#Corrupting the Corruption [ladybug-bestie]

[spirallusions]

[ The door creaks open ]

H- hello? Strange- eldritch horror? Are you here?

[ They don't move from the doorway, standing with one foot in the Distortion and one foot out, clutching the door for dear life ]

(@ladybug-bestie)

Why, hello :)

[kidofthekat]

Let them eat cake (read - the rich)

Ao3 Masterlist

               Alya, Marinette, and Chloé, a trio no-one could have expected to get along, were huddled on Alya’s bed scrolling through Instagram as Chloé got exponentially more outraged at each ‘see this *insert realistic looking every day object* well it’s actually cake *cuts it with knife and gives you trust issues*’ videos.

               “Don’t you dare, DON’T YOU DARE!” the blonde screeched at the screen which displayed a Dorito’s bag seconds away from being revealed to be a cake. #exposed.

               Alya snatched her phone away, fully expecting her incoming swing and pushed her to the floor. “Nope.” She snickered, cradling her dear phone.

Marinette gave them both a Cheshire Grin, “You know I can make one of those.”

“Don’t even think about it, Dupain-Cheng.”

Marlena walked past the girls�� room, she knew it was really only her daughter’s but the other two spent so long in there that they could claim it for themselves if they wanted to. She would be lying if she said that she had never worried that the landlord would try to count them as tenants.

Hearing the doorbell, Marlena hurried over to it, avoiding the obstacles that were her troublemaking twins.

“Nino, it’s wonderful to see you again, come on in.”

The boy rubbed his hand behind his neck and smiled, “Thanks Mme Césaire.”

“Please, call me Marlena or Alya’s mum if you must, Mme Césaire just makes me feel so old.” Laughing slightly, Nino agreed and made his way over to where he knew his friends and girlfriend would be.

Bursting in, he immediately jumped into action, trying, and failing, to help Alya restrain the yelling blonde as Marinette taunted her with threats to make a cake.

“Dupain-Cheng, if you make a single cake, I will assume you’re cake and cut you in half!”

“Wait dudette, are you talking about the ‘everything is actually cake’ thing, because I have something that might just make all your days.”

Crowding around Nino’s phone, he showed them a thread of someone calling on people to eat the rich using crazy but admittedly fun logic to explain why. Nino continued to scroll, pointing out the ‘they might be cake’ argument.

“I mean that would explain why Agreste Sr never leaves the house, he’s getting his frosting touched up.” Alya reasoned.

Marinette giggled adding, “And how his hair does that… thing.”

“And why Agreste Jr has no spine.” All it took was one too many snide remarks from Lila, and Chloé, of all people, standing up for Marinette for Alya to realise her bestie was right all along and give up on her classmates. Nino, on the other hand, had some faith, especially in his ‘bro’ but after he spouted his ‘high road’ speech and Nino had realised his friend would never see the damage the liar was doing, he joined the growing ‘my classmates share one brain cell and I can’t seem to find the one who has it’ club.

“I could get behind this, you know, protest outside the Agreste mansion. My parent’s hotel, do you think Kagami would mind if we go against her mum?”

“To be honest, that sounds like an awesome plan. And she will be leading the charge.” Nino agreed.

“Now all we need is to raise an army.”

“Leave it to me.” Marinette’s smirk sent shivers down their spines.

*

Alya didn’t know what she was expecting when she received a video titled ‘let them eat cake (read – the rich)’ from an anonymous sender, but a video of Ladybug calling on Paris to protest against the Agrestes, Bourgeoises and Tsurugis (but not their children as they didn’t own the businesses) due to a deep corruption in each of their companies alongside a very detailed and almost obsessive list of research into what the companies had done wrong (underpaid workers, bad conditions, harassment at work etc) was not it.

Despite her initial shock, the reporter didn’t waste anytime in posting the video alongside an itinerary of when and where.

“Marinette!” Alay yelled over her phone.

“Alya please, a little quieter.” Even though they weren’t in the same room, Alya could practically see the smug expression Marinette definitely wore.

“How did you get that video?”

“I’m a little luckier than the average person.”

“And that research?”

“I know a god.” Alya huffed, she wasn’t getting anything out of her, at least she had admitted to sending the video.

“Can I use your ‘god’ for research in the future?”

“Sure, just give them credit?”

“Which would be?” The whole conversation felt suspiciously illegal to Alya.

“Stinky Sock.” What? Alya shook her head, her best friend had only gotten more mysterious lately, but she wasn’t complaining about this scoop. She quickly began writing scathing articles on the three companies that would make Lois Lane proud, prepared to reveal the true nature of Paris’ richest families, while leaving Chloé and Kagami out of it.

*

“Marinette.”

The girl in question was sewing a banner at her desk, and seemingly oblivious to her Kwami’s efforts to reach her.

“Marinette!”

“Hm? Yes Tikki?”

The Kwami giggled at her users bewildered look and flittered over to her.

“Alya is a reporter.”

“Yes, and?”

“And she is your best friend.”

“Yes, and?”

“And she knows you better than anyone.”

“Yes, and?”

“And you keep giving hints that you are Ladybug.”

“Yes, and?”

“And she is going to figure you out.”

“Pftt, no.”

Marinette was still laughing, in a way some might call hysterically, at Tikki’s ‘joke’ when she arrived in class, though it died down quickly once she figured out the scene in front of her.

Lila, standing on Bustier’s desk, was rallying the class (some of whom were recording) to go after the children of the three millionaires Paris was currently preparing to fight as well as their parents. Adrien was trying, and failing, to quiet her down all whilst giving Alya his best ‘disappointed’ look.

Marinette was suddenly very glad that Chloé had been transferred to Kagami’s school. Not that she wouldn’t find out about this, Lila Rossi had become Paris’s newest sensation, even Ladybug had no chance of talking down the people now.

*

Alya cleared her throat, “We need to call this off.”

“Yeah, I know I’ve never been the nicest person, and I probably deserve what’s coming but I’m kinda scared, I was looking through the comments on LB’s video and-” Chloé shivered.

“Dudette, you do not deserve what Lila is telling them to do,” Nino jumped in before the girl could spiral, “I mean yeah you were mean, and rude, and downright horrid-”

“But you aren’t like that anymore.” Alya gave her boyfriend a small glare before turning to Chloé, “I mean you publicly apologised to the whole of Paris and donated like your whole trust fund to mental health institutions for Akuma victims.”

“It doesn’t matter anyway,” Marinette cut in. “Lila holds too much sway, all we can do now is try to get Chloé, Kagami and, ugh, Agreste Jr to safety.”

“Do we have to save adrikins?” Alya and Nino nodded in agreement with Chloé’s whined question, all three turning to Marinette with matching pouts.

“Yes, we have to save adrikins Chlo, no Alya, don’t give me that look, Nino no, no not the puppy dog eyes, no, I’m leaving, Chlo let go, ALYA! Nooooooooo let mee leave we are good people, we have toooooo, Chlo you were just as bad as him once upon a time and you get better, imagine if we had left you to… no Ninoooooooooo, we are fighting injustice hereeee, violence isn’t ahhhhhhh heeeeelpppppp-”

*

Chloé ran around her room, stuffing her gym bag with anything she decided was useful all the while seething with anger. This was meant to be a peaceful protest against people who hurt others for no good reason and instead thanks to Lila, it’s turned into… this!

She jumped slightly when she heard a distant bang, while most people had stuck to the streets protesting against the billionaires of the city and their ways some, aka Lila’s mob and idiots who just want violence, had decided to attack the Tsurugi, Agreste and Bourgeoise’s homes.

Sooon Chloé found herself running down the servant stairs in a hope to get out the building before Lila got in. She had decided against warning her parents, in her mind they deserved what was coming.

“Chloé!” At the sound of her name, she began to panic, she had thought that the kitchen would be a safe way out bu-

“Chloé, it’s just me, Alya’s mum, follow me, I’ll help you get out.”

*

Ladybug sighed, watching the storm on the Agreste mansion with bored eyes, this is not what she had wanted.

She wasn’t worried about Adrien, she knew that he could escape but she still held enough love for her partner to want to make sure he was safe. And a black dot jumping out of a window was all the confirmation she needed. Next stop: The Grand Paris.

*

Marinette, fell to the floor in quiet despair. Her room was empty. Her closet looked ransacked and her parent’s hotel was full of people who only were here for some twisted revenge. She was gone. Maybe forever. And it was all her fault.

“Chloééééé.” She wailed into her hands as Tikki tried to calm the poor girl down.

“Yes?” Came a snooty voice.

“I can still hear her voice.” Marinette blubbered.

“What?”

Another sob came from the mess on the ground behind The Grand Paris, “Her ghost is just as whinyyyy!” She began crying louder.

“What the- Marinette! Get up off the disgusting ground!”

The girl in question sniffled and wiped her snotty nose on the back of her hand, “Chloé?”

“Ew. Just ew.”

“You’re alive!” She jumped up and enveloped her blonde friend in a bear hug.

“Get off me, maribrat!”

Marinette smiled, “I was really worried Chlo.”

“Yeah me too. So,” Chloé straightened up, “Let’s go save Kagami.” She smirked at Marinette’s eager smile.

*

Marinette faltered in her step as she walked behind Chloé, Alya and Nino. How was she going to save Kagami without these guys finding out her identity?

“You okay Nette?” Nino asked, worry creasing his normally strangely smooth face, she never understood that.

“We’re gonna save ‘gami don’t you worry.”

“Yeah even if that sword wielding b- uhh friend of ours probably doesn’t need us to escape.”

Marinette nodded and continued walking as Chloé and Alya began to bicker about Kagami’s claim that Ladybug preferred her to Queen Bee, apparently Chloé hadn’t gotten over that yet.

*

Nino and Marinette sprinted through the undergrowth, leaping over any fallen branches in their way. “You will forever be remembered for your sacrifice,” Nino whispered into the wind. Tears stinging his eyes at the thought of his girlfriend and friend’s remains.

“We can’t give in now, not after-” Marinette’s voice hitched, as it became too much for her.

“I know what you mean dudette. We must keep going, it’s what they would have wanted.” A lone tear slipping down his face.

Chloé sighed as she dusted off her clothes, no longer immaculate after being used as a stepping stool so her idiots of friends could get over the fence, “We’re not dead you morons.”

“Go, you’re wasting time, we’ll meet you by the Seine.” Alya added her two cents.

Nino and Marinette nodded, dangerous glints in their eyes. They were going to save Kagami, no matter what it took. They once more began running through the Tsurugi gardens towards the towering mansion. And they had almost made it when they ran into a guard.

“Shoot, I thought they would all be distracted by Lila’s mob.” Nino took of his cap. “Here, go, save your princess, I’ll distract the guard. Don’t forget me Nette, never forget me.”

Marinette stared at the cap, bewildered, “She’s not my princess.” But it was too late. He was gone. She was alone. And now she had nothing to lose.

Pulling her hair into a ponytail and slipping it through the cap, Marinette began the dangerous journey to the window of her friend.

Grabbing a pebble, Marinette launched it at the window on the second story. She had another aimed and ready when the window opened. Marinette dropped the stone and brought her hands up to her mouth, “Rapunzel, Rapunzel, let down your hair!”

A head popped out the open window, “It’s not nearly long enough for that Mar- uh Flynn, here catch my bag.” Marinette held her arms out to catch the bag, promptly falling backwards under the sudden weight.

She heard the crunch of gravel under feet and a hand came into view. “I’m supposed to be the one helping you, ‘Gami.”

“I like the hat.” Kagami responded as she pulled the now blushing girl to her feet.

“Hey dudettes, stop flirting and follow me, we have to get out, now!”

“We weren’t flirting.” Marinette whispered. Kagami simply raised an eyebrow and followed their retreating friend, hand still in Marinette’s.

*

               “Nette, can I have my cap back, I feel kinda vulnerable without it.”

               “No.”

               “I lay my heart in the open and you just don’t care.”

Thanks to @flufflepuffle296 for proof reading!

Also I wanna say that the Agrestes, Tsurugis and Bourgeois are bad people (at leat the senior versions are) and they have hurt a lot of people meaning the people Lila had roped into her scheme are honestly righteously angry. If, for example, they hadn’t wanted to go after the kids (minors who have absolutely no say in their parents companies) LB probably would have joined them. I’m in no way condemning protests or riots (in fact I probably would have joined Lila’s side in this),

[spirallusions]

Did you enjoy your trip to my halls? ;)

hi, harper :]

[ The assistant groans and slowly tries to roll into a position where they can see whose speaking to them. Leaning on one elbow with their other hand supporting them, they try to lift their head to glance up ]

.. Hello?

[quicksilversquared]

The (Not-So) Truther

When a corrupted butterfly flutters by, Lila doesn't hesitate to grab it and hijack the intended akuma form for her own use. Now called the Truther, she forces people to tell lies.

...it's really unfortunate that neither she nor Hawkmoth managed to think her powers all the way through.

*Note: Written pre-season 4 release; as such, it is not S4 compliant.

links in the reblog

"I wanted to help out with the project, but there was a family emergency," Susanna insisted, widening her eyes. "My cousin got hit by a car, and we all needed to help support my aunt. I didn't even have the time to text you guys or email Mendeleev and ask for an extension."

Debbie narrowed her eyes. "And let me guess, you want us to just ignore that we did all of your work for you and not tell Mendeleev that you were completely useless as a group member?"

Susanna gasped, throwing in a sniffle at the last moment. "But I didn't mean to be, there was a family emergency!"

"Just like the last time we had a group project, and the time before that, too?"

"I have a large family!"

"And that large family needs the help and support of a random thirteen-year-old cousin whenever things happen? So much help that you don't even have the time to text?"

"Guys, guys, calm down," Jean-Paul told them, stepping between the two girls. He looked over at Debbie imploringly. "Debs, it's not that big of a deal. It wasn't a large project."

Debbie scowled at him, already feeling her blood pressure starting to rise. All he ever did was make excuses for Susanna, even when she deserved neither excuses nor any sort of help at all. "So it shouldn't have been hard for her to do her part! And it got assigned last Wednesday. You could have started working on it then!"

"I had other stuff to do during the week and I thought that my weekend would be free!"

"Debbie, it's a family emergency, just drop it," Jean-Paul insisted. "Wouldn't you want us to be understanding if you were the one with the emergency and you couldn't get the work done?"

Debbie was pretty sure that she was seeing red. "If I had a family emergency, I would have taken the two seconds that it takes to send a text and let people know ahead of time! And I wouldn't make up a family emergency just because I'm too spoiled to help!"

Susanna reeled back. "You think that I'm lying? That's so- so-"

"It's out of line," Jean-Paul finished. He was frowning at Debbie now. "You can't just go around accusing people of lying without evidence! That's just mean." He turned to Susanna. "C'mon, let's go. I'll tell Mendeleev that you helped, then it'll be two against one."

With that, Debbie's two team members turned and left, leaving Debbie standing in the hallway and staring after them, absolutely incensed. How dumb could Jean-Paul be? It was obvious to anyone with a brain that Susanna was lying and just taking advantage of his crush on her to get out of the consequences of not helping with their group project. And now he was going to tell Mendeleev that Susanna had helped, he was going to lie for her!

Debbie. Was. Mad.

For several minutes, she stewed to herself in the hallway. How was she supposed to prove that she was right and Susanna was a liar who deserved a big fat zero on the project? Jessie was right, two against one saying that Susanna had helped would make Madam Mendeleev believe them over her. There wasn't any way to prove that she was telling the truth.

...or was there? After all, she still had the texts from the entire weekend, their group chat where she and Jean-Paul had essentially planned the whole project by themselves. And the site that they had used to put together their presentation recorded edits and how much time people had spent working on it. Both would prove that Susanna hadn't done any work, and then Madam Mendeleev could reach out to Susanna's family herself to ask about the family emergency and see if it really existed. Their teacher wasn't unreasonable, unlike Ms. Bustier. She would listen if Debbie had the evidence.

Already feeling better, Debbie headed towards her classroom, a bit of a spring in her step. She wouldn't be able to approach her teacher right away- class had already started while she was busy stewing about Susanna and Jessie- but she would no doubt be held for a few minutes after class because of her tardy and she could talk to her teacher then. Their presentation wasn't going to be for a few periods yet, so she still had time.

Across the courtyard, there was a cackle of distinctly akuma-like laughter before the locker room door was casually tossed off of its hinges. Debbie took one look and dove for her class's door.

She didn't know who had been akumatized or why, but she was not going to get caught up in that mess if she could help it.

  Lila Rossi was the last person in the locker room. The bell had rung, the other students had gone to class, and she had been conveniently hidden away in a bathroom stall. She needed to be alone in the room to steal something- anything- from Chloe's locker and plant it in Marinette's.

She couldn't do the same thing that she had done before and plant one of her own possessions in Marinette's locker. No, doing the same thing twice in a row would be suspicious. But if she took something of Chloe's, the chances that the bratty blonde would notice and throw a fuss about it the next time she set foot in the locker room were high. And then, once she threw a fuss, everyone's lockers would be searched, and Marinette's reputation would be- well, not trashed right away, maybe, but it would be questioned.

And Lila wouldn't even have to lift a finger. Well, not once the initial stealing and placing of one of Chloe's things was done, that was.

Lila smirked, glancing around one more time before approaching the locker that she knew was Chloe's. She pulled it open, glanced around, and snagged a sparkly bracelet from the top shelf. It only took a minute to move it to Marinette's locker, and then Lila could move on and collect her own things. Before she could finish and leave the locker room, a purple butterfly caught her eye as it fluttered serenely across the room. Lila paused for a moment, wondering who might have attracted the akuma in the first place for half a second before she decided that it didn't matter. The original recipient didn't deserve whatever powers Hawkmoth was giving out today. Without even a second's hesitation, she pounced on the akuma. "Hawkmoth!"

"Hello, Truther," Hawkmoth's voice echoed in her head. "I am Hawkmoth. You're tired of people telling li-" He paused. "Ms. Rossi. Again?" There was a sigh. "Very well. You can take be the new Truther."

Lila screwed up her nose immediately, disgusted at the very idea. "Truther? Why would I want to make them tell the truth? Then my reputation-"

"You didn't let me finish," Hawkmoth cut across smoothly. "Your name will be the Truther, and your powers will force people to answer any question they're asked... untruthfully."

A grin appeared on Lila's face as she realized just what Hawkmoth was suggesting. How it was supposed to help him, she had no idea, but it would certainly help her. "So if I hit Ladybug with my powers and ask her if she's besties with Lila Rossi, for example, her answer will be..."

"Yes, of course, absolute best friends."

"And if I get that brat Marinette and ask why she thinks that I'm lying- if I ask her if she can prove any of my stories false-"

"She'll say that she is jealous or something similar, and that she can't prove that a single thing is fake."

"Fantastic." Lila's smirk turned vicious, and a cloud of purple enveloped her for a moment. When it cleared, the Truther stepped forward. "Time for me to go tear some people down and cement my reputation for good."

  Class had just started and Ms. Bustier was in the middle of taking attendance when the door burst open and an akuma stomped through. Marinette took one look at the akuma and her sausage-roll hair and promptly dove under the desk and out of sight before the akuma had the chance to see her.

She didn't know what had caused Lila's latest akumatization, but it was better to play it safe rather than sorry when it came to Lila-kumas. The chances that Lila was going to target her for absolutely no good reason were just too high.

Next to Marinette, Alya gasped and whipped out her phone right away. "Ladybloggers, sound the akuma alert! We have a new akuma at Collège Francois-Dupont! We don't know a name or powers yet, but-"

"I am the Truther, and I am tired of being called a liar by jealous people!" the akuma announced, and Marinette raised an eyebrow. Seriously? The Truther? That was just bizarre, considering Lila's everything. "And I make people tell the truth!"

"Marinette, what did you do?" Alya hissed. "Did you two-"

"I hadn't even seen her this morning," Marinette hissed back, already ticked off. Something about this whole situation wasn't right. The sooner she could get out of here- without getting hit- the better. She didn't trust the Truter or her powers at all. "Someone else must have called her out on her ridiculous stories."

Alya sighed. "Marinette..."

"Why would you get truth powers?" Adrien asked dubiously, standing up at his desk. Marinette very nearly screeched what are you doing?, but stopped herself just in time. She was Ladybug, she had to get out of the classroom without getting hit. "Out of everyone in this classroom, it makes the least sense for you to get powers to make people tell the truth!"

The Truther pressed a hand to her chest, looking offended. "Really, that's so hurtful! You doubt my integrity? Why else would I have gotten powers like this?"

Adrien frowned. "Uh..."

"And for doubting me, you'll be my first subject!" The Truther announced, pointing her baton at Adrien. There was a flash of light before Adrien could dodge, and then the akuma smirked at him. "And for our first demonstration- what do you think of Lila Rossi?"

"She's kind, honest, pretty, and fun to work with," Adrien said at once. His features screwed up as soon as he finished talking. "Uh..."

He glanced back at the class, his gaze catching on Marinette as confusion flashed across his face. The Truther preened.

"You see? I force people to tell the actual truth. People lie to other people, they lie to themselves." The Truther bared her teeth, triumphant. "And the truth tells me that you don't actually think that I'm a liar!"

Marinette frowned from her hiding spot. She knew full well that Adrien did think that Lila was a liar- he knew that she was a liar. He hated working with her, because she was clingy and didn't respect his space and didn't listen to directions during photoshoots. He always said that she was borderline cruel when they were alone and she wasn't playing a part for other people. So what...

Did the Truther's powers make people give answers that she liked? Or was it simpler- maybe it just made people tell lies? The opposite of what they were thinking?

Either way, this could easily turn into a disaster. Unless other people caught on to what Lila's powers actually were, Lila could have her reputation cemented by the end of the day.

(She could not let Ladybug get hit. That- that could be a disaster, depending on what questions the Truther asked.)

But how could she figure out what the Truther's powers actually were? She had to do that in order to figure out how to expose it to everyone else in the class. And to do that...

Unfortunately, she was going to have to give away the fact that she was in the classroom after all. It would be better if she didn't have to do that- it would make it easier for her to get away-

"Wait, dude, I thought that you didn't like working with Lila," Nino objected. "I asked you about it before and you said that she was a pain to work with. But you actually did like working with her? Why would you say that you didn't, then?"

"I was worried about making other people upset," Adrien said at once. "If I admitted that I was actually having fun, I might offend- might offend others."

Marinette forced herself to block out both that and Alya's whispered "see?". It was the Truther's anti-truth powers that were making Adrien say that, which meant that it wasn't anywhere close to the truth. She couldn't get distracted by any of that. She had to focus on the important stuff, like the fact that Nino's comment-slash-question meant that the Truther's powers applied to questions that other people asked, not just what the akuma asked. Which meant that if Marinette asked any questions, the powers would still come into play. But she still didn't want to give away her position. With Adrien under the Truther's powers, Marinette was the next obvious target.

Maybe Alya could ask for her? Yes, that was a great idea!

"Alya," Marinette hissed. keeping her voice low. "Ask Adrien what color the sky is."

Alya shot her a baffled look. "What color- why?"

"Please!"

Alya shot her another look, then turned back to the front. "Adrien, what color is the sky right now?"

Adrien turned to Alya, clearly confused. "It's bright orange."

There was a pause, and then his confusion turned into a grin as Alya frowned, clearly thrown off. Marinette grinned from her hiding spot, absolutely thrilled.

The Truther's powers made people give an opposite answer to the truth, and not just about Lila-related questions. That made things a whole lot easier.

"Ask him what the name of your blog is!" Marinette hissed from her spot. Alya hesitated, then nodded.

"What's the name of my Ladybug blog?"

"The Cat Chat."

"What does Mr. Agreste do for his job?" Marinette prompted. This time, there was no hesitation from Alya.

"What does your father do for a living?"

"He cleans toilets."

"Wait, what the heck is going on?" Nino demanded, standing up. "Literally none of those answers are right!"

"I think," Alya said slowly, realization clearly dawning, "that Little Miss Truther is actually Little Miss Anti-Truther. Answers are the opposite of reality with her." She scowled, turning her phone towards the akuma. "Which, if that is what her powers actually are...that makes me wonder if she was actually lying when she told us all of her stories. She's trying to suppress the truth!"

The Truther snarled and stomped. "That's a lie! I expose the truth!"

"Then explain Adrien's answers!" Nino demanded, straightening up and glaring at the akuma. "When Alya asked him questions, all of his answers were obviously lies. And don't try to claim that he was doing it on purpose to discredit you!" Nino added, jabbing a finger at the Truther. "Adrien clearly had no idea what she was trying to do when she asked her first question!"

The Truther let out a scream of frustration. "He's an actor! Clearly he was acting-"

"You said that your powers make people tell the truth in response to questions, though," Alya chimed in. "No amount of acting is going to be able to override akuma powers!"

"He is, though! And-" The Truther paused, clearly trying to come up with an excuse. "My powers only work when I'm the one asking the question. He's just exploiting a loophole."

"Really." Alya crossed her arms, unimpressed. "Then you ask Adrien what his father does for a living, then!"

"No!"

"If what you said is true, it shouldn't be a problem!" Alix chimed in, surging to her feet as well. "The fact that you're refusing proves that it's a lie!"

"Yeah!"

"Exactly!"

"What a loser, I can't believe that we believed her!"

The Truther shook her head, panic flashing across her face briefly. Clearly she hadn't expected this to happen. "No, you aren't giving me the chance to explain-"

"The chance to come up with more lies, you mean!" Kim yelled. "We aren't fooled anymore, Truther! And because Alya's streaming live, the rest of Paris isn't going to be fooled either!"

The Truther screamed, then dove for Alya. In the split-second before she was tackled, Alya flashed a look at Marinette.

"Run! You're going to be her target next!"

Marinette ran, bolting out of her hiding spot.

"That was really quick thinking, Marinette!" Tikki piped up as Marinette raced down the hallway. If she could get to the library, she could transform, go out the windows there, and then burst through the window of Ms. Bustier's classroom. "Now no one will believe anything that the Truther or Lila says! I was really worried for a minute there that she would force you and Adrien to discredit yourselves!"

"I was worried, too," Marinette admitted. "With those powers, and that name... but at least it backfired!"

If it hadn't, if Alya had given Marinette's location away and she had gotten hit... unless the Truther's powers came to light in some other way, that could have destroyed any chance of ever getting the rest of the class to believe her about Lila's lies. Even if she tried to explain things later on, she would have already been forced to discredit herself and no one would believe a single thing that she was saying.

Not that they had before, either, but there wouldn't even be a glimmer of doubt in their eyes if the Truther had been successful. And that would be super frustrating.

With a gulp, Marinette wondered if that would have been the thing to drive her to akumatization. She probably would have felt absolutely helpless to change anything and furious at Lila, trapped like a caged animal.

It was a scary picture, but at least that possibility was gone.

"We're safe," Marinette told Tikki when she got to a secluded corner of the library. She gave a determined nod to her kwami, already in Superhero Mode. "Now let's go catch ourselves a liar!"

  With the entire basis of her powers already debunked and an entire class ticked off at Lila, it didn't take long at all to bring the Truther down. The remainder of Ms. Bustier's class had already half-contained the akuma by the time Ladybug burst through the windows, and with them holding the Truther down, she couldn't throw any blasts at Ladybug. It only took a minute to find the possessed item- a bracelet- and then Ladybug was smashing it and releasing the corrupted butterfly. One purification and a Cure later, and Lila was left sulking in the middle of the classroom floor.

Ladybug frowned at that, slightly puzzled. Usually akuma victims were left somewhat disoriented after they were akumatized. None of them ever remembered what they had done during the akumatization. Everything from when the darkness bubbled over them to the purification was left a blank.

And yet Lila clearly knew that that her lies had been outed while she was akumatized. There was no reason for her to be so sulky already otherwise.

So what did that mean? She would have to talk to Tikki later and see if her kwami might have any ideas. Normally she might suspect that Lila's apparent lack of memory loss had to do with the number of times that she had been akumatized, but Mr. Ramier had been akumatized a ton of times and always seemed to have a moment of "huh?" whenever he came out of it.

...did Lila's response maybe indicate that the akumatization had been a choice?

There wouldn't be any way to prove that if it was true, Ladybug knew. It wasn't like Lila would actually tell her the truth if she asked about it. But it was something that she might have to keep an eye on in the future.

"I would ask if you and Lila were actually friends or not, but I think I might know the answer already," Alya told Ladybug dryly, rubbing at her elbow absently. The Miraculous Cure might have fixed all of the assorted injuries that people had gotten for fighting an akuma without superpowers, but sometimes phantom pains from the injuries that people had gotten lingered for a few minutes. "Wow, that akumatization sure backfired on her. I bet she's ticked off at Hawkmoth right now."

Ladybug had to grin at that. "Yeah, we definitely aren't friends of any sort. And, uh." She paused, unsure about if she wanted to continue. On one hand, it would really help if she could get more evidence either confirming or denying Lila's willing participation in her akumatization, and now that Alya had caught on to the lies, she would definitely be all over that. On the other hand, if she was wrong and Lila hadn't gotten akumatized on purpose, then she might just be stirring things up in the classroom even more. She warred with herself for a moment, then decided to go for it. If it made things worse for Lila, well, Lila deserved it. "I kind of found the akumatization really weird. Like, had anyone even talked to Lila today?"

Alya frowned at that. "Huh. I- I don't know for sure, but I don't think so. The only people who have ever obviously not liked Lila were Adrien and Marinette, and they had gone up to the classroom before Lila even got to school. Then I think Lila went to the bathroom, and- actually, I didn't see her again before I came up, and I was down there practically until the bell rang." She looked at Ladybug and gasped. "Do- do you think that she got akumatized on purpose?"

Well, yes, but Ladybug wasn't about to say that. "I don't know, but I am curious. Do you think that you could maybe do a little investigative work for me and see if anyone talked to Lila this morning before she got akumatized? Talked and implied that she was lying, that is. Or if there was anyone else in the school today who was upset about someone lying, because maybe they would have been Hawkmoth's initial target."

Alya was already nodding. "Yeah, I'll do that! And I'll tell you next time I see you- if it's safe, I know, I know!" she added before Ladybug could say anything. "I'm not going to take any risks or get in your way during a fight!"

Ladybug doubted that a little bit- Alya could sometimes be really single-minded when recording for the Ladyblog and often put herself in dangerous situations without fully realized it- but she appreciated the thought. "Right. And it's not, like, urgent information," she told Alya. "It's not like we could really do anything about it, since akuma victims are off-limits prosecution-wise and we can't prove anything. But it would just be interesting information for the future. So seriously, there's no rush to tell me as soon as you find out, whenever's fine."

(She would almost definitely be getting updates from Alya as Marinette as well, so really, it didn't matter when Ladybug was told.)

Alya nodded, clearly still determined to gather her data as quickly and thoroughly as possible. "Of course! And- and thank you for trusting me with the job after I, uh, didn't fact-check Lila at all before," she added, a little quieter. "I'll do better in the future."

"I'm glad to hear that! But for now- bug out!" Ladybug flashed the class- well, besides Lila, who was still scowling, and Adrien, who had vanished- a smile, then cast out her yo-yo and zipped off before she could start laughing at Lila's misfortune.

Really, if Lila had willingly been akumatized, that was possibly the funniest thing to happen in a while. It had backfired on her spectacularly, destroying all of her credibility in one go. No one was going to believe her now, and unless Ladybug's ears had been deceiving her, Ms. Bustier had already been on the phone with Lila's mom by the time she took off. Lila's kingdom was falling down around her ears, and there was absolutely nothing she could do to stop it now.

And really, it was all thanks to Hawkmoth.

[mcheang]

Drunk confession

Inspired by Eternal Love’s Feng Jiu’s own dunken confession lol. This story has some mature content and even I find the plot confusing!

Alya was getting impatient. This was the 75th failed confession! At this rate, Marinette seems hopeless at confessing.

Either the circumstances are wrong or she gets chicken feet.

If only there was a way to remove Marinette’s fear…

And then Juleka was having her birthday party at a club.

Ok, this wasn’t exactly legal but technically they are of drinking age (in this fic). All Alya had to do was make sure Marinette drank enough mimosas that she wouldn’t even register fear. And pretty much make sure Adrien was the only one who found Marinette drunk out of her mind.

Adrien found Marinette on the balcony, tipsy with an empty glass.

He asked why she was alone.

Marinette: Alya sent me here to cool down

Adrien: Nino suggested I come here to avoid Lila

Marinette frowned. “I don’t like Lila.”


Adrien: I know. I don’t like her either.

Marinette leaned forward. “I like you though, Adrien.“

Adrien chuckled. “I like you too, Marinette.“

Marinette shook her head, her words blurring. “No. Not like. I like like you. I luv you.” And she hugged Adrien, practically nuzzling him.

Adrien was shocked. Marinette liked him? Wait…is this the alcohol?

Adrien: maybe you should wait till your head clears before you declare your love for me

Marinette pouted, adorable as a hamster. “I can’t do that. I always mess up.”

Adrien paused. “What?”

Marinette: Like, I made your birthday scarf but your dad took credit for it. I said I love you the year after, but your cousin saw that instead. I even said I love you to your phone but I stole it.

Adrien: Oh..............…I’m sorry Marinette, but I’m in love with someone else.

Marinette sulked. “I don’t even get a chance?”

Adrien: I’m sorry. But it wouldn’t be fair to you.

Marinette: who do you love? Kagami?

Adrien: No…I’m in love with Ladybug

Marinette: but I’m Ladybug

Adrien thought she referred to herself being an everyday Ladybug

Adrien: i know you are, but I like the Ladybug with a mask.

Marinette: so you have a mask kink...

Adrien splutters at that. Please. He would rather see Ladybug’s beautiful face without her mask in the way

Adrien: i do not have a mask kink

Marinette drawling, “then a yo-yo kink?”

Adrien chokes at that question.

It is then that Alya has decided enough time has passed for Marinette to confess her love and she interrupts a scene where Adrien is holding a slumping Marinette.

Alya: sorry for interrupting but-

Adrien: Alya! Please help me!

Alya: dang, girl. What did you say to him?

Marinette: oh hi Alya. I just told Adrien I loved him but then he said he likes ladybugs, and now we are discussing his kinks.

Alya looks scandaliséd. “Sunshine boy was telling you this?”

Adrien: no!

Marinette: yes! He likes me when I have a yo-yo.

Alya has now taken Marinette off Adrien’s arms, placing her own body between the two, protecting her bestie before model boy can corrupt her any further.

Adrien: Alya, it’s not what it looks like!

Alya: please enlighten me.

Oh boy. How to explain that he rejected Marinette for Ladybug when Alya will think it’s just a celebrity crush?

Adrien: um, I have a crush on the actual Ladybug. Marinette thought i was talking about her, but then I said it was about the magical Ladybug. And then she asked if I had a kink.

Alya’s expression did not improve. “You’re rejecting Marinette for a celebrity crush?! You don’t even know Ladybug! And now you’re setting up Marinette’s competition to that ideal?”

Adrien: wait...but...huh?

Alya storms off, carrying Marinette with her. “Come on, girl. He doesn’t deserve you!”

When Marinette wakes up, she is horrified to learn she confessed and can’t even remember what happened. But Alya assures her that Adrien doesn’t deserve her, which makes Marinette wonder what really happened.

Adrien himself is wondering what happened and how to fix it. Plagg advises him to avoid bringing it up in case he breaks Marinette’s heart and she is akumatized.

And that is how Adrien rejected his everyday Ladybug without turning her into an akuma.

What did I just write?

[magigalocs]

June: *sweet, kind, cares about her besties and family*

Also June: *Turns into a corrupted ladybug demon when angry*

[phis-corner]

I saw your Cass x Marinette one shot. How would the Batfam and/or JL react to Marinette?

Bruce:

“Are you sure I’m not allowed to adopt her?”

“Well, if you do ever change your mind, I already have adoption papers prepared.”

Welcomes Mari to the family with only a tiny bit of snooping into her background, because Cass is scary. 

Still wishes that he could adopt her, but she’s going to end up part of the family either way, so whatever makes Cass happy works for him.

Dick:

“Another one, B?”

“What? What do you mean you didn’t adopt her? She fits all your criteria!”

“Oh. OHHHH.”

Lots and lots of hugs and squeals.

Instantly accepts her as a sister.

They’re gymnastics buddies now. He absolutely refuses to lose to her in a stretching contest.

Does his best to be a Mom™ and tries to cut her off from coffee too.

“We already have one coffee gremlin. Two of them will be unstoppable.”

Jason:

“New Wayne?” 

“Cassie’s girlfriend?”

“All right then. Am I allowed to corrupt this one?”

“So Bats can convert everyone to his methods, but I’m not allowed to teach even one of his kids to fire a gun?”

“You already know how to fire a gun? I want to see this.”

Mari isn’t as good as he is, but boy is she close.

Declares Marinette the best Wayne after Cass, because it’s universally agreed upon that Cass is the best.

Spars her a lot. Their skill levels are perfectly matched, so he only gets his butt kicked about half the time.

Tim:

Starts running a background check as soon as Cass tells them about her.

“Her name is Marinette, you said? I’ve got eight Marinettes that live in Paris with an age within five years of yours. Ooh, look, this one looks like Ladybug. Marinette Dupain-Cheng. Is that her?”

When he meets her in person, the first thing he does is ask if Adrien knows about the voicemail incident.

“Of course I know about that. Had to make sure that you were good enough for Cass, didn’t I?”

Once Marinette proves herself (aka bribing him with delicious coffee-flavored sweets), they become coffee buddies.

That mostly consists of helping each other sneak in coffee beans for their secret stashes when they are cut off from it by their family, but it also involves the occasional outing to a cafe where they make various baristas nearly wet themselves.

Damian:

Challenges Marinette to a duel for his sister’s hand.

“Cassandra only deserves the best. Are you worthy of my sister?”

It was originally a duel to the death. Cass stopped that with a look.

They fight for an hour and a half before Marinette finally pins him to the ground.

He is (mildly) impressed and allows Marinette to ‘continue courting my sister.’

Marinette finds out about his childhood and has to be stopped from portalling over to Nanda Parbat and killing both Ra’s and Talia.

“First Cass, now Damian? How dare they?”

Anyway, since she’s not allowed to murder, she settles for making all of Damian’s favorite childhood foods. Every. Day.

Steph:

“You’re Marinette! Oh my gosh, you’re the girl who makes Cass go all pink and flustered and-”

Cass tackles her to shut her up.

“We’re besties now. No takebacks.”

Marinette tries her best to get Steph to stop eating so many waffles with other tasty treats, to no avail.

“Yeeeah, those were great, but waffles.”

Babs:

“Think twice before you enter the Wayne household, Marinette. Seriously. It’s f*cking crazy in there, and once you enter, they’ll never let you leave.”

“Oh no. You’ve already met them, haven’t you?”

“Well, I tried.”

Does a deeper background check than Tim, somehow.

“Did you ever tell Adrien that you made the scarf?”

“How do I know? Security cameras, duh.”

Batman is scary, sure, but Oracle is the truly terrifying one.

She knows everything. Literally everything.

Including which Hello Kitty stickers Marinette used on which folders for each subject back in collége.

Duke:

Stares into her eyes very seriously.

Continues doing this for a very long time, until Marinette is positively sweating.

“Save yourself before it’s too late.”

Behind him, a crash sounds as Jason throws Tim off the side of the stairs, just as Dick walks past.

A paintball whizzes by his head as Damian charges in, screeching a war cry.

Cass joins the fray and takes them all down in thirty seconds, standing victorious, until she’s sniped by a paintball and dramatically falls to the floor.

Alfred is holding a second paintball gun. 

Alfred wins.

BONUS

Clark:

Is at the Manor for an interview. Enters the living room to see them all congregated on various seats.

Eyes glance over Marinette at first.

Blinks, then looks at her again.

“Bruce. Did you get another kid?”

Marinette cheerfully informs him that she actually turned down the adoption papers.

“I-is that allowed? Is that allowed???”

Diana:

Also declares herself Mari’s mother.

“She is a fierce warrior, this one. I must take her under my wing.”

“You are the wielder of the Ladybug miraculous as well? Well, since Bruce has not managed to adopt you, I must do so now. Mother would love for her successor to be her granddaughter.”

Is disappointed when Marinette insists that she has ‘two parents, both alive, and I am very happy with them!’

“Alive, you say? Do you need me to fix that?”

“NO!”

“Well, all right then.”

Decides to be her mother in spirit.

Starts showing up at the Manor weekly to train her.

[justanotherpersonsuniverse]

My AU Masterpost

This is now updated! Hope you guys like it! All the tags for these aus are below!

There’s More Magic Out There(or just Other Magic)- An au where magic other than the miraculouses exist. All of the main characters besides Adrien, Marinette, and Gabriel are magic of some kind, and the focus is on the background characters slipping by through the cracks of mundane human life and their true selves. You can read it on ao3.

Panthera Noire- a Kwami swap where Juleka gets the cat instead and becomes a flirtatious lady killer while trying to solve all of her friend’s problems. You can read it on ao3.

Other Magic: Paladin Rose: an au of the au- where Rose is a paladin. It’s got a fully finished story under the tag ‘Paladin Rose au’ here on tumblr, and the story in general was given to me by one of my commenters on the main Other Magic Fic. It’s amazing go check it out. You can read it here on tumblr

Pirate Queen: A fantasy pirate au where Marinette has become wanted by the Kingdom of Agreste for stealing the Ladybug earrings and has become the newest member of The Liberty, which is captained by the Pirate Queen, Juleka Couffaine. You can read this on ao3

The Monarchs Court- Inspired by Cornerverse’s Monarch fic where Chloe grabs Hawkmoth’s miraculous during Love Eater before he could try and akumatize her, however this goes differently than Corner’s happy ending. It’s a dark and pain filled story as Chloe falls from grace and sanity for the sake of Paris and for the goal to stick Gabriel Agreste’s head on a stake. She’s broken but driven. You can read it on my ao3

Queen of Queers: This is an au made of two fics, one is finished and the other is still in progress. Chloe’s an aggressive but supportive lgbtq ally that accidentally becomes the big sister of the class. Class sugar, and Lila redemption. Slow burn mutual pining Chlolix. Some angst. Chloe Knows All and Sunny Daze is the two fics to read for this author it’s on ao3.

Mafia Au: An au with multiple stories set in the same dystopian futuristic city. Kagami is protecting Marinette from multiple different mafias and criminal syndicates, Adrien learns the secrets to his father’s company with the mysterious voice in his head, Chloe helps Sabrina find her humanity again, and Kim tries to find the secrets of his forgotten past.

Juleka Works At Denny’s: crack au where it’s just Juleka working as an employee at Denny’s

Chloe Couffaine: Au where Chloe was adopted as a Couffaine at a young age and became a very protective punk old sister.

Anarchy’s Maidens: Crack au where Anarka, Penny, Nathalie, and Caline we’re part of a band back in high school-university but broke off due to their jobs and future careers.

The Phantom Hive- Chloenette Persona Fic where Chloe becomes a persona user and wrecks all of the corrupted individuals in Paris along with fixing her relationships with people and having a gay panic attack every five seconds and being dead inside. It’s on ao3.

Couffaines Adopt Rich Kids- Juleka goes with her ‘Kidnap Kagami’ plan and steals Kagami. They basically adopt her— and they continue to adopt more, leading to Chloe and Lila redemption. Absolute Feral Bastard Energy everywhere, along with found family and stupid chaotic shenanigans. You can read this on ao3.

Marikuma- An akumanette au where Marinette turns into a danganronpa  themed akuma and puts the class (plus Luka and Kagami) into a killing game. It’s Alya centric, and while I’m writing a post about that, however people want to write the trials is completely up to them. Very flexible.

Mari on Ice- Yuri on Ice AU with Kagami and Marinette as Viktor and Yuri and Chloe and Alix as Yurio and Otabek

Demon Alya- Playing off of the joke that salt fix writers literally make her a demon, this is a very Alya Sugar au. Alya is a demon from hell, who needs to pay off her monthly soul quota, but accidentally learns humanity along the way when she becomes besties with the purest and kindest girl she’s ever met, Marinette. Rose is also an angel who’s trying to keep Alya from damning anyone to hell, but thanks to friendship, that’ll never happen anyways. Juleka is a paladin warlock multi class because of this.

Ml Rwby- They’re all in the world of remnant. Marinette is the team leader of ‘MAACL’ (”Miracle”) and the rest of the class is there too. They fight against the forces of evil, but for now, their biggest threat to their lives is high school. You can read it on ao3

[oceanspray5]

Hi! I found you on ao3 and love your writing! Hope you read anon asks lol. I saw you had MLB and SOC fics so I was wondering if you could write something with both? A crossover? Ik, weird, but I think it'd be interesting to see the miraculous team in the Grishaverse. The crows in Paris could be a thing too but I feel like that'd be less interesting. Thanks so much!!! <3

Hey! Yes Anon, I absolutely do read anon asks! I love getting asks of any kind xD

I haven't written for MLB in YEARS now. I think the last time I wrote for Miraculous was back in 2017. I haven't even been keeping up with Season 4 regularly too. The show just lost my attention with how long it dragged out without any meaningful plot points. I mostly just get updates from tumblr if anything exciting happens.

SoC is a recent fandom though and I love the Grishaverse.

About a crossover... hmm. It definitely is an ambitious idea. I hope just some headcanons off the top of my head will suffice considering I don't write for MLB anymore:

The Miraculous would facilitate the travel between the Grishaverse world and the MLB world of course.

I can see Hawkmoth sending an akuma to a separate dimension hoping that if LB and CN are distracted then he can continue his nefarious plans on Earth. He ends up sending the akuma to Ketterdam where it wreaks havoc but Ketterdam is completely unruffled by the appearance of a giant monster. It's a corrupt city so violence isn't surprising. While the monster is, the havoc its wreaking isn't.

I can't think of any reasonable way the Crows and Miraculous duo would meet besides simply right place right time. The crows just happen to be caught in the crossfire when LB and CN arrive. I don't really see them helping much either although Nina would try and heal any injured as best as she could and Inej would try to transport them out. Matthias and Jesper would probably assist how they can by dragging people away. I can see Wylan testing out a bomb on the akuma and failing and after that he just tries to keep people from entering the akuma's territory. Kaz is unconcerned for the most part, keeping himself out of the way and an eye on his team too who insist on helping civilians even though he doesn't think putting themselves in danger is smart. He doesn't bother stopping anyone but he does shrug and tell them they're going through the area at their own risk. I can see a curious child trying to go see what's happening up closer though and that's when Kaz puts his cane down (literally) although he pretends it was unintentional.

As for how the post-akuma meeting would go.

I can see Nina and Inej being in awe of Ladybug's Lucky Charm because it resets the city and the injured. Kaz and Wylan would be more interested in how Chat's cataclysm works when they see him use it in battle. Matthias is still freaking out about the monster and where the superheroes magically appeared from while Jesper and Chat become besties immediately cuz of their sense of humor.

I don't really see the ML duo and the crows being friends mostly because I feel Ladybug especially has a very black and white sense of morality. Chat is a bit more grey considering his friendship with Chloe and goodwill towards Lila but I don't think he'd be very comfortable with the Crows' occupations either. The Crows on the other hand, can respect LB and CN for being superheroes but I think the black/white morality thing would chafe at them because of how many dark greys and blacks Ketterdam is swamped in and the things it takes to survive there.

Kaz pretty much hates them tho. LB cuz she's too optimistic and can be judgmental. Chat because he's too naive and easy to walk over (he'd remind Kaz too much of Kaz Rietveld).

So that's my perception of how the meeting would go, however. Not much detail, I'm sorry but this is more or less how I see things playing out. Simple, to the point, with lines between both groups showing the clear differences in the worlds the two live in but also a very surface level assessment because I don't think the two groups would hang out with each other long enough to see beyond that initial glimpse.

[spirallusions]

Uhh- Sure! Yeah- I've uhm-

( They take out a group of papers from the file )

Alright uh-

Statement of Rosery Olis, regarding- a mushroom patch? In her backyard.

I feel like I should give some backstory before I start. I just moved into my parents house after I divorced my now-ex husband. He can keep the house for all I care, but moving was harder than I expected.

My parents are quite old now; nearing their 80's. They couldn't help me move the boxes, and the sudden change was a shock to them. My twin sister, Angela, had to help while my younger brother, David, attended to my parents.

Apart from the annoying amount of sympathy and "I'm so sorry you had to move"'s from everyone, life wasn't so bad. After the shit show that was my marriage it was for sure an improvement.

My parents house is,, not in the best conditions. It's the same house that my father lived in since he was young, and has been in our family for generations.

A lot of my parent's renovation money is being spent on renovations and repairs for various pipes, supports and floors.

The one thing in good condition? The garden. My mother spends most of her time outside, attending to the plants. My father simply watches from the back porch.

Shortly after I moved in, she noticed a new addition to her garden that she had never seen before.

Next to the daisy's, was a small patch of mushrooms. We couldn't identify the type of mushroom, but it didn't bother anything so we left it untouched. My mother is a- firm believer that all plant life is special and should be preserved.

After a couple of weeks we noticed the patch had,, grown. Quite a lot. It completely overtook the daisy's and several other flowers around it.

My mother still didn't touch it. Thus is the way of nature, I suppose.

For the next little while I was very busy. I worked three jobs to help my parents out, so I wasn't home much; when I was at home it was usually sleeping.

Another month or so later and I realized I've been seeing my mother less and less, and then hardly at all.

I checked the whole house for her. Every single room, every single hallway, even the attic. The one place I didn't have access, as it required a key, was the basement.

My father was succumbing to his amnesia at this point, and had no idea where it was, so he wasn't any help.

It took me another week to get the lock open. It was rusted and jammed and it would. Not. Break. Off. There was something holding that doorknob on there, and I still to this day, have no explanation for what it was.

Once the lock was undone, I struggled for another day to get the door itself open. By that point I hadn't realized it, but my father wasn't anywhere to be seen, either.

I- I am not a fan of what I saw in the basement.

The mushrooms from the garden had somehow gotten inside the house, and covered every part of the room.

They were thick, twisting trunks covered in a sticky dew and sprouting smaller mushrooms from the tubes that carpeted the floor and climbed the walls.

In the middle of the room, impaled in multiple spots, eyes replaced by fungi, mouth dripping mold, was my mother.

I've never run faster in my life. I ran to the backyard.

The whole area was covered in the mushroom. My father, suffocated by them next to the porch.

The mushrooms were- incredibly,, flammable. My siblings don't believe my story, the police didn't believe my story, everyone thought I burnt the house down and killed my parents.

No trace of the mushrooms were left.

They couldn't prove me guilty in court for murder, but they did prove the arson. I did my time in prison, and then I came here, hoping one of you would listen to me.

I don't care if you can prove the mushroom part or not, I just need someone to look at me with sympathy again. I was a fool to resent it.

( They pause, eyelids fluttering and swaying slightly before staggering and catching themselves on the door frame of the Distortion's Door. Quickly righting themselves, they clear their throat )

That was,,, I didn't like that. I think Vester might have been- I think he was right. About- not reading the statements. My uhm- my head hurts I-

( They sway more as they back up, eyes clearly looking at anything but Spectrum )

I- I think I should uhm. I think I should go and- finish delivering these.

(@ladybug-bestie)

Don't you feel good? Something like you...

[silvia7272]

Salt/Sugar Ideas For Miraculous Ladybug

Salt/Sugar ideas for Miraculous Ladybug, you can choose the Salt/Sugar for each tag I don’t mind, just wanted to put these out there, if you do write and fics please tag me I would love to read them. I would love to see what you make with them. If you like these feel free to tag someone else who might like them or even do a prompt:

֍     Lila’s Mother isn’t understanding at all and in fact, won’t believe that her Daughter has done anything wrong. Feel free to go wild with this idea.

֍     Before Lila has control of the class Marinette decides she’s going to plant ideas in her classmates head, she gets them to plan a party for Lila but with its filled with so many pranks towards Lila she gets sick of it and accuses Marinette of ruining this party especially for her and as she waits for everyone to crowd around her and console her they stare in shock before someone says. “We’re the ones who made the pranks, Marinette was too busy, she just suggested the party” Lila gets called out and you can choose what type of Salt/Sugar to include. Might be leaning more towards Adrien Salt as he tries to make Marinette apologise while the class defend Mari and apologise.

֍     Lila has a family friend that her Mother forces her to get along with. Years later in Paris after Class Salt or whatever and this friend is a new student and calls her a different name and accidentally debunks all of Lila’s lies in front of the class, but they are oblivious because their use to her lies.

֍     Marinette and Lila get locked up somewhere for whatever reason and there's redemption involved because Marinette knows why she does it.

֍     Because Marinette is considered a bully the whole class all individually talk to Bustier about it, and they’re all told to be the bigger person and become an example to her instead, instead of Bustier reprimanding her she starts treating her nicely because she is turning into another Chloé. All the students then try to get evidence of the bullying but can’t and Lila is exposed.

֍     A fic where Chloé redemption is gradual instead of a snap of your fingers. And better than canon

֍     A very bad idea where Chloé and Lila become the best of friends terrorise the school mainly Marinette and team up with Hawkmoth. Very bad.

֍     A fic that fixes the writers mistakes because it's not exactly the characters fault if they aren't in control of what they say/do. So if you had the chance of redoing Miraculous Ladybug what would you do? For me, I would change the costumes.

֍     Breaking the 4th wall a lot.

֍     Adrien accidentally reveals the truth of Lila in front of the class then tries to backtrack what he said.

֍     Marinette is too emotionally fragile and has stopped doing everything she loved and only then does the class realise what they've done. Lots of denial.

֍     AU where Marinette and Adrien aren't heroes it's some adults, because Fū shouldn't put the responsibility on some kids, but Marinette is still late to class and makes excuses up? Why? Because she found out her mirror is an Alternate Dimensional Hopper thingy. Been in the family for years passed down. Maybe someone breaks it and it fucks up the whole dimension and she has to rescue it before the mirror is incinerated. Multi crossovers. You can include any fandom animated or not.

֍     Adrien finally sees that Lila’s lies do hurt but he didn't realise cause he didn't think the Emotional And Mental Abuse is a thing. He thought only Physical Abuse was real.

֍     Marinette, Chloé, Kagami, Luka and any other people who have been Sugared, form a dance group and while rehearsing Alya sees and records them, putting them on the internet to embarrass them but instead, they get contacted by people all over the world wanting to teach them more. So Alya makes them become famous.

֍     Instead of just telling us Class Salt we see how exactly Lila makes them all her sheep. Maybe with each of them individually wrapped around her finger.

֍     Marinette becomes very Mary-Sue because of an Akuma. The one thing we all fear.

֍ Courtesy of an AU @mirsaltfix and I made. Gabriel and Audrey are both corrupted, Audrey always winning the elections and no one being able to say anything about Adrien’s treatment because the mayor would keep it under wraps. That's why all reports go unfilled and the gorilla hasn't actually stepped in because of blackmail on his end. But Gabriel here had started blackmailing the mayor before that’s why it's ongoing as well? It might explain more of how Adrien and Chloé met each other.

֍ Lila finds out Marinette is ladybug its could be Salt or Sugar.

֍ AU where Lila is nice to everyone but stills lies but can't help it. And that confrontation in the bathroom is where she breaks down in front of Marinette to tell her she liked making them all happy.

֍     Where Adrien learns from his mistakes gradually/ someone berating him for something he’s done. It is kinda stupid where one character always learns from them while the other couldn’t possibly do anything wrong.

֍     After Class Salt Marinette is seen as incompetent so the class start going to Adrien for certain class on such short notice, he thinks sure he could do it, he has some spare time whenever he’s just in his room. But then the requests get bigger and bigger and he wants to say no because now it's starting to affect his normal life. But he doesn’t want them to leave him since these are simple tasks, maybe Nathalie and Gabriel actually take care of him when they see he’s actually stressed. This’ll have to be an AU of course.

֍ The Gorilla where he's the guardian but is a lot better and supportive. And I don't just want an excuse to see him transformed in the miraculous' no not at all. Maybe.

֍ A new student enters who is Jagged Stone's Niece and debunks all of Lila's lies infront of everyone. And immediately becomes besties with Marinette because of all the things shes done for her Uncle.

֍ Somehow a new student comes in who has basically lived through every single lie lila has told. You could be extra salty and have Ladybug lying about them being best friends. And then actually become best friends. This could be before or after Lila is found out but you can choose the amount of salt. (The student said they wished they could be Ladybug's friend and Marinette sees that as a way to spite her former friends by making it become the truth)

Love to see your reactions and thoughts. Again these are just thoughts I had spur of the moment so they might not be perfect.

EDIT: Added 2 more. Probably will later as well.

EDIT 2: Now 2 more.

EDIT 3: Decided to number them instead.

EDIT 4: Maybe added one of the greatest ones.

EDIT 5: 2 more.

[multifandomhellhole]

hmmm I know you don't really like miraculous buuuut since you recently finished it how was your thoughts on the main duo?? - your secret bestie

AHAHAAH hey luv!!!!

ok so as you know I hate kiddish shows and anything non depressing... but im kinda warming up to the show enough to not immediately puke at the name.

marinette- at first hated her, such a pushover like comon bitch just punch chloe already, also adrien was the best you could do??? you had a pretty stripper cat practically on his knees for you and you choose the fucking blandest guy in your school??? also jesus christ so creepy... stalking him, monitoring all outside friendships... just let the boy be a kid Man!!!

ladybug- ok now shes kinda cool... definitely dom material and the way she has no problem being cold to chat is just YES. wish she was always this assertive. her outfit tho...ew.( lowkey loves when she calls chat good kitty, wish I was her at times aaaa)

adrien- very...bland. ok hes not a bad character he was just super boring, can he always be a good kitty???. I mean I like his and ninos relationship and his whole dad being hawkmoth is entertaining.

CHAT NOIR- ok im biased... sexy leather black kitty with a bell collar, pole for a weapon, leather suit, and PURRS WHEN SCRATCHED, YES MOTHER FUCKING PLEASE!!!!! busted so many love nuts watching and lowkey was drooling every time he came onto screen, (plzzzzz I need to write a corruption pegging story but Im SOOOO LAZYYY AAAA) fuck please hes so adorable and cute Im in love. hes such bottom material and would be such a cute sub!!!!! I can't with him. ( AND BITCH THE BLACK LIPSTICK!!!!!)

tbf you warned me about the cute cat boy like I didn't believe you cause it sounded too good to be true but now my heart can't take it its a blessing and a cursed seeing how ladybug gets to pet and kiss him argggh)

still can't believe you called me marionette like I feel so called out T_T

[solarheiress]

Miraculously complicated AU (Headcanons Part 1)

So! I found some notes on my old AU as well as some art I might clean up if I have the energy and the time. In the mean time, fun notes?

-Marinette handles the whole “accidentally made a baby with my super hero partner” situation surprisingly well. She cries a lot but then again it doesn’t surprise her.

-her parents handle it even better than she does (especially in light of her long ago love confession to chat noir). Chat comes to visit again and has a long and very earnest discussion about his intentions to be the best dad ever.

-Tom is hesitant, Sabine is excited. Sabine, unlike Tom, figured out Adrien’s identity as well as her daughter’s ages ago (when they were 17ish) and shares a delightful and secret bond with Tikki. Thus, she knows about the entire complicated situation and is trying her hardest to guide the two to a reveal (with modest success)

-Marinette is of course, present for this, and is shaken when Sabine outright states they’ll need to know his real name for the birth certificate. This panic ensues further when Marinette tries to intervene, but Chat agreed with her mother.

-Briefly, Adrien panics over whether or not Marinette is ashamed of him. Of course, she’s not, and wouldn’t be. Sabine manages to reassure him, and uses his name, letting him know that she’s very happy to have him in the family.

-Our poor cat son has about a dozen heart attacks over the identity compromise and then melts under the happiness of having a family and a loving and accepting parent figure.

-speaking of the cat son, his life is a mess. He’s still invested in loving ladybug, but it’s changed. He loves her like a best friend, and while his crush is still there, it’s not half as all encompassing, and he’s dated a few others before (including his now bestie Kagami who has moved on happily don’t worry). I suppose you could say he grew out of the infatuation, and it became more of a strong sense of respect. Some days tho it bites a little when she talks about her baby with this man who he knows nothing about (“he would have told her if he was in that serious a relationship” he tells himself, before being reminded by Plagg of the impending child of his and Marinette’s).

-On the other hand, his minor crush on Marinette is taking over his brain and the poor boy cannot focus. He’s trying, he really is. But she’s having his baby! And she doesn’t know it’s his! She doesn’t know he knows! So, finally, he breaks down and gets her a gift, making up an excuse about recognizing a concealed pregnancy from all his modeling experience.

-tried to convince Marinette to let him pretend to be the dad after weaseling out of her that the father was Chat Noir.

-continues to make up bizarre and desperate excuses to not let her in his house, what if she saw his room? She doesn’t want to know! Shenanigans ensue when she eventually visits his house.

-Gabriel knows. He figured it out fast. Well. Nathalie did. Caught Adrien looking up Chat Noir and Ladybug themed high chairs. Found him reading out of several new parent magazines and pregnancy 101 books. Quick investigation of close friends leads to one Marinette Dupain-Cheng sporting a baby bump (that is tiny, but noticeable because she is tiny. Empire dresses and loose fits can only do so much).

-Sits his son down in the most awkward manner. Adrien has several more heart attacks and fabricates yet another story (maintaining privacy, keeping the child out of the news if possible), to prevent Gabriel from going over there with a marriage contract. By some miracle, manages to convince him that he has everything under control (for the time being). However, is given a few rules (such as the quality of doctor and recording of information).

-Gabriel is getting old (and anyways I support the idea that the miraculous is corrupted and is corrupting him, making him worse than he actually usually is. Not using it for 7 months would lessen the corruption a little to Nooroo’s relief). Next month Agreste introduces a line for babies, toddlers, and small children, boys and girls and neither.

[systematic-darkness]

PINNED

TMA rp blog, will update when new things come :]

run by @pancake-syrup, ooc speach will be in [these brackets]

TAGS

pancake.txt - ooc speech.

hello darkness my old friend - in character speech.

yeah sure I'll add that to my reblog system - reblogs.

speak to the void; it answers. - in character asks, will be used for ooc asks too.

CHARACTERS

do you smoke? (fog-enjoyer) - fog avatar blog, @fog-enjoyer

if ladybugs are girls; how do you make kids together? (ladybug-bestie) - corruption blog, @ladybug-bestie

brightness beyond comprehension (spirallusions) - distortion avatar blog, @spirallusions

[quijotine]

bestie. bestie absolutely yes. YES. GO OFF QUEENNN.

first of all, i'm loving we're all so connected through the matrix because i literally left this on my drafts this morning

i'm glad to see i wasn't the only one 😌 but also, i'm glad i didn't post it because you said it so much better💅 and if you'll allow it, i have a few clown points of my own to add to this great meta:

YES. Adrien is very much Gabriel's son. And yes, given the right environment Adrien could totally become what Gabriel is now and this episode proved it in more than one way. Not only in the fact that Adrien resents Gabriel and wants to do all that is possible to not become him, though eventually repeating the cycle as you said, but also in the actions he takes to move on. And you can really see it in the billboards scene.

Adrien has resolved to not repeat his father's mistakes, and if he has to go around Paris destroying every single ladynoir billboard for him to achieve this goal, so be it. Which actually, instead of separating him from being like Gabriel actually pulls him much closer than he realizes. Because even though I don't doubt Plagg's ability to consume all the cheese in the world in one sitting, feeding him 24587543 cheeses in a day is not practical. It's an insurmountable goal and there are other, less time-wasting ways of moving on. Which parallels to the fact that Gabriel goes through all the trouble he does akumatizing Paris one person at a time instead of, oh i don't know, going to therapy or something.

But a parallel goes both ways, and at the risk of standing corrected by it, the Gabe ep will probably show that he was as devoted, doting, and loving of a husband as Adrien is of a superhero partner. Because only someone that desperately in love, that consumed in their feelings for that person, would do something like what Gabriel is doing. Sure, it starts somewhere noble, somewhere pure, somewhere like where Adrien is standing at the moment. But it is in this losing yourself to your feelings that things begin to become corrupted, and I really, really hope we get to see that in the Gabe ep.

Ultimately, though Adrien did allow himself to be in love with Ladybug by the end of the episode, I do think this episode set him on the path to break this cycle you talked about because he demonstrated a lot of growth AND IT WAS ABSOLUTELY BEAUTIFUL AND I'M STILL LOSING MY SHIT OH MY GOD THIS EPISODE both by finally acknowledging and changing the behavior that upsets Ladybug, and in the realization that he must show himself as he is to be known. Granted, at the moment this realization is only regarding LB. He might need a nudge to have the confidence to show himself to other friends and loved ones. A nudge like... i don't know, a declaration of love, perhaps? By a Very Good Friend, maybe? 😏😈

I can't speak on this confidently, as we haven't seen the episode "Gabriel" yet, but I think Adrien's growing resentment towards Ladybug is meant to parallel Gabriel's pipeline into becoming Hawkmoth.

I have also come to the conclusion that Adrien's whole character arc is revolved around the duality of the power of destruction, which I get is obvious, but hear me out. While destruction can cause chaos and harm to others, it also plays a necessary part in tearing down oppressive forces.

Let's talk about this scene.

What this scene has communicated to us is, despite the two of them having seemingly opposite personalities, Adrien is indeed Gabriel's son. What I mean by this is that the apple doesn't fall too far from the tree; both have a tendency to get caught up on their projected fantasies involving the people they love.

The position Gabriel is in right now, being Hawkmoth and all, is a direct result of him being unable to process his grief. Much like Adrien and his fantasy of Ladybug, Gabriel clings onto the fantasy of a "better world" with Emilie to cope with his grief and reconcile his guilt. Consequently, Gabriel has now become Paris' biggest threat and he's dealing out collateral damage onto his family (i.e. Adrien and Nathalie).

Adrien is at risk of falling down the same path; Adrien's grief has led to him becoming emotionally dependent on his romantic fantasy involving Ladybug. Even after everything he went through in this episode, this poor boy is still clinging to this damn fantasy for dear life.

Right now, even after everything that happened in Glaciator 2.0, Adrien is still stuck on this cycle of hoping Ladybug will one day fall for him, Ladybug rejecting him and inevitably breaking his heart, him getting depressed and lashing out because of it, him and ladybug reconciling, and then Adrien slipping back into the fantasy again to rinse and repeat.

In order for Adrien to truly develop as a character, he needs to break the cycle. He needs to break the cycle of damage his father is doing to the environment (as demonstrated in Mega Leech), he needs to break the cycle of complacency in his life, and he needs to break the cycle of enabling his father's actions. In order to do that, he needs to stand up to his father and get him to break the same cycle within himself.

If Adrien can't break the cycle, he's going to succumb to it and end up just like his father... or worse.

[kamen-rider-zed]

Do You Believe in Miracles? Chapter 5

This came a lot quicker than the last chapter. Thanks again to @ageisia​ for being an excellent beta!

You can find this chapter and my other work posted on my AO3 and my FF!

Chapter 5: Breakdown

Chloé’s alarm sounded from her phone and she blinked herself awake. A swipe of her finger silenced the tone and she slipped from between her silken sheets, ready to greet this glorious day. A day when Vii would finally give her all of her powers. A day when Queen Bee would be recognized as Paris’ (second) greatest heroine. And damn whatever Vii thought: Chloé was telling Sabrina her identity today. All of the girl’s hard work and adoration would finally pay off. Sabrina would get to be besties with a superhero.

She dressed in her finest, most expensive clothes, commanded Vii into her purse along with a sizable stash of pretzels, then rode the elevator to the ground floor. She stepped out and caught a glimpse of her father speaking to someone, who she recognized as a member of her father’s publicity staff.

Andre patted the man on the shoulder and said, “Ensure a considerable sum finds its way into the right hands, Emile.”

“But sir,” Emile started, his shoulders hunched. “This is exactly what D’Agrencourt’s legal team is investigating. Political corruption, bribery. Any excuse to invalidate the last election.”

“Oh, please. Armand’s lawyers are good,” the Mayor said, his smile not faltering once. “Mine are better. He’s hoping I’ll buckle before a show of force, but I won’t give him the satisfaction. Now,” the mayor poked his finger into Emile’s chest, his smile finally dropping away to reveal a grimace of displeasure, “do as I say, or I’ll replace you with someone who will.”

The man slowly nodded and made the appropriate notes on his tablet while Chloé made note of his name and face: there was no way she would go to someone like him when Queen Bee went public. He obviously didn’t know his place.

“Good morning, Daddy!” she called over. The mayor lifted his head and his face immediately brightened. “What was that all about?”

“Ah, Armand D’Argencourt is assembling a team of lawyers to dispute the results of the last election.” He shook his head. “The key is not to bow, not to show any weakness, even if it is perceived that I am in the wrong. People need a strong leader, a confident leader, and I will do whatever it takes to preserve that image.”

Chloé smiled up at her father and turned to walk out of the hotel and to the car awaiting to take her to school. Andre Bourgeois taught her everything she knew about strength and confidence. Never back down. Never break. Never show weakness. Keep people in their place, stomp down anyone who dares to challenge you. And the people loved him for it, just as Chloé’s classmates adored her.

‘ Then why is Marinette class rep and not you?’

Chloé groaned when the voice rose in her mind once more. ‘ Because they got suckered in by Maribrat’s empty promises. Where are Rose’s pink chair cushions? Where are Nino’s music privileges? Where is...whatever Juleka asked for? Marinette talks big, but she can’t follow through.’

Chloé smiled to herself as she eased into the car. ‘ Besides, even if some of them do like Marinette more,’ she reached behind her head and stroked the comb sitting in her ponytail, ‘ the plain and simple fact is that I’m a superhero and she’s not. This is the one thing I’ll always have over her.’

Now on her way to school, she pulled out her phone and thumbed over to the Ladyblog. She just needed to know how many views her interview had. When she finally found the video and her eyes found the number, her jaw fell open.

Almost 1.2 million and climbing.

A scant fifteen hours later and that was the viewer count? Almost double the count on the fight with Shockra and a blessed ten times higher than that first candid picture that totally didn't exist anymore! Chloé's face lit up as she watched the number grow and grow. So many people in Paris absolutely adored her. And the comments! Ooh, the comments!

'QUEN BE IS AMAZIGN!'

'how do her eyes do that? so pretty!'

'#hairgoals'

'im on mobile can someone add that gif of Meryl Streep clapping at the oscars thx'

'Other Miraculous? Can I be a dragonfly so I can fly with her?'

'She's so right! Chat only gets in the way! When will Ladybug see that?'

Overwhelmed with praise, Chloé giggled and vibrated in her seat. Sure, there were a few viewers still skeptical and rather salty minority who referenced the Volpina incident, but they didn’t matter, because soon, Queen Bee would have her grand moment when all of Paris would become ‘bee-lievers’. Normally she would have cringed at the pun, but even she had to admit that was clever. When her limo pulled up in front of the school, Chloé climbed out and flicked her phone away from the interview and to the list she’d made the previous night.

‘ Instead of working on the essay like you were supposed to…’

She ignored the thought and pushed it back down. It would likely take some time before whatever Vii did to her mind would go away. Now, back to the list!

Hero Agenda

Overshadow cat

Win over Ladybug

Follow-up interview with Alya

Rearrange Hawkmoth’s face

Reveal identity to city

Ladybug swoons

Chat jumps off building; doesn’t land on feet

Daddy gives me the key to the city and my own holiday

Rule like the Queen I am

Short, sweet, to the point. A simple plan that assured everyone would love her. Vii fidgeted inside her purse and Chloé dropped her disinterested gaze to it. So long as everyone played their part and knew their place, that is. A gentle sway of her hip was just enough to jostle her purse and let its occupant know to settle down. Her eyes back on her phone and a wicked smile back on her lips, Chloé just knew today would be something special.

“See you after school today, Sabrina! Love you!”

“Bye, Dad! Love you too!”

Chloé’s eyes swept to her left to witness Officer Roger kneel down to hug his daughter and Sabrina peck a light kiss on his cheek. The smile she wore as she ran inside the school building made something pinch in Chloé’s heart. ‘ How long has it been since your father took you to school?’ the voice came again. ‘ How long since he hugged you, openly told you he loved you? When was the last time you said it to him?’

A growl rumbled in Chloé’s chest, easily dispelling the pinch. ‘ He loves me! In...in his own way. He buys me fashionable clothes, he made sure Adrikins and I attend the same school, and besides, he runs the freaking city! I can’t expect him to take time away from his busy schedule just for me!’

“Oh, good morning Miss Bourgeois!” Officer Roger called out.

Chloé sniffed and turned her nose up at the policeman. “Indeed it is a good morning.” She strode towards the steps leading into the building, paused, then turned back to face Officer Roger, about to climb back into his cruiser. “Hey, Sabrina’s supposed to help me with an essay I have due tomorrow. Tell her grandparents she’ll be coming over to my place this afternoon.”

Roger’s face deflated into a dumbfounded look. “Uh, you know she’s always welcome to visit you if you’ll have her, but what do her grandparents have to do with it?”

“Aren’t...aren’t they visiting this week?”

Roger shrugged. “They live down in Marseille, so they usually only visit on holidays. Haven’t seen them since--”

“Wait,” Chloé interrupted. “You mean...they haven’t been in Paris this week?”

“Well, no, they…” His voice trailed off as he watched a ball of hot blonde fury take the stairs two at a time into the school building.

(#)

“All I’m wondering is,” Kim said to the class just as Chloé was walking in, “if I get akumatized again, will I still be Dark Cupid, or do I get a whole new set of powers?”

“Ugh, if I have a say, I vote new powers,” Nino grumbled.

Alya chuckled behind him. “Anything to keep from being the bubble-wielding anarchy clown again?” Nino groaned and slumped down in his seat.

“But it’s a legit question, right?” Kim asked. “Is there a way to test this?”

Max pushed his glasses up the bridge of his nose, his eyes never leaving the book in front of him. “The only way to test such a hypothesis would be for someone to get akumatized again.”

“Well if that’s all it takes,” Alix chimed in, “then case solved. Ivan was Stoneheart twice.”

“But Ladybug didn’t purify the akuma the first time,” Alya pointed out. “Different butterfly could mean different villain.”

“In any case,” Max said, “I don’t recommend playing with someone’s emotions and unleashing a potentially dangerous threat on the city just for the sake of curiosity.” He paused. “Though if we were, we would have to select our subject very carefully. Non-lethal, so that disqualifies myself and Alix, no brainwashing or mind control which disqualifies Rose, Mr. D’Argencourt, and Kim.”

“Ooh, what about Juleka?” Rose hopped up in her seat. “All she did was give people pretty makeovers!”

“I’d, uh, rather not,” Juleka mumbled, fiddling with her mirrored bracelet.

“Yeah!” Adrien agreed. “High heels are their own form of torture!”

“What about Nathanaël?” Chloé suggested as she slid into her seat. “I mean, how dangerous could stalking Marinette be?” The artist in question, who had been sketching out something, shot up in his seat, clearly offended and angry. “Or maybe Sabrina.” The girl beside her raised a brow at this. “Invisibility is pretty harmless. Besides, I’m sure she’s going to need to disappear for a while.”

At that, Sabrina leaned towards Chloé and angled her head. “What do you mean by that Chloé?”

“I mean you’ll need to be invisible so I don’t find you! ” Sabrina recoiled when Chloé jumped up and turned a furious glare at her seat mate. “You lied to me! You said you couldn’t help me with the essay because your grandparents were visiting, but your dad just told me they’re nowhere near Paris!”

“Ch-Ch-Chloé!” Sabrina cowered down in her seat, her hands raised by her face. “Th-that’s what I was trying to tell you yesterday! Miss Bustier made me promise not to help you! I-I thought if I told you my grand-grand parents were visiting--”

“No, you weren’t thinking at all! How dare you lie to me? Your friend? Your only friend, I should remind you!” Chloé felt an unfamiliar and unwanted shaking rise in her voice and she cleared her throat to disguise it. “Now, after class, you and I are going back to my room and--”

“She’s not your slave, Chloé!” came a familiar, nausea-inducing, challenging voice from behind her. Chloé turned and saw Marinette in the doorway, late as usual. “You claim to be her friend, but all you do is abuse her!”

“Butt out of this, Marinette.” She turned back to Sabrina, still cowering in her seat. “This is between me and the little liar.”

“I didn’t want to lie to you Chloé!” Sabrina attempted to explain.

“Then why did you? If you’d told me Miss Bustier made you promise not to help me, I would have understood.” Chloé planted her hands on her hips. “You still would have helped me, but it would have been better than lying to me! Betraying my trust!”

“Is doing your own homework for once that big of a deal to you?” Marinette demanded.

Chloé’s gut burned and she whirled around again. “I said butt out!”

“Chloé…” Sabrina whimpered.

“Oh, stop your sniveling! I’m sick of hearing it!” Chloé looked down at Sabrina and felt that pinch in her heart again.

‘ Your best friend, cowering before you, before your anger. Is this how a hero would treat her friends?’

As much as Chloé hated that little voice Vii had planted in her mind, it was right. She sighed and pinched the bridge of her nose. “Look, I’m not without a heart, so just help me put this stupid essay together by tomorrow and all will be forgiven. I’ll even buy you that cute dress you’ve been eyeing at that new boutique.”

“...no…”

Chloé’s eyes blazed as she directed her gaze back at her friend, now standing, her eyes still downcast but a heated determination slowly growing within them.

“What did you say?”

Sabrina swallowed hard and whispered, “I said ‘no’.” She lifted her head and met Chloé’s toxic stare, the fire in her eyes growing. “Miss Bustier made me promise not to help you, and I don't appreciate you trying to...to bribe me. I'm not helping you this ti--”

The sharp crack of skin on skin stilled all movement in the room. Sabrina stood with her head snapped to the right, a redness blooming on her left cheek and tears welling in her widened eyes. Chloé’s palm stung, but it was a small price to pay to remind Sabrina who was in charge in their friendship.

“Allow me to rephrase,” Chloé growled, ignorant to how every eye in the room now regarded her with mixtures of disgust and rage. “You will help me with the essay and that is fina--” A hand with almost too strong of a grip clamped down on her wrist, and yanked her about to face a pair of furious bluebell eyes.

“That’s going too far, Chloé!” Marinette growled.

Chloé tried to pull her hand free from the trash-girl’s grip, but found she couldn’t. Since when was Marinette this strong? “H-how many times do I have to tell you? Stay out of my--”

“No, she’s right, Chloé!” Alya stepped out from her desk and stood next to her friend. “You may not have the healthiest relationship with Sabrina, but you’ve never been physical with her!”

“Hey, she brought it on herself, Césaire! Besides, how--” she tugged against Marinette’s grip “--I treat--” another tug “--my...friends!” She finally freed herself, or perhaps Marinette just let go, and shook her hand, a red mark encircling her arm. “Is none of your business!”

“Friends?” Alya glanced around the room, darkened faces all directed at Chloé. “You make it sound like you have more than one.”

“Of course I do!” Chloé insisted. “Everyone adores me!”

“Alright then, show of hands.” Alya crossed her arms and smirked. “Who here actually likes Chloé?”

Chloé’s eyes scanned the room and she saw everyone either averting their gaze or outright glaring at her. Not a single hand rose. She turned and faced Sabrina, her head and hand down, tears dripping on the desk. Chloé sniffed, trying to ignore the tearing pain in her heart. So what if Sabrina couldn’t see just how reasonable she was being? It wasn’t like she needed the girl.

“Okay, so all you’ve proven is that Little Miss Class Rep has turned everyone against me.” Chloé smiled and shoved between Alya and Chloé. “So long as Adrikins is still on my side I…” She stopped when she saw Adrien’s eyes boring holes into his desk, his hands clenched into fists on it.

“Adriki--”

“Stop, Chloé.” He spoke with so little force in his voice, but his words were far more effective at silencing her than Marinette and Alya’s shouting. “I’ve...I’ve tried to be patient with you for a long time. I’ve tried to believe that you’re still my best friend, that you’re still the girl I grew up with.” He squeezed his eyes shut. “But all you do is hurt people, and I can’t understand why. I can’t understand what happened to you.” He sighed and lifted his eyes to her, eyes full of anger, frustration, and hurt. “I’m sorry, Chloé. Maybe this is partly my fault for not calling you out on it, but I can’t be friends with someone who mistreats people like you do.”

Chloé’s breathing had gotten progressively more labored since Adrien silenced her. Everything was falling apart. First Sabrina lies to her, then the entire class leaves her high and dry for no reason, and now Adrien is talking like they aren’t friends anymore? No, this was supposed to be her day! This was supposed to be Queen Bee’s day! Today was supposed to be perfect!

“W-w-well that’s fine then! I don’t need any of you anyway!” Chloé grabbed her purse and school bag and stalked out the door, trying to forget the tears in Sabrina’s eyes and the look of hurt on Adrien’s face.

‘ How dare they?’ she fumed, the click of her heels echoing through the empty courtyard. ‘ How dare they? They all turn their backs on me? Marinette must have them all brainwashed! And Adrikins! She got to him too? That’s crossing the line! Maybe...maybe Queen Bee should visit her tonight and...no. Ladybug would be furious if I got caught hurting a civilian, even one as worthless as Maritrash. Ohh, I’m just so mad! I need something to punch. Something to hurt. I need an Akuma. I need--’

Something bumped into her and she felt something cold and wet bleed through her shirt. Her eyes cut downward to an ugly streak of brown now staining the pristine white. Her rage bubbled even higher and she lifted her eyes to see another student on the ground. He held a squashed eclair in his hand, more of the chocolate filling smeared across a shirt two sizes too large for his thin and frail form, and his breath quickened when he realized exactly who he’d run into. Chloé was about to scream at him for ruining her favorite shirt when she saw a box next to him adorned with the logo for the Dupain-Cheng Bakery.

‘ Oh, that’s just what I needed right now! To be reminded of Marinette!’

But seeing the box formed a wicked plan in her mind. She raised her foot and brought it crashing down on the box, not caring when more chocolate and cream oozed out over her shoe. The boy looked down at his crushed snacks then up at Chloé, his eyes watering and his lip trembling.

“That...that was my breakfast.”

Chloé turned up her nose in disgust. “Eclairs for breakfast? So unhealthy.”

“Th-the Dupain-Chengs usually give me some leftovers from their morning rush. Sometimes...sometimes it’s all I get to eat during the day…”

“Well next time get them to give you something healthier than these logs of empty calories.” She strode around him and out the school doors. “Really, you should be thanking me.”

Yes, that’s what she needed to cook up. Start with one emotionally vulnerable peasant, sprinkle in a dash of tough love, add one evil butterfly, and you have yourself a recipe for one punching bag.

Best plan ever.

(#)

Worst plan ever.

“Feel my hunger, my children!” the Akuma shrieked, his tongue running over his sharp steel teeth. “Together we will devour this city, and I'll never go hungry again!”

Gluttoneer ( oh my god where does Hawkmoth get these names?) wore a hideous yellow bodysuit and had a set of steel jaws coating most of his face. He dashed through the streets blasting everyone in sight with the clearly possessed pastry box, adding to the starving horde while also taking a bite out of everything he could find: cars, trees, rocks, houses. Every restaurant in the arrondissement had locked their doors, covered every window. Every bakery, every coffee shop, ever pizza parlor…

Queen Bee’s stomach clenched again and she nearly doubled over in pain. In her state, even pizza was starting to sound appetizing. She’d been blasted early on in the fight, jumping in even when Ladybug told her to stay back until they could figure out the Akuma’s powers. But Queen Bee wanted to hurt something. She wanted to take out all of her anger and frustration on this pathetic loser who would be fixed right up after the fight. She groaned and attempted to focus on something, anything other than food. She made another attempt at flying, but her hunger combined with fatigue from the battle that started nearly an hour ago made it impossible to get off the ground. Ladybug landed beside her a second later, one arm wrapped around her middle.

“We need to stop him before he eats half the city!” she shouted.

“We need to stop him before I eat half the city!”

Ladybug turned on her, her eyes flaring. “You know, you wouldn’t be like this if you’d just listened!”

“I told you, I can handle a few--” she grunted and clutched her stomach again “--a few hunger pangs! I needed some stress relief so--”

“So you thought it would be a good idea to take out your anger on an Akuma?” Ladybug grabbed Queen Bee by the shoulder and squeezed a little harder than she likely intended. “There’s still a person in there! We can’t be too violent with them!”

“What does it matter what I do to him? Your magic fixes everything in the end anyway!”

Queen Bee could feel Ladybug’s hand tremble through her suit. The heroine’s eyes went dark, brow furrowed in an uncharacteristic rage. “How... dare…!”

Before Ladybug could utter another word, Chat Noir dropped between the women and pulled them apart. “Hey! I know the hunger is making you two angry, but we need to fight the Akuma, not each other!”

Ladybug cut her eyes to her partner the back to Queen Bee. She sighed and groaned against another twist of her gut. “You...you’re right. We need to focus on the city.” She turned back to Chat. “How are you so level headed? You got blasted right after I did.”

He grinned and winced, likely from his own hunger. “That’s my secret, my Lady. I’m always hangry.”

She chuckled lightly. “I...I understood that reference.”

“If all you two are going to do is flirt with each other,” Queen Bee grumbled, “then I'll handle this myself!” She mustered all the strength we could and forced her wings to lift her off the ground. She rushed towards Glutoneer with her stinger raised, leaving Ladybug’s cries of protest behind her, ready to unleash a flurry of blows against the villain.

Unfortunately, another clench of her stomach forced a groan up her throat, alerting Glutoneer to her approach. He whirled around, opened his jaws, and clamped them down on Queen Bee’s stinger. Before she could gawk down at her stinger-- half of her stinger---, he backhanded her into a storefront.

Queen Bee could only remember what followed in a series of blurred flashes. She remembered Ladybug forcing her to sit on a bench in the park while she and Chat went after Glutoneer. She remembered arguing, remembered shoving Ladybug and insisting she could still fight. She remembered Ladybug’s forlorn look before she swung off and left Queen Bee behind, still screaming. She remembered fighting off the anger, the tears, the urge to jump through one of the windows of the Dupain-Cheng bakery and stuff her face with everything she could get her hands on.

She remembered the red storm of ladybugs that swept away all of the damage and her hunger. She remembered taking to the skies, no longer weighed down by an empty stomach. She remembered seeking out her partners and finding them on a far off rooftop. She remembered thinking of exactly what she would say to Ladybug about how she deserved to be treated like a hero instead of a child. She remembered landing on the rooftop with a chimney between her and them. And when she got closer…

She remembered their words.

“Ugh, I know she’s new at this,” Ladybug complained stomping around the rooftop with her fists clenched, “but Queen Bee can be so...so…”

“It’s like you said, my Lady,” Chat said, planting a hand on her shoulder to still her, “she’s new. It’s gonna to take time for her to settle into her place on the team.”

“But how hard is it to follow orders?” Queen Bee knew she should step out and say something, but her curiosity held her back, kept her hidden. “All she needed to do was stay back like I said! And did you hear what she said about the Akuma? ‘Stress relief’? It’s like she has no regard for anyone but herself!”

“She probably just had a bad day and needs us to be patient with her.”

“A bad day doesn’t excuse going out of her way to hurt people! I mean, she’s not near as bad as Chloé but…”

Queen Bee's world froze. Her breath caught in her throat, her body stilled, but her mind continued to whirl.

This wasn't supposed to happen.

'I don't appreciate you trying to...to bribe me.'

Today was supposed to be perfect.

'That’s going too far, Chloé!'

Everyone was supposed to love her.

'Who here actually likes Chloé?'

Everyone did love her.

'I can’t be friends with someone who mistreats people like you do.'

Everyone loved her...

'You know, you wouldn’t be like this if you’d just listened!'

Ladybug...loved her...

'She's not near as bad as Chloé...'

...right?

...you hear now what she truly thinks of you?...

Queen Bee trembled when a new voice entered her mind.

...your hero's not as heroic as you thought, is she?...

It wasn't the voice Vii planted in her mind. It was different...

...she doesn't deserve to be a hero, not like you, my Queen...

...familiar...

...take her Miraculous from her and bring it to me...

Rage boiled up from her heart. Her face contorted in a wicked snarl. Her body lifted from the ground and shot right at Ladybug. The heroine saw Queen Bee coming, but could do nothing as the black and gold bullet plowed into her and didn't stop until her back met a chimney several buildings over. She slumped to the ground, coughed, the wind gone from her lungs, and lifted her head, gasping when she saw Queen Bee standing over her, her eyes filled with fury and outlined by a glowing purple butterfly.

“Is that what you really think of me, Ladybug?” Queen Bee spat. When the spotted heroine reached for her yoyo, Queen Bee thrust her stinger, coated in a purple miasma, just under the girl's chin. “ Is that what you really think? I can't believe I ever admired you!” She shook her head, flinging tears to the roof beneath them. “I worshiped you, loved you!” She wrapped her fingers around Ladybug's throat and jerked her to her feet, her stinger leveled between those eerily familiar bluebell eyes. “You're the reason I wanted to be a hero! I-”

“Ladybug!” Chat Noir called from behind Queen Bee as he vaulted across roof after roof.

Queen Bee called upon her drones without turning. When they materialized, she shrieked, “Tear Chat Noir apart!”

“No!” Ladybug had barely cried when Queen Bee slammed her head back into the bricks.

“I thought you of all people would love me!” she sobbed, unable to keep her voice even any longer. “Because you're Ladybug! You love everyone! You're supposed to be kind! Gentle! Passionate! You're brave, brilliant, creative, selfless!” She could just barely hear Vii crying out in her mind, but ignored her, her grip tightening around Ladybug's throat. “You're strong, you're confident, and that's why I admired you! Because y-you're...”

Queen Bee's voice trailed off, her rage dying and her eyes softening as she realized just what she was about to say.

“You're...”

She tried to hold her next words on the tip of her tongue, because to speak them would be to give voice to a truth she had realized long ago, but dared not acknowledge. However, in her emotionally compromised state, the truth fought its way out.

“You're...everything I'm not.”

Her vision blurred as more tears flooded her eyes. Her grip loosened, allowing her stinger to clatter to the roof and Ladybug to work her way free. Chat, having evaded the drones until they dissipated, called his Cataclysm on the possessed weapon and released the butterfly within. Queen Bee dropped to her knees, barely registering Hawkmoth screaming in her mind before Ladybug severed their link.

“Queen Bee?”

The striped girl lifted her eyes to find Ladybug looking down on her, not with anger, but with concern. She reached out, but Queen Bee flinched away and jumped to her feet, her wings buzzing harder and faster than they ever had. Between her tears and the speed with which she flew over the city, she had no idea where she was going until her boots dropped onto the balcony outside her room and her transformation peeled away. Chloé threw open the doors, staggered into her room without bothering to close them, and once more dropped to her knees, her arms folded over her middle.

She tried. She tried to calm her mind, to slow her tears. She tried to compose herself. She tried to remember her father's words: Never back down. Never break. Never show weakness. She was Chloé Bourgeois. Chloé freaking Bourgeois. She doesn't have emotional breakdowns. She is strong. She is confident. She swallowed hard and muttered those words, repeated them like a mantra.

“I am strong. I am c-confident. I am--”

“Honey...”

“G-go away, Vii.” Chloé didn't lift her head to acknowledge the kwami, and she continued her chant.

Though the magic of the Miraculous compelled her to obey, Vii fought through it and said, “This isn't what your mother meant when she--”

Chloé's eyes snapped open and she turned her tear-streaked eyes up at the floating spirit. “Shut up! What do you know of my mother? You don't know anything !”

Vii sighed and floated down closer to her chosen. “I've been a part of your mind for the past few days. I saw the memory of your mother's death.”

“Shut up.” Chloé squeezed her eyes shut.

“I know you miss her.”

“Shut up. ” Her jaw clenched against another wave of tears.

“I know you don't want to be alone and--”

“I said--” Chloé reached behind her head, wrenched the comb from her hair, and threw it into her open closet “-- shut up! ”

She waited for another comment, another retort, but none came. She slowly lifted her head and glanced about through the thin curtain of her loose hair. Vii was gone. She was… Chloe shut her eyes shut again and hooked her fingers into her scalp. She refused to say it, to admit it. She ground her teeth together, trying to bite back the pain, the humiliation. Faces flashed through her mind: Sabrina, Adrien, her classmates, Vii…

...her mother.

...she was alone.

And it was all her fault.

She couldn't hold it in any longer. She wept until her eyes burned. She screamed until her throat ran raw. She let every bit of fear and pain and denial pour out of her because inside there was just no more room. She continued to weep even when her butler found her a half hour later. He couldn't get an explanation out of her as to how she had gotten home from school, or why she was crying in her room, but tucked her into her bed regardless. And there she lay for the next few hours, wetting her pillow with her tears, until her father could take leave of his duties at city hall and come home to his daughter.

The room was dark and quiet when he entered, the silence only broken by Chloé's ragged breaths. He wandered over to her bed and sat next to her, his hand finding her head poking out of the blankets and gently stroking it.

“Chloé? What's wrong, dearest? What happened?”

She sniffed and turned her head, not quite looking at him, but just enough for him to see the redness in her eyes. “W-why did she lie to me?”

“Who? Who lied to you?”

“Sh-she said...if I was strong and confident, that I'd ha-have friends.” She closed her eyes and curled in on herself under the sheets. “B-but everyone h-hates me! And I'm all alone and I don't know why she lied to me.”

The mayor leaned over. “Who?”

It took a few seconds, but Chloé finally sat up and looked at him. In that moment, he saw, not a fifteen-year-old young woman, but a scared eight-year-old girl who had just witnessed her mother's death.

“Mommy. Why, daddy? Why did mommy lie to me?”

(#)

Fu sat in meditation, preparing himself for the next step in his plan to combat Hawkmoth. Wayzz sat beside him, next to a plate of sliced carrots, calmly munching until his head perked up. His antenna bobbed, seeking out particular energies and failing to find them.

“Vii has gone dormant.” He looked up to Fu. “Chloé has rejected her.”

The old master opened his eyes and sighed. “I anticipated as much, but did not foresee it happening so soon.” He pulled his cane to him and pushed himself to his feet. “I had hoped that the Bee and Moth would balance each other, but it seems the Moth is far too corrupt to be an effective balancing force.”

“What now, Master?”

Fu stood silent for a minute before flashing Wayzz a sad smile. “It is time for our paths to diverge.”

Wayzz lifted from his plate to float before Fu's face. “No, Master. There...must be another way.”

“It will take time for Miss Bourgeois to find the hero within herself. Until that happens, Ladybug and Chat Noir still need help.”

“Then send Keela! She can--”

“Be of great help, I agree.” Fu opened the chest hidden within his phonograph and took out the necklace. “But her wielder will need a partner to balance her. With Pann lost to us, that means I must pass you on to a new Master.” He slid open a drawer and removed a pair of identical black boxes, lowering the necklace into one of them before turning back to Wayzz. “This is not an ending, old friend. It is a new beginning for you. For us both.”

Wayzz pressed his forehead against his Master's...his former Master. “I have had far too many of both.”

Old and tired fingers reached down to the jade charm. “Goodbye Wayzz.”

The turtle kwami pulled away and matched the sad smile on his former wielder. “Goodbye...Fu.”