Marinette collapsed on her bed tossing her bag next to her, it's contents spilling out on the mattress. It had been a long day. Mr. Agreste had been continuously modifying his designs, changing his mind about which fabrics were the best choice and how intense the lines of color between the stark black and whites should be. Of course the absence of Felix was taking it's toll on the project as well since they couldn't do any in person fittings, greatly limiting Gabriel's visualizations. On top of her internship Marinette also had to deal with her college's mid-terms that were coming up. She stared down haplessly at the pile of partially finished costumes below her and groaned.
"How am I going to get this done." She said.
Tikki flew in front of her face. "You might have to tell your friends that you can't finish it time Marinette, you're too tired to get it all done."
Marinette sat up and looked tiredly at her glowing red friend. "But I promised Tikki, I can't just back out now, and the costumes are nearly done anyway."
"But the party's tomorrow Marinette, and you have so much else to do. You don't have-"
"I know I don't have time!" Marinette snapped. Tikki shrank back and Marinette blinked, surprised at herself, before becoming regretful. "I'm sorry Tikki, I just really don't want to let anyone down."
"I know," Tikki said flying up and touching her partners cheek in comfort, "but you're really taking everything upon yourself, you have been since Master Fu entrusted you with the Miracle Box. It's become a bad habit."
Marinette sighed and looked up at the ceiling. "You're right Tikki. I'm trying to do too much. After the party's over I'll be sure to take a break, or as much of one I'm allowed as Ladybug anyway. But for now let's get to work." As she slid over to her beds ladder she noticed an envelope that had slipped out of her bag with her other stuff. "What's this?"
Tikki shrugged, flying over to look at it as well.
The envelope was white and blank, sealed shut firmly. Marinette's thoughts jumped back to the note on the Miracle Box. No, this couldn't be… she opened the enveloped with shaking fingers. She didn't have time for this as well, but there it was.
Fortune has two meanings, one I always have, tomorrow I will have the other as well. Find me or I will find you. Your identity is safe, but we must meet.
"It's not signed." Tikki said reading it through.
"Just like the last one," Marinette said, pinching the ridge between her eyes, "I think we're supposed to look for this person at Chloe's party tomorrow. The first sentence must be a hint. I wonder why they're so desperate to protect their identity?"
Tikki bit her lip, looking down. "Marinette? Do you – do you think you'll have to give up being Ladybug."
"I don't know Tikki, I should but-"
"I don't want you to give me up!" Tikki cried out, flying into Marinette's chest for a hug, shining tears falling from her eye's.
Tears started to prick Marinette's eye's as well and she cradled her kwami tenderly. "I don't want to lose you either Tikki, and I'll do everything in my power to make sure that I don't." At the back of her mind another question nagged, how had the letter gotten in her bag without her noticing?
"These are great Marinette," Alya said hugging her friend, "thanks so much!"
Alya wore a light orange dress with hanging cream sleeves and a dark orange corset, her thick wavy hair piled tastefully on top of her head – ringed by a cream circlet with orange ribbons streaming down her back. Nino made a fine Robin Hood to her Maid Marian, his styled green garb topped with a red feather.
Marinette smiled at her friend, glad she had gotten the costumes done on time. Her eyes were rimmed red with sleeplessness, but they were lit with pride at her accomplishment. For now, at least, the mysterious letter forgotten. Adrien came out next and Marinette's heart beat with pleasure that he pulled her styles off so well.
He flourished his cape, bright crimson flashing out from beneath it's dark exterior. His short blond hair was hidden beneath a period wig tied into a ponytail at the nape of his neck and was topped with a black three-cornered hat decorated with a red plume. His shoes were buckled, his coat elaborate, and in his hand he held a knobbed cane. Somehow the cane felt uncomfortably familiar though he had never held one before. His forehead, eye's, and upper cheekbones were covered by and elaborate black, red, and gold mask.
"I knew it!" Marniette squealed, going over him and making small adjustments to the costume, "You make a perfect Scarlet Pimpernel!"
"Now if only someone would get the reference," Alya said with a laugh, "Honestly you guys, no one's going to know who you are. Especially you and Luka Marinette, I mean what the heck are you even supposed to be?"
Luka chose that moment to enter adorned in blue feathers and a bejeweled tunic, a black mask with a long birds beak stretching out from his nose that was covered in blue rhinestones. Marinette blushed and grabbed her own feathered costume, ready to take her turn to change.
"I'm Papageno!" Luka said lifting his arms to flare the wings attached.
"That literally means nothing to me." Nino said plucking at his fake bow.
"You know, from the Magic Flute?"
They looked at him blankly.
"Mozart?"
"I mean, I recognize Mozart," Nino said, "but nothing else."
Luka turned to Adrien pleadingly. "Come on, you know what I'm talking about."
Adrien gave a small laugh. "My dad doesn't really like opera much."
A few minuets of Luka exasperatingly denouncing their knowledge of music later Marinette came out in her matching costume.
"See!" Luka said gesturing to her, "that's what Marinette is dressed as! Papagena!"
Nino scratched his head. "So this is still kinda over my head."
Luka sighed. "Maybe I just need to make you all watch it."
"I mean that sound more fun then-" Nino started.
"It's in German." Adrien interrupted.
"I'm out." Nino said putting his hands up.
"We're all out," Alya said, "We're going to be late at this rate."
As they piled into the car Adrien turned to Luka. "I'm surprised, I thought you were more into rock, alternative, metal, things like that."
"I am," Luka said, "but I actually really like music in general and really respect the classics of all genre's. Rock's what I'm best at personally though."
They pulled up to hotel and got out. The bright lights made Marinette's head spin, her eyes still reflecting the rhinestone mess of the night before. Adrien caught her shoulder and handed her off to Luka so she could lean on him.
"You alright?" Luka asked.
Marinette nodded, eye's narrowing. She would make it through. The doormen waved them in.
