wasted on you .

[percy de vane]

Percy feels a little nervous. It’s not his usual thing, either. His hair isn’t as long as it used to be, but it’s not as short as it was. It definitely could use a trim, he thinks. The whiskers on his chin are a little more noticeable when you’re up close. Percy argues in the mirror for about 10 minutes on whether or not he should shave them. The later choice of not shaving is chosen. His green eyes scan his apartment for his keys that are never in their proper spot. It’s one of the things he can’t be bothered with, even though there’s small little hook at the start of his apartment. He’s got on his staple look. All of the tabloids and magazine have dubbed this as the Percy look. Black t-shirt and black jeans, completed with tan boots. Grabbing the tan coat he’s thrown on a lounge chair, his keys are spotted just near by. He shrugs the coat on and pockets the keys. His hand flies through his hair and a long sigh comes his lip. Running in to Madelyn has stirred up so many emotions in him. It has been years. She caught him at the worst time. Another girl was draped over his shoulder and he immediately felt like a fool. Her eyes, which one looked at him with kindness, only showed hate. Which he deserved. Having parted on a sour tone, Percy was sure she’d never want to cross paths away. So this coffee meet up felt good. He didn’t want to push the boundaries. After all they had been through, coffee felt like the perfect place to pour out more apologies that was owed to her. With his mask on, he hails a cab. Not really wanting to mess with his own driver he could call. Sliding into the back, he gives the address to the driver. The masks had a good way of hiding identity these days. Bluestone wasn’t far but this weather wasn’t his favorite. The aroma of coffee warms him up. There’s very few people, which is perfect in his opinion. There’s a small table off to the side and far away from any potential others. His eyes catch a glimpse of her blonde hair. The small coffee table he’s seated at his far from his mind, as he stands up. Immediately followed by a long sound and a sharp pain to his knee. No doubt she’s spotted him after the ruckus. Half the coffee shop has their eyes on a very nervous, clumsy Percy. “Real fucking smooth, Perc” escapes his lips but it’s soft enough he doubts she hears that. Or more so prays she hadn’t. “I made a grand entrance for you, I’m sorry,” Percy chuckles. Trying to make a little lightheartedness out of his scene.

[madelyn holt]

"Ughh." Madelyn snoozes her alarm for the third time that morning, trying to figure out if the pit in her stomach is dread or indication of a hangover. The perpetual headache seems to hint at the latter, blue eyes fluttering open only to shut at the bright light pouring into her apartment. As charmed as she'd been with the south-facing windows when she'd toured the place, she was definitely cursing them now. It likely didn't help that she'd forgotten to shut the blinds last night, brushing the last of the vodka out of her mouth once she stumbled to the bathroom and texted her friend Dree to gauge her suffering. A late night Facetime had turned into cocktails and updates of her Percy run in, not truly realizing how drunk she was until she couldn't stop hiccuping between laughs. If she was being fair though, it was also probably partly dread. It'd been years since their relationship had crumbled beneath her, barely able to understand let alone withhold her emotions when she'd trudged by him on the Manhattan sidewalk. Cozy under the heater with another girl like nothing had happened, suddenly chatting her up like nothing had also, happened. He was lucky she hadn't turned their table over, so caught off guard that her television personality had kicked in and she'd muddled her way through. This though, was likely going to be something else entirely. Madelyn hurriedly combs through her straightened hair, swiping on a bit of mascara and enough cheek tint to look perpetually flushed, a way to hide what her pale skin could possibly betray. She fishes her straight leg leather pants from her floor, tucking in a cream turtleneck before jamming her feet into her boots and grabbing her keys and coat. It's colder than she expected outside, thankful for the scarf she'd wrapped around her mask at the last minute as she flicks her sunglasses down and trudges the few blocks to Bluestone. It'd been a solace of hers in the pandemic and she's unsure why she's trying to ruin the memories of it, honestly too lazy to think of another place they could go as she steps inside to survey the line. A bang follows shortly after, almost jumping out of her skin as she spies Percy to the left. "You alright?" is all she can think to say, pushing her sunglasses on top of her head as she waits for him before heading to the register, crossing her arms instinctively. "Figured we can just grab and go, I'd rather walk around for a bit."

[percy de vane]

At first glance, Percy can’t help but stare at the beautiful woman that stands in front of him. Followed by a glance at her eyes and trailing down for a slight peek at her body. He makes it quick, not to make it seem as though he’s admiring her or wanting to make her uncomfortable. She always has been way out of his league; if he’s being honest. Of course she walks in and he embarrasses himself. He was uncharacteristically nervous. It had to be the fact that he’s out of his element. Having hurt someone so badly and the forgiveness category being so far away. This was completely different than the silly days of breaking girls’ hearts. Percy knows he’s on thin ice. It’s fair for him to be there. The thought of there being a little ounce of hope, is what he’s clinging too. Some tiny particle to salvage any future relationship or friendship. He’s many years too late yet, he’s trying to stay positive with what a small meeting can bring. Out of habit, he rubs his knee that’s still tingling a little bit. She’s in front of him and now he’s more calm. “I’m fine, just forgot about the coffee table in front of me.” The official ‘meet’ part is over. Percy almost wants to let out a sigh of relief. There was a small part of him that worried she wouldn’t show. Again, not that he would blame her if she hadn’t. He nods his head at the suggestion. “Yeah whatever you’re comfortable with.” They’re stood at the register. Percy signals for Madelyn to be in front of him. “Order whatever you want, it’s on me.” His eyes search the menu in front of them to decide on what he’ll have. Usually depends on his mood if he’ll do hot or cold, but since they’ll be walking outside a hot drink is a must. “You look lovely, by the way.” The raspiness of his own sound surprising him as those words fall out. “I hope that's okay to say.” His hands find themselves in his hair again after speaking.

[madelyn holt]

If she's expecting any emotional cues to dictate how this was going to go none ever come, meeting his eye with little reaction aside from assessing whatever pain he was in. No shock, no flood of unresolved resentment...more just curiosity. What did he expect to gain out of this? He'd had his chances to repair their relationship in the past and he'd chosen his cavalier attitude of abandoning it all, leaving her furious, confused and most of all, hurt. It had taken a vague excuse of a fling with Ezra to right her way, moving on without hearing a word from him. Now he was suddenly back, expecting to charm her back into his good graces? It felt so strange, ruffling her hair in awkwardness as she stared at the menu. "It didn't forget about you, it seems," Madelyn says quietly, gaze dropping to his knee. She could have called his outfit before she saw him - though spontaneous in travel, he'd always been a creature of habit in so many other aspects of his life. When it's their turn she orders an oat milk latte, greeting the cashier with a smile of recognition. She couldn't tell if that was embarrassing or an accomplishment, stepping to the side as Percy compliments her. The smile remains, albeit a little less bright. "Thanks. You look...exactly how I remember you. Hair's shorter though - I don't have to threaten you with scissors this time." A small nod to their past, her lips sloping into a smirk. A few seconds later Madelyn accepts her drink at the end of the bar, flicking her head towards the door with a "Shall we?" once his slides onto the counter. As soon as they're outside she pulls her gloves on from her pocket, heading in the direction of her current favorite path around the city. "Soo....did that date ever call you back?"

[percy de vane]

The year of 2020 hasn’t been kind to the British man. With the passing of his mum, he definitely has noticed a change in himself. Previously he was so immersed in the working part of life. Dedicating most of the free time he had to trying to get the best shot. Relationships, such as his and Madelyn’s, failed because of this. Well, their relationship fell to turmoil for other reasons. More serious reasons. But the abandoning life and disappearing for long bits of time could be a close second. One that he should’ve made up for years ago. Four years too late, the guilt really hits him. Especially after running in to Madelyn. All he really wants is a moment to explain his utmost regrets. She deserves way more than an apology but it’s all he’s got to give. Of course, followed by some apologetic flowers he plans to send afterwards. The barista seems to know Madelyn and her usual order, Percy observes the brief exchange. It’s pretty cute, he thinks as he takes another look towards the menu above. “You weren’t the last person to threaten me with scissors either. It got pretty long. My publicist had enough of it, told me I was looking constantly greasy and others could notice. So then it was chopped,” Percy smirks a little bit as he remembers the interaction. He simply orders a hot macchiato and hands the kind barista the total amount. Percy stuffs a few extra singles from his wallet into the tip jar. A small grin tugs on his lips while doing so. The young girl reciprocating the same. With drinks in both of their hands, she nods her head towards the door. “Yes, we shall,” he replies after taking a quick sample of the scorching macchiato. He makes sure to reach the door before she does, so he can open it for her. Trying to be gentleman-like. The coldness of outside feels good after he’s nearly burnt his mouth on beverage in hand. He expected her to bring up Nadine again but a small frown forms on his face still. “Erm, yes, she called me. After I saw you, she ripped me a new one on the drive home. I apologized profusely, I did feel really bad,” Percy confesses as he glances towards the girl. “I told her it probably was best that we didn’t see each other again. I was genuinely surprised that she still wanted to. I was...pretty up front about what I fancied out of all of that. She wanted more.” They walk a few more strides before he lets out, “I’m really sorry, too. For the way I acted in that moment. I actually have a long list of things to apologize for, whenever you’re ready for that.”

[madelyn holt]

There's a feeling of deja vu settling in, Madelyn shifting on her heels to try to will some of it away. It may have not been the same location but this was a similar enough scenario, awaiting his imminent apology for ditching her to follow the sun and his camera subjects. Last time it'd been two weeks - this time, years had lapsed between the last time they really talked. Or yelled, or stared at each other in silence. The betrayal still cuts her to the quick, staying frosty around his perpetually charming air. Something the barista isn't even immune to, rolling her eyes behind his back at her quaint smile. "Well would you look at that, who knew it took a threatening publicist to get you to listen." She accepts his open door with a courteous "thank you", taking a slug of her drink as he recaps his date before grimacing. "Blow her off on the date and then let her down again right after...ouch" Madelyn winces for the girl, trying to remember in her own mind how they'd eventually come to be past a hook up every now and again. "She was probably hoping to be the one to change your course. Have you dated anyone seriously since?" It'll answer enough of her question, feeling the shift in his demeanor before the apology tumbles from his lips. Different location, different reasons...different result, she wagered, turning her head to look at him. "Thanks. I have to be honest though - it just sounds so fake, at this point. I know you probably mean it, that you really are sorry...but it's been so long, Perc. You didn't say anything back then, when I was in your life. Why now, when I haven't been?"

[percy de vane]

“It probably stayed another six months after your last threats.” It’s funny to think about all the times that she threatened him with the scissors. Back then his hair was long and untameable. Percy loved it that way though. It sort of matched the lifestyle he was living. In hindsight it wasn’t the best look for him, especially when he was dealing with a lot of hair. He feels embarrassed for himself when a reporter brings those horrid days and or he comes across the headband images. At this point he has one of his hands tucked into his pocket and the other wrapped around the warm beverage. He sips slowly this time as they proceed with their walk through New York City. Not many people are out, rightfully so with how cold it is. It feels good and safe to Percy. Another strike of guilty hits him when he hears her speak about the Nadine date from hell. “Not my brightest moment, I know.” In his defense, he was upfront with them girl from the beginning. They hadn’t even properly hooked up yet, just a few kisses stolen in her apartment on a previous encounter. He lets out a snort at Madelyn’s remark on Nadine changing him. “Pff, now that’s funny. Maybe it’s a good thing I kindly explained to her my intentions, before she had all sorts of ideas.” There had only been a few girls since they last had seen each other. Absolutely nothing serious. One girl was a fling that only had wanted to keep things casual, just as he had. “I have not dated seriously in a while. What about you?” Percy listen to her talk about their past. Nodding his head at all of her points and minding all of her frustrations. “I know, I know. It sounds like a load of bullshit coming from me now. I am truly sorry. I don’t believe that you sent in those photos, at all. I appreciate you being candid with me” he proceeds to explain. He feels his hand slip out of his pocket to switch with the exposed hand that’s holding his coffee. “I’m not expecting anything out of this. Honest. You don’t even have to see me or talk to me ever again after today. I just wanted a chance to say all of my apologies for the past.” Green eyes search hers before proceeding. “As I said before, when I saw you it brought a lot of emotions out of me. You knew the old me, the one who couldn’t even bother to give you simple ‘I’m sorry’..., the guy I hate when I think about who I was." He senses himself letting out a deep exhale, so much that his breath could be seen. "I didn’t want that to be the last you knew of me. Especially when that’s not who I am anymore.”

[madelyn holt]

"Longer than I thought." It's blurry at this point, trying to remember back that far. Caught between her reality and the reality of television screens, of nights at Percy's apartment and days staring hazily at Ezra across her mother's kitchen. Maybe that's what confused her the most about all of this; he'd been able to handle dating her behind closed doors, the scrutiny of the faux relationship that had been paraded to the press. But a civil conversation about something deeply private, something they seemed to be the only ones with access to? Impossible. She kicks a stray pebble of concrete with force, watching it skid across the road before them. "Regardless of any explanation, there's always the bit of hopeless romanticism that wins out. Go for a hook up, leave with the love of your life." It'd never been in Madelyn's nature but she knew the feeling, gossiping with her girlfriends about one night stands gone wrong and texts that were never returned. Holding out hope, even then. When he asks the question back to her she frowns, trying to define the words for herself. "Ezra, I guess. After we left the show we were actually together for a while. I wouldn't call it serious, per se. But it was something." She'd been tempted to text him, tell him of Percy's resurgence back into her life, but after so much time the words had never composed themselves on her screen. Madelyn makes a mental note to recap to him later, chewing her lip in thought as they stop at a red light and traffic whirls by, their silhouettes highlighted for the briefest of moments in car windows. She's standing so far away from Percy it feels strange, conscious to take a step closer his direction as the road clears and they continue on. "I didn't want to cut you out to begin with, you kind of just forced my hand with that," she begins flatly, remembering the lack of calls or texts and her mounting frustrations. It was so him but it was so infuriating, all but chucking her phone across the room until she'd left a voicemail reiterating the fact that they were over. "Is your mom the reason's everything changed? Because if she gave you hell for the way you treated me, then she sure as hell gave you a reason to reach back out to me before this. You just...didn't even try." Her voice falters, softening amidst her own heated thoughts. "You never seemed like you wanted to try. You were good when you were around, P. But when you weren't, it seemed like you didn't want to be anything." It feels weird, saying this now. The speech she'd wanted to give four years ago, now just reflection on their relationship. "So I guess that's where you could start. Staying present. AKA, don't forget about a dinner date the second someone from your past floats by on the sidewalk."

[percy de vane]

A flashback to their last conversation bothers him. The way he handled it was the definition of selfish. Selfish for the things he said and the reaction towards Madelyn. It was a public affair. It wasn’t as if it was something new to Percy. A relationship with Annie Scott was more dramatic than anything. Their relationship was good, when he wasn’t jetting off and disappearing for weeks. What use to possess him to truly think that was okay? As he looks over her at her, he tries to remember all of the happy things. What it felt like to wake up to her tangled around his torso, or hear a calming voice after a long work-immersed trip. It’s so far in a distant memory that its hard to recall without a haze. “That sounds like a movie I’ve seen a time or two.” It wasn’t as if he was opposed to having something more than a few flings in his life. Cliche to say, Percy hadn’t came across someone he felt like crossing over the casual line. A tinge of jealousy hits him over hearing about Ezra. Shocked though, is not what Percy is. The guy was constantly a step away from their relationship. It was never an issue for him due to the nature of their association. He knows he doesn’t have a right to be envious, it there’s though. “Oh really? Did your families know about this?” He chuckles, thinking of the times he caught their show whenever it was on. The years that have passed between them is recognizable. With their stances and the distance in between them. Percy senses that his face has mostly looked towards the pavement of the sidewalk. Besides some of the glances he’s stolen at her. At this moment he’s regretting not grabbing a beanie, or gloves. Warmth of the coffee slowly faded as the contents have disappeared. “With the what I said to you and how I acted, it just seemed better to do. I know it wasn’t.” His phone not being a priority to him made it easier to screen her calls and text messages. In the moment, it felt gruesome too. Of course he fled the city just as he was ignoring her. “No. It’s not because of my mum. Yeah, her passing pushed me to stop traveling so much. And has me emotionally has fucked up.” One hand reaches behind his head, to scratch at the uncomfortableness he feels for being vulnerable. “By the way, she did yell at me a lot for what happened between us. But..I can’t believe I’m admitting this,” he sighs before straining his neck back, as though it’s killing him to speak. “I was afraid too. I really fucked up. It was years. I feel ridiculous even doing this now knowing it’s been so long. But I had to.” It probably sounds rehearsed to her. Just another thing from his mouth that can’t be relied on. But it’s meant, or he hopes she catches. “I am present. I will be staying present. Plus I don’t typically ignore dinner dates. I was really taken aback.”

[madelyn holt]

She has to laugh at his mention of romantic comedies, an innocent shrug of her shoulders a confirmation that he was on the right track as her teeth drag across her bottom lip under her mask. He ticked all the boxes of a classic lead, inclusive of his inability to commit until the very end. Until he's dragging apologies out of his mouth, years down the line for something that'd already broken beneath them. "We wouldn't be a very good movie script," Madelyn murmurs under her breath, catching his eye for a second. Trying to place if she still felt sad about this, or if she was trying to put the finishing touches on an already closed chapter. It doesn't subside the tiny thrill she feels when she can hear the jealousy in his tone, disguised but distinguishable. "Yeah, they were gutted they couldn't use footage of our actual dates." Madelyn fails to mention anything about their new show, letting the conversation lapse as she takes another sip of her coffee. Surprised to find their silence didn't automatically become awkward or rushed with conversation, lingering in the quiet a little longer as she gestured to turn at the next block. Steeling at his rebuttal, recalibration written all over her frostbitten features "You did fuck up," she states honestly, unafraid to break eye contact at this point because she knew he needed to hear this. For her sake, at the very least. "But I don't get what's so scary about saying you're sorry. It was an apology, that's all I wanted, it was the least I deserved. And it took years before your pride let you say it." Madelyn's palm curl imperceptibly tighter against her coffee cup, against her coat pocket. Knuckles white beneath her leather gloves. "That's what I'm really upset about, honestly. At the end of the day you just didn't seem to value Us over your pride." Her steps slow, then halt, crossing her arms over her chest again as she waited for him to notice, to turn around. "I want to believe that, but that's something you have to prove. There's no instant fix here. Whatever you want with your life, me, us -" she hesitates on the word, fumbling for something else to say. "will take time." It takes her a moment to realize she glossed over his mother again, reaching out naturally to curl her palm over his shoulder. "I'll say sorry about your mother again though. Because I really am." Her thumb trails back and forth over the edge of his jacket, unable to imagine that amount of grief until she spies something over his shoulder. Drops her arm, lifts her expression with a nod of her chin. "I think you may have a fan incoming."

[percy de vane]

“No kidding.” He holds her eye contact for a brief second. Feeling it last for what feels like a million years until she breaks away. She’s right, they wouldn’t make a good movie script. Here he was years later trying to explain how much of a fool he made himself out to be. It didn’t really have the grounds to be a romantic movie. Now that he thought about it, maybe it would be a good movie script. But a comedy instead. The audience would love Madelyn as the lead; she’d be fierce. Percy would be the laughing stock and definitely not a crowd favorite. It continues to bother him, the thought of her and Ezra. He’s happy that she doesn’t dive into more detail. It feels better to just leave that stuff unsaid. Not like it’s any of his business either. Again, he doesn’t have a true reason to be jealous. But that jealousy is hitting right into the gut. The speech is what he needs to hear, no matter the harsh words that are spewing from her mouth. As he’s said before, her honesty is most appreciated. Harsh but needed for Percy’s sake. This time their eyes are locked and not straining from each other. He feels as though his are searching hers; seeing the emotion of hurt so raw in them. “I don’t know why it was so scary either. I’m just being honest. Yes, it was my stupid pride.” Feeling foolish once more as hears her responses to his. His throat clears out of habit, not nervousness. “I didn’t know how to value our relationship back then and I’m sorry that it happened that way. That an apology is coming now, four years later.” Her halting is noticed. As he turns back around and looks at her stance. Arms crossed and pressed up against her chest. She looks god damn beautiful even when mad, Percy considers as he takes her all in. Her stumble across her words is also noted. The word 'us' stuck in his brain. “Actions speak louder than words, I know. I’m not asking for total forgiveness, I know that comes with time. I’m not expecting it to happen right away. Just want you to know that I am capable of it.” Percy's hands are out of his pocket he realizes, as he’s speaking with them.. A brush of cold air hitting. “Fuck I don’t even know what I want out of this, honestly. I just saw you and I missed you...which is so selfish,” he mumbles, “I owed you an apology and I’ve been sitting on this apology forever, but knew It needed to happen since I’ve gotten back to the city. I guess the push was just seeing you.” This is the closest that they’ve been now. As her hand touches his shoulder, his eyes shut and body suddenly relaxes. His mum had a soft spot for Madelyn. When he fled New York after their break up, his mum was beyond disappointed. There were many arguments on how Percy should’ve handled it. He knew his mum was right but it was the matter of admitting that. Over the years, Percy and his mum sat down to talk and the topic was brought back up. “Thank you. It means a lot.” He knows his demeanor is of sadness upon hearing her condolences. Emotions have been quite heightened for him, because of the grief. He follows her chin to the location of the nearby fan. Of course he’s been spotted as they are in the middle of a serious conversation. Percy watches as two young, probably in their teens begin to descend on the pair. He notices their giddiness increase as they realize it actually is the British man. “If you want to jet, I understand. I’m sure being seen with me is the last thing you need in your life. No doubt the fangirls could report back to tumblr.” A chuckle escapes him as he shrugs. Before they’ve reached him, he leaves the choice up to her.

[madelyn holt]

It feels therapeutic, almost, if she’s being honest. Being able to say whatever she wanted, enough time having passed for her to have a coherent grip on things. Maybe this would have been worse, in the moment. Hurt but still committed, an apology away from trying to repair something that maybe didn’t work in the first place. She’d been grounded, albeit stayed an arm’s length away from everyone for some time now. He’d been flighty, impossible to keep in one place or conversation at one time. Having the time to take a step back, to reassess everything, gave her the recognition she held now. It hadn’t worked for a reason. Much like her and Ezra, though they both knew it was never meant to. He was whose hand she wanted to hold on the couch of Housewife reunions, who she wanted to lazily kiss on a boat with a mouth brimming with tequila. But that was it. Madelyn stews on this a bit longer, nodding along when his continued apologies start sounding more earnest. They almost border on frustration, like he can’t grit them out in the way he wants to, and when he finally turns to look at her she can see that he means it. "I’m sorry it happened that way too," she says warily, the cold suddenly catching up with her. "I hear you, I hope it’s all true. But you have to know I can’t really trust you right now." It’s hard to say but she knows it’s what she believes, feeling him sag into her touch, losing his eyes for a minute. Watching the shutter of grief rip through him, breath caught in her throat for the briefest of moments. She wants to pull him in suddenly, to comfort him further, but the moment dissipates in the wake of recognition. "It’s fine, the teens were never my harshest critics," she jokes, taking another step back to allow him his space and deftly remain out of any pictures. One of them looks at her though, eyes alight, and she offers a tiny wave of her fingers in confirmation. It takes them a few moments to clear but they’re on their way again soon enough, Madelyn laughing under her breath. "Maybe if you didn’t wear the same outfit all the time you’d be able to go a little more incognito. Even the mask doesn’t help you!"

[percy de vane]

Trust had to be earned. That much Percy knew. It wasn’t going to be a flip of the switch. As he glances towards her, he can sense that she’s not as tense towards him. The apologies are not sounding redundant. There’s only so much one can say and or hear the words sorry. He’s hopeful that the apologies have halted; struggling to get all of words he wants to say out but feeling as though he’s gotten to the gist of it. He sorta kicks himself for not writing things down, so he could get more of his thoughts out. “I know that you can’t trust me right now, I’ve got to earn that” his tongue licks his lip to soften them from the brisk cold. “This is me saying though, that I’d love for you to be able to again. It’s going to take time, I’m aware.” Percy says as he tilts his head to search for her reaction. Holding her eye contact with those last words. He’s pleased that the fan girls haven’t scared her away. “Okay thank you for understanding. I don’t want to finish with our conversations, or even seeing you for that matter.” Not the best timing for him to be spotted. Young girls approach him with lots of happy, nervous looks frame the features visible. He was quickly able to turn on his fake public happiness look, covering up the raw emotions he was just experiencing with Madelyn. Percy asks that the fans keep their masks on to keep them all safe. Their bodies are not as close to Percy as they usually are, wanting to keep a fair space with the fans. It’s hard for them, but the right thing to do. He catches them taking a couple glances toward Madelyn, as if they recognize her. Percy imagines they do; their relationship was very public eventually overcoming her reality one. Several pictures later, Percy and Madelyn are finally left alone as the girls leave but Percy sees them looking back at the pair. A laugh falls from his mouth as she teases about him not being able to be incognito. “It’s my staple!!” He defends himself, feigning hurt with a smirk tugging at the corner of his mouth. “Not to mention, very comfortable too. I remember someone over here used to steal many of my band tees.” They take a few more strides into their walk. As they’re moving, he looks over to where she’s beside him. “Where shall we head to next?” His hands come up to clarify. “Not trying to push your limit of Percy time today, if you’ve hit capacity.”

[madelyn holt]

Although she knew recognition came with the territory, it always threw Madelyn off when strangers acknowledged her. As if she hadn't been a sideline plot of a very popular Bravo show for a few years, or her romances hadn't been dissected and cataloged online every step of the way. To her she'd done little to demand any kind of that attention, and looking at Percy now, gracefully directing the stammering girls with ease, she knew she'd never be comfortable with it. It felt nice to stick to her own bubble, be able to run errands peacefully with little recognition. Fame had never fit her, and she'd never truly wanted to try it on. Percy on the other hand, had always navigated it with ease. It warms her to see his kindness again, a flicker back to their old times as she follows his gaze over their shoulder. Wondering when that photo would go live, if any gossip about her spotting would soon follow. "You absolutely just made their week," she lofts, giving him a playful shove about his wardrobe when she knows his shirts are still buried in one of her drawers somewhere. "To be fair, I liked the plain white ones the best." Her eyes flick quickly to the cross streets when he mentions their direction, a small smile warming her face when he backs off his question. "You're fine. This is my meandering path when I'm doing my city walks. There's a park a few blocks away, usually where I loop around and head east." In the height of the pandemic haze she'd relied desperately on these walks, falling more in love with the city after countless hours of watching neighborhoods change before her eyes. It was always what you made it to be, pinpointing spots on the map of where her friends lived, where she'd celebrated birthdays, where she'd gotten a little too drunk. It was bittersweet how different it seemed now, even if it would be back one day. Much like Percy was, turning over his wishes in her head. Could she trust him again? "We'll have to see, I guess, on the trust thing. If we get to that point. But you actually showing up on time and in person today was a good first start. It's funny...I know I'm still mad at you, and upset, but I don't feel awkward around you like I expected to."

[percy de vane]

Fame had always been something familiar to Percy. Having grown up with a British socialite for a mum and a rockstar of a father, their family’s name lived in the tabloids. It was never easy for a young Percy; especially during the time of his parent’s very public divorce. Nowadays he took it for what it was. Navigating fans and the spotlight with the help of a publicist. It came with the territory that he understood but he always wanted to make sure that others were comfortable. There were ways that he protected the ones he loved from the spotlight. Taking the time to ask those whether they’d like to be kept anonymous from Instagram posts or getting together in a more private setting. Deep down, his heart was in the right places even if he made a lot of mistakes in other aspects of relationships. “I saw them looking over at you. Just prepare yourself for if a photo goes viral on Twitter,” Percy acknowledges, imagining what some of the replies would contain. “I can see it now...” he stammers off, “British heartthrob spotted with familiar blonde beauty.” He paints the picture inside his mind. The same cheeky smirk he used to give her all the time pulls at his lips. Making light of situation all while complimenting Madelyn. Any of his t-shirts looked way better on her. The way they flowed perfectly down to above her knee. Even the ratty old ones had some appeal to them when they covered up her body. He follows her direction across the street. There’s no denying his happiness that she wants to proceed with their walk and time together. Percy’s also relieved to see a slight small places in her lips. It encourages the one that was tilted on his own mouth to be tugged higher. Snow makes the city atmosphere a little dreary. When there’s a little more sunlight he reckons the walk is gorgeous. “It’s a good area for a walk. I see why you do it so often. It’s nice to get out of a stuffy place and enjoy what’s around us,” he murmurs as he takes in all some surroundings. Percy rattles his empty drink container before spying a nearby trash can. He holds his hand out towards the girl, to see if she needs him to dispose of her’s. “Are you finished?” Nodding to the bin up ahead, prepping for his step out of their sequenced strides. They seem to be a little more comfortable around each other. Still tension but a little more laidback than initially seeing each other. And to hear she’s not felt awkward around him has made part of his guilt slip away. Obviously not totally gone, but he’s not sick to his stomach believing she’ll never want to speak to him again after this afternoon. “Did part of you think I wouldn’t show up today?” Percy’s almost afraid to ask and know her response. “I’m happy you don’t feel awkward around me. You still have every right to be upset and frustrated. I hope with time that can dissolve. It’s felt really good to be around you again, you know?”