Re: Percy/Open
Percy's silent chastisement of himself grew stronger when he saw how quickly she picked up on his changing mood. Guilt made him wince, and he ordered himself rather forcefully to knock off the cynical nonsense and be there for her on her birthday, the way a friend was supposed to be there for another friend.
He followed her to the bar, deliberately keeping himself from getting too tense or stiff as the crowd grew thicker around them.
"The first few times I ever got pissed I was the same way," he mentioned idly, not thinking that he hadn't really had his first good drunk until after their relationship had ended, and it might be news to her that he'd become something of a connossiour.
"But it truly is an acquired taste. I don't suppose I'll ever love the taste of the stuff, but I can appreciate it now. Or at least not make horrible uncontrollable faces as it goes down." He smiled faintly, laying an unconsciously-proprietary hand on her back as he leaned past her to gesture the bartender. It never paid to wait in crowded pubs - at least, not in the Muggle pubs he'd gone to most often, and doubtless it was the same in Wizarding pubs.
"Whiskey," he called when the bloke finally came over. "And not firewhiskey - I know there's at least a bottle or two of the Muggle stuff back there. And..." He glanced at Penny.