♣ I don't know what to do I think I'm FALLing for you

[sweettalker]

[Piper has never been one to care for the perks that come with being associated with famous people, honestly, but she's able to appreciate and make some exceptions. Given Adrien's busy schedule (both as a civilian and as Cat Noir) she considers this almost more like a compromise. They haven't told his father about them dating yet, which makes things harder, but it's worth it to let Adrien approach the subject at his own pace, even if it makes Piper a little bit uneasy to think about. It's not that she's clingy or insecure, but misunderstandings are more likely to happen when everyone isn't on the same page.

But still! Trust.

And in the meantime, for whatever reason Gabriel seemed to decide she was an acceptable friend for his son, so here she is in a very prestigious position: Front row at one of Adrien's photoshoots. The weather is perfect, if a little bit chilly. Somewhere in the distance there's the soft crunch of dead leaves being raked by a park attendant into neat piles all around. Adrien looks very handsome in his fall attire, and the colors of the changing leaves sets a cozy tone for the day overall.

He does so many of them that sometimes it seems like it should be a simple thing, but watching him follow direction after direction, striking pose after pose, it becomes clear that it's tiring work in its own right. He's a good sport about it, the most patient and cooperative, honestly, but it looks like it's wearing him down a little holding poses and being tasked with producing emotion on demand. That's why, while the photographer is busy changing out his camera card (trying to locate the new one he'd purchased for today) Piper seizes on an opportunity.

A few moments ago she was sitting to one side on a park bench with a cup of hot chocolate cupped in her hands, and when he'd looked her way she'd been giving him reassuring smiles, but now he'll find the seat empty. Off in the distance the park attendant is still busy raking leaves into piles, but Piper is conspicuously missing...

Until suddenly she isn't anymore, and she drops an armful of leaves over Adrien's head from behind.]

Aw, why do you look so down? Were you worried I'd leave you all alone?

Comments

[catpunned]

[ He can see his dad's expression subtly change when she leans in. He's been conditioned since he was little to fear that; more so now since his mom has been missing, but he catches onto the call-back and softens regardless.

He brushes the last of the leaves off. ]

I should probably take it easier on these clothes.

...Since you did bring up the Fall Dance, though, maybe you could help me convince a certain someone to let me go.

[ Yeah, that's right, Gabriel, your son is calling you out. Are you hearing this? ]

[sweettalker]

[ Piper winks playfully back at him. She probably should be more careful with Gabriel, but Piper is feeling too fearless. It's something that happens whenever she's with the people she loves, especially Adrien, and now is no exception.

When Adrien addresses her about the fall dance, something that she actually, surprisingly, wants to attend (Going to more than one social event in a school year? Who IS she?), she gets the message.

Gabriel, for his part, is surprised by his son's... borderline cheeky behavior. Perhaps he should reevaluate what sort of influence this girl is over Adrien... just that, before he can give the idea any further thought she's smiling so sweetly. It's difficult, even for him then to maintain his stern stance. There's the barest tickle of an urge to answer whatever she asks of him by giving it willingly. Brief enough to dismiss again quickly as a momentary weakness, not enough to consider concerning. 

His brow furrows then as though trying to redouble his efforts to look imposing and strict. ]

Adrien works really hard every day, Mr. Agreste. Could you let him have one night off for the dance? It would mean a lot to both of us, all of us if he could come.

[ It would be so easy to slip in a name drop, to mention how much her father would appreciate him allowing Adrien to be her date for the night so that she didn't need to go alone, but not only would that be wrong, it would be easy to shoot down such a request. No, she sticks to being sincere, putting as much of an imploring lilt into her voice as possible.

Both Gabriel and Nathalie had killer poker faces, Piper noted, because even as she glanced at her boss the assistant's expression gave away none of her thoughts. As for the older Agreste... His brow sunk lower on his forehead, deeper towards his eyes, possibly in displeasure, but also maybe pensive thought? What was going through his mind, she wondered?

The answer to that was somewhat innocuous... The first time he'd met the young Miss McLean she'd charmed him with how well spoken and well mannered she was. As he understood it she and her father had only just moved here a few months prior, at that time. She'd grown up in the States... had never taken classes. Self-taught, he recalled her explaining in passing? It was impressive... and in part some of what moved him to agree to allow Adrien to attend the surprise party she'd planned.

Also impressive, that she'd put together such a well thought out event on relatively short notice. Any potential that she had was secondary- no, tertiary to his concerns for Adrien's future. They did give him pause, though, at least he'd thought so at the time.

Faced with her again, three times in a row now... surely no one is THAT persuasive?

Closing his eyes for a moment, he nodded. ]

Very well. As he has no other obligations that evening, I'll allow it this once.

[catpunned]

[ Even Nathalie raises an eyebrow at this, but only for a very missable, blink-and-you'll-miss-it moment. As quickly her surprise comes, it is gone. She writes something on a clipboard she's been observing with and speaks not a word against her boss's orders.

Adrien's jaw drops. He can't help it! What does he have to do to get a yes so easily? But he won't push it by asking, as rhetorical as the question would have been. He'll take what he can get, smiling excitedly as he bounces once, pulling Piper into it, too. ]

Sweet!

[ The photographer takes his last pictures, and Adrien regains his composure just in time for the guy to dismissively start going over the material on his camera, slowly walking away as he does so.

Adrien coughs. When he sees a dismissive wave, he shrugs, looking at Piper and then at his dad. ]

I mean... I guess we're done.

Dad... I really appreciate you letting me go! I didn't really know what to expect there, I hope...

[ Adrien really doesn't want him to feel like they ganged up on him or something. ]

[sweettalker]

[Piper is less surprised this time when Gabriel says yes, only because she was confident that he would. It wasn't an unreasonable request, but more than that, somehow she just knew he'd agree to it.

BUT STILL ALSO STILL SURPRISED.

She goes along with Adrien's pull and bounce with a short laugh, but then composes herself long enough to give his father a polite smile and her thanks.

It all happens rather fast after that. She's not sure what the procedure here is and was ready to just... follow directions until it seemed obvious they were done, but then they're dismissed rather unceremoniously and Piper is left unsure if it's a formal dismissal or not.

When Adrien looks at her she shoots a somewhat helpless shrug back. Don't ask her! She's not sure either. She assumes so by the photographer's response, but who knows. Adrien strikes up a conversation with his father then, and Piper is debating offering her thanks as well, but...

She should've really known better than to get too comfortable.

Gabriel holds up a hand, silencing whatever else Adrien might have intended to say when he trails off uncertainly. With his eyes closed at the moment the calculating look in them is hidden behind hooded lids. He's still the picture of calm when he speaks up again.]

Just a moment, Adrien. I'll allow you to attend this dance on your friend's request, but I'd like for her to do something in return.

[Without looking he gestures for Nathalie then.]

Nathalie, an invitation, please.

[Piper, for her part, looks a bit stunned, but as the invite changes hands from assistant to teen, she immediately gets the feeling that she knows what it's for- even if not specifically...]

Next week there's a gala being hosted by the publishing house that commissioned today's shoot. The event mandates a plus one. Miss McLean here shall act as yours for the evening.

[It was only right, after all, that they be allowed to meet the young woman who would feature on their pages as well. More than that, however, Gabriel was curious to see how she'd act under pressure and the last minute invitation.]

[catpunned]

[ He knows better than to keep talking. All he can do is watch, mouth hung open, as the events unfold. He'd almost forgotten about that gala, so he certainly hasn't given any thought as to who his plus one was going to be... but it was never going to be anyone else, anyway.

He grins encouragingly as Piper takes the invite. ]

It'd be an honor. If... you're not busy.

[ He's not going to assume she wouldn't be!! ]

[sweettalker]

[It makes her feel just a tiny bit nervous, because a gala? A formal event, a dress, big names, salad forks... dancing.

She wouldn't be going alone though, since of course she'd be accompanying Adrien. It'd be a date more or less, even if not one of their specific choosing.

Hopefully Adrien doesn't pick up on her apprehension! They can talk about it afterwards, but for now she doesn't want him to think she doesn't want to do it just because it makes her nervous.

With a smile, she nods.]

Yeah... I'm not doing anything. I'd be happy to go.

[Gabriel, for his part, seems ready to move on. There are other engagements to see to, and time stops for no man. Maybe an akuma... but no man.]

... Did that really just happen?

[Buy one date get one free?]

[catpunned]

Dude.

[ It's a quiet, excited utterance, only after Gabriel and the others are sufficiently distracted. You can definitely tell Adrien is Nino's best friend. ]

That was amazing. Sorry he put you on the spot like that, though.

[ If Adrien had known the ultimatum was coming, he might have found a different way of getting his permission... but he is, of course, not complaining. ]