Piper McLean (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
sweettalker) wrote in ![[community profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/community.png)
chatpiper2019-09-18 12:33 am
sweettalker) wrote in chatpiper2019-09-18 12:33 am
♣ I don't know what to do I think I'm FALLing for you
[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?
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?
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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. ]
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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.]
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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!! ]
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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?]
no subject
[ 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. ]