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

[amu_chan]

Miki nodded. "I could tell. MAybe your egg will hatch soon."

"Or maybe it is shy, because of Tiki," Su said in her high pitched voice. "Or maybe she thinks you're not ready yet. Or maybe," Amu grabbed the green little chara quickly, her hand over Su's face and body.

"That's enough cheering up the new girl," Amu said sharply.

[coccinelled]

"Hm? Or maybe what?"

It might be because kwami were different that she doesn't have a chara. Maybe she would have figured getting one if she didn't have Tikki. Or just that there might be something else to it that they hadn't mentioned. The way Amu grabs the chara like that has her curious, if not possibly also worried a little?

[amu_chan]

"Never mind Su. Sometimes she doesn't know when to shut up," Mau tried to shove the chara into her bag, but it flew free and hid behind Nadeshiko's hair.

[coccinelled]

"No, it's okay. What did she mean? Why else might I not have my chara yet?" Marinette isn't mad. She's more curious than worried or anything, as she herself debates possibilities, at least from what little she knows of how this works. Maybe since she is still young and things might change in her desires, if not because she already has Tikki that she doesn't have her own.

[amu_chan]

Su floated over to Marinette. "Maybe because You have Tikki your Chara doesn't want to be born," she said.

Ran pushed Su lightly out of the way and shook her head. "Or maybe she feels like you don't need her because of Tikki."

[coccinelled]

"I guess. That's what I was wondering, when you were talking about how you got your chara. I already have Tikki, so maybe that was why. Still, I guess...like I said, I'm still figuring this out, how to help since things are a little different, but. If you need me. You have my number, while I am here with my parents at least."

That was the main reason for the reveal. Mostly. She smiles to Su, handing Tikki another cookie as she munches on some snacks herself. This was....nice. And important. To make friends. To spend time with them like this.

[amu_chan]

"Well, I don't think any of us are going to say no to help."

"I'd like to know more about this Papillion so we can figure out if he's working with Easter."

[coccinelled]

"Good. I figured as much. But well. What do you need to know about him? I can try explain what I've figured out so far, but it isn't much."

She has never actually encountered the guy himself, outside of illusions, and even then. It was difficult. She was wondering at one point if Papillon was Gabriel, but she has since dismissed that idea after all.

[nadenagi]

"Well," Nadeshiko said, getting up to refill everyone's tea. "How many of these Akumas can he make at once?"

[coccinelled]

"Usually it's just the one at a time. But he can manage more. That's why I went to...er, my mentor? And got more Miraculous to give to others when necessary so they can help Chat Noir and I."

So it was complicated. She isn't sure what the actual limit might be. If there is one, in how many akuma he could make with Nooru. If he reached that limit yet or not.

[amu_chan]

"You can choose who gets one of these Kwami things?" she asked, stunned.

[coccinelled]

"I have done, yes. It depends on who I trust and know, who I give the Miraculous to. Or who my mentor did, in my cast at least. And I guess Chat Noir's too, probably. It was just the two of us for a while."

Before Papillon managed to figure out he could more effectively use his Miraculous. Before he started throwing more difficult opponents at them in his increasing desperation and desire for their Miraculous.

[amu_chan]

"Very different than for us," Nadeshiko said softly.

"Wonder what would happen if someone with a Chara got one of those Miraculous things," Yaya wondered as she licked chocolate off her spoon.

Amu shook her head. "Not me, I have enough headaches as it is."

[coccinelled]

"I don't have any others to give to you to test the theory. I only have my earrings at the moment with me. But it's....nice? To know we're not alone. Even if the chara, what you deal with, is a little different."

She isn't sure she will even mention this to even Chat Noir. Maybe Master Fu. Without naming names or maybe neglecting to mention she revealed herself to them in Japan like this, but still. This was reassuring and encouraging enough, to know there were others out there.

[kiddy_king]

"If you win, in Paris, what are you planning to do with the Embryo?"

[coccinelled]

"The Embryo? I'm not sure. I guess if we do manage to stop Papillon and get his Miraculous, I'd just....take it back to my mentor. He has the others, aside from mine and Chat Noir's, so he'd know what to do, how to keep them safe."

Presumably. In theory, at least. Which isn't to say that Gabriel wouldn't keep looking and want to get Nooro back.

[kiddy_king]

Well now you have everyone's full attention, and Tadase is up out of his seat. "The Embryo... Is this Papillon's Miraculous?"

[coccinelled]

"I don't know exactly. It's just....my guess, from what I've noticed? From what you guys have told me so far? Things kind of sound similar even if a little different in some ways. I could be wrong, with the Miraculous working differently. I'm sure if.....if he wasn't misusing it, that his Miraculous could be used to get us more allies instead."

But she could be wrong. Just guessing based on what they had said. And of course the chara and all seemed to work a little differently so it might not quite be it, let alone that Papillon was all the way back in Paris and never seemed to manage to influence things further.

[nadenagi]

"Perhaps we should back off a bit, maybe we are thinking of different things. What you are describing doesn't sound much like the Embryo, after all."

Tadase hesitated then nodded. "That's true."

"The Embryo is a magical egg, some special child's dreams, probably, that we just haven't found yet. But whoever holds the Embryo gains the power to grant themselves one single wish. That is what we have all been fighting for," Nadeshiko said softly. "That is what Easter is willing to steal and shatter kids' hearts eggs for. For the Embryo, for the wish."

[coccinelled]

"I'm....not sure about an Embryo but. There has to be some reason he wants mine and Chat Noir's Miraculous specifically. Unless it is just because we were the first heroes to show up, but I'm not sure if that's it or if there is more...."

Whether or not Tikki or Master Fu might be able to tell her more, she isn't sure. But she does know that she cannot allow that to happen. Cannot allow Papillon to get his hands on her or Chat Noir's Miraculous. She isn't even sure what Papillon would even wish for. For everyone to be akumatized? He only seemed to be using them for his own ends, to get them to try an acquire her and Chat Noir's Miraculous.

[kiddy_king]

Tadase sat back once more and shook his head. "Whatever reason he has, it might have to do with the Embryo, but isn't itself the Embryo. Once we deal with Easter, we can arrange a field trip to come help you deal with Papillion."

[coccinelled]

"E-eh? You.....Paris....?"

Them being in Paris might be fine. She could just meet with them saying they were friends she met on her trip to Japan? Probably. The superhero part might be a little trickier, given how chances were that Chat Noir at least would figure something was up, not to mention Papillon. Marinette bites her lip. Nobody else in Paris aside from Master Fu knew her identity. But....they could probably keep the secret? Hopefully.

[amu_chan]

"Unless you think we can lure this Papillion here. it's hard enough for me to get to meetings without having to take Ami-chan. I do Not want an international flight with that little noise machine."

Nadeshiko smiled warmly, amused.

[coccinelled]

"I'm not sure how I could. I don't think Chat Noir is here. Or that he might even notice if people were talking about seeing me here, with the language difference? Only you guys know it is me, and I'm not sure how well-known Chat Noir and I are outside of Paris, so......"

It was probably a long shot. One she isn't sure she might even still be around for if they tried anything now, given how long a flight would take, before she would end up back home again. That and, well. Without Chat Noir, he would probably not see as much point? Since he wanted both Miraculous.

[amu_chan]

"Then I guess we're stuck coming to you," she grumbled.

"And seeing Paris," Nadeshiko said gently.

"And eating from paris bakeries! I heard the cookies are amazing!!!!!"