1951/Autumn Epees

Autumn Epees
Date of Scene:	16 September 2024
Location:	Radiant Heart Academy
Synopsis:	Adrien and Tamaki (Jadeite) have a nice time fencing out in the woods by the school. A bit of conversation follows before they decide it's late.
Cast of Characters:	Jadeite, Adrien Agreste

---

Jadeite has posed:
There is a time and a place for boys to do boy things. For example, fencing in the woods before sunset with fresh decaf coffee.

"It'll be good practice for fighting on uneven ground," Tamaki says, bouncing a little on the grass as he tests out his footwork.

Adrien Agreste has posed:
Decaf? Yes, yes, decaf. Clearly. Adrien usually only fenced in an arena, though he was curious about doing so on actual terrain. With Tamaki's own knowledge of swordsmanship this was an excellent opportunity to improve his practical skills!

Still he's at least dressed in the white fencing jacket, and has with him his helmet which is tucked beneath his arm. The pants were just jeans though in an effort to make this more of a light-weight match. He has with him his actual saber and not a foil this time.

The blonde model smiles brightly at Tamaki in turn. "It'll be great! The view out here is amazing, too," he has to admit with a glance to the trees turning gold and orange. The sunset made it all the better, and the ground was dry.

"I'll have to bring Naru here soon. She really needs to brush up on her swordsmanship since she's... Ah. 'Active', now." Though Tamaki might know, he wasn't going to just out her as Lunar Knight without knowing for sure!

"So how have you been lately? I heard you went on a date with Mamoru recently," he inquires conversationally while starting to dip into some warm up stretches before they get right into it.

Jadeite has posed:
Tamaki's in his white fencing jacket too, his helmet under one arm and his epee wedged alongside it. He's still getting a lay of the land, after all - he doesn't think he's wandered into this corner of the school recently.

"There's nothing like fencing at dusk for mood lighting," he says. "If nothing else, we're going to look great when we fight. You should take a selfie for Naru, it'll look amazing." He knows he's snapping one for Mamoru, and a more platonic one to send to Ami and Usagi and Kunzite. The sky is doing amazing things for his and Adrien's hair, he knows it.

"Oh! That's right, she's out and about wtih us. I haven't gotten out much so I haven't seen too many of her skills, but it'd be good for her to get some practice." Wink. He does know!

"Yeah, we had a date, but it got interupted. Usagi says I need to get used to that because it's a coin flip if someone's going to blow up one of her dates," and he plaps his helmet on before starting his own stretches. "Wasn't the worst interuption, but it took a while to get back in the groove afterwards."

Adrien Agreste has posed:
Adrien Agreste lights up at the idea of sending Naru a selfie. "Oh you're right! You look great in this light, too. I'm sure he'll love a picture." Ah if only he could ask Plagg to take a picture instead of doing it himself. That would give away a lot, though, and while he trusted a good many of his friends---That was a promise he was still trying to keep to Ladybug. No revealing of identities. The fact that only Naru and Taro knew so far was really good, he thought.

"Mm, I'm sorry to hear that. We're lucky that ours are usually so uneventful. Although we have had a few that required running and hiding, like when she was watching one of my photo shoots and a computer youma showed up from a nearby shopping center." Because that is totally what they were doing. Yep. Hiding.

A little relieved smile comes when Tamaki does admit he knows Naru's new secret. For a moment Adrien is left smiling in the most goofy way. "She's magnificient isn't she? I know she really appreciates being able to fight back with her own power now instead of having to borrow others."

Jadeite has posed:
"Hiding," Tamaki says with a little grin. "I'm sure you had plenty of good reasons to hide anda then stay hiding for a good while after." He wiggles his eyebrows. (After all, what little he's heard of Adrien's father makes him sound like not just a tool, but a power tool. All the more reason to sneak time with your sweetheart!)

"She is. I saw her in Paris - she was like Artemis come to life," he sighs, then pauses. "The goddess, not the cat."

Adrien Agreste has posed:
Model, French, and yet the suggestion that he and Naru had spent some quality time togteher still earns a bright blush from Adrien. It does earn a laugh as well while he reaches up to rub the back of his neck awkwardly. "Maybe a bit. I did use it as an excuse to get out of the rest of the photo shoot at least."

The smile continues though as he walks around the area himself gingerly poking at it with the toe of his shoe to make sure there weren't any gopher holes or any rocks of tripping size. "I'm so glad you all made it back. I know it wasn't without issues, but... You did make it back. I'm glad for that." A chuckle comes and he shakes his head lightly. "She already has a cat in her life as it is. ... Speaking of which I need to talk to her about something soon," he murmers more to himself than sharing. It's just one of those things that needed to be said aloud and he looks thoughtfully up to the sky. "Hawkmoth has been more active lately. He's the one that used to attack Paris a lot looking for Cat Noir and Ladybug."

Jadeite has posed:
"Good for you! It sounds like it wasn't worth it to finish anyway."

Whether to get a chance to snuggle or to have some rest after a youma attack...or both? It seems like it was great for Adrien either way.

His smile goes wan for a momnet before he nods. "We did all make t back. It was pretty hectic at the end there," when he was dead, "but we made it. We're all trying hard to keep coming back."

Or his boyfriend will kill him, personally, but coming back alive in general was good.

And, oh! "Do you need a hand watching out for this Hawkmoth?"

Adrien Agreste has posed:
Adrien Agreste gives a rather solemn, perhaps understanding expression toward Tamaki when he mentions 'it being hard.' He had heard after all. There's really no platitudes or the like that he could offer in this case. Death was one of those things that was difficult to deal with even when it happened naturally. Coming back from it? Twice over? There's nothing he could even hope to offer that might help. All he can say is, "If you ever need a distraction..." With a lopsided smile as the offer is there should it be needed.

Speaking of offers of help. The talk shifting again to Hawkmoth has his weight shift to the heels of his feet. One hand lifts to comb fingers back through his bangs leaving it a bit more of a fluffy mess than it usually was.

"I'd certainly appreciate it. I'm sure Cat Noir and Ladybug would as well. Hawkmoth doesn't really show himself much. He sends out his Akuma to take over people and change them when their emotions are difficult to deal with."

Here he pauses giving a sheepish grin. "Like the time Usagi was turned into Sailor Eclipse, and turned people into dolls. If you ever see an odd purple and black butterfly it's best to avoid it and if you're feeling upset over anything, try to get your emotions under control."

Though he can only sigh heavily at that. "Not the easiest way to avoid becoming an Akuma but that's all I've been told about it. I think if they ever found out where Hawkmoth *is*, it would make a big difference in how they fight him."

Jadeite has posed:
I want to get out and fence more. I dunno if that's a proper distraction, but maybe it's two birds with one stone?" To gout with a friend and fight, and move, and live.

Speaking of, Tamaki finishe his stretches and takes a tenative initial stance, whipipng the tip of his sword back and forth to invite Adrien to him. THey've got the terrain covered, so now it is time.

"I don't know who among us can talk to Ladybug or Chat Noir - but it may be worth setting up a meeting or at least a call? Since Beryl's defeated for now, we've got the time and space to deal with other problems." Like moths.

He listens to ADrien's description of Akuma and nods. "I'm decent at keeping my emotions under control, and I'll keep it in mind if I do see a black butterfly - but it might behoove us to start looking for the source?" Wait. That might be too much. "Not now, obvoiusly. But if you want help, we can do taht too."

Adrien Agreste has posed:
Not a proper distraction?! Adrien smiles broadly getting those little dimples he sometimes did when he was really, actually smiling and not just modeling his expressions for the right moment. "I think fencing is an excellent distraction! Working out and doing something you enjoy at the same time can't be beat. Plus," he adds with a laugh as he flourishes his saber forward with a quick testing slice-twirl through the air in front of him. "It requires a good amount of concentration."

"When ever you need, I'd be happy to have a fencing date with you." Date. Match. That was the right phrasing for Japan, right?

"Naru's got the Cat's phone of course, so we can pass that on to her." With that decided, he reaches back palming his mask to tug it forward snugly in place.

"En guarde!"

Jadeite has posed:
"It does! And it's beautiful to fence," Jadeite says as he pulls his mask down. "The way the swords glitter in the air, the way we have to dance to try and attack each other... It's a wonderful sport. I'm glad I've found others who understand it."

He grins, too, preparing - "Let Naru know after you tell her about who won tonight. En guarde!"

Adrien Agreste has posed:
Later indeed. Now wasn't the time to be thinking of girlfriends, or Hawkmoth, or even his alter ego Cat Noir who he spoke about as if he were another person out of necessity. No, now was the time to focus on those blades they both had in hand.

Adrien lunges forward keeping half-turned to the side to slash with the saber already expecting to be met by Tamaki's blade in turn. This would be a good match.

Jadeite has posed:
And Tamaki's epee lashes out in turn, stinging forward to meet Adrien's blade. He's fencing more aggressively than usual, dancing forward to try and create an opening he can pierce - but with ferocity comes his own openings!

Adrien Agreste has posed:
This was different than the times that Adrien had fought on the piste. There was more movement, more range of motion. They weren't limited to the simple strip of land in front and behind them. The range of motion was far greater.

It was wonderful.

The little bit of glee he often felt when he was out as Cat Noir surges up in him as he finds himself facing off against Tamaki who was more accustomed to such fighting than him. It was a challenge. A welcome one that he delights in no matter how 'aggressive' it may seem Tamaki is being. There's no complaint or accusations here, just the instinctive response of parrying blade-for-blade, side stepping, lunging... Just pure motion.

The sound of blades clang against each other filling the air with sound that heralds back to an older time.

Jadeite has posed:
It's fantastic.

Adrien is a deft hand at fencing, light as a cat on his feet, his saber flitting in and out with the grace of a beetle. When Tamaki is back in fighting form, their fencing will be legendary - but as it is, he's giving as hard as he can get with the steadiness of a glacier, his footwork growing loose as the two of them take advantage of the expanded room.

But soon enough, Adrien's blade strikes Jadeite's chest. The match is won.

"Wooo!!" Jadeite says, and then leans on a tree to catch his breath.

Adrien Agreste has posed:
Adrien Agreste resists the instinctive urge to utter 'point match'. It wasn't something he usually did, but rather like saying 'Kobe!' after making a good basketball shot. Instead he springs backward a step lowering the point of his saber to the ground safely in favor of reaching up to sweep his helmet off.

Helmet hair. At lesat for a few moments before the gel that was carefully worked into his hair tugs it back into place like it's own kind of magic. Or maybe that was just gravity.

With a laugh he flops down on the ground beside Tamaki. His sword is left in the grass beside him in favor of draping his arms over his bent knees as he works to catch his breath, too. "I've never really done that outside before. That adds a whole new dimension to the moves!"

Brightly grinning he adds, "You were great! I'm going to need to practice more."

Jadeite has posed:
Helmet hair! Jadeite's hair is shaggier than Adrien's, and it poofs out a little more as he shakes it loose, laughing. He crouches next to Adrien, then sits, sprawling out.

"One, your hair looks great. Two, isn't it fun? It makes you really consider the environment and angles! If you're wanting to stretch yourself from standard fencing, it's perfect!"

Tamaki flicks his nose proudly. "I need to priactice more too. You're killing it out there. Being magic and fighting is pretty stressful so I wouldn't wish it on people at random, but if you ever did get it, you'd be incredible."

Adrien Agreste has posed:
Would be great if he were magical. Killing it. Adrien feels that little pang of guilt at the first at not being able to share the secret, followed up with the unintended gut punch of (yes he COULD easily kill with his magic) but he can't exactly show it. Instead he laughs awkwardly reaching up to rub at the back of his neck.

"Thanks! If anyone saw me with my hair out of place I think Father would hire a stylist to follow me around all day. Really it's all product," he points out and perhaps takes it a bit too far by tilting his head toward Tamaki. "See? Feel it, it's all stiff."

Yes cover up the magical part with the hair part.

Ah but there were more important things, like gushing about the match. "It really is a lot more challenging this way. I always find fencing is a great way to relieve stress after a long day."

Jadeite has posed:
Tamaki feels it, nodding seriously. "Do you think it'd work for me? My hair's getting pretty long and haven't found a stylist I really like to cut it - having some good product would help a lot. Does it make your hair oily afterwards?" Listen. Beautiful hair deserved serious treatment.

(Of course Adrien wouold chance the subject. Magical fights were terrifying and brutal. It was better that he didn't have to deal with that - unfortunate that he couldn't defend himself, but fortunate in that he would be a degree safer than both Tamaki AND the other students who knew nothing.)

"I agree! We should do this more often. And, you know, it's kind of nice tlaking to someone else who's from out of town, you know?"

Adrien Agreste has posed:
Adrien Agreste looks seriously at Tamaki's hair with a thoughtful expression. Hair was a serious thing. Nevermind they were boys, what was wrong with wanting to look your best? "I don't find it does so long as I don't bring it all the way down to the roots. On hotter days I do carry a can of dry shampoo with me in case I need a touch up, though," he admits with a solemn nod. "Some photo shoots just take too long to not need it. I can get you some samples of the products I use if you'd like? Brands are always sending me things in the hopes I'll let them sponsor me." Not that his father let him, but that meant he had a Lot of Stuff. "I've helped Chrono out a bit too when he wants to dress up."

Relieved that the topic had shifted a bit out of magic-stuff, for now, he leans back against the grass propping his elbows on it casually. "For sure! This is a great city and country, of course. It's just amazing to me how few people have really traveled." Sheepishly he adds, "I guess in that regard I *am* a bit spoiled."

Glancing over again he asks, "Where are you from originally, Tamaki?"

Jadeite has posed:
"Dry shampoo really is a life saver." Both for fast fashion and for when the morbs hit. You can't fight youma without being cute, after all!! "I'd love to try some samples, see what works. I've used up a lot of the products I had with me and I'm not sure what needs replacing with... everything oging on." THe amnesia and all.

And Tamaki nods. "It is! Some peopel don't go further than the town they were born in... It's great being able to get out." IF he were stuck in Indiana, he'd probably combust. "My mom's American and my dad is Japanese. I spent a lot of time growing up in America until I was like 11, then came over to Japan."

Adrien Agreste has posed:
Adrien Agreste ah-has quietly with a nod as if he may have suspected as much. He wasn't as expert as catching onto accents however faded they may be as others, but he had a bit of experience with it. "I've only been to the states once for the New York Fashion Week when I was younger. I went with my father and ..." He pauses here as his gaze flits away. "And my mother. It was years ago, before she disapeared."

The thought is shaken off as he continues on. It wasn't a new thing. He didn't need to be thinking about her now. "Mostly I've visited family in England, but I spent the majority of my time in-" Don'tsayParis- "France."

Jadeite has posed:
"My condolances." No wonder he was here in Japan, at the acaadamy. Mother disappeared, Father being a complete whackjob - the youma might almost be preferrable. "I've been to England a few times, and France just the one."

A thought occurs - he grins impishly. "No wonder you know so much about Chat Noir and Ladybug! You must have seen some of them while you were still in France, right?"

Adrien Agreste has posed:
"Thank you," is all Adrien responds to that. There was no need to bring up that subject even if it did still leave an ache in his chest quite often. His fingers dig into the grass beneath them as he takes a deep breath to help ease that feeling away.

The change back to Ladybug and Cat Noir earns a quick chuff of laughter. "Exactly! I actually had a great view of the city from our home. I was on the top floor and the entire wall was windowed. There were so many times I'd be at the piano or on the couch and suddenly," he lifts a hand making a sweeping gesture in front of him. "Ladybug would swing by. God, she was a sight," he sighs quietly in a way that sounds as if he might have been talking about Naru there and not Ladybug.

"I used to have such a crush on her. I mean. Just a bit. Naru's way better of course," he's quick to add.

Jadeite has posed:
Tamaki laughs, nodding in agreement.

"Of course Naru is better - but of course if you see someone powerful and beautiful out doing good all the time, almost close enough to touch, your heart will beat for them too. I know... almost the same thing."

His smile fades a little. "It's not...loving a shadow, per se, but. Loving what you think that person is?"

Adrien Agreste has posed:
That little pang of familiarity that Tamaki speaks of, and the truth of his words, causes Adrien to glance over toward him regarding him quietly a moment. He'd heard something of Tamaki's feelings toward Mamoru before the two had worked it out. Not knowing Ladybug though? He was her partner! He knew her.

Yet he couldn't explain that. In Tamaki's eyes that was exactly what the situation was.

"... Yeah," he responds with a voice gone a bit dry. "She saved me a few times so I feel like I knew her better, but... Yeah." Maybe he was right though and he didn't know her at all. After all, she liked someone else. He'd tried so hard to be what she needed...

His head tips back to stare up at the canopy of leaves above him. Or what remained. There were still a good amount on the trees even though they'd shifted colors and were falling with the onset of cooler weather already. "I guess that's easy to do. Dream up our own versions of people to fill in the blanks. Is that how it was for you, before?"

Jadeite has posed:
Tamaki stares down at his feet, at his shoes, at the leaves on the ground. The trees here weren't terribly different than what had grown 14,000 years ago. If he crossed his eyes, it was almost as if...

"I don't know," Tamaki says quietly. "Back then, I thought I knew him. I thought I understood his heart as well as my own. But then he offered it to someone else, and knowing that he was not exactly who I expected him to be began to drive me mad. I don't think it was as innocuous as loving a shadow, but... Part of me wishes that it could have been love, you know? That it would have all fallen into place then."

He shakes his head, looking up at Adrien wanly. "I wish I hadn't hurt him so much before, chasing a prince who didn't quite exist. It's always going to hurt, that abscence in your heart, but - it's nice, too, that we did find people who can care for us the way we wanted to be cared for."

Adrien Agreste has posed:
Adrien Agreste can only let out a soft, knowing 'ah' of understanding at that. He shifts to sit up again rather than lounging so carefree while a serious topic is being discussed. He reaches out to place a hand consolingly on Tamaki's shoulder giving a little squeeze of reassurance.

"*That* part I understand. That little gnawing doubt about 'why not me' and wondering what's wrong with you. I was lucky I had a friend who helped talk me out of wallowing in that," Plagg. As annoying as the little Kwami was he was good at pulling Adrien out of despair. It helped so much when he had been so lonely to have someone there all the time.

Even now Plagg was with him even if he was currently snoozing away inside the messenger bag he had carefully set aside near his gear bag. He usually napped when Adrien was fencing.

"Part of loving someone is getting to know them I realize, and letting them get to know you as well. Love in isolation is... I think it's dangerous, maybe."

Jadeite has posed:
"Yes. I think if we didn't all have Beryl in our ears, it could have gone better. My question of why not me became a demand, became a knife... I wish I had the maturity to reach out more."

He hadn't been ALONE- alone, but he'd been isolated none the less. He and the other Shittennou in an echo chamber with only their worst impulses as compnay...

'I'm glad you had a friend to help you. Even if there wasn't any world-ending drama involved, feeling rejected feels terrible. And refusing to speak of it to avoid rejection also feels terrible. It's just bad all the way down."

Adrien Agreste has posed:
"It's not your fault you had her whispering in your ear and making things worse." Adrien pauses, considers, and sighs quietly. "It's like when a conman tricks you. Being tricked isn't your fault. I think if it was me, I'd still feel guilty over it even so."

He gives a little wan grin. "Maybe part of growing up is accepting how we react to being tricked too. I mean... You weren't much older than you are now when that happened, were you? Not that I'm an old man either," he adds amused at his own attempts at being the one to offer such advice. "Just I've been there myself a bit too. Well."

"You're definitely not alone now. You've got your other friends, you've got Mamoru, and if you need I'm here as well. Friends don't ever have to explain needing to ask for help."

Jadeite has posed:
"I know I still feel guilty. Even if it couldn't be helped, I have to regret it. What kind of person would I be if I stopped being upset I destroyed my best friend, and our world, and another world?"

He gets it on the not his fault thing, but. The blood. He's never going to be getting that off. So he's going to work on chipping it off every day, for as long as he lives.

"I suppose it is. I was around this age, yes... Do you think living two lives means I get to add them, or is this beeing a teenager round two? Am I double sixteen?" Tamaki jokes, an attempt at lightening the mood. "I'm really glad we're friends, Adrien. I'm really bad at asking for help, and I'm not going to be around as much as I like, but... I'm doing a lot better than the last time I was in a state like this. And it's really fun, getting back into fencing."

Adrien Agreste has posed:
"I think that's a question that people who don't live two lives ask themselves as well. I know I keep waiting for the time that it all suddenly makes sense, and being a teenager changes into I'm an adult. I already have a job and do so many other 'adult' things," Adrien points out quietly. "I still feel like a kid anyway. Just a more confident one as things become more familiar."

"Maybe that's all there is to growing up. We just get used to things enough that it doesn't feel like the first time every time. Who can say."

"In your case I'd say just consider it a second chance." Here he smiles, broadly. "And you're doing a great job at it so far. The same issues popped up as last time, maybe, but you've also gotten past them. Progress can be small steps like that."

Lightly he clears his throat and tips his head up to regard the sky again. "I get not being around often, trust me. I'm not all the time either. That's what phones are for though! I'll always be in touch and I'm always up for a good spar as well."

"For now, I think we might want to head in before we end up out here all night."

Jadeite has posed:
"Is it bad that I wish more things felt like the first time? So I don't have to compare them to last time," Tamaki says with a rueful smile.

"It's a second chance - and I'm trying to use it as much as I can. To patch things up and make new, better things." He bumps his shoulder against Adrien's, companion-like. "Friendships. Texting. I might learn how to do more than boil and fry eggs this time around. It'll be great. Do you want to go get dinner on the way back?"