Marinette couldn't believe it. The guy Nino met just happened to be Chat Noir. She had to admit it was really weird that they both ended up knowing Alya and Nino. She would have to make sure she told Alya that they didn't hit it off and she wasn't interested in him. Hopefully, there wouldn't be any situations where they would meet with Alya and Nino together. She would probably figure out who it was if Nino ever introduced him in his civilian form on campus.
Oh well, she thought. This is one wild ride from start to finish. I haven't gotten a chance to spend time like this with Chat since I left high school. It might be a chance to get to know him a little more, find out what he had been doing.
"So kitty," Marinette thought that was an inconspicuous name, "Let's finish the date. We don't get a chance like this to be together. I do agree that we should leave separately though and let Alya and Nino know we didn't 'hit it off'."
She felt Chat relax across from her and felt relived. She really didn't get to hang out with him after patrols anymore and she had to admit to herself, she missed him. "While we can't get into too many details, how have classes been going? Studying hard?"
"Studying a lot. The classes are not that hard but there is a lot to learn. What are you studying for? Nino said Alya told him you were into art and drawing?" Chat inquired.
"Oh, I'm actually into fashion design. Right now, I design my own clothes and keep trying to improve. I'm hoping that within a couple of years I can get an internship with a big fashion design house and work up from there." I hope that's not too personal, Marinette thought, most people in the fashion course had the same goals. "I'll be adding some business courses and marketing next year so I shouldn't have too much trouble getting my name out there if I start up an online store. Currently I have some people who ask me for speciality items on commission and I have a few favourite items that I could regularly produce for sale. I'll need to learn how to promote them though."
She temporally turned her attention to the food. The second course was again, something wrapped in a pastry like wrapper. However, this was much bigger and needed two hands to hold. It was filled with the most delicately flavoured fish she had ever tasted. The sauce was a perfect consistency and again the veggies inside were a perfect complement to the meat.
She took a second bite of her fish and let Chat talk for a moment. He talked about some of his extra classes (purely for personal interest and not business) and some of the people he's met in school.
"I'm taking a course on social media in the modern world. However the professor looks like he's more at home in front of a typewriter than a computer." The was a muffled pause as it sounded like Chat took a bite of the fish pastry. "Oh this *is* nice," he mumbled around the food. Without missing a beat he went back to talking about the class. "He actually has a great grasp on how what we post out to the internet can now reach more than a million people in less than an hour and we need to be cautious about what we post."
"But if we don't post anything," Marinette chimed in, "doesn't that defeat the purpose of social media? Isn't it supposed to bring people together? Let people in far off lands see what is happening in your own home town?"
"True, but I really don't need to know what colour David's toenail fungus is in the outback of Australia any more than Jill in the Yukon needs to know that Richard in the Congo can't sleep because of the snake bite on his leg."
"Kitty!" Marinette gasped and giggled.
"No, it's true. So much out there is pointless to the 'social' aspect of Social Media. Letting people know that there has been a natural disaster and people need help, letting people know about this great online or real life shop that sells neat gadgets, showing off your favourite band or designer, that's all great examples of being social. And that is what the class is all about, how to best use social media for promoting people, places, and ideas. Not just announcing that you got out of the shower and found a pimple on your back." Chat then made noises sounding like he was gagging.
"Chat," Marinette chided.
As they finish up the second course they switched subjects and chatted comfortably. Talking about other things that happened on campus, funny stories or interesting things in the news.
They paused again as the dishes were cleared to make way for the third course, only talking again when they thought there was no staff was close. Chat regaled her with some new puns and jokes he picked up from some guys at the gym he worked out in, and Marinette was happy that he seemed to be enjoying himself.
She couldn't help but remember times where it seemed like he was carrying the weight of the world on his shoulders. This Chat seemed happier, and she may have never found this out if they hadn't been set up on the blind date.