RP: Tonight, Tomorrow, Forever

[pb_percy]

Characters: Percy Weasley, Cho Chang, George Weasley
Date: April 4th, 2000 | Late Morning
Location: Dunsley Hall | Whitby Beach
Status: Very, very Private!
Summary: Wedding bells! Percy and Cho tie the knot.
Completion: Incomplete

Comments

[pb_cho]

Cho thought she heard something about breakfast, or brecklefest -- English was so silly --

"Noooo..."

You see, it was awfully soft where she was, and sleep made her boneless, and they could eat when they were dead. Was that how the quote went? Wait... Perhaps not. Either way, however, she was very comfortable, and usually with enough whining Percy left her in pe--

Father? Cho didn't even catch the rest of the sentence: just the inclusion of that title in their lovely morning was enough to make her snap to attention, now completely aware. She sat staring blankly at Percy for a fraction of a moment, piecing together his trick -- how bad! -- and with surprisingly fast reflexes for someone who had been sleeping only moments before, swung a pillow into the side of his head. "Ha!"

And with that, she began to stretch, shirtless. "My father is downstairs, indeed...."

[pb_percy]

And a second later, Percy had a perfect view of the best breasts in the world. At least, in his book. Hang Penny, Athena, and all the rest.

The pillow knocked his view rather ajar though, and he frowned slightly.

"Good morning." Percy said, leaning in to peck her on the lips as though he hadn't just played an awful prank. "If you slept any longer I was afraid you'd been put under some kind of spell." The kind muggle fairy tales talked about where princesses fell asleep and didn't age. His arms made it around her before her arms lowered from stretching. "But now that my fears have been abated, my stomach could be too, hmm?"

[pb_cho]

At this angle, it was difficult to look Percy in the eye -- but Cho made the effort. "So demanding," she teased, folding her arms behind her head. "What am I getting myself into?"

Indeed.

It wasn't a serious question, at this point. Yes, she'd considered such things -- she was Cho Chang, she could over-think any subject under the sun -- but her old school of thought didn't seem to apply here any longer, and... When she put to mind everything today would mean... It was nothing like she'd thought, to give your life to someone else. But then, of course: was she nervous? Certainly.

Percy didn't seem to have a care in the world...

How sweet.

"If you'll remove yourself, I can make myself presentable," Cho simpered, playful; both hands met in the brightness of his hair. A moment later she imitated his prior tone, adopting a look of sincere pomp. "I doubt they'd welcome me at breakfast looking like this, hmm?"

[pb_percy]

Hands detached and wound to meet hers behind his own head. Nothing could stop him from smiling today. Especially with the great view back.

"I wouldn't mind, but I'm pretty sure there are dress codes to be followed." Percy took a pressed white button up shirt from off a hanger in a heavy wooden dresser, pulled slacks on and huffed at his hair in the oval mirror provided. "You know, sometimes I have an appreciation for what Harry must have gone through every day and why he eventually gave up." His hair was terribly wavy. But then again, enthusiasm for certain things the night before had not exactly left energy enough to preen before bed. Something about their last night to make love like unmarried people.

[pb_george]

The shop had been calm all morning. After the April Fools rush, nothing short of a stampede would have caused the employees to blink an eye anyway, but by normal standards it was quiet. George had spent a large part of the day secluded in his workshop under the guise of creating products so Verity could restock the shelves. He'd done a bit of work but the main focus had been his secret attire.

George had little option. The robes he’d worn at Bill’s wedding where too starchy and constricting for a wedding on the beach. Then there were the scratchy hand-me-downs, thread bare and embarrassing that George would sooner light on fire than wear. Or possibly light them on fire while wearing them; he’d heard that could tickle quite pleasurably if done correctly.

Lastly where the dark, barely used dress robes Arthur had provided for Fred's funeral, shoved somewhere in the back of his wardrobe. Aside from being too morbid, George hadn’t the heart to unearth them yet.

No shoes. Basing his judgment off Cho’s request, George discarded all

[pb_percy]

How strange indeed.

The walk had lasted longer than Percy had expected--they were practically lounging like lizards, taking in as much of the sun and warmth as possible before even thinking about going back to the room to change.

It was he who spotted George first, looking at once wonderful and comical; leaving behind a trail of whispers and wide eyes long enough to produce a gentle roll of the eyes.

"George, over here!" Percy called. He and Cho had circled their way back to the bench for the second time, hands interlocked and kicking playfully at each other. Upon noticing that George had taken the request of no shoes far to literally, he laughed aloud after standing to greet him with a tight hug.

"You do realize the no shoes bit applied to the ceremony alone?" He said, pulling a pant leg up to reveal the now dew-covered black and gold shoes. "But I don't think the staff will mind too badly. We already confused them enough when we got here. Thanks for coming, George." He said again, surprised to find himself starting to tear.

[pb_cho]

Cho bounced up after Percy, looking thrilled. "George! Hi!"

And she stood by idly as the brothers embraced -- but it wasn't because she felt left out anymore. It wasn't that she didn't belong to the family. Perhaps the feeling was only so pronounced because of the date: this was where it would start, after all, and nothing had ruined the sentiment yet. But... As it was, she felt awfully affectionate towards everyone and everything, and when Percy pulled away it was her turn to give George a shy but firm embrace.

"Glad to see you," she offered cheerily. At the sight of his feet there was a vague attempt to hide laughter -- not entirely successful -- and Cho slipped her own shoes off to match. "Nice day."

[pb_george]

'Precisely my thought,' George punctuated, keeping Cho close despite her timid embrace. She was going to be one of the family, after all, and long, sometimes too-tight hugs from George were one of the things she would have to get used to. Eventually, George let her go and produced from his breast pocket thimble-sized shoes, just to prove an undisclosed point to Percy.

'See?' he noted, placing them safely back in his pocket. 'I have a smoking hot date of my own tonight, so...

'How are you two? Ready for me to take this mutt of your hands, Cho?' George sparked, patting Percy firmly on the back. Percy and Cho might be eloping, might have their own ideas of how they wanted the day to run but George had a few of his own as well. And sending his brother off to the alter without at least one male-bonding drink wasn't going to pass by un-protested.

[pb_percy]

Percy was just in the process of securing a carriage driver for the afternoon when George jogged down with the robes. Merlin knew what conclusions the staff had come to about the three of them, but the strange garment earned him only a single bewildered blink before the clerk nodded, shuffling off to find the driver than had just returned.

Shaking fingers clasped every tiny silver hook; straightened slightly jaunted lapels and brushed cuffs that didn't need brushing. By the time George appeared with Cho at the top of the stairs, breathing had become something to concentrate on.

If Cho had ever been starved, hurt or broken, there was no hint of it now. Her own hands betrayed no injury or imperfection, hiding in this stillness a nimble strength that seemed to radiate from a thick gray-black band on her finger. By the time she reached Percy on the ground floor anything about carriages awaiting had gone successfully out the window.

"Wow. You look...wow..."

[pb_cho]

Down the stairs, Cho was inches to breathless. The space between the last step and the floor, she stopped breathing altogether.

It didn't seem quite real at this point, and she couldn't define the unreality; was it what they were doing, what it meant, or the fact that it was happening at all? She couldn't decide, and by the time she remembered herself, Cho had already glided over the floor to Percy's side.

Not shoeless yet, but it was as if she hadn't any feet at all. No weight to speak of.

"Hi," she said, offering him a quivering hand.

[pb_george]

Keeping a polite distance George let Percy and Cho take in one another, uninterrupted. Now that Fred was gone, this was likely the one and only time he would be someone's best man; it was an honor he would cherish for the rest of his life, a duty he'd fulfill with every last concentrated effort he possessed

[pb_percy]

Percy took Cho's hand, his own calming instantly at her touch--quite suddenly he was aware there was nothing to be nervous about. This was the time in one's life when everything fell into place, where no step could be a misstep and the vistas of the universe lost any fearful hold that could have possible remained.

"Our carriage awaits." Percy said, raising her hand in a regal gesture and nodding to George at the same time. One day, he would have the words for exactly what it meant to have his brother by his side that day. Until then, a smile would have to suffice.