Percival takes another deep breath and lets it go slowly. He even manages a smile and gently pinches Essek's chin.
"I've managed under worse conditions." If he can make it through a formal dinner with the bloody Briarwoods, he can make it through the rest of this evening until such a time that he and Essek can leave without seeming to be rude.
When he feels ready, Percival rejoins the gathering with Essek and resumes working the room to build connections. He can be charming when he wants to be, but tonight it's far more difficult to maintain, even with Essek at his side. Maybe especially with Essek at his side. More than once he has to stop himself from getting short or giving in to his senseless irritation with the presence of others. It annoys him to hold back his desire to touch Essek; that annoyance turns to something sharper when he notices other people admiring his husband. Normally he would simply take a base sort of pride in the fact that someone else wants what he has, but that isn't how he feels now.
An hour or so after admitting he might be in a state, Percival says something rather cutting to someone offering Essek a somewhat flirtatious compliment.
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"I've managed under worse conditions." If he can make it through a formal dinner with the bloody Briarwoods, he can make it through the rest of this evening until such a time that he and Essek can leave without seeming to be rude.
When he feels ready, Percival rejoins the gathering with Essek and resumes working the room to build connections. He can be charming when he wants to be, but tonight it's far more difficult to maintain, even with Essek at his side. Maybe especially with Essek at his side. More than once he has to stop himself from getting short or giving in to his senseless irritation with the presence of others. It annoys him to hold back his desire to touch Essek; that annoyance turns to something sharper when he notices other people admiring his husband. Normally he would simply take a base sort of pride in the fact that someone else wants what he has, but that isn't how he feels now.
An hour or so after admitting he might be in a state, Percival says something rather cutting to someone offering Essek a somewhat flirtatious compliment.