If diplomacy and snobbery won't work, Percy is willing to to see how much damage one of these things can take. If it were only him, this might be something relatively easy to brush off, to roll his eyes at and walk away. If only.

His gaze cuts side-long when he hears someone offering to pay the difference. He absolutely does not want to accept charity, but he is quickly realizing he might have to if he wants to do anything about this without resorting to stealing it or damaging it. His jaw tightens.

"I will repay this," he says gravely, intending to use a tone that will brook no argument. He lifts his gaze back to the automaton.

"You heard the man," he snaps, calling on generations of snobbery and his own well-honed spite. Not that it will have any particular effect on a thing like this, but it makes him feel just slightly better to wield it.