Percy imagined. “Can he,” the redhead murmured, as if surprised by the admission.

"It's really amazing. He just made the room stop! Like, to stop this flour from spilling... it was incredible. I've never seen anything like it. Sometimes I wish I'll start having Dreams about his world." Audrey confessed. "Or Dreams in general."

Percy did not seem spectacularly amazed at the concept of Merlin’s magic, but didn’t speak on it, either. “The dreams are -- different. And amazing sometimes,” Percy hedged out his agreement. For the longest time he’d hated them spectacularly. It wasn’t really until recently that he’d begun to like them at all. “I’m a little shocked you haven’t had any. It seems like everyone has.”

“I know, right? I really should have had some! I don’t know what’s wrong with me that I haven’t. My roommate, my boyfriend, my best friend... seems like everyone’s Dreaming but me.” She frowned a bit, then passed his sandwich over the counter for him.

“Maybe you’ll get lucky and you just won’t have any.” Percy took the sandwich and the cup of tea, eyebrows raised behind glasses frames. “It certainly wouldn’t be the worst of things.”

“Maybe.” Audrey nodded once. “Makes me feel like a bit of an outsider. Though, I know there are people who are Dreaming terrible things, so... maybe I should feel lucky that I’m not Dreaming bad things, rather than feel sad I’m not Dreaming good things?”

“Maybe,” Percy agreed with a tiny dip of his head in nod. “I should think one life is good enough for most people, anyway.”

“Well, when you put it that way...” Audrey said, frowning a little. It was mostly playful. “It makes me sound almost selfish wishing for more.” She lifted a rag to wipe at the counter, sanitizing it with a wave of her hand.

“That’s got to be it.” Percy was holding his sandwich plate in one hand and tea in his other -- hovering near the counter in that awkward way of his, as if unsure if he should be going to sit or staying to talk.

“Go sit.” As if she read his mind, Audrey answered the unasked question. “Enjoy your lunch. Come say goodbye before you go.” She gave him a bright smile, then turned to help the new girl at the register.

The redhead gave a grateful sort of look for a moment and then a nod of his head. “Thanks. I will.” And then he headed off to find a table that was out of proper sunlight.