The shining star that had been Utau Hoshina had faded into obscurity. Of course, after she defected, Easter worked hard to push her INTO that obscurity. But that meant they were down a star. Lulu was good at what she did, but a rockstar she was not.
And then someone saw something in a small group from another country. Something special about those kids. Or... maybe something special about Paris and these children could be used to draw that something special out.
So an invitation was sent to Kitty Section to open for the world famous Darts. A great chance for the group, or so it seems.
Luka and Juleka's mum said yes of course, but Rose's mother, Adrien's father, and Ivan's parents all said no. And Marinette wasn't sure she could go either, even though the band all wanted her. Juleka refused to leave until Rose got permission, but SOMEONE had to go while they wore down the parents, and it was going to be Luka. He was being sent to prove they were interested and were coming, to do the sound tests, working with the stage crew, and everything else he could do on his own so that the band could show up hopefully before the last minute and have everything ready for them to go.
But then hours before he was supposed to get on the plane, an Akuma attacked. Ladybug, knowing he had to go didn't want to involve him, but they needed him, so he was given his miraculous. The battle was rough. Very. Rena Rouge would have been in bad trouble if not for Carapace. Chat Noir was missing for most of the battle, and because of that Ladybug had to vanish three times to refresh her Kwami. The damage was... massive. Perhaps the most she ever had to repair at the end. And by the time he could get back to where Ladybug was at the end she was too close to transforming back, and he couldn't rewind enough to fix that. Because too much time was spent between the Lucky Charm and the purification of the Akuma. He wanted to wait until she got back so he could return the Miraculous, but even someone with power over time could have time run out. He could stay and wait and let Kitty Section down... or he could take and protect the Miraculous and the Kwami while in Japan.
But really how hard could that be... right?
When he touched down in Japan it was a bright sunny Friday morning. One week till the concert run started, to give them time enough for meetings and rehearsals and prep for the 2 weekend concert tour. It was the THREE WEEKS in a foreign company without their parents that was keeping most of the rest of the band from getting the easy yes.
There was something odd about the girl sent to meet him at the airport. Not something odd he'd notice, but that his Kwami would. Something that was familiar, but the Kwami couldn't or wouldn't say what it was. And of course nothing could be said at all with her standing there.
She looked between sixteen and eighteen, in a pretty pale blue dress, her long hair smoothed more or less down, a pin in her hair and an odd necklace shining around his neck. She welcomed him in French, "Welcome to Japan, Luka Couffaine, where is the rest of the band, are they still on the plane?"
Flying from Paris to Tokyo, it turns out, is exhausting. Luka, while ordinarily calm and easygoing, couldn't help but feel uneasy the entire 12 hours of the flight for far too many reasons.
One, the fact that he had to come on his own. Doing this sort of thing by himself wasn't the daunting part - he knows his way around music, so doing sound tests and setup and the like wouldn't be a big deal. But knowing that the rest of the band may not be able to make it definitely put a damper on things.
Second, the fact that he still held the Miraculous. In all too many ways, it weighed heavily on his heart that he had to make this sort of decision at all. But it simply wouldn't do to leave the Miraculous in anyone but Ladybug or one of her companion's hands, even if he somehow came up with a way to leave it somewhere she could find later. Even handing it over to Juleka, who he trusted with his entire life, didn't feel right given the promise he'd made to Ladybug. So after deliberating with Sass himself, who calmly insisted that Luka knew in his heart what would be best and wouldn't be breaking his promise under these dire circumstances, Luka was finally able to come to a decision. Sass had said something about contacting the other Kwamis to convey that message to Ladybug, but who knew if that was actually true or just something he said to keep Luka from dwelling on the matter...
But time passed, and the plane landed safely. They'd said that a girl who could speak French would be meeting him here, but without any more details, she was quick to approach him first. A nice young lady, or so it seemed.
"Hey there. Thanks for coming to meet me here. I don't know what I'd do without a translator."
Grinning, he placed a hand in his pocket, feeling just a little uneasy that he'd had to check his guitar with his other bags and didn't have it with him yet. Without a chance to talk to Sass, he didn't notice anything off about the girl.
"Actually, I came over on my own first to get the preliminary sound checks and things taken care of. No need to have everyone here just yet, right? It's all good. But hey, since you know my name, care to tell me yours?"
"Oh, I see. Well I am happy to translate, but no one in your band speaks Japanese that could have come?" she asked, seeming disappointed. Then she blinked. "Oh, please excuse my manners, I am Lulu de Morcerf Yamamoto, daughter of the famous Noriko de Morselle, of course." She gave him a bright smile at that, as though waiting for him to gush about how wonderful her mother is. Because who wouldn't. She didn't show that she was braced for questions about why her mother wasn't doing anything currently.
"Sorry, but I'm pretty sure none of us can speak anything but French and basic English. Japanese is way off my radar, so you're a huge help, Ms. Lulu-- uh, Yamamoto-san?"
He at least tried to study a few words in the weeks approaching the trip, but he may have 10 words down at best. Japanese is so different from French, or even English.
"That's pretty cool." Of course, he doesn't actually recognize the name, but it's probably best not to say that. "So hey, are you in the music industry or anything? No one really filled me in on the details; just that someone who could speak French would be meeting me here."
Ugh. "Then speak English with most people, nearly all Japanese people with at least a basic education can speak English." Yes, Luka, she is a snob. Whyever do you ask?
There was a snickering noise from behind her as if someone was laughing. If she heard it, she ignored it.
"I was asked to come show you to the concert venue and see that you get settled in. Music is... not my field of interest," she said, topping her previous snobbishness. And there was that snickering sound again. Her eyes narrowed slightly, but that was the whole of her reaction.
"Two parties both communicating in foreign languages, huh? If I'm in a pinch, I'll give it a shot."
In a way, this girl reminds him of someone. Someone else with perfectly set blonde hair, blue eyes, and a nice dose of arrogance. But Lulu (thankfully) doesn't seem to be on that level yet.
"Hey, that's more than enough for me. I'm looking forward to checking the venue out."
As expected of a musician, Luka has sharp ears, and the quiet snickering noise doesn't slip past him. But at the same time, since Lulu isn't reacting to it, he figures that it's not worth prying into.
"But first things first. Can we head toward baggage claim? I'm looking forward to reuniting with my guitar."
"Oh very well. Follow me," she said, turning her back on her as she fluffed her hair. He'd catch a glimpse of bight coloured... something... before it zipped around in front of her. It was the right size and shape the be a Kwami, almost. Maybe. Size for sure. But given a sample size of one Kwami, shape was more questionable. She started threading her way neatly through the crowd, not glancing back to see if he was following.
That was... most definitely something abnormal, and likely not a trick of the eyes. Luka would really like to talk to Sass right about now, but given that it's impossible in a crowded airport, he only follows hurriedly after Lulu.
"So, uh... Is there anything I should know heading in? Y'know, for the sake of surviving and all."
She glanced over her shoulder as she walked. "Easter is a large company. And rather powerful. Not just here in Japan. If you want a future in the industry, make the leaders happy. Do that and you're set. for life. Anyone who gives the leader what he wants most, will be," she said, a hint of an edge to her smile then. Because that was going to be her.
no subject
Date: 2020-09-28 08:29 am (UTC)And then someone saw something in a small group from another country. Something special about those kids. Or... maybe something special about Paris and these children could be used to draw that something special out.
So an invitation was sent to Kitty Section to open for the world famous Darts. A great chance for the group, or so it seems.
Luka and Juleka's mum said yes of course, but Rose's mother, Adrien's father, and Ivan's parents all said no. And Marinette wasn't sure she could go either, even though the band all wanted her. Juleka refused to leave until Rose got permission, but SOMEONE had to go while they wore down the parents, and it was going to be Luka. He was being sent to prove they were interested and were coming, to do the sound tests, working with the stage crew, and everything else he could do on his own so that the band could show up hopefully before the last minute and have everything ready for them to go.
But then hours before he was supposed to get on the plane, an Akuma attacked. Ladybug, knowing he had to go didn't want to involve him, but they needed him, so he was given his miraculous. The battle was rough. Very. Rena Rouge would have been in bad trouble if not for Carapace. Chat Noir was missing for most of the battle, and because of that Ladybug had to vanish three times to refresh her Kwami. The damage was... massive. Perhaps the most she ever had to repair at the end. And by the time he could get back to where Ladybug was at the end she was too close to transforming back, and he couldn't rewind enough to fix that. Because too much time was spent between the Lucky Charm and the purification of the Akuma. He wanted to wait until she got back so he could return the Miraculous, but even someone with power over time could have time run out. He could stay and wait and let Kitty Section down... or he could take and protect the Miraculous and the Kwami while in Japan.
But really how hard could that be... right?
When he touched down in Japan it was a bright sunny Friday morning. One week till the concert run started, to give them time enough for meetings and rehearsals and prep for the 2 weekend concert tour. It was the THREE WEEKS in a foreign company without their parents that was keeping most of the rest of the band from getting the easy yes.
There was something odd about the girl sent to meet him at the airport. Not something odd he'd notice, but that his Kwami would. Something that was familiar, but the Kwami couldn't or wouldn't say what it was. And of course nothing could be said at all with her standing there.
She looked between sixteen and eighteen, in a pretty pale blue dress, her long hair smoothed more or less down, a pin in her hair and an odd necklace shining around his neck. She welcomed him in French, "Welcome to Japan, Luka Couffaine, where is the rest of the band, are they still on the plane?"
no subject
Date: 2020-10-03 10:52 am (UTC)One, the fact that he had to come on his own. Doing this sort of thing by himself wasn't the daunting part - he knows his way around music, so doing sound tests and setup and the like wouldn't be a big deal. But knowing that the rest of the band may not be able to make it definitely put a damper on things.
Second, the fact that he still held the Miraculous. In all too many ways, it weighed heavily on his heart that he had to make this sort of decision at all. But it simply wouldn't do to leave the Miraculous in anyone but Ladybug or one of her companion's hands, even if he somehow came up with a way to leave it somewhere she could find later. Even handing it over to Juleka, who he trusted with his entire life, didn't feel right given the promise he'd made to Ladybug. So after deliberating with Sass himself, who calmly insisted that Luka knew in his heart what would be best and wouldn't be breaking his promise under these dire circumstances, Luka was finally able to come to a decision. Sass had said something about contacting the other Kwamis to convey that message to Ladybug, but who knew if that was actually true or just something he said to keep Luka from dwelling on the matter...
But time passed, and the plane landed safely. They'd said that a girl who could speak French would be meeting him here, but without any more details, she was quick to approach him first. A nice young lady, or so it seemed.
"Hey there. Thanks for coming to meet me here. I don't know what I'd do without a translator."
Grinning, he placed a hand in his pocket, feeling just a little uneasy that he'd had to check his guitar with his other bags and didn't have it with him yet. Without a chance to talk to Sass, he didn't notice anything off about the girl.
"Actually, I came over on my own first to get the preliminary sound checks and things taken care of. No need to have everyone here just yet, right? It's all good. But hey, since you know my name, care to tell me yours?"
no subject
Date: 2020-10-03 11:13 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2020-10-05 06:00 am (UTC)He at least tried to study a few words in the weeks approaching the trip, but he may have 10 words down at best. Japanese is so different from French, or even English.
"That's pretty cool." Of course, he doesn't actually recognize the name, but it's probably best not to say that. "So hey, are you in the music industry or anything? No one really filled me in on the details; just that someone who could speak French would be meeting me here."
no subject
Date: 2020-10-05 06:25 am (UTC)There was a snickering noise from behind her as if someone was laughing. If she heard it, she ignored it.
"I was asked to come show you to the concert venue and see that you get settled in. Music is... not my field of interest," she said, topping her previous snobbishness. And there was that snickering sound again. Her eyes narrowed slightly, but that was the whole of her reaction.
no subject
Date: 2020-10-05 06:36 am (UTC)In a way, this girl reminds him of someone. Someone else with perfectly set blonde hair, blue eyes, and a nice dose of arrogance. But Lulu (thankfully) doesn't seem to be on that level yet.
"Hey, that's more than enough for me. I'm looking forward to checking the venue out."
As expected of a musician, Luka has sharp ears, and the quiet snickering noise doesn't slip past him. But at the same time, since Lulu isn't reacting to it, he figures that it's not worth prying into.
"But first things first. Can we head toward baggage claim? I'm looking forward to reuniting with my guitar."
no subject
Date: 2020-10-05 07:03 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2020-10-11 10:11 am (UTC)"So, uh... Is there anything I should know heading in? Y'know, for the sake of surviving and all."
no subject
Date: 2020-10-12 05:38 am (UTC)