Marinette looked over the ticket as she exited her work, wondering why the lady at the boutique would give her a ticket. None of her co-workers knew anything of the Miraculous Christmas Ball, despite the ticket being printed on fancy paper. She would feel awkward going to such a high society event alone. Her work Christmas party she could handle, even after parties for fashion shows because at least she knew people there. But this was an event where she knew no one nor had anyone heard about before.
And she only had one ticket, so it wasn't like she could bring someone as a plus one. She also didn't have anyone in mind to bring as a plus one.
She also had already planned to stay with her parents Christmas Eve so they could pick up her Nona early Christmas morning.
So during the later half of her lunch break, Marinette decided to go back to Miraculous Ladybug Boutique after work and give back the ticket. Everyone she could think of already had plans of their own for Christmas Eve, so it wasn't like she could give them to someone else.
So with that in mind, rather than head home on December 2nd, Marinette made her way back to the shopping district of Paris. She stuffed the ticket back into her purse as she meandered through the crowds, still bustling with early Christmas shopping despite it now being a weekday.
As the street lights began to glow, people gradually began retreating as Marinette turned the corner onto the small street. A few businessmen were seen leaving their offices, Marinette noticing aside from the boutique, it was more of a professional business area. How that woman managed to open a boutique here and keep it running was beyond her.
She quickly dashed across the street and entered the boutique, the store warming her to the bones. She loosened her scarf as she stepped further in, finding she wasn't the only customer in the shop.
Tikki stood behind the counter, with an ever pleasant smile on her face while being scolded by a blond haired woman about Marinette's age with chilling blue eyes, while a golden blonde haired man with green eyes watched from the sidelines, not saying anything as the woman continued ranting.
Rather than get involved, Marinette dodged down an aisle, only to be confronted by a smaller girl with honey blonde and dark brown hair.
"Shh!" The smaller girl, Pollen based on her name tagged, quieted Marinette before she could squeak in surprise. The girl the resumed listening in on the conversation.
Marinette side stepped around the curious worker, and continued done the aisle, perusing the dresses. She wanted very much to just to focus on the dresses until the screeching woman had left, but her voice carried throughout the store.
"My Daddy is the mayor! I'll have him shut down this store permanently!"
"That's nice dear. You tell him I said hello."
Pollen chuckled from her spot, the comment even causing Marinette to grin.
"Fine," the blond woman paused, Marinette assumed to make a phone call.
"Daddy! There's a woman here who won't give me a ticket for the Miraculous Christmas Ball! … It's some party that Adrikins got invited to but I didn't! … Well of course I want to go if Adrikins is there! … Fine." Marinette assumed she hung up the phone after this.
"Adrien, give them back your ticket," the blonde ordered, Marinette and Pollen both frowning. This Mayor's daughter was even more rude than some clients Marinette had to deal with.
"Sorry, those tickets are non-returnable," Tikki answered.
Marinette panicked at this as she pulled out the ticket. Now she was stuck with a ticket for an event she didn't want to go to. Maybe she could gift it to some other person.
All of a sudden, Marinette felt someone grab her wrist of the hand that was holding her ticket, Pollen pulling Marinette to the front.
"She's back, just like you said she would be Auntie," Pollen led Marinette to the counter, Tikki quickly replacing her forced customer smile with something more genuine. The blond woman frowned while the man, Adrien, she concluded, looked at her with slight curiosity.
"Um, hi, I just, um, had a couple questions about my ticket," Marinette revealed her ticket.
"You have a ticket," the blonde woman exclaimed, "I'll buy it from you! My name is Chloe Bourgeois, my daddy is the mayor, so we can pay you well for your ticket."
Marinette stared at Chloe, uncertain what to do. On one hand, this was the escape she needed. She wouldn't have to go to a random ball full of complete strangers, and instead could spend it with her family. But the way Chloe treated everyone in this store was certain to ruin everyone's night at the ball. She looked at Tikki and Pollen who looked at her with curiosity. Adrien looked at her with a neutral expression, while Chloe waited expectantly.
"Sorry, it's not for sale," Marinette pulled back her ticket closer to her before turning to Tikki.
"I just stopped by to get more details regarding the ball."
Chloe glared at Marinette, Marinette wanting to shrink, but a small push from Pollen kept her standing straight.
"Adrien, do something. Offer to buy her ticket, as a Christmas present, for me," Chloe demanded. Adrien looked between Chloe and Marinette, reaching around his back pocket for his wallet.
"Sorry sir, the ticket is not for sale," Marinette punched the word "not" while trying to remain polite. It wasn't entirely his fault he had such a brat of a girlfriend. But it also could be. Marinette decided to leave that topic alone.
Chloe fumed, leaving the store in a huff, "Ridiculous! Utterly Ridiculous!"
Marinette was sure she could see steam coming out of her ears as she watched Chloe leave. Marinette then turned back to find Adrien, looking quite stupefied at what happened before smiling a soft smile at her. It looked almost a little forced out of politeness, but Adrien made no move to go after Chloe.
"Well, now that you two are here, I can give you more details regarding the ball," Tikki's eyes glistened in merriment at the two, something Marinette was sure she had seen her friend Alya do whenever she introduced Marinette to a boy.
"Ah yes, um, is it fine if I come a little late, I have a work function I have to be at," asked Adrien.
"And I was going to be spending that night with my family," echoed Marinette.
"Sorry, rules are rules, I'm sure both parties will understand."
Marinette and Adrien nodded.
"Regarding formal wear, Marinette, you can select any dress from our shop here, while Adrien can go to our partner store, Black Cat Suits and Formal Menswear."
Adrien pulled out his phone to take an address, which surprised Marinette a little. She thought with money like Chloe bragged about, her boyfriend would have plenty of suits, so he would insist on wearing his own. Marinette on the other hand didn't have a dress like the ones they sold here, nor did she have time to make her own.
"Where is it," Adrien asked when he was ready.
"Two doors down on the left side of the street. Show them your ticket and they will take care of you."
Adrien nodded as he put his phone away.
"Where is the event taking place," Marinette asked, Adrien pulling out his phone again to take down another address.
"Your ticket will show you an hour before the ball starts," Tikki's eyes gleamed with mischief, both Marinette and Adrien searching their tickets for an address to find nothing.
"If you have any questions, here's our card," Tikki handed them both business cards with the logo and information of the boutique.
"Have a Merry Christmas!" She wished them with a smile.
