Chapter Text
Marinette grumbles and opens her eyes. She was in her room, like always. Except, this time it’s questionable why she is in her room or how rather.
She looks around, her stuff still messy and untouched, still wearing yesterday’s clothes and pretty much the same.
Her hangover was quite bad however. She dashed out of her bed to her bathroom to vomit. She may have had too much to drink yesterday... Not that it wasn’t obvious enough.
Her recollection of her memories stops to when the tattoo artist offered her some water and then falling asleep. She didn’t know how she got home. Hopefully Nino- even though she left him in the bar, went to look for her. Otherwise... how the hell did she get home?
After an intense vomiting session, Marinette went to investigate. Her living room is now half-cleaner than it was before. Nino appeared from the kitchen.
“I heard you ran to the bathroom. Made you some coffee”
“Is this your apology for encouraging me to get a tattoo yesterday?”
Nino scratched his head. “We were both drunk, let’s forget about it”
“Alright, Alright” They sat down for coffee.
“So...” Marinette started, “How did I get home?”
“Rented a cab and looked for you everywhere.” Nino sighs “My drunken brain made the search longer. Turns out you were at the nearest tattoo parlor.
“I didn’t do anything stupid right? Last thing I remember was falling asleep...”
“The guy who worked there said you yelled and cried. Other than that, you were already asleep when I found you.”
Marinette cringed “That’s embarrassing!”
Nino raised a brow “Worse things could’ve happened like getting a drunk tattoo, ending up on gang territory, getting drugged then boned by a stranger or probably even a group. You’re lucky he was nice guy”
“I feel like I owe him an apology...”
“You and me, both” Nino agreed “Anyway, you should go take a day off, get a haircut, go to the spa, go shopping, whatever you think would help you. Look for a job once you don’t look horrible anymore. You won’t be able to find a job looking like that” Nino pointed at Marinette’s face.
“I’ll be cleaning your flat. Don't argue with me, as much as I don’t like cleaning, it’s the least I can do to help you out. I have work at 8 though so the time you get back, I’ll be gone”
“Thanks Nino, the bathroom nee-”
“The pipe is broken right? I already called a plumber.”
“Since when did you become so responsible?”
“Since you became a lot more irresponsible than me”
Marinette chuckled. “Thanks”
“Just get your life back together.”
<>
A day spent at the salon. It was going to take a toll on her savings but Marinette needed this. A fresh new start! By afternoon, Marinette already felt like she was starting her life over again. Even Nino can give decent advice apparently, or was it Alya’s work behind the scene?
It might have been Alya. Nino just didn’t mention it because he knew that Marinette didn’t want Alya to worry about her while she was out of town.
It still felt too early for her to go back. And so, she decided to stroll town.
That was until her feet led her to the tattoo parlor.
She was reluctant to come in at first but she fought her embarrassment and went in.
The warm setting and acoustic music greeted her. Unlike most tattoo parlors, this parlor had a vintage afternoon café feel to it, except if you go further the back to where the tattoo act happens. Other than that, the waiting lounge can be easily mistaken as a café so most would step back to make sure they were in the right shop.
It the same shop she was at her bottom and cried in front of a stranger, there she was feeling reborn. The only thing missing was a stable job but other than that, she felt closer to who she was before.
It was like heaven had heard Marinette's worries, he was there.
Like yesterday, he was sitting on the black sofa, probably sketching tattoo designs while humming to the acoustic music. Wearing a long-sleeved Jagged stone top with the sleeves rolled, exposing his arm filled with tattoos.
He dropped his pencil when he noticed her and gave her a warm smile.
“You seem better” He reached for his pencil.
“Thanks... for yesterday...” Marinette mumbled, fighting her embarrassment
Luka motioned Marinette to seat down. She nervously sat down beside him.
“Drunks are no stranger in this shop, we get them almost every day. I don’t know who thought building a bar near a tattoo parlor was a good idea however.”
“Maybe it’s because the parlor doesn’t look like a tattoo parlor at first glance? It’s kinda cozy here too”
“My sister’s girlfriend’s family owns this place. They look classy in the outside but they’re also very punkish” He chuckled.
“You have a sister?”
Luka nods “A younger one.” He stares at her, examining her features once again mesmerized by her bluebell eyes. “Come to think of it, you’re probably around her age.”
“Really? I’d like to meet her then.” Marinette exclaimed.
“Meeting a stranger’s little sister? Don’t you think you should get to know the person first?” He teased her.
“Ah...” Marinette blushed “I’m sorry, I forgot we haven’t introduced ourselves yet! My name is ma-ma ...Marinette! Marinette Dupain-Cheng" She offered a hand shake.
“Mamamarinette” He chuckled. “Nice to meet you” He shook her hand.
“Luka. Luka Couffaine”
“Couffaine?” Marinette blinked “Your sister doesn’t happen to be Juleka right?”
“You know her?”
Marinette nods “She was a classmate of mine. Juleka is really nice, we used to hang out often but I don’t think I’ve ever met you before. Even when I slept over...”
“That’s because I stayed in my school’s dorm back then. No wonder you’re so familiar. I’ve seen you before.”
Marinette chuckles “Such a small world”
“Maybe...” Luka smiled.
Silence filled the room as the two try to think of anything to talk about.
“So... you draw?” Marinette asked. It was a stupid question, she knew that. He was a tattoo artist. Tattoo artist draw on people’s skin for a living for God’s sake.
Luka chuckled at Marinette’s awkwardness. “Do you want to see?” He showed her his sketchbook filled with tattoo design. Roses, skulls, guitars, whatever floats your boat, even banana man.
“You’re pretty good at this. The designs are so intricate!”
“Thanks. Hey... before you were fired, what did you do for a living?” Luka asked trying his best not to sound pushy “I mean... If you want to talk about it...”
Marinette sighs
“it’s alright. I’m a fashion designer. I even made the design for that shirt your wearing. The album art for some of Jagged stone’s album too”
Luka’s eye widened
“You made this? Woah, you’re pretty impressive aren’t you Marinette?”
“I wouldn’t say impressive... I’m broke and jobless, that’s nowhere near impressive. I had such a bright start... Made some designs for international stars, traveled the world, finished my portfolio and my collection. I don’t know where I went wrong!” Marinette blinked her tears back. From there, Marinette confided him about everything- everything job related of course. The Adrien thing will be something she’d rather just want to forget.
“If you ask me, you’ve done great. You just need some sort of a breakthrough”
“A break through?”
“You said you wanted to start your own boutique, don’t you?”
“Yeah, but without investors it would be impossible”
“There’s this website that works like a catalog for people. Like if you want to commission someone to make you a song, you can look for someone to hire there. Maybe you can free-lance for a while?”
“Freelance?” She pondered. “Maybe I should give it a try... What's it called?”
“it’s called ‘Miraculous’, I can send you the link to the website later...” Luka scratches his head “Your number?” He blushes a bit.
“Oh sure, can you give me your phone?” Marinette didn’t seem to notice.
“I don’t think I have it with me... Can you write it on my arm for me?” Luka showed her his other arm which had no tattoos and offered a pen.
“Arm? Wouldn't it be better to write it on your sketchbook? You might think of it as a tattoo and wash the numbers off?” She gave him a look of confusion.
Luka shook his head “No, I think I’d remember it more on my arm”
“If you say so...” Marinette held his arm to support it. The muscles seemed to be well toned as expected. She took off the pen’s lid and began writing down her number, adding her signature below to spell her name. Many had made the mistake of adding an extra ‘n’. Therefore, it was a subtle way of telling him the correct spelling.
Luka thanked her. He smiled and examined Marinette’s handwriting.
Something piqued Marinette’s curiosity.
Skin and ink were something he was undoubtedly familiar with. She wondered how getting a tattoo would feel. It certainly looks painful, how strong or resistant does someone have to be in order to tattoo almost a whole arm without crying?
They say the pain depends on the location of the tattoo, places like the forearm, shoulder and outer cause least discomfort. Places like the wrists, ankles and feet are some that hurts enough to pass out however. Come to think of it, Luka’s other arm is covered from wrist to neck.
Out of nowhere, a thought of Luka holding a tattoo machine while holding her arm popped in her mind.
No, no, no, no... Marinette doesn’t dare get a tattoo.
Instead...
“Will you write yours down too?” Marinette offered her arm.
<>
Fate seemed to have favored him.
The drunken lady he met yesterday appeared before him. This time, sober. It looks like she had gone shopping. Her face looks better now too. He was too delighted that fate had allowed them to meet again that he didn’t realized his pencil fell. He greeted her, she thanked him.
He didn’t want her to leave so soon, so he told her to take a seat.
This time, he’ll ask for her name.
She sat beside him. Luka tried not to gaze at her for too long.
The girl commented about the parlor’s interior. She seems to like the vibe it gave. Her expression was a lot softer than how she carried her drunken self yesterday yet, she was as fragile as a lullaby just like yesterday.
Luka used this as an opportunity to bring up the topic of his sister... If his theory was correct then... It would make sense why she was so familiar.
Fate really seemed to favor him.
A friend of his sister. Fate has tied them in contact with each other.
He tried to recall where he had seen her before, perhaps it was that time when he encountered her sister bidding her friends goodbye outside her home when he was visiting? Or that time when Juleka was sick and some of her friends came to visit. He can remember Rose because she was her girlfriend and the others because of the band but he had never had an encounter with Marinette.
Until now.
He might’ve seen her somewhere else too.
Luka must’ve been silent for too long, Marinette tried to bring up a topic. He chuckled at her awkwardness and effort and gave her his sketchbook to view.
Would right now be a good time to ask?
“Hey, before you were fired...” There was no turning back now. He saw how Marinette’s expression changed. He felt his heart stung. Perhaps it wasn’t a good time?
Marinette told him it was fine however, she told him everything and he saw how much she tried to hold her tears back. It took Luka quite an effort to stop his hand from getting close to her.
Right now, even though she needed company, he believes that it’s a solution that she truly needed. Her friend had already accompanied her to drinking last night. This time, she needed something much more work centric.
And so, he offered her a substitution for her store plan. An online shop. Marinette seemed to have taken an interest. Again, he felt delighted. What came out next was unexpected and went with the flow.
“Your number?”
Even though asking for someone’s number was a normal occurrence. He still felt anxious. He scolded his self in his thought for acting like a teenager.
“Can you give me your phone?”
“I don’t think I have it with me... Can you write it on my arm for me?”
This was a lie. His phone was hiding behind the pillow beside him. He hoped Marinette didn’t notice. He didn’t know why he lied exactly but he just felt like it and acted on impulse.
He took note of each stroke of Marinette’s handwriting. Pretty, delicate and clean, just like how he would describe the person herself. Luka chuckled when Marinette signed her name at the end. Maybe it didn’t cross her mind that she was labeling him. He began to remember all the past customers who visited the shop to tattoo their lover’s name. Luka never agreed to any of those requests, he didn’t want the person to regret their decision in case ‘that’ happened.
Her handwriting was indeed pretty. Luka smiled.
He didn’t expect her to ask him to write down his number on her skin, however.
She showed him her arm and he held it.
She was delicate and soft.
Her hands looked overworked yet they still remain youthful.
It looked so pure. Luka couldn’t help but think of tattooing something. It was a blank canvas to Luka. He wanted to color it but at the same time he wanted to preserve the blank look as it fits her purity.
Luka lightly rubbed Marinette’s wrist as he prepares to write.
Softly, he started to write the numbers. It felt like just one mistake; he’ll tear her skin. He watched as the black ink covered the pale skin. As a reply to Marinette’s signature, he placed his as well. Somehow, he felt like he made a mistake. Maybe it’s because he’s used to engraving with permanent ink? He was worried, maybe it wouldn’t come off? Still it was a mesmerizing view, he held on to her a lot longer than he was supposed to.
He freed Marinette’s arm from his hold.
<>
“There, all done” Luka smiled
Marinette felt her face heat up after Luka’s gentle touch. She managed to shake her thoughts away however. Business comes first. She also didn’t want another Adrien at this point.
“Thanks, it’s getting late, I should go.” She bid him goodbye. Before she left the place, she turned back to face him “Would you like to grab some drinks next time?”
Luka chuckles “Maybe not. Last time someone got drunk, she wanted a big ‘Loser’ tattoo on her forehead. Also, I don’t drink too often. Wanna have lunch instead? Or you can always just come by whenever you feel like it.”
“Maybe when I finally work things out. See ya”
<>
By the time Marinette got home, Luka had already messaged her about the website.
Her place was also considerably clean now too. Except for the closet where Nino had probably jammed her belongings in. Other than that, the place looked decent. After a quick shower and a light dinner that she bought home, Marinette was ready to start working. She slapped her cheeks and smiled brightly.
“It’s time for work”
The registration went smoothly. The challenge was deciding her brand and her logo. She could go with her name as a brand. She had already made designs under her name so maybe she’ll be able to attract a lot of customers? ‘Marinette’ was a safe bet.
Somehow, it didn’t sit right with Marinette. Maybe because it reminded her of the the past?
‘ T he past...’
She wondered.
Maybe all this time, she was clinging to her past? No, her old works. Maybe it was because she hasn’t experienced failure for a long time now? Graduating on top, getting offered a lot of work just before graduation, traveling around the world to come up with inspiring ideas and experience--
How did it led up to traveling anyway? It felt like she had a plan and had gotten lost along the way. If only she remembered what she was thinking back then. Marinette sighs and began to fiddle with her pen. She gazed on her arm and saw the faint traces of ink. The numbers were almost off but his name was intact. Oddly enough, it felt like she was wearing his name on her arm. Her thoughts suddenly drifted to him. The bracelet that she gave and the bracelet that she received. She didn’t know if he still kept the charm with him but...
Marinette stood up and reached for a pink chest box under her bed. She slid the box out and took out a key taped under the bed. She opened the box to reveal an octagon shaped-dark wood box that had a Chinese-like red pattern on top. Below the octagon box was another box which she brought out. She took out a stack of journals and among them was a slightly burned pink journal and the bracelet he gave her.
She only gazed at the damaged journal before returning it. After that, she started reading her diary. She read starting from when she was still in middle school. She would end up laughing, giggling or even try to hide her face from all the stupidity she had done. But Marinette couldn’t bring herself to read about him. Even if years had already gone by, she can still feel heavy guilt for what had happened. And so, she skipped a lot of parts. It was already dawn when she reached for the last journal before she had left for abroad.
It covered her last year in fashion designing to the party Alya and the others threw for her. After an hour of reading, a diary entry stood out to Marrinette.
Dear diary,
Next week is our graduation. After the stressful months of work, we’re finally able to graduate! The recommendations and offers hadn’t stopped. Today, a woman from Syvone’s came and offered me a position and even my very own office! She said that the chairman himself offered it. Even now, it still all doesn’t feel real to me. Apparently, the director is my classmate, Sofie’s distant relative. Something about her father’s uncle’s cousin. I didn’t get it but she said he visited our booth and saw my potential. It’s really flattering especially since I only designed two dresses out of the thirty-three of them.
He commented how I’m still ‘a bit unrefined and needs more experience around the world but definitely a diamond’.
To others, it seemed like a criticism but he was right. I still needed experience. There’s a while world out there and as much as how I love Paris. I want to expand my wings and paint the whole world red!
I had already saved up while in I was studying fashion. Working part time while maintaining a scholarship was really difficult but here I am! I’ve come such a long way and I want to learn more. Syvone’s offer will surely help me in the future, I can earn money while traveling too. But somehow, I don’t think I want to accept it. Even though it’s such a good offer, when I look ack to how much I worked, I think I want to continue this journey by myself. I want to clear my own path. Start from the bottom and then to the top by my own.
It maybe ambitious but I want to be like my great grandmother who made her own legacy. Anyway, I should probably start working on the sweater I promised Alya.
Good bye for now my dear diary!
Just around two to three years ago, Marinette dreamed of creating her own legacy. The dreams and passion she had were slowly forgotten. Maybe she could just waltz in Syvone’s and hope they still offer a position?
At this point, Marinette can do with whatever.
But. She also wanted to honor the resolve she had before. To create a legacy on her own without the support of a company to clear the path for her.
The old Marinette wanted a challenge. She wanted to be a free spirit who will work her way to the top. When did she start forgetting about this free spirit of hers? Since when had she became so dull and negative?
She had already accomplished so much on her own. So much that it wouldn’t even compare if she entered the company to help her with it.
Like how, he had traveled and met a lot of celebrities by chance, like Jagged stone or even the actress Genevieve during her tour, the impromptu three-month wedding dress in Budapest, the dazzling Japanese kimono she made with a Japanese native. The history of Silks in China. Even accessory making and sho-
Marinette then realized she wasn’t seeing the whole picture all this time.
As if a huge burden suddenly disappeared on her chest, she laughed.
That’s right.
She had already made the first steps during her tour. Aside from her portfolio. She met countless people and made countless dress of different culture.
One of the things she learned through her journey is that
You don’t have to rush things. Enjoy the scenery while you walk. Don’t rush to end.
She stood up from the chair she had been sitting on for hours.
An estimation of two months. That was her deadline. It felt like a gun pointing towards her head, waiting to shoot, at first. Now, it felt like a challenge.
“It’s not impossible. I will do it!” Marinette cheered to herself.
Marinette felt connected to herself again. She will no longer rush.
Just as she was about to go back to planning, she spotted a lady bug climbing Tikki’s old fish bowl. The ladybug reminded her of Tikki. The abundant red and the black spots. Tikki was primarily red and her fins were black, she also had a black dot or two.
It used to be painful to see things that reminded her or Tikki, but now it felt like Tikki was encouraging her.
Ladybugs are believed to be a sign of good luck, perhaps today is when things will finally start turning over?
Marinette smiled warmly as she walked back to her computer to resume the registration.
‘L a d y b u g’