697/Akuma

Akuma
Date of Scene:	02 November 2023
Location:	Dorms #1
Synopsis:	Adrien meets with Wako in his dorm to give her the rundown on Hawkmoth and the Akuma in the hopes of helping to rescue Usagi, Darien and Naru. Can he keep his identity as Cat Noir a secret or will Vice President sniff him out?
Cast of Characters:	Adrien Agreste, Wako Agemaki

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Adrien Agreste has posed:
It only takes a bit of quick texting to set up a meeting. Sure, Adrien could simply give as much info as he knew over text but this seemed like a good time to just meet face to face to answer all the questions that might come up.

His room is shared with Chrono and between them both they're very... neat. Adrien's side looks a bit more 'lived in' so far as personal items, decorations, books neatly lined up on a shelf above his bed. There's even a little miniature kit set out on the bookshelf yet to be built of some little miniature garden scene with lounge chairs and lights. A new hobby perhaps. The pride and joy of the room was his desk however. It was one of those 'hide away' combos with a bookshelf and one of the shelves was currently swiveled out with the home version of a high-end espresso machine on display for use. There's a mini fridge, too, and a little shelf with just snacks.

He was French. He had to have his coffee in the morning.

The door is currently left cracked open waiting for Wako to arrive as he stands at the machine pulling a shot which allows the heady scent of coffee to filter out into the hallway.

Wako Agemaki has posed:
ight on time, there's a light knocking at the frame of the door, and since it's slightly ajar she takes the liberty of nudging it open enough to look in. "Hi," she calls, "it's Agemaki... wow, something smells really good."

Vice President has seen fit to tag along, which means there's a small yellow fox perched on her shoulder. When she leans into the doorway, he relocates onto the top of her head to sniff curiously at the air, drawing a very faintly longsuffering look onto her face for a moment. "Behave yourself or I'm sending you back to my room."

Adrien Agreste has posed:
The blonde model glances over toward the door to flash Wako an easy smile as she enters. "Hi, thanks for coming. I was just making a drink. What would you like?" It seemed by the remark he assumed already she'd like something. Who doesn't? His room had become well known for being free flowing with the caffiene among students that asked. Many were quite happy to chip in with refilling the beans or other flavoring options.

"Ah, come in and take a seat," he offers as well with a gesture to some small but comfortable looking chairs and a little couch in front of a TV on the wall. It was on the slightly larger size as dorms went and they made use of it.

"Darien told me you might be able to help the current situation."

Wako Agemaki has posed:
"You've made a really nice setup here," Wako comments appreciatively, as she comes the rest of the way into the room and gets a proper look around. "Well done. Maybe a latte, if it wouldn't be too much trouble?"

The fox launches himself off of her head in a flying leap onto the couch, where he begins busily investigating the cushions. "Vice President doesn't get anything, though," Wako says offhandedly, watching him for a moment. "He's not allowed to have coffee any more."

Without giving that thought any further consideration, she returns her attention to Adrien, offering a smile and a dip of her head. "And Darien told me you knew more about what's happened to Usagi-chan. So let's trade notes? I'm pretty sure if I can catch her in one of my shields, I can purify her, but Usagi-chan knows pretty well what I can do, so it'd be best to know what I'm up against."

Adrien Agreste has posed:
"Not a problem at all," Adrien responds as he turns the little shotglass full of crema and espresso over into a white cup which is set aside to take out the whole milk for the rest of the drink.

"We do have water and soda, too, in the fridge. And snacks," he suggests with a glance to the fox curiously at the name 'Vice President.' It's taken in stride though with a simple nod of acceptance.

"Thanks. I wanted the place to be cozy but functional." Chrono's side of the room was just. Functional. Pristine. Orderly. There's an obvious line of 'his' but there was also a few items that likely had been put up by Adrien too, like a little plant on a shelf.

Finishing the drink he steps over to Wako to offer out the cup with a tired sigh. "Yeah. In Paris there was this guy called Hawkmoth that would send out Akuma to take over people and cause trouble. He focuses on people who are having very strong emotions. Anger, fear, guilt, jealousy." His green eyes dip away a moment with a guilty look of his own. "I even got hit by it a few times. Which is why I recognized it when it happened to Usagi."

"The powers vary by person and whatever it was that Hawkmoth promised them when they fall to his powers. Usagi-chan's seems to be she was promised being able to turn scary things happy and friendly so she turns things into toys. Including people. It's not fatal at least."

Wako Agemaki has posed:
Wako accepts the cup with a quiet, "Thanks," and settles herself onto one side of the couch as Vice President rolls around on the upholstery next to her. A careful sip, while she listens closely to the explanation he provides.

She nods slowly, forehead creasing faintly in thought. "I suppose that makes sense," she says. "It catches people while they're feeling vulnerable... strong emotions, negative ones, are closely aligned to negative energy. Which means purification should work, but... since you've experienced this before, how was it fixed those times?"

Adrien Agreste has posed:
Adrien Agreste picks up a cup of his own which was half-empty already. Either he was just preparing the espresso for Wako's arrival or he'd started before his was finished. He sinks down to sit in one of the smaller chairs so he can face her properly with his fingers winding around his mug.

"There's usually an item that the Akuma posesses. If you break it, you free the Akuma and the person. Usually after that Ladybug--Ah, the hero I know of--She'd purify it and restore everything to normal. It can still posess someone until it's purified."

He lifts a hand to comb fingers back through his hair. "I admit that it's pretty disorienting when it's set free, so I personally wasn't feeling the same emotions as before. It'd really depend if Usagi is still feeling what she was feeling when it's freed if it could try to re-posess her."

Wako Agemaki has posed:
Wako thinks this over for a little longer, drinking her latte while she turns the information around in her thoughts. "That's good to know. Rather than trying to forcibly purify Usagi-chan, if we can figure out what the akuma has inhabited and drive it out, I should focus on trapping and purifying that. Either way, barriers are something of a specialty of mine." She looks up and smiles over her cup. "Now that I know to be on guard for it, I'll make sure it can't get at her again once we've driven it out."

She sips her coffee again, then sighs softly into the cup. "Although getting it out of her might still be easier said than done. It sounds like you've run up against this kind of thing a lot."

Adrien Agreste has posed:
"Her watch," Adrien states matter-of-fact. "Naru figured out it was in her watch and tried to break it, but failed. It's a bit tougher than normal I guess, I don't know. Usagi turned Naru into a plush after that." There's a pause there as he allows that information to hang in the air before he reaches for his phone. "Do you want to see? Darien sent me a picture of her."

The picture of poor felt Naru-Plush is pulled up and swung around to show off. It was STUPIDLY cute. If it weren't for the fact that it was an actual person changed into a toy it would just be sheer adorable. Even Adrien finds himself cracking a grin again.

"Oh, yeah. Well." He pauses there, fingers tapping to the side of his cup with a shrug. "My father's rich and well connected. One of my childhood friends is the daughter of the Mayor of Paris. That family was a target a lot, and so were a lot of the high profile events that I usually ended up at because of my father." Another shrug comes. "I think that's part of why he was okay with me starting school here this year. Didn't realize that the trouble would come here, too."

Wako Agemaki has posed:
Who could resist looking when offered a photo of their friend turned into a plushie? Not Wako. She leans readily to see the picture when Adrien presents his phone.

"Okay," she says, sounding like she's having to hold back a laugh, "that's a little disturbing, but also ridiculously adorable. Naru-chan's okay, though, right? Like she'll turn back when we purify Usagi-chan? Usagi-chan would never really hurt Naru-chan, dark energy or not."

Sitting back, she cradles her cup in both hands. Sympathy grows in her expression at the picture Adrien paints of his experiences. "Oh, that sounds rough. And then coming here, only for it to follow you after all..."

Adrien Agreste has posed:
Adrien Agreste smiles softly at the question of Naru being all right. "She'll be fine. The other students that were changed are already back to normal as well. I mean, she is a bit vulnerable in this form, but... She should be okay, yes. Usagi doesn't want to *hurt* people, just punish them for scaring her."

"At least that's what she was yelling about at the festival." Adrien lifts his cup to take a sip of the cooled coffee which causes his face to scrunch a little. Better than letting it go to waste though. Bravely he tips it back to take all in one gulp.

"It's not so bad. I have more freedom here than in Paris, and Chrono is..." He gestures vaguely. "Protective if a bit jumpy at times. I've made some good friends so far."

Wako Agemaki has posed:
"Ah, that's good, then." Wako perks up a little at the confirmation that being turned into a plush is a temporary condition. She didn't really believe Usagi would do anything all that bad, but...

She shifts her coffee into one hand so that the other can reach over to idly pet Vice President. "I'm glad to hear that this place is treating you well, too. Chrono is... your roommate?" she guesses. "I don't think I've met him yet."

Adrien Agreste has posed:
Adrien Agreste nods an affirmative as he watches Wako pet the VP. He has to admit he's curious but he keeps from trying to reach out himself. Soft fluffy looking tail. "Yes. He was from a military academy before this so he's a bit prim and proper, but he's a really good guy overall. Though he's not around as much since he started dating someone. She's been really good for him, I think."

A vague gesture is given toward the TV. "I try to help him to fit in a bit. I've been teaching him how to play video games like Mario Kart."

Rising from his seat he steps back to the espresso machine area to place his cup down. "I think I should mention one more thing about the Akuma and Hawkmoth." He looks back over his shoulder, worried. "Hawkmoth gives power to the people he takes over in exchange for them trying to steal the Miraculous of two heroes he fights with. Ladybug, and Cat Noir. I don't know why he wants them, but it's apparently a *really bad* thing to get both of those items together."

Wako Agemaki has posed:
Wako 'ahh's softly at the explanation, nodding. "Sounds like the two of you are good for one another," she observes. "I have my own room for now, but I admit, sometimes having a roommate sounds pretty fun."

Vice President had been lolling on his back with his paws in the air, but after indulging in only a little petting he suddenly wriggles upright and hops off the couch. He scampers in Adrien's wake, circling around his feet for more curious snuffling.

"--Oh?" Wako lifts her brows when Adrien brings the topic back to Hawkmoth and the Akuma. "Ladybug and Cat Noir..." The way she echoes the names makes it plain she didn't have any particular knowledge of either before now. "He must have reason to think they're in Tokyo, then. Unless his goals have changed. What's a Miraculous?"

Adrien Agreste has posed:
Adrien Agreste glances down when Vice President starts to sniff at his feet. A bit of a grin creeps over him. How can he resist when things are like that? He stoops down to offer a hand down for sniffing allowing Vice President to decide if he wants pets or not.

"Oh, it's their..." How to explain it? "Power item I guess? It's what allows them to be who they are. Without it he'd know their true identities as well as have their powers. A ring and a pair of earrings in their case. When he takes people over he shows them an image of them in our minds." Really, he knew this from talking to those who had been Akumatized before, but he can't say that. He was trying very hard to still keep his identity secret so that he wouldn't be even more of a target. Plus Ladybug would be so pissed.

"Roommates can be fun. I'm glad I ended up with Chrono. He's a bit of a character but we get along well. Darien and Koji are next door, too, so there's a lot of people around."

Here he pauses to look back over to Wako. "Oh, right. I won't tell anyone about you, either. Or ask how Darien knows you can do things," he adds trying to be reassuring about the secret identity thing.

Wako Agemaki has posed:
"Hmmm..." It's a thoughtful hum, as Wako takes in this information and adds it to what he's already told her. "All right. That's something else to look out for, though I suppose it won't be anything we need to worry about unless Ladybug or Cat Noir turns up while we're trying to help Usagi-chan. No sense borrowing problems if we don't have to..."
The hand Adrien offers to Vice President is duly checked out. It seems he passes inspection, because in the space of a blink the little fox is clambering up his arm and onto his shoulder. Wako, looking on, can only smile and shake her head.

Then she laughs, waving away the promise to protect her identity. "Don't worry about that," she tells him. "I've been in this kind of thing since I was in grade school. I'm too used to everyone who cares about it already knowing who I am to worry about hiding it now."

Adrien Agreste has posed:
"Well you're a friendly guy," Adrien remarks to Vice President as he's clambered up. He takes care to try not to set him off balance while standing upright again. That doesn't stop him from taking the opportunity to give him a scritch or two behind the ears and at the neck.

"Ah, well. I still try to be cautious about things, just in case. Naru's got a lot of 'friends' she knows too and I try not to pry."

"In this case though, I'm rather glad to find out that she and Darien will be getting the help they need. We just need to figure out where they are now." He purses his lips with a little frown of thought as that seems to be falling to him. Somehow. He'd have to go on patrol in the city soon if they didn't get another tip off. He'd missed the one about the mall. "Or maybe we can lure her out somehow."

Wako Agemaki has posed:
Vice President adjusts nimbly to the change of position, as though long accustomed to doing exactly this, and leans comfortably into the scritchings. "He's very friendly," Wako agrees, smothering a laugh. "I'd apologize, but he just does what he wants no matter what I say anyway."

She takes a moment to drain what's left of her latte, nodding as she lowers the cup. "Darien-kun didn't know where they were when he texted me earlier. Once we figure out where she is, though, we can get a few people together. I'm not sure what it would take to lure her somewhere, but... that's worth thinking about, too. Anyway, thank you very much for everything you've told me, Adrien-kun. It'll help a lot."

Rising from the couch, she brings the cup over. "I'll poke a few people and see if anyone's spotted her or heard from her recently. Want me to let you know if I find out anything?"

Adrien Agreste has posed:
Adrien Agreste drops his hand away from Vice President to reach for the cup that's brought over. He wasn't about to let a guest have to worry about doing dishes. "I'd really appreciate that." A look of mild relief spreads over him at the very offer of keeping him in the loop.

"I was there when this all went down and feel guilty that I got away all right while others didn't. If I can help at all, even if I'm just a point of contact to keep everyone updated, let me know."

Another little pat is given to Vice President. "Okay buddy I think it's time for our visit to end."

Wako Agemaki has posed:
"You still can't have any coffee," Wako tells the fox. Vice President huffs audibly - he couldn't actually understand what's said to him, could he? - and tries hiding behind Adrien's hand until he's gently encouraged otherwise. "Come on, you can pester Adrien-kun another time."

Fox is successfully traded for coffee cup, and Wako offers another smile up at Adrien. "There's no need to blame yourself for any of this. It's a good thing that you got away okay, you know? I'll send you a text as soon as I know something," she promises. "Thanks again for filling me in - and for the latte. It was really good."

Adrien Agreste has posed:
"Any time! We've kind of become known as 'the coffee room'," Adrien points out with a chuckle. "It's kind of nice being known for something other than 'the model guy.' I'm glad you liked it." With that he will follow to the door seeing her out and offering, "Be safe out there."

Wako Agemaki has posed:
Wako pauses at the door, Vice President once again riding upon her shoulder, to flick a cheerful little salute. "I'll do my best!" Then she's off, already pulling out her cell phone as she heads briskly down the hall.