Work Text:
202-/--/--
Kagami,
Hi, Kagami! I hope things are going well for you; I know it’s been a while since I had last written you… Things just got bad awful horrible crazy since that new girl joined the class. Mme. Bustier and most of the class seem to believe the things that she says. Things like how she knows this celebrity personally and how she’s helped out with that charity. Stuff like that. I have some people in my corner still who know she’s lying (as always), but we’re trying to take the high road and not call her out too often, like Adrien suggested. I don’t feel one-hundred-percent right that that’s what we should be doing, but since Kitty Section has a gig coming up, we’re more focused on that.
I know that the last time we had written, you had mentioned that big fencing tournament that was approaching. I'm hoping that this letter reaches you before it happens! I know you'll do great, and regardless of how it ends up, I hope you'll be proud of how well you compete. I know I'll be proud of you no matter what. I'm also sending a care package to you, separately from this letter. Maman and Papa wanted to make you something that could handle international travel well, and they're still experimenting.
(They want me to wish you good luck at the tournament, as well! They keep talking about how their niece is going to beat everyone to the customers. I know I've mentioned it once or twice before, but I hope it's still alright that they call you that. If it's not, please let me know right away!)
I also made you a skirt that's adjustable! I'm not sure if your size has changed in the last few months, but the buttons on the inside and outside of the waist can be repositioned to make the skirt a perfect fit. I put a little ~Marinette Magic~ into it, haha.
I know that you're probably reading this and frowning slightly at how I'm putting off talking about my sleeping habits. No, it hasn't really gotten better. I know I have a lot of late nights because of personal stuff, or design flurries, or stupid akumas. And, Gami, I promise I'm trying to do better. But there's a lot of people depending on me, in school and out of school, and I can't let them down. I'm scared of what might happen if I do. I just don't want to disappoint anybody.
I ought to start getting ready for bed. I appreciate you caring so much, and I know you know it's reciprocal! Good luck again at the tournament, and if she asks, please tell your おかあさん I wish her well.
加油！がんばって！
Marinette Dupain-Cheng
P.S. I've been working on my Japanese! Hopefully soon I'll be able to write more of my letters in your native language, like how you write in French for me :D
202-/--/--
Marinette,
Thank you for your well-wishes. They are very appreciated. おかあさん said, 「ありがとう、マリネットさん。」 Your letter did, in fact, arrive the day before the tournament. The care package that you and your parents had sent arrived yesterday, which is why I'm writing now. It would be more efficient to write after everything had arrived. Please let your parents know that the food they made held up during shipping, and that only a few of the snacks broke. おいしいです！ Even though it arrived after the tournament, I like how they made the snacks fencing themed. Particularly, my favorites were the spicy honey ones. I know in the past you've said they will sometimes send me foods they're testing out, and I do think that it would be a very good seller at the bakery.
Your skirt was, as always, very high quality. The fabric you chose, the heavier black one, hung well. I was pleasantly surprised at the inclusion of pockets. The embroidery of red and gold dragons and bees along the top and bottom hems was also very nice. When she ran her hands over your designs, おかあさん said she was able to feel it, as well. I like how even though the red and gold stand out against the black, the fact that it's just outlining with light details makes it feel subtle as well. Though I also like how over the button on the outside, you made the bee fully done in. You've really outdone yourself on this one, Nette. It's now become a staple piece in my wardrobe, and I've only had it for two days. At some point soon, I'll have to commission a matching blazer from you.
I saw the Kitty Section gig you had mentioned online. The band gave a great set! The song that was written by Luka and Juleka was a favorite of mine. It was easy to tell from how well it was crafted that they truly know each other inside and out. Rose is getting better at talking to the crowd between songs. I think that Ivan feeling more comfortable joining in on the banter of the other three is a great sign of improvement, too. Even though I don't know them personally, I've enjoyed watching them grow as performers. “Mutually Assured Connection” is now my warm-up song before practice.
I'm sorry that your class is falling for this girl's lies. Has Alya done anything to speak out against it? I recall you saying she wants to become a journalist when she grows up, and now would be the perfect time to put her investigative skills to work.
… Ah, well. Never mind about that. I just saw that she posted an… interview with the liar on the LadyBlog. Even if the girl is telling the truth about her and Ladybug being friends, I find it rather in poor taste that she would monopolize on the Protector of Paris' fame. Not only is it dangerous for her to do that, to make herself a target of Hawkmoth, it also shows a level of disrespect to Ladybug herself. If I were to be friends with Ladybug, I certainly wouldn't go around boasting about it. I'm sorry you have to deal with her on a daily basis, Nette. I think Adrien's choice to “take the high road” is, quite frankly, nonsense. If her lies are going to hurt people, as this latest one most certainly could, then she should be called out for it. It's good that you have Kitty Section and a few others in your class in your corner. If I were there, all of this would be solved quite easily, I think.
Marinette. I know it's difficult, but please try your best to get more sleep. You said that it's hard with so many people counting on and depending on you, but if you are not at your best because you lack sleep, it will only increase the chance of feeling like you will disappoint people. I hope that you will be able to get better rest soon. At least whenever Ladybug and Chat Noir and the other occasional heroes defeat Hawkmoth, there's one less thing to worry about. Stay safe.
ありがとうございます、
剣鏡
202-/--/--
鏡さん、
I told Maman and Papa your thoughts on the spicy honey treats. They’re going to do a “soft launch” and over this upcoming weekend, they’re going to be selling them and see how well they do. I’m glad you like your skirt, and I won’t lie, I am a little amazed that 你的妈妈也喜欢。(I’ve decided to work on my Mandarin as well as learning Japanese. There’s this… Older gentleman I have recently made the acquaintance of, and he forgets I’m not fluent sometimes. At least Maman is excited to work with me on it. She said that only speaking Mandarin with 我的舅舅 is getting extremely old. I’m trying to not feel guilty about the fact I haven’t put a lot of effort into improving until now. As Papa says, better to frost a cake late than to never frost it at all!) You don’t need to worry about commissioning me for a blazer! I’d do it for free. You’re one of my best friends.
Kitty Section is, as always, appreciative of your feedback. (Luka told me to write it with that exact wording. He said it would be funny?) “Mutually Assured Connection” is SOOOO good. My favorite song they performed, though, is definitely ”Unsung Melody”. There’s just something about it that makes me feel so comforted. Jules and Luka want to video chat with you soon, too. They want to meet their favorite critic, haha! I can’t believe that we haven’t video chatted with the whole band yet. I talk about both of you enough to each other that I guess I just forgot you’ve not met them.
I, uh, I saw the interview you’re talking about. I can’t believe Ayla posted it. Honestly, your words about not doing that if you were LB’s friend mean a lot to me. It’s hard to keep the people I love safe. I mean, that’s what I think Ladybug would say if she saw what you had written. It must be difficult for her to separate her hero life from her personal one. I can’t believe the stress that causes. I know that if you were here, Gami, that you would deal with this whole thing efficiently. It’s one of the things I admire and envy most about you—your way of getting to the point of things.
I’m working on the sleep thing. Hawkmoth hasn’t done anything in a few days, so I’ve been able to get a couple better nights in, thankfully. There’s this sort of tension in the air of Paris, though. We’re worried about what’s going to happen next, and when. I feel like it’s always going to be like this until he’s defeated.
I’ll write you again soon,
Marinette Dupain-Cheng
BREAKING NEWS: TSURUGI INDUSTRIES SIGNS PARTNERSHIP DEAL WITH GABRIEL
TOMOE TSURUGI AND HER DAUGHTER KAGAMI ARE RUMORED TO BE MOVING TO PARIS TO MAKE THE ACQUISITION EASIER TO NAVIGATE
Translations:
おかあさん = okaasan; "Mom" in Japanese
加油！ = jiāyóu; lit. "put more gas"; essentially is a phrase used to cheer people on and wish them good luck in Mandarin
がんばって！ = ganbatte; "Good Luck" in Japanese
「ありがとう、マリネットさん。」 = arigatō marinettosan'; "Thank you, Marinette" in Japanese
おいしいです！ = oiishidesu; "Delicious" in Japanese
ありがとうございます、 剣鏡 = arigatōgozaimasu, tsurugi kagami; "Thank you, Tsurugi Kagami" in Japanese
鏡さん = kagamisan; "Kagami" in Japanese
你的妈妈也喜欢。= nǐ de māma ye xǐhuan; "your mother likes it, too" in Mandarin
我的舅舅 = wǒ dí jiùjiù; "my uncle (on my mother's side)"