Chapter Text
Marinette had opened her door to find Alya and Adrien on her porch.
“What…?”
“I said I’d help you with your prep for the pageant, but I thought Adrien could help too! He’s got modeling experience, remember?”
They found themselves in Marinette’s room, trying to figure out what kind of attitude would work for her in the modeling portion of the pageant. Nothing was working.
“The model walk is a bit different for male and female models, but I’ll do my best.” He hesitated. “So I was always taught that there’s a bit of a backward shoulder roll with the male walk, so…just give it a try?”
“So like this?” He watched, but she was far too uptight and nervous.
“Yeah, and it’s a bit different for women’s walk, but…uh. Look, it’s a bit like this. Walk, and try to mimic me. I’ll show you.”
She walked and almost jumped as he put his hands on her shoulders and pushed gently to show how they should move. “The biggest difficulty with it all is that you have to be very carefully in control, but you need to look relaxed and confident.”
“I look ridiculous,” Marinette groaned.
Alya giggled. “I still can’t believe you agreed to this.”
“What choice did I have? My mom signed me up!” Marinette sighed and flopped down on the couch.
Alya crossed her arms. “I still think you should use the murder walk.”
Adrien glanced at her. “Murder walk…?”
Marinette flopped back, pulling a pillow over her face. “Noooooo.”
“When she’s really mad, Marinette does this walk where she looks like she’s going to kill someone. “
“I’m not using the murder walk!”
Adrien watched, frowning slightly, then perked up. “Look, walk like you’ve already killed someone. Like your problem is taken care of, and now you can go home and…have a cup of tea or something.”
“This is so stupid.”
“Just try it!”
Marinette squared her shoulders and advanced, but it all felt wrong.
Alya groaned. “That’s not even close.”
“Why don’t you…” Adrien stopped as his phone rang. He pulled it out and took a look at it for a moment. “Uh, give me a minute guys. I have to take this.”
“Look, he’s gone. At least give what he said a try. Do the murder walk and then act like everything is alright.”
“Noooo, it’ll look so stupid. I need to figure out an actual model walk, not something you think just…looks alright.”
Alya grinned. “If you don’t do it, I’ll tell him you used to like him!”
“Don’t you dare!” Marinette spun around and glared at her. Alya gave a gleeful shout as Marinette walked toward her furiously and Adrien walked back into the room, a surprised expression on his face.
“That’s not a model walk, but it’s actually…not that bad.”
Marinette spun around, playing it off like she hadn’t been prepared to strangle her best friend. “Aggghh, you’re both the worst!”