InsaneJournal

Who: Percy Weasley + Audrey
When: Saturday
Where: Baxter Bakery
What: Congratulations are in order
Rating/Warning: None / Low
Status: Complete



Percy was pretty sure that Audrey and Merlin had only been dating for about a week before becoming engaged. Luckily, Percy was also aware of things like different couples taking different amounts of time with -- whatever it was couples did. He was part of one and he still didn't know for sure.

He had the feeling that most couples didn't do what he and Wilson generally did, anyway. No one else could possibly do the lisp vampire voice as well as James.

He'd planned properly -- stepping into the bakery around the same time that he knew Audrey would be getting off. That way she wouldn't have to work while they spoke.

Audrey was pretty much off at 3pm every day. So Percy could very easily have known her schedule. She didn’t switch it up, and didn’t keep it secret. She was caught, though, by a couple of her older customers who were congratulating her about her engagement--they’d been there at the Gala last weekend--and were asking when the wedding was. They wanted to get her a gift to help her start her life with Merlin. Audrey had to politely explain that they hadn’t made any concrete plans, but that she’d let her customers know.

Then she saw Percy, and excused herself from the elderly couple to bee-line to him. “Percy!” She said, then glomp!tackle!hugged him.

With his usual awkwardness, he made an ‘oof!’ sort of noise before sort of hugging back slash patting her on the back. He wasn’t very touch-y feel-y. But he did (clearly) make a few exceptions. “Hello,” he greeted, sounding pleased -- and then, in a more hushed tone. “Did I save you, just now?”

“Maybe just a little.” Audrey responded, also in a whisper. Then she let go of him. Sorry, Percy, Audrey was a hugger. She was rather touchy/feely, and he wasn’t going to have much choice in the matter. But she knew it made him awkward--or, well, more awkward--so she didn’t let the hugs linger.

“I keep getting asked when the big day is, and what we want for a wedding present. By my customers!”

“I understand the feeling,” Percy said, and once he was free of the hug, he straightened out his button up t-shirt and jeans. Audrey was in luck today, this was really one of the only times he wasn’t in a suit. “It’s as if no one realizes that planning things like that isn’t instantaneous with the proposal.” Hell, he’d been engaged for a while now, and he still had no idea.

Audrey would have hugged a suit. “I think Merlin put a lot of time and effort into that proposal, actually.” Audrey said, shaking her head. “It was so romantic.” She held out her hand so he could see the ring. It was, apparently, Merlin’s grandmother’s ring? Audrey felt so special wearing it, like their lives were already twined together.

Percy gave one of those weird polite smiles of his, and took her hand in order to turn it a little to get a closer look. “It’s lovely, though.” And it was. He was pleased that Audrey seemed so happy about it. “Really, congratulations.”

“Thank you. Even though I totally told you to come and tell me that,” she teased, beaming. “Still, thank you. I really have no idea what kind of wedding we’re going to have. Merlin’s such a romantic, maybe I’ll let him plan the whole thing.” She was only partially kidding.

She had told him to. But he would have anyway, because they were friends and that’s what friends did, right? If he had to consider it, beside Wilson (who didn’t count) and Sam, Audrey was probably his closest friend. Of course he’d come say congratulations.

“Maybe you should let him,” he agreed, pushing his glasses up his nose. “That’s about how I feel with James, too.” Percy wasn’t nearly as romantic as his better half.

“Is James going to plan your wedding? I still insist upon making your wedding cake.” She said, beaming. “Though, I refuse to make my own.”

“That only seems fair. You shouldn’t have to do that kind of work for your own wedding.” He stood a little straighter, and then gave a nearly uncharacteristic shrug. “I don’t know. I think mostly he’s just waiting on me to tell him when I’d actually like to get married.” But he didn’t know, and he was in no rush. It was there on the table and that seemed good enough for the two of them. Percy wore the ring and nearly felt it was good enough.

“I’m sure that as soon as Merlin and I sit down and make a date, it’ll be amazing. He’ll just do all the planning and all I’ll have to do is get a dress.” Audrey wouldn’t mind that in the slightest. “Then again, I’m all for non traditional. I’d be okay with just grabbing a handful of friends and flying to Vegas for a weekend.”

Percy got that. Tradition was weird. He had half a mind to just go elope, personally. But he supposed he should do it right so that there were … whatever. Pictures or whatever it was people wanted from weddings. Memories? Sure. “Well,” he said with an understanding nod. “I’m sure whatever you two manage will be nice. I do hope I’m invited.”

Hey, you could still have pictures if you eloped. They just might not be like, the traditional, at-the-altar kind. And memories all depended on how much you drank, anyway. It was just as easy to get blotto and forget an entire wedding here as it would be in Vegas. “Are you kidding? I was going to ask you to be one of my bridesmaids.” Audrey said, grinning. “I’m sure Merlin’s going to have Morgana and maybe Gwen? on his side.” She said. “I’ll need at least two bridesmaids. I’ve got you and Nina.”

“I’m not much of a crossdresser,” Percy said wryly, but was secretly quite touched. He’d never been asked to stand up in a wedding before.

“That’s okay. I’m sure Morgana won’t be wearing a tuxedo, either.” Audrey said, giving Percy a grin and a wink. “Just make sure your tie and cumberbund match Nina’s dress in color, and you’ll be fine.”

“I can do that.” Percy looked solemn, like he’d been tasked with taking the one ring back to Mordor as opposed to just being asked to buy a properly matching outfit.

Audrey was tickled pink. “Good. I kinda can’t wait to see you and James in tuxedos. Or suits, or whatever.” Tuxes were better for this sort of thing. “You pair of handsome young men, you.” She was teasing, but not really.

“I’ve been looking for a reason to get him to dress up again,” Percy said with a smile. It was true, at least in his opinion: there were few people who looked better dressed to the nines than one James Wilson.

Although he cleaned up pretty well, himself.

“You’ll have to keep me updated on details, of course.”

“Of course!” Audrey said. “You’ll be the first I tell.” She beamed. “Now, let me get you something from behind the counter, and we can head out.”

“Tea today please and thank you.” Percy murmured, watching her wander off toward the counter. It kept longer, and he rarely found such good tea as he did here. And it was nice to be able to keep his hands busy while wandering around with Audrey.