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]

Okay. I just hope I don't actually hurt you.

[She takes aim and tries again, trying to be more careful in her aim to be more mindful of the needle this time around when she goes to throw the thread out to try wrap it around his arm he holds out to her.]

[amu_chan]

"There you go! That worked!!"

[coccinelled]

It did! I got it! I just need to be careful with the aim. So if I just get more practice in, I should figure it better!

[Which is a relief. She didn't want to actually hurt him with this. Marinette then shifts to pull it back to her. At least, back home with teaming up with Chat, that was mostly what she did, in restraining and distracting the opponent while he used his Cataclysm to figure breaking their akuma or to get them more time for her to then get her Lucky Charm ready.]

[amu_chan]

"Great! We can work on that too...."

"Whoa!" he said, stumbling, pulled along with her.

[coccinelled]

A lot to work on. But I'm sure I'll get there. I'm a pretty quick study.

[Given she already had some sort of experience, what with being Ladybug and all for a while now. Marinette figures she will figure this quicker than she did with her first run as Ladybug back when. This wasn't as entirely new to her at least.

She just chuckles, letting him go when she pulls at the thread to release him the other direction.]

[amu_chan]

"I see that," he said with a laugh, as he pulled at his jacket sleeve to check for tears and holes.

[coccinelled]

Thanks though. For helping like this. If these chara are all over, even back in Paris, it'll make things easier if I can get around without being Marinette or Ladybug.

[She says with a smile, though she does hope she hasn't torn his outfit. Though it might be that his can repair, in a similar way that her Lucky Charm can fix things with the akuma attacks and all. Even so that was no reason to pointlessly damage clothes, given she does have a passion for design and all.]

[amu_chan]

"Of course, I'm the Jack. Helping you guys train is what I'm here for."

[coccinelled]

Oh. It is? I guess we didn't really have someone specifically to teach us or anything. I mean, maybe except the one that gave us the Miraculous but even then he didn't really step in to help us train, exactly.

[More like Tikki had. And she sort of learnt as she went? Basically. And still, she couldn't really expect that of Fuu given his age and all. Of course he was more suited for a support role, rather than such a physical one as training her and the other Miraculous holders.]

[amu_chan]

He grinned. "Okay, smuggle me back home in your suitcase and I'll help out."

[coccinelled]

I'm pretty sure you'd be a little big. And heavy. But I can at least get your numbers and emails or something to keep in touch. I'm...not sure if the others were really serious about coming to Paris or not.

[Marinette is more used to her Ladybug life and civilian life kind of merging a little given her need to hand out Miraculous to her friends to borrow so they could help out against the akuma, but even so.]

[amu_chan]

"Oh we'd all love to, the question is our parents." He laughed.

[coccinelled]

I get that. The only reason I'm here is my parents and their work.

[And their knowing Marinette would be interested in the fashion here given how unique Japan could be in that regard. For inspiration for her designs. So of course they had to take her along as well, aside from them worrying if they left her back home alone.]

I should have made him his own journal if he was going to dominate this much of the thread, lol

[amu_chan]

"What will happen if there is an attack or something back home and you're needed?"

ngl I am almost considering one for Eugene myself.

[coccinelled]

I just have to trust that the others could handle things until I get back. I've been keeping an eye out with the news though and nothing so far.

[Master Fu had tried to reassure her she should still be able to go be a teenager, go on trips like this. Had reassured Marinette that it would be fine. She just has to hope he is right until she gets back home.]

ROFL. Fair enough.

[amu_chan]

He nodded. "When do you head back?"

Maybe once the series finishes

[coccinelled]

A couple more days. But if you do come to Paris, it's pretty easy to find me. Just ask about the Dupain-Cheng's bakery!

[That should be easy enough for them to be pointed in the direction of the bakery at least. And well. Marinette could just say they were friends she met on their trip to Japan? Which isn't a lie.]

But then you'll be sad the series is over

[amu_chan]

"I wonder if there is anyone we could ask over there to help your friends till you get back, just in case."

I am resigned to it probably making me cry at the end. Yes. But still.

[coccinelled]

I already made plans with someone. So, while they don't have Tikki, hopefully they will be able to figure things for a couple more days at least.

[Master Fu was old, but he was the one that set it all in motion. Surely he could help out somehow or other while she was overseas for a while. It isn't for long now, especially. But she wouldn't say no to more assistance if there is some other options, besides her having arranged with Chat Noir to let him be aware that she was going away for a few days.]

[amu_chan]

"Alright."

[coccinelled]

What about you? When you guys are away?

[Maybe only some of their group of friends would go on trips or something? Making sure to leave some of them here back home? Marinette doesn't necessarily have that luxury with only occasionally getting the Miraculous for her friends from Master Fu when necessary. So that isn't exactly always an option.]

[amu_chan]

He winced. "Oddly our problems seem to follow us. Not sure why or how."

[coccinelled]

That sounds familiar. I guess I should just be glad that no akuma have shown up here. That's what I initially thought had happened, at that concert.....

[Though Marinette could relate. She had a lot to deal with back home even outside of the whole Ladybug thing on top of that.]

[amu_chan]

"Nah, that's just Easter being Easter."

[coccinelled]

If you say so. I guess you'd know better than me. I'm more used to dealing with Papillon and his akuma.

[So of course dealing with this was a little different. Hence her practicing with him like this and all. His training and their explaining all of this to her, for as similar as it was in some ways with the Kwami and Miraculous.]