The Algorithm

Chapter nineteen - Human Zoo

"Last time we thought you were still at GUARD. This time you will have a commlink and we will be fully aware of what is happening to you. Everything will be fine." She said reassuringly, but it was not Adrien she was trying to reassure. The boy had courage and loyalty to spare and was not worried about his performance in the field, Plagg and her had already taught him mission protocol. It was Marinette, who was still chewing the inside of her lip with anxiousness, that Tikki was trying to calm down.

Marinette still wasn't sure about this. She could not see him get hurt again. He turned her head to look past Plagg at the blonde boy but he was gone. She searched through the mess of fabric with her eyes until she spotted Kaalki taking him to a room so they could start the design process. Suddenly, Longg was bringing her to her own room as well.

The room had scissors, thread, and needles organized neatly on a table near a sewing machine and ironing board. The room was adequately sized and had good lighting. Sketches of skirts and jackets hung on the walls, all drawn with a gentle steady hand. Longg was rummaging through a file cabinet and pulled out a journal that was already half-filled with designs.

Besides the sound of Longg mumbling to himself, she could hear Adrien sneaking continuously on the other side of the wall. He had mentioned he was allergic to feathers and she snuffed out a laugh.

"So we need to make you look like an animal but which?" Longg said while tapping the end of a pencil against his chin. So far the page in front of him was blank but Marinette knew from numerous hours spent with Longg that soon the page would have a detailed drawing of flowing fabric and beautiful colors. "What are you thinking?" He asked Marinette who was looking over his shoulder at the empty journal page.

Marinette always liked how Longg would ask her what she thought, even though she knew nothing of fashion, it added a sense of personalization to the finished garment. Everything Longg made emanated him, you could see him in the folds of linen he created and the delicately stitched hem he threaded with care, but when he asked Marinette for her impute and ideas it made it feel like it emanated a little bit of her too.

"I'm not sure there are a lot of animals to choose from."

"I know!" Longg exclaimed. "A hummingbird, no. An octopus, no. A bear, no." Marinette put a hand on his shoulder to stop him.

"Slow down." She said, "We have time, no need to rush, just focus on the page and it will come to you." She had seen him do it before, she didn't understand how but he was able to see ruffles and lace and sketch them down with immense skill. But today Long's mind was too full of stitches and kitting that he could fill the page a hundred times over. He needed to narrow down his ideas.

"What about fabric, what do you want to wear?" Marinette shrugged. Types of fabric and their best uses were beyond her. Longg chewed his pencil lightly. "What about color? Any ideas?" But before Marinette could answer he shot up from his seat. "Red! Of course, your color is red, it's always been red, red is amazing." Marinette could tell he liked the color based on how he was dressed, and she rather liked the color herself, but couldn't think of an animal who wore the color.

Longg left her alone for a few minutes before returning with rolls on rolls of red fabric and set them on the table. Crimson linen, maroon wool, burgundy tapestry, raspberry upholstery. Marinette's eyes were drawn to a scarlet satin. She rubbed the corner of the cloth in between her fingers. It was soft and light but still carried great depth to it. The color was matte but still shined when it caught the light. The deep red was perfect.

"This one." She said and Longg nodded his agreement.

"Good choice." He stated.

"But what animal will I be?" Marinette asked. "I can't think of anything red."