My Miraculous, UNLOCK! A PSL for a Ladybug in Japan.

[amu_chan]

After settling in, Tom and Sabine would have given Marinette a surprise gift, since they could tell that she hadn't fully wanted to come overseas on this trip. So once they were settled in they gave her an envelope. Inside was a concert ticket for the next night and some spending money to buy herself either something to wear for the concert, or cloth if she wanted to make something herself, since the air B&B they were staying at had a sewing machine. They would be at the concert too, since it was a strange city in a foreign country and all, but they assured her they would be sitting several rows back.

They totally weren't going so Tom could spy on if she was flirting with any Japanese boys, NOPE! Not at all. She can't prove it.

Anyway.

So she would be given an afternoon with some money and a map to wander if she wanted to, so long as she was home in time for dinner. There might have been threats that if she was late coming back for dinner they would spend the whole concert glued to her side, but that was probably a joke. Right?

It was cold outside, late December snows keeping some people indoors, so the streets weren't too crowded, but that made it that much easier to catch hints of conversations from the people who were out. Teenagers and kids were talking about school, and sports, and the upcoming concert which seemed to be a big deal. The two main acts were a boy band called Darts and a singer named Utau. There were subtle advertisements here and there, but at least one shop window had a pair of posters for them. Darts was all cookie cutter boy band, and on the young side. Nothing like the energy someone would get from a Jagged Stone poster. It looked like SAFE had been the key word for the design team.

The poster for Utau however....

The girl in the poster couldn't have been older than sixteen or seventeen, and the babydoll black dress and the blond pigtails should have made her look soft and safe as well. Should have made her look young, even with the tall heels she was wearing. But there was nothing comforting or cookie cutter about the poster of her. Everything from the look in her eyes to her stance seemed to act as a warning. Or maybe that was just because Mari knew Chloé. Just from the image she seemed to have all the attitude Chloé tried to have. But what held people going by was the expression on her face. The eyes. Where all the boys of Darts were smiling brightly at the camera, and thus the passer bye, her violet eyes held a challenge, her lips a slight down turn that might remind one of Gabriel Agreste at his more irritated. As though the photo shoot, or perhaps the audience, was a waste of her time.

In fact, some of the people passing by would comment, and Mari could hear them, about how she was so pretty, why wouldn't she smile, or about how her music was so good you almost didn't care that her poster looked like it hated you. A few guys starred dreamily at the poster, though.

One boy, maybe 19 or so, stopped near Mari, eyeing the poster for a moment, his eyes cool, his face blank, hands in his pockets. Unlike everyone else, he hadn't bothered with a winter coat, wearing an all black outfit with small silver crosses here and there. He had short dark blue hair and for some reason might aaaaaalmost remind her of Chat, though there was no logical reason for it. Tikki, however, would sense something from him. The boy didn't seem to notice Mari at all, however, and would turn and walk off again after only a moment, seeming bored.

And he wouldn't be the only one Tikki would sense something odd about. Not five minutes later, three girls would be passing, huddled in their jackets. Two of them looked about a year or two younger than Marinette, the third looked a year or two younger than that. The youngest looking one had brownish hair in pigtails that DID make her look younger, but the barrettes might have something to do with that. Big red bows. She was also bouncing a bit as she walked, and all her mannerisms made her seem young. Of the other two, one had shockingly pink hair with a red X hair barrette over one small lock that was pulled up over the rest, and bored seeming gold eyes. She was hunched into her black and red jacket against the cold. The third had long purple hair Juleka would have loved and kind eyes, along with small kind expressions. She moved with a gentle grace, small fluid motions, and her jacket was well tailored to her and looked very feminine in style and cut. Very well made. The other two were clearly wearing off the rack coats, hers looked custom designed for her.

The youngest was talking animatedly. "Are we going to Utau's concert this time too, do you think? Should we ask Kukai and Tadase at school tomorrow?"

"Do we have a choice, after last time?" The pink haired one grumbled.

"Hmmm," the purple haired one said. "We probably should go. Let's bring it up at the meeting, alright?"

She looked like she was about to say something then looked around, scowling. She stared at Marinette for a moment then looked past her, before turning to the purple haired girl. "Where are Ran and the others?"

"I think Kiseki said something about training, they'll be along." And with that the three kept walking.

But not only would Tikki sense something odd from those three, the pink haired one the most, but.... something the pink haired one was wearing or carrying under that coat and scarf, hidden from sight, was something that Tikki would feel like a wave of power. As if she had just eaten one of the macarons with an enhancement potion in it. Something that girl had with her would make Tikki feel strong and amped up... but it wasn't any feeling she'd recognize.

Comments

[coccinelled]

Eh? Just....just Adrien?

[Well. She wouldn't have the audience of Nino and Alya. But also. Time actually alone with Adrien was a rare thing. That and she's still sure she'll become more of a klutz around him, it'd likely be more so with the more intimate situation if it were just the two of them. She does at least send the message, waiting for the replies then.]

[nadenagi]

"Just thinking out loud." Just being a troll. "I am happy to teach whoever comes."

[coccinelled]

Alright. Well, we'll see who responds and shows up, I guess.

[It doesn't take long for the responses to come through at least. Alya has to babysit, and Nino turns out to be busy too but Adrien has apparently finished whatever he was up to just now and says he can be on his way.

Which of course has Marinette staring at her phone wide-eyed.]

A-A-Adrien? Just Adrien?

[She's handled this. He'd been over before. To play video games or such. She can do this.

Except dancing and having to be that close to him this time....]

[nadenagi]

He managed to not laugh out loud. It is proof of how good an actor he truly is. "There will be three of us here," he reminded her gently. You'll be fine."

[coccinelled]

Right. Y-yeah. Course......

[She's not sure if having an audience with him there as well as Adrien might help or be worse. Marinette bites her lip, giving a nod. Trying to tell herself he's right. That she won't make an utter fool of herself the moment her parents call up the stairs to tell her her friend is here. So she sits on the bed waiting. And fidgeting. Then pacing across her room nervously.]

[nadenagi]

"I'm here. And I did promise to help, didn't I?" he asked, gently.

He so wished he could take credit for the others being busy, but hey, sometimes life just hands you a win.

[coccinelled]

Yes. You did. I just can't help being nervous.

[Marinette paces, before registering her pictures of Adrien and taking it all down. Because she doesn't want Adrien to walk in to see all that. Even if she was kind of getting better about handling herself around him. She doesn't need him to see her room covered with his posters and such. ]

[nadenagi]

Nagihiko gave a light friendly chuckle, and began helping her without being asked, taking good care with the photos and posters.

[coccinelled]

Thanks. [Marinette says in appreciation as she notes him helping. Hiding away her posters and such away out of sight just in time that she can briefly relax for a minute. She slumps on the bed for a moment, biting her lip before glancing to the side when she hears her mother calls up the stairs that Adrien was here. Of course he'd have such timing, given the chauffeur and all.]

Ah, send him up! Come in, Adrien!

[nadenagi]

Well this was going to be interesting....

Nagihiko walked over to behind the desk chair and leaned on the back of it, head ducked a bit, hair hiding his face, sliding back towards the shyness he had been slowly shedding with Marinette. Through his hair, he watched the blond boy come in, and was specifically watching to see how he and Marinette reacted to each other.

[coccinelled]

[Marinette tries to be casual. Tries to be calm as she stands, giving a wave in greeting as she says hi when Adrien enters her room in coming up the stairs. He gives an easy wave of his own, seeming a lot less worked up over this for the most part. He greets her and glances over to Nagihiko, tilting his head. Of course he recognizes him from earlier, and maybe wasn't necessarily anticipating seeing him again this soon.]

Oh, hey! I didn't realize you'd run into Marinette too. So you're teaching her to dance?

[It isn't that he isn't paying Marinette attention. He's just a lot less outwardly awkward and worked up in comparison. In him adoring Ladybug and yet still considering Marinette a close friend of his. Of course he'd want to help her out if he could.]

[nadenagi]

"I'll be teaching you both... if that is alright," he said softly, glancing up through his long loose hair.

[coccinelled]

Sure it is. Why wouldn't it be? Of course I can try help Marinette. It'll be good to try, I'm more used to things like my fencing or languages than dancing these days.

[Adrien sees no reason not to help in being her partner at least. Marinette might be rather flushed but gives a nod too. As if she wouldn't agree. She's just still rather flustered with this whole thing but does eventually manage that much in giving a nod, instinctively taking Adrien's hand when he offers his to lead her to figure some more space closer to the middle area of her room.]

[nadenagi]

He watches them for a moment, then speaks. "Alright, well you got a first mini lesson while we waited, could you get us some drinks while I bring him up to speed?" He asked Marinette.

[coccinelled]

O-oh, right. Sure!

[Marinette gives a nod, quickly heading back downstairs as Adrien initially blinks after her, a hint of a fond smile at his lips briefly before he turns to the other boy, tilting his head slightly as he asks.]

So how'd you meet Marinette anyway?

[nadenagi]

"She's my little sister's friend," he said quietly. "That makes me a little protective of her. Especially when it comes to a guy. You know?" He moved and walked over to casually lean against the closed door, blocking off the obvious escape - though he had noticed the stairs up - and keeping Marinette from coming back in too soon...

Remember how he said he'd help...?

[coccinelled]

Oh, so that's how you know her. You guys must have met her when she went over to Japan earlier, right?

[Adrien asks. She had mentioned making some friends over here at least, not that she was over there for too long though. He blinks, tilting his head when the other blocks the door, when he talks about being protective. About guys?]

H-hey, look. It's...we're just friends, if that's what you're worrying about. I'm protective of her as any of her friends are, I wouldn't want to see her get upset or anything either over a relationship not working out.

[nadenagi]

"Actually she met my sister. I was in England at the time. But I received letters. But that's not important at the moment. I'm glad you are protective over her too. But what would you do if you found out she liked someone?"

[coccinelled]

What if she liked someone? Well....I'd want her to be happy. Of course. Things have worked out for Nino and Alya and some of our other classmates so far.

[He's not quite yet getting the hint. That it is him that Marinette likes. This is of course, Adrien assuming she liked someone as something more than just a friend. He could be wrong in that but it seems to be what the other is implying at least. Even he could figure that much.]

[nadenagi]

"And if that someone didn't realize she liked them and she was too shy to say it, would you help her tell them?"

[coccinelled]

Too shy? I guess she can be, sometimes. I'd want to help, if I could. If she wanted me to, I mean.

[If not, if she didn't want that help, it might seem more...pushy? Imposing himself into the situation. Adrien isn't sure, whether Marinette might actually want help or not but it did seem she had talked to her friend in Japan, or had talked to this boy about it at least. Maybe it was someone Adrien knew so she wasn't as comfortable confiding in him for help with it or something.]

[nadenagi]

"And if that boy was clueless and saw her just as a friend, would you pull him aside and talk to him?"

[coccinelled]

If she wanted me to help. I would try at least. Yeah.

[Figuring maybe he is asking Adrien to help him talk to whoever it is? Because probably Adrien knows the guy to be more comfortable trying to help with this sort of thing. Or something like that. Not immediately jumping to the conclusion that he is the one in question.]

[nadenagi]

"I offered to help, she accepted that offer. But you're here and I won't be in a few days, so you need to help her, for me. Alright?"

[coccinelled]

I can try. I'm not sure she's mentioned who she likes to me, but. If she wants me to help, I'll do my best.

[But it makes sense. Adrien will still be around. This kid obviously will eventually be heading back home to another country and timezone and all. Short of online messaging to encourage Marinette it isn't like there'd be as much he could do long distance to help with this. Adrien being here has more options at least. Potentially.]