1199/Son and Father Time

Son and Father Time
Date of Scene:	27 February 2024
Location:	Plot Room 2
Synopsis:	Adrien and Gabriel have some Dad and Son time. Healing, maybe.
Cast of Characters:	Gabriel Agreste, Adrien Agreste

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Gabriel Agreste has posed:
The Agreste Penthouse is a penthouse Gabriel Agreste just bought outright when 'Gabriel', the company, moved to Tokyo, Japan. Obsidian has promised him things. A thing he wants. The thing he desires most. His son is also in Tokyo now, too. So there's that side benefit of keeping an eye on him.

Fortunately, Adrien lives in the dorms of the school he's been sent to. so this gives Gabriel space. Nathalie has been in charge of keeping tabs on Adrien (as always).

Nathalie is told he'd like his son to visit, finally, his penthouse.

The penthouse is fancy, sitting on top of a fancy apartment building in downtown Mitakihara. It's mostly painted stark white, with sleek grey marble floor. It shines and you can see yourself in it's reflection. The main entrance room, or vestibule, of the penthouse, is a big living room. You could probably fit your dorm room a few good six or ten times in here and still have a little space left.

It has an elaborate leather couch, black colored, with a similarly painted coffee table, in front of a huge TV that's currently on the news. Something about exploding streets, etc.

Gabriel is waiting for his son to arrive, mostly, standing behind the couch as he considers the news.

Adrien Agreste has posed:
"Father wants to see me?" There's a certain elation to hearing this news as Adrien quickly put away the homework he had been working on so that he could hurry here. A quick change of shirt and into his Winter coat was all the time he needed as he rushes out pausing only to grab his typical messenger bag that he slings over his shoulder as he goes. Can't leave without Plagg.

The ride there he's giddy, partially because it's a new place to see. Mostly because it's his father. Asking to see him. He made time to see him for the first time in awhile. This was... This was good, right? Maybe the change of location would help their relationship some.

Soon enough he's at the door where he pauses as Nathalie gives a knock, then opens it to step inside. "Your son is here to see you, sir."

With that the hopeful blonde steps in smiling as he stands with utterly correct posture. "Hello, Father. You asked to see me?"

Gabriel Agreste has posed:
Gabriel puts on the smile now, when the door opens and Nathalie comes in. He wasn't smiling just a few moments ago. The TV goes off, it isn't important right now, and he turns to Nathalie first. "Thank you, Nathalie." he says.

He then turns to his smiling son. "Oh, I wanted you to see where I'm staying, Adrien, so you know where to go. Isn't it lovely. Not like the mansion in Paris at all. We're so high up." he says as he motions to a wide, wall length window on the side of the living room.

Then he turns back to Adrien. Motioning to the couch. "I mean. That's not all of course. I wanted to..." he pauses, as if seeking words, eyes looking left and right. "-touch base." he says. "With you. How have you been enjoying school? Are your grades.. up to snuff? That sort of thing." he says as he motions to the couch. Perhaps to sit.

He's trying at least, for the moment.

Adrien Agreste has posed:
Adrien Agreste was glad for that. It gave him hope where he'd sometimes begun to feel it was fading in regards to his father.

His hand tightens on the strap of his bag as he looks around the penthouse. It was what it was, and while it was certainly far more of a view here than at the mansion in Paris, to him it certainly wasn't 'home' in any way. Still, it fit his father's aesthetic he knew.

"It looks like a great place, Father. The view is very nice," he's quick to add knowing likely that was part of what Gabriel enjoyed about it.

The gesture for the couch has him step over to sit down at one end of it shifting his bag to rest just down by his feet idly. "Of course. My grades aren't suffering at all. I'm not top of the class unfortunately, but I'm in the top five. I've joined the Fencing Club and may be joining the English Club as well. It's an interesting view into Japanese culture in how they regard other cultures, as well as a way to keep up my practice in the language." What else had he been doing? "I haven't missed any of the photo shoots that Nathalie has told me about, either."

Gabriel Agreste has posed:
Gabriel genuinely smiles a little now. There's a slight difference between the smile he puts up for looks, and the one that has him smiling for real, one looks warmer than the other. It's good.

"That's very good to hear, all of it." he says.

He sits down on the couch and turns to look at Adrien as he asks the harder questions. "Have you been... making many friends? Please, tell me." he says. "About them." he asks with a tone that suggests he's curious, but also filled with a little fatherly concern.

One of those questions that perhaps has gone badly in the past.

The kind of question that makes Nathalie cringe on the other side of the door.

Adrien Agreste has posed:
This was a far more loaded question than it had ever been before now that he was part of the odd mahou community that seemed to center around the school and the city in general. At least he knew them outside of their hero personas so that he *could* answer.

"A few. Marinette Dupen-Chang is here as well pursuing her studies as a fashion designer. It's nice to have a familiar face around," he admits with a grin. "I get along well with my roommate, Chrono Harlaown too. He came from a military family and his last school was military as well, so he's a bit unused to social situations. He's a good guy though. We're both new to the school so we help each other out."

He pauses considering skimming over a few details. "There's some others in the dorm next to ours as well. Mamoru Chiba and Koji Silivia. They're both very good students, and we have dinner together occasionally because they both like to cook. Naru Osaka and her roommate, Usagi Tsukino. Naru and I both love coffee, and she has some interest in fencing and other martial skills but she's newer to it. They didn't offer such classes at her last school. She's been very helpful in showing me around Tokyo."

Gabriel Agreste has posed:
Gabriel Agreste listens, and with every person, his teeth clench a little more. Marinette is here? That's curious to hear. That is what it is. The others. Unfamiliar names. Clench, but smile. Relax, Gabriel. Your son isn't turning into a delinquent. Before your eyes. Because of unfamiliar people.

Right?

R-r-ight.

"I. See. That's... good!" he says, in a manner that suggests it's a little forced. Nathalie probably relaxes, at least a little.

"I would like to meet your friends." he says.

Nathalie cringes again.

"We can have a little get together, here, even. There's plenty of space. Or I can come to the school, and visit them there!" he says.

Adrien Agreste has posed:
Meet them? Adrien's hands on his lap dig into his thigh though he manages to keep his expression perfect in a smile. That's what you get for training your son to be a model. Ability to control expressions. Though he usually wore his heart on his sleeve there were still moments he could slip into that mentality easily. Right now this was one.

Chrono was an absolute MENACE at keeping his identity secret. Mamoru could shmooze and would be fine. Maybe Koji too, who was mostly quiet and had that studious demeanor about him. Naru probably would be okay. Usagi? Would, like Nino, lecture his father about all the wrongs he's done to him.

There was no good way to do this.

"We could invite them to dinner sometime. I know your schedule is usually very busy, Father." Though maybe some wouldn't be able to attend. *COUGH*

Gabriel Agreste has posed:
Gabriel seems to relax now. He doesn't note his son tensing fingers into his thighs. He figures everything is fine. He no doubts has ulterior motives for wanting to know Adrien's friends. Maybe run background checks. Maybe determine if they're suitable to be hanging around his son.

Probably lots of reasons. All of them good, in his mind. "A dinner, yes. That is an excellent idea Adrien, I will Nathalie look into getting a planner and send out invitations when it's time. I promise you, Adrien, I will find the time for this." he says with some concern, as if that's a thing Adrien would be worried about.

Probably furthest from the truth, really.

Adrien Agreste has posed:
It... actually was. Once upon a time that's all he wanted to hear. A promise from his father that he would make time for him. Though there were more reasons to be worried now, that was still something that he wanted deep down.

Adrien's expression softens exponentially at this and he smiles. "Thank you, Father! I look forward to it."

Here he hesitates uncertainly. Was there more? Should he try for more? At least here there wasn't a gigantic painting of his mother to stare at--Though admittedly he had stared at it quite a lot as well. Maybe this time away from Paris would allow them both to heal some.

"I really have been enjoying my time here. The history and culture is very... Educational." That was so lame, Adrien. At least he didn't blurt out that he got to feed the deer at Nara.

Gabriel Agreste has posed:
It's a promise. Will he keep it? Is it good for him to keep it this time? Who knows. Maybe he'll break it. Even if he breaks it at least he isn't flying off the handle at you having a bunch of friends he doesn't know. Yet.

Maybe it's progress.

"I'm... glad for that, Adrien. I was worried you might become homesick. But as you said, having a... friend here.." Marinette. "...helps." He then continues.

"We'll have a nice dinner party... I'm sure y---" then his phone rings. There's an awkward pause.

Is he going to answer it? Right now?

Of course he is.

"Gabriel. Speak." he says into the phone as he scowls. "I told them NOT to push the new designs yet. Do I need to come down there, myself!?" he says angrily into the phone, before he then says. "You better....fix this. Now."

He hangs up the phone and looks up.

"Adrien. I have something I need to attend to. To fix. Nathalie will take you back to the school." he says.

Adrien Agreste has posed:
It was a start. At least Adrien is left feeling more hopeful. It wouldn't be the first time that Gabriel had cancelled plans on him last minute, but...

He would hope until then.

When the phone is answered and the tone of the conversation changes to work he knows his time is up. A deep breath is drawn but he remains smiling for now. At least they'd had some time to talk. "Of course, Father. I hope everything can be resolved smoothly."

Scooping up his messenger bag he rises before turning to stride out. Maybe today was a good day after all? Wait, no, Naru had been kidnapped. Partially good day.