Overexposure:
the fact of experiencing something or being affected by it because of being in a particular situation or place for too long.
the result of too much light hitting the film or, in a digital camera, the sensor. Overexposed photos are too bright, have very little detail in their highlights, and appear washed out.
It was normal, dull day at Françoise Dupont.
The teachers carried on with their lessons and gave homework.
Mr. Damocles watched like an owl.
Lila yakked to an adoring crowd of fans.
Adrien was wonderful as always but way too oblivious.
Marinette sighed to herself as she walked down the steps at the end of the day. Suddenly a white flash blinded her, causing her to trip. She was could hear Lila's crackle from the pavement, followed by a shrill yet kind voice followed by shrill voice.
"Oh, my goodness!"
Someone grasped her arm and gently hoisted her up. She looked up. The person who helped her was an old man around 70 years old, but his body looked still staying strong, grey hair in a ponytail, big blue eyes, wearing stylish black clothes and a camera in hand.
"I am so sorry, my dear." He said sincerely and then he smiled big at her. "Has anyone told you that you are extraordinary?"
Marinette blushed. "W-Who are you?"
"I'm terribly sorry, how rude of me not introduce myself. I am Catoci!"
Marinette gasped, and the crowd around them broke into excited chatter.
The reason why was that Catoci was a legendary fashion photographer. For over 50 years, he reigned supreme over the photography world. He was only 74 years old, yet he possessed a never-ending list of clients vying for his shots: Calvin Klein, Revlon, Rolling Stone, Dior, Vogue, and much more.
"Catoci, the fashion photographer? I love your work!" Marinette exclaimed.
The man, Catoci, flamboyantly flecked his hands. "Thank you, dear. I was passing by, just taking a walk to clear my mind after a stressful brainstorming and then I saw you. I had to capture your beauty but by doing so, I caused your accident! I'm terribly sorry, Miss..."
"Marinette. Marinette Dupain-Cheng."
"Cheng? Is that Chinese?"
"Yes. My mother is Chinese."
"And you're also French?"
"Yes."
"Oh, Such a unique blend! It's always French-American, Chinese-American, Chinese-British, French-British…never French-Chinese!"
"I'm also part Italian on my father's side."
Catoci couldn't contain his joy. "Even better! You are simply gorgeous! You're the perfect example of the everyday girl yet you carry a certain magic! I've fallen under your spell! Marinette Dupain-Cheng, I need you as my new spokesmodel!"
...
...
...
...
...
"Excusez-moi?"
"You! As my spokesmodel!"
"Spokesmodel?" Max said.
"Marinette as a model?" Alix questioned.
"She's so pretty, I can see it." Rose fawned.
"Go for it, Mari!" Alya hollered in encouragement.
Catoci handed Marinette a card from his two fingers, which she took. "Here is my card. I must talk to your parents and get permission to hire you!"
Marinette stared at the card, wondering if she could do this with her current busy activities. This was a great offer, one she never thought would receive. She designed clothes, not model them. Catoci was a peacock but he claimed to have good intentions and announced them to the world. A nice man with a loud voice.
Before she could even answer, Lila pushed her aside, posing before Catoci with her arms behind her back and chest puffed out
"You should hire me! I am much prettier! And I am full-blooded Italiano!"
Catoci stared at her long and hard, silently studying her.
"I know, I'm gorgeous!"
His lips fell in a frown. "Girl, you look like my last supermodel."
"That's a good thing!"
"Absolutely not! You're pretty because you look like every other supermodel. Tall, skinny, flawless skin with no distinct markings, flat hair, fake smile, bones sticking out of ribs. Blech! Boring! Besides, I had to use that model because the company I was assigned with owned her. If I had my way, I would never hire someone like her. Girls like her and you are dime a dozen. Girls of one pure linage are so boring! Un-fab-u-lous!"
Lila dropped her jaw. Catoci took advantage of her shock to walk around her to get to Marinette.
"Marinette, I need to leave speak to your parents as soon as possible! My offer is completely legitimate! I need your parents' approval!"
"My parents run the bakery just across the street from here." Marinette could not refuse such a forward and forceful demand, as evidenced when dealing with Alya.
"Fabulous! We must go!"
Catoci laced an arm around Marinette's arm and tugged her in his power walk to her home.
Adrien was most excited by the turn of events. "Oh my God! Marinette is gonna be a model! This is great! Maybe she'll do a double shoot with me!"
Lila broke out of her frozen state and growled.
Her parents gave their approval.
For the next two day, Catoci arranged for photoshoots, clothing to model in, places to book in advance.
Now it was time to put the plan into motion.
Marinette was allowed to miss school for a day to do her modelling.
The first photoshoot was in the Tuileries Garden, just outside the Lourve.
But while Marinette was being prepped by Catoci, Lila snuck into the tent. Inside displayed her outfit for the first shoot.
Lila grinned devilishly, holding up a pair of scissors.
Now time to put her plan in action.
After a few minutes, Lila crept out of the tent. Soon after her, Marinette and her stylist walked in the tent, only to get a shock.
"Oh no!"
The clothes were in threads.
"The shoot is ruined now!" The stylist wailed. "It's gonna take hours to replace these clothes now and we have to do this shoot now!"
"Wait!"
Marinette gathered the ribbons of fabric. She pulled out her trusty sewing kit from her purse, careful to hide Tikki.
"Give me five minutes."
The stylist was stunned to see Marinette ran her thread and needle through the shredded clothes.
"How did-"
"I design my own clothes. I don't just draw them."
"You're the first model I met who actually has a brain."
Five minutes passed and Marinette emerged out of the tent, her makeup done naturally, her hair arranged in a cute bun and wearing a stunning dress, a sleeveless number with a short bell-shaped skirt and a plunging V-neck, coloured in a red and green square pattern. It was matched with a black belt hitched at her tiny waist and black flat shoes of suave velvet on her little feet. The outfit looked like the paintings in the Louvre.
Catoci beamed when he saw her. "You look beautiful, Marinette!"
"Mr Catoci, I hate to tell you this, but the clothes were ruined!" The stylist confessed nervously.
Catoci dropped his big smile and wailed. "Oh no!"
"But I fixed them!" Marinette said, swinging her skirt. She sewed her dress so well it was good as new. As it was never cut up in the first place!
Catoci's smile returner, brighter than before. "Oh yes!"
"She's the smartest model I ever had!" The stylist complimented. "She designs her clothes by hand!"
"Marinette, you saved us! Oh, you're so wonderful! An angel sent from the heavens walk amongst us mortals!" Catoci grabbed his camera. "Now flash me a smile!"
Marinette smiled as she moved her body into poses she had seen on fashion magazines and catwalks.
"Act as if you were taking a walk in the park, not doing a shoot! Be natural, be yourself, be the everyday girl!"
She did as he instructed, taking steps forward and looking around at the trees, the people and the Louvre in the distance. She even took out her sketchbook and drew ideas for designs, everyday things she would do in the park.
"Yes! Yes! You're beautiful!"
From hiding behind a tree nearby, Lila scowled.
The second photoshoot was stationed in the Paris Métro.
Marinette was wearing a white sleeveless top with silver beads embedded on the front black skinny jeans, red leather jacket, black ankle boots, and her hair done in a small ponytail at the nape of her neck.
It was similar to her usual outfit but has more punk and coolness. It reminded her of Ladybug (and Chat Noir.)
Lila didn't have the chance to ruin Marinette's clothes, but she still had plan.
Hiding behind a wall just around the corner of the hall where Marinette was just about to, Lila chuckled as she held out a small bag.
"So, you like to play around, huh? How about Chinese Checkers, Cheng?"
She opened the bag, spilling marbles on the ground and rolling to Marinette's feet. Marinette stepped on a marble, causing her to trip, going flying up into the air in a backflip, screaming her head off in surprise.
Lila mercilessly hoped to make her get injuries unable to model or the very least humiliate her.
However, Marinette was experienced in clumsiness. She was able to land on her butt than on her back or front, to steady her landing.
During the whole time, Catoci took pictures. Lila thought he was catching his model's failure.
Catoci lowered his camera. "That...was...Brilliant!"
Lila dropped her smirk.
"Your clumsiness captures the everyday rush of the Underground! No one is a ballerina in the Underground, it's all chaos! You're dealing with the speed of the atmosphere!"
"...Thank you?" Marinette said uncertainly.
"Keep doing it! Run, run, run!"
Marinette waved her arms, running like mad like the headless chicken she acted every morning, day and night.
"Yes, yes, yes, my little nettle! Gimme more! Go crazy!"
Marinette crawled up the steps, emerging out of the Art Nouveau entrance. Catoci took one last shot before he took her hand and pulled her up.
"Come, my lovely bug. I am so blessed to have someone as perfect as you!"
Lila emerged from the entrance, glaring after the pair walking away, especially the girl.
"Oh, so you think she's so perfect? Well, she's not and I'm gonna show you I'm better!"
Without warning, she was knocked down by a crowd rushing in and out in less of a minute.
The third and last shoot was at the Effiel tower.
"This is the last shot I need to make you a star, Marinette." Catoci said as he set up his trusty camera.
He glanced up and looked back to his camera, and then quickly looked up again, staring in astonishment.
Marinette stepped out of the tent, dressed in a gorgeous pink strapless gown of chiffon, the voluminous skirt flowing around her, white low heels on her dainty feet. Her hair flowing free in gentle waves, two pearl hairpins one each side of her head.
Catoci held out his hands, making sounds of gasping and whimpering, his eyes leaking happy tears.
"Is everything ok, sir? Is there something on my dress or my face?"
Catoci swanned over to her, gently laying his hands on her shoulders and gazing at her face softly.
"In all my years, I have never seen a more beautiful creature."
Marinette blushed.
"I feel as if you are my daughter on her first dance…I'm 74. I do not have a wife or a husband or children. When I die, I leave only my work as my legacy. I dedicated my life to my art. I have a great career but no family. So, I see my models as my children I never have."
She felt touched. There was a soft side to this peacock of a man.
"Now, just stand out there and do your thing."
She nodded and walked to the spot. She started off with a twirl, her skirt waving around.
"Yes. Yes. Yes! Perfectly imperfect! Play around with your gown, be amazed of wearing it! Think of it as a once-in-a-lifetime chance to wear something like that! Remember to smile! Smile!"
But then something slammed into Marinette's side, sending her flying and crashing on her side.
"Marinette!" Catoci wailed, running towards her but something, or someone, blocked his way. "What in the name of Elsa Schiaparelli are you doing here, Lola?"
"It's Lila!" Lila snapped, wearing a swanky black dress by Gabriel Agreste.
"I don't care-la! I only care about my sweet nettle! You harmed her and ruined my shot!"
BOOM!
"Oh no, my dress is all dirty! I'll go and clean it up!"
Marinette ran to her tent and transformed into Ladybug. No one noticed her slipping out of the tent. All attention was on the bickering pair.
"Now look you have done! You're lucky my brilliant spokesmodel can fix up any mess! She's so amazing!"
"Shut up about her! She's not! I'm way better that her!"
"What are you doing here? Should've you be in school, missy?"
"I have a photoshoot, you're in my spot."
"I had this place booked in advance! Where's your crew? Where's the tent? Where's the photographer?"
"Me!" Vincent swaggered over to Catoci and Lila. "Now, mister, leave or-" Vincent's eyes bulged our when he finally noticed the elegant old man. "Oh, mio Dio! You're Catoci!" Catoci coolly raised a brow. "I apologise for disturbing you! We will take our leave."
"Leave? No!" Lila wailed.
"That's Catoci! He's my idol! My inspiration for who I am today!"
"He's moving in on your turf!"
"He can use my turf! It's an honour to be in an audience for him!"
"I'm getting tired of this." Catoci said, zeroing his eyes on the bane of his annoyance. "Miss Rossi, I've been told that you are a model for Agreste."
"Yes, I am! I am much better than Mari-trash!"
Catoci was appalled. "Unlikely. Besides your plain looks, you have a horrible personality, the worse I ever encountered! Besides, I do not have a contract with Agreste so I have no reason to photograph you! If I take any photos of you, I will be sued by Mr. Agreste, your employer. Don't you have any idea how business works, or do you just sit still and look pretty?"
"I just model! I always look pretty!"
"Sitting still and looking pretty are not requirements for my models." Catoci snapped his fingers at Vincent. "You! Give me your boss's numbers."
Vincent quickly dialled Gabriel's number and handed him his phone.
"Mr Agreste, this is Catoci. I am calling you because one of your models, a young miss Lila Rossi, has been interrupting my photoshoot as part of a childish vendetta against my new spokesmodel, Marinette Dupain-Cheng. She even refers Marinette as 'Mari-trash'."
Catoci listened to the other end and frowned. "Wait, you didn't arrange a photoshoot with her at the Effiel Tower today? She even has a photographer with her, a mister Vincent."
Vincent swooned.
"Well, it looks like she set the whole thing up. Mr. Agreste, if you cannot control your models, I will take action. Goodbye."
Catoci hung up and gave the phone back to Vincent.
Lila wasn't no bit intimidated. Rather, she was angry. "You tattled to my boss? You are such a child!"
"It's called being mature and responsible. Something you will never learn. Have you no shame? You just want me to photograph you! You're hungry for any kind of attention!"
"Listen, grandpa, I deserve to be on the cover of every magazine, not her! She's worthless, a total loser! I've been trying to tell you all day! I even ruined her clothes and dump marbles on the ground to make you see that!"
"That was YOU!?"
Lila realised she spilled the beans. "Opps."
Growling, Catoci held up his trusty camera, the same gadget he had using all day. "If it was you, then I must've caught glance of you in the act."
"What are you gonna do, report me to police and my boss? That is so petty!"
"Not the police. I may not be a parent, but I know when a child needs to be disciplined. My father taught me that."
"Mine taught to always get the best!"
"Even at the loss of your dignity?"
Lila huffed and turned away, crossing her arms.
"I have enough of you! Where is my sweet nettle?" Catoci begun to run around like headless chicken, frantically calling for his spokesmodel. "Marinette, where are you? My muse, my inspiration!"
"Coming!"
Marinette ran towards him, holding up the front of her waving skirt. Catoci beamed when he saw her and quickly took photographs of her running like a carefree, playful princess.
But Lila stood in her way. "Take a hike, Stupid-Cheng! He wants me!"
"I would never want you if you were the last girl on earth! Now go away before I call the police!"
"Senora, leave her alone!"
Vincent grabbed Lila by the arm and dragged her away. Not only was Catoci gushing over Marinette, Vincent begun to praise her as well.
"I've seen that girl before! She's friends with Senor Adrien! Why didn't I see her beauty and charm? She's a masterpiece!"
Lila seethed.
Consumed by rage and jealousy, she broke away from Vincent, running away and then coming back with a leaf blower which she directed it to Marinette, making her dress blown up.
"Lila, stop it!" Marinette cried, pushing her hands down on her skirt.
From a tall nearby, Chat Noir saw Marinette and his jaw dropped.
"Yes! Classic Marilyn Monroe!" Catoci shouted I'm delight.
"Oh, come on!" Lila screamed.
The next day at school, Marinette was the one surrounded by her peers while Lila was on her own. Jealous and angry, Lila was ready to string together some nasty rumours about Marinette when Mr Damocles approached her with a stack of photographs on his hand.
"Miss Rossi, I had received some photographs from the school board. They have been sent by a very famous photographer."
He rattled me out to the school board? Why? Lila thought.
"Mr Catoci is accusing you of destructing his photoshoots yesterday. Time stamp showed you were there, harassing miss Dupain-Cheng, when you claimed that you were at the doctors for your tinnitus."
"I was!"
"Then I need the contact details of your doctor to confirm your alibi."
'I have it here!" Lila whipped out a piece of paper form her bag to Mr Damocles.
"Lila, your doctor's signature is identical to your mother's." Mr Damocles deadpanned as he looked at the note.
Lila froze.
"This is very serious, young lady. Further investigation shows that you have been lying about your travels and disabilities. Mr Catoci is threatening to sue!"
"Let him try! I have a super-rich boss who will help me!"
"You're fired."
"FIRED? How could you fire me?!"
"Because you humiliate me. You represent my brand and your actions reflected badly on me as such. I have been trying to hire Catoci for years and the first time I ever spoke to him was about you causing chaos at his shoots. You nearly damaged him and me. He could have me blacklisted."
"How could he blacklist you? You're a fashion designer!"
"And he's a fashion photographer famous before my years. Do you know why he's such a sought-after artist?"
"No."
"It's because he has the gift of seeing the beauty in anything. He has creativity. Give him a hippo in a mud bath and he will spin it as if the animal was Audrey Hepburn. That is what makes him such a good photographer. He is a man of very peculiar habits. He uses models with a personality and a certain appearance that is not easy to copy. He was right to reject you. Now, get out of my sight."
Lila growled and stomped out of Gabriel Agreste's office.
Within three days, Lila was in big trouble for what she caused and Marinette was on the cover of every fashion magazine.
"The camera obviously loves you!" Alya gushed to Marinette. "And what more, there's articles over Lila, the 'model-trasher'! Man, she got me fooled!"
"Well, at least she's got her just desserts and I didn't have to lift a finger." Marinette retorted. "Catoci did it for me."
"You look amazing, Marinette!" Adrien complimented her, holding a magazine in his hands, featuring her in the pink gown having her Marilyn Monroe moment. "I really love this image."
Marinette blushed as pink as her gown.
Adrien's phone rang and he answered it. "Yes, Father?"
"Is Marinette with you?"
"Yes, she is."
"Give her the phone."
Adrien looked at Marinette. "My father wants to talk to you."
Marinette took the phone with shaking hands and spoke in a shy voice. "Hello?"
"Miss Dupain-Cheng, I wish to arrange a double photoshoot with you and Adrien. Put me in contact with Catoci and we will discuss it more."
Marinette numbly gave the phone back to Adrien.
"What did he say?" He asked.
"He wants a doubleshoot with you and me."
"That's great!"
Overwhelmed with joy, Adrien hugged Marinette, swept her off her feet and spun her around, bringing her into a pink-faced coma.
Just inches away, Catoci took a picture of the pair.
"Those two are perfect for each other!" He gushed.
Lila looked out of the classroom window where she was stuck in detention. Upon seeing Marinette in Adrien's arms, Lila screamed and ripped up the magazine into threads.
Still, Marinette's pretty smile remained intact on one ripped piece.
Catoci means 'insightful'.
His name refers to how he sees the beauty of Marinette and the ugliness in Lila.
