{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.

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[denythyfather]

"Sophie Berthier - in front of a child?" He'll ignore Sitara's confused looks as he grins at Sophie, reaching out to tap her red cheek. Unfortunately, he can't step closer as Sitara pushes at his shoulder and informs him he has cooties.

[onlytolerable]

She bats at his hand. "You know that's not what I meant!" Although.... Her eyes meet his and she starts to laugh despite herself, causing Sitara to look even more confused. That only makes Sophie want to kiss the little girl again, so she does.

"Remind me to teach you the proper inflection for 'annoying peacock,'" she tells her, eyes beaming at Adrien over the girl's head.

[denythyfather]

“Peacock? What?” Blink blink. “Is that what you call Papa when he’s being silly?” The smile on Adrien’s face shifts into something slightly more fatherly, more proud. Sure, she’s insulting him – but see how quickly she catches on.

[onlytolerable]

"Papa's always silly. He'd forget his own name if I used it all the time." And, cooties or not, Sophie shifts Sitara just enough so she can lean in and land a kiss somewhere between Adrien's cheek and the corner of his mouth.

"It's more a pet name, like mon chou." The sting that had prompted the phrase so long ago had long since left.

"Would you like to know a secret?" she asks Sitara.

[denythyfather]

She'll have to deal with the disgusted protest from the little girl, but Adrien won't mind. Not a bit. And it's with a little sullen voice that she'll ask, "what sort of secret?"

[onlytolerable]

"It's a secret. Not even for Papas." Especially not for Papas. She leans close and murmurs in Sitara's ear--but not before turning to put that ear and her mouth as far away from Adrien as possible.

"When I was just a little older than you I had the most ridiculous crush on your Papa--even if he did have cooties."