#“they are their real selves as chat noir and marinette-” THEY CAN LEARN TO BE THEMSELVES WITH LADRIEN

[cookiedough77]

"marichat this, marichat that"

WHERE THE LADRIEN!?!?!?

[aliensunflower-fics]

In Defense of Salt AND Sugar: Aka ML Fandom pls chill out.

So I don’t talk much as those who follow me will say I tend to just stick to myself and my own things. HOWEVER, Ive gotten a lot of asks about why I write both Salt and Sugar for Miraculous Ladybug.

The short answer: Both salt and sugar are valid, fun, intriguing things to read and write and the point of writing is to entertain and be entertained.

The long answer: Salt isn’t inherently someone hating on your fav show and sugar isn't someone necessarily giving it a free pass either. Ya’ll are just dramatic as hell.

The LONGER answer:

I write salt because I LIKE Miraculous Ladybug, BUT the show has not lived up to its potential AT ALL. The show could be so much better and the characters are so flawed or full of holes that occasionally I feel FRUSTRATED and mad!

I hate that Alya a character who I was so excited about, gets shafted ignored, sidelined, or written like a jerk! She could have been this great detective working alongside her friend to unmask the villain, but instead she often comes across as pushy, obsessed with Ladynoir or Adrinette, and so damn easily tricked. Not to mention how when shes not gushing over her ‘ships’ shes pushed to the side and ignored. [or you know... LILA]

I hate that Marinette’s crush makes her do things that are so cringy and awkward i feel ill I hate that she’s constantly the only one making mistakes and ‘learning lessons’ when the show has all these other great characters that could use the spotlight and be the ones learning lessons. I hate that she’s so jealous and that she cant ever seem to catch a break as if the show is punishing her constantly.

I HATE that Adrien is a mary sue, how the writers say hes perfect and treat him as such, I hate that he gets to guilt Marinette into fixing everything and dealing with bullies, I wanted a funny, Ron Stoppable, naive boy who learns about real friendships and grows into a great partner. Instead he gets to be pushy and downright a jerk as Chat Noir ignoring his responsibilities, guilting Ladybug with his feelings, never taking no as an answer. He’s not a good role model for kids.

I hate that Chloe got built up to have a redemption arc several times only for the writers to decide that Chloe a teenage girl who needs some serious therapy [and actual reasonable punishment for her actions] is worse than Gabriel child abuse Agreste. She could have been a great lesson on compassion and growth and dealing with your own pain without hurting others. Instead the writers wrote her off completely.

And dont get me started on how the show treats Nino, Kagami, Luka and the rest of the cast. They may as well be a backdrop for the forced love square that we NEVER get a break from. Seriously I’m a sucker for romance but does it need to be EVERY damn episode?! Can’t we just get some wholesome friendship between everyone including Adrien and Marinette at this point like COME ON.

And i’m not even touching on the white washing, awful lessons on responsibility and forgiveness, awful lessons on well so much other stuff really, the guilt trips, the teacher, the fact that she show could be used to teach kids how to better handle negative emotions and the importance of open communication and not keeping quiet about injustice and/or your feelings but instead decided that the main priority should be a love square that gets force fed to us EVERY SINGLE EPISODE.

My point is the show has FLAWS. That doesn’t mean its the worse show ever and it doesn’t mean its not fun, and has a great premise and characters, and so when I write Salt I write it because i’m frustrated! Im frustrated with the show, with the characters, with the writing and so I vent that out with salt I write those characters as their worst selves because I cant stand how the show has decided to treat them and Im ANGRY and disappointed.

It feels good to write salt and to read it. It’s nice to see characters get called out for bad behavior, its nice to read about Adrien not getting the girl. Its nice to occasionally indulge in salt because it validates that the show is flawed and lets you get out that frustration.

BUT ON THE FLIP SIDE

Miraculous Ladybug is a lovely show. It’s a show that decided to give little girls a FEMALE HERO. And not just as a side kick or background character! No they made her the protagonist! Its so important to me that little girls see good well rounded female characters in media.

And even if the show is clumsy about it they are TRYING to build an expansive lore that tickles the theorist brain. And gets people invested in the world.

The show also made Marinette shy, and awkward, and clumsy something a lot of girls deal with during puberty as growing up can literally make you clumsier as your body adjusts. Having a character who tries to be positive and tries to find solutions who solves things with creativity instead of pure violence. Thats LOVELY for young girls to see.

Growing up I loved and admired Kim Possible, and probably would have loved Marinette, even if the shows not perfect I can admit its trying and I can see why people love it as much as they do! And why they write these fluffy sugary fics its the reason I WRITE fluffy sugary things.

Because even though I am frustrated and angry and disappointed with the show, I still see Alya’s potential and how great she is as representation to little girls who want a black female superhero so I write fluff where Alya’s loyalty, compassion, cleverness and her pursuit of justice are center stage.

I see how Adrien could be better and I want him to be better and I WANT him to be the naive funny comic relief the Ron Stoppable to Marinette’s Kim Possible. I want Adrien to grow and learn and spit in his dad’s face I want him to overcome the abuse and be happy. To show people that neglect and abuse doesn’t mean you will get stuck like that forever, that you can overcome that and be a better kinder person.

I want Nino and Kagami, and Luka and Chloe and the class to grow and get attention and have funny moments I want to laugh and make other people laugh! So I write prompts focused around comedy and shenanigans and where the characters get to be fun and silly and make decisions for themselves!

SO IN CONCLUSION:

I write salt AND sugar. I see the value and merit in both sides of the coin, and I respect how other people see the show. I know its easy to get angry with other people in the fandom who see the show differently then you do but please can we put down the weapons and just BREATHE.

Someone who writes salt might LOVE the same show as you, and they might in fact love it so much that they vent their frustrations in angst and salt and cracky fics. Let them vent about how they wish the show was better, leave their tags alone or block them if you cant stand to see it. But dont attack salt writers for ‘hating on your show’ when they might love it just as much as you do but want a way to vent out their feelings.

On the flip someone who writes sugar might NOT be forgiving the show for its flaws, they might see all the same flaws as you but decide to take that frustration and write fluff and fix it fics and sugar because they want to indulge in a version of their favorite show where everything is just... OK. Where everyone is well written and happy and the character development sticks. Stay out of their tags let them have their sugar, they aren't writing it to hurt you just like you don't write salt to hurt them.

So ENOUGH. Enough hunting each other down, enough sending each other hate, enough filling each others tags. Let people write SALT if they feel angry and vengeful and disappointment, let them have their tags, let them explore the dark side of the characters, let them rant and rave and be HURT when the characters they love upset them with their actions. Its not your place to tell them to stop, to tell them their feelings are invalid, to tell them that ‘adrien is sweet sunshine boy how dare you’ or ‘alya would never’ or ‘i hate your marinette leaves dupont au’. Just leave it be, heed the tags, and let it go.

AND ENOUGH. Enough hunting each other down, enough sending each other hate, enough filling each other tags. Let people write SUGAR if they just want something to feel happy about. Let them makes coffee shop au’s, let them make fix it fics where everything is just happy without needing 8 pages of backstory for why everything is just happy. Let them squeal and gush and talk about the ship they like and the fluff they see. Its not your place to argue with them that the show is flawed, its not cool to ruin their fun by accusing them of not understanding the flaws, to tell them ‘umm actual this character shouldn’t get to be happy’ or ‘wow this is so shallow’. Just leave it be, heed the tags, and let it go.

PS: Now with that said and done. I do have one final message for everyone - If you write/enjoy pedophilia, if you sexualize KIDS. Then get the fuck out of fandom spaces, stop fucking following me, and do everyone salt and sugar a favor by LEAVING. Your pedophilia and child sexualization aint wanted, aint ok, and I will fight you.

PSS: IF YOU HATE WHAT IVE SAID ABOUT SUGAR AND SALT FINE OK I RESPECT YOU REGARDLESS. ENJOY THE SHOW, STAY CLASSY, DONT HURT PEOPLE BECAUSE THEY HAVE A DIFFERENT OPINION.

[miraculousdeservesbetter2024]

I’ll do MariChat First! :)

Cons:

-They barley have any real romantic moments together due to being the part of the love sqaure where neither one has any real feelings for each other. Chat Noir loves Ladybug while Marinette loves Adrien. We know that Marinette IS Ladybug and Chat Noir IS Adrien, but the characters don’t know that.

-Not REALLY a con per say, but I think it’s part of the love square that’s the most sinful fandom wise.

-Chat’s inability to accept no and that Ladybug doesn‘t love him in the same way that he loves her.

-Marinette’s borderline stalkerish ways. 

-In story, her relationship with a hero can be hard.

Pros:

-I feel that this part of the love sqaure that has the most flaws from both characters, leaving both characters to accept each other with flaws and all. Yes, I do believe in the “true selves” theory. 

-Marinette can be herself around Chat and isn’t a nervous wreak around him. Meanwhile, Chat isn’t really that much of a “nice guy” around Marinette (not that he is around Ladybug but...he kind of is borderline (borderline “nice guy” isn’t the same as IS “nice guy”). 

-Chat Noir can learn that Ladybug isn’t prefect and Marinette can learn that Chat Noir has been the one who has truly been by her side, her hero, in and out of Ladybug. 

-They can be buddies too, eating Marinette’s bakery goods, watching Netflix and chill🙂

-Marinette has stated that if it wasn’t for having feelings for Adrien, she would consider Chat Noir as a possible love interest. 

-Augst. LOTS of augst. 

-It’s just very cute and appealing to me ^^

Grade: Between A (I Love It) and B (It’s really cute)

Now DJWifi...

Cons: 

-Them getting together was kind of rushed.

-Them knowing each other’s identities COULD put them in danger in many ways. 

Pros:

-They get along VERY well.

-They can defeat any evil with the power of love 🥰🥰🥰

Grade: C (Not a Bad Ship)

Conclusions:

MariChat is probably my favorite part of the Love Sqaure and even though I’m not a BIG fan DJWifi, it’s still not a bad ship to me!

Afterthoughts:

Can’t really think of any right now lol

[toujoursmiraculous]

Thoughts and Reaction to OPTIGAMI!!

I have never been so nervous and scream so much during an episode of this show before. And if you know me, that's saying something. Gabriel and Nathalie are getting seriously scary. Their plans are getting much more convoluted and are getting closer and closer to actually succeeding. And because of this, Alya's involvement is a lot more important now because there's no way Chat Noir and Ladybug would have managed it without her. Let's be real, the reason they chose Nino as their target was because Gabriel's still bitter about Adrien and Nino being friends after Bubbler. Awww all the Kwami's are so cute, wanting to go along. Trixx being like, oh well I have an owner so I can go! And Marinette being adamantly against it. It was at this moment I knew, Alya's getting that Miraculous permanently. But I didn't know if it'd be in this episode or not, so I didn't get too excited yet. But Trixx and Alya's bond is something I really like and want to see more of. Nino and Alya's little high-five/handshake is so cute I can't help but smile every time. x3

Marinette's freak-out about getting in the elevator. Luka's got a soft look on his face. Kagami's like "why are you like this" Max's just confused at what's going on AND THEN THERE'S ADRIEN WITH THE SOFTEST LOOK When you realize that Marinette adoringly (and appeared like she wishes she could have that, too) watching Alya and Nino do their little high-five/handshake is what saved everything in the end.....😬Cutting it really close. I thought Alec got trapped by Hawk Moth and that that's why he didn't show up. Who knew he was playing video games in a bathroom stall instead of doing his job lol. Lesson learned, I hope. xD I'm just surprised Hawk Moth's in the bathroom instead of his lair. He could do the same thing from home. 😂 I'm not a fan of Audrey, but that was really cold. The exchange between Marinette and Alya during an akuma attack is what I've been waiting for since Gang of Secrets. Adrien being wonderful and protecting Chloe, which could've messed up everything had Kagami not saved him. It's so sweet that despite what happened between them, she still risks herself to save him. "Plagg-" Marinette comes bursting into the elevator, looking in her bag "Tikk..iii!" OOF So I screamed, a lot. And laughed hysterically 😂 All Marinette had to do was run in facing the other way and she'd see Plagg and it'd be all over. All that had to happen was for her to run in a second or two later. All that had to happen was she noticed Adrien a second or two too late. But Adrien heard her say "Tikk...iii" in an attempt to cover herself. Remember, he's always had suspicion of Marinette being Ladybug and came to the conclusion easily enough. Kwamibuster did divert his attention away from it a bit, but Chat Blanc took place after and he didn't hesitate to think otherwise. Aww poor Zoe :c She's part of the "Chloe's used me as a human shield" club. (((Everything after this point, I had to completely redo because tumblr decided to suck and wouldn't allow me to post my message due to an "error" (which has never happened to me before), then wouldn't let me save it as a draft. Then when I went to copy it all, somehow everything got eaten and it wouldn't allow me to undo to bring it back 😭 Goodbye an hour and a half of my time. And another hour and a half redoing it all. So if I happen to leave anything big out, I'm so sorry. My luck has just been extremely awful lately.))) You can take the Miraculous away from the kid, but you can't take the Miraculous out of the kid. Max and Luka showing their hero sides while not suited up is so nice. Loving the Oblivio parallel! Marinette says softly, "I'm sure Chat Noir will save us." While I know she's Ladybug and knows Ladybug won't show up to save them, he doesn't know that. Her response of Chat Noir will come save them, shows that she has confidence in him. Even if Adrien knows Chat Noir won't show up, that's such a sweet thing for her to say and I hope he noticed that. Marinette: "I'M STUCK IN THE ELEVATOR" Alya: "Ohhh? With

Adrien?" Marinette: how did she know? "Yeeeeees!" Alya: oh wait this is really bad Adrien: "I'm stuck in the elevator with Marinette!" Nino: "How cool! Adrien and Marinette are stuck together in the elevator!" Alya: "Haha yeah so cool and not problematic at all!" I love this entire scene. Alya teasing Marinette but then being like oh shoot this is seriously bad. Nino being totally oblivious to it all and thinking that it's good news to get their friends closer. And Adrien's just like, I'm not going to ask for help, I'm just informing my friend I'm stuck in an elevator with my just a friend. xDD And that kiss on the cheek from Alya was adooorable! Emergency phone for the Kwami's is such a good idea. But yeah, if they all screamed "Hello?!" in my ear, I'd be chucking my phone across the room too. Adrien's like, "who's that? That sounded like a lot of people.: "I called the fire department." OK. Yes, because you tell the fire department not to fly but to ride a horse to come rescue you when you're in a skyscraper. And repeat it again "Understood, firefighters? Ride in on a horse." Adrien's over in the corner like what the heck? You also, to firefighters, totally yell, "No, no, not prehistory!" and then sheepishly grin at the person you're with. Totally not sus and makes absolutely perfect sense! And then here's the part that has me going ??? Adrien saw Optigami's eyes on the wall, immediately alerts her to that and shushes her. Now, they're hiding from an akuma, but the thing sees them. There's no hiding from it regardless of what's said. So why be quiet? And yet, he's shushing her which convinces her to hang up. Had she continued trying to talk to them, Nathalie might've caught on to there being something up. Adrien's in Chat Noir mode here, as if what she's saying could expose their identities to Hawk Moth. That intense look he gives her after the fact too really shows that, he's not messing around. They also were both just about to tell the other their identities, them being extremely close to each other to do so. They came so close! So what's going on here, exactly? Adrien's come to the conclusion Ladybug is Marinette before. In Chat Blanc, after Kwamibuster showed him supposedly that LB and Marinette are different people, he didn't hesitate to think that Ladybug was Marinette. I don't think he's ever let that possibility go. And the events in the elevator where she started calling for Tikki, and her nonsensical comments over the phone that'd be something Ladybug does, may really have him leaning in that direction. Also, so very sus again that once Optigami went away, they both were like "Oh it was nothing" "I was only wondering what that strange eye thing was." Yeah, that's why you guys sounded nervous like you had something important to say and got in each other's faces! :D It's also interesting, because whenever Marinette and Adrien are in a situation together, Adrien almost always is the one that takes hold of the situation and is more aware of his surroundings over Marinette. xD This man over here just eagerly eliminating children. x.x Like a lot of things in this show, if Alya had just answered that phone call from Nino, events may have played out completely differently! o.o There goes the Eiffel Tower again xD It never not gets blown up, knocked over, or teleported. LOL it's so funny to me, and also such a yikes moment, that while Alya rushed over to Marinette's, got the Miraculous, teleported back, found "Nino" and gave him the Miraculous, then teleported into the elevator, Ladybug and Chat Noir's civilian selves are just trapped in that elevator, awkwardly, and all alone. Likely deep in thought feeling guilty they're powerless to do anything without exposing their identities. xD But at least they're both brooding over the same thing and probably couldn't care less if the other one talks or not, nor noticing enough that the other's really quiet. XD And the way they both reacted to the portal being opened in the elevator. Cautious, but then Adrien puts his hand on Marinette's back and kind of has

her in a position where he can pull her back to him and protect her. Which is a very different kind of protection than he's offered to others, Chloe earlier in this episode being a very good example. Just a friend? Yeeaah. The fact that in every single episode that has Marinette and Adrien interact this season, there's something there, and it's just a matter of time before it's addressed. A bit sad that we didn't get actual Carapace in this episode, but I'm hoping we get him in later eps! MAJOR OOOF A train with people in it underwater, a skyscraper with probably a lot of people in it burning in a volcano, cars, what looks to be the building they were filming the music video in Frightningale, and the Arc de Triomphe on the moon. Yeah I'm seeing where things are going now with this. I'm going to write a post addressing some of these things a bit later. Ladybug in a ponytail is the prettiest hairstyle imo. Chat Noir rushes in, sees Ladybug, Carapace, and Rena Rouge all together, first wondering how they all got in "Hello, Chat Noir" there went any of his thoughts he may have had about it lol... and feels disappointed. "Sorry! I would have got you, if I knew your secret identity." Whoa hold up. Ladybug, so forwardly talking about knowing his secret identity? o.O I smell foreshadowing. "As I always say, m'lady. To know me means to love me." "Then I'll think about it." as she smirks and giggles. Guys. She's being serious. 😍😍😍 I admit, I wish we could know what she was going to talk to Chat Noir about after everything, since she thought the situation was taken care of and asked him to wait there for her. She obviously had something she wanted to talk with him about. And thank you Marinette's observation skills for knowing that's not the real Nino! But poor Alya, so horrified like that... I bet she's thinking both "What have I done? I just gave a Miraculous away to Hawk Moth essentially." and "How is it that I couldn't recognize that wasn't my boyfriend?" On the latter, Chat Noir's made that error several times as well. Hawk Moth just really sucks to do that kind of thing to these kids. Real Nino's here to comfort Alya. Doesn't even have to say a word, just gives her a hug. I absolutely adore this. They're so perfect together. ;-; "It (Lucky Charm) always shows me the right way, but this time I was shortly led astray." "Hmm." Hmm? What the heck does that mean? More foreshadowing?? What's going to happen next omg. Yes, Marinette needs someone out there who can replace her if something happens. And I know so many people are like, oh no, that should be Chat! But just think about it. Today, Chat Noir and Ladybug were trapped in an elevator in a situation where they were powerless. They came extremely close to needing to transform with Hawk Moth watching. Had Hawk Moth not been Adrien's dad and let him be, they would've transformed and fought, no doubt. A lot of things could happen, and Ladybug and Chat Noir are always in the thick of things. We've seen one or both of them become unavailable many times. It's good that someone else is their safety net. You may see Alya as just Ladybug's but she's also Chat's too. I screamed and cheered so loud when Alya got her Miraculous to hold onto! I've wanted this for sooo long now! ;-; Okay ew, the way the music went from happy and sweet to creepy when Gabriel and Nathalie were on screen. 😬 Watch: Gabriel, in his plot to try to get to know more about Alya, will have Adrien through a party or have some friends get together at his house which will likely include Nino and Marinette as well, and have him use his own son to try to get what he wants without Adrien suspecting a thing, even thinking his father's giving him more freedom and more of a normal life. How sick. x.x This was a seriously good episode! I'm very excited to see how this all plays out, because things are getting seriously intense in many different ways! Honestly, my original write up of this post was much better but I lost it all. Which makes me very sad and disappointed, but it can't be undone. :c So

hopefully this was enjoyable anyway! I'll be writing a few posts that are more in-depth about some of the events that happened in recent episodes, including Chloe's character and situation, Adrien's feelings for Marinette, Adrien/Chat's situation with Ladybug, etc that are too specific and detailed to write in a thoughts and reactions post, so be on the look out for those! c:

[chicoriii]

Season 4, Episode 2 - Mensonge (Lies)

Welcome again. I had been logged out from Tumblr for the whole weekend, because I was afraid of untagged spoilers, as I've seen one screenshot here accidentally, fortunately it wasn't spoilerish. And I've watched the Lies today. Again without reading other's people opinion about the episode, so I probably write things that have been said before.

I enjoyed it more than Truth. But not because it's better written, I think the overall quality of both is similar. Lies is about characters I care about more, so it's natural that the episode is automatically more interesting to me. I dislike both Luka and Jagged (to be fair the only member of the Couffaine family I like is Juleka) and that would be hard to make me caring about them, the best thing I could say about any of those characters is that I tolerate them on screen. Sometimes. Don't get me wrong, Truth was the best episode for Luka and Jagged, but they are still dull and/or annoying to me. Creators need to develop son-father relationship more to make me interested in it, that arc was too shallow in Truth.

But the post is about Adrigami episode, not Lukanette one.

I'm surprised that we got only one not very long scene with civilian Marinette. But not surprised that she's still pining over Adrien. Just like Chat is pining over Ladybug. As I'm keeping saying, it's not gonna change. But really, Marinette thinks that Adrien's life is perfect? She should know that tight schedule could be a big problem and has she forgotten what terrible father is Gabriel? Of course she doesn't know details we know, but she should be aware that he isn't as good parent like her own. So probably her enamored brain can't see bad sides of life of her loved one. She still can't think rational when it comes to him. Another reason why she should stop putting him on a pedestal. We need some friendly Adrienette so badly, we need to see Adrien telling her more bad things in his life. He isn't used to complain, but I think he needs to tell someone the truth about his family life. I hope Marinette will be that person.

I had been tired of clown Chat in Truth, but this episode lets us to see the situation from his point of view and now I understand more why he behaves like that. I think that he tries to hide from Ladybug how much he miss spending time with her that way. He is aware that's because of her new responsibility and he doesn't want to make her feel bad for it. Those scenes were so sweet. How much Chat wants an Akuma to appear just to see his lady. Not very noble, but I can't blame him. It only shows that Adrien is a normal human being. We all are selfish from time to time and it's healthy (you only have to find a good balance, being as selfish as Chloé and as selfless as Luka is not good).

Geez, why they can't put the right title of the piece? That's a different composition than that one used back in season 2, but the smartphone's screen says the same. And none of them is actually Raindrop Prelude. This is Raindrop Prelude. They are not even any of Chopin's preludes. I won't be surprised if both are not Fryderyk Chopin's compositions either (although I haven't heard all the solo piano pieces composed by him, so I can't be sure). I love classical music, so I'd love to know what pieces Adrien's playing! By the way, I recommend to listen to all of the 24 preludes, they are usually very short but interesting compositions. If you're too lazy to listen to all, check out number 20 at least, that's a pure, very atmospheric, beauty. One of my favourites melodies ever created.

I have always thought that Adrigami has more chemistry and it's generally more entertaining to watch than Lukanette (sorry stans, but you probably don't even follow me and read my posts,  there's a reason why I'm warning that my blog is not Luka and Lukanette friendly in its description). I feel that in this episode as well. Absolutely it's not a perfect relationship and it can't be, as Adrien is still into Ladybug. It's clear that Kagami is the one who really cares, Adrien is more distant. It seems that he's abashed of Kagami's physical intimacy, like he can't be open to her when he's still in love with Ladybug. That was really sad to hear Kagami's words that she's lying to be more often with him and he lies to not spend time with her. But relationship can't work if only one side is invested in it and they both need to learn it. They have some things in common, I like how they spending time together, so I'm sure they would work much better as friends. I'm sorry for Kagami and I wish her a better boyfriend who would love her truly. In some way it was a repeat of Truth, as we've seen Adrien leaving Kagami all of sudden, because of Akuma's attacks, but this time it's not as heavily portrayed like it's not working only because of superhero responsibility, that I didn't like in the previous episode. Another reason why I liked how Adrigami is shown more.

I really, really loved that we've learnt something new about Kagami and that's amazing it's something I have in common with her. I'm really surprised, since she didn't seem to have an artistic soul before. I also love seeing she likes draw animals, it's like me, I'm trying practise it. I enjoy drawing animals (and creatures like Kwamis or Pokémon) more than humans. But at the same time I feel angry at her mother. How could she dare to say that Kagami isn't good enough? Trying to kill a child's hobby is always unforgivable. She's much better than me (I'm a little jealous, but that's not the first time when a teen has much better skill than me), but my family and some others I know in real life often say that I'm talented and some people try to convince me to take pay commissions. That’s me who knows the best than I'm not skilled enough to take money for my art (they don't know really good artists in person and they don’t draw themselves, so no wonder they are not aware that my works aren't that good they think). Maybe some day, but not now, so I only enjoy drawing gifts for others. I'm also got interested in a real French artist she mentioned - Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec and I've seen some of his works. Very good for Miraculous for mentioning artist like him, I have never heard about him before, but maybe French students learn about him in school.

Seeing Adrien making Chat's pose was hilarious. I'm sure it's food for true selves trope supporters, but I also agree with Kagami that both model poses and Chat's poses are not ALL Adrien poses. He's more than that. That seemed like he has problems with being natural when he's on the pressure. He's learned how to make model poses, but I also think that when he is in full clown mode is also an act. But that's a mask which he has putted all by himself. In which he tries to be as much different than his public image as he can. Of course being dorky is also a true Adrien side, but not all the time. Being just a cute and polite boy is also true him. It seems that Adrien is not aware of it.

Marinette's lucky charm bracelet is an akumatised object once more. That and the fact she was asking him what he was doing on the boat tell us that Kagami probably think that Adrien is in love with Marinette (it could make also her wonder what stop them from being together if she knows that Marinette likes him as well).

I also liked her reaction to imminent breaking up more. It's more human reaction in my opinion. Some anger, but not too much. She says she doesn't want to see him for a while and that's completely understandable. Adrien has broken her heart, so she need some time to take care of herself without being interrupted by him. I'm going to say something that could be seen controversial, but in my opinion her attitude is way more healthy than Luka's. He still waits for a girl who clearly likes another boy much, but she's trying to really give up on him. And I would like to see a scene in which she says him that Marinette is not worth his waiting, he should be open for another love instead. Uff, I was really worried that they might kill Adrien and Kagami characters. But nothing really bad happened in the episode between them, everything was in-character. Of course salters will still find reasons to hate Kagami, they can say she's possessive towards him (that's true to some extent, but I think it's not really toxic, as she's still cares about his true feelings).

I need to say that Lies is the worst S4 Akuma design we've seen till now. Riposte and Oni-chan were much better. Also the battle was the worst part of this episode in my opinion. It wasn't completely bad, but it felt somewhat boring to me. I definitely enjoyed fights against Truth and Furious Fu more. The thing about that I liked the most what how they made use of Fang.

So the season 4 version of Chat Noir's transformation theme is exactly the same they used in the Shanghai special. It wasn't obvious, since Ladybug's one is a different one than that in the show. I noticed that that Ladybug's theme feels more like a new composition which only uses parts of an original version, while Chat's is clearly "just" an arrangement of the theme we know since season 1. Maybe that's because it's supposed to symbolise that she has even more responsibility now, as she's the Guardian as well. Chat's role hasn't changed that much as hers. I also think the new arrangement sounds cooler, it's more electric guitar-driven. I can't wait to get any of the episodes in which there's his transformation sequence with 5.1 audio to rip it.

All three released episodes are nice for Ladynoir a lot, their scenes are all sweet and wholesome. It almost feel like Ladynoir is close to happen. But I feel that's just calm before the storm. Marinette hasn't reached to her worst moment yet. I'm sure Ladybug will have more breakdowns like that in the season 3 finale.

Three episodes aired and I'm not amazed by any of them. But I don't want to be salty, I'm not worried about that. That's true for season 3 as well, I enjoy the second part of the season more as well. It's important to save the best episodes for later. And I have never expected that I would love all the S4 episodes, despite of pre-release statements, it's impossible. I'm not disappointed. Yet. Just give me some Adrienette food. Please.

[amimons]

Miraculous Sweet-ember (Sept. 29th)

September 29th: Ikari Gozen, Desperada, Startrain, &  Timetagger

Ikari Gozen started a friendship between Marinette and Kagami. After meeting Kagami she noticed how close she and Adrien have been getting and feared that her opportunity to be with Adrien would be hindered. Kagami’s exterior front was also a pretty cold one making it harder for Marinette to connect to her. So she was viewed as a rival until Friendship Day in Paris fixed that. Turns out much to her dismay that Marinette was paired up with Kagami for the treasure hunt and the idea made her nervous and uncomfortable. Kagami on the other hand was willing to get to know Marinette and form a new friendship. Forming relationships doesn’t come easy to Kagami because just like Adrien, she did not grow up in an environment with the opportunities to make friends. 

Throughout the treasure hunt, Kagami was earnestly trying to get to know Marinette but it came off as awkward and stoic. Marinette was determined to get away from Kagami and lose the treasure hunt since the prize was to get a picture with Adrien. It wasn’t until she learned that Kagami is friendless and trying to be genuine that she regrets her intentions. She even took care Tomoe when she called Kagami to figure out where she went off to. Marinette called herself a friend of Kagami which was great for Kagami but Marinette’s truthful answer lead to Tomoe getting akumatized. In season three one of the main things Marinette’s development was focusing on was how she handled her crush on Adrien and love rivals. She started as someone who felt threatened by Kagami to someone who felt she needed to connect with Kagami. She experience some real growth when she decided to friend Kagami and give her a miraculous. 

Desperada was a troubling ordeal for Adrien. At first, he believed it was a wonderful opportunity for Ladybug to get to knowingly work side by side with Adrien. He wanted a chance to impress and woo her and he felt very honored that Ladybug thought Adrien was capable of being a miraculous hero. Unfortunately, Adrien discovers that he was not best suited for the snake miraculous after many failed attempts. 25,913 attempts to be exact. No matter what he did, no matter the approach Ladybug was always met with the same fate. Adrien was so determined to prove that he was able to help Ladybug out that he has forgotten that he already plays an extremely vital role as Chat Noir. Taking Chat Noir out of the equation was not a good move. 

The way the miraculous work is that they are specifically suited for specific types of people. Both Ladybug and Adrien tried to fit Adrien into the role of the snake holder but it doesn’t align with Adrien at the end of the day (or end of the months in Aspiks case). Although it always ended in tragedy the Ladrien moments were very adorable in all the attempts we got to see. The scene where Adrien finally surrenders the snake miraculous had him open up to Ladybug in an emotional way. Something that Chat Noir has never done with Ladybug before making it one of the first times he was emotionally vulnerable around Ladybug (even though she didn’t know he was Chat). Chat made a habit of always jumping in front of Ladybug when danger is around but as Aspik he was unable to do so. It was also the first time that Adrien had to accept that he wasn’t the one needed to help his lady with the snake miraculous and even suggesting to hand it over to someone else. Adrien is used to having a lot of responsibilities placed onto himself but to feel comfortable to let go of one was pretty big for him.  

Startrain had the iconic scene where Adrien and Marinette nap together on the train ride over to London. Enough said. It's such a sweet moment between the two of them. Marinette rolled her head over on Adrien and that boy did not even hesitate to lean into Marinette and join her in napping. And the moment her head rested onto Adrien he smiles down at her. Then when Marinette woke up the first time when the commotion started on the train she saw exactly what happened while she was napping and usually Marinette immediately has an outburst of nervousness around Adrien but instead, she smiles and decided to continue resting. It's not often that we get a setting where we get to see them just enjoy each other's company comfortably so it was a welcome surprise before the akuma ruined it. 

For the other half of the train ride, they had to deal with Max’s mother being akumatized. What was interesting about her predicament was that the akuma wasn’t meant for her. It slipped away from Hawkmoth’s grasp after a failed attempt to akumatize Sabrina’s dad. The suitcase slipped on board via Sabrina’s suitcase and instantly went to Max’s mother as soon as she felt a big feeling disappointment. She sent the whole train off in space which meant not only did we get a zero-gravity fight but Hawkmoth was so far out of range from the akuma that he couldn’t control it. To get a scenario where Hawkmoth doesn’t have the ability to guide the akuma’s attacks brought a change in the usual formula. It was also high stakes for him once he learned his son was on board and he once again put Adrien in danger.  

Timetagger is Bunnix’s debut episode excepts its Bunnix from the future we meet. Future Alix is a time-traveling miraculous holder who has to come to her past to help defeat Time-Tagger. She can’t give too much away about the future which includes the status of our main heroes’ relationship status. That doesn’t mean she can’t mess with him by giving him a confusing answer. We also learned about potential future plotlines like Chat Noir accidentally damaging the bunny miraculous with cataclysm and Hawkmoth position being overthrown. There are so many exciting details about the future that our full of mystery that I’m looking forward to. 

Since Timetagger was sent from the future it meant that current Ladybug and Chat Noir weren’t as experience to handle the situation. That didn’t prevent Ladybug from being an all-star with her plan to take down the akuma. Her plan with her lucky charm was all about timing...only Ladybug could think of sending a message to her future self so the future heroes of Paris and destroy the item the akuma was in. In order for the plan to be successful Ladybug had to pretend to admit defeat convincing everyone that she was out of solutions. Chat didn’t fact Ladybug on her choice and went to go with her to hand over their miraculous but she made sure to through a reassuring wink in his direction. She had to make sure her and Chat’s placements where exact because she drew a map for their future selves to open up a portal to the spot Timetagger was standing. It was such a cool way to incorporate the current Ladybug and Chat Noir and their future selves as well as reassuring our beloved heroes are still on top of their game.  

About Sweet-ember:

For the month of September I wanted to spread some positivity and praise Miraculous Ladybug on the things I’ve appreciated/enjoyed from the show.

Everyday I’m going to select one particular moment, event, theme, etc. from an episode of Miraculous and shared what I liked from that episode. Each post will discuss 2-3 episodes (from season 1-3; 78 episodes in total).

Whether its something big or small there is something positive that I can take away from every single episode of Miraculous.

Please feel free to add a moment from these particular episodes that you loved to this post as well!

Salt towards the show, characters, ships will not be tolerated!

Sweet-ember posts

[1] [2] [3] [4] [5] [6] [7] [8] [9] [10] [11] [12] [13] [14] [15] [16] [17]

[18] [19] [20] [21] [22] [23] [24] [25] [26] [27] [28] [29] [30] [31]

[dahlwatchesmiraculous]

Why I think adrienette shouldn’t happen until season 5

Note: this analysis doesn’t take season 4 into account, since I haven’t seen any new episodes yet lol

Anyway this is mostly inspired by my frustration with the idea of a reveal happening before adrien and marinette get together.

TLDR: I think marinette and adrien need to become closer friends before pursuing anything romantic, while also giving themselves time to emotionally mature

Finding out their secret identities will have consequences for both marinette and adrien obviously, but especially if they haven’t had a chance to grow as individuals. These consequences would definitely worsen if the reveal is out of their control (like one of them, or someone else completely, finds out by accident, or they’re forced to reveal themselves during some dangerous event)

Ive always been against reveal theories that didn’t include ladybug and chat noir prepared and intentionally willing to reveal their identities. I hate the idea of them having to show their true selves when they’re not ready for it, and it’s only out of necessity or desperation. It’s there secret to share, especially when it comes to chat noir. Adrien doesn’t have any control in his life. Being chat noir is his only chance at experiencing freedom, it’s more than just a secret to him I feel. It’s a very intimate and significant part of his life. It’s the only thing he actually has control over. So if we have marinette, or someone else secretly finding out about his identity, then we’re taking away the only control he has in his life, and it’s really not fair to do that to him.

But let’s say the reveal is a consensual and conscientious decision. I still don’t think it should happen any time soon, because our main characters have a lot of development they need to go through before being able to handle the truth of the superhero identities.

By the end of season 3, Marinette still has a pretty one dimensional understanding of who Adrien is. Sure they may have had a few key moments in their friendship, but I dont think that’s enough for her to see his “chat noir” side. She still thinks of him as this “dreamy perfect boy” but he’s a lot more than that, she’s just never able to see it bc her feelings get in her way and makes her way shy. Of course she’s interacted with Adrien as chat noir and knows what his personality is like, but I really do think she needs to be able to associate that personality with Adrien too, not just chat noir. Because in that case, they might as well be two different people, yknow?? If they get together as soon as a reveal happens, it’ll feel so forced bc neither of them will have really gotten the chance to process the person they’re actually in love with. I think it’d be easier for Adrien to process it, because he’s compared marinette to ladybug, and he’s already aware of the kind of person marinette is deep down (some may even argue that he’s definitely in love with her already but is fighting those feelings for her) But marinette doesn’t really know who Adrien is, and I don’t think revealing their identities would acknowledge that?? She needs to have real deep connections with Adrien so she can understand why she loves him!! Bc right now her crush is p surface level

That’s why I didn’t actually mind lukanette all that much?? I mean, personally I just want them to be close friends, that way it doesn’t seem like he’s just being tossed aside when adrienette becomes canon. But luka could at least help her become more confident and to learn how to embrace herself?? The only way she’ll be able to learn the true sides of Adrien is if she’s able to talk to him without freaking out, and he’ll be more willing to talk to her and show himself once he sees that she’s comfortable around him??? Then the real work towards their relationship can happen bc once she sees adriens true personality, and the big reveal happens, she can understand why she does have feelings for Adrien/chat noir

A strong friendship is also really important for Adrien’s development as well. Right now, he uses chat noir as his escape. He feels like he can’t be himself around people because of his father’s cruel parenting, which has led him to feel that if he shows any true part of himself he won’t be accepted by the people he cares about. If there’s some sort of public reveal (like during a battle or something) then Adrien will have to deal with the fact that people don’t see the real him, causing him to feel like he’s lost those connections bc they don’t really know him. Right now he doesn’t feel like he can be himself and a public reveal would just make that worse. He needs to learn that he doesn’t have to hide his true qualities for people to like him. And how does he learn this?? THROUGH MARINETTE and specifically through a closer friendship. We already know adrien thinks very highly of marinette, but why?? Because she’s never afraid to be her true self (except when it comes to her feelings for him, but he doesn’t even notice that so we can disregard that). Marinette wears her heart on her sleeve, she’s always willing to fight for what she believes in. If they’re closer friends, she can help him realize that being himself is okay. Failing to accept both sides of him can have v serious impacts on his sense of identity, especially if it ends up being a public reveal. He won’t know who to be or how to act, he’ll be afraid that anything he does will be perceived as wrong. But if their friendship comes before any sort of reveal, he can shape his identity to be the way he wants it to be without the fear of being rejected

I feel like I just kept repeating the same thing over and over in different ways. But to summarize: adrienette can’t happen suddenly, especially not immediately after they reveal their identities. They individually need to work on themselves (Adrien becoming comfortable showing his true personality, and marinette learning to be more confident) and work on their friendship before they get together, that way when the reveal does happen they can understand who the other person really is and why they love them, especially to avoid an “insta-love” situation. If they don’t have a better established relationship, then they’re essentially falling in love with the idea of each other and not their actual true selves.

[asasanxiety]

The Miraculous Mask Theory

I was thinking about the different dynamics between the two main characters of Miraculous: Tales of Ladybug and Chat Noir, when I happened upon an interesting train of thought regarding some of the main themes of the show- opposites and balance. While thinking about this, the third movie in the Dark Knight trilogy stuck out to me. Selina Kyle states that Bruce is a mask and Batman is who he really was, it’s also the same for her, Catwoman is who she really was. I feel this applies to Miraculous in a way.

Marinette is Ladybug. In her case, Ladybug is a mask; a role Marinette plays albeit reluctantly in the interest of the good of Paris. Ladybug is “perfect” in everyone's eyes, not just Marinette’s. She is the main protector of Paris and is the only one who can truly battle Hawkmoth and win. Ladybug has responsibilities, pressure, and impossible expectations. Marinette on the other hand, does not have the same expectations put upon her. She can do what she loves and she can make mistakes and learn from them instead of making mistakes that could put people in danger. Marinette is clumsy and she’s easily flustered and embarrassed. She loves baking and fashion and she cares about her classmates. She is herself, she has flaws and strengths and she’s real. Ladybug is an icon- a goal that can never truly be reached.

Adrien is Chat Noir. In this case, Adrien is a mask; a role he plays in an attempt to please everyone and earn the affection he so desperately craves. Adrien is a model and the only son of a famous fashion designer. He has so many expectations placed on him as a result of growing up with all of Paris, heck the world watching him. He has to represent the Agreste brand perfectly and he can’t mess up or his father will take the few freedoms he still has. Adrien is a people pleaser and he will sacrifice every part of himself to satisfy others. Chat Noir is a superhero, yes, and he also has expectations. But he has his lady and the freedom to do as he pleases, for the most part. Chat Noir makes bad puns and he jokes around, he speaks without having to filter everything he says and no one's opinion matters to him(except for Ladybug). He doesn’t have to be “perfect” all the time and he doesn’t have all this responsibility on his shoulders like Adrien does. 

This is part of the reason why Chat Noir and Ladybug aren’t as effective when using the other’s miraculous. Ladybug has responsibilities and is constantly watched and monitored by Paris. Chat Noir is just as important- but Chat Noir does not face the same amount of responsibility that Ladybug does. Ladybug has to locate the akumatized object, find a way to use the Lucky Charm, successfully use the Lucky Charm to get or break the akumatized object, and then catch and purify it before it multiplies and causes more problems. Chat Noir does a lot of groundwork, fighting the akuma and giving Ladybug time. The two are complete opposites, but they almost complete each other. 

The simplest way I can put it is that Adrien is Chat Noir's “mask” and Ladybug is Marinette’s “mask”, which is why they can’t switch their miraculous permanently. This is also why I personally love the dynamic of Marinette and Chat Noir falling in love. They seem to be their true most honest selves and I think the only way they could have a healthy relationship was if they got together in this dynamic.

[marinetteplztakeabreak]

I love every side of the love square don’t @ me

With that said, here’s why I cannot take Ladrien salt seriously

Some idiot who hates Ladrien: The love square will only work if Marinette learns to love The Real Adrien

Ladrien hater: and The Real Adrien is Chat Noir, not the mask Adrien wears in his day to day life

Ladrien hater: Marinette’s crush on Adrien Agreste is nothing but shallowness and lies

Ladrien hater: because, as we all know, Adrien has never shown any flaws around Marinette

Ladrien hater: Getting into a huge misunderstanding with chewing gum in their very first interaction? Didn’t happen.

Ladrien hater: The umbrella scene, aka the moment that Marinette fell in love with Adrien, was because Adrien admitted to having flaws and being lost? I don’t think so.

Ladrien hater: clearly Adrien’s never shown any fears around Marinette or Ladybug

Ladrien hater: like, for example: he’d never tell Marinette or Ladybug about his irrational claustrophobia, or bring up his sadness and confusion about his mother

Ladrien hater: and he certainly wouldn’t talk about his terror that he’ll be locked away from human interaction to the point that Marinette was willing to sacrifice a super valuble book to help him stay in school because she knew how badly being stuck at home would effect him

Ladrien hater: also Adrien would never let her know about his crippling fear of messing up his friendships by just outright telling her that he’s lost and doesn’t know how to be a good friend and that it’s scary for him

Ladrien hater: because those are all examples of things that would make Marinette immediately hate Adrien. I mean, clearly, her attraction to him is surface-level only and would shatter if she found out Adrien was anything less than perfection

Ladrien hater: she desperately needs to stop fixating on the cardboard cutout version of Adrien and instead love The Real Adrien

Ladrien hater: you know, the version of Adrien when he pretends to be a cool hero who has a normal life for a teenager

Ladrien hater: The Real Adrien

Ladrien hater: because loving someone who’s smooth all the time and pretends to not fear death and is super hot and a superhero is totally different from having a crush on a pretty model

Ladrien hater: this is all black and white and any version of Adrien who’s isn’t 100% genuine is invalid and unworthy of love

Ladrien hater: and it’s fine because Chat Noir always tells Ladybug when he’s having a bad day, and would never do something so silly as hiding his hurt so that he’d look better in Ladybug’s eyes

Ladrien hater: Chat Noir, unlike Adrien, is a completely open book, who shares all of his feelings and likes and flaws with Ladybug

Ladrien haters: also, on the flip side, Adrien having a crush on Ladybug is even more shallow than Marinette’s crush on him, he needs to start pursuing Marinette instead of Ladybug

Ladrien haters: I mean, when has Ladybug ever shown flaws around Chat Noir?

Ladrien haters: Can you even imagine? How crazy would it be if Ladybug was frequently at her weakest around Chat Noir and he still loved her? Sounds fake.

Ladrien haters: when has Ladybug ever outright told Chat she’s confused or scared or in any way less than perfect? Not in Origins. Not in the every single season’s finale. Not in like half of all episodes. When has she actually shown any weakness around Chat Noir?

Ladrien haters: never. That’s the answer. From what Chat Noir’s seen, Ladybug has never been anything but strong and perfect

Ladrien haters: it’s so sad that his love for her is shallow and if he ever saw her looking anxious (Miracle Queen, Puppeteer 2, Gamer 2, Chat Blanc, etc.) or acting irrationally (Evilustrater, Vulpina, etc.) or in anyway callous (Glaciator, Vanisher, etc.) or just exhibiting any Marinette-typical flaws, then he’d just stop being infatuated, but that’s just how it works

Ladrien haters: and anyway, both Marinette and Adrien WANT the love square to flip, they WANT to be loved for their true selves

Ladrien haters: can you imagine how heartbroken Adrien would be if he found out that Ladybug was rejecting him for some fake version of himself? He’d be livid (*subtley kicks Chat Blanc under a table*)

Ladrien haters: and Marinette... hoo boy

Ladrien haters: if she found out that Adrien wasn’t interested in her because he was Chat Noir and he liked Ladybug?

Ladrien haters: I mean, of course she’d be devastated

Ladrien haters: what other possible response could she have to realizing that her crush was someone who had been supportive to her in times of need while also courting her in a super cheesy way and that he was more in love with the version of her that he met first, spent more time with, and had seen weak, than the version of her who he barely ever spoke to?

Ladrien haters: what would it even imply if he loved her more when she was just doing her best to save the world than when she was tripping over herself to impress him

Ladrien haters: I can answer that, it would mean that love is dead

Ladrien haters: I know I’d be upset if it happened to me

Ladrien haters: seriously Adrien needs to grow up

Ladrien haters: devotion to his best friend is so boring, he needs to start flirting with his other friend who he thinks is uncomfortable around him and who he’s been purposely keeping healthy boundaries around because he doesn’t want to make her uncomfortable

Ladrien haters: consent is for losers I want True Love

Ladrien haters: and even if this was a working ship, it would still be super boring to write about

Ladrien haters: I mean, two teenagers frantically hiding their secret identities from each other while trying to make a relationship work right under Hawkmoth’s nose? Idiots who are so in love they go through crazy schemes to protect the other? Where’s the plot in that? Nothing would ever happen,

Ladrien haters: and that’s why Adrien is a problematic and unhealthy ship even though the rest of the love square is perfect and has absolutely no flaws just as any good relationship does

Ladrien haters: because idealizing one facet of something to the point where you can’t see any of its flaws is unhealthy and-

Ladrien haters: wait a minute this sounds like it relates back to my argument and maybe I should think more before judging Ladrien

Ladrien haters: nah Ladrien just sucks

(you’re allowed to have your own opinions and if you don’t like Ladrien you can just block the tag or whatever but if you’re publishing your own opinions loudly and attacking people for liking Ladrien then I’m going to make fun of you because your arguments are dumb. Also happy new year, 2020 is the year of Ladrien rights)

[makoto-nanami]

Miraculous Rewrite: Origins Part 2 (Chapter 4)

Heyo, sorry for not updating... I’ve been working on uni prep, setting up a games documentation takes more time than you’d think... and I keep forgetting how long it takes me... Well, Alice finally runs into Adrien, gives him a rundown oh how things will work and makes it clear that she won’t put up with any misuse. There’s also Chloe... Chloe. Enjoy! Tagged - @blue-peach14

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After staying the night at Fu’s; apparently, he wanted to make sure I had all my paperwork and belongings sorted before I moved to Eva’s French dollhouse… I really hope it’s not like that… anything but that… I turned on the small tv and watched the news. The reporter from yesterday was updating the rest of Paris on the stone creatures that stood still around the city.

“The stone beings are scattered all over Paris, and for the time being, they seem to be showing no signs of movement. Police have cordoned off the areas around these beings.”

The screen switches to the mayor and the police officer from yesterday, he must oversee the Akuma cases. The mayor speaks, attempting to put on a brave face, however, he was glancing at the officer in fear and confusion, he has no clue on how to deal with this.

“We won’t stop until we find a way to get these people back to their normal selves, but for now, we’re not making much headway.”

The camera footage flips back to the reporter who stands next to a photo that worries me to no end, Ladybug and Chat Noir…

“Paris is relying on our new guardian angels, Ladybug and Chat Noir, to save us all. Our lives depend on them.”

Fu walks in from the other room, Wayzz following him. He looks at me, his eyes full of worry.

“Are you okay, Alice? You look unwell, are you perhaps worried for our young heroes?” I didn’t even realise I was clutching the tv remote so tightly that the plastic was bending, when did I…

“That’s just it, isn’t it Fu? They’re young. They messed up, and now they’re afraid of doing it again. Or at least that’s how Marinette feels, I have no clue about Adrien Agreste. I did my research, the only time he’s seen in public is at photoshoots. How exactly did you want me to help and watch a famous model with a bodyguard and strict schedule when I can’t even get close to him?”

“The boy needed freedom and has a pure heart; he was the perfect fit to Plagg at the time. As for young Marinette, I am sure she will pull though, she has a strong heart, she –“

I stand up and grab my bag. He looks at me, still worried but confident in his words. “Fu, how am I supposed to help them, watch them, guide them, if I can’t talk to them or explain why we threw them in the deep-end? I hope you’re right about them, cause while I agree they will be fine heroes, I can’t agree with the current path they’ll travel alone, I guess we’ll have to hope for some miracles.” I take an apple and grab my jacket and stuffing both into my backpack. “I better get to school before I’m late.” Fu chuckles at that.

“From what Evangeline has told me, you are not the most punctual person.” I frown at the accusation, I mean… not wrong but still. I wave him off and start jogging to Dupont.

As I make my way through the streets, I’m quite literally sent flying by a blond boy, damn moron, watch where you’re going! I grumble gathering my bearings and direct my glare at this oblivious idiot. He has blond pristine styled hair and soft green eyes, freaking out and apologising profusely… wait… I know that face…

“You’re Adrien Agreste.” The boy paled and started looking around before putting on a tight smile.

 “Ermm… I think you’ve got the wrong guy miss, Adrien who. Never heard of him. Heh…Heh…” He laughs weakly, I roll my eyes at him.

 “Oh, maybe I should call you Chat Noir then?” His face filled with fear. “Right Plagg?”

 A blur of black whizzed out of the kids’ pocket and it’s green cat eyes stared at me, wonder, confusion, but finally acceptance. Plagg floated up to my face, mischief evident on the tiny god of destruction’s own. “So, you’re the old fart’s new vessel, huh?”

 “Apparently, though he can go and find another body to take over for all I care, I’m me, not him. Understand that, and we’ll get along, right?” Plagg looked a little shocked but gave me a sly grin.

 “I got it, you’re a lot more fun than the last few! The kid’s lucky!” Ironic coming from the embodiment of misfortune. Adrien then decided he had had enough with being left out of the conversation, and spoke up, his voice cracking slightly, prolly confused.

“Ermm… just who are you? And… how do you know who I… I mean you know?” Plagg butted in before I could open my mouth.

 “This kid is the one who watches over the Miraculous like yours and Bug-Girl’s. She’ll make sure that if you do anything stupid, you’ll know about it.” He still looked lost.

 “I’m an observer. I watch how you’ll use the Miraculous; use it wisely, then you keep being the wielder of the cat for as long as you are needed. Of course, you misuse it and I will take it away or punish you.”

 “P-punish?”

 “I realise you are just a kid, a kid with too much responsibility, I get that. However, if you are to misuse this power, people can get hurt, and that will have consequences. I’ll understand any rashness and mistakes, such as this Akuma, but any intentional misuse or repeated actions that you refuse to own up to, I will make sure you understand the weight of your choices. Understood?”

He nodded, still a little worried, but it’ll have to do. I sigh. “Hey, Agreste. You don’t need to worry. Seriously, you may not be able to tell anyone about your double life, sometimes it’ll feel like the world is suffocating you… I know the feeling, but that’s why I’ve decided to reveal myself to both of you. To help you through this. If you want to talk, if you need help, just ask and I’ll try. HOWEVER,  I will say after I researched you, I will say this right now, I won’t accept the excuse of your sheltered life being the cause of any misunderstandings, you feel confused about anything that most would think is normal, you ask me or any friends you make at school, got it, I’m not gonna baby you, this is high school son, grow a pair!”

He stares at me completely shocked at my words, before quickly nodding again. I laugh at his quick nod and he starts chuckling too, before looking at his phone and alarm spread across him. “I’m going to be late!” Oh right… school.

 “You’re such a strange kid. Who would want to be at school when he can stay at home all day?” Plagg darts back to his pocket peeking his head out, rolling his own eyes. We start jogging to school.

 “You don’t get it, Plagg. I’ve had enough of being locked up at home by my father. I want to meet people, make friends.” He looks at me with a hopeful smile. “Learn about normal things! Go to a normal school like everyone else!” I roll my eyes at that, that place is far from normal.

 “Arghhh… Uhhh, I think I’m feeling weak…” Plagg dramatically groans. Adrien stops running grabbing his bag, searching for something.

 “You know what’s strange?” He pulls out a wedge of cheese that smelt horrible. Oh yeah… Plagg eats the stuff… poor kid’s gonna stink. “The fact that all you eat is this disgusting, rotten smelling camembert cheese, and I then have to smell like it 24/7. That’s strange.” He looks at me as if pleading for me to convince the tiny cat to eat something else. I shrug, you’re on your own for this one kid. He groans and glares at Plagg in disgust, but the god just stuffs his mouth with the cheese.

 “If you want to be able to transform into a superhero, then stinky cheese is the deal, my friend!” Adrien sighs in defeat before continuing our jog to school.

We make it to the school’s steps, but we hear a beep from a car behind us. A tall, professional-looking woman leaves a nice-looking car and quickly paces towards Adrien. I recognise her from my research about the young cat holder, she’s Nathalie Sancoeur, Gabriel Agreste's assistant who manages his fashion work, his mansion, and takes care of his son Adrien. She must be here to take him back home… speaking of which, how the heck did Adrien enrol in the first place without a parent’s permission? As I’m about to grab the kid and get him to class, I feel the same dark feeling as yesterday, briefly, fleeting but just as dark.

“Adrien! Don’t do this! Your father will be furious!”

 “Tell him you got here too late. Please!” Adrien turns around and runs into the school, I follow quickly after him and see Alya arguing with Chloe.

 “How could you say that to Ivan? You’re the real Stoneheart!” Stoneheart? That must be what people are calling Ivan’s Akuma form.

 “Ugh, so I’m the one who broke Sabrina’s dad’s arm, am I?” Fair, but still wrong, it’s not Ivan’s fault either. Also… Sabrina’s dad is the officer in charge of the Akuma cases… my belief in the Parisian police force is dwindling, this is why I want to be a P.I. Chloe the scoffs at the new girl and glares. “Just because your footage of those lame superheroes was shown on tv, doesn’t mean you have to get so high and mighty.” She blows her bubble gum at Alya popping it close to her face, luckily not sticking but I cringed at it and walk up Alya.

 “You little…” Alya growled, about to retaliate before I stepped in.

 “Ew… gross, Chloe that was so gross, you basically spat in her face, actually, I think you have a little spit on your glasses there Alya.” I say, however luckily there wasn’t anything on the glasses but Alya cringed at the thought, taking off her glasses and furiously wiping them, muttering how gross can anyone be. The glares and undecided look of the people around them all turned to barely hidden disgust at Chloe who was turning red and glared daggers at me. Alya after cleaning her already clean glasses huffed and walks off to the classroom. Chloe attempting to regain control taunted the girl.

 “Lookout, she’s angry! She’s going to split the underwear and turn into a huge muscly monster!” She laughs obnoxiously.

 “I’d be angry too; I mean what you did was kinda disgusting.” She spins back to me about to blow up at me, however, her face instantly lights up as she looks over my head.

 “Hey, Chloe!” Adrien pipes up… oh no… I forgot… they’re friends. Chloe pushes past me and glomps the naive kid.

 “Adrikins! You came!” Adrikins… oh, gods… I cringe at the two, Adrien noticing my face and his confusion is clear… did he just ignore all she did just now? Before I can call him out Chloe drags him to the classroom and the other students recognise the famous model and start rushing over. I slump in defeat and make my way to class.

Everyone is clamouring for Adrien’s autograph, and for once Chloe does something remotely good, albeit with less than pure intentions and makes a path to the classroom causing the fans to go back to their own classes. “Okay. This is your seat, Adrikins. I saved it for you. Right in front of me!”

 “That’s creepy.” I blurt out, and Chloe growls at me.

 “Well, no one cares what you think, Wattson!” Adrien glances at me in worry and unsure at who to support. I walk past him patting his shoulder.

 “Get new friends, kid.” I say solemnly to him. His eyes widen at this but he turns to Chloe with a tight smile.

 “Thanks, Chloe.” He turns to the Nino guy and tries to introduce himself othering him a handshake, but Nino just looks at him with distrust and ignores the hand. “Uh… Hey! Adrien.” The boy shows a model smile laced with nerves, but Nino didn’t react.

 “You’re friends with Chloe then, huh?” He turns back to his phone. Hopefully, he’ll get the message.

I’m about to continue walking to my seat but I hear snide laughing coming from the front bench, obviously coming from Chloe and her lapdog Sabrina, I turn and see them sticking the gum that had recently been in Chloe’s mouth onto Marinette’s seat. Anger washing over me. “Hey! What the hell is your problem Bourgeois?!” Adrien turns around and spots what I’m yelling about.

 “Hey! Chloe! What’s that all about?” He looks disappointed in her.

 “The brat’s that sat here yesterday need a little attitude adjustment. I’m just commanding a bit of respect, that’s all.”

 “No, if anyone here needs an attitude adjustment, it’s you! I thought you were gross, but this is just disgusting.”

 “I am not disgusting!” She screams in my face, I pull out my phone and hit the emergency record button, I’d use during Eva’s interviews with her problematic clients. “You think you’re some sort of hero, I’ll get you kicked out of school, or maybe I’ll just tell my daddy to rethink your student visa.” I smile at her and she shrinks back. Adrien then interrupts sensing the danger this could lead to.

 “Chloe, you think that’s really necessary?” I raise an eyebrow at that, it’s completely insane, but he’s still trying to keep his friendship with the girl. But said girl just scoffs at him, turning back with a hair flip and batting her eyes.

 “Ah, you’ve got a lot to learn about school culture, Adrikins. Watch the master.”

Adrien then kneels down to Marinette’s seat, trying to pick the gum up with his pencil, only making it worse. I grab his arm trying to stop him from making it worse, till I hear a gasp. Great.

“Hey! What do you think you’re doing!?”

This day just keeps getting worse.

[p-artsypants]

Longest Night (32)- Listening

I’m so sorry for this chapter being late.

We switched to a new system at work, and I’m a sort of Adobe Creative Cloud expert in the office, so I had to learn the new system, and then prepare to teach it to everyone else, who were in the same meetings that I was in, but didn’t understand. This has made for several weeks of 10-12 hour long days. Gettin’ that bread tho!!

I had a chapter mostly finished, then I realized I was skipping a bunch of stuff, so I had to take time to really hash out the order of the next half of the story. Hopefully, my vague ideas won’t change too much. lol

I started a new blog, dedicated to sharing works that have been harassed on Ao3 by a certain anon. If you or a friend have received repeated, unwanted harassment by a certain troll, please feel free to reach out to me @lilaanonsupportgroup. The goal is to create a safe place to share fics and drown out unwanted comments.

Thank you all for your patience!  

Ao3 | FF.net

—

Pierre Rouso was not a praying man. He was a criminal, with a charge list the length of his arm. But he was completely and utterly done as of tonight. The bald camera man sat in his holding cell, crying his eyes and guilt out, praying for forgiveness. He had participated with the police chief, just as he promised, and led everyone down to the Bunker in the Catacombs. He handed over passwords, combinations to locks, found every key he knew of, and did everything he could to make up for the injustice of his actions.

Seven prisoners were recovered from the bunker, all huddled into ambulances and taken to hospitals. Families were contacted, and missing person cases were closed.

All in the span of one night.

It was terrifying, and Pierre knew he was traumatized.

He awaited his fate in the holding cell at the precinct, though it was more of a formality than anything. The police chief had assured him that his cooperation was greatly appreciated and would reflect well on him when trial came.

He got his one phone call, and instead of calling his parents or friends, anyone that he knew would listen to him, he decided to call his kid sister.

He got her voicemail. “Elise? It’s Pierre. I know you…you’re disappointed with me. I really let you down. I’m supposed to be an example to you, but so far, I’ve only been an example of what not to do.” He swallowed. “I just wanted to let you know, I’m sorry. I’ve really messed up, and I got tied up with the wrong crowd, trying to get my life turned around. Sort of…an Ursula from the Little Mermaid situation. I made things worse, and…well, I might be going back to prison. You’ll probably hear about it on the news.” He choked, the truth getting caught in his throat. But he vomited it out anyway. “I was…involved in the Ladybug and Chat Noir incident. I didn’t want to be, but Salo said if I didn’t—she would—she knew mom and dad’s address. Knew yours too. I felt so helpless. I just needed to confess to you. You probably won’t believe me. You…probably think I’m a failure as a brother. I sure feel like one. But, ever since that night you cut me off, I vowed to turn things around. I wanted you to be proud of me. Because I love you, and I’m so so proud of you. You’re a great kid, and the best sister a guy could ask for. I don’t ask for forgiveness. Just…understanding. I’m…I’m at the police precinct right now. This is my one phone call. Maybe I should have called Ma,” he chuckled. “But I couldn’t stop myself. I was just through hell. I don’t know if you saw the news. I was the person behind the camera. I don’t know why Ladybug spared me, but I didn’t want to waste another moment. I had to tell you. You hear me, Elise? Don’t waste anytime either. If there’s anything you want to do, do it.” He let out a shuttering breath. “Maybe, if you’re feeling generous, could you let ma and pa know? I know that’s asking a lot. I’m sorry to burden you.”

The phone beeped, a warning that he was running out of time.

“But I love you. I will never stop loving you. Even if you never talk to me again. That’s fine. Go out there and be amazing. Um…I’m going to hang up now. Bye.”

It was an awkward way to end the message, but he had to. Or else he’d go into more rambling apologies and ‘I love you’s. Not necessarily a bad thing, but he didn’t want to overwhelm her.

That was several hours ago, after he had returned from his tour of the bunker. Then he was allowed to wash up, cleaning the blood from his face and arms. His clothes were stained, but there was nothing to do about it.

He waited then. Officers letting brief updates float around the room. Edward Savauge had been murdered, his body hoisted from the Arc de Triomphe like a trophy. Lady Lacrima and Grimalkin faced off against the auxiliary heroes and Hawkmoth.

Several more hours passed before a group of three banged up kids were brought into his holding cell with him.

“What happened to you boys?” Pierre asked, noticing the way they trembled.

“There’s two akuma on the loose.” Said one of the boys. “It was just supposed to…we just wanted the money in the cash register. Easy, right? But I had no idea that he was there.”

“Who?”

“Chat Noir. Or…who used to be Chat Noir. Sent one of us to the hospital.”

Pierre grunted. “You’re lucky that’s all he did.”

“Whaddya mean?”

“I mean…I saw what those two are capable of. They killed a room full of people without breaking a sweat. This blood? It’s not mine. You should thank your lucky stars.”

Then, a rush of red Ladybugs filtered passed the cell, lifting the blood from his clothes, and easing the soreness in the boys.

Pierre sighed as a cheer went up through the Precinct. “It’s over. It’s finally over.”  

—

Nadja was exhausted, if not completely traumatized. She had been the one to volunteer to follow the Ladybug and Chat Noir story. So she had been on high alert with the van at any moment, ready to get a shot of the akumas in person.

But Lady Lacrima’s demonstration at the Arc de Triomphe was beyond horrible. It was scary, vial, and evil. Everything that Ladybug wasn’t. Later, she would find out that the cameras had turned away from the bodies as soon as they were revealed. They only captured Lady Lacrima’s speech, and the wails of the crowd surrounding them.

But it was over now.

The Miraculous Cure had run it’s course through Paris, correcting everything since they were first akumatized. It even fixed the damage caused by the wrecking ball akuma that started this whole mess.

She had even seen Marinette and Adrien loaded in the stretchers with her own eyes.

The hospital was silent. No one was allowed any information without clearance. So Nadja went home, finally. She’d monitor her phone and the Ladyblog. Someone would say something eventually, right?

—

Chloe had been helpful for once. She arrived at the hospital waiting room with her butler loaded up like a pack-mule.

“Alya, Nino, your backpacks.” She announced, holding out the bags.

“Thanks Chloe, you’re a real lifesaver!” Alya said honestly, noting her laptop was safely tucked inside.

“I know. Mrs. Cheng, I brought your purse with your phone chargers.”  

“Thank you dear.”

“And Mr. Agreste,” she said with some level of coldness. “I brought the project that was in your office. Sorry if it’s wrinkled.”

“That’s fine Chloe. I can iron it.” He said, coming to take the hefty bag from the butler.

“That will be all, Jean-Pierre.”

“Yes, Miss Bourgeois.” He bowed before leaving the room. He technically wasn’t cleared to be in the room anyways.

Chloe plopped into a chair by Alya and Nino. “Any word?”

“Not any more than what I texted you.” Alya sighed. “Adrien’s still in surgery.”

“And Marinette?”

“She’s in recovery.” Stated Sabine. “We’re not allowed to see her yet.”

Chloe ‘hmph’ed, crossing her arms. “I suppose I’ll just have to be patient then.”

“You? Patient?” teased Alya.

“I’ve been known to be patient! On occasion!”

“Sure Chloe, I believe you.” Nino said in a slightly sarcastic tone.

Chloe knew they meant none of it. She was happy she had become something akin to friends with them since this started. Not close friendship, but…she could tolerate a few meals together, and what they had affectionately called ‘sleepovers’ which were just watching the stream and strategizing. When this was all over, and Adrien and Marinette were back to their old selves again, she might even be persuaded to hang out with all of them, as a group.

Her, Alya, and Marinette could get mani-pedis. Heck, Adrien would probably be game for that too.

Yes, when this was all over, and everything went back to normal, they’d all have a lot of fun together. It would be great!

Pollen left her purse and settled on the chair with the other kwamis. Wayzz and Trixx were playing a card game, and Pollen joined.

But Tikki and Plagg were much too solemn to do anything.

“I should be with him.” Plagg stated, agitated, for the 100th time.

“You heard the doctor.” Tikki scolded softly. “Adrien’s immune system is down. Any germs could be detrimental to him.”

“I don’t have germs.” Plagg hissed.

“Oh yeah? So that wasn’t you who contracted fleas in the 12th century and spread a plague that wiped out a 1/3 of Europe in 6 years? That was another ‘Plagg’ of whom the name was attributed?”

Plagg hissed at her and curled in on himself. “I didn’t ask you.”

“Plagg, I know you love Adrien, but you have to let the doctors work.”

“I am!” He argued. “There’s not a lock in this world that can stop me from being with him, and I want to be there so so badly! But I know modern medicine is better than what I can do for him…”

Sabine listened to the quiet sobbing of the cat for a moment, before deciding she couldn’t take it anymore. Delicately, she scooped him up in her hand, and then delicately started to pet him.

“Not scared you’ll get the plague?” He snarked.

“Not a bit,” she returned, scratching between his ears.

Just like Adrien would do.

He nestled into her hands, and tried to sleep, knowing that time would pass quicker that way.

Nino’s attention was directed over to Mr. Agreste. No one had paid him much attention since Plagg chewed him out. But he looked like he was getting down to work with something.

He had a wooden ring with some light pink fabric stretched across it. In the basket next to him, he had a spool of rose gold thread that he was threading through the palette.

“Mr. Agreste…are you doing needlepoint?”

“Yes,” he said, undeterred. “I’m working on a present for Marinette.”

That was surprising.

“I didn’t know you could embroider.” Noted Alya. “Marinette gushed about your work all the time. I don’t think she knew either.”

“Well, you didn’t know I was Hawkmoth. I guess I’m just full of surprises.”

The weird tension in the room was destroyed as Tom busted out laughing, nearly falling out of his chair. “I-I’m sorry!” He managed out, still chuckling. “I was just not expecting that from you!”

“Like I said,” Gabriel spoke, eyes not even leaving his project. “Full of surprises.”

“Can I see what you’re doing?” Asked Alya.

“I’m afraid not. This is a surprise after all. I want her to be the first one to see it.”

“I’m sure she’ll love it.” Said Sabine, genuine.

Alya took her laptop out of her bag, resting it on the table in the corner. “Alright, I suppose it’s time I start my project as well.”

“What project, babe?” Asked Nino.

“I’m going to update the Ladyblog with news from the last few days. Nadja asked me to share what I can. Apparently, the world has gone stir crazy for news. I’ve even been contacted by the Associated Press.”

“That’s awesome!” Sabine cheered. “To be contacted by an international news group!”

Alya smiled softly.  “You know, when I first started the blog, I dreamed of being Ladybug’s best friend. I imagined following her and Chat and helping them so much that I got to be her friend. When I got to be Rena, it was the dream come true. She had asked me to join! And then…I found out she was Marinette. I laid awake one night just remembering all the crazy things I said about Ladybug to her face. The wild fan theories, demanding that she get with Chat Noir, the evidence I had for her identity. So many times, Marinette said ‘are you sure you should post that?’ and I completely ignored her. How was that being a friend?”

Nino sighed, “babe, you gotta stop beating yourself up. You didn’t know she was Ladybug. No one did. She didn’t expect you to act any different.”

Alya understood where he was coming from, and what he was trying to tell her, but it didn’t dissuade her doubts. “I’m going to draft a post. Then I’ll let you guys read it and tell me what you think.”

“Sounds reasonable,” stated Gabriel.

Alya got to work, clacking out a message.  

Sabine dug around in her purse for her phone charger, but found two items that had been placed on top. “Oh!” She said as she pulled out the handmade dolls.

“They were on Adrien’s bed.” Chloe explained. “I thought they might want them.”

“I’m sure that’ll make being separated for a little while easier on them.”

Plagg rose, not able to sleep with conversation in the room. His stomach rumbled, and he cursed it. “I’m hungry,” he stated.

Gabriel put his project to the side. “What do you eat?”

Plagg cast him a skeptical glance.

“I have the ring right now, so it’s my responsibility to feed you. Come on, let’s go down to the food court.”

Begrudgingly, Plagg followed, somehow feeling like there was more to this than appeared.

They were silent as they went down to the food court, following the same format he had taken with Nino. Though Nino had be easier to talk to, as he had been more willing to give him a second chance. This kwami wasn’t giving him an inch.

“Do you think it’s smart to be floating out here in the open?” Gabriel reprimanded.

“Bite me.”

“I’m just trying to—“

“Do nothing. I’m capable of finding food on my own. But I assume you had a reason to escort me. So I’ll let you tag along. But don’t talk to me until I eat. And don’t tell me what to do.”

Gabriel blinked at the ancient being. “Yes sir.”

It was the middle of the night, and all the kiosks were closed. But there were still vending machines. Plagg flitted between them, and found what he was looking for. “I want A3.”

“Popcorn?”

“An adequate substitute for my cheese.”

“What happened to being able to fend for yourself?” He asked as he took out his wallet.

“I can. But I know Adrien hates it when I take food without asking or paying.”

“Ah, I see.”

The cafeteria was devoid of people, which made things silent, save for the hum of the microwave and popping kernels.

Gabriel took a seat at a table by a window. The courtyard was alight with little lights illuminating sculptures and plants. A very peaceful, healing environment. A lovely garden that Marinette and Adrien might enjoy later.

A bag of popcorn flopped on the table. Plagg dove in, rustling the bag, and munching on his snack.

A few minutes passed before he came back out. “Okay. I’ve digested your apology and your reasoning. While I am still extremely angry for hurting Adrien, I am willing to listen to what you have to say.”

“I’m grateful.”

“I’ve concluded, that in the history of mankind, what you’ve done is evil and cruel. But not the worst I’ve seen. I’ve had wielders more evil than you.”

“Oh?”

“Yeah, I had a guy who ate his own baby.” He shuddered. “I had forgotten about that.”

Gabriel blinked. “That’s awful!”

“Well, it was part of the culture back then. Anyways, now you know the bar is really low.”

“Good to know, I suppose…”

Plagg ate some more popcorn before Gabriel finally cleared his throat.

“First, I’d like to thank you for taking care of Adrien these last few years.”

Plagg scoffed. “It wouldn’t have been a problem if you had just done your job.”

“That’s what I mean.” Gabriel insisted. “I wasn’t in the right place to be a father. Even if I put the effort in to be with Adrien, I wouldn’t have been kind or affectionate to him.” Gabriel fisted his hands, looking Plagg in his ancient eyes. “I hated him.”

Plagg stared, wide eyed. “What? How could you say that?”

“I need to be honest with you. For Adrien’s sake.”

Plagg watched him, considering, but stayed silent.

“He looks just like Emilie. He takes after her more than he does me. After she was gone, it became more evident. His smile, his eyes, his laugh, it was like…looking a painful reminder that she was gone. And of course, he didn’t know that she could be saved. He just grieved, and he still mourned, but I watched him grow. He made friends, hung out with their families…And I couldn’t stand it. Why wasn’t he in misery like me? Why was he so optimistic? So hopeful? I thought all sorts of horrible things about him. Assuming he was forgetting her. I’m sure that was the depression telling me that.

“The butterfly miraculous gives me heightened empathy. I knew exactly what everyone around me was feeling. So even when he was schooled into professionalism, I could tell what he was feeling inside. And…it felt better to me to make him sad.”

“You know, some people might categorize that into sociopathy.”

“That would make sense. Am I awful then? A terrible father?” Plagg crunched on mouthful of popcorn as he considered it. “Yes, you are a terrible father. I wish you could have found this out about yourself earlier in life before you had Adrien. Do you think you were always like this? Tell me about your childhood.”

Gabriel ran his fingers through his hair. “When did this turn into a therapy session?”

“When I decided I needed to further analyze you before letting you near Adrien again. Now, go on.”

“Well…I suppose to some degree, I’ve always gained some satisfaction from people’s suffering. It…really culminated when my little brother died when we were kids. My parents were inconsolable, but I was just angry because they stopped paying attention to me. They never got over it.”

“You were never sad that your brother died?”

“I was, a little. I think I might have cried. But, not like my mother did.”

“Did you have a lot of friends?”

He screwed up his lips. “I think there were a lot of kids who liked me and thought I was their friend. But I didn’t really care to stay in contact with them as I got older.”

“Ever feel lonely?”

“Only after Emilie left.” He admitted. “She was the only one I felt like I was equal with. That’s why I was so desperate to get her back.”

“Ever have trouble with the law before Hawkmoth?”

Gabriel got quiet again. “People had trouble with the law because of me.”

Plagg narrowed his eyes. “I know you think you’re better than others. You’re cold, and you shirk familial obligations. You manipulate and threaten people to get them to do what you want. You justify your destructive behavior, no matter how hurtful it is to yourself or others. Does that sound right?”

Gabriel didn’t answer.

“But wait!” Said Nooroo, flying out of Gabriel’s jacket. “He’s been a lot better lately.”

Plagg blinked at the newcomer. “I forgot you were in there.”

“I was sleeping.”

“What do you mean he’s been better?”

“He was really accommodating to Marinette’s parents, and Alya and Nino! He’s thought about their safety and he’s been really nice to them!”

“Is it because it’s the right thing, or the smart thing?” Asked Plagg.

Gabriel winced. “It’s…what Adrien would have wanted.”

“Ah, I think I see a solution here.” Plagg finished the last few kernels. “You may be around Adrien, but you have to judge your behavior on what you think he would like. Which would be painful, considering you hate him.”

“I don’t hate him.” Gabriel clarified. “I did, at one point. But, as soon as his mask dissolved on the screen—“ Gabriel trembled violently, as if the memory had grabbed him by the shoulders and shook him. “It was like I had been punched in the heart. Everything just—hit me. Like…everything I had done had caused this. Every missed dinner, every short comment…”

“Guilt?”

“It felt like I was awake for the first time in my life. Like I was omniscient to all the things I had done. Keenly aware of every piece I had played. And that my actions weren’t as self contained as I thought. I can’t explain it.”

“You became aware that Adrien was a person.” Plagg stated. “A person just like you.”

Gabriel covered his mouth. His eyes wide with horror at the thought.

“You’ve got work to do, Gabriel. I’m not the one who’s going to fix you. You have to do it yourself, for Adrien’s sake.”

The man just nodded his head. He looked nauseous.

“What did you want to tell me? You brought me out here, after all.”

Gabriel couldn’t speak. Couldn’t breathe.

Plagg was right. Absolutely right. Adrien hadn’t been a son to him. He was a trophy, a pawn.

A toy.

And the realization of that evil was crippling.

But Plagg just sat at the table licking the salt and butter off the bag as the man had a complete meltdown in front of him.

“Don’t you think that was a little harsh?” Asked Nooroo.

“What? No. Why don’t you ask him what you were to him? See if he can lie and call you a friend.”

But Gabriel already had his hands around Nooroo, holding him gently. “I’m sorry…I’m sorry…”

“You’re getting better.” Nooroo assured, petting his cheek. “I forgive you.”

It was still many minutes before Gabriel could speak. He patted his face with his handkerchief. “I’m sorry, I just…”

“Please don’t apologize for feeling emotion.” Plagg groaned. “I have to tell Adrien that all the time. Probably a trait he got from you.”

“Undoubtably.” Gabriel whispered. He swallowed hard, and took out his phone. “This is something I wanted to show you. I have to show you. It happened while you were dormant. I get no pleasure from showing you this, understand?”

Plagg was skeptical, but allowed him to turn the screen to him.

The footage was in green, showing a sickly and terrified Adrien. Plagg recoiled at the sight.

Then Gabriel pressed play.

“Plagg! Plagg!” Adrien screamed as he beat on the door. “Plagg!”

Gabriel fast forward, only for the scene to stay the same. Same scream, same pounding on the door, same begging, pleading.

“Plagg!”

Fast forward more.

“Plagg!”

The timestamp went up by minutes, and then hours.

“Plagg!”

On and on, never stopping.

“Plagg!”

Until his voice gave out.

Plagg just stared, eyes brimming with tears. “Why would you show me that? Why the hell would you show me that!?”

“I don’t know what his reaction will be to seeing you. But if it’s negative, I want you to know why. We’ll explain it to him. But you have to know…”

“You’re a sick and twisted man, Gabriel Agreste. I don’t envy you.”

And he floated off without another word.

—

Oh.

He was very tired.

Very tired and very in pain.

There was pressure on his chest, and strange voices all around.

He cracked open his eyes. A bright light.

Cold. Metal. Under his fingertips.

Paralyzed. He couldn’t move. But, maybe, if he could tilt his head forward just enough.

Oh.

That was a lot of blood.

A lot of blood.

His blood?

Yes. Quite.

And…bones. And tools. Sticking out of his chest. Whoa-oh.

“Oh shit. He’s awake. Dr. Boucher?”

His eyes shot to the speaker. A woman with red hair and reflective sunglasses.

Salo.

“Adrien? Adrien can you hear me?”

His eyes flicked to the other voice. Another Salo. And another next to her! A whole room of them!

“Adrien, you’re in surgery. Just relax.”

What were they doing!?

What was going on!?

Why was it so hard to breathe!?

“You’re going through anesthesia awareness. We’re going to get you back to sleep, okay?”

He couldn’t trust anything this woman-these women were saying.

Why did that one sound like a man?

Was that blood?!

But before he could panic anymore, a haze took him and he fell back to sleep.

[bookdragonlibrary]

Marinette x Adrien evolution

I will probably edit this as soon as I watch the two last episodes of the third season (especially Chat Blanc) but here some thoughts about the consequences in season 3 and what season 4 could be. 

I read few theories about how Ladybug and Chat noir are fusion between the Kwamis and the holder (with Chat noir being pretentious and seems careless like Plagg and Ladyugg being confident and responsible like Tikki) or how their heroes version are their true selves (Adrien is completely free from his father’s influence). But I think their heroes version is who they could become. Marinette could be confident and agile while now she is shy and clumsy and Adrien could be carefree while now he tries to be the perfection his father expects him to be which makes him introvert and not opened about his true feelings and personality. Marinette and Adrien both have potential to develop as they are pretty young for now (14 years old middle schooler), they are still growing. But they also need qualities as their normal selves in order to be the hero: you need to be creative and smart to be Ladybug in order to use the Lucky charm and you need to be caring about people, even bad people, so you won’t use Cataclysm for evil, qualities Marinette and Adrien already have when they are in their civies and that explains why Adrien wasn’t able to use the Snake Miraculous in the best way possible. 

They will be the endgame ship at the end of the show as they are soulmates and complementary to each other: creativity/destruction ; luck/bad luck ; red/green. Oblivio showed us what they could be if they knew each other secret identity and their chemistry as a couple. It worked between them because they can see each other flawless and flaw sides and still love them both: Adrien was both flirty/charming and kind/caring and Marinette was both clumsy/confident. That why I think they could only work together as a couple when they will both learn each other identity and be open to each other with it (like Alya and Nino).

Adrien loves Ladybug but he’s oblivious he’s also in love with Marinette as he acts different with her than the other girls and blushes while being with her. The same for Marinette with Chat noir. As if their hearts know the truth all along (I know very cliché but plausible). 

But they can’t date anyone until they know each other identity or give up their Miraculous. (That’s their curse, and maybe the common curse for all the Cat and Ladybug holders: they are always soulmates but can never get together.) Well, they can try to date someone but it won’t work. I think Marinette stops herself for falling for Chat noir (or she’s blind of her feelings because she’s obsessed with Adrien) because it would never work out from her point of view. She likes justice and honesty (even more as Ladybug where she is more responsible and serious) so going out with another superhero but can’t tell him her true identity or what she’s going through would make their relationship bases on a lie and walls between them as they can’t be themselves with each other. The same if she’s going out with someone as Marinette because she wouldn’t be able to tell her boyfriend she is Ladybug and would be forced to lie to him to explain her late (because she was saving Paris) and why she has to go (because she needs a quiet place to transform in Ladybug). It’s already difficult for her to lie to her parents and friends (especially to Alya, her best friend) so what would it be to lie to her boyfriend? She would be the kind of person wanting to give 100% of herself to the person she loves, but currently she could only give 50% as a person with Luka or Adrien and as Ladybug with Chat noir. I think it’s the same for Adrien than Marinette as a civil, but it could be easier for him as he spends a lot of his time alone and more time praticing his special lectures (fencing, mandarin Chinese, piano, photoshoot, etc.) rather than with his father and friends. However he doesn’t seem to realise the situation is also the same as Chat noir because just spending time with the girl he loves it’s enough for him. He planned diner on roof for Ladybug because he doesn’t mind not going to “traditional dates” like restaurants or cinema as long he is with her (he said his happier moments are when he is with her after all). He also doesn’t need her to tell him about her personal life because he enjoys just talking to her. In conclusion, Marinette, Ladybug and Adrien won’t be confortable to date someone because they wouldn’t be able to be 100% honest with them and their relationship would be based on lies and secrets with isn’t a good and healthy relationship. But Chat noir was ready to date Ladybug only as superheroes because he’s fine with just spending time with her. 

[Spoilers below for the end of season 3]

Marinette trying to forget Adrien with Luka (because she thinks Kagami is the other girl Adrien was talking about in Marionnettiste 2/Puppeteer 2) and Adrien doing the same with Kagami (because Ladybug is in love with “another” boy) is a great opportunity for them as a person and as a couple (but actually sad for Kagami and Luka). As they won’t be obsessed with Ladybug and Adrien (at least less obsessed), they would be able to see each other true selves in Marinette and Chat noir. Example: when Ladybug laughed at Adrien’s joke but found it lame when it’s from Chat noir in Desperada. They are so obsessed with the person they love they see a perfect and idealised version instead of the true self of Marinette and Adrien, even if they fell in love for a real quality: Marinette’s creativity and Adrien’s kindness (which are also the qualities needed to become Ladybug and Chat noir!). As Ladynoir and Adrinette, they will become true best friends before dating later (Ladynoir seems to be closer to this point than Adrinette.) while it was previously complicated to do so with one of them having romantical feelings. And Marinette really needs Chat noir as her best friend (both as Marinette and Ladybug) because her life was getting so complicated and dense in season 3 with her new responsabilities as a creator, duty as Ladybug, school, helping her parents at the bakery and now being a guardian of the Miraculous with an amnesic Master Fu who was her support as a hero. 

Which brings me to the ships that could make them understand each other identity: Marichat and Ladrien. In the first one, Marinette would see the true version of Chat noir when he’s not obsessed with Ladybug and flirting with her as she found in Glaciator that Chat noir had a sensitive side hiding behind the jokes and that the flirting/charming is genuine love (well, his attempt to showing it) and not showing off. While Adrien would see how Marinette truely is and acts when she isn’t shuttering and clumsy (or not as much when she’s around as Adrien). Marichat is the only ship in the square love where neither of them is blind by their obsession for the other, so it must be the ship where they will truely fall in love with each other personality while normally they are hidden behind Marinette’s clumsiness and Adrien’s reserve side.

On the contrary, Ladrien will show them who is the real person they talk about as Ladybug and Adrien with Ladybug acting shyly with Adrien when normally she is confident with him as Chat noir and Adrien being blushing and romantical to Ladybug while he’s just kind and sweet with her as Marinette. So I think they will understand each other identity when they will realise Marinette and Ladybug acting the same way in front of Adrien and Adrien and Chat noir doing the same in front of Ladybug, plus the Marichat developed relationship.

But even if they understand that, they won’t be opened about it to each other (and even pretend to ignore it to their Kwami so they won’t loose their Miraculous, but they will act as if they don’t know because they need them to be Ladybug and Chat noir, especially now Master Fu isn’t there anymore) maybe thinking the other didn’t find out their true identity yet. They will act weird to each other when the information will slip against their will as it already does when they try to hide their own heroes or secret identity. Which could be really funny to watch while Tikki and Plagg face palm in the background. They would tell each other secret identity once they wins against Hawkmoth as Gabriel and take back the two Miraculous and discover they both know the truth for a long time. 

Other possibilities: being forced  to reveal their secret identity to each other and Hawkmoth during the last battle (or on accident like when Adrien will discover Hawkmoth’s secret identity and the wish his father wants to make with their miraculous); Chat noir revealing his secret identity to Ladybug as she is now the guardian and Ladybug wanting to do the same because it wouldn’t be fair or being forced to reveal their secret identity to each other because that could endanger them. Example: a mission which went horribly wrong/where they almost lost because Ladybug was too focused on saving Adrien while Chat noir was in front of her and Chat noir decides to reveal his secret identity so the next time she could totally focused on the akumatised person or the contrary scenario. 

Yeah I find it extremely dangerous and stupid they don’t know at least each other identity because there are so many episodes when they were worried for Adrien or Marinette being in danger while their heroes alter ego was in front of them like when Ladybug chose Adrien to be the holder of the snake Miraculous, resulting of the rescuing during months because Adrien doesn’t fit this Miraculous even if he was doing his best. But I get that for the sake of the plot, they must not know and be opened but sometimes it makes them or the situation pretty dumb and not realistic... That why knowing each other secret identity while ignoring it’s reciprocal could be interesting and give something new than the previous seasons but still make them clumsy when they try to hide and lie about their alter ego identity. 

With Time Tagger, we know they would still be heroes during high school or around their twenties but against another Hawkmoth. Maybe then, they will know each other secret identity and going out as Adrien and Marinette but acting the same that in the beginning as Chat noir and Ladybug so people won’t connect the dots. That could explain Bunnyx’ answer to Chat noir’s question about their relationship status. It was pretty confusing but I understood it as they aren’t acting the same way all the time: playing roles to protect their secret identity, but sometimes forget it and being the true lovebirds they are. Maybe to make it working, Marinette found a potion in the book that will prevent them for revealing the other’s identity just as a Kwami can’t reveal their holder’s identity. 

[spottedbuginette]

Why We all Love Marichat

Hi friends and welcome to my first meta on this blog. I’ve posted others on my main @thelittlepalmtree so if you followed me for my hot takes about Lukanette and Chloe, I’m pretty much putting all my Ladyblogging over here, so unless you also love the other miscellany on my main, I’d unfollow there and follow this blog instead :)

Anyway, here’s my take on Marichat, and why we all love it, under the cut! 

I don’t have a source on this because I’m a bad person, but I remember back around season 2 time reading that Thomas Astruc said that when Marinette is Ladybug, that’s her performing, not being herself. And when Adrien is “Adrien Agreste” he’s performing, not being himself. Marinette when she’s being Marinette is her authentic self, she’s not putting on airs or trying to be strong for the sake of the city. Meanwhile when Adrien gets to be chat Noir he’s able to be himself because he doesn’t have to worry about damaging his father’s reputation with everything he does. 

And to me this is profoundly true in the show. I’m not saying that Marinette doesn’t have all the wonderful qualities of Ladybug, or that Chat Noir isn’t capable of being suave and professional the way Adrien is, I’m just saying that the forms of Marinette and Chat Noir reveal their flaws, and their human traits a bit more clearly. I think this is really important to the show, because it kind of explains why Adrien/CN worships Ladybug so much and why Marinette/LB worships Adrien so much. They don’t see each other as people, they see them as these super cool, larger than life, perfect love interests. 

And hey, who hasn’t done that? Right? I know for some of the people I’ve crushed on, I’ve often said things like “you’re perfect” or “you’re an angel.” And honestly that’s a perfectly fine thing to start a relationship on if you’re just getting to know someone. The thing is, both Adrien/CH and Marinette/LB have consciously decided that they do not like each other in their more relaxed forms. 

I would say, what I love about this show is less the content and more the fandom. The creations in this fandom are honestly better than any canon could be. And I say this as a huge celebration, I would even say that (in my experience) the people in this fandom are some of the nicest I’ve ever interacted with and I’ve been in a lot of fandoms. Putting all that aside, however, There’s a huge trend towards Marichat (not that I’m complaining) and I think when we look at it through this lens it’s obvious why. When Marinette is being Marinette and Chat Noir is being Chat Noir they’re being their authentic selves and the idea that they’d form a relationship in these personas would mean they are finally accepting each other for those authentic selves. 

To put it another way, imagine that in the next episode we did a big identities reveal. I think a lot of us take it for granted that Adrien and Marinette would be like “omg you were my crush all along” but at the point they’re at now, that would be pretty weird. Because in the series so far Marinette has evaluated chat noir as a boyfriend and firmly rejected him, saying they’re just friends. Everything she likes about Adrien is more or less not present when he’s Chat Noir. And the same thing with Adrien and Marinette (though Marinette frequently turns on the Ladybug when she’s Marinette and those are the only times when Adrien clearly gets the feels for her). So would they really be happy to just get together? I mean maybe, but I think if these were real people, they’d actually be sort of disappointed that the person they’d built up to be so perfect was actually quite human. 

And I’m not saying that this is bad, in fact, I think it’s something that young people do a lot when they’re first falling in love. I think it’s a testament to the show that they captured the way teenagers develop crushes. But I think it’s important that we get more episodes like “Weredad” where Marinette and Chat Noir interact. It’s really important that they start to see those authentic personas as viable romantic options. I also think there’s a lot of ways to develop Marinette and Adrien’s understanding of how relationships work. They could develop DJWifi a little more to be a model for a future Marinette/Adrien couple (it could be as simple as Alya explaining that she thought Nino was a total idiot at first but then she slowly started to like that part of him). They could enter other relationships and gain some experience (not that those relationships couldn’t be wonderful and loving but sometimes people break up even in good relationships). They could even just get to know each other better, for example an episode like Evillustrator where Marinette has to work with Chat Noir a bit more would be so great in developing this bond. 

I think what needs to stop is the awkward situations where Adrien insists he and Marinette are “just friends” and is blind as hell when it comes to her feelings. It would be much better to show that he’s willfully ignorant because if things get complicated with Marinette he won’t know how to keep her as a friend, (something like “please...don’t say she likes me...Marinette is my best friend and I need her.” okay, maybe that’s a little dramatic). We need to stop having Marinette and all her friends conspiring for her to get a chance to “share her feelings” only for her to chicken out at the end. We need Chat Noir to get a few more “Adrien” moments, maybe when he has screaming fans or flexes his modeling skills. Think of “Riposte”, when Chat Noir could have shown off his fencing skills but instead spent most of the episode as Adrien. The boy speaks Chinese, Plays Piano, and Fences, we could show it off a little more with Chat Noir. Adrien is also pretty good (in my opinion) at deescalating situations (something emotionally abused children like myself and Adrien learn early), literally all of these Akumatized characters could use some deescalation can we not work that in? 

And honestly, what makes a Marichat fic good? It’s the fact that Marinette start’s laughing at Chat Noir’s jokes, and Chat start’s finding her spazzing out and nerdiness adorable. It’s the sweet moments that aren’t manufactured but come from the fact that the two genuinely like each other for who they are. We all want someone to let our guard down with, and Marichat provides just that. 

[betsonbetty-blog]

Now What? Part 6

I am so sorry this part took a lot longer than expected to be posted. The main reason being monday classes began again and I have been studying for the GRE which I will be taking on tuesday. That being said next chapter might also be a little later than usual. Hope you enjoy!

FF.com | AO3.org | Beginning | Previous | Next

Part 6

Adrien saw the time then continued to lay on his bed and looked around his old room. There was so much that had changed since he was last here. Adrien felt the familiar tugging on his chest as nostalgia took over. How he missed his parents. He understood, especially the day the twins came into their life, his father has never been a good parental figure. Hell. He recalled all the times he, not Chat Noir, but him Adrien had gotten stuck in between an akuma attack and ladybug. Style Queen was a perfect example of this. He couldn't understand how his father was ok with such things. If Emma or Louis had been in his shoes he would have died before anything bad happened to them. He wished for his children to meet his parents. If only mom hadn't disappeared. Things would have been different. Adrien used to think that after finding out Hawkmoth was his own father. However, he learned he wouldn't want to ever change it. It made him who he is, and it led him to the love of his life. A soft smile spread across his face. His little family that was soon expanding. He shot up at the realization that his younger self is probably head over heels at the moment. From the little bit of what he remembered, he knew that was exactly what was going on. A small chuckle escaped from his mouth. There was a knock on the door and then opened. "Adrien," Adrien stared at his father as he walked in. It took everything in Adrien to not cry and run to him. After Gabriel fled the country he had not heard from him. "How are your piano lessons coming along? I'd like to hear a couple of pieces," Gorilla moved the couch in the all too familiar position. Lucky for him he has learned to appreciate the piano and really hone his skills. He never pressured Emma or Louis to learn, but Emma loves to sit next him while he plays. Eventually, she expressed how she wanted to learn to be just like her papa.

Adrien stood a little straighter staring at his father. "I think you will be pleased with my advancements," he then sat in front of the piano. Notes in front, he knew the song all too well. One of the clearest memories he has of his time in the future was playing Fur Elise for Marinette and Emma. Memories of his family brought yet another smile to his face. He debated on closing his notes. By now it was muscle memory. He finally went against it, for young Adrien would kill him. He shifted a small bit trying to stall as he figured out how well he should play. Gabriel raised an eyebrow for Adrien to begin. The keys were soft under his fingertips.

By the end, Gabriel was impressed. "Very good, Adrien. I am glad you finally took the piano seriously. Continue practicing, I have business to attend to. I will be back tomorrow morning. Also, don't forget next week you start shadowing me," as Gabriel turned to leave, Adrien hugged him. Too soon the moment was over. He returned on his bed once the coast was clear. His cell phone vibrated next to him. Princess flashed on his screen. Be there soon love you. How naïve had he been in his younger years. Four years calling her princess, one and a half of which he insisted she was just a friend. That was something Mari definitely has always teased him about.

Marinette tied her hair back into her iconic low pigtails. She had thought it over and even if her friends see her as she is going to the Agreste mansion it is ok. Ladybug is missing Marinette is not. Nevertheless, she still didn't want to risk the possibility of exposing anything. She opened the hatch of her room and headed down to the kitchen/living room area. "Oh honey, I thought you were still with Alya. Did she go home already?" her mother's gray eyes looked up at her.

Marinette scratched her head. It had been so long since she had seen her mom look so young without any gray hairs. "Yes, she did," Marinette had an idea at that moment, "that reminds me. Adrien wanted to hangout. I'll be home later," Marinette thought about it more, "can we have game night tonight?"

Marinette really missed game nights with her parents. Ever since she became a mom and fashion designer she hadn't had a proper game night. Game night with her children was still fun, but they had their bed times. It would be nice to have an uninterrupted game. "Oh, that sounds fun. I will tell your father," Sabine made her way to the door that leads downstairs and turned around, "I almost forgot. Ladybug and everyone else have yet to capture the akuma. Please be safe. The fight moved a couple of miles away, but please let me know when you're with Adrien." Sabine then disappeared into the stairs. Marinette grabbed her old purse. She couldn't help to smile at one of her first creations. The purse brought back memories of first making it to carrying Tikki in it for years. There were so many chocolate stains inside from all the cookies it has carried. She walked to the kitchen and grabbed a couple of snacks. If she knew his father, she knew there are zero to no snacks in that household.

The Agreste Mansion was not too far from the bakery. She just had to make it there quickly. Luckily, she did. She pressed the familiar button and the camera came out. Nathalie's voice came through, "good afternoon Marinette, I will let Adrien know you are here. Feel free to come in," the gates opened in front of her. She knew her husband would rush to meet her.

Sure enough, she didn't even touch the door by the time Adrien opened it. Putting an arm around her waist and his other hand cupping her face, he pulled her into a kiss. When they pulled away he surprised her with a rose. "Every Princess should have a rose. My princess in particular deserves the world and more. My beautiful sublime exquis-."

Marinette gave him sultry look and interrupted him. "Ever the romantic, Chaton," she tapped her finger on his nose and winked. Adrien pulled her closer and a soft giggle escaped Marinette. "It has been a while since you called me Princess," she gave a smile that reached her eyes.

Adrien kissed the top of her head. "Only because we have another princess among us and you're my Queen, but right now you are princess," Marinette kissed Adrien with a little too much excitement. Had he not been expecting it, they would have fallen as they had so many times before. "Let's get inside," Adrien grabbed Marinette's hand and immediately intertwined fingers.

Once in Adrien's room, he ran got on couch making a motion to Marinette to follow. Marinette laid on Adrien as he wrapped an arm around her, "Adrien, I'm worried. Our younger selves are in charge of our lives right now. What if something bad happens?"

Adrien held on to her tighter, "we may not remember everything that happened, but we know us. Eighteen, twenty, twenty-four, doesn't matter, we are smart. Just have faith. In the meantime, how do you want to spend our anniversary?"

Adrien smirked and raised his eyebrows, Marinette knew that look all too well. She poked his sides, "you know we can't do that! Let our younger selves go at their own pace."

Adrien shrugged, "it was worth a try. Anyways, we don't have a real job right now and no kids." Adrien gave her a mischievous look, "how about we play some Ultimate Mega Strike V?"

Marinette's eyes narrowed at her husband, "you are so on! Let me text my mom really quick."

The clock read eighteen hundred when Marinette suggested Adrien to go with her to dinner and game night with her parents. Adrien was very deprived of basic parental love and throughout the years Tom and Sabine had given that and much more. He quickly jumped at the idea of spending the evening with his in laws. Adrien let Nathalie know he was going to be with Marinette and they went on their way. (A/N: I just had to say as I am writing this sentence I just imagine Nathalie stone faced but the moment they leave just super excited to see him with Mari. Ok Moving on.) They semi-rushed to the bakery to avoid being spotted, but alas their luck had run out. "Adrien! Mari!" Marinette recognized that voice a mile away. Alya was dragging her boyfriend and walking to her friends. Once she reached them Marinette noticed both her friends seemed off. Both Adrien and she knew why but played it off. "What are you two doing together?" Alya's eyes fell on their hands and winked at Mari while Nino did the same to Adrien with a slightly audible dude.

Both Adrien and Marinette laughed nervously, "I invited Adrien to game night with my parents."

Nino put his hands on Alya's shoulders, "come on Alya let's leave the lovebirds." No matter how old they got their friends teasing always managed to get the couple looking like tomatoes.

Sabine and Tom greeted Adrien as warm as always. He could tell they had just made dinner. He had a chef at the mansion, but nothing could ever compare to Sabine's cooking. Tom put an arm around Adrien's shoulder, "how have you been son?"

Every time Tom called Adrien son he couldn't help to give him a huge smile. "Thank you for having me tonight. I have been good. How about yourself?"

"Everything is good. It is nice to have you around," Tom and Adrien made their way to help the girls set up for dinner.

The night was filled with laughter and love. Tom and Sabine knew this was one of many first to come. Sabine called Nathalie to let her know Adrien would be spending the night. They looked over the two teens who had fallen asleep on each other. "Takes you back doesn't it," Sabine looked softly at her husband and made their way to bed.

[carpisuns]

ALL OF THIS AND ALSO;;;;

can we please appreciate that Thomas “fine I will give the marichat stans one (1) crumb bc you’re being insufferable” Astruc actually come out and gave us not just an ENTIRE marichat-centric episode but one that includes fanfic-level FAKE DATING????? I mean sure it lasted maybe 12 hours tops lol but THAT HAPPENED. THEY WERE IN A FAKE RELATIONSHIP FOR THOSE 12 HOURS. IM CRYING HDKDKDKD he actually had brunch at her house in a very official Boyfriend Meets The Parents™️ way I am STILL SCREAMING PLEASE DJJDDNM

and at the same time he threw us a marichat party he also ???? destroyed marichat fanon–created true selves trope!!!!! usually with that trope marinette is like “waaaa chat noir only loves ladybug but not marinette, the ReAL mE, and I’m sad and mad about it” but here she is not only annoyed that he apparently has fallen in love with her as marinette but is also angry that he “betrayed” his love for ladybug lmaOOOOO AND THEN we also have adrien being like “:O wat?? I didn’t think chat noir was her type??” confirming that adrien tends to put on a hammed-up persona when he’s transformed and that he is also aware that he’s doing it. so chat noir, while fun and freeing, is not his entire “true self,” and he knows that

and of course at the end we have marinette and chat noir reconciling after he is honest about his feelings and from her own lips marinette confirms that they are Officially Friends and then chat goes in for a really sweet hug (a HUG!!!!! dont touch me 😭) and marinette is visibly touched and then Tom basically gives him an open invitation to come by any time and learn how to make croissants to give to ladybug??? So we basically end up with the door wide open for a marichat friendship plot line—not that it actually WOULD happen in canon (it won’t) but the fact that it even COULD??? that that possibility has been set up???? i need to lie down

basically what I’m saying is that glaciator walked so weredad could run. I feel like for some reason the whole fandom sleeps on weredad and I’m like marichat stans hellO this is the greatest feast u will ever get??? we have a total of like six (6) cameos in canon but this was an entire 5-course meal that continues to sustain us forever??? truly we are blessed

tldr; weredad good 🙂

Weredad is such a wild episode, like really, it must be in the top most chaotic episodes with Partycrasher. We’ve got great moment like:

- Ladybug escaping chat’s kiss, splatting straight on Adrien’s ad and saying “Adrien’s lips - the dream” (French dub at least), and telling him she’d never fall for his charm (HA),

-her just. Confessing her love to Chat Noir because him seeing her on her balcony at night after an akuma attack that happened right in front of her house is definitely not something that could ever happen,

-her then alternating between two states when it comes to Chat Noir: “what.an.idiot. he managed to fall for me TWICE” and “wow, so that’s how solid his love for Ladybug is? a girl confesses to him and he straight up comes to lunch with the parents? unbelievable” (also, when she was satisfied he wasn’t coming but then Tikki spotted him, her comment is “I can’t believe it, what a glutton”)

-meanwhile, Adrien is out there second guessing Marinette’s type - when did he ever think about it? What did he assume her type even was?? 

-then you have Tom being the most extra Dad in the history of Dads, who heard Marinette declare her love to a guy once and proceeded to immediately offer him his bakery. And start imagining little kittens running around it. I can’t figure out if the kittens refer to Marichat babies or actual kittens. Anyway, reminder that they’re 14/15. Marinette really is her father’s daughter.

-then Chat Noir admits he’s actually in love with Ladybug, after eating lots of vol-aux-vents, and Marinette shows her magnificent actress skills in a once in a lifetime performance (I’m still not over the hamster named Solitude. Somebody give her an Oscar)

-we then proceed to a beauty and the beast remake, sort of, where she saves herself like the badass icon she is, without the Ladybug costume, proving once again that being Ladybug actually boils down to the person and not to the Miraculous; all this while Chat is being beat up by a very angry father but fighting for her because Marinette doesn’t deserve that kind of treatment and he’d know (this is actually heartbreaking, but also I’m surprised Hawkmoth didn’t take the jab personally - actually, he’s pretty silent during the episode, for once)

-once the deep moment is passed, though, Chat and Tom go back to being Himbos (affectionate), worrying about Marinette and being satisfied with Ladybug’s “I’ve already taken care of her, don’t worry” when she literally fell from above them so like. Where would she be.

-honourable mention goes to Tikki being this 👌 close to looking straight into the camera like in the office

Anyway, it’s just utter chaos and I love it

[luanna801]

Marinette x Adrien for the meme!

YESSSSSSSS

when I started shipping it if I did: I think I started shipping it from literally the first scene they had together. Their dynamic is just that good. I usually take a while to get invested in a ship, but with these two I basically started shipping them right off the bat and considered them an OTP after just a few episodes. I think it’s because when the series starts, their relationship is already so developed and you get such a good sense of their closeness and what great partners they are (as Ladybug and CN, that is). So you can get invested much more quickly because you’re not waiting to see them develop a meaningful connection - it’s already there.

my thoughts: DARLINGS. all their identities, which is the best thing), their banter, their flirting, their mutual support. And you know all of that is just going to get even better as the series goes on and they get even closer. They’re a really fun couple who are great to watch (and make a very badass superhero duo) but there’s also a lot of depth to their relationship and they’re really good for each other. 

What makes me happy about them: All of the above! I love seeing them get closer and bond in all their different identities, love seeing them save the day together, love them just being adorable cuties. Basically everything about these two makes me happy.

What makes me sad about them: I wish Marinette were not written as so very stalker-y at times. Also, in-story, a whole lot of Adrien’s home life makes me sad (and want to hug him very much).

things done in fanfic that annoys me: HOOOOO BOY. A whole lot, sadly. The #1 would have to be anyone who writes Chat Noir as ignoring Ladybug’s boundaries or harassing her, instead of the healthy trust we see between them in the show. Or stories were Marinette is written as though she genuinely dislikes or is annoyed by Chat Noir. Or stories where one of their identities is treated as the ‘real self’ (usually Marinette and Chat Noir respectively) and the other as a false persona. Or stories which turn them into exaggerated fanon versions of themselves, generally.

things I look for in fanfic: Cute fluff! Partnership! Banter! Cuddles! Good in-character writing! Both characters being respected and treated as equals! Mutual support and friendship! Flirting! Hand-kisses! Marinette punching Gabriel Agreste in the face! (Kidding about that last one… probably.) (No, actually I’m totally not.)

Who I’d be comfortable them ending up with, if not each other: Honestly, this is a case where it’s really hard for me to imagine them with someone else - they’re just that perfect for each other, and their relationship is that strong. But I don’t hate the idea of Adrien/Nino, and either Marinette/Alya or Marinette/Nathaniel. Those are all cute ships with a good canon basis, they just don’t feel right to me on the same level.

My happily ever after for them: They eventually learn each other’s secret identities and have the kind of absolute openness and closeness between them where they can be their whole selves around each other, without holding anything back. They help each other get over their insecurities and support each other in the bad times. Marinette achieves her dream of becoming a fashion designer and Adrien finds a career that he chooses because he loves it and not because his father pushes it on him. They are incredibly proud of each other’s achievements. They continue to save the day together as Ladybug and Chat Noir, and their teamwork gets better than ever thanks to how close they are. They live a happy life with their friends and their family (Gabriel optional) and have kids of their own when they feel ready. They raise those kids with all the love in the world and teach them to bake a mean chocolate-chip cookie. They have a long, happy, fulfilled life together.

who is the big spoon/little spoon: You’d think it would be Adrien because he’s taller, but for some reason I really picture Marinette curled around him. I think he’d really like being held that way (it makes him feel very safe and loved), and she’d like being able to nuzzle into his hair when they’re snuggled up like that.

what is their favorite non-sexual activity: Fighting supervillains obviously - you can tell how much they both love being superheroes. But also playing videogames together, watching anime, going to movies and concerts together. Also I think they’re a couple who likes dancing together a lot, once they get together.