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]

E-eh? You....you want to help? I mean, you don't have to? Alya tries but even she hasn't successfully helped me confess to Adrien.

[So she isn't sure she should really expect much. She'll be alternately thrilled or horrified and mortified depending on how this might end up? Basically? It's a gamble. She doesn't want to push this on him just because she admitted this to him, anyway.]

[nadenagi]

"I don't mind trying, if you want me to. I might not be as good at these sorts of things as my sister, but I can try."

[coccinelled]

That's....not why you came here though. To play matchmaker or whatever, right?

[The offer to try help is sweet. Marinette is just over time perhaps a little losing hope of things coming of it it all, in her feelings for Adrien perhaps. After her botched attempts thus far not being promising anyway. It's something a little....awkward? So she's not sure on taking him up on it or not.]

[nadenagi]

"I can multitask," he assured her dipping her slightly, before bringing her back upright. "And you can dance." He gave her a warm smile.

[coccinelled]

Whoa!

[Cue her clinging to him a little tighter when he dips her to stop from falling. But she does otherwise seem to manage okay. More or less, as she then straightens and gives a slight sheepish look.]

I guess....It's worth a try? But thanks. I'm just usually so clumsy.

[nadenagi]

"They say some people who stutter can sing, and that can help them fix the stutter. Perhaps dancing can help you with your coordination. For now, why not call them over, or to some place we can have space to all practice together?"

[coccinelled]

You think so? I guess I haven't really tried lessons with dancing or anything.....but....w-wait, dance....with Adrien?

[Alya would have a field day. And Adrien's presence would surely make her more clumsy and awkward....she's not sure where else might work, aside from somewhere like the school gym where there would be more room. Then again as long as it was just slower dancing then her room might be suitable enough if just for the few of them. Inviting three others.]

[nadenagi]

"Inviting them all over for a dance lesson, in which there will be different dance partners for different parts of the lesson," he said with a small chuckle.

[coccinelled]

Yes, so I would be dancing with Adrien....

[Of course she isn't nearly so worried over dancing with Alya or Nino. It's Adrien and her crush on him that will probably cause her clumsiness to return. In her being so distracted by him. At least, that she assumes given previous experience, even if she is slowly getting better about keeping control around him more. More than she managed in the past, at least anyway.]

[nadenagi]

"Part of the time. First you'd be helping me demonstrate."

[coccinelled]

Well....I guess we can try.

[She's just nervous about doing okay with him and then ending up a total klutz stepping all over poor Adrien's feet when she gets to try dancing with him or something. Alya's encouragement probably wouldn't necessarily help either in calming her down.]

[nadenagi]

"Alright, why don't you call them?"

[coccinelled]

Right. Nothing'll happen unless I at least try and ask.

[Hence she messages them all in finding out if they were available this afternoon or evening. Short notice, but she needs to double check with him on how long he would be staying to be able to teach them and all. She mentions her friends are here and she's met one of the girl's brother who is keen to dance if they'd like to learn while he's here in Paris.]

[nadenagi]

While she's typing a hint of a grin twitched at Nagihiko's lips. "And if Adrien is the only one who can make it and you two get a private lesson, that's alright too."

[coccinelled]

Eh? Just....just Adrien?

[Well. She wouldn't have the audience of Nino and Alya. But also. Time actually alone with Adrien was a rare thing. That and she's still sure she'll become more of a klutz around him, it'd likely be more so with the more intimate situation if it were just the two of them. She does at least send the message, waiting for the replies then.]

[nadenagi]

"Just thinking out loud." Just being a troll. "I am happy to teach whoever comes."

[coccinelled]

Alright. Well, we'll see who responds and shows up, I guess.

[It doesn't take long for the responses to come through at least. Alya has to babysit, and Nino turns out to be busy too but Adrien has apparently finished whatever he was up to just now and says he can be on his way.

Which of course has Marinette staring at her phone wide-eyed.]

A-A-Adrien? Just Adrien?

[She's handled this. He'd been over before. To play video games or such. She can do this.

Except dancing and having to be that close to him this time....]

[nadenagi]

He managed to not laugh out loud. It is proof of how good an actor he truly is. "There will be three of us here," he reminded her gently. You'll be fine."

[coccinelled]

Right. Y-yeah. Course......

[She's not sure if having an audience with him there as well as Adrien might help or be worse. Marinette bites her lip, giving a nod. Trying to tell herself he's right. That she won't make an utter fool of herself the moment her parents call up the stairs to tell her her friend is here. So she sits on the bed waiting. And fidgeting. Then pacing across her room nervously.]

[nadenagi]

"I'm here. And I did promise to help, didn't I?" he asked, gently.

He so wished he could take credit for the others being busy, but hey, sometimes life just hands you a win.

[coccinelled]

Yes. You did. I just can't help being nervous.

[Marinette paces, before registering her pictures of Adrien and taking it all down. Because she doesn't want Adrien to walk in to see all that. Even if she was kind of getting better about handling herself around him. She doesn't need him to see her room covered with his posters and such. ]

[nadenagi]

Nagihiko gave a light friendly chuckle, and began helping her without being asked, taking good care with the photos and posters.

[coccinelled]

Thanks. [Marinette says in appreciation as she notes him helping. Hiding away her posters and such away out of sight just in time that she can briefly relax for a minute. She slumps on the bed for a moment, biting her lip before glancing to the side when she hears her mother calls up the stairs that Adrien was here. Of course he'd have such timing, given the chauffeur and all.]

Ah, send him up! Come in, Adrien!

[nadenagi]

Well this was going to be interesting....

Nagihiko walked over to behind the desk chair and leaned on the back of it, head ducked a bit, hair hiding his face, sliding back towards the shyness he had been slowly shedding with Marinette. Through his hair, he watched the blond boy come in, and was specifically watching to see how he and Marinette reacted to each other.

[coccinelled]

[Marinette tries to be casual. Tries to be calm as she stands, giving a wave in greeting as she says hi when Adrien enters her room in coming up the stairs. He gives an easy wave of his own, seeming a lot less worked up over this for the most part. He greets her and glances over to Nagihiko, tilting his head. Of course he recognizes him from earlier, and maybe wasn't necessarily anticipating seeing him again this soon.]

Oh, hey! I didn't realize you'd run into Marinette too. So you're teaching her to dance?

[It isn't that he isn't paying Marinette attention. He's just a lot less outwardly awkward and worked up in comparison. In him adoring Ladybug and yet still considering Marinette a close friend of his. Of course he'd want to help her out if he could.]