[percivalrobards]

whiskeynward​:

dickdowndearborn​:

“If you think this is bad, you should’ve seen me after I watched Wizard of Oz.” He said it as though his tears were confined to the first time he saw it, and didn’t happen every single time he and Mary put it on. Surely a therapist would have a field day with these emotions. Though, in all honesty, they’d be more interested in his two friends who had no desire to express outward emotions at all. “Fine. Let’s go. Just so long as I’m not buying. I’ve paid a dear price with my tears tonight.”

.​

“I’ll buy,” offered Hayden. He owed Doc more money than he cared to think about in that moment and could at least spare the extra for a couple of rounds. “Place round the corner? Looked cheap and dingy enough for my price range.”  However, he didn’t wait for agreement, rather already standing up and heading towards the exit. 

.​

Percy too, followed after the pair without a word, happy to let Hayden at least buy the first round. Paying rent on a two-bedroom in the heart of London was taking more of his pay cheque than he thought, on top of all the baby sitting fees he paid. But he pushed that to the back of his mind. A pint would do him well.

~~~ fin ~~~

[marlenethemenace]

[percivalrobards]

whiskeynward​:

dickdowndearborn​:

Caddyshack was not a film that people cried at. It was first and foremost a comedy. Which meant Doc’s reaction would’ve been baffling to anyone, let alone two people he suspected hadn’t cried in a good long while. “They keep trying to kill the gophers! That’s bloody horrible! I mean, the gophers really just moved in and found a nice residence. Besides, golf is a bore.”

.​

“You know, s’not real, right? ‘M pretty sure this is supposed to be a comedy,” Hayden said. Of course, who was he kidding. It was Doc. “See, this s’why I don’t watch films with him. Bloody work so hard to avoid people crying.” Though, even as he said it, the actual reason was more that he didn’t watch films all that much in general. “I think we’re done here otherwise he may never recover.”

.​

“Fucking hell,” Percy muttered. He knew perfectly well how to deal with tears. He grew up with Clem and Marlene, after all, and had been dealing with a baby for the last year. In fact, the tears barely phased him, it was more the fact that it wasn’t his sister or daughter. It was Doc, and it was a comedy. He clapped his friend on the shoulder. “It’s not real, mate. S’okay.” Why did it feel like he was talking to a seventeen-month old. “Let’s go get a pint instead.” He exchanged a glance with Hayden. They’d sure need it.

@dickdowndearborn​

[percivalrobards]

whiskeynward​:

dickdowndearborn​:

Yes, there were currently tears streaming down Doc’s face. No, he didn’t want to talk about it. Which was why his hands were mostly covering his eyes, as if willing the tears back in. Between Percy and Hayden, he wasn’t sure either of them were actually capable of crying, let alone why he would be outright sobbing at a film. “I don’t wish to discuss it.”

.​

Hayden had since gotten a hearing aid. Upon seeing no improvement, the Healers had fitted him with a pair, no different than what muggles might have, still just as clunky looking and still just as metallic sounding and grating to get used to at first. However there were a few extra magical quirks. One of those was that he could tune into particular sounds and tune out others, something he took advantage of often and in particular now. He hadn’t even noticed either of the men were speaking until he saw movement out of the corner of his eye, an immediate an automatic adjustment so he could hear what was being said, but cutting in just as Doc finished speaking. “Discuss what– what s’wrong with you?”

.​

“You don’t wish --” But Percy did. “The film? Really?” 

@dickdowndearborn​

[percivalrobards]

When: 10th January 1981 Where: Anywhere ur heart desires Who: @dickdowndearborn @whiskeynward​

Percy glanced sideways at Doc, blinked, and then asked -- “Are you crying?”

[percivalrobards]

colorsofcalista​:

Smoothing out the haphazard art that had been created, Calista looked at the piece of paper in front of her. It was nothing and everything all at once, the kind of art that made Calista fall in love. She took it and pinned it up on a board of notices that was in the pub where people posted advertisements of all sorts. 

“You know, you should figure that out. What you love. I want to hear it,” she told him. She looked up as there were quickly more people filing into the pub, meaning she’d have to actually work. “If you’re ever round here, you ought to tell me. I want to know. There’s always room and time to find that out.”

And he might brush her off, think it was silly or that would be too personal to share with someone he had just met. He might never come back and she might never see him again. However, none of that mattered to her, because even if he never came back around again, and even if he thought he had left nothing of significance slip through the cracks to a strange in a bar, Calista had that piece of art and for her it was the most intimate thing a person could give. 

She pulled her hair back into a ponytail as she could already hear her manager yelling at her to attend the rowdy crowd. “I ought to get to work,” she said and in a moment, she was swallowed up by the rush of the rowdy crowd that had surrounded her demanding their drinks. 

fin.

[percivalrobards]

colorsofcalista​:

Calista could understand that. She knew plenty of people never found their passions in their work and instead pursued them as hobbies or elsewhere in life. Work wasn’t their livelihoods and she respected that. “What do you love?” she asked. “An artist. Or something in that realm, being close to art in some way. Working at a museum, an artist consultant, something– anything that lets me be close to something beautiful.” 

.

It was a funny thing, but Percy had never been a person with hobbies. Well, unless you counted stealing, drinking too much, and all the other not so pleasant things he’d spent his late teenage, and early adulthood, getting up to. No passions, and a life without much purpose up until a year ago. And yet, unlike most people, the thought didn’t sadden or disappoint him. It simply was what it was.

Her own answer gave the idea that maybe she would be one of those people -- those with passions and hobbies often were. “Reckon you’ll get there. If you want it enough -- people always figure it out.” He made his final drawing and slid it back -- now sure that his contributions would be no where on par with hers. “I’ve never really had anything like that. Mean, kept myself busy through school, and now I’ve got other priorities. So never really given it much thought.” 

[percivalrobards]

colorsofcalista​:

Calista took the paper back, drawing on it once again. She listened as he said he wasn’t sure. She looked back at him, her eyes once again examining him, as if trying to gleam something new. “Had this life thrust upon you, it sounds like,” she concluded simply. Someone who had always had very specific expectations set on him and who had never dared to dream beyond that. “You never thought about figuring it out? What you would actually want?”

.

“That’s one way of putting it.” It wasn’t something often needed to be explained, the Robards name synonymous with the DMLE. Now though, even though he’d told John exactly where he could stick it, things were bigger than just him now. He had someone else to look out for, the priority bigger than finding a career for himself when he already had one that paid more than well enough. “I haven’t, actually. S’just -- like my sister yeah, she wants to be a teacher. But I’ve never really felt strongly pulled to anything. Work wise, anyway.” He glanced down to the drawing, and back to her. “What about you?” From her questions thus far he expected bartending wasn’t it.

[percivalrobards]

colorsofcalista​:

“I think that’s perfectly understandable,” said Calista. Most people were trying to take a break from something or another when they went to pubs. Her eyes lingered on him before she looked back down at the paper, doing her part and passing it back. “What would you be doing if you weren’t in law enforcement? If money weren’t an object. If you could be anywhere and any place right in this moment, what would that be?” 

.

Another shrug, taking the pencil once again. It was a loaded question, for a man who’d never had to consider what he actually wanted to do, and up until recently hadn’t had to worry about money either. “Not sure, honestly.” He took a swig of his drink before getting started on his part of the drawing. “I’d probably have fucked off. Travelling, gone somewhere different to here.” The days of that though were long behind him.

[percivalrobards]

colorsofcalista​:

“Yeah? Don’t like the noise of a crowded bar?” she asked. She could see it. He had sat on his own, after all. She looked at him as he spoke, able to hear something in his inflection. “You don’t like it.” It wasn’t a question, but a statement. 

.

“Go to pubs for a break, as ironic as that sounds.” He finished drawing, and slid it back. He didn’t answer yes, but he also didn’t answer no. Instead he gave a noncommittal shrug of his shoulders. “I’ve got a kid. It pay well.” It felt like enough of an explanation, after all, it was the most honest explanation. Perhaps the most ironic part of all was that Percy always found it a lot easier to be honest with strangers in pubs than he ever would be with those closest to him.

[percivalrobards]

colorsofcalista​:

“No,” said Calista as she took the paper back. “Usually the pub’s crowded and it’s busy and there’s not much time to talk to patrons, or they’re not usually people I’d want to talk to. Drunk idiots who can’t keep their hands to themselves,” she said. “But I think with how things have been lately, it’s not quite as busy. It’s nice, though. I don’t mind it.” She folded up the paper once again once she had done her bit, passing it back. “What do you do?”

.

“I much prefer it like this,” he replied, followed by a swig of his drink. He took the paper, continuing on without much thought to it. “I’m in law enforcement,” he replied, keeping it vague but even hating the way that sounded. Stuffy, like his dad. If it weren’t for Billie, the job probably would have been long dropped in favour of literally anything else.

[percivalrobards]

colorsofcalista​:

“Calista,” she said with a sweet smile. Calista then pulled out another piece of blank paper. “Some people call me Callie or Cal.” She then began to draw on the blank piece of paper, starting at the bottom, before folding it so only an indistinguishable portion of what she had just drawn was visible. “Here, now you draw something,” she said as she pushed it across to him, pencil on top. 

.

He repeated her name for good measure, gaze lingering on her for a moment before dropping it to the paper slid across the bar. It reminded him of the types of games they did as kids, with Clem or Marlene, but he humoured her, drawing another section before folding and sliding it back. “You always do this?” he gestured to it with the pencil before also handing that over.

[percivalrobards]

nguyencleo​:

Cleo breezed by both of them, her boots leaving a trail behind her with every crunch on the new fallen snow. Before leaving their company completely, Cleo turned back around, her gloves hands ready to push the door open. With a whiplike motion of her wand, which suddenly appeared in her hand, Cleo created a snowman sculpture that represented the spitting image of the young child. “Happy Christmas.” And she was gone.

the end

[percivalrobards]

grobards​:

“Obviously I’m having a massive party,” Gawain said drily. Then, with a shrug that matched Percy’s, he added, “Seeing Gid, maybe.”

.

“Obviously,” Percy replied back, tone amused as he flicked the ash off the end of his cigarette. “Sounds nice.” He was surprised, when their food was called as ready, expecting it to take much longer given the state of the server. “C’mon, let’s go eat over there.” 

~~~ fin ~~~

[percivalrobards]

grobards​:

Gawain rattled off their orders, and the bored-looking witch set to readying the fryer at a glacial pace. Repressing a sigh, he turned back to Percy. “Any birthday plans?” Real ones, he meant, though he didn’t expect a positive answer.

.

Percy gave a small shrug. Usually he would use his birthday as an excuse to buy a bag, drink the most expensive whiskey, and go home with a hot stranger. This year, though -- “Probably have an early night. Get some takeaway, hang out with Bil.” Outside of this tradition, he’d never been one to make a big deal of his birthday. “You?”

[percivalrobards]

nguyencleo​:

Cleo looked at Billie and gave the young child a wink. “Make sure your dad get’s you something good after all of this. Can’t have him using you for cheap tricks without proper payment afterwards.” She glanced over at Percy, too. “Now might be a good time to leave before anyone catches a whiff of fun being had.”

.

Billie, who had been staring at Cleo with a sort of awe, started to giggle. Percy, however, looked over to the stairs where the shop keeper had disappeared and nodded. They’d been lucky, with that woman, but the last thing he needed was the shopkeeper to come down and ruin it -- or worse. It was a whole knew layer now, knowing Billie had her magic but no way to control it. “Good idea that,” he muttered, sticking his wand back in the inside pocket of his jacket and heading towards the door.

[percivalrobards]

nguyencleo​:

Cleo might’ve moaned at the immediate relief of the warmth that settled over her if she wasn’t so aware of the young child in her immediate vicinity. “Ah yes, our hero. Please. Do us the honor of releasing us from this frozen tundra.”

.

It was with the same simple magic that Percy sent a spell over to open the door, it springing open to reveal a rather displeased older woman, who barged in looking disgruntled that the shop would have the audacity to be closed. She was half way when she noticed the coldness in the shop, the snow falling on her even inside. Practically flabbergasted, she looked to the trio with disgust, muttered a “You can’t go anywhere these days,” before turning on her heal and leaving again.

Percy instantly started laughing. “What a fucking ray of sunshine she was.”