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

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.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

From:

amu_chan

Amu glared at the egg then launched herself landing as neatly as Ladybug or Chat Noir could have at the height of a roof. Except in Amu's case there was no roof under her. Just air, the little wings reappearing. "HEY! What is your problem, anyway?" she asked of the egg.

"MUUUURRRRIIII!!!" It said, still pulling at the thred, still dragging Lady Blue.

"I asked you a question!" Amu said, pompomed hands on her hips. "Lady Blue, can you bring it closer?" Maybe she missed who was dragging who?

From:

coccinelled

Closer?

[Only if the egg itself flies closer. Though Marinette does at least make some attempt to try steer it, she isn't the one actually in control here, least of all when she is in the air like this. She has no wings on her sneakers. And has no roof to try stop or gain traction from.

At least not necessarily immediately. Once she does get to a roof, she puts down her feet to try and stop and then steer the egg over closer to Amu.]

From:

amu_chan

"Send another thread out as an anchor," Miki whispered in her ear. So unlike Tiki, she could speak while her bearer was transformed. At least a little.

Amu darted towards the egg that was trying to escape. "I asked you a question!"

"MURI!!!!!" it complained, straining against MArinette's thread, pulling her. But there was a faint secondary sound. A crying child. Then softly, words. "I'm so tired of being pulled in every direction... why can't anyone ever just let me do what I want? Why do they have to get divorced anyway? Don't they even care about me?"

Amu's face softened. "Oh," she said softly, floating closer to the egg. "I'm sorry we tried to tie you down, we were just trying to help you remember the you who you want to be. Talk to your parents, let them know how pulled apart you feel. Have you ever told them what you want? How you feel?"

The egg stopped struggling, and there was a small whimpering sound.

From:

coccinelled

An anchor? Right.

[She didn't really have the option of that with just the yoyo as Ladybug. But here....Marinette pauses for a moment in sending out another thread as Miki suggests, after her initial surprise at hearing the chara. Given she couldn't communicate with Tikki like this when transformed that she recalls. Still, then Amu keeps talking to the egg, to the.....upset child? Dealing with a divorce. Marinette pauses in holding to the thread, before using it to try and close the distance, to wrap her arms around the egg.]

It'll be alright. Talk to them. They can't help you if they don't know how you're feeling about it all. Especially if they're so focused on what is happening for them. I know this won't be easy, I'm not saying it won't be hard, but....talking to them, making a choice and having say in how this affects you should help you not feel so frustrated in being pulled everywhere without your say or control.

From:

amu_chan

The egg was trembling now. And no longer pulling at all.

Amu lept back and made a heart of her hands hen thrust the shape out. Don't ask where the pompoms went. They're just gone. "NEGATIVE HEART! LOCK ON!" Light came from her chest, or maybe from the lock she wore around her neck. It flooded the space her hands left and flooded through them. "OPEN HEART!" she yelled. The light washed over the trembling egg. The black faded from it until it was a pale egg with a small heart with wings design. The egg rocked lightly then cracked. A small Chara peeked her head out, then smiled brightly at them before popping out of her egg. She was dressed in a neat suit with a smiling face button. "Thank you!" she said happily. "Both of you. My child will be fine now!" She vanished into the egg, which slipped free and flew off.

Amu landed on the ground, relieved.

From:

coccinelled

Marinette watches, her blue eyes wide. It was almost similar to her Lucky Charm, her using the Miraculous Ladybug power to fix things. Sort of. The main thing being that the chara seemed better, seemed okay now at least.

Once she knows things are alright, then she herself lands proper, releasing her threads to join Amu, watching the egg fly off again.

"I'm just glad it all turned out okay. Even if it's kind of new to me. I guess it isn't....that different from dealing with the akuma back home. Sort of.

From:

amu_chan

Amu was about to answer when the other kids ran up.

"Where is the Batsu-chara?" Nadeshiko asked, hand to her chest as she looked around.

From:

coccinelled

Batsu?

[Marinette was still learning about all of this yet, trying to remember the names and terms given it was different to things back home with the kwami and akuma. She bites her lip, glancing to Nadeshiko.]

If you mean the one we just dealt with, the egg? It's all fine.

From:

amu_chan

There was a flash and Amu was standing there in her uniform, Ran bobbing along beside. "Yeah,. that was a batsu-tama. Thanks. You weren't half bad."

From:

coccinelled

It's a little different to the akuma, but I think I get the idea. Sort of. I guess having Tikki helps in this not being so entirely new and confusing to me as it probably was to you.

[At least. She knows things could well have gone smoother and better with her own first summoning of Tikki, of becoming Ladybug that first time. Initially still figuring out how it worked, and messing up making her mistakes.]

From:

amu_chan

"You should have seen Amu the first time," Ran said happily. "She screamed."

Amu dashed at the small chara, trying to catch her, she flew happily out of reach. "I didn't expect to be jumping out of a hole! Or falling off a building!"

From:

coccinelled

Jumping out of a hole? I wasn't perfect with Tikki at first either. I was really nervous. I almost tried to just....ignore having the Miraculous. Until I couldn't, when things got worse because I messed up. So...I get it.

[Being scared. Especially when new to this stuff. It wasn't easy. Even if one did get more used to it over time.]

From:

amu_chan

Amu was flushing darkly. "I might have fallen into a pit."

"Was that when you ran out of the meeting?" Nadeshiko asked, innocently.

Amu flushed darker. Tadase was studying Lady Blue with interest.

From:

coccinelled

Honestly, I'm the clumsiest when I'm not transformed. So I wouldn't be surprised if I did something like that myself.

[Marinette tried to reassure and encourage Amu, unsure which meeting the others might be referring to and letting them talk for a moment, an arm across her stomach as she holds to her elbow of her other arm, the needle and thread in her hands still, as she then glances, noting Tadase and giving a small wave.]

From:

amu_chan

Amu opened her mouth to respond then saw Lady Blue waving at Tadase. She went bright red and turned and faced away from them all, crossing her arms.

"Being transformed makes that much of a difference for you then?" Tadase asked, watching her intently.

From:

coccinelled

It does. Or, with Tikki, anyway. I mean, I think even without me not being clumsy there's probably...something that keeps anyone from recognizing me, mask aside. But I don't know, Ladybug is just...I'm so much more confident, being her. So much more sure of myself and what I'm doing, after being at this a while.

[Even. Gasp! Talking to Adrien. She's slowly improving on that. Even as Marinette but still.]

From:

kiddy_king

"The girl I am interested in seems to be much the same. I think that sort of confidence and energy is wonderful."

From:

coccinelled

Yeah? Tell me about her. It's not like I probably know her, being from Paris and all.

[She has no guarantee if she does or doesn't know them. But even so. She can't help wanting to at least help by listening. If not also possibly offering advice if he wanted it on her end of things. She's unsure if she might be the best person for that sort of thing, but she could try.]

From:

kiddy_king

Crossing her arms, Amu stalked off. Miki could find her own way home.

"She's wonderful. She's perky and energetic and brave and always willing to jump in and do whatever she has to do."

Nadeshiko frowned ever so slightly, then walked off the way that Amu had.

Kukai was listening, amused.

Now that there was no crisis, Yaya was wandering off.

From:

coccinelled

Hm. She sounds great! But ah, I guess now things calmed down I should...

[Give her a moment. Because she notes the others mostly starting to leave, and dismisses the chara. Transforming back to Marinette rather than standing talking as Lady Blue. She thanks Miki with a smile before letting the chara return to their proper original owner.]

So...have you told her yet? How you feel?

From:

kiddy_king

Miki stretched a bit, hugged Mari's cheek, gave Tadase a bit of a glare, then floated off after Amu and the others.

"I sort of did, once. But it is complicated, and I do not know if she feels the same," he said a little wistfully.

From:

coccinelled

So she didn't respond yet? Or she didn't....really get that you meant you feel quite that strongly about her?

[That in and of itself could be awkward, sure. And....complicated. Ah. Marinette gets that, for sure. Even if she has had Chat Noir confess to her, she had to turn him down because of her feelings for Adrien and all. As much as she appreciates Chat as her partner and as friends.]

From:

kiddy_king

"We were interrupted and the conversation never really finished. And there hasn't really been another opportunity since."

From:

coccinelled

Oh....well, you should try make an opportunity. You never know, she might feel the same and be waiting to figure a chance to talk to you too. Or....either way. at least you would know, right?

[That would be better? Than seeming in limbo in wondering? How the other felt? Not that Marinette can really talk but still. She is trying to help her new friends if she can.]