geophile | cerealia

In that case, I look forward to meeting... "them".

[ whoever that may-or-may-not-be-a-person is, he's interested in seeing how they relate to adrien and all of this. he takes care not to make adrien feel more nervous than he already seems to be - if this is as big of a reveal as he thinks it is, that's the last thing he needs.

the door opens to reveal not steven, but beldum. it chirps happily in greeting, happy to see him again - look, it's getting better with its telekinesis! it can open doors now!

steven isn't too far away though, setting teacups out before turning to face the door. aron is out of her ball as well, helping to set the table. ]

Ah- thank you, Beldum. [ and to adrien: ] Come in.

[ adrien's noticeably a bit less relaxed as he's been in the past while meeting steven and beldum, but somehow being here is... somewhat helping ease those nerves he's had bubbling in his stomach. especially when beldum chirps like that, and so he offers a small smile. ]

Wow, Beldum. You're getting even better, huh?

[ lift him next time, just like metagross did.

with that, adrien's slipping in quietly, smiling at aron as well before settling on steven. unlike what adrien said, there's... no one with him, or at least no one visible. plagg's hidden in his hair for the moment, instructed only to come out when the explanation starts.

it's a hassle, in the kwami's opinion, but he listens. this entire thing is important to adrien, after all. ]

... Hey, Steven. [ words, words, words. ] ... Thanks again for letting me come over so suddenly. How are you feeling?

[ it literally got stuck in a trash can a few weeks ago, let's not be too hasty. but beldum will get all sparkly uguu anime-eyed at the praise, nodding intensely! it's been practicing, and soon it'll be able to fight! just you watch!!!!!!

it's a little strange to see no one "with" adrien, but he continues to stay silent about it. patience is key here, and he has that in spades. ]

Still a bit tired, if I'm being honest. [ no more lying to adrien - he's learned his lesson. ] But on the whole, fine. And yourself?

[ .... it's okay, beldum, trash cans are cool!!! and honestly, adrien can't help but chuckle at the pokémon's energy.

other things that are cool, by the way: steven being honest with adrien. there's a hint of surprise on the boy's face at that response, before he settles on the small smile again. that steven's tired isn't... the ideal, obviously, but that adrien's being told that means a lot, and it shows in his expression. ]

Same as you. Tired and... Nervous. I don't think I needed to say that, though—you can probably tell.

[ he fidgets with the silver ring on his right hand as talks, cycling through practised phrases in his head again, and again, and again.

how does he start? ]

[ he'll offer adrien a seat before he takes one himself, beldum floating close by and aron greeting him with her own happy (and slightly sleepy) squeak. he's made chamomile tea for the both of them, with tea and honey set out to compliment it. ]

I can, unfortunately. [ but his smile is soft and welcoming. ] Let's try and fix that, shall we?

[ he'll pour them their cups, sipping his silently once everything is settled.

he's waiting. ]

[ a nod. he'll sit, yes, focusing on the fact steven is being patient and that steven is trustworthy and he really shouldn't be so nervous about it while he forms his words. adrien's doesn't sip his tea just yet, too pensive about things to try.

first... first he should be absolutely transparent about why this is a secret before anything else. ]

I want to tell you something. [ there. slowly, one word at a time. ] ... I've never told anyone before. Back home it's because someone wants something of mine, so it could put people I know in danger. That's not a problem here, but...

[ steven can choose not to hear it, either way. adrien looks up from his tea at that, looking carefully at him. ]

[ why would he choose not to, though? this is something adrien feels like he needs to share, so he'll gladly lend his ear. it's kept to himself, but he does feel quite honoured that adrien is comfortable enough to share something that apparently would have dire consequences in his world. ]

Still, it sounds like something very important to you.

[ he'll make an attempt to understand, even if its not something he's familiar with. ]

It is.

[ he says this without any hint of hesitation or nervousness, because it is. saving paris, ladybug, getting an opportunity to slip out of his oppressive routine and... well. there was just no way that he'd ever regret meeting plagg and taking up the miraculous.

so, steven's choosing to continue to hear. the tension in adrien's shoulders relaxes, somewhat, as he slowly unravels what he's planning to say.

second. er, second... ]

... I feel like I'm a lot more useful with this. Especially when it comes to all of... the dangerous stuff. [ is he stalling? kind of. but now that he's telling the truth, all of the little things he wants to say are just coming up. ] I trust you, and... I want you to rely on me too, which is why I'm being honest.

[ he knows the sentiment of responsibility well - it's not in his job description as champion to protect hoenn and its inhabitants, but he sees it as his duty. while he doesn't do it in a suit and mask, he can respect those who take on a burden like that.

he drops a sugar cube into his tea, stirring it gently and idly as he listens. ]

I'm honoured that you trust me enough to confide in me. [ take it one step at a time, adrien. he's not going anywhere, remember? ] And for what it's worth, I trust you as well.

[ right, steven isn't going anywhere, but his mind is going all over the place. at least hearing that he's trusted as much as he trusts helps ground him—those are always words he aims for, and to get them from steven is... nice. that he's even gotten to the point where he feels he can... admit something like this to someone is nice.

he'd always thought ladybug would be the first to hear this, but... he feels he should tell steven with the way things stand now. he wants to tell steven. ]

... It's hard not to trust you. [ or confide in him, for that matter, since he just gave off that... dependable air. like ladybug, almost, but different. ] ... So, thanks. That means a lot.

[ adrien resolves himself.

he exhales. ducks his head a bit, sorts out the nerves, then says: ]

Okay... I don't think you'd ever freak out, but— [ don't. ] Remember that someone else I said I'd be bringing along?

[ cue the kwami who had been asking himself more and more "HOW MUCH LONGER" mentally. yes, at the end of that little question, plagg's head will be peeking through the top of adrien's hair with a huff. there's a second where he just stares carefully at steven, humming thoughtfully, before he floats out to hover near his face after a stretch.

adrien is understandably smiling a little self-consciously, gauging the trainer's reaction to his... um, miniature companion who is not quite pokémon like. there really was no non-subtle way to reveal him. trust him, he'd gone through about five different "REVEALING PLAGG" plans until he just settled on the Just Tell Him Straight-up Route. ]

Finally! I thought I was gonna be in there for aaaages.

Meet Plagg.

[ surprise! ]

[ looks like that tea is going untouched for the next little while, because steven sure wasn't expecting that. by "someone else", he thought adrien was alluding to his own alter ego - this is taking him completely by surprise, and the wonder in his expression clearly demonstrates that. he isn't "freaking out", but he's positively intrigued.

beldum and aron also perk up, but its the former that takes the plunge and floats close to plagg. you're that weird friend it made behind the sofa! long time no see!!! ]

That's... [ how do you even describe something like that? and it talks! ] Not a Pokémon, but something else entirely...?

[ he's half musing to himself, half asking an actual question. wtf, agreste. ]

[ wtf agreste is right. while steven lets that sink in and leave his tea to suffer alone, adrien's going to finally set up his own. honey... sugar... sweet as he can get it, honestly. this is one part of the "oh." he has to say tonight, and the fact he doesn't have steven running out the door screaming is... one part of his worst thoughts gone. not that he ever thought steven would.

while adrien sips his tea, plagg's filling in. ]

Hey, Beldum. Don't get comfortable — I didn't forget about that one time you didn't smuggle some tarts for me.

[ to the pokémon, as it comes closer. plagg floats back a bit, then throws his attention onto steven, crossing his arms. ]

And I didn't forget about that one time you ate my tarts. Something else, huh?

[ okay, that's enough tea sipping. better move in before plagg blunt-statements them both out of steven's apartment. ]

Plagg, be nice.

[ mumbled with a sigh, before he looks at steven. ]

Not a Pokémon. [ adrien doesn't need to confirm it, of course, but he does regardless. it isn't like he knows all about plagg, and he's certain that plagg's not going to... explain all of it beyond what he needs to, so he'll fill in what he can. ] He's a kwami.

[ just the name probably doesn't explain much. adrien's looking at plagg for help here, to try and make this understandable.

and of course, plagg simply shrugs. yep. no assistance. ]

Like... a magical fairy?

[ ........ yes? ]

[ now see when he thinks fairies, he thinks fairy-types. flabébé, carbink, all those adorable little guys... not that plagg, isn't cute, but from the way adrien speaks to him, he may not be the best behaved.

but steven won't hold that against him, of course. beldum doesn't seem too concerned either - it wasn't about to be a thief, even for a new friend! ]

So he's a companion of sorts. I think I can understand that.

[ not sure how that connects to what he had in mind, but okay! we're getting somewhere... and he'll continue with addressing plagg. ]

I don't think it would be out of the question to assume that you made the noise I heard that day, is it? [ that makes him smirk. ] I assure you that if I knew you were there, you would have been more than welcome to some. That being said, you have my sincerest apologies for not being a proper host.

[ he'll even extend a finger (seeing as a hand would be a little too big to shake) in a peace offering. ]

[ plagg stares at that finger, then at steven, then at that finger... well. he supposes it's better than adrien poking his head the first time he met him, and he was promised a lot of cheese for minding his manners, so... there's two tiny paws gripping steven's finger, giving it a little shake. ]

Tch. Yeah, sure, no problem. I'm taking those sugar cubes as payback, by the way.

[ ... and that's that, as plagg does drift to the bowl to take a sugar cube and nibble on it like a normal floating cat. thing.

adrien just. laughs. ]

... Sorry about him. But he's... yeah, he's my companion. [ one of his best friends, to boot. ] Actually, it's thanks to him that I can show you the next thing I need to tell you.

[ look he just wants to be polite! but he's glad that plagg seems to be receptive of it, noted by his relaxed smile. ]

Feel free. I have plenty.

[ have fun, little fairy-type. he'll focus back onto adrien, expression becoming just a little more curious. "thanks to him"... so plagg somehow played a role in all of this? ]

Oh? [ he's intrigued, adrien. go on... ]

[ well. with plagg introduced and steven... taking him well, that's one half of the story kind-of-not-really explained. but... that still isn't the whole story, and he isn't sure how steven will take that.

he looks a little nervous again as he's prompted to continue, his eyes drifting to plagg who's still finishing up that sugar cube with distaste. too sweet, he mutters, before his eyes meet adrien's and he sighs rather deeply as adrien stands up, clenching his right hand in his left.

... how does one magical girl transform in front of one of the people they consider a role model... and who probably expects him to pull out the suit and just change into it. ]

Okay... [ um. ] Plagg... claws out?

[ and what steven will see is the little kwami being sucked into adrien's silver ring, before there's a very bright flash of anime and green light ~~but no theme song unfortunately~~.

when that light fades there's chat noir in adrien's place, looking just as tentative, and no plagg at all.

now, it's chat's turn to wait. his expression seems to be saying that he's ready for steven to ask and say whatever he wants, or maybe he's just waiting for this to sink in. ]

[ ????????????????????????????????????????? ]

[ on a list of things that steven wasn't expecting, that definitely tops everything. sure, he was sure of the double identity as chat noir, but... that transformation. could you even call it that? what else would you?

after the initial shock passes, he tries not to look too surprised... in fact, he's more than a little amused. ]

I had my suspicions, and yet you still managed to take me completely off-guard...

Sorry. I thought about other ways to tell you, but all of them were still—

[ ... ah, wait. his tail sways, eyes widen and he stops, as the rest of steven's words sink in to confirm adrien's other worries. that is, the ones that told him where he thought steven knew, and the ones that plagg had responded to with a simple: "yeah, maybe if you weren't so obvious about it..."

oh.

oh. ]

... Am I really that obvious?

[ that's what he asks first, beyond the "what do you think?", "off-guard in a bad way?" and the little aside of "so that's what steven looks like when he's surprised". ]

No... I'm sure your disguise works just fine. I'm not one to brag, but I am quite perceptive.

[ he chuckles softly, finally wrapping his head around everything in front of him. he still has questions, yes, but they can wait until adrien has said everything he wants to. ]

[ ... goodness. well. it isn't like adrien can argue that. if he had to name someone who would be very hard to keep secrets from, the first name to come to mind would be steven's.

but. still. chat... adrien remains standing, finding this entire situation both somewhat anticlimactic but not and still kind of nerve-wracking and he's not sure what to say now that he's made it this far and he has to continue past steven basically saying "huh well what do you know i was right".

so he slips back into his chair and sits. ]

... You're amazing, Steven.

[ wait. no, this isn't fanboy time. ]

—This is... going way differently than I planned it in my head.

[ he's. all over the place. this is his first time telling this big, big secret, like he'd said, and it certainly shows. he pauses again. ]

So... I'm Chat Noir? [ ....................... maybe he should just blame the sleep deprivation. ] You... can ask questions, if you want. I think it'll probably help me explain...

[ or just actually have a coherent thought process. ]

Now, now... There's no need to flatter me for being observant.

[ if he wasn't used to hearing things like that, he'd be blushing by now. but compliments do come with being champion, so he's learned how to accept them humbly and in stride. ]

I do have a few, but only one really feels as if it begs urgency to be asked.

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