18 October 2020

Prompt: Vintage

Character/Pairing: Dingo King (OC), Luka Couffaine

Rating: K Plus / PG / Most Ages

Notes: I actually have a Dingo avatar in Animal Crossing, and a while back I showed up on Mal's island with these bug-eyed 70s sunglasses in lime green and she was like "WHAT THE HELL IS ON YOUR FACE?!" That's the only excuse I have here. xD

Luka has no words.

None.

At all.

"What…" he finally croaks, blinking slowly, "…the hell…are you wearing?"

Ok, maybe he has some words.

Dingo just grins and gives a little spin. The brown suede vest he's found flies out around him in a swirl of fringe, and Luka has to blink again. For once Dingo's arms are covered, though the pastel-colored, paisley-print, high-collared dress shirt isn't really an improvement over his normal ratty tees with the sleeves torn off. He's even wearing puke green (and Luka really can't be nicer than that, because Marinette might use terms like olive or chartreuse or even pistachio, but Luka just sees baby vomit) bell bottoms that flare out around his clunky boots. The boots are the only thing Dingo's kept that are actually his – even his sunglasses of the day have been swapped out for these bottle-framed, bug-eyed, neon monstrosities that match the lime of his hair. All he needs is a peace sign medallion and to turn his mohawk into an afro and Luka would feel confident sending him back to the '70s.

…his power only lets them go back five minutes at a time. He wonders if there's a Miraculous that could take you back farther. He's never seen it in use, if there is.

"Come off it," Dingo crows, shimmying a little. "I look amazing!"

"You look like a Woodstock reject," Luka deadpans. Or like he's auditioning for the school's production of HAIR. Luka snorts and shifts the box he's carrying to his hip, reaching out to pluck the hippy shades off Dingo's face. Dingo's still grinning as he turns them around. "Oh my God. These are awful. You have to get them."

"I know, right?" Dingo snickers. Luka nods to the rest of the outfit.

"Not that, though," he says. Dingo's pierced eyebrow lifts a little higher than the other. "I will not be held responsible for what Mari will do to you if you show up at school wearing that."

"Please," Dingo scoffs, snatching his new shades back and dropping them on his nose. "She could take a few pointers from me."

Luka doesn't point out how long Marinette's been asking him if he thought Dingo would let her give him a makeover. Or how she maybe already has three new shirts, two pairs of jeans, and a vest done up for his birthday.

"We're not here for you to…please tell me you're not honestly considering buying that," Luka sighs. Dingo frowns as he looks down at himself.

"Well, yeah," he says. "Mate, it's only like fifteen euro for the lot."

"Just because something's cheap doesn't mean you have to buy it," Luka groans. "Come on. Go change. I have to find someone working here to take this crap."

This crap being the box of old odds and ends Anarka had sent them to the vintage shop to get rid of. A girl had greeted them from behind the counter as soon as they'd walked in, but then Dingo had seen the sunglasses and had bolted into the shop with a squeal. Luka had spent the past ten minutes trying to reign him in, and now the girl had disappeared from the counter and he can't find her.

Dingo just grabs his shoulders and spins him towards the back wall, almost making him lose hold of the box. Luka hesitates as his eyes land on what is quite possibly the most beautiful electric guitar he's ever seen.

Even more beautiful than Claire, and he's very loyal to Claire.

"You sure, mate?" Dingo croons in his ear. Luka bites his lip, trying to ignore him when he gestures at the price sticker. "It's a steal."

It really is, and it's not like he can't afford it. Even if it was twice the price, he'd more than be able to afford it. And what was she even doing in a place like this? A beauty like that, it had to be a she. His fingers twitch around the box, eager to take her from the wall and tune her. Pick out a song, maybe one he could sing to Marinette when he shows up with a new guitar he really doesn't need…

No.

No, no, no.

He's good.

He's got Claire.

And George.

He's good.

…no matter how pretty the seductress on the back wall is.

"…just because something's cheap doesn't mean you have to buy it," Luka says again, though he doesn't sound as convinced that time. Dingo picks the box from his arms and nudges him forward, patting his shoulder almost sympathetically. "Ding, no."

"Just give her a looksee," Dingo cajoles, and then he's whistling as he turns his back and walks over to the counter. "Hell, I'll even pay for it! Shop girl, ring me up!"

A quick glance over his shoulder shows the shop girl has appeared again, looking less than amused at Dingo's easy smile and wardrobe change. His fingers twitch again, and he huffs out a little sigh before making his way to the back wall.

It won't hurt anyone if he just looks, right?