{ota} the baffled king composed hallelujah

[denythyfather]

These days, things happen. The question is: how fast does gossip travel around Diamond Castle? And, honestly, does it count as gossip if the subject of said news is airing it loudly to the public as well? Because Adrien isn't wasting any time in letting people know that he's challenging up.

That's right. Ermenegilde Pascal Adrien Fitzgerald is challenging up to Seven. "About time I climbed up the ladder, don't you think?" he'll ask as Sitara giggles from behind him.

Comments

[allthesamemask]

"Or they'll get so overwhelming you'll forget you have a challenge to do," she deadpans. "Do the Sevens know yet? They quakin' in fear?"

[denythyfather]

"Come on, dear, isn't being an optimist nicer?" he cajoles. "And I doubt any Seven would be shaking in fear if they did know. I'm not very intimidating."

"He's silly!" Sitara affirms from his side.

[allthesamemask]

"Makes me less prepared, though." She grins down at Sitara. "Yeah. Now we just have to wonder how he'll win a challenge by bein' silly, won't we? No Seven'd expect a challenge like that."

[denythyfather]

"Silly billy. Maybe he'll have a silly faces contest!" Obviously an awesome idea.

[allthesamemask]

She raises her eyebrows at Adrien. "Well? Are ya?"

[denythyfather]

"No," he says with a laugh. "It's probably going to be related to fashion. It'll be interesting, won't it? Something out of the ordinary."

[allthesamemask]

Of course her eyebrows rise high. "What, like a fashion show? You gonna have a walk-off, or something?" She can't imagine her guardian allowing something like that. Or Silas either, for that matter.

[denythyfather]

"... not quite. More like identifying collar styles. Their year of origin and designer. That sort of thing." Infinitely more acceptable, right?

[allthesamemask]

"And you're... challengin' someone who's also knowledgeable in that, yes?" Because otherwise it seems a pretty obscure challenge to her.

[denythyfather]

A pause. "I'm... not sure, but I'm giving her a few weeks. So that's ample time to study while I slack off, I think."

[allthesamemask]

She'll believe that. Just like she'll also believe that he's going to find the path rocky. "...didja bribe Miss Sahdeh? No, must've been blackmail. Or was it Silas?"

[denythyfather]

"Nothing like that. No bribery." He holds an insulted hand to his heart. "Just an honest ambition to provide more help to the Suit."

[allthesamemask]

She believes him. At least 65% believes him, anyway. "An' you're not gonna be knocked down the moment you get there, right?" Right, Sitara? Help her get him to promise that.