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]

Right. Their dreams or hopes or something. They told me about that, but I guess I didn't think to connect that to...to Paris when we already have our kwami, our Miraculous to help us there against Papillon.

[But this could definitely be useful. If she could find out who had the chara, who could join them against Papillon alongside those with the Miraculous. They'd have a much better chance of stopping him for good.]

[kiddy_king]

He chuckled. "Neither are regional. Kwamis exist wherever they are needed. So too do Charas."

[coccinelled]

I guess if that's how they are made it makes sense. I just had no idea about them until I came here and met the others, is all.

[So this is all still new to her. Still news and a surprise, to say the least. But Marinette is trying to take it all in, to roll with it some. The chara were something she was just still learning about and all, let alone finding out she could make use of them too herself as well.]

[kiddy_king]

He nodded and sipped his tea. "I think I have kept you from your friends long enough. We shall meet again when the time is right. But now is when you should be working with them to learn all that you can about unlocking your heart."

[coccinelled]

Meet again? Here or back in Paris? But you're right. I don't have long here in Japan.

[It wasn't like they were here for weeks on end. So Marinette had to make the most of this while they were here. Before they left back home for Paris again.]

[kiddy_king]

He simply smiled and sipped his tea with a mysterious smile.

[coccinelled]

Marinette stands after finishing her tea, giving a bow and thanking him. She ensures Tikki is safe in her bag with her usual supply of snacks, along with her hotel key and such before she gives a wave and makes to head back.

By the time she makes it back out of the woods and back to the area she had left the others, she's perhaps a little out of breath, but she smiles as she sees them.

"I'm back!"

[amu_chan]

Amu nodded a bit at her after a flash of a smile she quickly hid.

Nadeshiko gave her a warm smile. "Welcome back."

[coccinelled]

I made it! I'm still not quite sure what to make of what he said, and I should probably never follow strangers into the woods like that again but....he was saying something about me being able to use the chara now?

[Which really would help. She could use that to help a lot more than using Ladybug while here without causing as much of a scene. Hopefully. In theory. But Marinette would need to practice. Which is why she will need to ask them.]

[amu_chan]

"Use....?" Nadeshiko started, then blinked and clapped her hands happily. "You have a shugo chara of your own now?"

[coccinelled]

I don't have my own? I don't think. But I think he was saying I should be able to use others? So if something happens here before I go back to Paris, I can use someone else's without raising attention as Ladybug?

[Which was useful? She's just not sure how to figure it exactly, so will obviously need practice a bit.]

[amu_chan]

"I can help you test it!" Miki offered happily, floating over.

[coccinelled]

You would? That'd be great! I just figure, best to figure trying it out when we aren't in the middle of things? I'm not exactly sure how different it is with chara compared to Tikki and all.

[So the sooner she could figure it, the better. Just in case.]

[amu_chan]

"Well why not right now?" Ran asked, bouncing eagerly in the air. "It's not like you have to help with the paperwork!"

[coccinelled]

I guess. The sooner the better, really. If this helps as another way to help out with things without causing a scene as Ladybug. So how does this work?

[With Tikki she just has to say 'Transform me' but it might well be different with the chara.]

[amu_chan]

Miki set aside her sketch pad and made a gesture with her hands, Two Ls making a diamond. She flicked her fingers into that pose, then swapped them. "Do that gesture while saying 'my heart unlock!' But you have to really want to Chara-nari with me when you do it,"

"Oh we get a say in it now, do we?" Amu asked, dryly. Her friends laughed. Nadeshiko and Tadase were polite enough to do so quietly behind their hands. Yaya and Kukai didn't bother.

[coccinelled]

My heart unlock? Okay....huh?

[Marinette pauses in being about to try when Amu asks that and the others laugh. She figured the others had gotten about the same in terms of an introduction of sorts with an explanation, the same as she had figured with Tikki and all. But perhaps that differed depending on the chara or something. Marinette practices the diamond gesture with her hands.]

[amu_chan]

"You got it! Now put it together!"

[coccinelled]

Alright....

[Marinette gives a nod, following the directions on what to say, about her heart unlocking, getting the hand gesture like a diamond at her chest. It feels a little weird but then again, she supposed it seemed all weird and overwhelming to her initially with Tikki too. At least this time she has more of an idea on what to expect? Sort of.]

[amu_chan]

Blue light would fill her vision until all she could see was varying shades of blue and Miki. Miki's egg formed around her and closed her in. Marinette would find her hands moving without her volition, out and together. The egg moved to hover just over them, then egg and hands would move to her chest, the egg slipping inside her as if it were part of her. Another flash of Blue and she'd feel clothing popping into place over her. A Jaunty blue Beret with a spade, a flowing top, blue flared sleeves, bare shoulders, and a white front and back decorated with blue flowers, and long flowing pants with a gradient blue rainbow, and nice blue sneakers. In her hands were a length of blue fabric and a sharp needle threaded with blue thread.

"CHARA NARI! LADYBLUE!"

[coccinelled]

W-whoa? Lady...blue?

[Well. It was apt. Marinette takes a moment to glance down at herself a bit to see the transformation once it is done, to see her new outfit and stretch a bit to figure how easy it was to move around in. The top wasn't too tight so it wasn't restricting. She's just more used to her Ladybug outfit. But this worked too, and almost seemed more....normal almost? Kind of.]

[amu_chan]

After a few moments it was very comfortable... physically. The thread moved with her as she did, getting longer and shorter so that it was out of her way but always long enough that she was aware of it.

[coccinelled]

Nice! This is actually not bad. And like this, nobody will recognize me as Ladybug!

[Marinette grins, appreciating how easy it was to move in these clothes as she stretches a bit. The colour was different to her usual red and black for Ladybug too. This should help in her not drawing so much attention. Maybe help her be more effective against the threat here and all too.]

[amu_chan]

Amu nodded. "Guess you can do it too, then."

"WAAAH! No fair! I wanna chara-nari too!"

Kukai burst out laughing. "PERFECT!" he leapt to his feet. "Let's get to training."

[coccinelled]

Looks like it! But I'm sure if I can, you'll all manage it eventually? And, well. I don't feel like I stand out quite as much with this, so. What training did you have in mind?

[Since this seems easy enough to move in, she figures she could manage running or fighting in it. At least from what she has tested briefly thus far anyway.]