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#aged up adrienette
galahadwilder · 2 months
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31-year-old Lila shows up at Agreste Fashions asking to be let in because she’s Monsieur Agreste’s wife.
Two problems:
1. They kept the name for continuity, but Agreste Fashions is named for Madame Agreste. Who, outside of professional settings, uses her maiden name, Dupain-Cheng.
2. There is no Monsieur Agreste. Adrien also uses Dupain-Cheng, both personally and professionally (which is also for continuity, since it means Tom and Sabine have less to explain when they say that the bakery is a family business).
Anyway the receptionist, who’s been warned about this, decides to make Lila wait in the waiting room and see how long it takes for her to get fed up and leave
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lycorogue · 1 year
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Latest Story: Tell Me You Want Me When You’re Sober
I- was NOT expecting to write something today! Hooray for random shocks from my Muse!
Actually, for this story, I'd like to thank @ceejles​. Some minor spoilers for the story, but ceejles’s SpyxFamily fanart inspired this piece. I just kept thinking about these three opening panels to her one fancomic, and picturing Loid as Adult Adrien and Yor as Adult Marinette. Add in the song "Siren" by April Fooze*, and you get this story. (Boy, it's fun to actually KNOW where inspiration came from!)
*April Fooze is the streamer Fuslie’s GTA NoPixel character.
Summary: While at Alya and Nino's house-warming party, Marinette wandered off to take a breather. Noticing her vanishing act, Adrien went to look for her. Hidden away in the guest bedroom being used as a coat-check room, the two take a moment to themselves. The fun little intimate moment between friends becomes more intimate than either of them anticipated.
Rating: Teen
Word Count: 1470
Status: completed one-shot
Continue reading below, or find this story over on AO3, on FFN, or on DA.
Tell Me You Want Me When You’re Sober
“Adrien! Dance with me!” Marinette downed the last of her tequila sunrise before slamming the highball glass onto the guest bedroom dresser and pulling Adrien to his feet.
Adrien chuckled. “There isn't any music playing.”
Pouting at him, Marinette fumbled for her phone, and brought up some slinky, sultry club music. She slammed her phone on the dresser beside her glass and then gestured towards it.
“How am I supposed to dance to this?” Adrien laughed again and placed his hands on his hips.
“Oh, like you can't slink around?” Marinette stuck out her tongue. Her hips and head swayed with the music. Her hands slid up her sides, along her jawline, and then met above her head. As her hands traveled, her eyes closed. A smirk crossed her lips just before she gently bit her lower one. Her humming along with the song was what finally hooked her prey.
Adrien's hands wrapped around Marinette's waist, feeling it sway. Her shirt slid up a touch, and his ring and middle fingers brushed against her skin.
“Marinette, maybe we should go back to the party,” Adrien suggested in a hushed tone.
“Mm-mm.” She shook her head and pivoted in Adrien's hands so her back was towards him. She gathered her hair up and off her neck. “I like it in here.”
“Alya and Nino are going to wonder where we've vanished.”
“They have other guests. They won't notice.”
Adrien leaned into Marinette's ear. “I think they might.”
“Mmmm. I wanna dance. There's no place to dance out there.”
“We're in their spare bedroom. There's no place to dance in here either.”
“There's plenty of space.” Marinette slid out of Adrien's hands, kicked off her shoes, and climbed up onto the bed piled with coats.
“That's not a very sturdy dance stage.”
Trying to prove otherwise, Marinette planted her feet and started dipping low as she continued to sway with the music. Her hands traveled across her body before stretching out and beckoning for Adrien to join her.
He shook his head no and curled a finger to beckon her to him instead.
Stubbornly, Marinette twirled on the bed. Her foot caught on one of the coats, throwing her off balance.
“Marinette!” Adrien rushed forward as Marinette tumbled sideways off the bed. He easily caught her in a bridal carry. “You okay?”
She nodded, and he placed her back onto her feet, his hands still firmly on her sides to help steady her.
“I told you that wasn't a good place to dance. Come on, let's get back to the party.”
Eyebrows stitched together in mild frustration, Marinette grabbed either side of Adrien's shirt collar. With a tug she pulled Adrien the few inches down she needed to reach him while on her tiptoes. Their lips collided with a satisfied moan rolling from Marinette's chest.
Eyes wide with a start, Adrien kept a millisecond to register what just happened. As the heat from Marinette's lips reached his brain he leaned into the kiss, slamming her gently into the wall a few inches behind her. Their bodies pressed against each other; her hands still tugging hungrily on his shirt. A low growl rumbled through Adrien's throat. Marinette's tongue pressed against his lips, asking for entry.
With a quick inhale, Adrien pulled away; the spell of the music, low lighting, and muffled sounds of the party around them broken. The faint tang of orange clung to his lips; transferred there from Marinette's tongue.
“Adrien?” Marinette was still pinned against the wall. Her hair was matted around her head like a sloppy halo. Her eyes were half lidded and luring. Her lips were barely parted and a deep red from their brief encounter. The rose in her cheeks had bled to her ears, and Adrien wasn't sure if it was from the booze, the dancing, or the kiss.
“You're drunk,” he whispered.
“I am.” Her right hand followed the trim of his collar to the back of his neck. She gently pulled on it; instructing him to lean back into her.
Adrien rested his forehead against hers; his eyes closed. “You don't know what you want.”
“No,” she whispered back. “Being drunk means I know exactly what I want. But now I'm not going to stop myself from getting it.” Her right hand continued to press on the back of his neck as her left skirted around to his back.
Adrien's breath hitched. He stood frozen with his forehead against hers as she hungrily pulled on him to bring him back to her mouth. The song transitioned to another; this one a bit more upbeat with some rap. Neither of them noticed the music anymore.
Adrien nuzzled against the side of Marinette's face and whispered in her ear. “Marinette. Listen to me. Listen carefully, okay?”
She hummed acknowledgment and tilted her head away; opening her collarbone up to him.
“Marinette, I want you.”
“I want you too, Adrien.” She kissed his jawline. “So, this works out well, doesn't it?” Her hands slid down his body and caught on the waistband of his pants.
“No.” He took a step away from her, catching her hands in his. With an intensity that Marinette didn't recall seeing before, Adrien repeated himself. “I want you. I don't know exactly how drunk you are, so, I'm hoping it's not black-out drunk. I need you to hear this and remember it.” Dropping one of her hands, Adrien cradled her chin instead. “If I'm truly what you want – who you want – know that I want you too.”
“I'm right here, Adrien. I am right here. We're alone. There's a bed-”
Adrien covered her mouth. “Stop! Stop this! Marinette, I know this isn't how you want to do this. This wasn't how you wanted to tell me. This isn't how you pictured us getting together. You don't want it to be while you're drunk and we're hidden away during our best friends' house-warming party. If you truly want it at all.”
Marinette batted his hand off her and ripped her other hand out of his. “Don't! Don't you dare tell me what I do and don't want. You don't know. You're not in my head. You don't know how I feel. You don't know how hard it is for me to not do this every second we're in a room together. Just let me have this! Let me be free! Let me finally get out of my own way! This isn't about Alya or Nino. This is about me and you and us!”
“Then do it right.” Adrien was calm and gentle, almost pleading.
Marinette shook her head in confusion, “I- I don't-”
“Get out of your own way when you're sober! Marinette. I. Want. To be. With. You! I didn't want to tell you that while you're drunk, though. I don't want us getting together to be something you might not remember - or worse - regret.”
“Adrien.”
“I want this to be true. God! For years I've wanted for this-” he gestured towards Marinette and the bed, “-to all be true. Now that it looks like it is?” He heaved a sigh. “Call me tomorrow. When you're sober. We can pick this up again then. If you still want to.”
She stared at him, her eyes frantically scanning his face. His gaze drifted to her still parted lips. With a subtle shudder, he turned towards the dresser. Closing the music app, he scooped up her phone and handed it to her.
“Come on. Let's get you some water and get back to the party before anyone misses us.”
“Adrien?”
“Hmm?”
“You want me?”
“I mean, yeah?”
“Why didn't you tell me?”
“Why didn't you tell me?”
Marinette folded into herself. “That's kind of apples and oranges, isn't it? I mean. I'm me and you're- you.”
“Exactly. I'm surprised you're so shocked that I'd be too nervous to say anything before.”
“Nervous? But, I'm-”
“One of my first friends? Someone who basically has her pick of guys to choose from? The most amazing and kind person I've ever met? Absolutely gorgeous? Yeah, no. What do I have to be nervous about?”
“Adrien. You were a literal model who lived in a mansion.”
“Point?” He smirked.
“Call me tomorrow? If I forget to? If I get in my own way again?”
He nodded and held out his hooked arm for her. She threaded her arm through his and he escorted her to the kitchen for some water.
.
The next day, she made the phone call they had both been waiting on for years.
.
** Thank you so much for reading! Please let me know if you want me to tag you on any of my writing updates**
@discoveringmiraculouswriters
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minetteenfers · 7 months
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saytr · 1 year
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Doodle dump
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wiitchkins · 2 years
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10 years later ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
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ladynoirfanao3 · 3 months
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Finally getting this on tumblr! Commissioned art by @_mazelwi_ on instagram from a scene in my first completed fic “The Power of Creation.”
Rated M, see the summary below. Also feel free to check out “Power of Destruction” which is from Adrien’s POV instead of Marinette’s
~~
Everyone knows that Ladybug's cure fixes everything after the destruction wrought by Shadow Moth's akumatized villains. After an akuma with an unfortunate power leaves Ladybug and Adrien in an awkward position, Marinette has never been happier to simply forget. However, she soon discovers that her miraculous ladybugs have a limitation on their curing ability: a limitation that puts her in a situation she never expected to be in.
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litcrazh · 1 year
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chat noirs twitter throughout the years
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seas-of-silver · 7 months
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Did the doctor say "triplets"?!🤭
‘Did the doctor say "triplets"?!’ Rose burst excitedly as Adrien and Marinette walked through the door of Alya and Nino’s home for their monthly Akuma Class (and friends) game day. ‘Oh, please let it be triplets!’
‘Wha-’ Marinette began.
‘No, I’m sure it’s twins,’ Mylène cut in, just as animatedly as Rose was.
‘Guys, it could be a single child,’ said Marc calmly.
‘Or quadruplets,’ Nathaniel suggested teasingly, earning him a playful elbow from Marc and a squeal of delight from the girls.
‘The real question is whether it’s a boy or a girl,’ interjected Kim.
‘And if there’s more than one, how many of which gender!’ added Ivan, looking over his shoulder. ‘Max?’
Max was sitting at the kitchen counter, paper everywhere, pen scribbling, and tapping away at the calculator. ‘Hang on. I’m almost done my calculations - Markov’s just getting me more information on their genetic history.’
‘How-’ Adrien started.
‘What about you, Alix?’ Luka prompted.
‘Hey, don’t look at me,’ Alix replied, holding her hands up by her head. ‘Even if I do know, I can’t tell you.’
Everyone grumbled at that.
‘Guys, what’s going on?’ Adrien asked, finally getting their friends’ attention.
‘We are speculating on the quantity and gender of yours and Marinette’s unborn child/children,’ Kagami informed them.
‘Right… and why now?’ questioned Marinette.
‘Because you two went to the doctors,’ answered Félix, as if that explained everything.
Marinette frowned and folded her arms. ‘And how did you find out we were at the doctors?’
Their friends went silent, but their eyes flickered, glanced, or even outright stared at Nino, who looked everywhere except at his best friends.
‘Seriously, Nino?’
Nino winced at Marinette’s unimpressed tone.
‘All I said was that you guys would be late because you had an appointment before coming over!’ he defended.
Marinette turned her gaze to Alya, who nodded.
‘It’s true,’ Alya confirmed. ‘They just took it and ran with it.’
‘But how could we not?’ piped up Socqueline. ‘We had our catch-up brunch pushed back to a late lunch because you weren’t feeling well, and when we did meet, you hardly touched the cold meats and cheeses like you normally would!’
‘Couldn’t that just be because she still wasn’t feeling well?’ Juleka muttered.
‘And Adrien has been super protective over you for the last few months,’ Zoe stated.
‘But isn’t that because of the threats she was getting from that competing designer from the competition held earlier this week?’ Sabrina asked curiously.
‘Geez, who’s side are you two on?’ Rose huffed petulantly at Juleka and Sabrina; the two merely shrugging in response.
‘Let’s just calm down, okay? We’ll tell you what happened,’ Adrien soothed, sharing a look with Marinette, and everyone settled down - even Max stopped his calculating and Markov stuck his head out of the study to listen in.
‘We went to the optometrist,’ Marinette began, and she could already see interest drop, ‘because Adrien wanted to make sure he wouldn’t need glasses like Gabriel did-‘
‘Booooooo! Gabriellll!’ came the predictable jeers from their friends. Ever since the truth was revealed about Adrien’s father, all their friends rallied around him in support, offering food, shelter and safe spaces for Adrien to find comfort in, which meant a lot to him.
‘-and we found out that Adrien’s vision is perfectly fine!’
Mutterings of how that was good news filled the room, but it was clearly not the content they were hoping for.
‘So that’s where we were this morning,’ Adrien said to their despondent crowd. ‘Oh, and we also visited Maman and Papa at the bakery to pick up the pastries for our meet-up, and to tell them they’ll be grandparents to a little boy in six months time.’
Marinette watched as their friends’ eyes widened when their words sunk in, and covered her ears and laughed at the chaos and screams of joy that exploded from their friends.
~/~
Ask game: Give me the first sentence and I'll write a short piece for it!
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taulun · 2 years
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slightly, VERY slightly nsfw, so I’m keeping it under cut, but honestly it’s mostly just fluff anyways
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lichjuno · 1 year
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working on an au :3
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starryeyeddreamer21 · 6 months
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Part 7 of characters as things I've said/heard people say
Felix: *holding his and Kagami's baby (a corgi puppy)* My baby could beat up your baby
Marinette: *holding her and Adrien's baby* What the fuck
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miraculousfanworks · 1 year
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Fanfiction Prompt
Adrien Agreste had it made. A beautiful, talented, compassionate wife whom he absolutely adored, careers that were taking off, a comfortable home, in-laws who welcomed him into their family as if he'd been part of it all along -- all his. Getting to that point might have been one of the strangest rides two young people had ever endured... but he woke up every morning knowing that love was all around them, and that they'd found the place where the two of them truly belonged. So when the topic of creating a little Emma or Louis or Hugo came up, it seemed natural, and Adrien's heart swelled with enthusiasm and excitement. The family they'd both dreamed of was about to happen, and very soon... ...Adrien Agreste's mind began to unravel. Because his family growing up had seemed normal, hadn't it? Perhaps 'normal' wasn't the right word; their lifestyles and circumstances had certainly been out of the ordinary. But he'd felt loved and cherished and content with his mother and father, as any child should, for many years. And then hell began to beckon. His mother disappeared under circumstances that never seemed explainable, his father spiraled slowly into dangerous insanity, his aunt and cousin seemed bent on undermining what strength and hope he had remaining, and the normal doubts and growing pains of his teenage years accompanied the weight of the world itself upon his shoulders. He couldn't shake a small voice inside his head, taunting him, demolishing his confidence: Will I walk my family's path of madness, too? Will I fail as a father, as mine did? Can I possibly take that chance? The most reassuring eyes in the world gazed back at Adrien every night, willing him strength. An endless fountain of love and compassion was within close reach. But in many ways, this battle was his alone... and it made fighting Akumas seem like child's play.
Prompt by @dfcfanfics
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misty79 · 2 months
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I’ve been working on a Miraculous fic from a while back and so much needs to be cut but it really pains to see this line go so it’s going here
She had forget.. Everyone did. Marinette was once again was a normal girl with a normal life and a secret only she and Adrien shared.
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saytr · 8 months
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hshdngndh okay i hope this doesn’t sound odd but i just need to tell you much i love how you draw like.. contact??
like hugs, hands on faces, cuddles, etc. all look so soft and loving and i just smile every time your art shows up. it’s like that old post about how ghibli movie hugs look so much more real than other animated movies. you’re on that wavelength
anyway your art is so great!! thank you for sharing it with us!! <3
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HEYO!!
Absolutly not odd, i get it! Some artists have a specific style which makes you want it tattooed on ya. I have a few of such inspirations.
You putting me in the same river as Ghibli? You arent the first one to say that to be honest. I am ofc honored! Ghibli is such a goal! I am really touched!
Thank you for loving it! ❤️
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wiitchkins · 2 years
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adrien maybe-hawkmoth trope gets me every time
reading metamorphosis by @peachcitt but also been thinking about @buggachat ‘s bakery “enemies” au… much to consider….
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Part 1 of 3
Adrinette April: Day 8
“And the winner of the first prize is. . .” The anchor paused, and everyone in the auditorium collectively held a breath. “Marinette Dupain-Cheng!”
Marinette smoothed her skirt down as she stood up to head to the stage. Her heart burst with excitement. Alya whistled, and her parents and Juleka applauded enthusiastically.
The trophy was heavy in her hand as she held it up to rousing cheers. Two months of mind-bending work now felt absolutely worth it.
“As you all know, the prizes include a cash sum as well as an internship opportunity. . .” The anchor continued. “And we are proud to announce that Mlle. Dupain-Cheng will get the chance to intern at Gabriel!”
Marinette gaped in amazement. She heard the four other winners gasp and mutter in envy. Gabriel was notoriously exclusive with its internship opportunities. Marinette wouldn’t have any trouble getting into an art school after an internship there. She hadn’t even finished lycée. This was something out of a dream.
“Way to go, girl!” Alya laughed, hugging her as she stepped off. “Gabriel! That’s ridiculous!”
“Also a callback to our college days,” Juleka muttered, and then smiled at her. “Congrats, Marinette.”
Marinette couldn’t pretend her mind didn’t jump to Adrien every time Gabriel or the name Agreste was mentioned. A mix of nervousness and excitement caused her stomach to turn as she considered the prospect that she might be seeing Adrien more regularly. Then she shook herself out of it. Adrien had always hated being associated with his father’s company back in college, and there was no indication that that had changed.
“Thanks, Jule,” she said mildly as her parents swept her up.
“We’re so, so proud of you Marinette!” Papa said, beaming.
“Congratulations! Gabriel is such a prestigious posting! You certainly deserve this after all your hard work,” Maman said, taking up her hands.
“Thank you!” She laughed.
“Hey, Mari, I see some people you’ll be wanting to talk to,” Alya said, pointing at the stage. Marinette turned and gasped. Alya was right. There were several CEOs and fashion business and modeling agency representatives.
“Right! I’ll see you later. Come on, Juleka.” She dragged her protesting friend over to the people laughing and chatting by the stage.
“Ah! Mlle. Dupain-Cheng!” Alessandro Lesatz smiled at her, and Marinette just about died on the inside. “Congratulations on your win. I saw your portfolio, and I must say I wish to steal you from the Agrestes.” He noticed Juleka as Marinette blushed and thanked him. “Ah. Your model?”
“Yes,” Marinette nodded, “This is Juleka Couffaine.”
“Luka Couffaine’s sister!” Mlle. Rivera scrutinized the girl. “Well, you do good as a model. Would you like an interview some time?”
As Juleka stammered out a stunned answer, Marinette began to schmooze. She got half a dozen business cards and scores of compliments on her work, and even a few critiques. She hoped she took them all with a grace befitting someone about to intern at the most famous fashion company in the city. A couple actually gave her constructive feedback about something to improve on rather than just derision, which was useful even though disheartening.
“I’m so happy for you Marinette!” Tikki giggled, zooming out of her purse as she climbed up the trapdoor to her room after a celebratory dessert with her parents.
“Did she win? Did she win?” Pollen demanded.
“Right here, Poll,” Marinette smiled at the kwami. “And yes, I did. First prize!”
“Yipppppeeeeee!” Mullo and Kaalki screamed.
“Congratulations, Master Marinette,” Wayzz said sagely. “Didn’t you say an internship was also part of your prize?”
“Not just any internship, an internship at Gabriel!” Tikki said excitedly.
“Oh, this is so exciting!” Xuppu squealed.
“And romantic!” Added Ziggy.
“What? Why is that a big deal?” asked Longg.
“Aren’t in-interm-internships unpaid work?” Sass asked irritably. “It’s unfair and degrading – why are we celebrating this?”
Marinette laughed as several of the kwamis began to explain over one another, over the squeals and the begging for details Tikki was happy to provide. She was used to this chaos now.
She leaned back in her chair, considering her trophy. When would the internship begin? According to the anchor, the winners would receive emails near instantly. And Gabriel Agreste – or Nathalie Sancoeur rather – had always been scarily efficient.
Sure enough, when she clicked on her unread emails, she caught one from the Gabriel company, titled CONGRATULATIONS.
There was a list of instructions and rules after the typical congratulatory message and the attachment of the Non-Disclosure Agreement and Internship Contract she and her parents would have to sign. Marinette read through them carefully. To her immense shock, they said that if she managed to create a piece or a portfolio of pieces in the duration of her internship, whether for school or for competition or – she supposed – one of Jagged’s commissions, they would help and possibly put forth a model of their own and release it as part of the brand, with her name attached!
Marinette was speechless. These were excellent terms for an internship. Then again, the competition she had won was rather prestigious.
She began on Monday, right after lycée.
Nerves began to take over the excitement as Monday approached. Alya greeted her cheerfully after dragging her out of bed as they headed to school. “Internship first day today, huh?” Her friend asked. “Are you nervous?”
“No,” Marinette denied. Alya raised an eyebrow and she relented. “Fine. Maybe a little.” It wasn’t much more than the anxiety always swirling in her stomach – just the feeling of pins and needles, clamminess and a deep sense of dread.
“Want to talk about it?”
“Not really.”
“Alright. Want to rehearse what you’ll say to Adrien if you run into him?”
“Alya!” Marinette exclaimed, and the girl tossed her head back and laughed. “That was years ago! I’m fine around him now.”
“Just joking, girl,” Alya smirked, putting an arm around her shoulders. “Did you finish the English homework?”
The day seemed to speed by and yet crawl inexorably. Practically before she knew it, she was standing in front of the Gabriel office – a building spanning twenty-two floors.
“ID?” Asked a bored voice.
Marinette jumped. “Er. .  .” She started tentatively. “I – I don’t have one.”
The security guard frowned. “You don’t—”
“She’s our new intern,” interrupted someone Marinette knew very well. She turned to see Adrien smiling, walking forward with a purpose he hadn’t had back in college. “Marinette Dupain-Cheng? She should be on the notice given out to you.”
“Y-Yes, Monsieur Agreste,” the guard said, fumbling with papers. “You can go up, Mademoiselle. Please visit the office to get your ID and submit the signed papers and meet your supervisor.”
“Great!” Adrien beamed. “By the way, how is your daughter? Recovered from the flu?”
“Yes, she’s well now, thank you for asking,” The guard replied, clearly put at ease by Adrien’s easy demeanour.
“That’s good,” Adrien said, “Come on, Marinette. I’ll show you to the office.” Thanking the guard, she hurried after him. “Congratulations on the win! I’m glad you’re the one who’s going to work with us.”
“Us?” Marinette interrupted. “Last I heard, you weren’t at all interested in your dad’s company?”
And that had been only three weeks ago, at Luka’s concert. She didn’t see how things could have changed so quickly.
Adrien turned sheepish, ruffling his hair. Marinette pushed down the flutter of her heart at the motion. “Well, two weeks ago the winners of your competition were announced to the industries, so that they could say if and whom they wanted as an intern. And as much as I’m pleased you won and Father actually decided picking an intern was worth it, the lecture I received about deciding my path and focusing on my career now itself wasn’t very fun. He knows we’re friends, see, so he thinks I should be following your example.”
“Sorry about that,” Marinette laughed.
“Helping out in the business side of things made Father decide my modelling engagements are cancelled for the time being, so please, don’t be,” Adrien insisted.
“I remember you really hated modelling,” her voice softened with sympathy. “I’m glad you don’t have to do it anymore.”
Adrien smiled at her, and it was like sunshine. “I am too! It gives me some free time, too. At least business has a fixed number of hours. Modelling doesn’t. I’ll be able to attend Rose’s birthday party after all.”
“Oh, she’ll be so happy!” Marinette exclaimed. “She was hoping that all our old classmates could make it.”
“It’ll be fun to get together,” he agreed, and pressed an arm to hold the elevator. “After you, mademoiselle.”
Marinette giggled as she stepped in. “Such a gentleman.”
He smirked. “Glad my manners haven’t faded since college.” The elevator closed with a ding. Marinette felt a blush rising. She’d imagined various scenarios in college that included this: her and Adrien alone in an elevator. The only thing needed to complete the fantasy was the elevator to get stuck.
Fortunately or unfortunately, Gabriel had higher standards in elevators.
“The office is just to the left,” he stepped out of the elevator, pointing at the sign that listed various locations on the floor, including the office.  “M. Ducasse should be there. He’ll probably be the one to do intern orientation.”
“Alright,” Marinette smiled up at him. “Thanks so much, Adrien. I’ll see you at Rose’s party?”
He hesitated, looking for a moment younger like he’d been in college. “I’m – uh, I’m hoping before that?” She could only blink at him, taken aback. “C’mon, Marinette, this place and the business is boring enough. Really boring, if you promise never to tell my father or Nathalie I said that. Having a friend around would be fun. You always make things better.”
Marinette felt heat pool in her cheeks. In an effort to remain nonchalant, she turned away from him, towards the sign, “Well, I’m certainly not opposed to having one of my best friends keep me company in my first internship. I’m sure us running into one another would be complete coincidences.”
Adrien grinned. “See you around, then. I have to go, I’m already late.” With a wave, he strode to the staircase.
Marinette waved back until he was out of sight, sighing in hopeless, unfading love.
“You are Marinette Dupain-Cheng?” M. Ducasse asked as she stepped inside the office. 
“Yes, M. Ducasse.” She replied, taking out the documents signed by her and her parents.
“Very well,” he said, comparing her profile to the photo on the ID. “Please hand over the NDA and employment contract, and take the ID card. This will give you access till the fifteenth floor. Your supervisor is Mme. Oppenord. She will decide the days and timings of your internship, as well as discuss other details.”
“Okay. Thank you,” she took the ID card and pinned it to her blouse. “Where can I find Mme. Oppenord?”
“She should be here any minute now,” he responded. “Have a seat. There’s some orange juice in the jug.”
She did so, marveling at the décor and the professional hospitality. Then again, there was a reason Gabriel was the most popular company in the design industry. The receptionist was right; her supervisor arrived within three minutes, and took a seat opposite and briskly introduced herself.
The next half an hour was a discussion regarding the responsibilities, duties, duration and timings of the internship. Marinette would apparently be mostly working in the clothes design and PR departments, which pleased her. She asked if she could help out in jewellery department as well, and was warned that going beyond coffee and typing jobs would perhaps be regarded as rudely overstepping by some, but that she was welcome to try.
“Onto the final matter,” Mme. Oppenord seemed like the type of efficient which got things accomplished in the snap of a fingers and left disorganized messes like Marinette staring after them in awe. “The unusual portion of the contract, if I may say so. You are promised help in any ongoing or future projects, including but not limited to a reasonable amount of resources, publishing, selling, modelling, wardrobe. . .?” She trailed off in a question mark.
“Er, yes,” Marinette answered, not sure what the woman was looking for.
“Very well. Do you have anything ongoing?” She couldn’t read Mme. Oppenord’s tone. Tired of this, or just the methodical need to move on to the next thing?
“Well, Jagged Stone has commissioned a few designs that I’ve only just completed,” she said slowly. “And usually, I post them on my website so my followers can get the ‘scoop’ of sorts – the things that the famous rockstar will probably, you know, start a trend with.” She finished weakly and winced.
“If your name is going to be associated with the Gabriel brand, you will have to make a few modifications to the process,” she commented, furrowing her eyebrows. Marinette bristled at that, but had to concede that she had a point. “And – Jagged Stone is okay with you publicizing his commissions like this?” She asked severely.
Marinette wasn’t sure if Mme. Oppenord actually hoped she was committing a crime. “He’s … known me since I was a child, and hence I think was rather indulgent when it came to contracts. He says it’s my designs, so I can do as I wish.” Jagged had always been like the brash, spoiling uncle to her. There was also the fact that Penny had a soft spot for her.
“Hmm.” That apparently garnered a raised eyebrow. “Very well. Bring me your finished designs – I’m your supervisor, dear, I can assure you I won’t be blabbing or copying,” she added when Marinette opened her mouth in instinctive indignation. She blushed, and the woman continued. “And I’ll see what I can do with regards to modelling and publicizing. I’ll have your contact with Jagged Stone as well, and your usual model—”
“I … don’t really have a contact?” Marinette said sheepishly. “I usually just call Penny.”
“As in Jagged Stone’s personal assistant?” Mme. Oppenord seemed a woman of few reactions, and Marinette wondered what it meant that she was giving so many only in their first meeting.
“Erm. Yes.”
“I suppose you’ll have to be there when I call then. . . And your model?”
“Juleka Couffaine.”
Mme. Oppenord stared at her. “The famous Luka Couffaine’s sister? Jagged Stone’s daughter?”
“. . . That’s the one,” Marinette said feebly. It really was a start to remember how well-connected she was. She certainly hadn’t though much of it back in college.
The older woman shook her head with – again, Marinette couldn’t read her expression. Which was frustrating. As Ladybug, she was used to dealing with akumas by reading their emotions and body language.
She was sent off to work soon enough. She spent the next couple hours brewing coffee and typing and sending e-mails, with one exciting excursion to the wardrobe department to help in an ongoing shoot. Mme. Oppenord told her that when she came on Thursday she would be helping organize the wardrobes used by the designers with the other interns, and that she could eat in the cafeteria before she left.
She sat down with two girls only a couple years older than her called Juliet and Andy, who were very friendly. She’d texted her parents that she would be home by eight-thirty, so she had half an hour before she had to leave. The girls were amazing sources about future schooling: Juliet went to university while Andy pursued jewellery making in a specialized school. Marinette had to consider her own options after lycée, so it was helpful.
“Oh my God,” came a squeal, “Oh, God, look! Everyone, look!”
 There were instantly several other screeches and a hushed, “It’s Adrien Agreste!”
Sure enough, the blond was at the door, frowning as he looked around. When he caught her eye, she waved tentatively. His face brightened and he headed straight there.
“Why is he coming here?” Andy asked, voice reaching a previously undiscovered pitch. “Marinette, did you just wave ADRIEN AGRESTE over to our table?”
“You know him?” Juliet asked, sounding impressed but not as slavish as the others. Marinette had barely nodded when Adrien beamed at her, sitting next to Juliet.
“Hi, Marinette! How was your first day of work?”
“Good,” Marinette smiled back at him – it was pretty much impossible not to. Adrien always had a way of making her fluster and smile. “How was your day? As boring as you expected?”
“Pretty much,” he replied, making a face. “Except I had the prospect of seeing you to tide me over.” His eyes sparkled and her face burned. Adrien flirted with everyone, apparently having gained confidence after he entered lycée. Thankfully more lowkey than Chat Noir, though her partner had stopped declaiming his love to her recently.
“What exactly do you do here anyway?” She asked, putting her head on her chin to consider him. “Oh, and this is Juliet and Andy by the way.”
“I remember you helped in the jewellery in my last shoot,” Adrien said in recognition to Andy. She gulped, looking like she was about to faint, and nodded wildly. “Nice to meet you, Juliet.”
“You as well,” Juliet replied politely.
“As for your question,” he turned to Marinette. “I usually just shadow Nathalie, though Father has been coming here to show me the ropes.”
“Gabriel Agreste is outside the mansion?” Andy gasped, dropping her fork. “Here?”
“Right?” Adrien said enthusiastically, clearly not understanding the fangirling. “It’s a miracle! The last time he came out was nearly five years ago, during that fashion show. . . The one where I wore the hat you designed, Marinette.”
“Oh right,” she laughed sheepishly. “The one inspired by Mr. Pigeon.”
“That was inspired by Mr. Pigeon?” Adrien laughed too. “Right, the feather in the hat. Literally,” he winked. She giggled. “My father really did admire your work, especially the signature. I remember he called it ‘masterful’.”
“That’s a feather in the cap of any designer,” Juliet said, smiling, looking between Marinette and Adrien with shrewd eyes.
“Definitely,” Marinette agreed. “I think that competition was around the time when Mr. Ramier was first Akumatized.”
“You … know his actual name?” Adrien blinked in surprise.
“Well. . . The poor man’s been Akumatized enough times,” she joked. “I help him feed the pigeons sometimes.” She felt sorry for the man, as Ladybug and as herself. It was a bit of a joke, but loving pigeons that much to get Akumatized even with the charm she gave out? That was some commitment. Adrien’s face softened, looking at her.
“Nearly seventy, I believe,” Andy laughed.
“Seventy-three,” Both Marinette and Adrien corrected together. They grinned at one another.
“If you’ve already had a Gabriel model,” Juliet gestured to Adrien, “Then doing it again shouldn’t be much of a problem, should it?” Marinette hadn’t known her long, but she was fairly certain that wicked glint in her eye meant nothing good.
“What do you mean?” He frowned.
 Marinette cleared her throat. “There was a clause in the internship contract that any ongoing or future projects while I’m interning here will be supported by Gabriel, including but not limited to—”
“Modelling,” he finished.
“Right. And she has one now,” Andy said, nodding. “Mme. Oppenord told you to bring your sketches in next time you’re here for deciding the model and everything?” She and Juliet exchanged a glance and then looked at Adrien. . . expectantly?
“I can do the modelling for you,” Adrien offered instantly.
“What?” Marinette gaped unflatteringly at him. “Adrien – you hate modelling! You really don’t need to do something like this for me!”
“No, really, it’s no problem. I’ll talk to my father about it. He knows we’re friends. He’ll probably be glad I want to model at all. In fact, he may thank you on bended knee,” he said, smiling crookedly.
“Well, that’ll be the day,” Marinette joked. “And a sight worth seeing. But you don’t have to.” She said again, feeling speechless at how unhesitatingly he offered to do something he hated for her sake.
“I’m happy to,” he replied. “Mme. Oppenord’s your supervisor? I’ll get Nathalie to tell her—” his phone rang. “Speaking of which. I have to go. I’ll see you?” He added hopefully.
Marinette wasn’t sure why he wanted to, but she would never object to seeing Adrien. If she did, the people around her ought to check for Akumatization or something of the sort. “Of course.”
Juliet and Andy pounced on her the moment Adrien left the table. “You didn’t tell us you were dating Adrien Agreste!” Andy cried.
“I’m not,” she protested. “We went to college together, and our best friends are dating. We’re just friends.” The words didn’t give her pain as they had back in college. Yes, she still loved Adrien, but he didn’t have to return her feelings. She liked being friends. It was fine.
“Didn’t look like it,” Juliet said, her eyes glittering. “But okay. Looks like we have a matchmaking job, Andy.”
Marinette crossed her arms. “Don’t you dare,” she scolded.
They dared.
When the son of the owner of the company requested something, things apparently moved rather fast. The very next time she went to her internship with her designs, Mme. Oppenord had frostily declared that an appointment with Adrien Agreste for modelling her designs had been set. She’d been rather hurtful about the fact that she clearly thought it was nepotism and not talent until she took a look at Marinette’s designs. Then she gaped, and behaved much nicer.
She was also pretty supportive. Marinette had stocked and organized the wardrobe, making friends with a couple of the interns helping, though some had looked down on her, all of them obviously being out of lycée. Mme. Oppenord had also let her select the colour palette of decoration of somebody’s party (with plenty of criticism, of course, but it was the thought that counted).
Adrien had met her at the cafeteria once more, this time walking her down to the gate. Andy had giggled and pushed her at him once.
After all these years, you’d think she’d be used to pushy friends shoving her at him. But nope.
He caught her by the waist, and just laughed while she stammered in apology and embarrassment. “Don’t worry about it, Marinette. After all these years, I’ve kind of grown used to it.”
“I really am madly clumsy,” Marinette tried to laugh it off. An odd look passed over his face.
“That can be an endearing quality,” he said softly. She nearly had a heart attack. Did he mean to call her endearing? Did he--? But no, he couldn’t. “I’ll see you Saturday evening for the shoot?”
“Why is it so soon?” She frowned, glad to get off-topic from her ‘endearing’ clumsiness.
Adrien smiled ruefully. “Father’s overjoyed, like I said he would be. He’s taking the opportunity to start the new advertising campaign he wanted me to star in. He wasn’t very happy with cutting down my modelling, even if it was for learning about the business instead.”
“I’m sorry,” she said, unable to think of anything else. At this point, as bad as it sounded, she was used to the way Adrien’s father acted with him.
He ruffled his hair. “Well, at least it’s for a good cause. Can’t wait to wear something of your design again,” he winked and headed back to the building, leaving her blushing.
“And she says there’s nothing romantic between them,” Juliet giggled.
Marinette scolded her all the way to the train station where they were leaving Andy and walking home.
Somehow, Juliet and Andy weaseled their way into the photoshoot. Andy was there helping with the jewellery anyway, but Juliet winked at her, rushing after the photographer in an effort to ‘assist’.
Marinette loved her new friends, but really.
Adrien had been right that one time: photoshoots and modelling were long and boring. Although assisting with the wardrobe, and exchanging glances and smiles with Adrien, and making sure her pieces were done justice and were right for Jagged and her website and glaring at Andy and Juliet made them less so.
The photoshoot went well enough, despite a couple hiccups and Vincent’s despairing that Adrien had had such a long break from modelling (exactly two weeks) and would continue taking a break after this (indefinitely).
What Juliet and Andy did afterwards though? The. Last. Straw.
She was going to kill them. Painfully. Despite Tikki’s admonishments about Ladybug having to be a model for good behaviour.
And now she was facing a celebratory dinner date with Adrien.
Great.
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