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Marinette stands off to the side as she watches Rose and Mylène put the finishing touches of the makeup on Juleka. She really hadn't expected her to be the one to volunteer to wear the clothes, but they really do suit her. In fact, Marinette thinks, flushing slightly, perhaps they suit her a bit too well, she wonders, looking at how the pants hug Juleka's legs just right.
"It sucks that Adrien wasn't able to come and help," Alya sighs. At the lack of response from Marinette she looks over to her, "Right Marinette?"
"Uh huh, yeah, a real shame," Marinette mumbles distractedly, still observing Juleka.
Alya raises an eyebrow and walks over to her and bumps her hip into her. Marinette flails slightly at being abruptly dragged back into reality. She looks over to Alya to see her examining her. She flushes at the inspection, dutifully looking away and going back to readying all the jewelry. Alya hums contemplatively, an idea forming in her head.
Marinette's thoughts wander as she digs through the jewelry box. She's designed tons of clothes before and even modeled them herself, but it really is a different experience seeing someone in Her Clothes, and it certainly doesn't hurt that its someone as pretty as Juleka.
Marinette walks back over to the girls just as Alya says, "How about a little smile for the camera, Juleka?"
"Uh, I don't think this is such a good idea, you guys, I…" mumbles Juleka.
"Is something wrong?" Marinette asks.
"I'm just not feeling that—" she says quietly, beginning to breathe faster and heavier.
Marinette walks right up to Juleka and rests her hands on Juleka's arms, "You know, it was really cool of you to agree to be my model, but I can tell you're not feeling that comfortable about it at all."
Alya smirks slightly as she gets an idea, "Come on, girls, let's give them some space and privacy," she says as she escorts everyone besides Marinette and Juleka out of the room, winking at Marinette as she does so. Marinette glares at her exasperatedly, rolling her eyes, before focusing back on what's important.
Juleka calms down now that it's just her and Marinette, but she's still visibly distressed.
Marinette frowns at seeing how stressed out she is, "Here come on Juleka lets sits down for a moment," she says, gently taking Juleka's hands in hers and sitting down with her on the chaise lounge.
She sits with her quietly, waiting patiently until Juleka has calmed down. They continue to sit there calmly for a moment.
"imsorryiruinedeverything," Juleka mutters.
Marinette frowns, "You didn't ruin anything Juleka! And let's forget about modeling for a moment, I'm more concerned with if you're okay."
"imokayimsorryforworryingyouguys"
"I'm glad that you're okay now but what happened? Was it anything we did? I just want to know, so that if there's anything we could've done or can do in the future to help you not feel like that."
"iguessifeltalittleclaustrophobic…"
Marinette takes a moment to think back to everything that happened before. She then gently hugs Juleka as she apologizes, "I'm sorry that we put too much pressure all on you at once, we'll make sure to avoid doing that again."
Juleka leans into the hug, resting her head in the crook of Marinette's neck. "I don't want you guys to have to treat me special though," she whispers into Marinette's ear.
Marinette shivers slightly at the feeling of Juleka's breath on her ear. Focus Marinette, she thinks, now is not the time to be hyper aware of how nicely she fits in your arms— ohmygod— She shakes her head, "It's not that we're giving you special treatment Jules, it's that were just being considerate of you and your boundaries and feelings. We would be bad friends if we were constantly making you feel uncomfortable, which is why it's good for us to know when we mess up, so we don't do it again," she reassures.
"iguessthatmakessense," she mumbles, curling more into Marinette's embrace.
Marinette easily accommodates the weight, smiling at how relaxed Juleka is now. "Are you feeling better now?" she asks gently rubbing her back.
"Yeah I feel better now, thanks Marinette," Juleka smiles, squeezing her, and separating.
Marinette smiles, leaning forward, nuzzling her head against Juleka's. She then stands up, slapping her hands against her hips, "Alright! Do you feel up for continuing? Or I can tell the girls that they should just head home, and we can continue to just relax?" she asks semi-hopefully.
Juleka ducks her head, "imeanidontwannakickthemoutoranythingbutithinkidpreferifitwasjustus…" she mumbles quickly, trailing off at the end.
Marinette smiles gently at her, "Don't worry about it at all, Jules, they understand I'm sure, and they already left the room willingly so it's not like were kicking them out or anything," she says, texting Alya the details.
Juleka feels her eyes drooping as she sways slightly before shaking her head swiftly to keep herself up. Marinette giggles softly at the sight, "I know that everything was draining today, if you want you can feel free to rest for a bit, I have no plans for the day, so you don't have to leave at all and I'd gladly spend the rest of it with you," she suggests a little hopefully, hoping she's not being too obvious.
Juleka hears the hope in Marinette's voice and blushes slightly, "imeanifyoursureitsokay," she says quietly.
"It's more than okay Juleka, we don't really ever hang out much one on one anyway so I'm very happy to get to have you all to myself for once," she giggles, side hugging her.
Juleka smiles, leaning into Marinette's casual affection happily. She feels her eyes falling shut again as she yawns and curls into her side slightly, before blushing and standing up, embarrassed, to wake herself up upon realizing what she was doing.
Marinette is smiling with her face slightly red, "Aww, I wouldn't have minded cuddling," she says, slightly flirtatious.
Juleka's blush deepens. "I don't wanna make things weird at all," she says, letting honesty seep into her voice.
Marinette's smile softens as she stands up and walks up to her, "trust me, Juleka, I wouldn't think it's weird at all," she says, slowly grasping her hand and intertwining their fingers.
Juleka gasps slightly, looking back and forth between their hands and her face for a moment, "doyoumean?" she whispers, slightly disbelieving.
"It can mean whatever you want it to, Juleka, I don't ever want you to feel like you're being forced out of your comfort zone or being pressured, but I like you a lot and like spending time with you and I think your very pretty, and I hope that you don't find me unappealing… I mean I know I can be pretty weird sometimes or act a little crazy or— " she starts rambling.
Juleka cuts her off by squeezing her hand, smiling at her as she rests her head atop Marinette's. Marinette squeaks for a moment going red as she stops talking.
"You're amazing Marinette, I'm really honored that you feel like that about me, I'd really like to try seeing where this goes with you too," Juleka says, quietly, but assuredly.
Marinette smiles and squeals slightly before hugging her enthusiastically and tightly. Juleka lets out a small "oomf" at the sudden pressure before laughing softly and returning the hug. She yawns again, suddenly feeling the weight and tiredness she had forgotten about momentarily returning with a vengeance. Marinette shakes her head in kind exasperation and pulls Juleka along with her towards the bed.
"whatarewedoing?" Juleka sleepily wonders.
"We're taking a nap silly, todays been a long day what with the akuma attack and then school, then the modeling, and then the panic attack, so I think we deserve a moment to just relax completely and rest," Marinette says, beginning to climb the stairs.
Juleka follows her sleepily, climbing up the stairs behind her. Once Marinette reaches the top she turns around and helps pull Juleka up and into the bed lying next to her and gently spoons her. Juleka blushes madly at the situation but is too tired to pretend to have any sort of objection to it. Marinette blushes as well squealing internally with her face safely hidden behind Juleka's head. She calms herself before wrapping her arms around Juleka snugly and nuzzling her head against Juleka's neck as they cuddle.
"Rest well, Juleka," Marinette says quietly.
"gnightmarinette," Juleka mumbles as she enters the realm of dreams.