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]

"You don't want us to help?"

[coccinelled]

I -- I can manage myself if I have to. It's not exactly that fun and exciting, is it? Packing. So I wasn't sure you'd want to.

[Then again. The flipside of spending more of their last moments together in Japan. Marinette figures her parents would understand? Probably. If she did let them in the hotel to help her out.]

[amu_chan]

"Of course packing is fun!" Su said happily. Making everything fit perfectly and neatly so it will all be fresh when you get home!"

Miki popped free, returning Amu to the sleep shirt she'd been wearing before they transformed. "I can sketch the best way to lay it out so it all fits."

"And I can cheer you on!" Ran said, shaking her pom poms. "Besides anything can be fun, if you do it with friends, right Amu?"

Amu flushed pink and looked away, arms crossed over herself, shivering a bit in the cold.

[coccinelled]

Okay, alright. Alright, you can come and help.

[Marinette chuckles, giving a shrug in relenting with their enthusiasm to help her pack. She turns then, leading the way back to the hotel.]

Back this way then.

[amu_chan]

Amu mumbled under her breath and followed. The charas happily flew around Marinette's head, talking animatedly with Tikki and taking turns sitting on Mari's hair.

[coccinelled]

[ It at least doesn't take too long in getting them back to the hotel, as Marinette chats with them and lets the charas ride at her shoulder. As long as nobody could see them it wasn't anything to worry about, right? So she figures.

Once she gets back, she lets them into her room where she's in the process of packing her clothes and sketches of outfits she saw people wearing while on her trip.]

It's a little bit of a mess. I didn't spend much time here aside from sleeping, but.

[She still did buy a few things. So she still has to finish packing yet.]

[amu_chan]

As soon as they got in, Miki got distracted by admiring the sketches.

Ran had to check out and gush over everything in the room.

For once it was Su who was focused. "We can pack this in an instant!" she said, pleased. "Someone chara-nari with me!"

[coccinelled]

You don't think it's too much? I guess that's good.

[That they weren't put out by how much there was. Marinette had at least already tried to start packing before getting distracted like that. So she gives a nod at the idea of transforming, if that might help make this go quicker. She knows her parents would knock, and she has the do no disturb sign on anyway at the moment with having visitors over.]

[amu_chan]

"Marinette's heart! Unlock!" Su said transforming Mari again into Lady Clover. Her voice sounded in Mari's ear. "Repeat after me... Chip syrup WHIP!"

"Wait, what?" she asked. just too late.

[coccinelled]

Chip what?

[Marinette blinks, as she suddenly finds herself transformed. She'd agreed to the idea of transforming if it would help? She's just not necessarily sure how this might help exactly, with packing her things away for the trip back home to Paris.]

[amu_chan]

"That's how we almost drowned in a flood of cookie dough!" Amu warned, alarmed.

Ran bounced in the air. "I'm sure Su's learned how to control it better now," she said. Then to Marinette. "Chip syrup, whip!"

[coccinelled]

Almost -- wait, what?

[How was anything to do with cookie dough going to help them pack? Wouldn't that only make a mess? She hardly has time to wait around for cookies to bake right now! She is very Unsure about this suggestion and why the other seems so insistent about it?]

[amu_chan]

Amu sighed and started packing while Marinette argued with the charas.

Ran danced around in the air. "You'll see, you'll see!"

[coccinelled]

Alright....

[If they're sure this might somehow help? Marinette gives an almost apologetic look to Amu before turning and saying the phrase, repeating what the chara had said for her to say. She's not....entirely sure what to expect? Sweets or something? From what the others had said happened last time?]

[amu_chan]

As she spoke a giant whisk appeared in her hand. It would pull her hand to gesture. Powder that was familiar that was... flour... It filled the whole room. Amu started coughing. It took less than a minute to clear, and when it did, all of Marinette's stuff was inside the now closed suitcases and bags, all neatly packed and ready. Mind the first time she opened it she would be in for an... um... surprise. But for the moment somehow EVERYTHiNG fit. Of course, everything - the suitcases, the people, the furniture, the floor, the walls - was covered in a fine powder of flour. But hey, she's packed....

[coccinelled]

[She tilts her head, taking a moment to take it all in. She's....not sure how she is going to clean this in time. But at the same time....her things were packed? And it all fit?

She coughs, waving a hand in front of her. She's quite used to the flour, living at the bakery and all but even so. She can't help but to cough and splutter as she glances around.]

Sorry everyone? But um. Thanks? For the help? Now to figure getting this cleaned before we leave for the flight.....

[amu_chan]

And Su's voice again.... "Leave that to SU!"

[coccinelled]

You can clean this up? How?

[Compared to the others she is less sure on what to expect. What sort of abilities the Chara might have and all. So naturally she has more reason to question, to wonder and be curious on these. For all that she is about to go back home and all.]

[amu_chan]

"You know the words!"

[coccinelled]

I do? The same as the phrase we did before to pack? Alright then.....?

[She says with a shrug, assuming that's what the chara means. She repeats the phrase, hoping this would work and the flour would be all clean. While she is used to flour, at least downstairs the bakery didn't have carpet like this, along with the bed and everything to get it all over, like in this hotel room.]

[amu_chan]

And again she'd feel her arm pulled. The flower would rise like sparkling lights, twinkling and shining and then start to vanish. When it was done not only was the flour gone but the bed was made, the carpet looked vacuumed, all the glass surfaces shined. There was a pleasant cleaning scent to the room.

[coccinelled]

Well, that works!

[Marinette can't help but to grin, taking in that fresh, clean smell. It was even better than when she had first arrived, when the maids had come in during her stay even. She can't help but to be relieved at that, in that she wouldn't be leaving a mess for them to deal with like that in having them maybe charge her parents or question what she had been up to in here with all the flour everywhere.]

[amu_chan]

Su broke the transformation and floated over to hug her cheek. "cleaning and cooking and chores, just leave them to Su!"

[coccinelled]

Thank you. All of you.

[The chara for helping her. The others for being open, accepting her as she was with being Ladybug and all. Letting her help out and teaching her. She doesn't quite have that back home. Of course she has support from Chat and the rest but it's....different. Somehow. With her being seen as the leader, if there were to be one. Back in Paris.]

[She lets Tikki come too, in letting her Kwami say goodbye as well, as she reaches a hand to Su.]

[amu_chan]

The charas swarmed around her and Tikki. Amu, slightly embarrassed, looked away. "We're all seeing you off at the airport tomorrow, right? I can say my goodbyes then."