all the right friends in all the right places {ota}

[denythyfather]

The judges give each other looks as Adrien flamboyantly gestures at his model. His cravat is undeniably tied perfectly, but so is Genoveva Ibrahim’s. In fact, the two have been neck and neck through the entire challenge, no pun intended. He obviously knows his stuff, and she has obviously studied up.

One of the judges clears her throat, then leans forward to speak into the mike. “Oriental, Mathematical. What comes next?”

“Osbaldeston,” Adrien replies immediately, giving Genoveva a jaunty wink.

The judges commiserate. The second asks, “Ms. Ibrahim, what publication is that from, and what is the publication date?”

“Necktietania, 1818,” she responds assuredly. Adrien’s eyes widen as he instinctively shakes his head.

“Mr. Fitzgerald?”

“Neckcloth-i-tania. Not necktie,” he blurts out quickly.

It’s a silent two seconds of the judges speaking together. Finally, the first judge leans forward again. “Congratulations on your advance in rank, Mr. Seven.”

Comments

[onlytolerable]

Sophie had never had any doubt Adrien would prevail. The man knew his fashion backward and forward and sideways. A tug on her elbow has her smiling at the little girl sitting quietly beside her. Only those who know her realize how hard it must be for Sitara to sit still like a proper Diamond as they await the challenge's outcome. "Now? Can we go congratulate him now, Tante Sophie?"

She gives the little girl's shoulders a quick squeeze. "We can indeed. You first. Remember the curtsy we practiced? Let's surprise him!"

Family has first dibs when it comes to congratulations, right after any watching Faces. It's not long before a giggling Sitara dips the precise amount a nonranked card owes a Seven and exclaims, "Congratulations, Papa--I mean Master Seven!"

Sophie settles for a kiss on Adrien's cheek. "I knew you could do it. Poor Genoveva never stood a chance."

[ooc: She's wearing this. I can't work it into the tag.]

[denythyfather]

Sitara gets lifted into his arms and spun around, despite the formality of a curtsy. And once his daughter is settled on one hip, his fiancee is pulled against his other side and kisses properly. What is this cheek nonsense.

"Admittedly, she put up a good fight. I was quite impressed."

[onlytolerable]

Sitara giggles, but all the spinning in the world doesn't stop the little girl's face from scrunching up in mock horror and the now familiar accusation of, "Cooties!" hurled on them. Just for that, Sophie slips her arms around Adrien's waist. Eyes wide and innocent, she smiles at Sitara just before she finds that ticklish spot right above the girl's knee.

This time she kisses Adrien properly on the lips. "It's only a fair challenge when it actually is a challenge--at least that's what I've always thought. Feel better now it's over?"

[denythyfather]

"Much better. Now I don't have to worry about this for another six years, yeah?" he teases, pressing a kiss to Sitara's forehead again just to even everything out.

[onlytolerable]

The little girl squirms, then throws her arms around his neck and kisses the tip of his nose. Clearly, she's been learning her tante's habits. Sophie laughs. She's part of a ridiculous family and she wouldn't have it any other way.

"Oh, I'd say twenty at least. That sounds about right. Have you thought about how you want to celebrate?"

[denythyfather]

"Celebrate?" He hesitates a moment, then says, "maybe just with the four of us. Something quiet."

[onlytolerable]

Sophie dimples. "Adrien Fitzgerald, are you channeling me? I thought you'd want to make a night of it, but a quiet dinner--home even--sounds good. Should we ask Roisin?"

Or, you know, the person they suspect Cadogan of seeing?

[allthesamemask]

She understands the entire thing barely, if at all, but she definitely understands the judge's declaration of Adrien's victory. It requires a completely impolite fist-pumping before she bounds over to take her turn at congratulations.

[denythyfather]

"Wasn't too boring, then, was it?" he asks, spreading his hands in a questioning manner.

[allthesamemask]

She laughs, setting her hands on her hips and shaking her head. "Do you want me to spare your ego'n say no, or should I let Sophie pick you up when I say yes?"

[denythyfather]

"You know what? You didn't get up and leave in the middle, so I'm going to count it as a victory for me," he concludes confidently.

[allthesamemask]

"Yeah, okay. You have to use that as your new marker now. Whatever it is has to be all right if people don't get up and walk away on first sight or hearing or, y'know." Whole rooms might clear for him. He's a polarising guy.

[denythyfather]

"I think it's a good way to judge interest, don't you? And I'm so charismatic anyway."

[uncutclarity]

A fashion challenge, Avery feels, requires a little more fashion, and instead of her usual uniform of slim trousers and patterned silk blouses, she's worn something a bit prettier. She suspects their newest Seven will appreciate the effort, and she smiles when she rises to her feet to speak to him.

"Congratulations, Adrien," she says, and grins. "It's a little different than the last challenge I saw you take part in."

[denythyfather]

"Oh, just a little. I thought I'd play towards my strengths a bit more, you know? Else I would've challenged in rugby." He laughs, running a hand through his hair. "Thank you."

[uncutclarity]

"Cadogan would have been thrilled," Avery says with a grin. "Maybe you can do that for Eight." Though she's not sure how a one-on-one rugby scrimmage would work.

[denythyfather]

"How about no? Never?" He makes a pained expression. "I don't want to fail terribly when I'm trying to jump a rank."

[uncutclarity]

She starts laughing automatically, but then pauses, raising a brow. "So, you're not stopping at Seven?" She asked. "I imagine Their Majesties will be surprised."

[denythyfather]

"They can be surprised." He shrugs. "I'll probably go at least to Eight. Sounds good?"

What is late.

[diemwnt]

He appreciates it, intellectually. Really, he does. It's something Adrien'd good at, something that gives him that proper sort of confidence which looks so well in the younger man's shoulders. He appreciates that there's something inherently Diamond about this Challenge. He appreciates that it's something Adrien's going to win.

But it takes a minute to stop looking absolutely blank at the proceedings once the winner is declared.

A pat on the back is enough, yes? Makes up for how entirely lost a certain Jack might have been in this whole mess?

Shhh. ♥

[denythyfather]

"You have no idea what just happened, am I right?" He grins. "Did you get the part where I won?"

[diemwnt]

He doesn't bother looking arch. They both know Cadogan had no idea what the hell just happened beyond the one simple fact at the end.

But clearly a back-pat isn't enough to signify it. So now is the time for reaching one arm around Adrien's shoulders for a brief, tight hug. There, see? He's happy for you, ridiculous man.

[denythyfather]

Absolutely a hug he is taking advantage of. "We're having dinner tonight. The family."

That includes Tess, though Cadogan doesn't know that now.

[diemwnt]

Don't get used to it. Clearly there will never be hugs ever again. Clearly there's no tight cling now, however momentary.

/Letting ma'am cook?/

Because clearly 'the family' means his best friend, his best friend's fiancee, his best friend's daughter and his own mother. Not anyone who would give him a heart attack.

Clearly.

[denythyfather]

"I thought I'd cook. I'll treat you all." He can cook, Cadogan. Honestly. He's actually pretty good at it.