lovebugs-and-snakecharmers

[lovebugs-and-snakecharmers]

LBSC Sprint Challenge April 2024

The LBSC Sprint Challenge is now open for writers and artists! The prompts are:

1. "Guess what I just did?" 2. “I knew she was the one when she tried to flirt and ended up breaking my nose.” 3. When Luka's new single drops a few days ahead of Jagged's, for one shining moment he was #1 on the charts while Jagged was #20, and Luka will never let him live it down. 4. Hawkmoth is standing right there & you can't transform. What's a desperate superhero to do? 5. "I wish I had princess energy instead of feral gremlin energy but here we are." 6. Wildcard - pick any previous challenge prompt, or play LBSC Smooch Roulette to generate a prompt!

You have until Wednesday, May 1 to complete your 3 15-minute sprints/45 minute art sprint and post the results. Once you’ve completed the sprints, you have 24 hours to edit (which can include some new writing to smooth transitions and make it feel complete, and whatever work you feel appropriate to get your art to a state you consider ‘finished’).

Please note you may sprint in the language of your choice, and you can either translate the final fic before posting, post it in the original language, or both as you choose. You can join us on the LBSC discord or sprint on your own! Just be sure to tag @lovebugs-and-snakecharmers in your final post so we will see it and reblog it. The rest of the rules can be found here under the cut.

Rules!

We’ll post a beginning and end date to the challenge, and a prompt.

Writers, If you choose to participate in the event, write for that prompt in up to three 15 minute sprints. No writing outside the sprints until you have completed all three! After the 3 sprints are complete, you have 24 hours to edit (which can include some new writing to smooth transitions, etc). You can also choose to break that 45 minutes up differently if you find a different split works better for you.  After those 24 hours, post what you’ve got. Tag your posts with @lovebugs-and-snakecharmers so we can reblog it to the LBSC blog. If you post your work on AO3 or somewhere other than Tumblr, you can leave a link in our ask box or in the appropriate discord channel so we can be sure to promote it. After the designated challenge end date, we’ll compile a listing of the submissions and post it to the LBSC blog.

Feel free to sprint in whatever language is most comfortable to you! You can post it in your own language or translate it before posting, or both!

Artists, you have 45 minutes to sketch and 24 hours to do any cleanup or coloring you’d like to complete. You can split your 45 minutes up however you like, or not at all. There’s no requirements on your finished piece, just aim for whatever goal seems challenging but achievable to you.  Tag your posts with @lovebugs-and-snakecharmers so we can reblog it to the LBSC blog. If you post your work on Instagram or somewhere other than Tumblr, you can leave a link in our ask box or in the appropriate discord channel so we can be sure to promote it. After the designated challenge end date, we’ll compile a listing of the submissions and post it to the LBSC blog.

If you’re wavering as to whether or not you think you can accomplish anything in 45 minutes, we really encourage you to give the challenge a try. You may be surprised what you can do! Feel free to join us in the discord linked above so we can encourage and cheer you on.

Obviously, this has to run a bit on the honor system and we won’t be tracking your times, but please do your best to honor the spirit of the challenge! If your sprint fic becomes an Entire Thing (these things happen sometimes) and you want to continue it, feel free! However, please still post whatever you’ve got after your 3 sprints with the tag. No fair busting out a fully polished fic or art without showing us what it looked like at the challenge stage!

We want to keep this a positive space and event! This does NOT mean that you can’t write or draw anything critical of a character or episode, but it isn’t the space for character bashing or hate either. Please keep the characters in character and save the more speculative work for another time. NSFW sprint works are permitted but must be tagged appropriately (please use “NSFW LBSC sprint challenge” for easy filtering on the blog) and with appropriate warnings.  (More FAQ about the process here)

This is a Lukanette blog and a Lukanette event, so while Lukanette does not need to be the main ship, it needs to at least be included or referenced and considered endgame (in other words, they don’t have to be together by the end of your work, but the intent is that they’re headed in that direction). The decision about what qualifies for reblog rests solely with the LBSC moderators. If a piece hasn’t been reblogged within a couple of days, either the mods felt the piece didn’t meet the criteria or it was simply missed; you are welcome to reach out in the asks to inquire which. There are plenty of other spaces out there for other ships and OT3s, and people are welcome to use the challenge rules and prompts to write for their own ships! They just won’t be reblogged to the LBSC blog, and we ask that you please not use the event tag (a modified form is fine - “InsertAlternateShipName sprint challenge” instead of “LBSC sprint challenge,” for example).

Happy sprinting!

#lbsc sprint challenge #lukanette #endgame lukanette #lukanette endgame #luka couffaine #marinette dupain cheng #pro lukamari

[lovebugs-and-snakecharmers]

I forgot to drop the link on Tumblr when I posted. Oops.

So without further ado, my Valentine's gift to Bre @writer-rider-dirty-thirties, The Art of Seduction Communication

enjoy 😊

#event: lbsc secret admirer 2024 #lbscsecretadmirer2024 #lukanette #lukanette endgame #endgame lukanette #luka couffaine #marinette dupain cheng #pro lukamari

[lovebugs-and-snakecharmers]

LBSC Secret Admirer Exchange 2024 Works

A huge congratulations and thank you to all of our exchange participants this year! We hope you enjoyed the event and we hope everyone enjoys all of these amazing works! Any late entries will be added to this post once they've been published. Thanks for making this another memorable year! You can find our AO3 collection here.

@alwaysawkwardd for @omnoramayday: Just a Dream (nsfw)

@celestiall0tus for @misted-glass: Art

@haphira for @rierse: That’s Just Like... Soulmates? (with bonus art)

@inkmousey for Misty Shadow: Art

@misted-glass for @spikartxx: Harmonia's rise

Misty Shadow for @alwaysawkwardd: Finally Together

@omnoramayday for @quickspinner: By Another Name

@quickspinner for @haphira: This is Crazy

@rierse for @nerdypanda3126: Breathless (with bonus art Selfie)

@rierse for @writer-rider-dirty-thirties: The Art of Seduction Communication

@spikartxx for @trixxiephantomhive: Art

@trixxiephantomhive for @celestiall0tus: Fantasy Lovers (art)

#lbscsecretadmirer2024 #event: lbsc secret admirer 2024 #lukanette #endgame lukanette #luka couffaine #marinette dupain cheng #pro lukamari

[lovebugs-and-snakecharmers]

Doodles for @rierse for my Valentine exchange story "That's Just like... Soulmates?"

#event: lbsc secret admirer 2024 #lbscsecretadmirer2024 #lukanette #endgame lukanette #lukanette endgame #luka couffaine #marinette dupain cheng #pro lukamari

[lovebugs-and-snakecharmers]

By Another Name

Notes: This year I was @quickspinner's secret admirer for the @lovebugs-and-snakecharmers Valentine's exchange! I went with the prompt for a Flower Shop/Tattoo Shop AU. I hope you enjoy the set up and stick around for the journey.

Details: Rated teen, mostly for any language or themes that might pop up as this fic continues. This is a mostly planned multi chapter fic that I have roughly 5-7ish chapters outlined for, depending on how long some scenes end up.

Summary: Marinette has opened a flower shop as a front while she does fashion design in secret. The owner of the tattoo shop next door, Luka, introduces himself like any good neighbor. Will their fast friendship lead to more?

Chapter 1 | AO3

Marinette stood at the register, tapping her fingers impatiently on the countertop. She sighed and readjusted the flower display at the end of her counter for the fifth time in the last forty minutes. What was taking Alix so long?

She took a deep breath, trying to ground her racing mind before the doom spiral could take over. Normally, her little flower shop gave her peace. With the sun filtering in through the storefront windows, the earthy floral smell, and the vivid colors from the flowers, it was a happy place. Her little oasis of calm in the midst of busy, chaotic Paris.

But right now, Marinette was about the furthest thing she could be from calm. She was an anxious, paranoid mess and it felt like she was going to pass out. Alix was setting up a security system so Marinette could work on fashion design in her office in secret. All because she had upset one of the fashion industry giants and gotten herself blacklisted before she had even finished her degree. She wondered, not for the first time, if this was a bad idea and fought the urge to berate herself again.

Breathe Marinette. She needed a distraction and decided to busy herself with sweeping the floors while she waited for Alix. It was a quiet day for the flower shop, but Marinette couldn't help feeling frazzled. She hated waiting. She felt compelled to do something when things were stressful or falling apart. Sometimes without thinking those actions through, she mused.

She had just finished putting away the broom when a familiar head of bright red hair finally poked around the curtain to the back. Alix took a quick look around to make sure nobody was in the shop, before coming out to join Marinette. “Alright, I think you're set.”

“That took a while. Are you sure everything went okay?” Marinette bit her lip nervously.

Alix rolled her eyes. “Yes, Marinette, I'm sure. I followed Max's instructions to the letter. And let me tell you, he was precise.”

Marinette sighed in relief and walked back to the register. “Sorry. I know you were careful. It's just…still scary. I still can't believe I'm doing this.”

“I can.” Alix scoffed and leaned against the countertop. “Marinette, you're kind, and maybe a little too forgiving, but you aren't meek. You have rebel bones under that sugar cookie exterior.” Marinette snorted and Alix gave her a pointed look. “I know it isn't quite the way you used to picture it, but you're still chasing your dreams. Ladybug is going to be one of the greatest fashion designers Paris has ever seen, Gabriel Agreste be damned.”

“Thanks Alix.” Marinette attempted a smile but it felt strained. “I hope you're right. I’m not sure I deserve the confidence you and Jagged have in my hair brained scheme.”

“I'm always right.” Alix winked. “But if I'm wrong, then you'll still have this place.” She gestured out to the shop with a smile. “I know you're tired of hearing it, but I really do think running a flower shop as a front while you defy industry gatekeeping is one of the coolest things anyone we know has ever done.”

Marinette laughed and her smile shifted into something more genuine. “So you keep saying.”

Alix shrugged and opened her mouth to continue arguing when she was cut off by the notification sound of her phone. She pulled it out to see who had texted her and smiled mischievously. She sent a quick reply before turning her attention back to Marinette.

“Well, not everyone can be this cool.” Alix playfully popped the front of her jacket for emphasis, earning a small laugh from Marinette.

A few moments later, the girls were interrupted by the rattling of the welcome bell as the shop door opened. Marinette turned on instinct to greet the customer and could practically feel her tongue tie in a knot.

The man standing in the entryway was…gorgeous. He had what she would describe as a modern grunge rock style that really suited him. A band t-shirt, ripped jeans, and accessories that showed off a simple style preference and colorful sneakers that hinted at a playful or artistic side. He had dark shaggy hair with blue dyed tips that was cut to frame his face, softening some of his features and striking aqua blue eyes that seemed to complement the color in his hair. Marinette felt the sudden urge to sketch the imagery swirling in her head: Gradient blue, open water, clear sky, dark edges.

Realizing she was just staring, Marinette scrambled to greet him. “Welcome to M-Meihua Floral! My name is Mama…uh, Ma-ma-Marinette! What can I do you for?” Marinette could feel the blush erupting across her face and Alix was shaking with silent laughter beside her. She silently hoped the floor would swallow her before she could say anything worse.

The man fought to contain an amused grin, causing light to bounce off the silver piercings in his lip. “Hi, I'm sorry to interrupt. I own the tattoo shop next door and wanted to introduce myself. Alix said now was okay?”

“Oh, no, you're fine. Now is fine.” Marinette turned to glare at Alix, who had already started walking toward the man. She greeted the newcomer with a fist bump before she turned back to meet Marinette's gaze, sporting a cheshire grin.

“Marinette, meet Luka, my boss. Luka, this is my friend Marinette.” Alix gestured between the two, looking entirely too pleased with herself.

Marinette made a mental note to strangle Alix later when she finally registered the introduction. “I'm so sorry. I'm a bit frazzled today. I'm Marinette, nice to meet you.” She stuck her hand out and hoped she hadn't made him uncomfortable.

Luka shook her hand and Marinette tried not to openly ogle the tattoos on his forearms. He gave her a friendly grin. “Luka. It's fine, I get it. It's nice to meet you too. If you're friends with Alix, you must be pretty cool.”

How he could possibly think she was any kind of cool after THAT introduction, she wasn't sure. “Well, I don't know how cool I am. We've been friends since we were kids so I'm pretty sure I'm just grandfathered in.” Marinette joked.

“What was I just saying?” Alix raised a skeptical eyebrow.

Marinette raised her hands in surrender and laughed. “Fine. I apparently pass the Alix Kubdel coolness test.”

Luka smiled at the girls and turned to look around the shop. “I've seen some of the displays you put outside last week when the weather was nice. You create some really stunning arrangements, Marinette.”

She blushed at the compliment. “Thanks. I like flower language and color theory so I try to make unique things. I can do traditional bouquets but it's more fun to be creative.”

He nodded. “Totally. An artist can tell a story or make a cool end product no matter what the medium.”

“You do good work too.” Marinette smiled and shrugged. “Alix has shown me the tattoos you did for her and I have seen people coming out of your shop with absolutely beautiful pieces.”

“Speaking of,” Alix interrupted, “Do you have clients this afternoon?”

“Yeah, I've got an appointment soon so I can't stay long but I thought I would at least introduce myself since we're neighbors.” He smiled at Marinette and then looked back at Alix. “Do you have room for a walk in today?”

Alix thought for a moment before nodding. “Yeah, I can make time. Piercing or tattoo?”

“Piercing.” Luka answered.

“Cool.” Alix nodded. “Let me finish up here and I'll pop over for details.”

“No problem.” Luka turned and waved at Marinette with a bright smile as he left. “See you around, neighbor.”

Marinette waved long after he disappeared from view before whirling on Alix. “That was Luka?!” She hissed.

Alix just smirked. “I told you he's hot.”

Marinette groaned and slid a hand down her face. “You could have warned me he was coming over.”

“What would be the fun in that?” Alix laughed at the glare Marinette shot her. “Aw, come on ‘Nette. He's a sweetheart. He probably thought your little meltdown was cute.”

Marinette let out a defeated little sigh. “Here's hoping. You're evil, you know that?”

Alix made a noncommittal noise. “I keep things interesting. So, what did you think?”

“He seems nice enough.” Marinette shrugged. “And yes, he is attractive.”

Alix smiled triumphantly and Marinette rolled her eyes. They were interrupted by another customer and Marinette shooed Alix so she could work.

When Marinette closed that evening, she realized Alix had effectively distracted her so much that she hadn't thought about her anxious thoughts for several hours. With a fond smile, she began her walk home and planned what kind of treat she could bake her friend as thanks. If her thoughts kept wandering to what flavors Luka would like too, well, then she was just being a friendly neighbor.

[Scene Break]

Luka sat at the counter, idly working on a tattoo sketch and humming a tune that had been stuck in his head all morning. He kept glancing at the window, wondering if Marinette would be bringing pastries today.

She had been stopping in pretty regularly since their first meeting and he had to admit that he looked forward to her visits. She would bring in flowers or pastries and her enthusiasm was infectious. He found she fed his creative spark and both his designs and his music benefitted from her presence.

Luka felt something make contact with his head and turned in time to watch the ball of paper roll back towards the salon area. Alix picked up her makeshift projectile and Luka raised an eyebrow at her. “What was that for?”

“For looking like a lost puppy.” Alix tossed the paper ball back towards him and Luka caught it. “She isn't going to be by today. She's at her mom's painting class.”

“What are you talking about?” Luka feigned ignorance but he could feel his face go warm from being caught.

Alix looked unimpressed. “Oh sure. You don't keep checking out the window for my friend. Just like you haven't been doodling plum blossoms and you haven't been humming the same tune for days.”

Luka looked down, feeling a little guilty. “I…she just has creative energy. And I like her pastries.” He shrugged.

“Uh huh.” Alix walked over and took the paper ball from him. She unwrinkled the paper and set it on the counter in front of him. “You tossed this on Monday. You look me in the face and tell me that isn't her flower.” She challenged him.

He ducked his head. “It's just her shop logo.”

“And the signature design she uses when she makes all of her clothes, and the pin she puts her hair up with. You know you're allowed to like her, right?” Alix laughed when that made him blush.

“I don't like her, she's just…inspiring.” He argued.

“Yeah, well, those things seem to go hand in hand with you. I haven't heard you stuck on a song like that in a long time. Is it her?” All traces of teasing seemed to be gone from Alix’s tone now.

Luka hummed without really answering and decided to change the subject. “We have Sepultombed coming in soon. Are the tables wiped down?”

Alix nodded. “I set up multiple chairs, I wasn't sure if we had the whole band coming.”

“That was a good call, I imagine it will be all of them. It sounded like they were looking for help working through a block.” Luka tapped his pencil against the counter.

“Is anyone actually getting ink this time?” Alix smirked. “They do know your day job is as a tattoo artist, right?”

Luka waved his hand at her. “Shush. Of course they do. Leon is getting line work done for a new piece. I like talking shop with the musicians, you know that. It's why we have the clientele we do.”

“Yes, but you should at least be paid for all your expertise.” Alix frowned. “Even if it's a one time thing to buy your lyrics.”

“I'm just some guy.” Luka shrugged. “Besides, it isn't about the money to me. It's about sharing the music in my heart with as many people as I can.”

Alix snorted. “Okay, that was cheesy.”

“Shut up. You know what I mean.” Luka rolled his eyes. “I like sharing music for the sake of sharing it, not for profiting.”

Alix held her hands up in surrender. “Alright, I yield. You just deserve credit for your ideas, is all I'm saying.”

Luka looked around his shop and smiled. “Yeah, but a lot of my ideas are here too.” He looked at the mural Alix had helped him paint on the wall, the album art on the walls, and the displays of his own artwork for clients to look at. It may not be music, but this place was very much a part of his soul. Even his guitars had a space in one corner. This was his hard work and heart on full display.

“Don't get too lost on me.” Alix waved a hand in front of him. “We need to make sure everything is ready for my week off so you don't drown without me.”

Luka was about to snark back when a question crossed his mind. “Hey, do you think Marinette will still stop by while you're out? I know she's really your friend but…”

“You'll miss her pastries?” Alix asked sarcastically. “No, I think she likes you well enough to still feed the starving artist next door.”

Luka laughed and shook his head. “Let's get the shop prepped. Maybe we can order in to feed ourselves before we waste away to nothing.”

As Alix looked up delivery menus, Luka couldn't help one last look out the shop front. He really hoped Marinette would stop by.

[Scene Break]

As it turned out, Luka didn't have anything to worry about. Marinette had stopped by most days during the week Alix was absent and the conversation felt as natural as it had before.

Marinette had laughed at him when he told her he was worried he wouldn't get pastries during Alix's week off. She said she considered him a friend, and friends got pastries. He tried not to read too much into the fact that she kept using his favorite flavors in her baking.

Luka, Marinette found, was surprisingly easy to talk to. He let her dominate the conversation but never seemed bored or irritated. He genuinely seemed interested in everything she had to say and she tried not to read into the way he devoted his full attention to her. She had to admit that it was really nice to feel heard.

They found common ground in their creative passions and swapped sketches, both gushing over the other’s work. Luka was surprised to find out her first passion was fashion design and Marinette was intrigued by Luka's love of music. It didn't take long to find they both love Jagged Stone’s music and a mutual distaste for XY.

By the time Alix came back from her vacation, Luka and Marinette got along like old friends. If they sat a little closer together on the couches than friends usually did, Alix wasn't going to point it out. It wasn't every day you got a front row seat to watch your friends fall in love.

#event: lbsc secret admirer 2024 #lbscsecretadmirer2024 #lukanette #endgame lukanette #luka couffaine #marinette dupain cheng #pro lukamari #lukanette endgame

[lovebugs-and-snakecharmers]

That’s Just Like... Soulmates? By: Haphira

for: @rierse - lbcs secret admire event 2024

Our blueberries loves soulmate stories- they know all the tropes. But everyone knows they aren't real, right?

Everyone knew that there was no such thing as soulmates, but Luka thought the closest one got was probably his sister and her girlfriend Rose. If you asked Luka, they were the perfect match, the right combination of sweet and dark. Luka never thought that he would run into someone that fit so well with him that it seemed like the Universe was sending blaring signs that this person and him were meant to be together, but after a few times of running into this woman, and the strange occurrences, Luka was starting to question. 

It started on a regular day delivering pizza on his bike when he passed by a stunning beauty walking around the Trocadero, she was wearing a long deep red scarf, a stylist coat, carrying a sketch book. Her dark hair and bluebell eyes shined in the fall sunlight. Music was faintly playing in his head; he would need to write it down later. 

Luka could admit that he was distracted, so when he passed by her, he didn’t know that his bike had snagged the end of her beautiful long red scarf. So when he heard the shriek of surprise and dread he slowed down, it wasn’t until the pounding of feet on concrete did he turn around to see that beautiful woman was running straight for him, so he stopped and that’s when he notice the red string caught on his bike that traveled a ways back to the woman holding the remains of her red scarf tightly. Instantly he got off his bike to detangle the red string.  

The dark-haired woman caught up panting, “You...bike, got...my scarf!” She panted out, and Luka could only apologize.  

“I’m so sorry, I didn’t notice that my bike had caught your scarf,” Luka said, handing the red string back to her.  

“I-” the woman let out a weary sigh, “Thanks,” she said accepting the string back and started to wound up the loose yarn.  

“I truly am sorry,” Luka continued.  

“It’s alright, just my bad luck coming into play,” The woman waved a red gloved hand that matched the now unraveled scarf.  

Luka still felt bad, “Where did you get it?” he asked, hoping he could replace that one that had unraveled. 

“I made it,” She replied. Well, there went that plan. Glancing at his watch, Luka realized he was starting to run late and cursed.  

“Listen, I'm really sorry and I'd like to make it up to you, but I have to get going or I’ll be late,” Luka pulled out a business card from his pocket, “Here, contact me if you can think up something to replace the scarf, whether that is coffee, a sketch book or whatever, just, let me know.”  Luka shoved the card into her hands then hopped onto his bike and road off. Not realizing he left a bewildered beautiful woman behind, staring at him then the card in her hand. 

The next time they ran into each other, the following week later, was at a concert by Jagged Stone, he was playing in Paris for a few nights before leaving on tour. Luka was really excited to go see one of his favorite artists, an artist that always inspired him, in person.  

Luka had splurged a bit and got a VIP ticket for the show; a chance to talk and take pictures with Jagged himself. After the bouncer stamped his hand, on the meat between his first finger and thumb, the bouncer smearing the stamp on the corner, then he looked around the room and spotted the woman with the red scarf again.  

Luka couldn't help but smile, it felt like the Universe was giving him another chance. Walking over to her Luka tapped the woman’s shoulder and said hello. 

The woman whirled around to face him, pins in her mouth as she was fixing a tear in a shirt on a mannequin. Her blue eyes got larger in recognition. She took the pins out of her mouth and set them into her wrist pincushion.  

“It’s you, from Kitty Section, right?” the woman asked, eyes sparkling. 

“Yeah, I’m Luka, the lead guitarist, I’m still really sorry about your scarf.”  

The woman laughing lightly, Luka could write symphonies about her laugh, “I looked over your card and found your band, you guys have amazing music!” She gushed, a large smile on her lips. 

“Thank you, uh...” 

“Marinette.” she replied. 

“Thank you, Marinette.”  

“I tried to contact you but there was no contact info on the card, just the band name and where to find you online in the music store.” Luka realized he gave her the prototype of the card that he and Juleka were making.  

“Oh shoot, here,” Luka dug out another card, this time with the band contact info on it. Marinette giggled and Luka blushed. Offering her the card and glancing down Luka noticed that Marinette had the same stamp on her hand in the same place as his, even with the slightly smudged corner.  

“Huh, that almost looks like a soulmate mark.” Luka said absently, Marinette looked up from their hands in surprise. 

“Oh! I was thinking the same thing! A friend of mine recently got me into this soulmate romance book series she highly recommends.”  

“Yeah? My sister’s girlfriend is obsessed with anything romantic, and soulmates fall into that.” Luka replied.  

They talked a little longer before Luka asked her to coffee next week, which Marinette said yes to, then Jagged made his extra loud entrance. Marinette shook her head fondly at Jagged and Luka couldn’t help but steal glances at her all night, music continued to play in his head, but he could wait until later to write it down, but right now, he couldn’t wait to get coffee with her.  

The third time it happened, Luka started to get suspicious. Once is an accident, twice is a coincidence, and three times is a pattern.  

At their meet up, at a coffee shop in town near a fantastic bakery, Luka walks up to the meeting spot looking at his watch, watching the seconds tick down to 4 o’clock PM. He reaches the entrance at exactly 4 on the dot and bumps into someone, hearing an alarm go off. Looking away from his watch he realizes he bumped into the person he was trying to meet.  

Marinette looked up at the same time as he did, hearing the alarm go off on her phone. 4 PM exactly and running into the person she was rushing to meet.  

Luka and Marinette stare at each other for a moment.  

“Wow, you look amazing.”   

They blinked at each other again realizing they said the same thing at the same time. Giggling, Marinette tucked a loose strand of hair behind her ear and gestured to the door. 

“Do you want to go in?”  

Luka nodded and opened the door for her as they entered. They order their coffee and find a comfortable spot to sit.  

“So, that was weird, right?” Luka asked, thinking over the times they bumped into each other, a pattern was forming. 

“The ‘saying the same thing at the same time’ thing? Yeah, a bit weird.” Marinette conceded. She sipped on her coffee and looked Luka over again.  

“It’s just, I was also looking at my watch, and it hit 4 PM exactly when we bumped into each other.” Marinette nodded, listening intently to him. 

“Kind of like a countdown clock to when you meet your soulmate.” Luka paused, hoping he wasn’t going to scare her off. Thankfully Marinette just looked interested. 

“And, there have been other cases too.” Luka continued, staring down at his coffee with a frown. It was weird right? Hitting all these soulmate troupes that Rose always talked about.  

“I know there is no such thing as soulmates but...” Luka trailed off, he wasn’t sure if talking about this was a good idea on a first date, if this was a date.  

“...It feels kinda like the Universe is waving a flag in our faces?” Marinette concluded.  

“Yeah,” Luka agreed, thankful that she wasn’t put off by talking about soulmates. Like they were a real thing.  

Marinette laughed, “I was thinking the same thing! Like my scarf being a red string of fate tying us together.” Luka looked back up with a soft gaze. 

“And the matching VIP stamps like soulmate tattoos.” Luka added. Marinette laughed again, nodding her head quickly. 

“Yes! Lots of different soulmate troupes seem to be happening with us.”  

Luka nodded thoughtfully. It was like a lot of different soulmate troupes, and if Luka believed there was such a thing, which he was kind of starting to, then it seemed like Marinette was his soulmate.  

“Would you like this to be a date?” Luka asked, Marinette’s eyes went wide, oh no, that didn’t seem good. Did he push her too quickly? 

“I was under the impression this was a date?” Marinette cocked her head to the side, Luka blushed. 

“Well, yes? When I asked you to coffee it was more to make up for your scarf, but I didn’t want to pressure you or anything.” Marinette smiled at his response.  

“No pressure, but thank you for giving the option, you don’t know how much I appreciate that.” Marinette said. She took a sip of her coffee before looking up at Luka again. Luka felt trapped by her beautiful blue eyes.  

He watched her lips move again, but he heard no sound over the pounding of his heart. Music seemed to be singing to him now, for the first time that day Luka wished he had his guitar.  

“Luka?” Marinette called Luka snapped out of it and the music faded to the background.  

“You are an extraordinary girl, Marinette. Clear as a music note, sincere as a melody. You’re the song that’s been playing in my head since we first met.” Luka reached out a hand to place lightly on top of hers. Marinette blushed and shyly looked up at him through her lashes. Oh, the music he could write about her eyes... 

“I hope we can go on another date, maybe Wednesday?” Luka asked her, gaze imploring. 

“Yes, I would like that very much.” She responded, smiling into her cup as she took another sip. They smiled at each other and continued to talk for the next serval hours.  

Their next date would last the entire day, neither wanted to go home and at that point Luka was certain, if soulmates existed then he met his. Marinette was everything and more than he could have ever hoped for. When he told Juleka and Rose they laughed at him, until he started explaining all the events that occurred every time they met. Rose, not surprisingly, busts out in squeals of laughter and happiness. Then later when Luka introduces Marinette to Juleka and Rose, Rose screams about destiny and fate. Apparently, Rose and Marinette knew each other, and it was Rose who recommended to Marinette the book series on soulmate romances. Small world or ties of destiny, Luka wasn’t sure, he was just happy holding Marinette during movie night with Rose and Juleka. And the rest... well the Universe was happy that all their hard work finally got the blueberries they loved together.  

#lbscsecretadmirer2024 #event: lbsc secret admirer 2024 #lukanette #endgame lukanette #lukanette endgame #pro lukamari #luka couffaine #marinette dupain cheng

[lovebugs-and-snakecharmers]

FIC: Tom is Totally Subtle, He Swears (Not) (MLB; Lukanette; LBSC Sprint Fic)

Rating: General Audiences

Characters/Pairings: Tom Dupain, Luka Couffaine, Marinette Dupain-Cheng; Luka Couffaine/Marinette Dupain-Cheng

Summary: It’s Marinette’s first Valentine’s Day in lycée, and Luka doesn’t seem excited to do anything about it.  Well, Tom Dupain’s not about to stand for that!

Author’s Notes/Warnings: I didn’t join in the Valentine’s exchange this year because I wanted to work on the still unfinished exchange fic from last year, but it felt weird not doing something for Valentine’s.  😂  And then when Quick asked for Valentine’s-themed sprint prompts and Laurel dropped a Tom prompt…I mean, how could I resist?  Happy Valentine’s Day, everybody!  🖤

The prompt used was: Tom decides to drop some hints to Luka that Marinette is single and Valentine’s Day is coming up.  And everyone knows that the best way to a man’s brain is through pastries decorated with not-so-subtle hints.

Just a reminder: @lovebugs-and-snakecharmers Sprint Challenge Guidelines: Three 15-minute sprints to write the fic.  24 hours to edit/post.

“Tom is Totally Subtle, He Swears (Not)”

Tom Dupain had a problem.

Actually, Marinette Dupain(-Cheng) had a problem.

Her problem was that Wednesday was Valentine’s Day.

Her first Valentine’s as a lycéen.

And she was single.

#lbsc sprint fic #prompt: unsubtle pastries #lukanette #endgame lukanette #lukanette endgame #luka couffaine #marinette dupain cheng #pro lukamari

[lovebugs-and-snakecharmers]

Surprise! I'm your Secret Valentine this year. Here you go! @omnoramayday

@lovebugs-and-snakecharmers

#lbscsecretadmirer2024 #event: lbsc secret admirer 2024 #lukanette #endgame lukanette #luka couffaine #marinette dupain cheng #lukanette endgame #pro lukamari

[lovebugs-and-snakecharmers]

LBSC Secret Admirer Exchange 2024

Hello! Long time no see hehehe

Anywhoooooo~ I decided to take a tiny break from school duties and I participated in the LBSC Secret Admirer Exchange of this year! Organized by @lovebugs-and-snakecharmers (quite a lovely event, as always!)

I’ve never forgotten my Lukanette roots hehehe so here I am!

*drum rolls* 🥁✨

@trixxiephantomhive … I’m your secret admirer this year! ♪( ´θ｀)ノ✨

I did this piece based on the third prompt you proposed! It was a wonderful time reading the story, so it was a pleasure doing this piece too! I hope you enjoy it~

Also, sorry for the delay, I’ve had quite a busy day, but here it is, yaaaaaay!

Happy Valentine’s Day! 🩷

#lbscsecretadmirer2024 #event: lbsc secret admirer 2024 #lukanette #endgame lukanette #lukanette endgame #luka couffaine #marinette dupain cheng #pro lukamari

[lovebugs-and-snakecharmers]

@celestiall0tus I hope you enjoy!!

This is for the LBSC valentine's Exchange, my prompt was Fantasy Lovers

#lbscsecretadmirer2024 #event: lbsc secret admirer 2024 #lukanette #lukanette endgame #endgame lukanette #luka couffaine #marinette dupain cheng

[lovebugs-and-snakecharmers]

Selfie [Luka and Marinette], outside the Foundation Louis Vuitton

Happy Valentine's Day @nerdypanda3126 !

I hope you enjoy 'Breathless' on AO3

#lbscsecretadmirer2024 #event: lbsc secret admirer 2024 #lukanette #endgame lukanette #lukanette endgame #marinette dupain cheng #luka couffaine

[lovebugs-and-snakecharmers]

This is Crazy

Hey @haphira I'm your @lovebugs-and-snakecharmers secret admirer! I hope you enjoy this! The prompt I picked was "0 to married - blind date or one night stand turns into a three day date and married at the end." I also threw in a touch of Alya gets into Marinette's love life, just for fun.

Summary: Marinette's tired and frustrated. Work isn't going well, her social life is dead, and she doesn't believe in fairy tales anymore. When Alya insists there is someone who wants to meet her after the concert tonight, she figures at least it's a distraction from her boring life. She's not expecting the hottest rising rock star on the planet to walk through those doors--or anything that happens after that.

Rating: M for fade-to-black sexytimes and language

Chapter 1 | Chapter 2 | AO3

She felt ridiculous, now that she was here. Alone in this fancy lounge with its dim lighting and collection of fancy backlit bottles, dressed like—well. Like herself, but a version of herself that was maybe trying a bit too hard. Marinette adjusted her bustier top, checked for the thousandth time that the zipper that ran up the front was still snugged up at the top and not about to fall down. 

She wished she had worn a longer skirt. The knee length ones restricted her movement more than she liked, and full-length wouldn’t have been appropriate for this venue, but she was constantly checking to make sure her miniskirt hadn’t ridden up a little bit too much.

But these were the kinds of clothes one wore at a rock concert—and it had been a good concert, Marinette had to admit. She’d had a lot more fun than she expected, and if she could have been riding the metro home now with her girls, chatting about the music and the hot musicians, she would have considered the outfit a low price to pay.

She wasn’t, though. She was standing here alone in a private lounge, waiting for…someone. She didn’t know who. Alya had insisted it was a surprise, and that the person really wanted to see her, and had heavily implied that whoever this— male , Alya had made sure she knew—someone was very much interested in Marinette. You know, in that way. That all Marinette had to do was be hot and sweet and she was guaranteed that this mystery someone would… insert eyebrow waggle .

Well. Marinette hadn’t had any eyebrow waggling in long enough that she let herself be talked into it. Even if this mystery someone wasn’t someone she could see herself with long term, maybe she could get some much needed…stress relief. At least Alya’s insistence on setting her up could be good for something.

If the mystery man ever showed up. Marinette was feeling more and more stupid by the moment. Waiting always felt longer than it was, she reminded herself, but she was also starting to feel uncomfortably like she had been stood up.

She eyed the self-serve bar at the back of the lounge and went to investigate, unsure if she was looking for liquid courage or something to drown her disappointment in. There had sure been a lot of disappointments for her lately. Most recently, she’d had a hugely important order canceled at the last minute, which was the only reason she had time for this concert. She should have been at home being her workaholic self, and the gut-wrenching disappointment she’d felt when the client told her they had changed their mind and decided to go with someone else wasn’t easy to shake. 

Marinette sighed and poured herself a drink. 

She was leaning back against the bar, sipping a small glass of gin, when the door opened, and she started.

She recognized the man who entered immediately, and her mouth dropped open a little. Was that—it couldn’t be. Her whole body flushed hot with the thought no way, this can’t be happening .

He was imminently recognizable, though, and even if he hadn’t looked just like his posters, she had just spent two hours staring at him on stage. 

“Oh, sorry,” he said reflexively as he came in, and Marinette smiled.  

“It’s okay, I just needed a quick drink.” She set the gin glass down on the bar. “I’m, um. I’m Marinette.” 

“Marinette,” he said, advancing into the room and glancing around like he was expecting someone else. Marinette swallowed and tried not to look down. God, this was embarrassing. Well, he was the one who supposedly wanted to meet her, right? Though, knowing who he was now—an internationally famous rock star, well…who knows what Alya told him. The real thing was guaranteed to be a disappointment. 

He approached the bar, finally, with an air of resignation, but clearly determined to at least be polite. “Nice to meet you. I’m Luka.”

Marinette giggled nervously. “Well, obviously.” 

He blinked at her like he was finally focusing on her, and smiled. “Right.” His eyes swept over her, and she didn’t miss the appreciation there. That perked her up a little. Luka had changed from his stage clothes into a faded ripped shirt and equally ratty but comfortable-looking pants. She might have been offended that he hadn’t put in more effort for her, but he had just been on stage for hours under those awful lights, so she didn’t blame him for wanting to be comfortable. 

Besides, he was really, really, hot. Not necessarily conventionally handsome; some of his features took a little getting used to, but he was interesting, as well as being tall and very fit. One had to be, she supposed, being on display the way rock stars always were. 

Oh shit he was talking to her. “Mind if I join you?” he was asking, gesturing across the bar between them. “I’m parched.”

“Oh, of course,” Marinette said, moving sideways instinctively even before he came behind the bar. Ugh, she sounded like an idiot. The space wasn’t very wide and she had basically backed into it instead of coming out, so she leaned back against the bar, trying to arrange herself in a way that was casually attractive instead of unbearably awkward or brazenly sex-starved.

Luka, meanwhile, examined the backlit bottles, and then with a slight shake of his head, turned towards Marinette again. She liked the way his eyes flicked over her and then away, like he was trying not to stare. She wasn’t doing such a good job keeping her eyes to herself either, so she decided to just brazen it out. 

“Don’t see anything you like?” she dared to ask, with a slight quirk of her eyebrow. 

Something in his stance shifted, like her attempt at flirtation had put him on firmer ground. “Actually, I think I see exactly what I need.” He advanced towards her and Marinette’s heart jumped into her throat. She hadn’t expected him to take the bait that quickly. 

He stopped just short of her, and gestured at the glasses hanging above her. “May I?”

His voice was rough, which she supposed was to be expected after the performance he had given. God, he was even hotter up close. If conversation was going nowhere, at least she wanted to get something out of this. What difference did it make what he thought of her after tonight, anyway? “Of course,” she said, putting her hands on the bar and leaning back. She watched his eyes follow her, flicking down at the suddenly very low neckline of her bustier once before he looked up again. He took another step forward, so that he was brushing up against her as he reached over her to snag a glass and bring it down. He didn’t back away as he set it on the counter, and Marinette couldn’t help grinning at him. He leaned in a little more to reach behind her for the carafe of water sitting there. 

“Did you enjoy the show?” he asked, still not backing off as he poured his glass of water.

“Very much,” Marinette said honestly. “To be honest, it was the first time I’ve heard your music. I’m definitely a fan now.” 

“Are you?” he murmured, meeting her eyes for a moment, and she watched as he lifted the water glass to his lips and took a long drink. 

“Definitely,” she said a little breathlessly, aware that she was ogling him shamelessly. 

He made a thoughtful noise in his throat. “How many of those have you had?” He asked, before drinking again.

Marinette lifted her own glass. “Just this one.” Out of habit, she turned it so that the existing lip print on the glass matched where she sipped. It was Luka’s turn to swallow and stare, and then he set his water glass down decisively. He put his hands on the bar at either side of Marinette’s hips, and leaned down a little.

“Just to be clear,” he murmured, looking down at her with heavily lidded eyes. “Are you coming on to me? Because,” he continued, as a hot blush flooded up her face, “you are gorgeous and I’m horny as hell after that,” he tipped his head back to indicate the show he had just finished. “So assuming you are, I’d really like to continue this somewhere more private. As soon as possible.”

Marinette couldn’t help a grin, and she looked over her shoulder to eye the completely empty room. “It’s looking pretty private here,” she suggested, mostly just to buy time to figure out if she was really doing this.

“It won’t be for as long as I plan to need privacy,” he told her, leaning his hips harder into hers, and she bit her lip and made a sound in her throat that made him shiver. Fuck. Okay, she was definitely doing this. 

“Well, if you insist,” she said breathlessly, and then his hands were on her waist, pulling her hard into him for a moment before he turned her to guide her out of the room. 

***

Luka left Marinette in the bed, with a kiss and a whispered promise to be back, and went to shower. He sighed when he stepped into the warm spray, and smiled to himself. Despite the exhaustion now dragging at him, he felt good . The show had been amazing, and Marinette had given him exactly what he needed to top off the night. Shows always left him either feeling so drained and worn out that he wanted nothing more than to go to bed, or else put him on a high that made it impossible to sleep without some kind of release.

He’d actually thought tonight was going to be the low kind until he ducked into the closed lounge, too desperate for a drink to mind the ‘closed’ sign on the door. Then he saw Marinette leaning against the bar, illuminated by the backlighting like a work of art in a museum. 

He hadn’t even had enough blood left in his brain to wonder why she was hanging out in the dimly lit, supposedly closed lounge. He was suddenly thirsty in an entirely different way. 

It was an impulsive decision to invite her to come back to his room, but those were often his best, and he definitely had no reason to regret it now. His smile turned into a self-satisfied grin and he tilted his head back to wet his hair. Definitely no regrets there. 

He shouldn’t take too long, though, or she might think he was trying to get rid of her. He cleaned himself up quickly. He almost wished he’d invited her to shower with him, but he needed this quiet moment after everything that had happened that night, and the hotel shower wasn’t really big enough for two. That was one thing he was looking forward to for the next leg of their tour; American hotel showers weren’t nearly so cramped. 

Even as he thought it he found himself wishing then that they were staying in Paris a little longer. He wouldn’t have minded seeing Marinette again. She had this mix of sweetness and sexy that was very appealing to him and he could think of a few more things he’d enjoy doing with her. He felt a little shiver at the memory of her moans. He could listen to her sweet little whimpers for hours, and the beautiful crescendo had been satisfying in more ways than one. Her dazed smile afterward…he wanted to make her smile like that again. 

The band was scheduled to leave tomorrow afternoon, though. They’d both known this was only a night. 

Luka frowned. She had known that, right? Normally he made sure anyone who was with knew whether he was looking for temporary or long term, but he hadn’t really taken time for much more conversation than was related to the business at hand. He’d have to let her down gently if she’d been expecting more. Luka wasn’t exactly in a position to commit to anything else right now. 

He sighed, turning off the water. He didn’t really want to have that conversation, but he didn’t want to string her along with a long-distance promise either…

Dumbass, he scolded himself as he dried off, and prepared to roll with whatever he found when he got out of the shower.

What he found was Marinette, sitting on the edge of the bed in a pool of soft lamplight, and biting her lip as she played with her fingers. She tried to smile at him, but she pulled the edges of the sheet wrapped around her a little tighter. Honestly, that just made her more appealing, with her shapely legs bare and just the important bits of her covered up, like one of those marble statues in the Louvre, only better, because she had color and breath, warmth and softness. He felt a song tickling at the back of his mind as he took in the line of her neck and shoulders, her mussed hair, and…her eyes. Her eyes turned up to him and his breath caught. He swallowed, and looked away, aware that his staring was making her uncomfortable. Her body language was closed and nervous, and he could imagine that she was feeling pretty vulnerable, in his room with no clothes on and clearly not sure what she should do next. 

Luka picked up her unzipped top and miniskirt from the floor, and laid them over a chair with a small smile at the memories they conjured. “These are beautiful, on or off you,” he winked at her, and she blushed and ducked her head a little, which he found unreasonably charming, “but I can’t imagine they’ll be comfortable to sleep in. Hang on, I’ll grab you something.” 

He found a clean shirt and sweatpants to pull on before he turned back to Marinette with another one of his t-shirts and a clean pair of boxers in his hands. He came to sit on the bed next to her and offered her the clothes, smiling at her whispered thanks. 

“I should, um,” she paused to pull the shirt over her head, and Luka couldn’t make himself look away from the sheet that slipped down her body as he did so. That was definitely going in the song too, he decided. “I should probably go, though, right?”

“Do you have a room in the hotel?” he asked, and she blinked in surprise, and shook her head, sliding his shorts up over her legs. 

“No, I live—I live in Paris. I can just take the metro home, or—”

Luka frowned. “At this time of night?” He reached out and stroked her hair back, and she relaxed a little at the tender touch, smiling at him. She definitely felt more confident now that she was covered, and she turned towards him a little as she answered.

“I’m a big girl,” she said. “It wouldn’t be the first time.” 

“If you really want to go, I’ll call you a cab, but I’d be happy for you to stay the night here with me,” he offered. “This bed is plenty big enough for two.” He rested his hand on her back, resisting the urge to pull her against him. 

It turned out he didn’t need to, because she scooted a little closer, and leaned into him, glancing up shyly. “I don’t—are you sure?” 

Luka nodded, nuzzling her temple without thinking about it. She giggled.

“I wouldn’t have figured you for a cuddler,” she teased, and he grinned, glad to see her more comfortable, and put his arms around her. 

“It’s a secret,” he teased back. “Don’t tell anyone. It’ll ruin my image.” 

Marinette laughed, and impulsively he kissed her, and she leaned into it, humming softly. 

“You’re shaking,” Luka observed, when they parted. 

“Cold,” she admitted, squeezing closer to him. “And my whole body feels like jelly. In a good way,” she assured him, with a cheeky smile, and he couldn’t help grinning back.

Luka leaned back and snagged the comforter they had long ago kicked off the end of the bed, and wrapped Marinette in it. She giggled in the puffy cocoon. “What about you?” she asked.

“I sleep hot,” he told her. “I don’t use it anyway.” He stood up and scooped the Marinette cocoon into his arms, laying her down on the bed and climbing back in beside her. He pulled the sheet Marinette had dropped back up over himself, and wrapped his arms around Marinette in her blanket cocoon. She squirmed until she was tucked up under his chin. He found himself drifting off almost immediately. Somewhere in his fuzzy mind he realized he hadn’t talked to her about his intentions, but he was so tired and comfortable that it was barely a speed bump on his way to dreamland. 

***

Marinette woke to gentle kisses along her neck and shoulder, and shivered before she was even fully awake. She felt warm breath along her ear and lips pressed into her cheek. 

“Good morning, beautiful. Are you a tea or a coffee person?” She rolled onto her back, partially undoing the cocoon of blankets she’d been wound up in. A pleasantly rough hand slipped under the blankets and her shirt—his shirt—to caress her bare belly, and she shivered again, blinking fully awake. 

“Hmm,” she sighed, finally processing the question. “Coffee?” She smiled shyly up into Luka’s blue eyes, suppressing another shiver at the look he was giving her. “At least this morning.”

“Cream? Sugar?” he asked, his voice even rougher than the night before, and Marinette bit her lip.

“Please,” she finally managed, and Luka leaned down and kissed her full on the mouth, a long, slow kiss like the ones he had given her as they wound down from their lovemaking. She really liked those. He might be a playboy rock star but he somehow had a way of making her feel like she was the center of the world. 

“I’ll be back in a minute,” he said, stroking a hand through her messy hair, and as he pulled back and stood Marinette realized he was already fully dressed, in black ripped jeans dangling with chains, topped with artfully ripped and layered shirts. She swallowed, both appreciating the look on him and suddenly afraid he was about to ditch her or throw her out. He looked ready to get on with his day. What time was it? He hadn’t struck her as an early riser. 

Never mind, she told herself as he left the room. She didn’t want to know. Her blanket cocoon was warm and comfortable, and he was bringing her coffee instead of telling her to go home, so he must not be sick of her presence yet. She pulled the wiggled herself at least partially upright, tugging the blanket back up over her shoulders. Luka’s shirt was big enough on her that the collar left a lot of skin exposed to the cold. And his lips, as he’d proved. If he was already dressed, though, he probably wasn’t planning on an encore this morning. She hadn’t been either, but found herself disappointed anyway.

She tried not to pout. Reluctantly, she wiggled herself out of the comforter long enough to find her phone and purse, but the battery was dead. Marinette felt a pang of guilt; she probably should have at least let Alya know she had met up with her mystery man and was fine, but it was too late now. Some investigation proved that while Luka’s charger was on the nightstand, it wasn’t compatible with her phone.

Oh well. She tucked the phone back in her tiny clutch and set it on the table, then went to cocoon herself in the blankets again. She felt really good; more relaxed than she had been since that cancellation call. Even if Luka was done with her, she definitely got the stress relief she was looking for. 

Then again, he had supposedly told Alya he wanted to meet her, so maybe…

That was just stupid though. No expectations, no disappointments, Marinette reminded herself. If all she had was a good night—a great night—that was plenty. She felt more relaxed than she had in weeks. Months. She tucked her legs up in the blankets and sighed, leaning back against the headboard. This was a really nice hotel room. Suite. It was a suite, they’d had to navigate past the sitting room to get to the bedroom last night. The rock star life, she thought, a smile quirking her lips. 

Might as well enjoy it while she had it.

***

Luka sent his assistant for better coffee than the hotel could offer, and ducked into the gift shop. It took longer than he would have liked, just like everything did since he became famous, but he was able to get out with his purchases just as Emilio returned with the coffee. Luka refused help, hanging the gift shop bag on his wrist and taking both cups of coffee. He let Emilio push the elevator button, and smiled acknowledgement of his reminder about the flight that afternoon.

Marinette didn’t look anything like an art piece when he shouldered his way back into the room, and Luka laughed at her cute face peeking from the pile of coverlet she was once again wrapped in. “You look cozy,” he told her, setting the coffee on the uselessly small table in the room. He set the bag from the gift shop in front of her. “I got you some warmer things to wear if you can bear to come out of there.” 

He looked away while she wriggled out and changed into the sweatshirt and yoga pants he’d managed to get for her. 

“I’m done,” she said, and he looked back, breaking into a grin at the slightly oversized “I heart Paris” sweatshirt. The sleeves threatened to creep over her hands as she cradled her cup of coffee, inhaling the scent before she took a careful sip.

“Good?” he asked, once again completely charmed. He liked the way she took time to savor things. Her pretty eyes darted around the room, and he wondered what she was thinking. It seemed to him like her mind never stopped. He remembered the way she had looked over him when he came into the lounge last night, the slight tilt of her head and the sense of being…analyzed in some way, before she decided to make her move. It clashed a little with her sweet softness this morning, and he found himself chuckling. It wasn’t the first time he had hooked up with a groupie, and somehow he always seemed to pick the soft ones, no matter how brazen they seemed in the moment. 

“You’re up early,” Marinette commented, and then frowned. “Actually, what time is it?”

“Coming up on eleven,” Luka said, glancing at his phone. “But yeah, I had a business meeting this morning.” He rolled his eyes. “Corporate sponsors have no respect for rock star hours. They were pitching to take over our merch sales.” 

“What company?” Marinette asked curiously. “If you can tell me,” she added, and Luka smiled. He whispered the company name in her ear. It wasn’t really a secret, he hadn’t signed an NDA yet, but he felt like teasing her a bit.

She wrinkled her nose, but said nothing. Luka quirked an eyebrow, curious about her reaction. “What?”

Marinette shrugged, looking a little uncomfortable. “Nothing. It’s none of my business.” 

“Tell me anyway.” 

She sighed and gave a little pout, then put her coffee down. “Their quality is terrible. Which isn’t necessarily a negative for you , I guess. If the shirts fall apart faster then fans will just buy more.” Luka frowned at the cynicism in her voice. “If it were me, though, I’d rather pay more for something that will last a little longer. If I’m going to pay to put my logo on something I don’t want it to fade out after a few washes. Of course, you could always work out some kind of split production, so the younger fans can buy the cheaper stuff and the die-hards that have the will or the money can pony up for the quality stuff, but that—” she paused, seeing his gaze on her, and blushed. “Like I said, that’s not really my business,” she finished, picking up her coffee quickly again.

Luka wasn’t even sure what kind of face he was making, caught in a tangled net of feelings he couldn’t quite figure out. He was surprised, he was impressed, he was chagrined, and kind of embarrassed that he hadn’t given anywhere near as much thought to the issue, which had come up several times in the last few months, as Marinette had in five minutes. 

Marinette set her coffee down and hopped off the bed, mumbling something about needing the bathroom, and Luka just watched her go, mouth open slightly. 

***

Marinette felt better after a shower, and dressed once again in her tourist trap giftware with a sigh. She needed to apologize to Luka, she decided. She shouldn’t be butting into his business. It wasn’t like she was his girlfriend. She didn’t have any right to be grilling him on his business practices. 

He was sitting in the suite’s little living room, sipping his own coffee while he scrolled through something on a tablet.

“Um,” she began, shifting nervously, and he looked up, setting down the tablet. “I’m sorry. If it seemed like I was criticizing you earlier. I wasn’t, it’s really none of my business, I know I said that already, but, um. I know you probably have a lot of decisions to make, or you have people that make those decisions for you, and you probably know a lot more about the s-situation than I do, so, I just. Sorry if I—” She trailed off, as if not actually sure what she was sorry for.

Luka beckoned her, and she walked slowly towards him. When she was close enough, he took her hand and pulled her close, wrapping her up in his arms. After a stiff moment, she relaxed into him and sat on his knee to lean her face into his neck. 

“I wasn’t offended,” he told her quietly, “and I will definitely ask for samples before we go any further. It’s not something I thought about, and I should have. I’m not out to rip off my fans.” Her head shot up but he put a finger across her lips. “I know. I’m not offended. Actually I really appreciate you being straight with me. It’s hard to find these days.” He smiled, looking fondly up into her shocked face. “You’re—” He stopped, because he couldn’t think of anything that didn’t sound trite or overused. Special. Different. Not like other girls. He’d sound like a pickup artist.

He suddenly found himself wishing he’d met her in a more casual way. 

She was still blinking at him, and he realized she was still waiting for him to finish his sentence. Since he couldn’t, he leaned up and kissed her, softly, in a way he hoped conveyed reassurance and affection, and not just lust. 

“You keep doing that,” she murmured, when their lips parted. 

“Should I stop?” he smiled, a little crookedly. 

“No, I—I like it,” she admitted, blushing faintly. “Just. Um.” Her gaze flicked to the bed behind them and then returned to his with something like guilt. “I didn’t expect it.” 

“I didn’t expect you,” Luka replied, without thinking. Marinette blinked in surprise, and Luka bit his lip, feeling his own color rising. “I really like you, Marinette.” 

She looked down. Her fingers at the nape of his neck twitched, and twined though a strand of his hair. “I like you too,” she whispered, and Luka grinned. “But you…” she trailed off, and met his eyes again, looking…sad.

Reality came crashing in on Luka and he sucked in a breath. Right. He was leaving. Soon, in fact, he realized, as he looked at the clock. 

“Come with me,” he blurted, and was immediately convinced it was the best idea he’d ever had. 

Marinette looked confused. “Where?”

“To New York. To start with, at least.” Luka slid her off his lap, and then moved to squat in front of her so they were facing each other. “I want—” he stalled, words again getting tangled up in his head. “I have a sense about people. I’ve learned to trust my instincts, and right now they’re telling me I shouldn’t let you just disappear. I want you to come on tour with me.” He swallowed and tried to grin. “I know it sounds crazy. ”

“It’s completely crazy,” Marinette cried, voice gone squeaky and breathless. 

“I’ll make it work,” he insisted. “Worst case scenario, we have some fun, you can hang out at the hotel while I do my shows, we see the sights, and I buy you a plane ticket home when you get sick of me.” His tone softened. “I’m just not ready to tell you goodbye, Marinette.” 

She gave him a smile that twitched, like she didn’t want to but she couldn’t help it. “That sounds like a song.”

“It absolutely does,” Luka agreed fervently. His whole body was thrumming with—something. Adrenaline or anticipation or fear or— “Please come with me, Marinette.” 

Marinette took a deep breath and let it out slowly. Setting aside that the whole idea was fucking crazy —could she do it? She knew she could, even before she went down a mental list of commitments. Wasn’t that the whole reason she had been out on this stupid scheme to begin with? Because she was in a work slump with no immediate obligations to fulfill, no responsibilities at the bakery with her parents in Shanghai for the month. No one to hang out with, no one who needed her. And she hadn’t known what to do with herself. 

So…why not do something crazy? Something no one would expect boring little Marinette to do?

And…the way he was looking at her, eyes intense and shining, practically vibrating with—she wasn’t sure what. Suspense? Excitement? Was this just a…thrill seeking type thing for him?

He saw her hesitation and fidgeted a bit on his heels, licking his lips. Preparing for rejection. 

She unconsciously licked her own lips, and then offered a trembling smile. “Okay.”

Luka’s eyes lit up and he leaned in, placing a hand on hers and squeezing tightly enough to give his excitement away, even though all he said was, “Are you sure?” 

And she was. “Yeah,” she grinned. “Let’s do it. I-if you really want to.” 

Luka grabbed her face in both hands and kissed her hard. “I definitely want to. Let me make some calls. Do you have a passport?” He drew up short, as if just that moment realizing that that might be a dealbreaker. Even rock stars needed passports.

“Oh, mm-hmm.” Marinette turned towards her purse on the table and pulled out her wallet and passport to show him.”

Luka laughed. “You have it with you?” 

“I like to be prepared,” Marinette defended, blushing. “Though this thing is so small I can’t carry half of what I usually do.” She couldn’t help smiling as Luka leaned forward and kissed her cheek again. 

“No complaints here. That’ll make things easier. I’ll buy you anything else you need.” 

“Luka, you can’t—” Marinette began, growing alarmed as the practicalities of the situation began to set in. Plane tickets, clothes—she didn’t even have anything comfortable to wear on the plane, she didn’t have her phone charger—the hotel could probably give her a toothbrush, but—

Luka’s finger on her lips interrupted both her protest and her spiraling thoughts. “Trust me, it’ll be the smartest thing I’ve spent money on since the band took off. I’m dragging you to a whole other country on no notice. Let me at least be a gentleman about it.” He flashed her an incongruously wicked grin, caressing her lips with his fingertip before he drew it away and turned to find his phone. 

The bounce in his step made her smile despite her worries. Well, he was a good guy. Or at least she thought so, based on…nothing at all. This was insane. She was crazy. 

Marinette took another breath, fighting down another wave of panic. No, it was fine. She had friends in the States that could help her out if she really needed it, humiliating as that would be, but it wouldn’t come to that anyway. She had her own money saved, after all, and if Luka turned out to be a complete douche and left her stranded somewhere once he lost interest, she’d be able to get herself home just fine.

He wouldn’t though. Something inside her was sure of it. 

Marinette sighed, burying her face in the pillow to let out a quiet little scream.

At least no one would ever be able to call her boring again. Are you happy now, Alya?

***

Luka’s hands shook and he paced as he dialed Lucille’s number. He was reasonably confident that she could do what he was about to ask, but he wasn’t so sure about how she was going to take this. He had a fair number of one night stands, sure, but wasn’t that much of a playboy as rock stars go and he had certainly never asked to bring a hookup along on tour with him before. 

Still, this was going to be hard to explain. He didn’t want to have to pull the “you work for me ” card. That wouldn’t be fair to her with all that she did for him. 

When he explained the situation, though, all he really got was…silence. 

“I know this sounds really crazy—” he began, but shut his mouth when Lucille cut him off.

“Your personal life isn’t my business,” she said briskly. “Just tell me what you need, and I’ll make it happen. 

Luka winced at the implied disapproval, but decided it was best just to roll with it. 

“Hey, can you—can you get her a room in the hotel in New York?” he asked. “I—” He paused, not sure how to put “I don’t want her to feel pressured to fuck me every night” in professional terms.

“Will do,” Lucille said, still in that clipped, matter-of-fact tone. “Do you want it near you or farther away?”

“Near is good.” Luka cleared his throat. “Next door would probably be fine.” He paused. “Can you find us a good place to eat one night while we’re there? Something fancy but not too touristy. Maybe some broadway tickets? She’d probably like that.” Not that he really knew anything about what she liked, but surely someone on the crew would take the tickets if Marinette didn’t want to go.

“Um…” That seemed to throw Lucille. “I can probably do that.” 

“I know we’re on a really tight schedule in Chicago, but what about LA, is it whale season there? Can we book a whale-watching cruise?” 

“I don’t really know, I’ll check. Whales might be farther north than LA proper.”

“Okay, well see if we can make time to get up there if so. See if we can schedule some beach time in between rehearsals, too.” 

“O-okay. I can do that.”

Luka frowned. “What?”

“Nothing,” Lucille said quickly. “You’re just not usually interested in that kind of stuff.”

“I don’t usually have time,” Luka replied, and then bit his lip. He didn’t really have time on this trip, either. “Just see if we can make it work. I don’t want to cause any problems for anyone.”

“It should be fine,” Lucille told him firmly. “I’ve told you before you work longer hours than you need to on tour. I’m…glad you’re thinking about taking some time.” 

“Yeah,” Luka said lamely. 

“Make sure your lady friend has all her documents in order. I can’t negotiate immigration and customs rules.” 

“I will,” Luka promised. “What’s the absolute latest time I can get to the airport? Can we make a stop at her place before?”

“It’ll have to be a short stop or we’ll lose our departure slot,” Lucille sighed. “Your car’s already on the way to pick you up. Where does she live?”

“Uh—” Luka went back to the bedroom of his suite, and cracked open the door. “Marinette?”

***

They darted from the car to the back door of the bakery, neither keen on advertising Luka’s famous face following her inside. Marinette had asked if he wanted to wait in the car, but Luka found he really didn’t. He wasn’t sure if it was because he was afraid Marinette would panic if he let her out of his sight or because of the intense curiosity he had been feeling about her since she agreed to this mad adventure.

“Don’t say anything,” Marinette warned him as they went up the stairs. “I know it’s really childish looking, and I’ve been meaning to redecorate for years, but then I kept thinking I was moving out, and…none of it ever happened.” Marinette looked away, tucking a strand of hair behind her ear. Her messy bun was adorable, but it didn’t look very stable. 

“Don’t apologize for liking what you like,” Luka told her sincerely, looking at the very girly pink room. Not what he would have expected from the girl he saw leaning on the bar last night, but now that he’d spent time with her, it fit. Another bit of that song he’d been thinking about clicked into place as he squeezed Marinette’s hand. “We’ve got ten minutes,” he told her. “Just grab the personal stuff you really need. We can pick up anything you forget Stateside.”

“Right. Okay.” Marinette hesitated for a moment, making abortive moves in several different directions before committing to one. Luka chuckled, but once she got moving, she moved like lightning. Before he could blink there was a pink polkadot hardshell suitcase open on the chaise, and Marinette’s distractingly perfect lips were silently moving as she pivoted and ducked and grabbed items to throw inside. Despite his offer to buy her clothes, she threw her closet door open and snatched things off hangers to stuff in the bag. She pulled something red and sparkly out of a drawer that absolutely piqued Luka’s interest, but it was in the bag before he could get more than a glimpse. He started to take a step forward but had to step right back when Marinette rushed by him, muttering under her breath. He could feel the manic energy spilling out of her and his hand twitched with the urge to grab hers, to pull her in and get her to breathe for a minute—but they really didn’t have much time, so he clamped down on the impulse and let her do what she needed to do. 

He couldn’t help glancing around curiously, taking in the different types of sewing machines, the cones of thread, several poster boards of color swatches and pictures. Mood boards, he realized. “You’re a designer?” he asked, and Marinette paused, turning to look at him in surprise. He nodded towards the mood boards. “My sister’s a model,” he explained. “I’ve seen a designer’s studio before.” 

“Oh—well—I mean, yes, but—it’s complicated,” she said, and Luka nodded. 

“Sorry, don’t let me distract you,” he said, waving her on. They were on a schedule, after all. He shouldn’t have interrupted her flow, it was just…He let his eyes rove over the pictures and clippings on the walls and resisted the impulse to poke around on her desk. 

She paused in the middle of the room, silently ticking off her fingers as if going through a mental list. Then she did one more quick spin, eyes roving over the room. She turned to her suitcase and shut it, leaning on the lid as she reached down to snap the clasps. She pulled it off the chair and set it on its wheels on the floor. She looked up at him with a delighted grin. Her eyes were bright and her hair had come loose from all her sharp turns, and her beautiful eyes were huge and bright with excitement. 

I love this girl, Luka thought giddily, and then had to choke on a laugh. What? Where did that even come from? Spending the night with a girl and then standing in her apartment for less than ten minutes—who decides they’re in love after that ? 

Me, apparently, he thought, feeling the grin growing on his face as he looked back at her. Don’t be stupid, Luka. You’ll get overinvested and end up breaking the girl’s heart, if you don’t scare her off before we even make it to the airport.

He was already reaching to offer his hand, though, and she took it, dragging her suitcase behind her as they headed for the staircase. 

Marinette was still going through things in her mind as Luka carried her suitcase down the stairs, trying to make sure she had everything she needed and reassuring herself that they weren’t traveling into the wilderness, and she could probably buy anything she had missed as long as she had her important documents with her. 

The driver was leaning against the car, frowning at his phone and obviously anxious to leave. Luka gave him Marinette’s suitcase to throw in the back, and then opened the door. Marinette almost tripped in her hurry to get in and keep them from being delayed any longer. She rubbed her ankle as Luka slid in beside her. Marinette lurched against him as the anxious driver pulled sharply into the traffic. 

“Sorry,” she gasped as he helped her right herself. She groped for the seatbelt, and jerked it across herself, snapping it into the buckle as they made another sharp turn. 

Luka let out a breath as he finished doing the same, and leaned back. “Gotta love Paris traffic,” he sighed, and added under his breath, “and Paris drivers. Not that New York is much better.”

Marinette smiled a little shakily, twisting her hands together in her lap. 

Back in the car, Luka took her hand, gently curling his fingers around it. “How are you feeling? Still sure you want to do this?”

“Yes,” Marinette smiled, surprised to realize she meant it—the little voice screaming in her head that this was crazy seemed to have given up for now. She was absolutely doing this. Impulsively, she leaned in and curled her hand around the back of Luka’s neck, pulling him into a kiss. He made a pleased noise in the back of his throat and opened his mouth for her as his hand left hers to squeeze her thigh. 

The kiss was hot, and it sent shivers down her body, but it was different from the desperate, hungry energy of the night before. Softer, longer, not so rushed or single-minded. This was kissing for the enjoyment of it, not as a rush to something else. Luka’s hand on her thigh came up to cup her cheek, and he managed to wiggle his other arm between her and the seat to wrap around her waist, his fingers kneading gently into her lower back. 

She pulled away sooner than she wanted to, conscious of the driver in the front, though he was so busy swearing under his breath at the other cars that she hoped he hadn’t taken too much note of the spectacle she was making. Luka let her break from him, but kept kissing her cheek, her jaw, up near her ear, until she scolded him quietly and put a hand on his chest to stop him from leaning in again. He grinned at her and settled back against the seat with his arm around her shoulders. Marinette smiled and leaned on him, breathing in his clean scent and light cologne. 

She must have fallen asleep, because the next thing she knew was Luka quietly calling her name. She had just enough time to register that before the car door opening made her jump, and Luka helped her out of the car as she tried to bring herself fully awake. 

“Sorr—” she began, but Luka hushed her. 

“There will probably be reporters,” he told her, putting his arm around her waist. “Don’t say anything and don’t let anyone separate us. If the cameras bother you just hide your face on me. I’ll handle the rest.” 

Marinette nodded, still feeling a little confused. “My bag—” 

“My staff will handle it. Ready?”

She wasn’t, but she nodded anyway. Luka kept her hip pressed tight to his as they walked into the crowd of reporters. Figuring it was better to look shy than bewildered, Marinette turned her face into Luka’s arm. She peeked just enough to see where they were going and to see black-clad security making a path for them. Luka just walked straight forward, answering no questions and keeping a calm, disinterested expression. This must be normal for him, she figured. He was used to it. 

She wasn’t exactly used to it, but Luka’s calm made it easy to keep her own, and she just concentrated on not tripping on her own feet or Luka’s. 

“You all right?” he asked, once they were inside. “You handled that well.” 

“Y-yeah,” she said, and tried to smile up at him. 

“Sorry, I should have warned you about that. They’ll probably pop up a few more times until we get through security, but then we should be clear, at least for a while.” 

“It’s all right.”

It wasn’t Marinette’s first introduction to the lifestyles of the rich and famous, but they’d never been up in her face before. She was, she admitted to herself, a little shaken, but not too much. 

Everything went fast after that. Despite her cadre of famous friends, Marinette was still caught off-guard at how much easier everything could be when people knew your face. In some ways, at least.

Luka did stop in the airport for pictures with fans, and to sign a few autographs, but a short, stocky young man turned up before they were halfway to the security desk and began hustling them along.

“Oh good, you made it,” he puffed, a little out of breath and a little red in the face. “We need to get you through security and then you can schmooze if you want.” 

“Marinette, this is Emilio,” Luka said dryly, giving her an apologetic grin as he lengthened his stride a bit. Emilio was only a little taller than Marinette but he set a brisk pace. “He’s my assistant. It’s his job to make sure I get where I’m supposed to be before I’m supposed to get there.”

Emilio rolled his eyes. “He’d never get anywhere on time if it weren’t for me.” 

“That’s not my fault,” Luka protested. 

“You’re just too nice to say no to fans without me to be the bad guy,” Emilio shot back.

“That is why I hired you,” Luka admitted. 

Emilio rolled his eyes, and then offered Marinette a flustered grin. “Nice to meet you, miss.” 

“Marinette,” she put in. 

“Marinette. Sorry to rush you both along—”

“You know we’re just going to end up sitting in the lounge waiting on the crew to get the plane ready,” Luka complained.

“—but security doesn’t care how famous you are,” Emilio finished pointedly. 

Luka rolled his eyes, but kept pace with Emilio, Marinette’s hand clutched in his own. 

***

“I hate the hurry up and wait schtick,” Luka complained, reaching to open the door to the private rich-people lounge. “But it’s so much better than it was when we were flying commercial. At least it’ll be quiet in here.” He hesitated, and pulled his hand back, taking Marinette’s arm and moving her a few steps away.

“What’s wrong?” Marinette asked.

“I just figured we should get our story straight before we go in there,” Luka replied with an embarrassed smile that Marinette found rather sweet. “I don’t want you to be uncomfortable.”

“Oh,” Marinette said, blinking. “That makes sense.” 

Luka seemed to hesitate for a moment, licking his lips as he tried to decide what he wanted to say. She had noticed that it sometimes took him a moment to think through his words, and she found she liked it—both that he was so careful and thoughtful about what he said, and the reminder that, famous or not, in some ways he was still just a regular guy. 

“Would you be comfortable with me introducing you as my girlfriend?” he finally asked. “That would probably be simplest.” 

“Are you asking me to be your girlfriend?” she asked slowly. “Or if I’m okay with being called that?”

Luka shrugged, and she was amused to see the high points of his cheeks turning pink. “Either. Both. Whatever you’re comfortable with.” He hesitated again, and then said quickly, “Yes, I’m asking you to be my girlfriend. For however long this lasts, at least.” 

Marinette wasn’t sure if she was more thrown by the request or by the corollary. 

Luka sighed, running his fingers through his hair, and let his bag slip off his shoulder to the floor. “This is why I hate labels,” he muttered, and then tried to grin at her. “We can talk about what all it means when we get to New York and have some privacy, I promise. Right now I just mean that I’m with you and only you, until you—or we, I guess—decide we want something to change. Does that work?” 

Marinette considered that for a moment, and then nodded. It would make things easier to have a title that people understood, and it came with a set of assumptions that would benefit them both for now. He was right, and they could work out the real meaning of what they were to each other when they got to New York. Worst case scenario, we have some fun, you can hang out at the hotel while I do my shows, we see the sights, and I buy you a plane ticket home when you get sick of me. For the first time it occurred to her to wonder what he considered the best case scenario. 

The quick flash of his smile, a real smile, and the excitement in his eyes as he picked up his bag and took her hand, made her smile too, and she let him lead her into the lounge. 

There was a group of people lounging in and around chairs, most of them sporting earbuds amongst the glint of their piercings. Luka called out to them, and they all smiled, turning towards him. 

“Guys, this is Marinette, my girlfriend.” He grinned at her like the word delighted him, despite his grumbling about labels. “She’s going to be hanging out with us for the next few stops.”

The reactions were all surprised to some degree, but then friendly as they nodded, smiled, or gave a small wave. Marinette made a self-conscious little wave of her own. “Nice to meet you all,” she said. “Sorry if I made Luka late.” 

She got a few chuckles at that. One green-haired girl rolled her eyes with a good-natured smile, and said, “We’re always waiting on somebody or other, it feels like. I guess it’s Luka’s turn. We’re not on the plane yet so we probably have at least another hour before we can take off anyway.”

Marinette smiled back, and tried to pay attention while Luka gave names and roles. Then he tugged her away, pulling her towards a separate group of chairs.

“Don’t you want to sit with your friends?” Marinette asked.

“Later,” Luka told her, squeezing her hand. “I have some things I want to work on, and I need a little space.” He gave her hand another little tug before she could offer to leave him alone. “You can stay, I don’t mind. And I’m definitely not leaving you with those maniacs by yourself.” 

Marinette laughed, and sat down in the seat he indicated. 

“You want a drink?” Luka asked, and when she nodded, he went to the lounge’s little bar and brought back two bottles of water. Marinette was already digging in her capacious purse.

“I need to call Alya,” she sighed, pulling out the phone charger she had stuffed into it during her packing frenzy. She plugged her phone and charger into the port in the table next to her as Luka set her water down on it. “She’s probably frothing at the mouth by now. How do you know her, anyway?”

“Know who?” Luka asked, settling back with a notebook balanced on one knee and the other water bottle in his hand.

“Alya.” Marinette watched him throw his head back and drink, and had to look away. 

“I don’t know anyone named Alya,” he said when he lowered the bottle.

Marinette frowned at him, twisting open her own water. “Alya Cesaire? She said you wanted to meet me last night. That’s why I was in the lounge. Security let me in and everything.” 

Luka’s eyebrows raised slightly. “I didn’t know you were going to be in the lounge. It was supposed to be closed off to the public.” 

“It was. I had to get Security to let me in.”

“They just let you in?”

“Well, I had to give them my name at the backstage door, and then they took me to the lounge and let me in. Because you asked to meet me.”

Luka shook his head slowly. “I don’t know who you were supposed to meet there, but it wasn’t me. I’m glad you were there, but I definitely didn’t ask to meet you.”

Marinette stared at him for a full three seconds, not even blinking, before she could get his words to make sense. “O-oh. Oh. Oh, um.” She put a hand over her mouth. “S-she didn’t tell me who I was supposed to be meeting, and when you came in I thought—oh my God. Oh my God. ”

Luka frowned, studying her face. “Does it have to change anything?”

“Yes! …No. No, I guess it doesn’t. Shouldn’t it though?” She moved her hand to her forehead, feeling almost dizzy from the sudden change in her perspective. 

“I don’t really see why.” Luka picked up her other hand, rubbing his thumb across the back of it. “We met. We had a good time. We liked each other and we want to see where things go.” He hesitated. “I mean, if you really wanted to meet this mystery person then—”

Marinette shook her head weakly. She hadn’t really cared that much, and had only gone to make 

Alya happy, and because she was bored and depressed and any kind of escape from her daily life seemed appealing.

Well. She sure got that much, didn’t she? She was shaking, and could barely meet Luka’s gaze as he continued, “Then…it seems like we should be okay?” 

“I guess we are, I just…” Marinette shrank a little, grabbing a handful of hair and tugging sharply. “I feel stupid. I thought—I mean I thought you wanted me, all that time, and—”

“I did,” Luka cut her off, squeezing her hand. “From the moment I saw you leaning against that bar.” 

“Not like that ,” Marinette groaned, and then amended, “Well, not just like that. I mean—” She stopped, her thoughts hopelessly tangled, trying to figure out what she had been thinking last night—was it only last night? It seemed like so long ago. 

“It’s not just like that,” Luka said, pulling her knuckles to her lips. “Not anymore. I promise, Marinette. So let’s just roll with it, okay?” He cupped her cheek to turn her face towards him, and she took in the worried look on his face. Her breath hitched a little, and then she put her hand over his. 

“Yeah. Yeah, okay.” She smiled at him. He smiled back, and leaned forward to kiss her softly. 

“Anytime you want out, you just tell me,” he whispered. “I’ll send you straight home, no hard feelings.” 

“I don’t want out,” she blurted, almost before he was done talking. “I don’t, Luka. I’m sorry, it just…it startled me.” She studied him. “Doesn’t it bother you?”

“A little,” Luka admitted. “I don’t really love the idea that you only—” he glanced towards the band, but no one was paying attention to them, “—did what you did because you were expecting—” he paused. “What were you expecting?” 

Marinette groaned, putting her face in her hand. “I don’t even know. Honestly, Alya’s setups have never worked out before. I just thought—well, when I saw you, I thought…” She felt her face going redder and redder. 

“You thought, you might as well hit that?” 

“No!” Marinette said, horrified, but when she looked up she saw that Luka was grinning. 

“Hey, I’m not going to pretend I was thinking anything different,” he teased. “But I think it worked out.” He waggled his eyebrows at her, and Marinette burst out laughing. She couldn’t help it, he looked so silly.

“It did,” she giggled. “And now I’m running away with the hot rock star.”

“You’re the first groupie I’ve ever kidnapped,” Luka teased. Despite his light tone, she felt the way his grip on her hand softened. Not like he was letting go, more just a release of tension. She’d worried him, she realized. 

“I’m glad things turned out the way they did,” she told him, making sure to meet his eyes and squeeze his hand back. His shoulders relaxed a little, and she smiled at him with genuine fondness. She was learning to read him, she realized. He kept a lot behind that laid back attitude, she was beginning to see.

Still.

“I really need to talk to Alya now,” she groaned.

“You need me to give you a minute?” Luka asked, and she shook her head, picking up her phone. It had enough battery now to power on and sure enough, there were a bunch of messages waiting for her. One was just a check in from her parents, and she sent them back a quick, mostly-true reply. She didn’t bother with the ones from Alya, just hit the button to call her. She held it away from her ear until she heard Alya’s voice screeching her name—her full name, of course, and then brought it back to her ear when Alya’s voice dropped to a more normal volume.

“Where have you been ?” Alya demanded. “I almost called the police and reported you missing. Adrien said you never showed up and—”

“ Adrien ?” Marinette demanded, and Luka glanced at her, one eyebrow raised. “The mystery man you wanted me to meet was Adrien? ”

“Yes, and you blew it!”

“There was nothing to blow, Alya!” Marinette exclaimed, and then scowled at Luka when he choked on a laugh next to her. She flailed her hand in his direction, smacking his shoulder a couple of times, while he tried to smother his chortling. “Would you please just let that whole thing go? Why on earth would you think I wanted to meet him?” Dressed like that, she thought, slapping a hand on her face. What a disaster that would have been, she was sure. 

“Oh, come on, he said he wanted to see you, and he’d been missing you a lot, and I just knew he’d finally gotten a clue and you were so hot last night I thought for sure—”

“She’s not wrong,” Luka muttered, and Marinette whipped her head around to glare at him. He shrugged. “Sorry, she’s loud.”

“Anyway,” Alya said, finally taking a breath, as Marinette turned her back to Luka. “Never mind all of that, where were you? You stood him up and—” 

“I thought he stood me up!” Marinette broke in. “He was late ! I almost left, I decided to just have a quick drink first, and then L—and then someone came in, and I thought he was who you were setting me up with, and—and we went out. For a while.” She wouldn’t turn and look at Luka. She wouldn’t. She was sure he was laughing at her again. “My phone died. Alya, I can’t believe you tried to set me up with Adrien again. And you didn’t even warn me!”

“Adrien’s always late these days, it’s the cost of fame. He can’t walk to the bathroom without getting stopped for autographs and selfies, and he’s too nice to say no.”

“Well, you should have warned me about that too then.”

“I just thought you’d be less of a spazz if you didn’t have time to overthink it first!” 

Marinette closed her eyes. “Alya, when has that ever worked.” Especially with Adrien. 

“Okay, okay,” Alya groaned. “I just thought, it would be so romantic, one last chance after you both thought that it was over for good—it would have made such a story!”

“I’m not a story, Alya,” Marinette folded her free arm and pouted. 

“Well there must be some story. Spill it, Marinette, who’s the guy you ran into? Please don’t tell me you blew off Adrien Agreste, Supermodel Actor, for some pathetic roadie who bought you a drink.” 

Marinette’s eyebrows raised, and she glanced over her shoulder at Luka. “I definitely did not do that. I’ll tell you about it later, I’m—” about to get on a plane with a guy I just met “—busy.” 

“And we’re back to the same old refrain,” Alya groaned. “You need to live a little, Marinette.”  

“I’m hanging up now, Alya.”

“Marineeeeeeeeeette,” Alya whined, but Marinette rolled her eyes and ended the call.

She dropped the phone on the table and folded her arms, sinking into her chair as she pouted.

“You okay?” Luka asked, draping his arm behind her and letting his fingers play with her loose hair. 

“Yeah.” Marinette rolled her eyes. “She’s just determined to make me the main character in one of her screenplays, I swear. You’d think a writer would know better how unrealistic that all is.” 

They sat in silence for a moment, and Marinette closed her eyes as Luka’s fingers moved to the back of her neck, massaging gently. 

“Well, if you want,” he said slowly, and she looked at him. “We can absolutely give her a story. Maybe not the one she was hoping for, but…” 

Marinette tilted her head curiously. “What do you mean?” 

Luka leaned toward her, a wicked grin on his face that made her insides melt a little, and whispered a plan in her ear. 

Marinette’s mouth twitched as she tried to keep in her smile. “I’ll think about it.” 

***

The band’s private jet made her jaw drop in spite of herself.

“Wow,” she muttered under her breath. 

“Yeah, it seems a little extravagant,” Luka confessed, running a self-conscious hand through his hair. “But commercial travel just got too difficult with all of our gear and the band and the staff. Not to mention the fans and the reporters. It’s just easier this way, and I have to admit, way more comfortable for an 8-hour flight. We use trains here on the continent but it’s hard to get around the US that way.” 

“It’s really nice,” Marinette said, smiling at him. It was, too, with large, plush single seats on each side and a matching couch beyond. There was a sliding wood-panel pushed aside so that she could see the same type of single seats lining the cabin beyond. 

“It keeps us from killing each other at least,” he said lightly. “Pick a seat. We’ll stay up here so you—so we can have some privacy.” 

Marinette sat a little gingerly in one of the plush seats. There was a wooden rail at her elbow with drink holders in it

“Need anything else?” Luka asked, and Marinette smiled at him, and shook her head.

“I’m good.”

“Do you mind if I leave you for a bit?” he asked, tilting his head towards the couch behind the forward-facing seats. A slightly battered looking black-and-white guitar was strapped into a stand there. “I have some things I’d like to work on while we’re in the air.” 

“Of course. I don’t want to get in the way of your work.” 

He smiled at her. “Come and get me or call Emilio if you need anything.” 

Marinette pulled her own notebook out of her bag. She curled up in the plane seat and looked out of the window, idly sketching random shapes as a warmup.

Luka also warmed up behind her, playing scales and other short ditties she didn’t know well enough to identify. Eventually he segued into another tune that she recognized from the concert, and then another.

Then he started playing something she hadn’t heard before. The melody inexplicably made her heart beat faster. It was new, but also…familiar. Not the tune, but the way it made her feel. It reminded her of…

Marinette peeked around the side of her seat and watched him for a moment. Luka was electric on stage, charged up and full of energy, but his face now was thoughtful, his brow slightly furrowed, his eyes closed even though his fingers were moving unerringly across the strings. Occasionally he would stop and go back, replaying a piece he’d just done but with some changes. It was a fascinating look at a process Marinette had never put much thought into. 

Just then, someone—she thought it was the drummer, but she was still fuzzy on names—stuck their head in through the partition. “That a new one, Luka?” he asked, and Luka made an affirmative noise, but didn’t look up from his instrument. Apparently this was normal for him, because the person just grinned, and then grinned wider when he saw Marinette, and disappeared back behind the partition. 

Marinette relaxed back in her seat, looking out of the window. The sun was setting, and she took out her colored pencils to capture the colors. It was weirdly refreshing, she found, to be drawing without a real goal, without a client or a concept in mind. Just…exploring, and recording, and letting her thoughts go where they wanted. She jotted notes on the margin or the next page any time something interesting occurred to her, but otherwise she just let her mind wander. She sketched the sunset, and then the pattern of the wood grain on the drink rail beside her, and anything else that caught her eye. Then she started sketching from memory; the backlit drink display from last night, one of Luka’s tattoos, the curve of his shoulder and neck emerging from the sheet—

Why couldn’t she stop thinking about that all of a sudden? She swallowed and turned the page.

“Hey.” She jumped as Luka’s voice came from behind her. “You still doing okay?” he asked, with a smile. 

“Yeah, I’m good,” she said, unsuccessfully covering a yawn. 

“I’m done for a little while,” he said. “If you want you can come lay on the couch back here and take a nap. It’s going to be late night Paris time by the time we land in New York.” 

“Thanks. I might in a little while.” 

“I’ve got to take a meeting with the guys in the back,” he said, stroking a gentle hand over her hair. “I’ll be back in a little bit. Call me if—”

“—I need anything.” She smiled. “I’m really fine.” 

“Okay.” He leaned forward, and kissed her forehead before retreating to the back of the plane. She heard some catcalls and whistles and a good-natured, “Yeah, yeah, knock it off,” before he slid the partition shut.  

It was funny, she thought, he really did treat her like she was his girlfriend, and not just a fuckbuddy or arm candy, either. The idea of that chat they were supposed to have, about what they really were to each other, suddenly made her stomach feel funny. 

This whole scenario was so insane. She couldn’t believe she could possibly be so good at sex that the hottest rock star on the planet (in all possible meanings of the world) would be enthralled by her. He hadn’t even tried anything sexual since they went to sleep last night. Though there hadn’t been many private moments. A salacious thought or two crossed her mind about joining the mile high club when he came back, but she wasn’t sure she was bold enough to have sex with him with just that one little fake wood sliding wall separating them from his entire staff. 

Marinette licked her lips and closed her sketchbook decisively. No more drawing in this mood. She got out her earphones and plugged them in, and turned some music on her phone. She didn’t have anything from Luka. She’d have to fix that soon. She really had had her head in the sand, Marinette thought, to have missed out on his music for this long. She put her chin on her fist and looked out at the night sky. There wasn’t anything particularly interesting out there now, the jet’s lights drowning at the stars and nothing but clouds or ocean below them, too dark to see clearly. 

Before long, she felt her eyes dropping, and her head nodding, so she moved over to the couch and stretched out. It was surprisingly comfortable, though she would have liked a pillow. She folded her arms under her head, and dropped off quickly.

She woke with a start when someone touched her. 

“It’s just me,” Luka said, kissing her cheek. “Can I join you?”

Marinette hummed agreement and scooted against the back of the couch. Luka somehow folded his lanky form onto the couch with her, tucking his bent legs between hers. He’d brought a pillow from somewhere that he propped under his own head, and his arms became Marinette’s pillow. Her neck was probably going to complain in the morning, but Luka was warm and smelled nice, and she was asleep again before she could overthink it. 

Emilio woke them up in time to strap in for their landing in New York. Luka gave Marinette an adorable sleepy smile as they both buckled in, and he reached his hand across the aisle. Marinette put her hand in his and felt him squeeze it. 

The airport wasn’t very full and all the shops were quiet and dark as they walked through. They mostly passed unremarked until they got to the door where their ride would be waiting. 

“Pappos ahoy,” Luka said quietly, leaning over Marinette’s shoulder. She could see the people milling around outside of the airport doors and at least one of them had a camera. “Have you decided?”

Marinette looked up at him and nodded. 

“Let’s do this then,” Luka grinned, and Marinette had to grin back. She reached up and smoothed her hair self-consciously, and felt Luka’s arm curl around her waist. 

They walked out of the door that way, Marinette keeping her face up and smiling brightly. Neither of them spoke to any of the reporters that shouted at them, looking only at each other.

As the driver opened the car door to let them in, they turned to each other. Marinette put her arms around his neck, and pressed up on her toes. He met her halfway in a soft, long kiss, giving plenty of time for the cameras to catch the whole thing. The flurry of shutter clicks was still going when they parted. Luka helped Marinette in the car and then slid in after her, kissing her one more time before the door closed. 

There’s your story, Alya, Marinette thought smugly, settling into the car seat.

Fiction Master Post

#lbscsecretadmirer2024 #event: lbsc secret admirer 2024 #lukanette #endgame lukanette #lukanette endgame #luka couffaine #marinette dupain cheng #pro lukamari

[lovebugs-and-snakecharmers]

Happy Valentine's Day everyone! But particularity @Misted-Glass as I bring a (hopefully) present surprise as it was I, your @lovebugs-and-snakecharmers secret valentine.

#event: lbsc secret admirer 2024 #lbscsecretadmirer2024 #lukanette #endgame lukanete #lukanette endgame #luka couffaine #marinette dupain cheng #pro lukamari #creator: celestiall0tus

[lovebugs-and-snakecharmers]

LBSC Sprint Challenge February 2024

The LBSC Sprint Challenge is now open for writers and artists!

We did things a little differently this month and asked our discord members for Valentine's related prompts, so you get a few extra prompts this month! If you're not feeling the Valentine's vibe, the Wildcard option is always available.

The prompts are:

1. Flower Delivery boy Luka getting an address wrong. Which means the girl who answered the door might just be available. 2. Tom decides to drop some hints to Luka that Marinette is single and Valentine’s Day is coming up. And everyone knows that the best way to a man’s brain is through pastries decorated with not so subtle hints. 3. Florist!Mari- the heat in her shop has gone out, and it's Soo cold. Luka makes a delivery of something that has to be refrigerated. 4. Sabine, seeing Luka and Mari dancing around each other (and maybe seeing Tom fail to get the two together) decides to take matters into her own hands and what better excuse to have Luka around than needing an extra pair of hands at the bakery with the valentines rush coming up? 5. The people of Paris are shocked to discover Ladybug doesn’t like Valentine’s Day. People have plenty of theories, but Luka’s pretty sure he knows the reason why. 6. There's ALWAYS an akuma on Valentine's Day. 7. Conversation Hearts 8. Marinette makes an apron with a conversation heart pattern. Luka takes the 'kiss me' heart very seriously. 9. After all the roses from Chat Noir, Marinette's a little...indifferent to the traditional Valentine's flower. Luka has to get inventive. 10. Kwamis give dating advice with… mixed results 11. Marinette loves soulmate stories and believes in true love. Lately, she's feeling down and starts to give up on the whole idea. Luka tries to put together or act out a Soulmate story/AU in real life to help her feel better/special. 12. Luka trying to work up the nerve to smooch Marinette. Attempts to ask by giving her the "KISS ME" conversation heart. Marinette, distracted by something else: "Ewwwwwww." 13. Luka and Marinette are both doing valentines deliveries and get trapped/stuck in an elevator together 14. Wildcard - pick any previous challenge prompt, or play LBSC Smooch Roulette to generate a prompt!

You have until Wednesday, February 28 to complete your 3 15-minute sprints/45 minute art sprint and post the results. Once you’ve completed the sprints, you have 24 hours to edit (which can include some new writing to smooth transitions and make it feel complete, and whatever work you feel appropriate to get your art to a state you consider ‘finished’).

Please note you may sprint in the language of your choice, and you can either translate the final fic before posting, post it in the original language, or both as you choose. You can join us on the LBSC discord or sprint on your own! Just be sure to tag @lovebugs-and-snakecharmers in your final post so we will see it and reblog it. The rest of the rules can be found here under the cut.

Rules!

We’ll post a beginning and end date to the challenge, and a prompt.

Writers, If you choose to participate in the event, write for that prompt in up to three 15 minute sprints. No writing outside the sprints until you have completed all three! After the 3 sprints are complete, you have 24 hours to edit (which can include some new writing to smooth transitions, etc). You can also choose to break that 45 minutes up differently if you find a different split works better for you.  After those 24 hours, post what you’ve got. Tag your posts with @lovebugs-and-snakecharmers so we can reblog it to the LBSC blog. If you post your work on AO3 or somewhere other than Tumblr, you can leave a link in our ask box or in the appropriate discord channel so we can be sure to promote it. After the designated challenge end date, we’ll compile a listing of the submissions and post it to the LBSC blog.

Feel free to sprint in whatever language is most comfortable to you! You can post it in your own language or translate it before posting, or both!

Artists, you have 45 minutes to sketch and 24 hours to do any cleanup or coloring you’d like to complete. You can split your 45 minutes up however you like, or not at all. There’s no requirements on your finished piece, just aim for whatever goal seems challenging but achievable to you.  Tag your posts with @lovebugs-and-snakecharmers so we can reblog it to the LBSC blog. If you post your work on Instagram or somewhere other than Tumblr, you can leave a link in our ask box or in the appropriate discord channel so we can be sure to promote it. After the designated challenge end date, we’ll compile a listing of the submissions and post it to the LBSC blog.

If you’re wavering as to whether or not you think you can accomplish anything in 45 minutes, we really encourage you to give the challenge a try. You may be surprised what you can do! Feel free to join us in the discord linked above so we can encourage and cheer you on.

Obviously, this has to run a bit on the honor system and we won’t be tracking your times, but please do your best to honor the spirit of the challenge! If your sprint fic becomes an Entire Thing (these things happen sometimes) and you want to continue it, feel free! However, please still post whatever you’ve got after your 3 sprints with the tag. No fair busting out a fully polished fic or art without showing us what it looked like at the challenge stage!

We want to keep this a positive space and event! This does NOT mean that you can’t write or draw anything critical of a character or episode, but it isn’t the space for character bashing or hate either. Please keep the characters in character and save the more speculative work for another time. NSFW sprint works are permitted but must be tagged appropriately (please use “NSFW LBSC sprint challenge” for easy filtering on the blog) and with appropriate warnings.  (More FAQ about the process here)

This is a Lukanette blog and a Lukanette event, so while Lukanette does not need to be the main ship, it needs to at least be included or referenced and considered endgame (in other words, they don’t have to be together by the end of your work, but the intent is that they’re headed in that direction). The decision about what qualifies for reblog rests solely with the LBSC moderators. If a piece hasn’t been reblogged within a couple of days, either the mods felt the piece didn’t meet the criteria or it was simply missed; you are welcome to reach out in the asks to inquire which. There are plenty of other spaces out there for other ships and OT3s, and people are welcome to use the challenge rules and prompts to write for their own ships! They just won’t be reblogged to the LBSC blog, and we ask that you please not use the event tag (a modified form is fine - “InsertAlternateShipName sprint challenge” instead of “LBSC sprint challenge,” for example).

Happy sprinting!

[lovebugs-and-snakecharmers]

LBSC Sprint Challenge February 2024

The LBSC Sprint Challenge is now open for writers and artists!

We did things a little differently this month and asked our discord members for Valentine's related prompts, so you get a few extra prompts this month! If you're not feeling the Valentine's vibe, the Wildcard option is always available.

The prompts are:

1. Flower Delivery boy Luka getting an address wrong. Which means the girl who answered the door might just be available. 2. Tom decides to drop some hints to Luka that Marinette is single and Valentine’s Day is coming up. And everyone knows that the best way to a man’s brain is through pastries decorated with not so subtle hints. 3. Florist!Mari- the heat in her shop has gone out, and it's Soo cold. Luka makes a delivery of something that has to be refrigerated. 4. Sabine, seeing Luka and Mari dancing around each other (and maybe seeing Tom fail to get the two together) decides to take matters into her own hands and what better excuse to have Luka around than needing an extra pair of hands at the bakery with the valentines rush coming up? 5. The people of Paris are shocked to discover Ladybug doesn’t like Valentine’s Day. People have plenty of theories, but Luka’s pretty sure he knows the reason why. 6. There's ALWAYS an akuma on Valentine's Day. 7. Conversation Hearts 8. Marinette makes an apron with a conversation heart pattern. Luka takes the 'kiss me' heart very seriously. 9. After all the roses from Chat Noir, Marinette's a little...indifferent to the traditional Valentine's flower. Luka has to get inventive. 10. Kwamis give dating advice with… mixed results 11. Marinette loves soulmate stories and believes in true love. Lately, she's feeling down and starts to give up on the whole idea. Luka tries to put together or act out a Soulmate story/AU in real life to help her feel better/special. 12. Luka trying to work up the nerve to smooch Marinette. Attempts to ask by giving her the "KISS ME" conversation heart. Marinette, distracted by something else: "Ewwwwwww." 13. Luka and Marinette are both doing valentines deliveries and get trapped/stuck in an elevator together 14. Wildcard - pick any previous challenge prompt, or play LBSC Smooch Roulette to generate a prompt!

You have until Wednesday, February 28 to complete your 3 15-minute sprints/45 minute art sprint and post the results. Once you’ve completed the sprints, you have 24 hours to edit (which can include some new writing to smooth transitions and make it feel complete, and whatever work you feel appropriate to get your art to a state you consider ‘finished’).

Please note you may sprint in the language of your choice, and you can either translate the final fic before posting, post it in the original language, or both as you choose. You can join us on the LBSC discord or sprint on your own! Just be sure to tag @lovebugs-and-snakecharmers in your final post so we will see it and reblog it. The rest of the rules can be found here under the cut.

Rules!

We’ll post a beginning and end date to the challenge, and a prompt.

Writers, If you choose to participate in the event, write for that prompt in up to three 15 minute sprints. No writing outside the sprints until you have completed all three! After the 3 sprints are complete, you have 24 hours to edit (which can include some new writing to smooth transitions, etc). You can also choose to break that 45 minutes up differently if you find a different split works better for you.  After those 24 hours, post what you’ve got. Tag your posts with @lovebugs-and-snakecharmers so we can reblog it to the LBSC blog. If you post your work on AO3 or somewhere other than Tumblr, you can leave a link in our ask box or in the appropriate discord channel so we can be sure to promote it. After the designated challenge end date, we’ll compile a listing of the submissions and post it to the LBSC blog.

Feel free to sprint in whatever language is most comfortable to you! You can post it in your own language or translate it before posting, or both!

Artists, you have 45 minutes to sketch and 24 hours to do any cleanup or coloring you’d like to complete. You can split your 45 minutes up however you like, or not at all. There’s no requirements on your finished piece, just aim for whatever goal seems challenging but achievable to you.  Tag your posts with @lovebugs-and-snakecharmers so we can reblog it to the LBSC blog. If you post your work on Instagram or somewhere other than Tumblr, you can leave a link in our ask box or in the appropriate discord channel so we can be sure to promote it. After the designated challenge end date, we’ll compile a listing of the submissions and post it to the LBSC blog.

If you’re wavering as to whether or not you think you can accomplish anything in 45 minutes, we really encourage you to give the challenge a try. You may be surprised what you can do! Feel free to join us in the discord linked above so we can encourage and cheer you on.

Obviously, this has to run a bit on the honor system and we won’t be tracking your times, but please do your best to honor the spirit of the challenge! If your sprint fic becomes an Entire Thing (these things happen sometimes) and you want to continue it, feel free! However, please still post whatever you’ve got after your 3 sprints with the tag. No fair busting out a fully polished fic or art without showing us what it looked like at the challenge stage!

We want to keep this a positive space and event! This does NOT mean that you can’t write or draw anything critical of a character or episode, but it isn’t the space for character bashing or hate either. Please keep the characters in character and save the more speculative work for another time. NSFW sprint works are permitted but must be tagged appropriately (please use “NSFW LBSC sprint challenge” for easy filtering on the blog) and with appropriate warnings.  (More FAQ about the process here)

This is a Lukanette blog and a Lukanette event, so while Lukanette does not need to be the main ship, it needs to at least be included or referenced and considered endgame (in other words, they don’t have to be together by the end of your work, but the intent is that they’re headed in that direction). The decision about what qualifies for reblog rests solely with the LBSC moderators. If a piece hasn’t been reblogged within a couple of days, either the mods felt the piece didn’t meet the criteria or it was simply missed; you are welcome to reach out in the asks to inquire which. There are plenty of other spaces out there for other ships and OT3s, and people are welcome to use the challenge rules and prompts to write for their own ships! They just won’t be reblogged to the LBSC blog, and we ask that you please not use the event tag (a modified form is fine - “InsertAlternateShipName sprint challenge” instead of “LBSC sprint challenge,” for example).

Happy sprinting!

#lbsc sprint challenge #lukanette #endgame lukanette #lukanette endgame #luka couffaine #marinette dupain cheng #pro lukamari #lukanette event

[lovebugs-and-snakecharmers]

Reminder the deadline to sign up for the LBSC Secret Admirer Exchange is end of day this Wednesday, January 10! See this post for info, schedule, and the link to sign up!

#event: lbsc secret admirer 2024 #lukanette #endgame lukanette #lukanette endgame #luka couffaine #marinette dupain cheng #pro lukamari

[lovebugs-and-snakecharmers]

A Lonely Christmas?

For @inkmousey, LBSC Secret Santa 2023

“Yes, Maman, I’ll be fine here by myself.” Marinette spoke into her phone. She was organizing her scrap materials... again. She picked up a teal-green square that reminded her of Viperion and set it aside to use later. 

“I just worry about you being alone on Christmas. You know we can always fly back-”  

“Maman. You and Dad have wanted to see your extended family for years now, and with the commissions I have, I wouldn’t have been able to go anyways, I’ll be fine! Promise.” Marinette reassured her mother for the fifth time today. Her parents landed in China yesterday and they wouldn’t stop fussing over her. She loves them dearly, but it was starting to feel like she was 14 again.  

“I’m 18 and more than capable of taking care of myself. Enjoy your vacation and give the family my love, okay?” Marinette sighed as she heard her mother's relucent agreement and hung up. Marinette sighed again as she put her scrap materials away.  

“Geez, they always worry too much about me, I’m fine and not alone!” Marinette turned to Mullo who was sleeping on her pillow next to Marinette. Smiling softly, Marinette quietly got up to make herself some tea and maybe pull out a cracker or two for Mullo when she wakes up.  

After setting the electric kettle to boil, Marinette brought down some of her favorite relaxing tea and her favorite mug from the kitchen cabinet. The quiet of the kitchen was starting to get to her. Normally the kitchen is busy with smells and laughter intermingled with talking. A creeping loneliness was starting to show itself, but Marinette grabbed her phone and set some holiday music to distract from it. She has been home alone before, and it's not a big deal. Why would now, be any different?  

Now, it was time for family and friends, but no one has the time for you, a villainous voice in Marinette’s mind said. She shook her head to dispel the thoughts, it wasn’t the time for depression to make a nuisance of itself. She had a duty to Paris and her commissions to think of.  

Hearing the kettle click off, Marinette grabbed the boiling water and made a mug of tea. Grabbing a few crackers along the way, she headed back upstairs to her bedroom where Mullo was waiting. She watched her Kwami sleep peacefully and Marinette put her tea on the bedside table.  

Mullo woke up to the sound of Marinette flopping onto her bed with a sleeve of crackers held to her chest. Muffled music still played from her phone in her back pocket. Another sigh escaped her. Maybe her parents weren’t over worrying about her. It was the first Christmas she had spent alone, and Marinette was... unhappy. 

Hawkmoth has been terrorizing people left and right, since the holidays started. It was all hands-on deck this year. Marinette felt glad she was relied on but, also sad that she couldn’t join her family in China. Until Hawkmoth was caught, all Miraculous holders were grounded to Paris. The upside was that she might even get to see Viperion. Although it was highly likely he, like the rest of the holders, had Christmas plans, Marinette let out another sigh.  

Marinette reached out for the tea she made and pulled her phone out of her pocket to silence the music that was still playing. Sipping the hot tea, Marinette contemplated what to do for the night, it was Christmas eve, and the weather wasn’t too cold, so she could go out on a run through the city patrolling.  

“Hey Mullo, what do you think about going out for a while?” Mullo munched on a cracker and smiled at her holder. 

“That sounds wonderful, Miss Marinette! I bet the night lights would be beautiful!” Mullo squeaked. Marinette nodded; a small smile graced her lips. Going out might be just the thing she needed, after grabbing the rest of the crackers, Marinette transformed into Multimouse, leapt out of her skylight and into the night air.  

The air was a little crisp, but Multimouse’s suit kept her warm as she sailed through the sky. Landing and bounding off to the next building Multimouse breathed the freedom that the miraculous gave her. After patrolling the city for about 30 minutes, Multimouse decided she would rest at the top of the Eiffel Tower. Upon reaching the top of the tower, Multimouse found a decently comfortable spot and sat down to look at the lights of the city. The city was beautiful at night, all lit up with Christmas lights and hardly anyone around. It gave the night an almost magical feel to it.  

Multimouse couldn’t have been there more than 10 minutes when she heard a crunch of gravel behind her. Whipping around Multimouse saw Viperion walking up to her, quietly gazing at her with a soft look on his face. She realized that Viperion was walking noisily on purpose to let her know that he was there, the kindness he showed warmed her heart and cheeks.  

“O-oh, Viperion! I didn’t expect to see you here.” Multimouse watched as Viperion gracefully sat down next to her and looked out at the city. They sat quietly for a few minutes, just enjoying the air and night lights. Their fingers a hair width apart from touching, shoulders brushing against each other when they moved to situate themselves.  

“S-so, why are you out here?” Multimouse asked. She nervously played with her fingers before looking up at Viperion and settling down again in a relaxed position.  

“My family has plans and I couldn’t go with, so I’m here by myself.” Viperion answered. He looked questioningly at her. 

“Oh, same. My parents left to visit family elsewhere.” Multimouse responded to Viperion’s unvoiced question.  

Viperion hummed, “Hmm, seems we both are alone this Christmas.”  

“Yup.”  

Silence blanketed them again, but it was comforting, to have someone nearby that understood. Viperion turned away from the city to look at Multimouse again. Multimouse sensed his gaze and looked back at him.  

“Come with me, there’s a place I want to take you,” Viperion said as he offered his hand out to Multimouse.  

She took his hand and stood up with him, “Where are we going?” Multimouse asked. Viperion just smiled and butterflies erupted in her stomach. They jumped from one rooftop to the next and kept an even steady pace. Then in ten minutes' time they reached their destination, Palace of Versailles.  

“Wha-” Multimouse started but Viperion put a finger to her lips, making them tingle. They were close together and Multimouse swallowed hard.  

“Trust me,” Viperion whispered. He removed his finger from her lips and took Multimouse’s hand as he led her into the gardens of the palace. Multimouse followed Viperion in a slight daze as they ventured further in. 

The gardens were covered in snow, winter plants sprung up here and there and the quiet of the city made Multimouse want to keep the serenity. When they reached the center of the gardens there was a fountain. Surprisingly water was still running through it. Viperion sat down on the edge of the fountain and Multimouse sat down next to him.  

“I come here occasionally when I'm feeling a little down.” Viperion said softly, almost a whisper, as if he too, was afraid to break the peacefulness of the gardens.  

Multimouse breathed deeply, enjoying the crisp night air and tranquility of the gardens. Smiling softly at Viperion she scooted closer to him and snuggled up into his side. This was an often-enough occurrence that neither of them thought much of it. Tonight, however, felt different. Maybe it was because of where they were, or the fact that it felt like a date, or maybe because it was Christmas, but Multimouse felt like this moment was way more... intimate, than the times before.  

“Hey, Mousey?” Viperion asked softly, slightly turning his head to gaze down at her. His mint green eyes slightly glowed while he looked at her. 

“Hmm?”  

“Happy Christmas,” he commented, Multimouse thought it was still too early for midnight but when she heard the clock tower strike 12 a moment later, she realized that this night had been going by quickly. 

“Happy Christmas, Viper.” Multimouse looked down at their hands feeling a charged energy in the air.  

Multimouse glanced up to see Viperion watching her, a blush rose up on her face, but she didn’t look away. Multimouse’s heart started to pound away in her chest as Viperion stared, he moved slightly to the side he cupped her back with an arm and moved his face closer but slowly toward her own. The air felt electrified and Multimouse licked her lips in anticipation. That grabbed Viperion’s attention, his gaze flickered down to her lips before looking back into her eyes. A silent question hung in the air, Multimouse realized that Viperion stopped, just a few inches away from her lips, and concluded that he was waiting for permission. Nodding her head slightly, Multimouse slowly closed her eyes as the two shared a soft kiss.  

It was a sweet and memorable moment for them. After pulling away from each other, Viperion rested his forehead against Multimouse’s. They breathed in each other's air, silently staring at each other, smiling softly with sparkling eyes. They still had lots to talk about, but at that moment everything was perfect. As they snuggled up to each other, Viperion and Multimouse sat in the gardens for a while longer, enjoying the peace and tranquility of the night. Later there would be talk of relationships, boundaries, identities revealed, and what they wanted for the future. For now, though, Viperion and Multimouse enjoyed the company of each other on what started as a lonely Christmas that developed into something more.  

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