Dinner was something special. It would appear Chat Noir had gotten them reservations at the maid café when Marinette wasn't paying attention, though with as many things as was going on, she was bound to have gotten distracted at one point or another, particularly when people were taking her picture. There were also a few times where she had gotten completely lost in conversation with another cosplayer about crafting. Chat would just watch on, sometimes adding in when talking about styles, but staying out of the more detail oriented things like sewing machines and worbla. He would just smile fondly at her the entire time. She got as excited over crafting as he did over the manga they had found.

After a while, he guided her to the maid café, a slight knowing smirk on his face. Apparently, all of the proceeds from the maid café went to charity, so Marinette was hard pressed to tell him no. It was even harder pressed when he looked distinctly upset when she started to voice her opinion against it. Besides, it was for a really good cause. Alya was all in once she found out that Chat was paying for everything. Who turned down free food at a con of all places?

Chat sat beside her, arm draped over the back of her chair, sipping on some bubble tea, laughing at some joke that Bubbler had told, much to the groan of Alya. It was nice. Marinette could almost see them doing this outside of a convention setting, like a big group of friends. Maybe go to her parents shop, steal the leftover sweets of the day and hide out to play video games in her room or something? It was a common occurrence with her and Alya, mostly because if the sweets and breads weren't eaten that day, they would be given to the senior's center. Or they could go to someone else's place and hang out there.

Chat insisted everyone get what they wanted. Bubbler and Alya did not need to be told twice, but Marinette hesitated. She didn't want to put Chat out money wise. What if there was something else he wanted and by buying their dinners he was unable to get it? She had saved and scraped to have enough to come, not to mention costume costs, room costs and all the other costs of a cosplay. Chat was patient and reassured her he did not have to worry about that.

"Please, my lady, enjoy yourself for me, that's all the repayment this alley cat needs," he said.

That earned an eye roll in response, but she didn't make any moves to shrug his arm off the back of her chair. This closeness to him was quite distracting, something that Alya was so going to tease her for later. But realizing her protests were falling on deaf ears, she decided to place an order. She got dumplings and green tea. Her mom would make these from time to time, when it was her nights to cook, which was more often than her father, considering he had to man the pastry shop. Her father had also taken to making traditional Chinese pastries, for her mom's sake and to remind her of her old home.

The maid brought them the food, smiling cheerily, offering to sit with them and play games or to bring over a few games for them to play by themselves. They opted for the later seeing as there were lots of table that needed attention and not enough maids to go around. A few Sudoku puzzles were laid out on the table for them, as well as some anime crossword puzzles.

"So, my lady, have I won you over to convention life yet?" Chat asked.

"Don't flatter yourself!" Marinette scoffed, fighting a blush.

"You'll be a con-goer yet, my lady. I still have time to convince you."

Marinette didn't breathe a word further on the topic. Chat had already convinced her that cons were a lot of fun. She was around other people who were just as geeky as she was and she was commended for her skill in sewing because of her likeness to the character. She got to see different takes on different costumes and different characters. She gorged herself on pocky and other snacks from Japan. She got to dance with Chat Noir.

She made new friends.

"Are you two going to the rave tonight?" Bubbler asked.

Marinette hesitated. The rave. She had forgotten all about it. 2nd night in of the con and there would be loud music, flashing lights and lots and lots of people. She wasn't so sure she wanted to go. While she did make a costume for it, she didn't think she had the confidence to wear it. Especially now that Chat and Bubbler were going to either be with them or looking for them in the crowd.

"Of course we are! We've got some killer costumes too," Alya bragged.

"Did you make those too?" Chat asked Marinette.

She shifted under everyone's gaze. Yes, she made all the costumes for the weekend. The super hero suits, the dresses, the rave outfit and the kigurumis. She had given herself an entire year to do all eight costumes and swore to never take on that many projects in a year ever again. There were many nights she spent late, sewing, until her eyes burned and she had long since run out of any caffeine product she used to keep herself awake at ungodly hours. It meant pricked fingers and thread jams in her sewing machine. It meant fabric paint and swearing to herself as she dotted her fingers with hot glue.

Cosplay was pain.

Now she was just worried what Chat Noir and his friend would think of their rave outfits. She wished she never made them. Granted, they fit the theme of a night club just fine, but now that guys would be looking, she did not want to give them the wrong impression of her, and they were just very revealing. She felt just a little uncomfortable with the attention.

"I'm going as Ladybug!" Chat announced. "Or I guess you could say Lady Beetle, since I'm a guy…"

"Oh, really?" Alya said, feigning innocence.

Alya was going to do it. She was going to throw Marinette under the bus. This was how she died, Marinette decided, sheer and utter mortification thanks to Alya. Goodbye world, she knew thee well. Tell her mom and dad she loved them. Alya was no longer allowed to have her clothes when she died. So much for the pet hamster she wanted. She would never live past this moment because she was going to die of embarrassment and it would be stamped on her gravestone.

"Our Ladybug is going to be Chat Noir," Alya announced.

"Oh," Chat said, sounding far too pleased with himself. "I cannot wait."