#“i miss him too” -gabriel the liar

[eightofpents]

Their phone bill is enormous.

[justmeinadaze]

Little Girl Gone Part 6 (Steddie X You)

A/N: Ok, I forgoed the heavy cliffhanger I wanted to end it on but still have one none the less so don't get too cocky! Lol <3.

Warnings: Dom Officer Harrington/Gangster Munson & Sub Doctor Fem Reader, no smut today, lads!

Lots of angst! Eddie was arrested and Y/N gets interrogated. Mentions of deaths involving gunshots, child abuse from Eddie's father mentioned, Eddie hurt pretty bad in this (black eye, bruises, and burns) but not mentioned in in-depth detail. Reader is attacked by someone in her apartment but is rescued.

Word Count: 4271

Series here/ Donate to my Ko-Fi

Falling out the side building, Steve looked around jumping to the ground and reached up for you to do the same. Taking your hand, you both ran to your car and he opened the door for you ushering you in. 

After speeding away, he paused on the side of the road to catch his bearings and check his phone. 

“Shit. They called me like 10 times. FUCK!”, he growls as he slams his hands on the steering wheel. “I could have warned him. I could’ve—”

“Steve, this isn’t your fault; it’s Gabe’s.”, you try to soothe as you rub his back. 

“I need to see what they know and where they are putting him for the time being. Just go home and wait there, ok?”

“What if the cops come?”

The officer sighs as he intertwines his fingers with yours. 

“If they do, just remember what we taught you.” As you nod, he hastily leans down and kisses your lips. “Everything will be ok, honey.”

***

Two hours later, the cops did come for you insisting it was just to talk; not even putting handcuffs on you as you rode in the police cruiser to the station. Leading you to an integration room, you waited another thirty minutes before Steve and the detective you had seen him with before open the door. 

“Hey Y/N. It’s good to see you again. I’m not sure if you remember me. I’m—”

“Detective Hopper…and this is Officer Harrington. I remember you two.”

“Good. Very good.”, he grins warmly. “Is there anything you need before we begin?”

“Begin what exactly? I was told I’m not under arrest so what AM I here for?”

“Huh. So you haven’t heard Eddie Munson was arrested this morning?”

“What? No, I hadn’t. You people woke me up to come here! Why did you arrest him?! He hasn’t done anything wrong!” Your eyes narrowed as you faked shock. 

“Calm down, Miss Y/L/N. We’re just asking questions, ok?”, Steve sighed your way with annoyance laced in his tone. “You are dating a gangster.”

“I’m dating a businessman. He’s not the monster you people make him out to be. And it’s DOCTOR Y/L/N, asshole.”

“Well, if I may doctor, do you know this man here?”

Detective Hopper slides an image of your ex across the table towards you. 

“Yeah, I mean that’s my ex from college Gabriel Wiley but I haven’t seen him sense he went in almost three years ago. Why and what does this have to do with Eddie?”

“It seems he had some information in regard to your boyfriend that could put him away for a long time.”

“I hope you didn’t take him seriously because Gabe was a notorious liar.”

“Hm, well unfortunately we’ll never find that out from him or anything else he wanted to tell us.” 

While waiting for him to continue your eyes flick towards Steve whose features seem to paint more than just worry along his face. He knows something but he hasn’t been able to tell you or Eddie yet. Sliding another picture your way, your eyes widen as you gasp. 

“He was murdered sometime last night.”

A commotion suddenly erupts outside with officers shouting for backup. The door to your room flies open as the gangster quickly slides to your side and grabs your hand. 

“Listen to me, Y/N. Don’t listen to a thing they say, alright? I didn’t kill him. I swear on my mother, sweetheart. I’d never hurt you like that!” As Eddie’s pleas tumble out, policemen tackle him and force the cuffs onto him again as they begin to drag him back out into the lobby. “I didn’t kill him, Y/N! Please! Believe me! I didn’t do this!”

Glancing towards Steve again, you notice he’s wearing that sarcastic smirk you had seen many times but it didn’t match the frightened look that reflected back in his own eyes. It was taking everything in him to be calm and appear unphased as his world fell apart. 

“Don’t tell me you really think he killed Gabe?  Edward Munson isn’t capable of murder.”, you growled. “Plus, we were together last night.”

“Doing what?”

“Take a guess.”, you spit.

“Control your tone, little girl.”, Steve sasses making the other officer roll his eyes. 

“Harrington, calm down. Miss—Dr. Y/L/N—we’re still doing an autopsy to find out when Mr. Wiley was murdered but at this time we have to ask, you don’t think he’d kill him out of jealousy? I mean this is your ex threatening to expose him. Of course, he’d—”

“Of course…because he comes from a crime ridden family my boyfriend would HAVE to have it in him to hurt someone like that, right? Eddie isn’t like his father. Plus, something like this doesn’t reflect a crime of passion.”

“What do you mean?”

Again, your eyes shift towards Steve who now genuinely seems to be interested in your theory. 

“Gabe was shot in the head from what I see here. It’s too clean…as if someone wanted to just do this job quick and get it over with. If this WAS jealousy there would be more signs of trauma or he would have used a weapon more personal like a knife.”

“So, who else would want Mr. Wiley dead then?”

“You said he was going to sell out Eddie and you believe Eddie took over his father’s empire…” Steve stands up straighter at your implicated as the detective seems more confused making you huff. “Jesus and you’re a detective? It has to be someone who was trying to protect Allen.”

“Someone in his gang you think?”

“Well…only officers knew Gabe was going to make a statement right?”

Hopper’s eyes darken as he glares in your equally angry irises.

“That’s a big leap you’re making, Y/N.”

“Is it, Jim?”, you ask sarcastically squaring your shoulders. “I want Eddie out of here now.”

“Once we can confirm your alibi for him with the time of death and we finish searching his building he’s all yours. You may leave now.”

Gathering your things, you fume as you stomp out of the interrogation room and head for your car. Purposely leaving something behind, you wait in your vehicle until Steve finally runs out with your phone in his hand. 

“You did so fucking good, honey. Are you ok? I’m sorry. They just told me about Gabe before we walked into the room.”

“I know. I know. I trust you. We need to get Eddie out of there, Steve. He’s not safe.”

“I’m doing everything I can to hurry these results. Thankfully, he was able to get a message to Jeff and the guys were able to hide all the supplies so they haven’t found anything nor will they.”

“Do you have any idea who would kill Gabe to silence him?”

“No and I feel like a fucking idiot for not thinking of that. I can’t be the only dirty cop right?”

“Sweetheart, you protect him and me, not every criminal in Hawkins.”, you try to sooth as you lightly touch his hand that was resting on your car. 

“I’m going to focus on getting him out. Go back to your apartment and hopefully the next time I see you…he’ll be with me.”

##############

18 hours. 

18 long arduous hours past and you still hadn’t heard anything. You called into work siting illness and left one of your nurses in charge. You barely sat down for a moment, refusing to sleep as you paced. 

When someone knocked on your door, you didn’t even hesitate as you ran to open it. 

“Oh. Hi. Um, can I help you?”, you asked to the stranger in front of you. 

“Yes, are you Y/N? Steve said I should wait here.”

“May I ask who you are?”

“I’m Wayne, Eddie’s uncle.”, he announced as he walked past you and took a seat on your sofa. “Fucking Allen. I tried to go to the police station to raise hell but they wouldn’t let my nephew go. I went to the prison to try and talk to him but his father spoke to me instead. Said that Eddie was ‘indisposed’.” At his words, your eyes widened in fear as you ran towards your phone. “Steve said the results came in so he’s bringing him here soon.”

“O-Ok.”, you stutter as you sit beside him before immediately rising to your feet again. “W-Would you like anything? Any coffee or?”

“No, sweetheart, I’m fine. Thank you. It’s nice to finally meet you. He talks about you and Steve all the time. He calls you two his Paladin and his Princess.”, he chuckles making you smile. “I’m glad he’s happy. After everything that boy has been through he deserves it.”

Your front door abruptly opens with Jeff and Steve carrying an unconscious Eddie over each of their shoulders with Gareth trailing behind. Your doctor mode promptly kicked in as they placed him on your bed and you checked him over. 

“He passed out in the car. I’m surprised he was able to even fucking walk out of the station.”, the officer relayed with a shake in his tone. “I don’t know what they did to him but…”

“I imagine it was Allen. If your theory about an officer is correct, that same officer could have told him that he hadn’t followed through with killing the ex. This would be punishment.”, Wayne responded as he watched you work. 

“It’s Eddie’s gang. He can do what he wants.”, Garth growled. 

“Not to Allen, son.”

“Eddie, baby. Can you open your eyes and look at me?”, you asked in a stern but comforting voice as you caressed his cheek. He was littered in bruises especially along his stomach and face. His eye was beginning to swell and his nose had dried blood underneath it staining his skin. What killed you the most where what looked like cigarette burns on his arms. “Jeff, in my kitchen under the cabinet I have a first aid kit with some burn cream and bandages meant for burns. Can you bring that to me?”

“Yes, ma’am.”

“I brought this from my apartment. I didn’t know if…” Steve hands you the medicine you prescribed him for his own bruises making you smile up at him as you kiss his hand. 

“I don’t think anything’s broken but—”

“Can you boys go back to his building and assess what the police did? If anything is out of place or missing let Steve or myself know. Please be careful. If this is a cops doing…” Both men nod as they run off to do what Wayne commanded. Pulling the officer aside, they whisper to each other as you focus. “What did you find out?”

“Gabe reached out to the station from a hotel outside of town. One officer answered and two others went to pick him up. They were the ones who reported his body. Eddie’s guy dropped him off at 1am, he texted her at 3am… his time of death was estimated between 3 and 3:30.” As he said his last sentence, Steve’s eyes locked with your own. 

You ex most likely texted you believing that someone was there to protect him before being murdered. You were the last person to hear from him. At the time they knew you wouldn’t but Eddie had offered to drive you to where he was. If for some reason you said you wanted to be with Gabe instead of them, you would most likely be dead to.

“I’m so sorry, honey.”

You nod as you turn away and place an ice pack on the gangsters abs. 

“I’m going to do some research on those cops. When did they report the ex’s body?”

“Around 5. They left the station around 4.”

“Ok…I’ll still do a check but…I’ll be back. Keep me updated, Steven.”

The officer nodded after him as Wayne left the apartment and grabbed one of your dining room chairs so he could sit near you both but not be in the way. 

“What does he do; Eddie’s uncle?”, you mumble. 

“He used to be a manager at one of the plants over here. Did that till Ed graduated. After, he got into private eye work helping families reconnect and shit like that. He’s actually really good at it.”, he smirks as his sad eyes watch you finish taping his partner’s arm. “Is he gonna be ok?”

“I think so. It seems like his dad…wanted to torture him…more than kill him.” As you begin to sob, Steve collects you in his arms and places you on his lap. “I don’t understand how a parent could do something like this.”

“Because Allen isn’t a parent; never fucking was. The Munson’s in those early years were extremely ruthless and vindictive. He killed for pleasure and ran his side of town like a fucking dictator. He was the same way with Eddie. From what he told me anyway. Abandoning him with Wayne was the best thing that asshole ever did for him.”

While Steve passed out beside him holding the gangster’s hand, you stayed awake constantly checking on his progress and making sure he was still breathing. Not being able to keep your eyes open any longer, you fell asleep in the chair beside him with your head against the mattress. 

***

Waking up with a start, you gasped before calming yourself when you realized everything was alright, it had just begun to lightly rain outside. Steve was gone but left a note by your hand saying he left to go meet Wayne and get some more details but he’d be back in a few hours. 

After quickly checking over Eddie, you headed down your hall towards your kitchen to get some water but as soon as you crossed the threshold of the hallway something hard collided with your face. Falling to the floor, you try to collect yourself but whoever hit you was faster, pinning you to the ground and wrapping their hands around your neck.

You tried to scream but you couldn’t breathe as you slowly began losing air. The world around you began to go dark and you knew soon you’d be gone. 

The person above you abruptly howled in pain, falling to his side as you rolled over and coughed trying to collect as much oxygen as you could. You heard the struggle behind you before silence suddenly fell over the room. When a bloody hand touched your hip, you begin to limply fight back.

“It’s me. It’s me, sweetheart. It’s me. Are you ok?”, Eddie asked as crawled closer to you. 

A broken cry escaped you as you circled your arms around his neck and he clung you tightly to his chest. The door to your apartment quietly opened but as the officer came around the corner he was anything but.

“Jesus Christ! What the fuck happened? Are you two alright?!”, Steve asked as he skidded to his knees and Wayne turned on the lights. 

When he tried to touch you to check on you, you didn’t even look his way as you held on to the gangster tighter and buried your face in the nook of his neck. Eddie could feel your hands and body still shaking and it killed him. 

“It looks like we were right, Steven.”, Eddie’s uncle sighs as he pulls his nephew’s knife out of the other officer’s back. “Officer Douglas…I guess he came here to finish Gabe’s job. He’s still alive. Was there anything else you wanted to get out of him or can we do this quickly and cleanly?”

“Leave him there.”, Eddie answered for him flatly as he placed his palm against the back of your head, petting your hair tenderly.”

“Edward, this is a cop. Are you sure you want to—”

“LEAVE HIM THERE!” Steve jumped at his loud growl, never hearing this particular tone before from the man he loved.

Giving him a final nod, Wayne patted the other man’s shoulder comfortingly before heading out the door and leaving you three alone. Unsure of what to do next, Steve kicked into the only other gear he knew, grabbing another one of your chairs from the dining room and dragging the knocked-out officer to it before tying his hands behind his back.

“Look at me, baby. Let me see you.”, Eddie cooed as his hands cupped your face and tilted your head back. You had a cut above your eye that was beginning to swell and purple bruises were starting to form around your neck from where the man had choked you. “Do you think can stand so we can sit on the couch?”, he whispered.

Without waiting for an answer, Steve bent down and lifted you into his arms, placing you on the sofa before coming back to take Eddie’s hand and guiding him to sit beside you. You both listened as he headed towards your room and came back with the first aid materials he saw you use on his partner. 

While you watched the officer fumble with getting everything together, the gangster kept his eyes you, taking note of your silent but seemingly calm demeanor. Sitting on your coffee table, Steve cleaned your wound carefully trying not to cause you anymore pain. As he started tearing open the bandage, you reached out to stop him, lightly tapping his hand and pointing towards the gauze squares. 

When he finishes his task, he glances over at Eddie, silently asking if he needs any first aid but the man shakes his head. 

“I’ll keep an eye on him. You two go lay down.”

After rising to your feet, you took the gangster’s hand and slung his arm behind your neck as you guided him back your bedroom. As you curled up in his side, his fingers absently played with your hair as he glared up at the ceiling. Not being able to control it, you began to cry again as he held you tighter to his body. 

“Whenever my dad would scream and yell at men in our house, my mom used to hold me by her side just like this.  After she died, he started screaming at me.  I could never do anything right and he accused me constantly of being weak like her.” 

You didn’t move or acknowledge you were listening but he knew you were, turning his head till his check rested on your forehead.

“That last year was the worst… he needed to get through to me, he said. He hired some of his goons to jump me when I was walking home from school to beat the shit out of me. When I was 12, Wayne said he wouldn’t tolerate this anymore. ‘Give me Eddie and I’ll take care of him.’ My dad dropped me off three hours later… I told myself when I took over that I would never treat any of my men the way he treated me and I don’t. He still has people though that are loyal to the ‘original true Munson’. They helped him carry out this particular punishment.”

As he murmured his last couple of words, you pushed up on your elbow to look at his face and his sad, heavy eyes met yours. 

“I think it’s my turn to punish Allen… starting with that fucker out there…”

There was a darkness that clouded his eyes then. Something you had never seen before, rattling you slightly as you blinked and laid your head back down against his chest. 

###############

That morning when you woke up, you were alone but you could hear their voices as they spoke in your living room. 

“How many more cops work for Allen?”, Steve asked angerly to the man tied to the chair. 

“You know, Harrington, I never would have taken you for dirty. You could have been making way more money if you picked the right Munson.”

Ringed fingers grabbed the other officer’s throat violently as Eddie pressed his nose to his own. 

“You attacked and almost killed someone important to us. No matter what you aren’t going to leave this building alive but you’re the one that gets to choose if it’s quick or a slow, agonizing, painful death. Be lucky you’re getting the fucking option.”, he spat he let the man go and punched him hard in the stomach. 

“What does it…matter…freak?”, Officer Douglas coughed. “Your father has allies everywhere. That bitch was marked for death and it will happen. Wait until he finds out you’re fucking a cop to. He’ll probably follow through with finally killing your ass!”

“Did you kill Gabe?”, you asked as all heads shift your way.

“Fuck you.”, he cursed causing Steve to punch his face, spraying blood on the floor.

“She asked you something. Fucking answer.”

The other man chuckled as he threw his head back to glare your way. 

“Yeah, I killed him. I’d like to tell you he went out like a man but little shit cried begging, fucking BEGGING, for us to spare you. ‘Please! Please! She’s a good woman! Leave her be! Wa-wa.’”

You have no idea what came over you but you flew towards him, swiftly taking Eddie’s knife in your hand, and pointing it at the man’s throat. 

“You won’t do it, little girl.”

“Oh yeah? You killed someone I cared about, tried to kill me, and then you and your little fake gang of nostalgic assholes hurt one of the men I love. Why shouldn’t I?”

“Because you’re weak. Just. Like. Them.”, he grumbled sassily.

Who you were and you were becoming began fighting within your brain as the knife began to quiver in your grasp. You wanted nothing more than to hurt this man like he had you but you were scared. A steady breath warmed the back of your neck as Eddie’s palm slid down your arm and he wrapped his own hand around yours holding the weapon. 

“Don’t think about it. If you think about it, you’ll talk yourself out of it.”, he whispered. 

“Eddie—”

“Shut the fuck up Steve.”, the gangster growled as his other arm wrapped around your stomach and pressed your back against him. “You can do it, pretty girl. You aren’t weak are you?”

“No.”

“Louder.”

“No, sir. I’m NOT weak.”

“Then do it, princess. Do you think he was going to show you any mercy when he had his hands around your throat? No. He was going to fucking kill you. Return the favor.”

Before you could do anything, a loud bang from Steve’s gun filled your ears as they began to ring and Eddie lightly pushed you away from him, taking his knife from your grasp. 

“I know you’re hurting and these last few days have been rough but that does not give you license to play with her like that.”, Steve sneered in anger towards his partner. “If she wants to kill someone, that’s up to her. If she wanted to kill him, I would have let her but what you just did…trying to force her…”

“I wasn’t forcing her. I was encouraging.”

“Bullshit.”

“She needs to become stronger for what’s in store, Steven. More people are going to come after her until it gets through to Allen that I’M in charge. I know the line has been blurred because of our relationship but let me remind me of something, babe. I’m the gangster and I run a business. Jason was smart enough to back away but my father isn’t and it’s my turn to teach him a lesson. ANYONE who is loyal to that man will be put down. I’m done playing nice guy.”

“Edward Munson—”

“What, Steven Harrington? Are you going to throw me in jail and turn yourself in? Yeah, now we know what your police force does with people like that so give it a go.” The officer cocks his gun again and points the barrel towards his boyfriend’s head. “What are you going to do, sweetheart, huh? You’re gonna kill me?”

Tears stung Steve’s eyes as his hand began to shake.

“Please, honey, don’t do this. If you do, I’m going to lose you anyway because Allen will kill you.”

Standing up straighter, Eddie, pressed his forehead further into the weapon as if to challenge him. 

“So be it.”

Another gun cocking echoed through the apartment as you held it up towards the officer in front of you.

“Drop it, Steve.”

“I can’t do that, Y/N.”

“Now, Steven, or I swear to God…”

Feeling defeated, the officer lowered his weapon and tucked it back into his holster as you turned your own on the gangster himself.

“I understand why you feel like you need to this and I’m not going to try to stop you but you need to heal and you need to be smart about this.”

“I don’t need to be anything, little girl. I already told you that neither of you have a say in what I do and this will not stand.”

Growling low in your throat, you place the gun on the counter.

“And I already told you that I’m involved whether you like it or not. Someone just tried to kill me again but this time they almost succeeded. Now, you will get back in bed and rest while Steve cleans up the mess here. Do I make myself clear, little boy?”

Steve’s eyebrow quirks as Eddie’s eyes darken further.

“The fuck did you just say to me?”

“You heard me.” Matching his stance, your chest comes level with his as your glare up at him. “Don’t make me repeat myself.”

###############

@5tud10-54r4h @munsonzgf @eddiesguitarskills @supraveng

@lilaclazer @ima1986 @micheledawn1975 @foreverminliv @corkadymu

@lemme-slytherin-that-dick @joannamuns9n @dashingdeb16 @sashaphantomhive @corrodedcoffincumslut @aactuaaltraash @nailbatanddungeon 

[theerurishipper]

Ah just saw a hot take that “Adrichat doesn’t have empathy”

Sometimes I wonder if some people actually watch the show or just have it on as background noise and straight up miss major character moments

"Adrien doesn't have empathy." And Gabriel isn't an abuser. Lila isn't a liar. Adrienette isn't canon.

Anyway, Adrien Agreste is the single most emotionally intelligent and empathetic character in this whole damn show. Some examples of Adrien being empathetic:

When he empathizes with Ladybug in Origins.

When he empathizes with Marinette in Glaciator.

When he empathizes with Chloe in Style Queen.

When he empathizes with Lila in Oni-chan.

When he empathizes with Felix in Felix.

When he empathizes with Ladybug in Miracle Queen.

When he empathizes with Juleka in Guilttrip.

And there are plenty more examples of this.

Adrien is very emotionally astute. He understands people. He knows how to connect with their feelings and understand them. Marinette, despite her desire to help and uplift everyone around her, isn't the best at understanding their feelings. But Adrien gets people. Even when people are doing bad things, like Lila and Chloe, Adrien is able to see them for who they are. A girl who just wants the validation and acceptance of her mother and a girl who craves attention.

An example of this is Chloe and the situation with not giving her the Bee Miraculous. Marinette gets so caught up in her own reasonings that she fails to consider other people and their reactions. But Adrien is able to consider them, and he's able to put himself in Chloe's shoes and understand that she's expecting and waiting to be given a Miraculous again, and lets Marinette know that she should talk to Chloe. Another example is when everyone discovers that Rose is sick. Adrien is the only one who doesn't start smothering Rose, because he can understand she doesn't want that.

Adrien is able to understand and read people very well. He just has trouble with casual social interactions, which is a symptom of being locked away for his whole life. In fact, one could argue that Adrien is too empathetic, because he tries so hard to look for the best in people and believe in them that it is often detrimental to him.

Trying to see the good in everything and trying to hold onto hope is the way Adrien copes with all the awful things in his life. He offers empathy to Gabriel and Lila, even though they are hurting him. Part of this is him downplaying his own feelings because he's been taught that they don't matter, and part of this is him trying to hold onto the good he sees in his life as a way of dealing with everything. What Adrien needs to do is to learn how to achieve a balance of being empathetic and understanding of other people, and also learning to prioritize his needs and happiness at the same time. He needs to learn that he matters too.

But that tangent aside, Adrien is very empathetic and very emotionally astute. Anyone suggesting otherwise must be watching an entirely different show.

Thank you for your ask!

[beevean]

Dolly Isaacul with 🎲? (Or you can do Hevor instead 😏)

A kiss influenced by alcohol/other substances

I chose Hevor because I don't feel confident in treating Gabriel right, I'm sorry 😔

(also about time i write something with them that isn't filthy nasty kinky raw gay sex)

~

The clear night sky shone with uncountable stars, shimmering in a mesmerazing view. Trevor couldn't have chosen a better occasion to sit on the porch with his new companion, clinking glasses of ale together.

"I see you are in fine form," Hector took a swing of his drink like he hadn't had a sip in ages. Trevor hadn't taken for the type; then again, he had a lot of prejudices to dismantle yet. "One could hardly tell that you were on the brink of death just a few months ago."

He guffawed at that, glad that he could do so without the lingering humiliation clouding his mood. "Any Belmont worth their salt laughs at Death's face!" His laughter got cut short by a sudden twinge of pain in the ribcage: he may have made peace with the nightmarish events, but his body still did not. He rubbed his nose, hiding his embarrassment. "Ah, but I must thank the two lovely witches who poured all their magic into me. Speaking of which, how's your miss?"

Trevor hadn't seen Miss Laforeze since she deemed him capable of returning home, reassured by the knowledge that his wife was the most formidable witch in the country. His ears burned at the memory of how gladly he cursed Isaac's name in her presence, before being told the truth about them: he chose to drown it in his ale.

"She's dealing... well, all things considered." Peering into his glass, Hector agitated it a bit - thankfully it was already half empty. "She might appreciate a bottle of this."

"Anything you need, friend." And perhaps emboldened by the booze, or Hector shifting ever so slightly closer to him, he wiggled his eyebrows: "And what are you planning to do with it? Are you finally going to gift the world a silver-haired sorcerer with the most temible pout?"

He couldn't stop the next consideration, the moment Hector started laughing, swaying back and forth: he's quite cute with reddened cheeks.

Ah, damn the ale muddling his mind. Trevor drank more of it.

Hector's laughter died down, and for a few seconds, a comfortable silence stretched between them as they both enjoyed the taste of their drink. Then, he spoke up with a glint of challenge in his grin:

"You wound me, implying I'd need alcohol for that."

Trevor whistled at Hector's boldness and clapped his shoulder hard enough that the man nearly toppled over.

--

Trevor lost track of time - in truth, he never cared to keep it. He only knew that his reserves of ale were dwindling more and more quickly, and the cold of the night no longer bit him, and every word out of Hector's mouth was the funniest joke in the world.

"And then, and then," Hector struggled to catch his breath, "Isaac was like, oh we can totally sneak into our Lord's cellar, he won't even notice!"

"And you didn't stop him? I'm surprised."

"I never had such power."

Trevor snorted, or attempted to. "Or you wanted to par-par-- drink Dracula's special booze as well."

Hector slurred something that Trevor did not catch, except for the word "sin".

So, not even alchohol could numb Hector's relentless intent to denigrate himself. Not on Trevor's watch. His mind was full of cotton and drowning in ale and Hector was far too pretty to feel sorry for himself.

"Hah." Trevor's hand moved before he could direct it towards Hector's hair, catching a lock between his fingers. "I don't think I've ever told you, Hector, but, you're a great, mhh." He wet his lip, suddenly conscious of the way Hector's eyes were piercing him as if he were sober. "What's the word."

"Drinking buddy?"

"No. Well, yes, you're hilarious, but... you're also smart, and cute, and--ah, I said it..."

"I don't know what you mean to say," Hector smirked, the liar that he was. Very well, then. If words failed him, then Trevor had another card up his sleeve.

Hector's lips tasted of bitter ale, as expected. Yet, they were more delicious than the drink. He kissed his friend, holding him close as if afraid to make him fall, his cheeks hot under his palms and his chest pressed flush against him; Hector's hum of approval warmed him as far as the booze.

He really was glad to have come to know him.

Then Hector dared, and the poke of his tongue on Trevor's teeth was a clear invitation, and the slurring part of his mind begged to let him in, but...

"Easy there, Hector," he gently pushed him away. "I'm still a married man."

Although, who knew? Sypha was headstrong, but no tyrant of the household. He might be able to have a talk to her about expanding their horizons. Perhaps next time, he might invite Miss Laforeze too, to let the two have their private witch time.

The man who had bewitched him, in the meanwhile, grinned with audacity, with lips reddened by the kiss. "I'm sorry, I couldn't tell from your hands roving all over me. Or from that time in the cathedral--"

"Hush, unless you want a repeat of that."

Hector might not be the only one, in case.

[mcheang]

Revelation AU

What if Felix took Adrien’s place again the day Lila tried to take over class rep duties.

Let’s just say thanks to his stalking, Felix knows Lila is a liar who makes Adrien uncomfortable and Marinette unhappy. He warns Kagami about it, who in turn wishes to expose Lila after being manipulated by her.

Knowing Lila has had too much time to sway the school to her side, Felix proposes an idea but needs Kagami’s help. Like Lila, Felix is a master at deception, at least when pretending to be Adrien.

When Gabriel fires Lila Rossi, Felix suspected Lila would want revenge on Adrien to hurt Gabriel. As such, he insisted that he take Adrien’s place for that day in school. Kagami lured Adrien and knocked him unconscious, allowing Felix to take his place while Kagami stayed with Adrien to keep him from interrupting their plan.

When Marinette tried to argue that Chloe should be punished for cheating, and how Caline suggested that Chloe was going to need a lot of work, Lila suggested she take over Marinette’s duties since Marinette is too busy with her love life.

Felix: I’m sorry, Lila. It’s just what you said. The reason you were not around to vote for Marinette is because you were on one of your MANY trips for charity. I know you’ve had more time for us now, except last I heard, you said you were going overseas. I know you’ll try to be there for us, but we all know how you can’t help answering the call for help from your many other friends overseas, even changing your plans at the last minute because you told us how much you cherish bonds overseas, knowing you can’t dismiss friendship that easily.

And just like that, Lila is also unreliable for being class president.

Lila: I will try to be there for the rest of the school year, even my mother put her foot down about that.

Felix quickly interrupts: Oh no! Are you that exhausted? We shouldn’t put more pressure on her.

Lila: But I have more free time on my hands.

Felix: Um, I heard you refuse to join Mylene’s cause to help Ramier’s cause to build pigeon shelters next week. And Marinette is not even going to be there! Not to mention I’m worried that Chloe might take advantage of you like she’s taking advantage of Sabrina, she’s already trying to take back power, but we all know that Chloe will dump her deputy duties on Sabrina, again. You’re too nice, Lila.

No matter what Lila says, Felix is ready to counter her.

And then comes the killing blow

Felix: I know you mean well, but my father also told about your special disease

He looked at Miss Caline Bustier, who now recalls Lila’s lying disorder

Felix: It’s embarrassing but my father does do background checking, Principal Damocles told him about your uncontrollable lying disease. I know Miss Bustier wanted to keep this a secret so we would not worry over you like we do over Rose, but we’re your friends Lila, you don’t have to hide this from us.

Alya is unsure if Adrien is telling the truth or he really wants to defend Marinette

Caline: I think you’re right Adrien. Lila needs all the support she can get, and she can only get that if we help her be honest

She just confirmed what “Adrien“ said.

The class is stunned. Lila really was a liar. And Ms Bustier did not even tell them. It was hard to tell whether their feelings of betrayal were directed more towards their naive teacher or Lila.

Lila herself was feeling quite furious with Adrien.

Naturally Hawkmoth was attracted to the akuma class…again.

He sensed Lila Rossi’s hatred to Adrien. Not a good idea. (Sure Lila tried to direct some hatred Marinette’s way but the latter was clearly surprised by Adrien’s move). Nathalie was already breathing down his neck on his treatment of Adrien.

Someone else in the class will have to do.

There was obviously a divide.

Some actually thought Lila had a lying disorder and could not control it.

Others like Alya Cesaire were immediately apologetic for not believing Marinette, cursing their own gullibility, and angry at Ms Bustier for keeping it from them.

Yes, Alya’s guilt was prime for akumatization.

Except…what is this? Her resistance to the akuma…it was so similar to…Viperion/Luka. Alya knows Ladybug’s secret identity.

True, Alya rejected the akuma and Hawkmoth summoned it back, but the idea that two friends of his son knew Ladybug suggested the possibility that the heroine herself was within Adrien’s social circle.

But who? He had akumatized most of them. All except…Marientte Dupain-Cheng!

Oh wait. If Alya is aware that Marinette is Ladybug, how could she actually believe that Ladybug is best friends with Lila?

No one is that stupid.

He discusses this with Nathalie.

Nathalie: but Alya is that gullible. Didn’t she believe Chloe of all people was Ladybug? Despite witnessing Ladybug saving Chloe from Stoneheart?

A pause.

Gabriel: it’s time we invited Marinette to our home again. It will be a chance for Adrien to tell her about his trip to London. (Aka akumatize and see if she really is Ladybug)

Meanwhile, Alya confessed Monarch discovered she knows Ladybug and has to leave town. She joins Luka with his dad and Penny.

Marinette feels guilty for telling Alya the truth. Tikki reminds her that Alya knowing has helped her before.

Before Alya left with Luka, the latter warned Marinette to be careful with her secret identity. “Monarch might decide to investigate our common friends. And you’re the one of the few he hasn’t akumatized.”

Marinette: few…Adrien! Wait, what am I saying, Adrien can’t be confused for Ladybug.

At the invitation for brunch, Gabriel knew Marinette was still oblivious to Adrien’s impending departure (he would have akumatized her otherwise).

Gabriel: I wouldn’t want to keep two lovebirds apart in these precious moments Adrien has in Paris.

Adrien dropped his fork. “Father!”

Marinette looked at her boyfriend in concern. “Adrien, what’s wrong?”

Gabriel: you didn’t tell her?

Adrien shut his eyes. “I’m moving to London at the end of the school year.”

Gabriel: as soon as the school day is over, he’ll be packing his bags.

Adrien: but I’ll miss the dance!

Gabriel: so is Kagami but I don’t hear her complaining to her mother.

Marinette understood immediately. Gabriel disapproved of her so much, he was willing to send Adrien away, take him away from his friends. “You can’t do that! It’s not right!”

“Oh, and what would you know of right, Ms Dupain Cheng. My own surveillance cameras have caught you spying on my house. Your male friends threw a wild party under my very roof while I was absent, draining even my back up power reserves. I’ve already shown my generosity by not suing them for the power disruption or demanding a restraining order on your presence. Do not test my patience.”

Marinette and Adrien were horrified, for different reasons. Adrien knew about Marinette’s stalker habits already but to hear that his father was capable of using the law to punish his friends…he knew he needed to tread carefully. Marinette was horrified to see her own flaws turned against her.

Gabriel settled down, forcing a smile on his face as he civilly asked, “And what do you think of my pancakes now, Marinette. Do you think my new recipe is better than before?”

Both knew they could not insult him and make their own situation worse, not when Gabriel has already proven himself of capable of following up his own threats.

“It’s certainly efficient,” Marinette finally managed.

They finished the breakfast in silence. Gabriel happily eating his pancakes. Marinette and Adrien holding hands tightly under the table.

Nathalie came in. “Adrien, your piano teacher is here.”

Gabriel: it’s been nice having you here again, Marinette. But good times never last long.

It took all Marinette’s willpower not to run or call Gabriel out for his cruelty. As soon as the coast was clear, she sank down against the wall and cried.

Her despair just begging Monarch to akumatize her.

Unfortunately for him, Tikki was also on alert should Marinette be depressed enough for an akuma. (Being in an akumatized purse was not fun!)

Tikki: Marinette, an akuma!

Marinette freaked and ran, worried that Ladybug’s immediate purification would give her identity away.

Rather than let the butterfly go rogue and cause another startrain, Monarch summoned the butterfly back. He can be patient. Sooner or later, Marinette has to break down and he will be ready.

Knowing she had to stay positive, Marinette devotes her energy to try to be optimistic, thinking of how she can get Gabriel to change his mind, or ways to make a long distance relationship work.

This was enough to make Gabriel give up and instead wait for Adrien to leave for London.

By that time, Marinette had already tried several plans to convince Gabriel to stay. She got Wayhem to organize Adrien’s fans to strike about Adrien’s departure but was countered by Gabriel saying Paris was too dangerous for Adrien. She threaten to call child care services except Adrien (influenced by the Graham wedding rings) vetoes this plan. She considered using Cosmobug to visit Adrien except Marinette doesn’t have the money or time to make such frequent visits plausible.

Eventually Marinette came to accept Adrien’s departure and both agree to work out a long distance relationship.

Gabriel is extremely disappointed that Marinette isn’t more unhappy when Adrien leaves. Oh well, it doesn’t matter. project Alliance will continue as plan.

[the-true-noodles]

incorrect miraculous ladybug quotes 2! (because we need more of them)

part 1

Nathalie: Now, the recipe calls for 2 shots of vodka.

Nathalie: *upends the bottle*

--

*Marinette's second day of interning for Gabriel*

Gabriel: Hand me the people opener.

Marinette: ...

Marinette: Pardon?

Gabriel, annoyed: The people opener! Just hand it to me!

Marinette, stressed: WHAT THE FUCK IS A PEOPLE OPENER?

Gabriel: How do you not know what a people opener is? Its pointy- you know? With a handle?

Marinette: Knife. It's called a knife.

--

Adrien: *walks to cabinet, removes oreo box, takes half a sleeve, throws empty box out* Hi!

Nathalie: Hey- what are you doing-?

Adrien, shoving an oreo into their mouth: I am saving space :D

--

Gabriel: Would it be discrimination to only hire employees at my doughnut shop who have the same name?

Nathalie: Legally, I don't believe that breaches any discrimination laws. Morally though... I don't know.

Gabriel: I believe god is on my side when it comes to Duncans' Doughnuts.

--

Chat Noir: honk.

Gabriel: WHAT.

Chat Noir: HONK.

Gabriel: WHAT DOES HONK MEAN THIS TIME YOU WHIMSICAL PIECE OF SHIT?????

--

Ladybug: So, what's it like living with Hawkmoth?

Mayura: They once referred to sand as "heterosexual glitter."

Ladybug: ...

Mayura: I love him so much.

--

Mayura: Where's Chat Noir?

Hawkmoth: Don't worry, I'll find them.

Hawkmoth, shouting: Ladybug sucks!

Chat Noir, distantly: Ladybug is the best person ever! Fuck you!

Hawkmoth: Found them.

--

Nathalie: I just heard Gabriel call the dog a “fucking liar” because he barked like someone was at the door and no one was there.

--

Chat Noir: You know, Hawkmoth, when you generalize, you tell general... lies.

Hawkmoth: ...

Hawkmoth: Are you trying to teach me moral lessons through puns.

--

Nathalie: How are you gonna carve a gigantic pumpkin?

Gabriel: The same way I make onion rings!

Gabriel: *grabs a chainsaw*

--

Nino: Hey, you want a tarot reading?

Gabriel: Those are Pokemon cards.

Nino You got a magikarp.

Gabriel: ...

Nino: It means 'fuck you'.

--

Hawkmoth: Here's two facts about me.

Hawkmoth: 1. I hate hot people.

Hawkmoth: 2. I'm a hypocrite.

--

*the day this man goes out of the house by himself*

Gabriel: Keep it running. *Tosses keys over shoulder into empty parking lot.*

--

Ladybug: You ever see something that changes your life and you're just like "huh.."

Chat Noir: I saw you.

Ladybug: Honestly that's so cute and sweet but it kinda makes this awkward because I was gonna show you a picture of Hawkmoth in a turkey costume.

--

Marinette: My hands are cold.

Adrien: Here, let me hold them.

Marinette: My lips are cold too.

Adrien: *covers Marinette's mouth with their hand*

--

Gabriel: If we lose, you’re out of the will.

Nathalie: I was in the will?

--

Nathalie: Are you having another depressive episode?

Gabriel: A depressive episode?

Gabriel: I'm having a depressive series and we're just on season one.

--

Gabriel, entering the room: *Sees Adrien and leaves*

Adrien, watching Gabriel leave: There’s my monthly dose of my dad…

--

*Marinette and Nathalie are planning to break in somewhere to save Adrien without Gabriel knowing he was missing*

Marinette: We need to distract the guards.

Nathalie: Right.

Marinette: What are we gonna do?

Nathalie: I'm gonna break their elbows while you poke their eyes.

Marinette:

Nathalie:

Marinette: Deal.

--

Hawkmoth You’d be stupid to lay a hand on me.

Chat Noir: Oh, you’d be surprised how much stupid shit I do.

--

Adrien: *Gasp*

Marinette: wHAT??

Adrien: What if soy milk is just milk introducing itself in Spanish?

Marinette: *inhales*

Gabriel, in another room with Nathalie: Why can I hear screeching?

--

*during a temporary ceasefire because reasons??*

Ladybug: Hawkmoth learned how to fold origami penguins from Chat Noir the other day. I told them, “I feel a little bad for the penguins, it’s hot here”, and the next day they put them in the fridge.

--

Gabriel: Where did you get that tomato soup?

Adrien: It’s actually a bowl of ketchup I just microwaved.

--

Gabriel: Christmas is cancelled.

Adrien: You can't cancel a holiday.

Gabriel: Keep it up, Adrien, and you'll lose New Year's too.

Adrien: What does that mean?

Gabriel: Nathalie, take New Year's away from Adrien.

--

Hawkmoth: Arson? Oh, you mean "crime brûlée".

--

Gabriel, digging their grave: Long story short, this is my grave.......Want me to make you one too?

--

*marinette's internship is something i want to think would be really funny*

Marinette: Hey, wanna help me commit arson?

Gabriel: What the hell!?

Marinette: Oh, sorry, my bad.

Marinette, whispering: Wanna help me commit arson?

Gabriel, whispering: Of course. What do you need?

--

Marinette: So, are you two friends?

Gabriel: Yes.

Natalie: No.

--

Chat Noir: You use emoji’s like a straight person.

Hawkmoth: That’s literally the worst thing anyone has ever said about me.

--

Gabriel: I’ve been here in jail so long I think I’ve lost my mind.

Gabriel: The days turn into weeks, weeks turn into months.

Gabriel: How long have I been in here now? Almost a year?

Nathalie: This is Monopoly.

--

Hawkmoth: Well, well, well, if it isn’t the consequences of my actions.

--

Gabriel, putting their hands over Nathalie's eyes: Guess who!

Nathalie: It's either Gabriel or the cold, clammy hands of death.

Gabriel, putting their hands away: It's Gabriel!

Nathalie: Dammit.

--

Ladybug: We need to open this locked door. Nathalie, give me your credit card.

Nathalie: Here.

Ladybug, pocketing it: Thanks. Chat, cataclysm the door.

--

Nathalie: When was the last time you cried?

Adrien: Uh 15 minutes ago, why??

Nathalie: really? That recent?

Adrien: Yeah *voice crack* is that a issue? *starts crying again*

--

Ladybug: Why are you always trying to aggravate me?

Hawkmoth: To relax.

--

*Something crashes*

Adrien: Shoot-

Gabriel: *running into the room in a panic* WHAT FELL?!

Nathalie: *walking by the room calmly* What died?

--

(sorry for taking so long)

[certifiablyinsanez]

I’ll come out and say it. I preferred season 2 of GO over season 1 and here’s why:

For starters, season 1 was great. Of course, it was our introduction to this marvelous story and world. But here’s my problems with it:

Too many characters, most of whom I don’t care about.

Anyone who says they don’t watch for Crowley and Aziraphale would be liars. We all love them and absolutely crave content surrounding them and their admittedly perfect love story. So with all the characters fit into season 1, several of which I couldn’t stand, it’s somewhat difficult for me to get through without constantly rolling my eyes. My problems with the characters stem as such:

The relationship between Anathema and Newt. Anathema is a strong, smart woman and Newt is honestly an absolute loser. To me he’s got the personality of a wet noodle and his biggest character trait is ‘make computer explode’. It’s like if Seamus from Harry Potter was given a role past his station in the story. They know each other for all of an hour and they end up kissing and having sex which to me is just weird and out of place. I’m fully convinced that wouldn’t have ever happened if Agnes hadn’t mentioned it. And even though I like Anathema, her purpose in the story feels a little…meh. Like sure she and the human computer virus stop nuclear Armageddon but like…I feel like Adam could’ve just been like “stop” and it would’ve had the same result.

Shadwell and Madame Tracey. Again, what do they even do other than provide comic relief and give Aziraphale a body to possess? Also, how is it that Crowley and Aziraphale have the best love story I’ve ever seen and yet in the same story there’s a ‘couple’ where the man, for years and years screams at you, calling you names and treating you like dirt and you….like it? Like, it feels like something an incel would think of as a cute relationship.

The Them. Honestly I can’t be too mad over this, they played annoying little 11 year olds very well, but like, they were irritating. Like Pepper, supposedly a feminist but then says pick-me stuff like “tHeY bOuGHt mE A giRLs BiKe”. Also says that if she were an alien she “wouldn’t bring messages of peace and harmony” but bring violence instead and then later against war says “I believe in peace”, like??? Brian was just so bland he doesn’t even deserve mentioning. Wensleydale? I dunno, the line “I believe in food, and a healthy lunch” like fuck you mean you believe in food???? He could’ve said something like “I believe that all people deserve food” or something that, idk, actually made sense? And then there’s Adam and I’m sorry but the ENTIRE BUILD UP OF THE SEASON ENDING WITH “you’re not my dad”…really? He makes it seem like he loves his dad but Mr. Swindon Ambassador is a total TWAT. That whole bit was just anticlimactic to me.

Overall I feel like a ton of screen time on these characters just don’t do it for me. Season 2 on the other hand? Completely eliminates non essential characters. I’ve heard people complain about “lack of depth” in the new season and honestly, idk if they were just on the toilet or watching their phone for the whole season or what but here’s what I LOVE about season 2 that missed the mark in season 1.

The characters were just *chefs kiss*. They bring back Gabriel, an absolutely abysmal character from the last season and somehow make us love him. They introduce Muriel, who is just a peach! People seem mad over the fact that their character is just “cheerful ditz” and I will FIGHT YOU FOR THEIR HONOR. Their character is so much more than that for a start, and it’s very clear that their presence is important for the story. They took Beezlebub who had no depth in the previous season (negative depth actually), and gave them purpose and a role. If anything Nina and Maggie aren’t really my faves but at least they were more human in representation than season 1 relationships. But my favorite bit?

None of the characters on screen felt like wasted time.

Not once didn’t I roll my eyes or wish they’d get to the good bit. I enjoyed watching all these characters interact towards the greater story. But even better? We were fed with aziracrow content. An absolute feast! And I can’t believe y’all are complaining. I could genuinely just watch an entire series of their antics over the millennia I love them so much, so for people to say it was slow, boring and lacked depth is borderline offensive.

For a transitional piece, it was masterful.

[yolowritter]

Volpibug AU (better title pending)

So, it's this time of the month again, for me to drop a post in the tumblr void and then vanish again until next called upon! But! This one...this one is good! Like, "I'd need > 50k words of worldbuilding to write this" kind of good!

Quick story time: I recently wrote a Lilanette ficlet based on an ask I saw here on Tumblr. I won't get into the hows and whys, it's on my Ao3 acc (I have the same username). Anyway so while I was writing it, I added the line "and with her (Lila) necklace being all too magical" as a little easter egg, to say that she actually has the Fox Miraculous in this AU. Then...then my brain Did A Thing™. So it's a full AU now. Here's the context! Or at least...part 1, meaning the pre-story setup and up to the "Volpina" episode itself. I'll do a part 2 of this post to talk about the Lilanette lovesquare, because it keeps me up at night and I will share that with all of you very soon! Since Tomas Astruc has so gracefully and respectfully decided to actively depict 1940s Paris in S5, I am shamelessly using that mistake to make something I think is cool! So, while Fu and Marianne were in Paris, there was someone who helped them hide. A young woman from Italy, whose family had moved to France so her father could avoid the draft. The three become friends in the short time they know eachother, and she happens to learn that Fu is carrying a box full of magical little creatures with him. Therefore, she understands they need to escape, and promptly decides to try and sneak them out of Paris. But...we get to the scene where Fu and Marianne are being chased (the one from Evolution), only she's with them, and they're losing ground. So she begs Fu to let her take the Fox Miraculous and distract the soldiers while they run away, promising to come find them once it was safe. And so, with little time left to spare, Fu makes the gamble and passes Trix to her. She then tranforms and promptly makes an illusion to let him and Marianne get away before also going to hide. For the remainder of the War, she stays in France and devotes her time to help whoever she can escape, through conjuring minor illusions and such. She ends up being an unsung hero, and some years later she and her family move back to their old home in Italy. So...you're probably asking me what in the name of Gabriel Agreste's secret butterfly room does this have to do with Lilanette? Well, said woman (who I've yet to think of a good name for) is actually Lila's grandmother! I know, huge shock! Her superhero name? Why, Volpina of course! When Fu and Marianne return to Paris to come find her, she's unfortunately long gone. Therefore, we have 3 missing Miraculous. The Peacock, Butterfly, and the Fox. They stay in Paris (and yes this time they didn't split up, because I want to make Marianne happy okay?) like in canon, deciding to protect the remaining Kwami rather than go around the world searching for a woman they can't find. Conclusion, Trixx stays with Lila's family. Now, our beloved liar's grandmother has a daughter, who marries a man and also has a daughter, Lila. Listen, I do not want to open the can of worms of "Lila has at least 3 moms actually" because as cracky as it is...just no...not until they explain it clearly. Anyway her mom's marriage falls through, and through this time Lila stays with her grandmother, where she happens upon an old necklace she's held onto all this time. Cue Trixx showing up again, and Lila's grandmother explaining what a Miraculous is, and telling her the stories of her and the Fox Kwami's adventures. I'd assume this happens pretty much right before Lila comes to Paris, for a few reasons I'll explain in a bit. Anyway, Grandma Rossi gives Lila a crash course on how the Miraculous works, and swears her to secrecy, since nobody can know about Trixx, before passing the necklace to her when it's for her and Madame Rossi to come to Paris. The conclusion?

Lila isn't lying in the "Volpina" episode. She really is the descendant of a superheroine, and very proud about it because she loves her grandmother! It's also worth mentioning that because I genuinely hate how 2-dimensional they've made her in canon, this version of Lila is an actual character with positive and negative influences in her life. She still barely sees her mother and craves being the center of attention, but above all, through her grandmother's stories she got to see her friendship with Trixx, and is obsessed with the idea of having such a genuine connection with another person. So, she's not a manipulative psycho who's in it for the fame and glory, rather she just wants people to like her and hates being ignored or brushed aside, as her mother so often is forced to do because of her busy schedule. Lila may not be the most empathetic, kind or gentle soul around, but she's not sadistic or heartless like in the show. Now, when she transfers to her new school she's eager to make friends, so naturally she uses her cunning to quickly get people to bring up their interests and then spins stories of her relating to those things. For example, Juleka really likes Jagged Stone's music? Why, Lila has had a front-row seat to one of his concerts and absolutely loved it! She "knows a guy who knows a guy" who might be able to get them tickets if he ever comes to Paris, and hey, they should totaly go together sometime! Stuff like that, to become popular. She goes about her day telling the same lies she did in "Volpina" (Alya mentions a few at the beginning). Cue Adrien Agreste, locally famous teenage model, coming in with a book that has superheroes all over it. Lila is very interested in making friends with him, for obvious reasons.

When Ladybug shows up to scold her for lying about being a superhero, Lila barely holds back from transforming then and there, only because her grandmother had made her promise to not reveal the Miraculous to anyone. Unfortunately...that only gets her as far as being out of view before deciding to go for it anyway, despite Trixx protesting. Same exact thing with the fake meteor shower happens, and Hawkmoth is very curious as to what exactly is happening. Gabriel, being Gabriel, decides to wait and see what's going on. Ladybug and Chat show up, and she immediatelly accuses Lila of being an Akuma. Lila of course has absolutely no idea what those are because it is her first day here, but the more Ladybug scolds her the more she realizes that it's nothing good. Chat steps in as he did in the episode, defending her because Marinette is not being very logical right now. Long story short, Volpina asks about what exactly has been going on in Paris, and they give her the rundown on what Akuma are and who Hawkmoth is. Understanding this, Lila thinks to herself that Trixx...had a point. She probably shouldn't have exposed herself like this, and needs to find a way to get out of this situation. How does she do this? Oh, by pretending to be Akumatized of course! She conjures an illusion of Hawkmoth and then jumps Ladybug (mostly because she's mad at her for embarrassing her earlier) and then loses on purpose, "accidentally" falling off a ledge as she detransforms. Thankfully she's fine, and promptly thanks the heroes for saving her. Ladybug agrees to be "friends" with her, and is more focused on the personal situation than the lack of evil magical butterfly. I'm sure that won't affect the story in any major way. If you couldn't tell, I'm being sarcastic! Chat takes Lila back to school and tries to comfort her by saying she's kinda cool, and Lila lies to Adrien when he "happens to walk by her", telling him that she really wasn't ever a hero. Eventually, Marinette comes back to school just as Adrien is agreeing to be Lila's friend, and promptly decides that it's better to keep her "rival" close, telling Adrien that she's also his friend. Of course, he's overjoyed at having made two whole friends today (Nino is fondly shaking his head in the background), and that's the end of "Volpina". For those curious, yes the Grimoire still goes to Fu because that scene doesn't change. The only different thing is that both Fu and Gabriel suspect the real Fox Holder to be in Paris, but only Fu knows that this Miraculous has been missing since Nooroo and Duusu just...wouldn't know that. Tbh, I really want to write this AU sometime soon, but I'd also like to hear your thoughts on it! I know this post is mostly just a huge backstory rant, the real good stuff comes in part 2! Anyway, time for me to disappear yet again, but I'll be back soon with more!

[what-gs-watching]

"And I can guarantee you, it will be a night to remember."

Okay. I’m getting my wit’s about me. Sort of.  It’s a process. But it’s also probably why I’m about to go all Charlie from It’s Always Sunny with his crazy conspiracy board (seriously though, this took me three days to write) about Good Omens episode 4. Because y’all, it’s the 1941 episode. And there’s sooo much going on. Pivotal, heart wrenching shit. 

The most important of the ‘present’ stuff happens in the opener, of course. Aziraphale is driving back from his fun little romp in Edinburgh when he sees a hitchhiker on the road, but he’s resolute in not stopping, he’s trying to get home to Crowley. Only after he sees the hitcher a few times and almost hits them does he relent, and guess who climbs in the car - Shax. 

She knows who he is, she starts talking about the Bentley and wondering why it had never been upgraded. She wants information from Az, she insists that Crowley is hiding Gabriel and we all know he’s not a good liar, but he does his best. At one point she says she’s confused as to why Crowley would risk destruction for Aziraphale, she says “you don’t seem his type at all.”

Michael Sheen, sweet sweet Michael Sheen and his mastery of facial expressions, just tips Aziraphale’s eyebrows, just a bit, just perfectly so. You can hear him thinking ‘giiiiiirl you don’t know shiiiiit’ and. I. love it.

She also says “I remember 80, 90 years ago hearing that you and Crowley were an item, didn’t believe it then….” and she’s trying to mess with his mind. He again tells her that Crowley isn’t with Gabriel and he doesn’t know where Gabriel is. She asks him to let her out in the middle of nowhere, says he’s already told her where Gabriel really is, and when he gets all huffy asking how he’d done that, she says “You didn’t, you have now.”

Truth be told, I am not a huge fan of Shax. She’s the one pushing this entire situation, I mean sure Beezlebub says she wants to find Gabriel but Shax is a bootlicker and she’s ratcheting the entire thing up to 11. In an extremely annoying, fumbling way. Always so fumbling.

Whatever, though,  it’s fine. We need to dig into the past. 

Of course we all remember the 1941 scene in the first season. And, if we’re clocking our timeline right, 1941 is the first time (that we know of) that Aziraphale and Crowley see each other after their dustup in the 1860’s. When Crowley asked for holy water. And Aziraphale outright refused, not wanting to provide a suicide pill. When Azirphale said they were ‘fraternizing’ and Crowley was incredulous about it, an argument ending with both of them insisting they didn’t actually need the other one.

So like 80-ish years in between, right? But then Crowley literally hot-steps into a church because Aziraphale is playing spy games that he doesn’t understand.

My theory? After their little tiff, Crowley realized pretty quickly he’d gone too far (too fast) with Aziraphale, my dude doesn’t have anyone else to fraternize with, let’s face it, and he missed Az. I have to assume he’s had low-level Aziraphale detection since they met (alright, maybe it’s not so low-level, I’m sure it’s jacked up as fucking high as it can GO), so he just had to bide his time and wait for sweet little Az to get into one of his rescuing situations, because he so loves being rescued, and it would allow Crowley to apologize in his own way. You know, instead of actually explaining why he needs the holy water in the first place. 

Baby girl had to have had a plan in mind, because the entire story after the church burning? Hard ‘doting boyfriend’ vibes. He was gonna make Aziraphale want to be friends again. The internet seems to think that when Crowley saved Aziraphale’s books from the bomb, that’s when he realized he was in love with a demon, and that could be - and if it was, the rest of the night absolutely solidifies it, with the way Crowley comes for him. All of the heart eyes, all of the squealing.

So, they escape from the church. And then we see the three German idiots in hell, being processed by Furfur, who, it had been established prior, wanted to get out of his shit desk job and into something better. Fucking Shax of course, tells him to be on the lookout for any good information and to bring it to her, she’ll help him out. She’s the worst.

The Germans of course say they don’t belong there, their plans were cocked up by someone named Crowley and his friend and Furfur puts it all together. So he tells them they can go back to earth and be free of hell’s grip if they help him find proof that Crowley and Az are working together. After our favorite two have driven off, we see the Germans reanimating, and eating a drifter’s brain for good measure.

In the Bentley, (everytime I hear Crowley say “lift home?” in the scene before all nonchalant, my brain breaks a little) Aziraphale is still gripping his books and he tells Crowley he did a very nice thing and then says “there must be something I can do for you in return…” and I enjoy the implications y’all have assigned to this little exchange. We all love suggestive, dark horse Aziraphale.

It blows (haha I’m sorry) past Crowley though, and he takes them to a theater in the West End so he can deliver some bootleg booze, which of course turns out to have been shattered in the bomb drop. The theater owner is livid about it, and distraught over losing her magician for the night and immediately Aziraphale offers his services in ‘prestidigitation’. Because of course he thinks he’s a magician. That’s so Aziraphale.

Back at the bookshop Az is aflutter at this opportunity and Crowley thanks him for getting him off the hook, to which Az replies a little hesitantly “that’s what friends are for.” Clearly he’s also feeling bad about their last interaction and he’s trying to make up for that, and the church rescue all at the same time. But I have to assume he’s terrible at magic and I think Crowley does too but again, he’s all in on being a doting boyfriend. Both of them are working so hard to get back to a good balance with each other.

Crowley sits and lets Az practice some close-up tricks on him and he does a terrible American accent pretending to be an audience member. He encourages Aziraphale so delicately while suggesting he needs some bigger, better tricks for the show. He isn’t mocking him, he isn’t condescending, just supportive. When Crowley says they should buy a trick and Aziraphale insists the shop is for professionals only, the way he says “You, my Nefertiti fooling fellow, are about to perform on the West End Stage. If that doesn't make you a professional conjurer, I don't know what does” is loving, with only the slightest tinge of amusement. 

At the magic shop, the two poke around, while being followed by German zombies, and Crowley picks up a trick that the shop owner opens, covering them both in confetti. There’s a meme out there with this gif that just says :excited demon noises: and that’s exactly it. He’s so tickled the entire time. 

Meanwhile, the shop owner tries to suggest amateur tricks to Az but he’s not having it and his eyes fall on something called the ‘bullet catch’ which requires a rifle, and as we find out, a trusted confidant with a steady hand that Aziraphale has to really trust because a handful of people have died attempting it. 

So he pulls Crowley aside after saying “I’ve got the perfect man for the job” and he swears he’ll do all the tricky bits, all Crowley has to do is fire the gun. He’s so excited and sure of himself and he assumes Crowley has plenty of experience with firearms and Crowley agrees to do it, sticks his hand out for a shake but Aziraphale grabs it with both hands and glows and wiggles and shakes vigorously. It’s another fun little adventure for Aziraphale.

They get a little manual that’s supposed to explain the trick and off they go to the show because who needs to know how to actually do it, they’ve got miracles. They’ll be fine. 

The zombies follow of course, and take up in the back of the theater and then summon Furfur. Aziraphale’s magician name is “Fell the Marvelous” and they give him a ridiculous intro and he slinks onto the stage and he’s so nervous, it’s sweet. Az is really all in on the human experience - he took magic lessons and he wants to be so good at it that he just dives in without really thinking it through. 

He asks for a volunteer from the audience, indicating he needs a marksman, and all the hands go up except for Crowley, which is very on brand. He’s sweet boyfriend right now, but he’s nervous and yet, up to the stage he goes. Of course, in the background, Furfur has activated a miracle blocker so when Aziraphale tries to warm up the crowd by turning a turnip into an inkwell, it doesn’t work. He tries a few times, Crowley tries from the wings, and he realizes what’s happening. Kid pulls out the manual from his coat and frantically flips through it. They’re in actual danger. Ya know, like they do.

When he joins Aziraphale on the stage they both confirm their miracles aren’t working, but Az knows they need to plough ahead with the trick. He tells Crowley to load the gun and he looks a little unsure and confirms he hasn’t actually fired a gun, “not as such”. 

Meanwhile, as they pass the gun between themselves, Furfur takes a polaroid. 

The anxiety between them is palpable. Az instructs him that he’ll need to fire on Aziraphale’s signal. They stare each other down. Crowley aims at him clumsily, he’s supposed to aim for his mouth but shoot past his ear. Neither one of them bothered to learn the trick at all, whatsoever. And they’re in it. 

Aziraphale seems to mouth something. There’s a post out there from Neil Gaiman confirming the sweet summer child said “trust me”. 

So, he gives the signal. And in my mind Crowley maybe shuts his eyes a little bit and just goes for it. And it works, no one gets shots and Aziraphale pulls a bullet out of his mouth and the crowd goes wild. Furfur is disappointed, but it doesn’t matter, he got what he needed. 

Afterward, they’re in a dressing room and Az is absolutely tickled pink, he’s floating around with a boa and he asks Crowley if it really went well and he gets the affirmation that he needs. Az needs encouragement, all of the time, and it’s always all the better coming from Crowley. 

But their celebration is interrupted by Furfur, ready to have his own little moment. He introduces himself to Az and says he knows Crowley but Crowley truly seems not to recognize him whatsoever (which is the first time this happens in the season, but isn’t the last. Crowley has cobwebs y’all, and I know we are all curious as to where they came from). 

The point, he says, is that Crowley is in violation of the infernal code because he’s cavorting with an angel. He pulls out a little booklet that educates demons on angels of earth, open to Az’s page. The way he butchers Aziaphale’s name is wonderful, and gives Az the opportunity to correct him in a perfectly stern and authoritative way.

(Side note: if you blow up the page you can see that Az is classified as dangerous, and it says that if anyone runs into him, they shouldn’t approach and instead contact Crowley immediately. Boy has been protecting that sweet little angel's head for so long. But to be fair, he is potentially dangerous, guardian of the eastern gate, and all.)

Crowley tries to pass the whole thing off as coincidence but Furfur has the instruction manual for the trick, citing needing a “trusted stooge and confidant.” He tells them not to try anything funny because of the miracle blocker, and then he says to Crowley, “Shall we?”

The demon is unaffected though, he says “we shan’t” and he lays himself right out on the couch he’s been sitting on, covering his face with his hat. They don’t know about the photo of course, but each of them get a look at it and Furfur says Crowley can expect a legion to come for him in the morning, he should enjoy his last night on earth.

He then tells the zombies they’re free to go, but surprise! They’re gonna need to stay zombies. Hell’s deals are always trash. Don’t forget that, kids. 

Next thing we know, Furfur is back down, ready to show off his proof and get his promotion. Shax is looking on, interested, but when the envelope is opened, it’s just a flier for the girlie show, polaroid nowhere to be found. Our heroes have pulled one over on him. 

Back at the bookshop, Crowley is impressed with Aziraphale’s skills. He tries to recreate how he recovered the photo and swapped it, but of course he can’t. It worked when it mattered, and that’s all that matters. 

And then Aziraphale goes for it, he says “I knew you’d come through for me. You always do” and he’s using a quieter tone and it’s more of an acknowledgement of their relationship than Crowley’s gotten in a long time, maybe ever.  Crowley just says “well, you said trust me” and Aziraphale’s voice goes up a little bit and he says “and you did.” 

That’s the entire Arrangement, gang. They trust in each other that both will protect the fragile, whatever it is that they’ve forged, from everything. It’s not about helping out with the odd temptation or blessing, it’s about the fact that the only thing they have is each other. Which is why Aziraphale refused the holy water, and also why Crowley asked for it. 

True to his nature, Aziraphale insists that if Crowley was as evil as he says he was, he would have walked away from the trick, from the situation, but the demon says that you can’t just see things in black and white, you need to blur the edges. And Aziraphale actually agrees, he says there could be something said for shades of gray. Light gray, of course. And they just smile at each other.

SO my question is, all of this is lovely, right? They’re back to the two of them, whatever that might be, everything mostly worked out and Crowley thinks he’s successfully navigated their last fight and so does Az. Aziraphale is even starting to admit that maybe he could step out of the confines he’s trapped in (sometimes). 

But the next thing we know (from a timeline standpoint) is Aziraphale delivering a thermos full of holy water 20 some-odd years later and desperately saying “You go too fast for me, Crowley.” 

That poor angel spent twenty years thinking about 1941 and he’s got to be feeling guilty. Maybe he realized what the holy water could really be used for - after all, his love for human pageantry almost got Crowley dragged back to hell. Again. Like his need to do the holy thing had done in 1827. And his newfound interest in shades of gray could make everything even more dangerous. Especially with the way Crowley had treated him that night, the books and the trick and he never even tried to deny the compliments Az showered him with, and Aziraphale’s own feelings. 

So maybe it does make sense after all. Doting boyfriend was too much for him. I imagine him purposely avoiding Crowley at all costs through those years, until he could work up the nerve to deliver that thermos. He stepped out of his box ever so slightly and it almost ripped his only friend from him. All of the mini-sodes in this season are really about Aziraphale trying to get to gray (Crowley getting him there, so slowly, so patiently) and he does, and then it’s horrible somehow.

Do I now kind of want an entire season about the years between 1941 and 1967? Yes, obviously.

The point is, Aziraphale is still in his goddamn box throughout the season even though he’s more accepting of doting boyfriend as a general concept, and they’re still not fucking talking about any of it. Because that’s the Arrangement, and doing so would definitely skew more toward the dark shades Crowley prefers. 6,000 fucking years and the shade is still agonizingly light. It’s too light and y’all really need to find the correct hue and fast.

Because in the present, Shax gets authority to amass as many demons as possible, and attack the bookshop, that asshole. 

And Aziraphale returns home and Crowley thrusts a box of plants at him and coos to the Bentley about missing him and he asks how it went and Az unconvincingly says nothing weird happened at all but they aren’t hearing each other, they never ever hear each other properly.

 But, Crowley’s awning of a new age has failed, and so it’s Aziraphale’s turn to mess with human emotions that he doesn’t (quite) understand. Whickber Street Shopkeepers Association monthly meeting, here we come.

[pollyperks]

more good omens musings

i did not enjoy season 2 as much as season 1 (this isn't just a list of complaints though i promise). that opinion is coming right off the heels of watching s1 immediately followed by s2 so i think i can list the main reasons:

the witchfinder army, anathema, the them, and side characters like the chattering nuns and hastur and ligur made the plot feel far more fleshed out, seeing as all the characters were new to us and generally made the world bigger.

s2 focuses basically entirely on 6 (maybe 7 if you count muriel) characters, so crowley, aziraphale, jim/gabriel, nina, maggie, and shax with various side characters—i really can't count beezelbub cuz that love story came out of left wing—but besides nina and maggie (and muriel sorta) there was no one who was like...a breath of fresh air. new. there were angels. and there were demons. they're predictable, even if some of them look the same. even shax is sorta boring due to being...a demon that we can predict will act like a demon. at least the witchfinder army was a freakin disaster and the chattering nuns were fantastically incompetent and all the different players of s1 could be hard to predict, especially when they converged.

so s2 either had to introduce as many new characters that were interesting to watch, or do a deep dive into the existing characters to make THEM simply more interesting. which they did....for 2 of them and we all know which 2.

i mean obviously the husbands are the main focus of both seasons, but to have the story constrict so completely to so few characters made things sort of boring when it came to the actual overarching plot of 'gabriel has amnesia and basically every other problem stems from there'

so the stakes in s1 were bigger. that's just fact. it's the end of the world vs an angel with amnesia that aziraphale takes in like a wet kitten and now they need some lesbians to fall in love bc aziraphale is a terrible liar

it was a bit odd they couldn't find the same actors to come back? it threw me off. like where was hastur? sandalphon? i don't like their characters but i missed their presence. liked seeing some of the actors come back in different roles though.

but yeah. the stakes being...practically nonexistent compared to s1 was really highlighted by the amount of flashbacks. there wasn't enough material to keep us rooted in the present, so we were constantly going backwards in time (some of them worked for me, others were nazi zombies) to fill up empty space.

some of the tributes/references were a bit too blatant for me. the doctor who references. the three minute conversation about 'seamstresses'. having gabriel READING good omens. give me good old arsenic made by cmot dibbler that won't look even the slightest bit out place to casual viewers but is still a cheeky like tribute. that was the only one i really liked.

HOWEVER there are things about this season i liked a lot

some of the flashbacks were very good

lesbians defending a bookshop from the forces of hell sounds like a fun friday night 10/10 would show up

this was 100% aziraphale's season

AND just to elaborate on that last point and why i like it so very very much, it was very necessary, even if the stakes were small, to give aziraphale his season. the story starts with crowley and aziraphale on unequal grounds. crowley has asked his questions, he's a big name in hell, he doesn't feel beholden to anyone. demons come after him? he kills one with holy water and traps the other in his answering machine. when the devil is about to bust out of the earth, it's crowley who DOES something (because if he doesn't, aziraphale will never speak to him again oh my good he's so whipped)

aziraphale is not the same as crowley. he doesn't command respect in heaven. he's constantly looked down upon by the other angels for being too attached to earth and tbh for annoying them. he gets cornered and punched by a couple of his superiors and doesn't do anything but call them 'bad angels'. and in almost every flashback (almost) we see aziraphale begin to question the word of heaven, good and evil. and when he can't talk to god to try to stop the apocalypse, that's another crumble in his once stalwart belief. we see him do what crowley had already accomplished an eon ago. by the time the end of s2 rolls around and he sees gabriel (gabriel!) defy heaven because of love, aziraphale is now on equal footing with crowley. he declared war on hell with that halo business. he has reached crowley levels of 'don't fuck with me' attitude. (he will give jim hot chocolate and send him to bed while battling the forces of evil because this is still aziraphale we're talking about and he'll do things his way. still.) he will follow the metatron into heaven KNOWING from the moment he gets in that lift, from the moment he learns of the second coming, that he won't actually be changing heaven for the better. he's going to wreak havoc.

it's really important that he got there, that 'don't fuck with me' attitude. and, since s3 is going to go back to upping the stakes very very much (as i'm sure the sequel to the book was meant to do), it will be great to see what aziraphale can do now he'd found that rebellion inside himself. if crowley did something to stop the apocalypse, then it's aziraphale's turn to be the hero he needs to prove to himself he can be and do the something to stop the second coming. And doubtless crowley will get involved but the two of them stand shoulder at this point, both having their own sort of rebellion, and even if s2 wasn't as good as s1, it was a necessary building block to put aziraphale exactly where he needs to be as a character.

he's a goddamn rebel angel and if this season was a little eh to reach that point, i'm fine with that

[spiderwaltz]

3/23/25 - elsewhere

this was a book about grief, loss, the afterlife, youth and getting older, and talking dogs. stay with me I promise it was good! I didn’t realize until over halfway through it was by gabrielle zevin, who also wrote tomorrow tomorrow and tomorrow. I didn’t write about that book and if I did it was brief, but it was so good. It took place over the characters entire lives as they built a game company from scratch, and she used real game developments that have happened through her life to tell the story, also I love a story with strong characters and her character studies are amazing.

the first chapter I had to reread again from the beginning because I didn’t realize it was literally told from a dogs POV until Lucy, her pug, is at the dog park gossiping with a poodle. It starts with her pug sniffing around her empty room, missing her. It sounds silly but it’s sad the way she describes the absence of her owner and the grieving family, saying she’s hungry because feeding hasn’t been as routine without Liza. Liza died when she was only fifteen by a hit and run. She was hit by a cab and the driver called her an ambulance from a pay phone.

She wakes up on a ship, the SS Nile, and doesn’t know she’s dead yet. She is happy to meet her favorite singer, Curtis. She doesn’t know he just died from a heroin overdose. He tells her and she doesn’t believe it, thinking it’s a dream. They’re headed to Elsewhere, an afterlife where you age backwards until you are a baby again. You are then reborn as a baby among the living. They get off the ship and the captain sighs and remarks that since he’s only seven, he’s going to have to retire soon. He gets too tired now and has two nap times.

At the beginning of the book she’s offered a job at the pet clinic, but is told she has to be able to speak dog. She is dumbfounded. She declines sure she won’t be able to talk to dogs.

There’s a currency in this world, and you can work. It functions as a normal society, only everyone ages backwards. Liza meets her grandma who she never got to meet when she was alive. Her grandma has been in this world a little while so she’s younger, and unofficially lets Liza live with her. So I mentioned the currency because one thing you can buy with it is tickets to the observatory. At the observatory, you can pay to watch loved ones of your choice for 25 minutes. For the first year/two years(?) that’s all Liza does. She doesn’t get changed. She’s too depressed. She was so young, there was so much she wanted to do, and she can’t accept what has happened to her. She doesn’t work, she asks her grandma for a certain amount of money each day. Her grandma worries but doesn’t know what she can do for her except be present. Over time, this just makes her more and more sad and it doesn’t fulfill her anymore. She watches her parents grieve and her friends live their lives. She is sad her best friend doesn’t go to her funeral.

She hears about a way to communicate to the living. It’s illegal and dubious, you have to talk through a running water source, like a faucet or shower. They can only hear you through the water. She becomes fixated on the sweater she bought her dad for his birthday, a green one that matches his eyes. She travels there to tell her brother she hid it under the floorboards in her closet. Before she is given the opportunity to see her father receive the sweater, she is pulled back to the top in a net.

She doesn’t know he checked the wrong closet.

This is where we meet Owen, the elsewhere police(?) He tells her what she has done is illegal, and needs to know why for the record. He shows her father screaming at her little brother, calling him a liar for saying he spoke to her and even raising a hand to hit him before stopping himself. she’s never seen him that upset before and he has never been violent. this is what happened because of her. He scolds her too. However, deep down he doesn’t see an issue with what she’s done. He goes down there himself and tells her brother the correct closet.

After getting in legal trouble, she discovers she can talk to dogs. She takes the job at the pet clinic. Sadie begs her to adopt her and she does, yay cute new talking dog! She’s starting to acclimate to this world and be less depressed.

Owen offers to teach her to drive, and reveals what he’s done. Touched, she asks him to keep helping her drive. She was studying for her permit before she died and never got to finish. She keeps going to him for “driving lessons,” but really she likes him and wants to be around him a lot.

Things are complicated though, and there’s some reasons why their budding romance doesn’t go very far.

As an excuse to see HER, Owen went to the pet clinic. He insisted he wanted a boy dog, but that didn’t really matter because a golden retriever chose HIM as her owner. He didn’t get much say.

Owen had a wife before he died. He was 26 years old, a fireman. He died saving an elderly woman’s cat. He has only ever loved his wife and has trouble moving on, and Liza feels she’s imposing a little. Just as they kiss and start to bond, his wife arrives in Elsewhere. Liza is heartbroken and goes into her second depressive episode of the book.

Owen tries to make things work with his wife, but she’s in her late 30s/early 40s and he is 17. She’s allergic to dogs and he leaves his dog with Liza for a large chunk of the time. All they talk about is the past and she wants Owen and Liza to be together because they are like two kids in love. They peacefully and lovingly depart. Gabrielle you monster.

Also Curtis and Liza’s grandma end up together. There’s a plotline where she tries to cross early and changes her mind because she wants to go back and fall in love for real, but she doesn’t want to throw elsewhere away when that time will come one way or another.

Her friend who didn’t attend her funeral sends her a wedding invite VIA message in a bottle (a way to communicate with the dead if you’re alive) and she does, but is only able to talk to her little brother. He reveals he’s been listening to water sources since he was a little boy. My heart can’t take this. It’s sweet. Her dog sadie becomes a tiny puppy and then goes back to the world of the living, and she swears she can’t possibly get a new dog, until lucy crosses over and she gets to see her old pug again!! my heart can’t take this!

she’s younger than owen so he reads to her when she loses her ability to read. my heart can’t take this.

the story ends with her aging backwards completely and being reborn as she’s supposed to. best book of march I loved it so much it was so good even with talking dogs in it

[john-bitchester]

Supernatural 06×06, you can't handle the truth. (+ some crazy Sam‽ theorising)

Sammy is really pulling a Morgana by showing he is now Sam‽ by smirking evil-y every shot he gets

DUDE WTF THAT IS DISGUSTING DON’T CUM IN OTHER PEOPLES SOUP

[I hate mommy. I wanna burn her in her sleep]

Okay time for family and privat counceling I think

Damn girl didn't let any grass grow over that one

One bad day were people are rude to her, blows her brains out (and not in the fun way)

Holy fuck Sam‽ hold your horses

Like ofc, we as the audience know that she is, in fact, lying

But holy fuck

Music??

Is music the binding element?

The older sister had a music instrument

And now the dentist too

Oh my god

So the episode is called 'you cant handle the truth', obviously thats the theme

But what if its Sam‽s truth too

What if, Dean uses the horn of Gabriel on sam

SEXUAL TENSION HELLO???

How is sam nit affected by the truth curse?

Like he is lying, no doubt about it

But how does it not affect him

Okay new thoughts

Stay with me here

Sam was locked in a cage with the devil

We know from Destiel that it is possible to rebuild a human, atom by atom

Lucifer is an angel, or was one, at least

If there is a cage michael or the devil cant escape from, how the hell could Sam?

Ive theorised before that he was either the devil himself, but Cass dispelled that

And I have also theorised that Sam made a deal

What if Sam -did- make a deal with the devil, not as much to escape, but more so for his physical body to be rebuild in the world

So he is up above, but the essence of him, what makes him Sammy, is still locked down there

Sam what the fuck are you typing you are literally just moving the mouse

Okay scrath my theory

Dean just admitted he thought sam a monster he wanted to kill in his sleep

Sam looks genuinely surprised/upset

If he made a deal however, this wouldn't surprise him as much

HOW IS SAM STILL LYING

What am I missing

How does Veritas work

How does she make the humans spill truth

And what does Sam‽ lack about being human that it doenst affect him

Also great acting. Its never said that he is lying, and yet I immediately knew

Unless Im just paranoid ofc

Whop nvm Veritas just called him a liar

Okay so Sam‽ is not human, confirmed

Okay

So.

Fact: sam let Dean get nearly killed for the truth abt the vamp nest, as Samuel theorised

What if its emotion sam is lacking? Empathy, sympathy

Okay, fuck, he doesn't feel fear anymore

Thats bad

Oh God dean please punch him in the face real hard

OH MY GOD HE DID

Thank you

I literally hurt my jaw by dropping it open that quickly

Oh my god

Okay that's enough babygirl

Its giving 'Lucy beats the shit out of dean in 'swan dive'

HELLO???

EPISODE HELLO???

Sam‽ will drive me nuts

The theories

The possiblities

The doubts and questions

Aaaah

Dont get me wrong, I am loving this, the theorising, questioning and doubts

But oh my god losing my marbles

[mcheang]

Recreation review

I am still pondering about Gabriel’s wish, because him giving up his hours of life to restore Nathalie’s health is hardly balanced.

I have 2 theories but they depend on Emelie

1) Emelie is resurrected via Gabriel’s death and possibly something else. Nathalie’s health was restored but her terminal illness was passed on to the next wielder of the butterfly miraculous, someone Gabriel knew would be a villain.

2) If Emilie is still dead, then I say that Gabriel’s doomed life to save Nathalie’s wasn’t enough of a price. Lila had to be cursed to make up for that wish.

Despite Felix practically telling Marinette his uncle (the tailor) is Monarch, she doesn’t grasp that. Come on, who else would have the peacock miraculous!

As for Lila, i suspect she knows who Ladybug is, and she definitely know who certain holders are. I will be disappointed if no one recognizes Lila’s new disguise. Her facial structure and voice should at least strike some familiarity! How does Damocles not recognise her voice!? Lila never stops talking that even I recognised it.

I suspect Ladybug’s decision to distribute the miraculous…may not be so successful considering Lila and Tomoe know the secret identities of certain holders. Also, is trusting Kim, the insensitive boy with a miraculous so wise? I have a feeling all heroes may show up whenever an akuma arrives (good thing the new school doesn’t have classes or it would be strange to have the entire class missing), and unless Lila’s akumas are far more competent, the future battles will be overkill.

I do wonder how Tomoe will continue to play the villain. Will she team up with the new Hawkmoth, unaware that it is Lila, the girl Gabriel tossed away for her daughter?

Detransforming to offer Monarch mercy was such a dumb move

Personally I don’t mind Ladybug covering up Monarch’s crimes if he decides to turn over a new leaf when he already won. But making him into a hero is a bit too much for a terrorist! And she says she hates liars! What a hypocrite!

Also, Ladybug’s transformation to Bug Noir has awesome music and slow mo effects, her name however makes me cringe.

[mysteriouschar]

The party part 2

part 1 , Part 3

"well i thought you would recognize her but well let me introduce you to my girlfriend ,marinette dupain cheng."he said while pulling marinette closer to his side and marinette looked up at him with a loving expression.

whatt???screamed by dumb people (aka lie la ,alia ,adrien,nino)

"miss dupain cheng, i didn't know that you knew felix and amelia. I was wondering why you weren't with adrien and your friends for the last few months."said gabriel.

"oh didn't your son tell you we are't friends anymore"said marinettewith an airy laugh.

"afterall why would he be friends with an attention seeking brat who bullies the  sweetheart girl"she says.

"i am not sure i understand you correctly miss dupain cheng."said gabriel while alia looked irritated, adrien guilty and nino confused.

"well as much as we would love to be in such lovely company some of our friends." said felix cutting in and dragging marinette with him .

"well gabriel these so called friends of marinette believed a liar over their own friend who they had known longer. Just because she said she has connection all over the globe." said ameile with a smile but dangerous glint in her eyes.

"lila isn't lieing its maritrash who bullied her and is spreading lies about lila."screeched alia while lila looked shocked at the turn of events and adrien looked unsure about what he could do.

The whole attention of the ball was on the group.

"oh i am sure thats what you think miss cesairei am not sure how you think you can be a good reporter when you can't even fact check about what you are saying in your blog."said Ameile.

"afterall it must be coincidence that whenever you ask to meet these so called famous friends of miss rossi something unfortunate comes up. And its like you don't even use your brain or you could have just searched about what this liar has said and you would have realized that she is telling a lie but the truth is you all are just mindless sheep but i never thought my nephew would be such a spineless coward but i guess its because of you all that my son got such a lovely partner." said ameile.

"and how do you know all this ameile ?"asked gabriel.

"because i make it my business to know things about the people i care and mari is someone i care a lot about."said ameile.

"i care about you too ameile" said marinette from behind her.

It was then only the group noticed that they were the centre of attention of the ball so ameile used this to her advantage.

"well miss cesaire if you do believe that much lets just ask the guests here after all your friend i am sure knows many of them ."she said with an evil smile.

"of course she knows them ."she said with a smug smile while lila looked afraid.

Ameile looked like the cat who got the canary. And adrien would have been afraid if he wasn't so nervous about what was about to happen.

novaloptr, adalouise1987, m4nym03, a-very-fancy-furby, lisannavermilion, cryptidenergy, doll246, brightstarsxxlight,

lulubelle01, sandraf0612, lukanettex2, everything163, mad-witch-moon, aurorawolfe, mylifesalittlemistake, evielynrose, suenicole7, fangirl-katwithclaws, elrichamilton, lcamila23, captainmac6, alce-the-gem-girl, decaffeinatedpeacetragedy, fullvoidsharkgoop, abrx2002,

[visceralprayers]

nikhar sobered at jack's words, " I do care, " he objected, " of course I care... " nothing in his actions could back that up and he knew it, but he couldn't leave it at that. " I care about you, jack... I'm sorry I didn't say anything... " I knew you were okay, I could feel you. I can always feel you. he frowned deeply, feeling everything he worked so hard for crumbling before him.

louis stuck out his lower lip as he shook his head, " no, no-- I... " he sniffed up, ignoring the tears that escaped his eyes. he couldn't believe the relief he felt to finally see riley again, " you taught me to live freely, honestly. I have to thank you, I wanted to thank you. for your gift, for your love, for jack. " he bit his lower lip now, stepping closer to riley instinctively, " maybe sometimes... " he knew that jack was well aware of something missing too. he looked at her, then back to riley, " I... " he wished he could speak to riley's mind, talk the way they used to, " I had to see you. "

joshua closed his eyes at louis' words, salt in the wound of his own betrayal. he barely settled in the room before he was desperate to get out, " I'm taking a walk. " he brushed by his father and left out the back door.

matteo looked to august, and then gabriel, who sighed and pinched the bridge of his nose. " s'not like that, dakota is leavin', I offered a place for him to stay until he makes a decision on where he wants to go. I ain't bringin' him home with us, just providing a home base. " matteo narrowed his eyes, then rolled them, shaking his head as he looked away. liar.

in a way , jack could understand . she didn't care if niki told riley that they had checked in . that they were okay and safe . and maybe in some twisted way , maybe she understood that nikhar was afraid if they came back or if riley came to them , that they'd never return . jack's lips pulled down , " i thought you cared , at least a little bit , about me . if nothing else that maybe you'd say something or ... maybe you'd be worried too . "

nikhar and jack fell into the background . they faded away as riley kept their eyes on louis , unable to help the tears that filled their eyes . they shook their head , " i -- i should have been better , " they whispered . and maybe they should have been . more understanding . riley looked louis over . he seemed brighter than the last time they saw him . " and are you ? " riley asked . " happy ? "

" is this a conversation to have over breakfast ? " august questioned as he looked back at his son . gabriel should have brought that up to his children but he couldn't fault his son for saying it .

[generalluxun]

Fanfiction: Chasing a Dream Chapter 1(of 14)

Alt Season 5, Adrienette, Original Akumas, Road Trips, Emotional Hurt/Comfort, Chlodemption, and so much more! Chapter 1 below the cut. part of the @mlbigbang @apopcornkernel @nireu-art, inixyyl, and @mantabanter As Beta, and Artists respectively.

Chapter 1:Strike Out

Flairmidable held the ball of the Dog miraculous up triumphantly and smirked at his uncle. "Fetch."

Nothing happened.

Flairmidable frowned at the ball. "Fetch!" he commanded again. "Fetch!"

Still the ball did not move. Gabriel clenched his fists at his sides. "Another deception, nephew?"

Flairmidable shook his head quickly. "No, I swear to you, Uncle. There is no way she would have detransformed without getting the dog back from me. There is no logical reason this shouldn't work. Fetch!"

----------------

Marinette hummed to herself as she strolled up the street toward the manor. It was odd that Adrien had missed their rendezvous, but she was in no mood to worry. Adrien and Cat Noir, both by her side. It had been a dream come true. She used the walk to bask in the memory. Life would pile on problems soon enough.

She was shocked from her reverie by the wall of the Agreste compound shattering in front of her. A figure in orange flew out of the dust before impacting the storefront across the street. A purple figure—Hawkmoth!—pursued and lunged after the other—Flairmidable! Adrien!

Marinette dove into the swirling dust and debris. Under cover, she transformed and Ladybug leapt out, yo-yo already spinning. "Hawkmoth! Get away from him!"

Hawkmoth turned from where he crouched over Flairmidable. "Ladybug? Always where you aren't wanted. You've recruited a little liar this time, and it nearly cost you everything. But I'll let you go, for now. I've got what's mine."

"Who says I'm letting you go?"

Ladybug lashed out with her yo-yo; Hawkmoth dodged. He jumped over a second strike and landed on the roof of the store. The third he avoided by sliding down the backside of the roof. Ladybug tensed to pursue but then remembered: Adrien! He was down, maybe hurt. She ran to Flairmidable's side instead.

Flairmidable was pushing himself slowly to his hands and knees. Only his second time out and one on one against Hawkmoth. Ladybug reached down to help him up. "Take it easy Adrien, it's okay. I'm here.” 

Someone landed lightly beside her and Ladybug turned to fight only to end up blinking into the green gaze of her partner.

"M'lady?” Cat Noir tilted his head. “What happened?"

Ladybug sagged in relief. This had been too stressful of a day. "Hawkmoth showed up, and attacked Flairmidable. I just got here myself." She crouched down again and lightly touched Flairmidable’s shoulder. "Are you alri-"

The look of panic and terror on Flarmidable's face stunned Ladybug. Oh, Adrien. But in a flash the look was gone, a quick calculating expression replacing it, then followed by contrition. Flairmidable hung his head. "Ladybug, I- I'm not who you think I am."

A trickle of panic ran down Ladybug's back. She glanced at Cat Noir then looked back at Flairmidable with a nervous laugh. "What, haha, what do you mean? Are you worried about Hawkmoth getting the better of you? You shouldn't be! He's extremely dangerous. He gives even us experienced heroes a run for our money, isn't that right, Cat Noir?"

An answer wasn't forthcoming so Ladybug applied a light elbow and got a begrudging, "Yeah. He's no kitten, that's for sure."

Flairmidable got to his feet, shaking his head. "No Ladybug, I mean I'm not Adrien Agreste."

Cat Noir’s confused, "Adrien Agreste?"

Was drowned out by Ladybug's, "Who—? Felix!"

Shock and fear mingled but anger outclassed them. Ladybug's mind raced. She had given the miraculous to Felix. She had to get it back. Ladybug held out her hand.

Her tone brooked no argument. "Give me the miraculous. Now."

Flairmidable's expression remained contrite as he transformed back and handed over the collar. Ladybug didn't let herself believe it for a moment. Felix had nearly fooled her before, and had fooled many of her friends. Yet as he stood before her in Adrien’s clothes, and his hair styled into Adrien’s signature ruffle, she still couldn’t tell them apart. The boy I love—why can’t I recognize him? 

As he handed off the miraculous he explained, "My cousin and I switched places, so he could avoid going away. I wanted to keep his secret so I played along, but after the battle I got nervous. This seemed like something Adrien should know about himself. I was heading back to the manor to try and find him when Hawkmoth attacked me."

Ladybug had too many questions. How did Hawkmoth track him? Why was he Hawkmoth and not Shadowmoth? Where is Adrien now? One made her stomach churn above all others though. How did I mistake Felix for Adrien… again?

She glanced at Cat Noir. Her partner seemed wound up even more tightly than she was. His blond hair was practically bristling and his glowing green eyes had a darkness to them that she had never seen before. Instinctively, she laid a hand on his shoulder to soothe him before turning back to Felix.

"I can understand why you did what you did Felix,” Ladybug said, “but you lied to me and you put yourself and the miraculous in danger by behaving recklessly. Do you have your own way home, or will you need assistance?"

Felix looked between the two of them. Ladybug felt Cat Noir tense under her touch, and for a moment, thought he might actually pounce. But before that crucial tipping point was reached, Felix said, "I have my own way home. Once again, I am sorry Ladybug. I did not mean to deceive you."

Ladybug said nothing. She waited until Felix was already far away before taking her eyes off of him, surveying the damage. She swept her gaze back to the blown out wall of the compound. Adrien! Ladybug ran for the breach. “Cat Noir, we need to be sure everyone inside’s safe!”

Her command spurred him into action, but not the one she expected. “M’Lady! I don’t trust Felix. I’m going to put a tail on that dog. I’ll contact you if I find anything!”

Ladybug turned, but Cat Noir was already vaulting away. “Oh Kitty,” she said worriedly,”Don’t go getting into fights with strays. You’re better than that.” As she picked her way through the rubble of the breach, Ladybug hoped she was right. 

The yard seemed to be in good shape. The rear doors were closed. Ladybug peered in with a frown. It looked deserted. She hesitated before trying them; during all her previous visits to the Agreste manor, something had gone wrong. “Adrien?” She called. “Mr. Ageste?” Don’t be afraid. You’ve got a good reason to be here this time. Go slow, don’t pry, just look for damage or anyone hurt.

She stepped into the ballroom and scanned. A loud *click* startled her and she spun to find… the door had closed behind her. She looked up and spotted the automatic closer, something so easily overlooked. But perfectly sensible for a man who doesn’t like the outside world sneaking into his home. What am I even looking for? There was no outward sign of damage. Neither Flairmidable nor Hawkmoth had particularly destructive powers though. The wall shot must’ve been a direct hit with Hawkmoth’s cane. Why here? Why as Hawkmoth? Ladybug reached the far doors and opened them to peek into the Atrium. There was no damage there that she could see either. “Mr. Agreste? Adrien?”

Still nothing. Ladybug crept silently into the atrium. The ground floor doors seemed closed. This time the click of the ballroom doors closing didn’t spook her at least. She turned and started up the stairs.

She was ready this time. Agreste manor seemed to have it in for her, so when another click sounded behind her Ladybug spun, Yo-yo at the ready. She came face to face with… Felix? No, he was dressed like Felix, but Felix was dressed like Adrien. So, who am I looking at? Ladybug ground her teeth in frustration, both at the situation and herself.

“Ladybug? What are you doing here? Is everything okay?” Felix-Adrien dropped the small day bag he had been carrying and rushed towards her.

“Stop!” Ladybug held up a hand, her insides knotting in uncertainty. “Who are you? Really?”

“Ladybug? It’s me, Adrien. I’m sorry. I switched places with my cousin to avoid going on this trip.” He stopped, hanging his head, just as Felix had done before. “But you can’t just run from your problems. I came back to talk to my father.”

She wanted to believe him, she wanted so badly to believe. “Tell me something only Adrien would know!”

He was silent for a long moment then looked up. A smile was on his face, the true gentle smile she had fallen in love with long ago. “Remember when Simon Says was attacking the house? You caught me in the shower trying to get me to safety. I asked if I could put my clothes on first and you said ‘If you–”

“--that’s good! Good! That’s good!” Ladybug waved her arms to cut him off. She felt like her cheeks must be redder than her suit. She stepped down to him. “I’m so glad it’s you, Adrien. Today’s been crazy.” She rolled her eyes and flashed a nervous smile. “Even for a Ladybug. There’s so much I want to talk to you about, but when I came here, Hawkmoth was attacking your cousin just outside. I came inside to check on you. I haven’t seen anyone though.”

Felix-Adrien blinked. “Felix? Is he okay?” He looked around. ”Father should be he–” He looked back at Ladybug who was now flexing her fingers in the air, eyes angled up from his own. “Ladybug?”

“Can- Can I please just… Fix it? It’s unnerving right now.”

Adrien followed her eyes up to his hair, laughed, then leaned in. ”I’d be honored, Ladybug.”

Ladybug ran her fingers through his hair mercilessly, ruining the perfectly smooth lay of it and mussing it up into the more natural look Adrien normally wore. He ran his own hand through it once after she was done and flashed her a model smile.

“Better?”

“So much better.” The relief was a physical thing. One part of the world, back to normal. “Felix is okay. He’s on his way home, I believe, with Cat Noir following him. You said your father should be here?”

Adrien frowned. “He should be.” He took out his phone, opening contacts and hitting call.

The volume was up; Ladybug could hear each ring and then the sound of the phone being answered.

“Adrien? What is the meaning of this disturbance?”

“Father? Ladybug is here. She says Hawkmoth attacked Felix outside our home.”

“Here? Aren’t you supposed to be on a train, Adrien?”

Adrien winced. “Yes, Father. I’m not, though. I’m home. Did you hear any fighting?”

“I heard noises before, I assumed it was some noisome public construction in the street. Now, you’ve disturbed my work more than enough for one day, Adrien. Unless it is an emergency it can wait until I am finished here. And we will talk about your disobedience at dinner tonight, young man.”

The fact that Adrien’s only response was an excited, “You’re coming to dinner?” broke Ladybug’s heart.

“Goodbye, Adrien.”

Ladybug wanted to fight Gabriel Agreste right this second, even more so when Adrien gave her an apologetic look. “Sorry for my father. He can be a bit hard to reach when he is deep in his work, and I did kinda try to skip out on a major brand project.”

Ladybug reached out and laid a hand on his forearm. “But if you don’t want to go, you shouldn’t. It’s not right forcing you to leave school in the middle of the semester; forcing you to leave all your friends.”

Adrien kept that same apologetic smile. “Maybe, but, maybe it might be good to think. It’s not like I can’t talk to my friends. For everything else she might fib about, Lila wasn’t wrong when she said I could keep touch with my friends via video calls. I’m used to missing school, and it might help me sort out a few things to be away from it all for a little bit.”

You and me both. Ladybug couldn’t argue against something she herself wished she could do. Instead, she reached out and gave Adrien a light hug before stepping back. “If you do go, just know Paris will miss you and we’ll be waiting for your return.”

Adrien’s smile was genuine, not a hint of the model about it. He slow-blinked at her before replying, “Then, I’d better be sure not to keep Paris waiting too long.”

Ladybug’s brain replayed his reply. Then it did it again. The air took on a pink hazy tint and time seemed to slow down. Ladybug felt a ‘tee hee’ bubble up before she could stop it. The small sound snapped her out of her daydream. She twisted her head aside in a rush to conceal her blush, and surprisingly, Adrien did the same.

Ladybug fumbled her yo-yo out. “I’d better get going! Take care, and safe travels, Adrien! I– I mean, we’ll count the days!”

She was running for the doors before he could reply, and didn’t look back once until she curled up on her bed in a pile of confusion and squees.

---------------

"It's still happening, and get this: Gabriel Agreste himself is coming along now!"

The sharp voice cut through the air and Marinette's cloud of thought as the school day ended. Lila. A quick check picked out her mark talking to a little clique of students on the stairs up to the second floor of the school. Marinette ducked out of sight under the stairs. She took a page from her other nemesis’ book and pulled out her phone, hitting record as Lila continued.

"Can you believe it? I mean, I can. Gabriel—I call him Gabriel—knows I am the best. It only makes sense he'd take a special interest in this project. A weeks-long project is the perfect opportunity to show him just how much Adrien and I are meant for each other. Why, I wouldn't be surprised if we came back with news of a betrothal. I mean, for when we're eighteen of course, but why hide it? Adrien couldn't find a better match."

Marinette wasn't sure which was harder: not screaming, not throwing her phone, or not losing her lunch. She managed all three, though. As the group descended into titters and congratulatory encouragement, Marinette pocketed her phone and headed for the doors. Think it through. Do it twice. Impulse almost cost us against Risk.

------------------

"Why are you still going through with this project, sir?"

Gabriel Agreste twisted his hands in the small of his back, gazing out a window at the ruined wall in the yard. "A new approach, Nathalie. A riskier one, to be sure, but one with potential."

Nathalie moved up beside him, the hydraulic whirr of her exosuit a reminder of his failure. "I suppose it is good I haven't unpacked. What is our new approach?"

Gabriel tilted his head, regarding Nathalie's faint reflection in the glass. "Fear. I have been engaging in physical conflict, which has never been my domain, and leaving my skills to rot. Paris loves Ladybug because they suffer little under her protection. We fight her; she repairs the damage. They are accustomed to it. On this trip, Shadowmoth will inflict wounds across the globe. Wounds Ladybug will not heal. Communities will suffer, for what? Because one person won't surrender their magical trinkets to another. Shadowmoth will, of course, be reviled too, but that mask is merely a tool. Ladybug is the hero. It is her problem to solve, her pressure to bear. We will win a war of minds, Nathalie. By the end we will have people worldwide howling for Ladybug's surrender."

He saw hesitation in Nathalie's reflection. "But sir, to start battles you know Ladybug will not arrive to? To kill civilians without having a chance to claim the miraculous?"

"None of this matters, Nathalie. None of this will have happened. When my wish is granted, the last fourteen years will be undone."

Nathalie's reflection vanished as she turned away from the window. "...Yes, sir."

----------------------

Ladybug watched Cat Noir as he approached across the roofs of Paris. So much was building up right now, focusing was hard. She needed to deal with her feelings for Adrien, with giving the Dog miraculous to Felix by mistake, with Lila’s new gambit and trying to sort out how to respond, and yet she also needed to be here for her partner.

Things had been strained, and as he vaulted through the sky the moonlight reflection on his black leather costume turned it briefly white; reminding her why. Her heart seized, but in the wake of it all another thought wormed its way into her mind. Is this fair to him? Why is he paying for my fears? I thought he’d want the freedom from having to be a hero all the time, but it’s not the same. He wants to be out here. Why don’t I want to be out here? What good is a hero who’s afraid of all the really important things in her life?

Cat Noir’s graceful landing interrupted her thoughts. He spun his baton in one hand and quirked a brow at her. “A day for heavy thinking, M’Lady? Or just admiring your purrtner by starlight? You know we cats love attention.”

And just like that he could make her smile. She noticed the little changes. His words may flirt but his eyes held good humor rather than longing. He postured but kept himself out of her personal space. Her kitty was trying, changing, doing this for her. Do I owe it to him to try to change too? To do what? I love Adrien, but it seems I don’t even know the boy I love. Maybe… I should try loving the boy I know? That’s crazy! There’s no way! No way? Isn’t being Ladybug about finding a way when there is no way?

“M’Lady, you’re staring again. I’ll be blushing soon.” Cat Noir’s voice was a gentle whisper.

Ladybug shook her head. Not enough time, too many things; she would have to consider this later. It was time for patrol. “Sorry again, kitty. I’m a bit lost in my head right now. I’m still rattled from the near miss with Flairmidable and Risk.” She realized she was biting her knuckle and startled. “I want to talk to you about all that. I need to do more to keep you in the loop. I just can’t seem to get enough time to translate my thoughts into actions lately.”

Cat Noir stepped closer. He reached for her hand, and after the briefest of pauses for the subtle exchange of body language to indicate her consent, he took it and gave it a gentle squeeze. He brought her hand up and began rubbing across her palm with his thumbs. Instantly, Ladybug’s brain wanted to focus on nothing else, or maybe just nothing at all. The relief and reassurance in that touch was so complete.

Cat Noir spoke softly. “I– Thank you M’Lady. I know I’ve been a little unhelpful lately. I didn’t tell you how I felt.”

Cat Noir paused and put on a toothy grin before tilting his head and turning it into a self-deprecating smile.

“Well, I told you one of the ways I felt, entirely too often. I didn’t share other things though. That’s on me. I promise to try and be a better kitty though.”

At that, Ladybug’s eyes snapped open from her sedate daze. She turned her hand in his grip and squeezed his hand. Never mind that this left their hands clasped together. Denying affection for her partner was always a silly idea. Affection didn’t need to be love; it was its own warmth.

 “Cat Noir, you’re an amazing partner. I haven’t been showing it enough, but I promise I will too. I’ve been focusing too much on just keeping things as they are, because all this is still very scary and new. I don’t know what a little change could do.” Actually, I know all too well. Should I tell him? Soon. I need to think about how. I don’t want to hurt him.

“We’ll figure it out together?” Cat Noir prompted. Their joined hands fell between them, but neither let go.

Ladybug smiled. She shifted her weight to go in for a hug, but balked. Would that be too much after all her talk of setting boundaries? She didn’t want to confuse him right now. She was confused herself. Relationships are hard. 

She settled for a smile. “I’d like that.”

Cat Noir took a deep breath. His gaze went from hopeful to hesitant, and Ladybug tensed. She squeezed his hand to cover for it. He opened his mouth but closed it again.

“Kitty?” Ladybug prompted. “Now’s not the time to hide something. We have to start this off right don’t we?”

His eyes turned grateful. “Yeah, I thought I would have figured out how to say this by now. I don’t want to sound like it is coming from a bad place, especially with this little mini-breakthrough.”

She felt his thumb brush the backs of her knuckles. He took another deep breath.

“I have to go away for a while, m’Lady. I hate to do it, but my family needs me. I won’t be in Paris. I won’t be able to be here for you. I hate everything about leaving you, but at the same time. I think it might help me—help us—if I can get my head together, too.”

Ladybug’s stomach dropped. First Adrien almost vanished from her life. Now Cat Noir was going… again! This time, though, she had a chance. She could convince him to stay. I just need to let him know he’s needed. He’ll stay with me then. She opened her mouth but only a hoarse croak came out.

“I’m coming back!” Cat Noir added in a panic. He crushed her hand to his chest. “This isn’t like last time m’Lady. I’m coming back, just as soon as I can. We’re partners, and I won’t ever leave your side for a moment longer than I must. We can talk about the particulars. If– If you need Plagg while I am gone I understand, but know I’m coming back for him.” Cat Noir’s earnest tone rose to a teasing lilt, “Besides, unless you’re rich I don’t think you can afford his cheese addiction for long.”

From rock bottom to snorting with mirth. God, I love you kitty. … I what? Ladybug’s suddenly flushed cheeks earned her a confused look from her partner. She licked her lips to fill the silence with something, anything. “Keep Plagg with you, Kitty. We’ll miss you, but we’ll find a way to manage. It won’t be the same, but I have our allies now, and we’re a team. A team means no one person has to always bear the burden.”

Cat Noir raised his free hand to touch her nose. “That’s right, m’Lady. No one.”

Ladybug flushed anew, trapped by her own words. They were still linked at their hands and she squeezed again, taking strength from his presence. “Yeah, yeah, I get it, Kitty.” Ladybug turned her head to look out at the night skyline. “How long before you go?”

“Tonight.”

Her head jerked back. No time! Always no time. Why? “Do… Do you have time for a patrol?”

“I have time to visit the top of the Eiffel Tower, if you would. Don’t worry, there’s nothing waiting up there for you. I just want a few lingering moments with my Lady and my City and nothing else. I want to carry you both with me while I am gone.”

This time she hugged him. She launched herself at him and squeezed for all she was worth. He laughed softly, staggering under the attack before hugging her back almost as fiercely. 

“I’ll miss you, Kitty.”

“I’ll miss you too, Ladybug.”

-----------------

With a ‘spots off’, Marinette sat down on her bed. First almost losing Adrien, and now losing Cat Noir. The blows kept coming. Even if she felt like she was making some kind of progress in sorting out her feelings, life was giving her no chances. She picked up her phone and, spotting a notification, swiped it open immediately. She had to reread it twice before her brain would accept the words on the glowing screen.

Adrien: Hi Marinette. I’m sorry you have to hear this from me via text, but my father didn’t want a big send off like last time, at school. We’re going on the ‘First Love’ tour. I’ll try to text you every day if I can. If you want me to, that is. And if it’s okay, I’d like to maybe get ice cream when I get back? You’ve been there for me time and time again, but I feel like there’s still so much I don’t know about you. I hope this doesn’t come off as weird.

Tikki floated up with a cookie snack beside Marinette, and the poor Kwami took the brunt of Marinette’s internal explosion. “Tikki! Adrien’s going away! Cat Noir is too! At the same time! Do you know what this means?”

The little polka-dot Kwami blinked her eyes expectantly. “What does it mean, Marinette?”

“It means, after all my soul searching, I won’t be able to figure out how I feel about either of them!”

Tikki flopped onto Marinette’s pillow and took an overly large bite of her cookie, chewing with an uncharacteristic savagery for a moment before swallowing. “Is that all? I mean, if that’s all, then I wouldn’t worry too much. You have time. You don’t need to figure out your entire future before your fifteenth birthday, Marinette.”

Marinette flopped over onto her pillow, narrowly missing Tikki. She pulled her pigtails and let out a frustrated groan. “Why is love hard? I mean, I love Adrien right? I’ve known that since that first day. But what kind of a girlfriend can I be if I don’t know him well enough not to be duped? And why did Cat Noir have to change and become…”

Marinette rolled onto her back, letting her pigtails go and staring at her ceiling. Slowly she raised one hand to lay it against her chest, feeling an unaccustomed thumping both inside and out.

“... nice. Not just funny, flirty, goofy, or a jokester, but actually nice. Why can I see that smile now when I close my eyes sometimes, Tikki? Am I cheating on someone I’m not even dating yet?”

Her Kwami drifted into Marinette’s field of vision, looking down with concern. “Marinette, I don’t think that counts. You need to stop trying to feel with your head and think with your heart. They’re not made for that.”

Tikki settled and patted Marinette on the cheek.

“What is it you like about Cat Noir, Marinette?”

Marinette rolled carefully to avoid Tikki this time, pushing herself up on her elbows. “Nothing… really. I mean, he’s pushy, and always throwing himself into danger… to protect me. He never takes anything seriously! No matter how bad it gets he never stops smiling… I can always look to him when I need a boost. I swear, he’s so frustrating. You think he’s one thing then when you’re not looking… you find out he’s nothing like you expected at all.”

Tikki perched on Marinette’s forearm, her mouth open in anticipation. “And…?”

Marinette picked at her pillow, the next few words dropping out begrudgingly. “I never got to really see Adrien in action as a hero. I bungled both times. When I close my eyes, though, and think of what it would be like… I see Cat Noir.”

Marinette sat up abruptly, sending Tikki spinning through the air. Marinette grabbed her pillow and screamed into it before dropping it into her lap.

“How messed up is that, Tikki? Can you imagine if Cat Noir was Adrien?” Marinette stopped. Something was tickling the back of her brain. What if Cat Noir was Adrien?

Marinette shook her head to chase the thought away. Silly, stupid Marinette, you know better! You’ve seen them at the same time, right? Not that you haven’t been in two places at once half a dozen times. UGH, if Cat Noir were Adrien it would be so… so… easy.

She shook this thought away too. It was too crazy to entertain. Even just hinting at the idea was tiring her out. She stared at her cupped hands in her lap for several minutes until a concerned Tikki floated over to sit in them. “Marinette, are you okay?”

Marinette lightly scritched Tikki’s tummy with a fingernail. “Yeah Tikki, sorry. I kinda want to think about something else for a while, if that’s okay?”

Tikki nodded. ”Of course, Marinette. I’ll even give you until your sixteenth birthday to have your whole life planned out!”

The polka-dot Kwami giggled, and Marinette turned the scritches into a friendly poke. Tikki flew off towards the miracle box and Marinette turned to pick up her phone, looking at the message. Taking a deep breath she began to type.

Marinette: I’d love to hear from you whenever you are able! I’ll miss you a lot. Ice cream sounds awesome. I hope you enjoy your trip, and if you can’t, feel free to complain to me about it as much as you want 😁 Where are you stopping first?

----------------------------

“You don’t think Adrien will fall for it, do you?” Alya’s voice was cautious but concerned. Marinette could tell her friend was balancing the video evidence against Marinette’s past with Lila.

Marinette poked her turkey-on-brioche sandwich listlessly. “Adrien? No. Gabriel? That’s what I’m scared of. Even if you still don’t believe me about everything else, Alya, you have to admit Lila is persuasive. She gets what she wants.”

Alya replayed the video. “Well, all of us will put in a good word for you every time Adrien calls us. Aside from that I’m not sure what we can do. You can’t—” Alya made a flying gesture with one hand “—can you?”

Marinette shook her head. She settled for pulling bits of the turkey out of her sandwich and eating them without the bread. “No, I’ve learned the hard way what abusing the miraculous for your own gain leads to. Even if I could, what would Ladybug say? I can’t just show up as Marinette in random cities either.”

Alya sighed, passing the phone back. She reached across and rubbed Marinette’s back with one hand. “Sometimes it sucks being the responsible heroes, doesn’t it? Just once it’d be nice to be able to be selfish and have it work out.”

Marinette was half-listening. Alya’s words echoed around in Marinette’s mind waiting for a chance to sink in. As they did, Marinette's unfocused gaze resolved on the person she was staring at. Two added itself to two and Marinette banged her fist on the table. “That’s it!”

“What is it?” Alya scrambled to catch her drink which Marinette’s table abuse had upset.

“I’ll let you know if it works,” Marinette said, with a grin she borrowed from Cat Noir. With her head finally clear and her stomach settled, she crossed the lunchroom to a table that had never held more than two people.

Marinette took a deep breath as she approached; she opened her mouth.

“What do you want, Du-pain-Cheng?” ACK! How can she do that when I’m still behind her?

Marinette groped for her focus one more time then stepped around, hands clasped behind her back, and peeked at the seated Chloé. “Well…”

All her words dried up. It was like trying to talk to Adrien, but from a different place. Chloé’s sharp sapphire gaze drilled into her and everything seemed so instantly childish. Marinette didn’t even have the advantage of friendly support at this table. An audience to play off of might have given her strength, but here there was only Sabrina looking on with a mixture of suspicion and curiosity.

Marinette’s mind blanked, so she just dove in. “Lila’s going to try to marry Adrien while they’re on this trip and then he’ll be lost to us forever and then he’ll probably end up living in Italy for the rest of his life and we’ll never see him again!”

Close enough.

Chloé drew herself up under the verbal assault. Then after a brief silence in which Marinette felt all eyes in the lunchroom turning to the pair, she laughed. She laughed loud and harshly, covering her mouth with the back of one hand. “Oh Du-pain-Cheng…” Chloé flicked her ponytail and folded her arms. “You really have been working in that bakery too long. All that heat’s gone to your head. There’s absolutely no way–”

Marinette slapped her phone onto the table. Swipe, swipe, play.

She might as well have dropped a viper onto the table for the reaction she got. Chloé stared in confusion and horror at first, and then snatched up the phone. Her thumb stabbed replay. The short clip played again. Stab. Again. Again. Chloé’s face went from her usual bronze to pale, to flushed, to explosively red. “Why that long-eared, sausage-haired, fashion-deaf little cheater—!”

Marinette reached across to pry her phone from Chloé’s grip. “I was wrong about Kagami, and you were too.”

Chloé snapped out of her incandescent rage and narrowed her eyes at Marinette. I can’t lose her. I have to keep this going. Why did I ever think this was a good idea?

Marinette held up a finger. “But I’m not wrong about Lila. This time, we really do have to stop her from sinking her claws into Adrien. He doesn’t want this, but that’s not something someone like Lila cares about.”

Distrust still loomed large on Chloé’s face. She pulled out her own phone. “Well, unlike you, Du-pain-Cheng, I don’t panic. I’ll have this all wrapped up in no time.”

Chloé tapped a name in her contacts and turned up the volume with a smug expression on her face. The line only rang once though before kicking over to a recording.

“Hi! You’ve reached the voicemail of Lila Rossi. I’m currently traveling the world for a big project with the Gabriel Agreste. I likely won’t have time to get back to you until it’s over, but leave a message and I’ll see what I can do.”

“SEND ME TO VOICEMAIL!!?” Chloé screamed at her phone before pitching it across the table. Sabrina, with a padded glove already on her hand, dove to catch it.

Marinette fought desperately not to laugh. It wouldn’t help, but ohhhh that was good. Instead she pointed out innocently, “Why use a phone? Isn’t it more fun in person? If only there was some way to follow them…”

Chloé, on the hook, jumped to her feet, knocking her table askew. “There is! I have a jet!” Chloé reached for her phone, which Sabrina supplied without missing a beat. She stabbed contacts again. “DADDY! I need the jet! I’m going to see Adrien! Now! Yes, now! You let ME worry about that, you just get me my jet!”

She hung up while her father was still stammering on the line and swept her molten blue gaze around the deathly quiet lunchroom.

“WHAT?”

Everyone took an instant interest in their food, except Marinette. She couldn’t believe how well this had worked, but there was one snag. “Now, Chloé? Don’t we need time to pack and get things in order, and talk to our–”

Chloé switched from anger to disdain fluidly. “We? Who says you’re going, Du-pain-Cheng? Get your own jet, mine’s full.”

Marinette was ready for this and played her trump card. “And where’s it going?”

Chloé huffed. “After Adrien of course. I got their flight plan from Li–” she cut herself off.

Marinette smiled ever so sweetly. ”What’s the first city?”

Chloé growled, “Munich.”

Marinette countered, “Venice.”

Chloe folded her arms again, shifting her weight to one foot. “Oh? And how would you know?”

Marinette went for the throat. “Adrien told me.”

For once, victory didn’t feel so sweet. Chloé’s eyes widened and then darted around the lunchroom where everyone was ignoring them all too conspicuously by this point. She lifted her phone as if it might contain some hidden truth before jerking her head away from it and grumbling, “Fine, you can come. Just this once though! Don’t get used to it. Luxury isn’t meant for baker girls.”

Chloé’s voice trailed off at the end, the retort barely audible. Where normally the fire of competition would be burning between them there was an emptiness Marinette couldn’t explain. Later. Focus! “Okay, so, we’ll meet up after school?”

Chloé regained a spark of herself. “After school? Now, Du-Pain-Cheng! You’ve got an hour to get packed. The limo will pick you up, or you’ll stay behind.”

Without waiting, Chloé stalked out of the lunch room, her food barely touched. Sabrina snagged an uneaten sandwich and jogged after her.

Marinette sagged in exhaustion. Little prickling tingles danced across her skin in reaction. She was still trying to process what she’d just gotten herself into when Alya laid an arm across her shoulders. “Well Marinette, that was certainly a show for the ages. I got it all on tape, too. That was either brilliant or insane. I can’t wait to hear which.”

Insane. The word shocked Marinette back to life. She turned and caught Alya by the front of her shirt. “I’ve got an hour! I need to pack! I need to tell my parents! I need to figure out what to do about school. Do you think this will take long? How long is a trip to Venice? Oh my God Alya, what do I do about La–”

Marinette bit off this last worry. Alya gently extracted Marinette’s clenched fists from her shirt. “One thing at a time Marinette. I think packing and your parents come first. Why don’t I walk with you? We’ve got until the end of lunch to sort this out?”

Alya prompted them into motion, and the walking helped Marinette’s brain to restart. She picked out the most important thing first. Once she was sure they weren’t within earshot of anyone else Marinette leaned in to explain. “I’m going to give you a miraculous-”

“Trixx?” Alya’s voice contained heartbreaking excitement. I wish I could.

Marinette shook her head, “I’m sorry Alya, but Shadowmoth knows who you are in that form now. I’m going to leave you the Ox. You can get to know Stompp, and he’ll help you keep threats at bay. I’ll have Kaalki with me and I can voyage back as soon as I get an alert. That should keep us safe. Cat Noir’s not available right now though, so you can’t expect support from him.”

Alya blinked. “What happened to Cat Noir?”

He might be visiting family, or he might be on a trip around the world. Marinette’s heart twisted at the uncertainty. She grimaced. “I don’t know everything, we try not to share too much information. He’ll be back though, so he could show up. I just don’t want you to expect him to if he won’t.”

Alya absorbed the information and after a brief moment nodded. “Sounds good. Do you want to leave any others behind? Shelter sure might come in handy.”

Marinette gave her friend a little elbow. “Your boyfriend wouldn’t recognize you as the Ox anyway. I’ll be bringing back everything we need when I come. I trust you, Alya. You’ll be fine. You’ve already been Ladybug.”

Alya grinned. “Yeah, you have a way of going on last-minute trips and leaving me to hold things together.”

Marinette blushed. “Sorry. This time, I didn’t know I was going until the same time you did though.”

Alya elbowed her back. “Yeah, yeah. You’re lucky I love you, Marinette.”