CHAPTER ONE

Enter, Stage Left.

Time To Get Your Comic On.

Ladybug stepped back from the gutter, gripping her coffee tightly, as she waited for the lights to change. Today was the day. The day she would finally attend Comic Con, after years of only dreaming about it. Until now, for one reason or another, it had never been possible; it had never been the right time to go. Now, however, she was set. She had a plan. She was finally on holidays. She had a hotel room close to the convention centre. And she'd designed her costume to perfection. No ladders, no ruching, no embarrassing see-through patches. She was going to enjoy this Comic Con to the full. Stepping off the sidewalk as the lights changed, it felt weird to be crossing a busy city street in full superhero suit; but, surrounded as she was by so many other fans, geeks, nerds, and cosplayers making their way to the convention centre, she was blending in. It was both kind of awkward, and totally liberating. Looking around her with interest, Ladybug was surprised to see quite a few Ladybugs and Chat Noirs among the crowd of people streaming towards the convention centre doors. Of course, she knew Miraculous was popular but, even so, it was surprising to see quite so many people dressed as MLB's lead heroes. There must have been at least five other duos among the fifty or so people forging ahead into the entrance foyer. As far as she could see, there did not appear to be any partnerless members of the akuma fighting team - besides herself that is. Having followed the crowd almost on auto-pilot, Ladybug found herself at the centre's ticketing area. Time to run the gauntlet of security and ticket checks and join opening hour's legendary line-up. Discarding her coffee cup with satisfaction, she joined the line steadily making its way inside the massive complex. Not long now and she too would be inside. She would finally be attending her first Comic Con. Ladybug could feel the anticipation building inside her, just as she could see the raised levels of excitement at the front of the line.

To pass the time, Ladybug decided to look up the convention programme. She vaguely remembered that there had been a number of interesting guest signings and speakers included, when she had first glanced at it, but that had been months and months ago. If she was being honest, Ladybug hadn't paid any attention to the programme. She had been too consumed with finishing her costume. Not that it mattered. The programme remained online and there would be plenty of opportunities to consult it. Before the conference App could open on her phone, the line shuffled forward again and Ladybug's attention was distracted by a charming couple of cosplayers, dressed in what could only be described as bright and puffy satin and felt. They looked like slightly deranged elves or Pokémon that had escaped their pokeballs prematurely. Whatever they were, they were full of good humour and cheer, and Ladybug couldn't help but smile at them when they caught her eye.

"Well, well, if it isn't Ladybug," said the blue character, flicking his red hair out of his eyes and shuffling his sparkly shoes in a hop and pseudo-curtsey. "I'm glad to meet 'cha. The name's Dash, and this pink little lady is Dot. Hey, Dot, come over here and say 'hey' will ya."

Hearing her partner's call, Dot performed a half pirouette before skipping up to Ladybug. "Lo, L-bug," the petite blonde giggled. "Fancy meeting another one of you here. So, where's your dashing feline friend?"

Ladybug smiled at the exuberant couple. "Hi Dash, Dot. It's nice to meet you. I like your costumes, but I'm ashamed to say that I don't recognise your characters...?"

Dash grinned at Ladybug as Dot replied, "Yeah, we wouldn't expect you to. We're new. This is actually the launch for the first kids comic we've ever written - 'Dot and Dash' - and we thought we'd better look the part for the gig."

Ladybug's eyes widened, "No way, that's so cool! What age group does your comic target?"

"Well, we kind of wrote it for our own kid when he was five," said Dash. "He's eight now, but he still seems to like it," he added, with a self-deprecating grin.

"That's awesome," Ladybug enthused. "One of my nephews is about to turn six, so I'll definitely have to check it out - that is - if you have a stall inside...?" She said, trailing off uncertainly.

"That's so sweet of you," Dot squealed. "We sure do. It's about halfway along the last isle on the right. We're taking turns with some friends of ours to man it." She stopped, as if struck by a thought, then continued, "Actually we're supposed to be getting back to them right about now, so we're gonna have to Dot and Dash. But we'll keep an eye out for you later, okay?!"

"Sure thing," said Ladybug. "I look forward to it."

Grinning at Ladybug, Dash and Dot launched into what was obviously their characters' signature move.

"Okay, gotta Dot," said Dot.

"Yeah, gotta Dash," said Dash.

Ladybug couldn't help but giggle as she watched the two satin and felt characters hop, skip, and joke with people as they made their way towards the front of the queue, before disappearing through the entrance to the convention hall. The moment had been both ridiculous and sublime which, she reflected, was exactly what Comic Con should be. With a sigh, Ladybug turned to study the entranceway. Somehow it seemed much closer than before. Not long now, and she too would be passing through those doors.


POSTSCRIPTUM

Dot and Dash

The names of these characters are a mildly thematic pun. Dot and Dash (or 'dit' and 'dah') are the key components of Morse Code. Morse Code was first developed in 1836 by artist and inventor, Samuel Morse. The code is one of the most versatile forms of telecommunication. The international signal for distress (SOS) is the Morse Code prosign: three dots, three dashes, three dots. Hence the number of times in this story these characters will have a cameo at Comic Con - three.

The Hop, Skip, and Joke

Comic Con is an endurance sport. Held over several days, it has much in common with the ancient pentathlon (a contest first held in 708 BC at the Ancient Olympic Games). The event is full of heroes, and participants need endurance, fortitude, creativity, planning, and appropriate attire. In particular, the manoeuvre known as the Hop, Skip, and Joke, is an evolutionary phase of that activity known as the Triple Jump (or "Hop, Skip, and Jump"). That is, characters at Comic Con may regularly be seen hopping, skipping, and joking their way through the endurance sports of photo shoots, signing sessions, and queues.