Out of Place Maverick

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Starters will default to established interaction.

"The intention was to wait for your stomach to settle from all the cheese to help reunite you." Though Marcus didn't know how long that was going to take or if there was going to be an akuma attack during that span.

Marcus's kwami partner, Zirri, kept herself hidden inside a separate pocket of Marcus's coat. Her intention was to chide Plagg for his overconsumption once they were out of sight.

"If you were, you're the only one in the school that knows who I exactly am." Though Marcus personally didn't like that fact as he wanted to let people he trusts know that fact, but his trust is very fickle, hard to earn, easy to lose, and nearly impossible to regain. "If you weren't, I don't see how you can believe I am amazing." He didn't think he was amazing.

"It's nothing you need to concern yourself over." He was the type to shoulder other's burdens, but was very hard to relinquish his own trouble onto others.

"Something bothering you about the project Adrien?" He wasn't sure what they would say regarding the project, so he couldn't know off hand how to respond.

"There's an easily apparent change in your demeanor at the prospect. If you cannot keep up a facade reasonably well, you may gain the attention of someone who won't stop until they discover what you are hiding." Marcus would later point out. "I know this from experience, that self-control is key to keep from arousing suspicion."

Marinette was spending time with the other, and Adrien and they were studying for a test at school that happens in a few days.

Seeing her trip, the reaction between both him and Adrien was the same. Marcus was only more responsive because he could determine it happening in a few moments prior seeing her balance shift.

Almost tripping over his own feet in the process, the young man would scramble to his feet. "Are you alright Marinette?" He asks concerned, unsure if it was just an aspect that occurred around Adrien or if it was something else, but he would offer her a hand up to her feet.

"I do not have that much of a sweet tooth Marinette. Honestly, you seem to be putting too much effort into it." The young man started before deciding to go a bit more into detail.

"I am sure that he will appreciate the gesture regardless, but when one focuses too much on perfection, it can make a person very antsy." This was an aspect he personally knew, though he kept his full identity a secret from anyone until he can learn to trust them.

Taking a moment to tuck his hair behind his ears. "Focus more on intent than execution. He will enjoy them, just make sure to keep Chloe from trying to take them and the credit for your hard work. Don't worry, I'll be there to back you up." Marcus didn't fear Chloe and had no reservations about confronting her.

Marcus was partially happy to hear that she wanted to see them. He didn't see Marinette as the type of person that had an ulterior motive to ask.

He was also somewhat nervous, worried that his works fell short of how the actual Ladybug actually was. That was a constant worry of his, thus why at times he would stay up when he felt like there was a way to bring it closer to being worthy of their resemblances.

"I can show you one I keep with me if you want. Not sure how good it is compared to the real person. It won't ever be put on public display."

“Have you heard the phrase? Imitation is a form of flattery. I’m sure no matter what you think of your Ladybug statue, Ladybug herself would be flattered it was made in honor of her.” This was her way of telling Marcus that yes, she was down to see the statue!

“If it wasn’t for the circumstances that required Ladybug’s interjection, I would say that you are lucky.” Marcus couldn’t think of any moments after he transferred to the school that required Ladybug to save them. Probably meant that it occurred before he transferred or that it was after he got the Eagle Miraculous. 

Samantha would pull to a stop outside the gate and push on the communicator. 

“What?” A male voice that was a mixture of bored and annoyed at the interruption proclaimed on the other end. 

“Blake, it’s me.” Samantha stated, though her voice had slight agitation. She was worried that other people might have been received the same way, especially people that she had expected to arrive and hoped they had been ushered in. 

The line on the other end was silent but the door would open. “Couldn’t the gatekeeper be someone more hospitable while I was away?” Samantha groaned, mainly to herself as she pulls the limousine up to the front steps before heading out and opening the same door the pair had entered the vehicle earlier. 

Marcus’s face heated up in embarrassment. He had heard constant praise for his art, but a lot of them were constantly associated with a competition or those that just wanted to use it as a way to get into his good graces, the latter of which wasn’t really that hard to do.  Given the sculpture in question wasn’t on display as part of a competition to validate its worth in a museum and that he was keeping his full identity a secret, he didn’t feel like Marinette had any ulterior motive to provide what he considered a monumental compliment about his work.  “Okay, just don’t try to build up the hype too much. Don’t want to disappoint you.”  A light sky blue limousine pulls up and Samantha exits the driver door and moves over and opens the passenger’s door for the two of them.  “Probably a bit cliche and maybe trite. Ladies first.” Flaunting his wealth was equivalent to flaunting his identity, so he was very frugal about the way he acted, but he couldn’t control how he was picked up.  Chloe might just demean him as a mooching child from successful parents. That didn’t bother him, especially since it was a case of the pot calling the kettle black. 

“Probably a bit cliche, and maybe trite, but the rule nonetheless. Aren’t you a gentleman,” Marinette teased back at Marcus. She was drilled with manners herself by her parents like paying respects to Chloe the paying customer, so she wasn’t surprised, albeit, playful in the moment in observation of Marcus’ chivalry.

Samantha gave a friendly wave in return as she watched Marinette enter the limousine. 

Once Marinette was buckled in, Marcus followed suit on the side closest to the door and Samantha closed the door behind them before heading to the driver’s seat. 

“Don’t like displaying my status, but my dad doesn’t hold the same belief.” Marcus lamented before trying to make small talk. 

Marcus was partially happy to hear that she wanted to see them. He didn’t see Marinette as the type of person that had an ulterior motive to ask.

He was also somewhat nervous, worried that his works fell short of how the actual Ladybug actually was. That was a constant worry of his, thus why at times he would stay up when he felt like there was a way to bring it closer to being worthy of their resemblances.

“I can show you one I keep with me if you want. Not sure how good it is compared to the real person. It won’t ever be put on public display.”

“Have you heard the phrase? Imitation is a form of flattery. I’m sure no matter what you think of your Ladybug statue, Ladybug herself would be flattered it was made in honor of her.” This was her way of telling Marcus that yes, she was down to see the statue!

Zirri did her best to support her chosen, guiding him as best as she could, but there was times where aspects of tough love was needed. This was one such time. Her chosen was running a high fever, but was still intending to do another nighttime patrol tonight against the kwami’s wishes that he should rest.

Sneaking out of Marcus’s pocket during class on a search for a safe spot inside the school for the moment in case her chosen is able to come to his senses about his condition during the school day. Keeping herself close to the ground, she would fly around in her search, going into Marinette’s purse, crossing paths with Tikki.

“Ti….” The eagle kwami started blurting out in a surprised squeak to most people’s ears before she placed her wings over her mouth to keep from potentially drawing attention from her voice.

While Marinette was not under the weather herself, she was zoning out. Her head was arched, blankly looking down at the textbook in front of her. Sometimes, the only way she could survive being a zombie student was to record with her phone for when she was more alert. Though technically, she could be more alert if she wanted to…

Inside her purse was an assortment of student aides. Coffee candy for the caffeine. Gum for fresh breath. Cookies for Tikki. Tikki herself was napping, though she immediately woke to the squeak! The voice wasn’t mischievous or lazy or annoying like Plagg’s, who’s mastered the stealth of speaking to her during their humans’ class time. To her surprise, Zirri was now in front of her!

The amount of sweets in the area was slightly unsettling for the kwami, regardless of if it was all for her fellow kwami or not. Heeding the warning, Zirri would take several moments to recover from her surprise so she can speak in a lower voice. 

“Why do I feel like Plagg played some part in that discovery?” Zirri’s voice was a lot quieter, but Tikki could hear the exasperation. She has tried to get him to be more careful, but to no avail. At this point, she had given up, but that didn’t mean she stopped caring. 

“A-Anyways. My chosen is running a fever. Just checked their temperature this morning. It’s 100.4, but they still plan on doing a nighttime patrol. They don’t want to push more work on Ladybug and Chat Noir, which is why they won’t take it easy and rest, but I am terrified that their health might give from that fever at the worst moment. They’ll listen to Ladybug, can you get her to tell my chosen to get some rest?” The biggest worry for Zirri was that his health would fail during an akuma attack and such a mistake would cost him heavily. 

Marcus wrapped his right arm somewhat abashedly behind his back, his right hand lightly grasping his left wrist. “All of the other statues are located in museums in one location or another.” A shy smile appeared on his face. 

“It’s not a matter of size that is my worry about accuracy. Ladybug, Chat Noir and Argente are symbols of magnanimity. Ladybug and Chat Noir more so since of how long they have been helping the people. It’s a matter of presenting that feeling in the work that my work falls short of the genuine article. Until it can generate that same feeling, I will never feel that it gives the inspiration the justice, respect, and appreciation that they deserve.” 

It felt weird speaking so highly about himself, praise that he is still conflicted about whether or not he deserves, but he couldn’t exclude his hero counterpart lest he draw suspicion about that fact and he has to keep his identity a fact. 

His cheeks would darken out of embarrassment of his outcry about the statue, he would calm down somewhat as he still needed to address the matter of getting to his house. 

“Would you prefer to walk to my house to see the statue or if you don’t have much time in your schedule, I can call for a ride home.” Though Samantha would probably tease him about bringing a girl home. He didn’t know Marinette’s schedule and didn’t want to possibly intrude on a separate matter she has just for him. 

Magnanimity. Now that was a word she didn’t hear every day!

She noticed Marcus had a rich vocabulary that always made her wonder if they really belonged in the same grade or if he should have skipped a few levels. She got good grades herself but felt simple to the soul in comparison, losing focus in class, doodling dresses and eating sweets to stay awake.

Whatever Marcus did or used to stay up for his hawk eye focus for those statues, she better ask and take a note or two on.

The deterioration of the relationship between Marcus and his father played a part. Knowledge wise his father considered him ready to be several grades above his currently one, but Maurice decided that Marcus should be with others as mature as he was upon arriving at Paris. Not that Marcus knew this fact. 

“Would you like a cherry on top?” The young man jested playfully, leaning forward slightly, resting his hands on hips hips. Though he would pull out his phone and contacted Samantha, informing her about it being him and Marinette that she would be picking up and where both of them are. He would close the phone and return it to his pocket so it didn’t seem like he was possibly ignoring her using it.