The winning derby hat from the school design competition was to be worn during Adrien's next photoshoot. Learn what happened after the end of Mr. Pigeon.
.o.O.o.
Tikki munched happily on a macaron as her eyes ping ponged around the room, watching as her chosen paced between her closet and mirror. "What's wrong with your regular outfit, Marinette?"
The girl in question dropped the dress she had been holding up to herself in a heap as she exclaimed, "You don't understand Tikki! This isn't just a 'regular' day! Today is the day Adrien will be wearing my hat in his photoshoot at the park and I was asked to come! There will be models, photographers, oh, and what if Mr. Agreste is there?! What if I am wearing those pumps I picked and I trip in the grass, then my dress flies up and everyone sees underneath?! Then I'll never be invited to another photoshoot again and Mr. Agreste will be so embarrassed of me that I can never be a fashion designer, or worse... He will never approve of me to be Adrien's wife and I'll die alone!"
Soft, high pitched laughter filled the room as the kwami observed her chosen's frazzled state. Visions of worst case scenarios were nothing new to her these days, but Tikki still found them quite amusing. "Oh Marinette, that's exactly why the outfit you're already wearing is best. Those shoes are flat so you are less likely to trip and your pants will keep you modest. Besides, I think it is very fashionable and it displays your talent well!"
"I suppose you're right, Tikki," she replied with a smile. "Sometimes keeping things simple is best." Both giggled as Marinette poked her kwami's tummy.
"Let's get going, Tikki! I won't be late this time!"
.o.O.o.
"Adrien, I thought you said your friend would be coming."
"She will be, Nathalie! Marinette tends to run fashionably late, that's all," the teen responded, hoping that his pun might buy her a little time. By the sound of Nathalie's groaning, it seemed to have worked.
"I'm here! I'm so sorry I'm late," the girl panted out as she hurried to the set.
"Marinette, please take your hat to the wardrobe tent right away. It is to only be worn at the end of the shoot as to not upset Adrien's allergies before we are finished," the assistant cooly stated.
"Yes, ma'am," she replied as she quickly followed her order.
After the fabric opening of the tent swished closed behind her, Marinette turned to her purse where a small red head was peeking out. "I feel so bad for Adrien, Tikki. Why did I have to include a feather in my design?"
"You can't blame yourself, Marinette. After all, how could you have known he was allergic?"
"I suppose you're right. It doesn't change the fact that he'll have to suffer through this photoshoot while he's wearing it though," the teen sighed, as she sat the hat box on a shelf.
Muffled voices began filling the tent.
"I told you just last week, Mr. Ramier. No feeding the pigeons! How many times do I have to repeat myself?"
"But officer, it's simply not fair! What harm could my sweet pigeons do?"
"Given how the city was swarmed by them last Monday, I would say they can do a lot of damage!"
"No officer, that wasn't their fault, it was mine! I was akumatized. They shouldn't suffer on my behalf."
"Mr. Ramier, you can either leave this park peacefully or be escorted out. I suggest you choose wisely."
Tikki looked into her chosen's worried eyes. "It sounds like Mr. Ramier is still getting himself into trouble."
"Yeah, you would think that he would've stopped after being akumatized, but, if anything, he seems more resolved than ever!" Marinette lifted the lid off the hatbox and glanced to her derby hat. "You know, Tikki, I think I can help him out."
"How do you plan on doing that?"
"You'll see," she said with a smirk, carrying her hat out of the tent. She was met with the sight of a blue-suited man with drooping shoulders dragging his feet away from a bench covered in bird seed. "Mr. Ramier, wait!"
Both he and the red-headed officer standing nearby turned to face her.
"Young lady, this man was just asked to leave this park. You have no business standing in the way of the law."
"But Officer Raincomprix, is feeding the pigeons really a crime?" Marinette stepped to the officer and proudly held out her derby hat. "I was at the Trocadero sketching for a design competition at my school. When I saw Mr. Ramier feeding the birds there he inspired me to make this hat, which was hand picked by Gabriel Agreste to be modeled here in the park today. If it wasn't for him, I may not have won the contest. He helped me find inspiration and beauty in a source that's often overlooked.
"Also," she continued, "pigeons live in every city and stopping Mr. Ramier won't stop them. What if instead of banning him from feeding the birds anywhere, you allow him to feed them at parks with lots of trees that are away from attractions, like this one? It will keep the pigeons from populated areas, so neither the birds nor Mr. Ramier will be a nuisance."
Roger tapped his chin for a moment as he considered her argument. "I suppose you do have a good point, young lady," he said as he turned to the lanky man. "Alright, Mr. Ramier. I'll allow you to feed the pigeons if you promise to stay away from tourist attractions, such as the Trocadero. If I catch you near our landmarks with birdseed I will have to ban you for good. Do you understand?"
"Oh yes, sir!" The man bobbed his head vigorously. "Thank you so much! I promise I will do just as you say!" He wished goodbye to his pigeons with a vow to meet them again with more seed.
With a smile on her face, Marinette began to walk back towards the photoshoot. A cheerful voice called out from her purse, "Wow, Marinette! That was such a sweet thing for you to do for Mr. Ramier; very Ladybug of you."
Marinette glanced down to her kwami and replied, "Thanks, Tikki. I'm just glad I was able to help him out since he helped me win the contest."
A male voice interrupted the exchange, "Marinette!"
"A-Adrien! How is going the photoshoot? I mean, your phodeling? Modeling? Ugh, hi." She nervously smiled as she was internally facepalming.
Luckily, the model took her rambling in stride as he flashed a bright smile. "We were just getting ready to photograph with the hat so I came to find you. I saw you standing up for Mr. Ramier. That was awesome!"
"Oh, well, it was nothing really. I mean anyone would've done it, no big deal-"
He cut her off with a chuckle, "Let's get you back to the shoot, Marinette. I can't wait to show off your derby hat."
With a dopey smile, she followed her crush. The shoot finished shortly after, as Adrien couldn't last long before being overcome with sneezing. Afterwards, Marinette walked home with a giant grin as she called Alya and told her all about "one of the best days ever" and that "Adrien called me awesome!"
.o.O.o.
Next time: Marinette is in hot water when Manon and Alya question how she is able to get ahold of Ladybug so quickly. An interrogation takes place after the end of Stormy Weather.