#Ella and Etta

[miraculousmagicalgirlsau]

Members of the Cesaire family that appear at the beginning of the story. We never get too deep into the character of Marlena but hopefully people will like the direction taken here. 🫧🧑‍🍳

[darkwitch1999]

Simpleman AU (But without Simpleman because that villain was CRINGE!!!!!)

What if instead of Marinette dropping the kids off with her grandfather Rolland Dupain, she decided to go to one of her friends for help? More specifically a creative and artistic duo of friends, one of whom has experience with babysitting children. Enter Nathaniel Kurtzberg and Marc Anciel! Knowing that the comic book duo are already hanging out at Marc’s house to work on their comic, ignoring the fact that they are also babysitting Marc’s little brother, Aimé Anciel, and not even bothering to ask them first because she’s so dead set on helping out Adrien, Marinette brings Manon, Ella, Etta, and Chris over to Marc’s house.

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(Marc and Nathaniel stare incredulously at Marinette as she finishes explaining her situation. Meanwhile, are Chris and Manon chasing each other around the living room while Ella and Etta are jumping on the couch. Aimé is drawing a picture with crayons and paper on the coffee table with a Reverser doll sitting next to him, paying no mind to the other four rambunctious children.)

Marinette: (looks at the comic duo with pleading eyes) So it would just be for a little bit and I swear, I’ll hurry back as soon as I can! Please?

Nathaniel: (exchanges a look with Marc) Is she serious? Marinette, you know we’re always willing to help you out, but Marc and I still have pages of our next comic to finish before our next meeting with our editor in a couple of weeks.

Marc: (speaks hesitantly) And besides, we are already looking after Aimé and I don’t think we can look after four more kids…it’s just a lot more than I am used to…

Marinette: I know it’s a lot to ask and I swear I’ll owe you guys big time if you do this favor for me. I should be back within an hour at most to finish the client’s request. Besides, I babysit these four all the time. It’s super easy!

Nathaniel: (raises an eyebrow) Then why can’t you take the kids with you if it’s that easy? Or ask this client to come over to your place to get their costume fixed?

Marc: Nath has a point there, Marinette. Who even is this client, anyway?

Manon: (puts on the brakes and stops running upon hearing Marc’s question) Marinette is going to help her boyfriend! (Manon starts running again before Chris could catch up to her)

(Marinette’s face immediately blushes red and her posture stiffens with embarrassment. Marc and Nathaniel couldn’t suppress the smirks growing on their faces.)

Nathaniel & Marc: (turn to face each other) Called it!

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It took a bit more time for Marinette to plead her case and convince the comic book duo to watch the kids but after a quick sidebar, Marc and Nathaniel decided to babysit Manon, Ella, Etta, and Chris while Marinette was gone to make a fool out of herself again in front of Adrien. But their help doesn't come cheap.....

Marc: (smirks) Alright, Marinette. We'll watch the kids for you.

Marinette: (beaming with gratitude) Oh thank you! Thank you both so much!

Nathaniel: (holds up a hand) However, in return for our services, we expect a payment of half of whatever you earn today from babysitting.

Marinette: WHAT?! That's totally unfair! You're only watching them for an hour!

Nathaniel: Yes, an hour of our time that we could be using to work on our comic which we will be getting paid for once it's published, but instead we will be using that hour to look after five kids.

Marc: I mean sure, we could simply just watch the kids for free out of the goodness of our hearts, but I do believe some compensation for the work that we will be missing is more than fair.

Marinette: You will both get a THIRD and split it between the both of you!

Marc: (shrugs his shoulder) Oh well, if that is the best you can offer us, Marinette, (walks to the front door and proceeds to open it) good luck with the kids.

Nathaniel: (calls out) Hey kids! Grab your backpacks! You're going back to Marinette's house!

Marinette: (panics) WAIT! (sighs in defeat) Okay fine...I'll give you guys half...

Marc: (closes the front door)

Nathaniel: (calls out) Never mind, you're staying here!

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So for a while, things are going well. Marc and Nathaniel keep the kids calm and entertained with drawing activities and playing with the plush dolls of Miraculous superheroes and villains that Marinette brought with her for them to play with...

(Ella and Etta make the Rena Rouge and Carapace dolls kiss each other. Manon makes the Ladybug and Chat Noir dolls kiss each other. Aimé makes his Reverser doll and the Evillustrator doll kiss each other, which causes Marc to blush profusely while Nathaniel is laughing his ass off.)

Chris: (cringes and shields his eyes) EWWWWWWWW!!!!! Stop it! You guys are gross!

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After a while though, Nathaniel suddenly gets a notification on his phone, reminding him that the latest issue of his favorite comic is going to be released today, and the artist who drew the comic book illustrations was going to be hosting a book signing at the book store. While he was initially excited, he then soon realized that he couldn't go and leave Marc alone with the kids. Despite Marc's insistence that he would be just fine being alone with the kids for a little bit and that Marinette is probably on her way back anyway, Nathaniel refuses to leave Marc alone. So like any other healthy couple would do, they came up with a compromise, which involved Marc tricking Nathaniel outside and locking him out of the house until he got his comic signed.

Though things stay calm for a bit, after a while Manon, Ella, Etta, and Chris start getting a bit rambunctious like typical young children. Running around the house, getting into things they are not suppose to (like messing with the pages of Marc and Nathaniel's comic and putting them out of order, reading through Marc's diary, etc.), jumping on the couch, fighting over the dolls, etc. Meanwhile while all this chaos is going on, Marc is desperately trying to call Marinette to see if she was on her way back soon since it has been well over the hour that she promised she would be back by. Unfortunately, Marc keeps getting sent to voice mail over thirty times because Marinette is too busy overcomplicating her plans as usual. Marc then starts to become anxious and panics, which goes unnoticed by every child except for Aimé since he is the only one who isn't running around the house. Being only 6 years old, Aimé doesn't quite understand his brother's anxiety/panic attacks or more specifically how to help but he thinks that Marc is most bothered by the loud noises of the other children running around and then tries to get everyone's attention by turning on the Ladybug and Chat Noir movie. The movie immediately captivates the four children's attention and they all sit quietly in the living room to watch the movie. Unfortunately, Marc is still having a panic attack despite the room having quiet down. Aimé tries talking to Marc to help him, but again, Aimé is only six years old and has no idea how to help calm his brother down. So he then decided to get Marc's phone and call his boyfriend for help.

Nathaniel: (picks up the phone as he leaves the book store) Hey, Marc! I'm heading back right now. How are-...

Aimé: Nath! Something is wrong with my big brother! He's breathing weird!

Nathaniel: (confused and starts to worry) Aimé? What do you-...(realizes what Aimé is talking about) give the phone to Marc, Aimé! Let me talk to him.

(Aimé holds the phone up to Marc and puts the phone on speaker. Nathaniel can hear Marc's shaky, hyperventilating breaths from his end, causing him to become increasingly worried.)

Nathaniel: (sprints as he talks on the phone) Marc...Rainbow? It's Nath! I'm on my way back, you're going to be okay. I'm going to stay on the phone with you. Please, just try to breathe with me. We'll do it toget-...(hears Aimé cry out in alarm) Marc? Aimé, what's going on buddy? Hello?! Can you guys hear me?!

Marc: Yes, Shadowmoth.....

Nathaniel: (his eyes grew wide filled with fear and panic) Oh shit....

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Yes, Marc gets reakumatized in this "What If" scenario. I couldn't think of any new akumatized identities that Marc could be turned into. I was kind of leaning on this being a "Reverser 2" type deal. For instance after Marc is akumatized into Reverser again, he immediately reverses the children (minus Aimé) into becoming well behaved children who sit quietly unless told otherwise. Then he goes on a crusade to hunt down Marinette to reverse her into revealing her true feelings to Adrien since it was because of her obsession with Adrien that got him into this mess in the first place (or at least from his perspective) and much like everyone else, he has grown tired of her overcomplicated plans.

So what do you guys think of this "What If" scenario? I've had this idea in the back of my mind for a while. Please feel free to share your thoughts and opinions on this scenario regardless if you like it or hate it.

@andromeda612 @nerd-chocolate @artzychic27 @msweebyness @imsparky2002 @arny20252 @princessbutterflysposts

[faunusroman]

Happy holidays, @miraculousmongoose! I'm your @mlsecretsanta this year! I drew Alya and her family, featuring the original five heroes!

[trishacollins]

@flightfoot​ Ella and Etta

~*~

“Alright, girls. Step lively now, one two in a line.” Alya’s voice called out as she led the way into the gym, followed by two smaller, identical versions of herself.

Felix paused in his stretch, staring with no small amount of wonder. He knew Alya and Nino had siblings – had even heard them be mentioned from time to time – but he had never expected either of them to bring them near him.

“Couldn’t get Nora to watch them?” Nino asked, laughing and starting to get out.

“You still have ten more leg lifts, Nino.” He ordered, frowning at the other teen.

Nino whined, star fishing on the mat. “When will my legs come home from the war?”

“When you start doing your leg lifts like I tell you too.”

“Felix, Ella and Etta.” Alya introduced, not even a flicker of nervousness. “Ella, Etta, Felix. You’ve met Luka, Marinette and Nino. This is my friend Zoe, and my friend Adrien – don’t know if you’ve met him or not.”

“You guys are TWINS?!” One of the girls – he couldn’t figure out which was which, and he was trying to figure them out.

“Yeah!” Adrien grinned. “We are. Nino and I look exactly alike, right?”

The twin – whichever of them – laughed and pointed at Felix. “No, Adrien! You and Felix! Only, you don’t have twin names!”

Adrien blinked. “Twin names?”

“Yeah huh, that match!” Etta – or Ella, he had no idea. He was just going to asign a name and hope.

“Well, that’s because we had different parents who raised us.” Adrien said, grinning.

“They parent trapped you!?” Ella. He was sure, now. The bold twin was Ella, the quieter twin was Etta.

“They-what?” Adrien looked helplessly at Alya, who now had a hand on her face.

“They parent trapped you! They made you his and her twins! One baby for one parent, one baby for the other!” Ella explained.

“It’s like the worst twin horror story they can come up with, Adrien. Please don’t validate their fears.” Alya said.

“Uh. Nooo. See, our moms are also twins.” Adrien tried.

“They parent trapped us.” Felix interjected, rising from his stretch. “But we outsmarted them.”

Ella gasped. “Did you have to fight?”

“No, just ride the train a lot.” Felix explained. “I only lived across from the channel, and his parents had his face all over everything.”

“Oooo.” Etta cooed, glancing between them. “Does that mean you don’t know how to be twins?”

Adrien glanced at him, shrugging as if to say ‘you started it.’ as though he hadn’t been explaining it in such a way that they were both getting anxious about the possibility of being twin-split.

“That’s right.” Felix agreed, because he could remember being little and wanting to show off for everyone.

“It’s ok!” Ella declared. “We’ll teach you.”

Alya was definitely laughing at him, but Adrien looked intrigued.

“First, you gotta have a secret handshake.” Etta explained. “So you can let the other twin know things.”

“What sort of things?” Adrien asked.

“Twin things!” Etta told him, as though it was obvious. “Then, you gotta have a secret place where only the two of you can go.”

“We live in the same apartment, does that count?”

Ella and Etta exchanged a look, shaking their heads in unison. “They really don’t know how to be twins.” Etta said softly. “Being parent trapped is the worst.”

Ella nodded solemnly.

“Ok, do you at least know how to be each other?” Etta asked. “So nobody else can tell?”

Felix smirked. “I’m better at it than he is.”

“I’m still not bad at it, Felix.” Adrien protested.

“That’s ok. One twin can be better at things than the other twin.” Etta encouraged. “Like I’m better at getting things open, and Etta-” And he’d marked the wrong one in his head, shit. “-Is better at making things look like they were before we got into them!”

“Ok.” Adrien nodded. “That’s good, because I’m better at Piano and Felix is better at flutes.”

“And being a jerk.” Marinette muttered under her breath.

Ella and Etta looked ecstatic at this information.

“See! It’s easy to learn to be twins.” Ella cheered.

Felix settled in, amused by the lesson and willing to indulge. “But doesn’t that make it harder to pretend?”

“You don’t let other people know which one of you is better, Felix!” Etta told him, giggling. “You have to keep it a twin secret.”

“A twin secret….is it different than a regular secret?” Adrien asked, clearly also settling in.

Both girls nodded solemnly. “Twin secrets can’t be shared.” Etta explained. “Not with anyone but your twin. Not ever. Not for any reason. It’s important.”

He exchanged a look with Adrien. Adrien grinned.

“Ok, while you two handle them. I have to go run.” Alya was grinning. “Make sure Felix doesn’t get them to take over the moon or something?”

“Look, if we establish an embassy on the moon, I can assure you that I’ll get you a day pass.” Felix offered, amused.

“Can you imagine the sort of flips we could do in zero gravity?” Zoe whispered to Nino.

I am about to start posting outtakss.

And opening drabble prompts. Tell me what you wanna see.

Need my serotonin.

[zoe-oneesama]

Coming up with all this formal wear was also a lot of fun.

Main Cast Class Agreste Employees Adults 1 Grande Paris Friends and Employees Adults 2

Ko-fi | Patreon

[muirneach]

nevermind tumblr not listening to rap. tumblr doesn’t even listen to jazz or soul and its fucking tragic

[fantom-flower]

fantom's album review #1

I decided I'd go through NPR's The 150 Greatest Albums Made By Women.

Doing all 150 seemed a little too daunting, so I'm just doing the top 50. I'm going in order from 50 to 1, listening to all the albums from start to finish, rating them and writing my opinion.

I'm just doing this for fun, to learn more about the history of popular music and also listen to genres that I'm less familiar with.

All my ratings are based on my own personal tastes, so the following list is HIGHLY subjective.

50. Hole - Live Through This (1994)

7/10  I’ve never been much for 90s grunge. I was a little too young for its heyday (I was <10 when this album came out, hardly the intended audience) and later when I got into 90s music, grunge never really appealed to me. Still, I enjoyed this album, and I think a few of the songs on it will make it into my regular rotation.

49. Ricki Lee Jones - Pirates (1981)

2/10  Wow. I fucking hated this album. Her voice is okay, sometimes annoyingly breathy, and not nearly interesting enough to carry the meandering talk-singing she engages in nearly every song. Best thing I can say about this album is that it ends.

48. Etta James - Rocks the House (1964)

7/10  I don’t like live albums. That being said, this one is actually pretty good. It has a fun energy, with some great call and response with the audience. NPR's review said she “howled her way through” her songs, and that is accurate. Not something I usually enjoy, but aside from the howling, she has a very powerful and lovely voice, and even the howling started to grow on me by the end of the album.

47. Celia Cruz - Son con Guaguanco (1966)

10/10  No notes. I fucking loved this album. Es La Humanidad is my favorite song off of it. Stunning voice, great instrumentals, so fun to listen to.

46. Emmylou Harris - Wrecking Ball (1995)

6/10  A lot of the songs were really hit or miss for me. Largely, I really preferred the accompaniment. Wrecking Ball in particular stood out with this great lonely, yearning sound. Deeper Well is the best song on the album, if the rest had been like that, could have been a 9/10 easily. Orphan Girl was awful.

45. Dusty Springfield - Dusty in Memphis (1969)

5/10 Boring. The Windmills of Your Mind was alright.

44. Heart - Dreamboat Annie (1976)

9/10  Glad to find that Magic Man and Crazy on You are representative of the album rather than exceptions from it. Soul of the Sea is probably my favorite track. Lots of fun to listen to.

43. M.I.A. - Kala (2007)

2/10  I think I like Paper Planes as much as the next guy, but not enough to listen to a whole album of it.  Absolutely chock full of the most annoying sound effects known to man.  This one took me a long time to get through. When it was time for me to listen to music I kept thinking, “I don't want to ruin the pleasant vibe I have going by making myself listen to this.”

42. Ella Fitzgerald - Ella Fitzgerald Sings the Johnny Mercer Song Book (1964)

9/10 Hard to go wrong with Ella Fitzgerald. Name a song of hers that’s not an instant classic. I was surprised to see that this album was from the 60s when I started listening to it. Not the decade I associate with big band. I deduct one point because for me, all slow, soulful, romantic big band songs all kind of sound the same. I like the sound, but I like having some variety. 

41. Tracy Chapman - Tracy Chapman (1988)

10/10  Came into the album only having heard of Fast Car. It lives up to the hype, and the rest of the album does not disappoint! Great sound, great lyrics, great social justice message. Talkin’ bout a Revolution is going to be the next song I listen to over and over again to wring every drop of serotonin I can get from it.

Final thoughts of albums 50-41

Favorite album from this group is Tracy Chapman's self titled album. 

As for my least favorite, it's really hard to choose between MIA and Ricki Lee Jones. They were both so deeply awful to listen to.

What I'm looking forward to in albums 40-31:

Kate Bush and my childhood favorite, Tina Turner

What I'm dreading in the next ten:

Björk. I've been doing my best to listen to all the albums from start to finish even if I don't like it. Björk might break the streak.

[pluckysidekick]

It’s Wednesday, my fellow Drewds! Going into the holidays I can’t help thinking about how our favorite Crew are celebrating the holidays. Can’t wait for all of the @secretsleuthexchange fics, gifsets, and fanvids we’re going to get!

In the meantime, I was inspired by a poll from @burningblake about which classic “standard” song best represents Nace (all excellent choices). I wound up making a Season 4 playlist of standards from the Great American Songbook, and a few other classic tracks, that represent their Season 4 journey for me. If you’re interested in this sort of thing, here we go!

I’ll be linking the Spotify tracks, but you should be able to find them all on Apple Music or YouTube. If you want a link to the full playlist, just hit me up here or on Discord.

1. The Nearness of You - This Hoagy Carmichael classic brings to mind Nancy and Ace’s inability to stay apart every time they’re near each other in Episode 401 🥺. I love the Ella Fitzgerald and Louis Armstrong duet, but I picked Norah Jones’ version from her 2002 debut album because it’s just so perfectly wistful.

2. Is You Is or Is You Ain’t My Baby - this so so cool track was written by Louis Jordan, but I first heard it on Tom and Jerry (that’s the fighting cat and mouse cartoon in case you’re too young to remember them). I immediately envision the back and forth argument Nancy and Ace have throughout Episode 402 in the lyrics of this song. Ace just wants to know! I adore Joe Jackson’s version, but I went with Dinah Washington and Quincy Jones from 1956 because it is absolutely perfect.

3. Night and Day - I like to imagine that Nancy and Ace stayed up all night talking at the end of 402. This song perfectly embodies their relationship at this stage 🥹. It was written by Cole Porter for Fred Astaire to sing in the original ‘The Gay Divorce’ Broadway musical (catch the film, a classic Fred and Ginger madcap musical romcom with such amazing dancing🕺🏼). But I had to go with Frank Sinatra from 1957’s ‘A Swingin Affair’ because it’s such a classic swing tune.

4. April in Paris - I’m not crying, you’re crying. Warning, there’s going to be a lot of crying in this playlist. Nancy telling Ace the story of her parents’ honeymoon in Paris in Episode 403, that shy smile when she tells him she always wanted to recreate it with someone, GAH. I had to pick the wonderful Sarah Vaughan with Clifford Brown on trumpet, simply exquisite. I’m going to have to take a break to sob quietly in the corner. “What have you done to my heart” indeed.

5. Fever - There was only one song, and only one version of this song, that matches the heat Nancy and Ace generated in the infamous Sigil scene. Peggy Lee burned the house down in 1958 with this track. “What a lovely way to burn” - Nancy can relate.

6. So in Love - Another genius Cole Porter song, written originally for Kiss Me Kate, but sung here by the incomparable Ella Fitzgerald (my personal hero). I had to pick it for THE KISS. They are just so in love 😭. A beautiful song and a beautiful rendition worthy of Nancy and Ace’s love. The fact that Kiss Me Kate is a musical about bickering exes who eventually find love again makes it even more perfect.

7. Crying - Roy Orbison, 1962. Need I say more? I may never recover from the final scene of 403. This song at least helps a little with the pain by naming it. Roy hits some insane notes in this song—the intensity matches both Nancy and Ace’s misery in that moment.

8. Good Morning, Heartache - More like Good Morning, Sorbet. In Episode 404, Nancy drowns her sorrows in her favorite frozen dessert to deal with the heartache of gaining and losing Ace. And no one does heartache like Billie Holiday, who recorded this song in 1946. Heartache haunts Nancy all throughout S4, and this track represents it perfectly.

9. I had two contenders for the Nace scenes in Episode 405, both from the early 60’s. I Fall to Pieces, released by Patsy Cline and The Jordanaires in 1961, was a country crossover and Patsy’s number one hit—an incredible track that embodies Nancy’s emotions on seeing Ace again. She can’t even look him the eye at the beginning of the episode. Which brings me to my other choice, Walk on By, written by Hal David and Burt Bacharach, and famously sung by Dionne Warwick in 1964. Nancy puts up a brave front for most of this episode, but inside she wants to break down and cry.

10. Episode 405’s speed dating montage is one of my favorite scenes of Season 4. Again I have two contenders—why should I have to choose? Harold Arlen and Johnny Mercer’s One For My Baby (and One More for the Road), as sung by Ella Fitzgerald (again ‘cause she’s the best), is an ideal soundtrack for Nancy’s increasingly desperate descent as she spends every would-be speed date talking about Ace and THAT KISS. Equally appropriate is Billy Strayhorn’s Lush Life—velvet-voiced Johnny Hartman and saxophonist John Coltrane’s 1963 track positively drips with ennui, elegantly over cocktails, of course. If you’ve never heard this one, please give it a listen. There’s even a mention of a week in Paris 🥺.

11. Episode 406, with the infamous Spider Prom, is Ace’s episode IMO—we finally get to see how he’s dealing with the loss of the love of his life and his best friend. He so desperately wants to somehow get back to being friends with Nancy, he resorts to spending countless hours with the help of S4 MVP Nick trying to catch Chunky Velez for her. Can’t We Be Friends? is the perfect song for him in this episode, gorgeously sung by Ella and Louis. That is, until he spies Nancy and Tristan dancing, and realizes what he can never have. Etta James’ blistering track I’d Rather Go Blind captures Ace’s feelings in that moment. He may have been the one to halt their attempts to brake the curse, but he’s hurting just as much as Nancy is.

12. I’ve got two seminal songs to represent Episode 407. When Nancy realizes that Ace let Chunky go, and hears his admission that seeing her with Tristan hurt, it positively screams Cry Me a River. No, not the Justin Timberlake song 😅. This epic torch song was famously sung by Julie London in 1955, and expresses beautifully Nancy’s scorn at Ace’s hypocrisy even as she admits that he broke her heart.

Their fight, and Nancy’s subsequent dashed hopes that Ace would call her bluff and come back, makes me think of Ev’ry Time We Say Goodbye. Another Cole Porter masterpiece sung by Ella. What can I say? You can’t top perfection:

Every time we say goodbye, I die a little Every time we say goodbye, I wonder why a little Why the gods above me, who must be in the know Think so little of me, they allow you to go

I dare you to listen to this track without weeping over the Nace of it all. Enjoy!

Well, Drewds, we’re just past the halfway mark of Season 4 and this post is already a novel, so I’m going to stop here for now. What did you think of my picks? Any you think I missed?

I’ll do a Part 2 as long as I get a few notes on this one 😂 . It will feature more classic songs that represent Nancy and Ace as they head into the back half of the season. I know it’s going to get rough ahead, but I promise the music will be sweet.

Update: Part 2 is here!

[awholelotofladybug]

Stammering Adrien AU: Adrien when meeting his friends’ siblings; Alya’s sisters, Alix’s brother Jalil, Juleka’s brother, Luka, and Nino’s brother, Chris, and how they react to his stuttering and him feeling anxious.

Nora and the twins.

Alya: Girls, this is my new friend, Adrien Agreste.

Adrien: *waves timidly* Hello, nice t-t-t-to... N-N-Nice t-t-to... Ella: *confused* What's wrong with him?

Etta: Yeah, he talks funny.

Adrien: *becoming increasingly self-conscious*

Nora: So you're the boy who doesn't speak much. *gets close* What, not much to say?

Alya: *pushes her back* Enough. Ella, Etta, Adrien has a stammer. That was very rude. And Nora, turn down the tough girl routine, will you? Adrien's shy around new people. You're scaring him.

Adrien: *visibly shaking*

*Ella and Etta see how upset he looks and go up to him, each grabbing one of his hands*

Ella: It's okay, Mr. Adrien.

Etta: Yeah, don't be scared. We'll be nice.

Ella: Sorry about what we said about your voice.

Nora: And I'm sorry if I scared you. Would you like something to drink? We have orange soda.

Adrien: O-Okay, sure. Thank... Thank you.

Chris

Chris: Nino says you have a speech disorder. Is that true?

Adrien: It... It is.

Chris: There's this kid in my class that has one too.

Adrien: Oh? What's he l-l-l-like?

Chris: Well, he's really nice, but his mouth makes his R's and L's sound like W's. My teacher says it's wrong to tease him, so it must be wrong to tease you too. So I won't.

Adrien: *smiles* Thanks, Chris. Nino s-s-s-sure is lucky to have you as a little brother.

Chris: Thanks. Hey, you like superheroes?

Adrien: Are you k-k-k-kidding, I LOVE superheroes.

*Chris takes Adrien to his room to watch superhero cartoons*

Jalil

Alix: Jalil, this is my new friend, Adrien. *to Adrien* And Adrien, this is my dorky older brother, Jalil.

Jalil: *rolls his eyes* Very funny, little sister. *to Adrien* Hey there, don't listen to Alix. *pushes up his glasses* There's nothing dorky about the pursuit of knowledge. Anyway, *offers his hand* Jalil Kubdel, aspiring historian. Pleased to meet you.

Adrien: *shrinks away, rubbing his arm*

Alix: *whispers to Jalil* He's a little shy.

Jalil: Oh. *approaches slowly* Hey, it's okay. I don't bite.

Adrien: *gulps and shakes his hand* N-N-N-Nice t-t-to meet you too...

Jalil: Oh, a speech impediment? That explains why you seem so quiet.

Adrien: *looks away in embarrassment*

Jalil: Hey, there's nothing to be ashamed of. Really. *thinks* And you know, some of the greatest people in history stammered like you.

Adrien: They did?

Jalil: Absolutely. There's King George VI, Winston Churchill, Demosthenes, even James Earl Jones.

Adrien: *eyes light up* Cool!

Jalil: Come on, let me show you around.

[marcmarcmomarc]

Miraculous

Chapter 9: Traitors

(In Marriott’s Grande Vista, Adrien’s group lays asleep throughout the villa. Adrien wakes up.)

ADRIEN: (YAWNS) Morning, guys.

(The group gives scattered “Good morning” greetings.)

ADRIEN: Let’s start putting Operation Bring Marinette Back to Paris underway. Markov?

(Markov scans all of Orlando.)

MARKOV: I have found her. She is now leaving a Panera Bread in Waterford Lakes Town Center with a new group of friends. They plan to visit ICON Park tonight.

ADRIEN: ICON Park. That’s right on this road. Heck, we passed that on the way here. That’s where we go tonight.

(Now, during the last rays of sundown, Marinette and her new friends enter ICON Park. Marinette gawks at the Orlando Eye glowing colorfully against the night sky. Around the park, guests notice Marinette and point her out. The group approaches the entrance to the wheel.)

LUNA-TK: Alright. You head on in and enjoy yourself. We’ll be on lookout for anyone crossing you.

MARINETTE: Okay. Thank you.

(She goes inside. Meanwhile, with Adrien’s group in their room…)

MARKOV: She has arrived at the park.

ADRIEN: Let’s go, people.

(Meanwhile, Marinette arrives at one of the wheel’s cars.)

MARINETTE: Thank you.

(She boards the wheel. Meanwhile, Adrien’s group arrives.)

ADRIEN: Okay. Everyone search high and low. She could be anywhere in this busy park.

(In the wheel, Marinette arrives at the top and overlooks the area around her.)

MARINETTE: Wow.

TIKKI: I mean, Paris had great views during your time as Ladybug, but this is amazing.

MARINETTE: Right? My choice to stay here gets better with every hour.

(Below, Markov sees her.)

MARKOV: She is now preparing to get off of that wheel.

MAX: Affirmative.

(Meanwhile, Marinette gets out of her car and onto the platform.)

MARINETTE: That was so good.

TIKKI: So now what?

MARINETTE: We’re gonna meet back with the group and work it out.

(Now, Adrien and the group find her outside the Museum of Illusions.)

ADRIEN: There they are!

MARINETTE: Huh?

(As the group approaches, all of Marinette’s new friends block them.)

LUNA-TK: Back up! Back away!

@calxiyn (simultaneously): Get out of here!

ADRIEN: What?

@luminara713: Get back!

ADRIEN: What’s going on? Marinette! We’re here to apologize!

MARINETTE: You think I want to hear what you have to say?

(Marinette moves through her friends and approaches Adrien.)

ADRIEN: You need to know how scared and devastated we were when we knew you were gone. We spent the rest of the day looking for you.

MARINETTE: So? Just the fact that it took me running away for you to come to the realization that you mistreated me speaks volumes. How did any of you ever come to the conclusion that a girl who tells the most unbelievable stories that can be fact-checked by a simple internet search is so spectacular? How did, “Marinette, someone we know always puts other people’s needs before her own, is bullying a disabled girl because of pity jealousy, even though she insists that she’s okay with Kagami dating Adrien,” cross your minds at all? Tell me, Adrien. Why did I have to tell you to vouch for me? I don’t blame Mr. Damocles for shutting you up! You looked like you were only doing it because I asked you to and not because you actually believed me! You all did nothing when I got expelled, not even Alya’s “detective work” turned out useful, and Lila was the one to get me back in with another lie, and I’m just supposed to forgive you traitors?!

ADRIEN: Marinette, please…

MARINETTE: No! You know, if I can’t ever get it through your heads that I want you to leave me alone, my new friends will make you understand! Let’s get these traitors!

(As Marinette and her new friends charge, Adrien and the others turn around and flee past several onlookers. The group turns onto the street as the typical harsh rain you’d expect to see in Florida starts to fall. Marinette and her new friends follow. Ahead, Adrien and his group frantically pant as they hustle ahead of their pursuers.)

(They run under the bridge connecting the Orange County Convention Center and the Hotel Convention Center.)

ADRIEN: Let’s go this way!

(They turn onto Hawaiian Ct and bump into Terence, who glowers down at them.)

(They change direction, toward the bushes behind Walgreens, which they hop over. Manon falls off of her mother’s shoulders. Alix catches her and passes her back to Nadja.)

MANON: Thank you!

ALIX: Don’t mention it.

(Back on the street, the group hustles toward the overpass. Kagami’s foot slips on a sewer drain and she falls, clutching her ankle in pain.)

ADRIEN: Kagami!

KAGAMI: My ankle!

(Looking beyond her, Adrien sees their pursuers approaching fast.)

ADRIEN: Anansi…

NORA: Don’t need to tell me, Cellphone Boy!

(Nora runs back and carries Kagami on her back. Ahead, the group rounds the corner at the three-way intersection leading to Marriott’s Grande Vista. Their pursuers start to close in. The group races into the lobby, their hair and clothes sopping wet, and their equally wet shoes squeaking on the floor. They arrive at an open elevator and scramble inside.)

TRAVEL GROUP: Get in, get in!…Go, go, go!…Hurry up, get in, come on!…They’re coming, let’s go!

ADRIEN: Come on, come on, come on, come on!

MYLÈNE: Get in! Get in!

(Their equally wet pursuers arrive. Adrien frantically presses the button to close the elevator.)

ADRIEN: Close, close, close, come on!

(The doors slide closed just before Marinette and her new friends can reach them.)

MARINETTE: Ah! Come on!

LUNA-TK: Darn! (SIGHS) Well, hey, hope you enjoyed the day with us before they showed up. See you tomorrow?

MARINETTE: Sure.

(Her new friends leave.)

LORI: They better not come near her again, or I will literally turn them into human pretzels.

(On the fourth floor, the group gets off the elevator.)

ALIX: I can’t believe this! We came all this way for nothing!

NATHANIEL: And Marinette has hardcore protectors now!

IVAN: Traitors! She called us traitors!

MYLÈNE: (SOBBING) How could she?

ADRIEN: This doesn’t make any sense.

ALYA: We’re so stupid! We should have seen this coming!

SABINE: We really should have been keeping a more watchful eye!

CHLOÉ: Yeah, and Lila deserves a pounding once we get back!

ADRIEN: Wait a minute, wait, hold on! Now is not the time to be hysterical!

NATHANIEL: Now is the perfect time to be hysterical!

ROSE: Should we be hysterical?

ALIX: No!

CHLOÉ: Yes!

ADRIEN: Maybe! But not right now! (SIGHS) Let’s call it a day now and figure it out in the morning.

(Later, the group lays asleep throughout the villa. Plagg goes up to Adrien.)

PLAGG: (WHISPERING) You are concocting something right now, are you?

ADRIEN: No one concocts plans while they sleep, Plagg. Quiet before someone hears you.

(Fade to black.)

[darkwitch1999]

Simpleman AU: Marinette's Voicemail

So in my last post about this AU, I mentioned that Marc tried to call Marinette thirty times after being left alone with the kids for WAY over an hour like she promised but kept getting sent to voicemail. Today while I was at work, I started thinking about what the voice messages would sound like as Marc desperately tries over and over to get a hold of Marinette. I wasn't going to write out thirty voice messages since I figured it would get repetitive and boring, but I did write out the highlights to give you a general idea of how Marc slowly breaks down with each attempt. I apologize in advance if this sucks.

Marinette’s Voicemail: You have thirty-one new messages. Playing messages…

Voicemail #1:

Marc: Hey, Marinette! It’s Marc. I hope everything’s going okay with Adrien’s costume. The kids are doing fine. Everything’s fine. I was just wondering if you happen to be on your back now. Not that there’s any need to rush back that is! Take your time! It’s just been a little over when you said you would be back and I just wanted to check in to see if everything was okay on your end. But you’re probably busy finishing up Adrien’s costume right now, so I’ll get out of your hair. If you could maybe call me back when you start heading back, that would be great. Thanks.

Voicemail #2: 

Marc: Hi, Marinette! It’s Marc, again. Everything’s okay over here. No need to worry about the kids, they’re doing okay. Just checking in to see how you’re doing. I…uh noticed that you are staying a bit longer than expected…n-not that there’s a problem with that or anything. Please take all the time you need. Just please be sure to call me once you have finished up if that’s okay. 

Voicemail #5: 

Marc: U-Uh…hey Marinette. It’s me again checking in. I-I’m sorry if I keep bothering you…just wondering if you’re coming back soon. I-I mean…things are still fine…ish. The kids are getting a bit… “restless” and I may have sent Nathaniel out on an errand so I am kind of by myself…but everyone’s still alright. Please call me back as soon as you can.

Voicemail #10: 

Marc: H-Hiiiii Marin-...NO! Manon put that down! Ella! Etta! I told you two to stop running in the house! No, no, no, no! Chris, I said no touching my mama’s bat!

Voicemail #11: 

Marc: H-Hey Marinette…sorry about that last message. The children have gotten a tad bit more “restless” since the last time I called. Any chance you are almost back and just forgot to call me? I mean…that’s totally fine. I wouldn’t be upset or anything but if you do get this message…please call me.

Voicemail #15: 

Marc: Marinette….heeeyyyyy…so I know I said in my last few messages to “take all the time you need”, but by any chance would you be able to cut your flirting with Adrien short and come back, please? I would really appreciate some help, please. I mean…things are still somewhat under control here, but I could use a hand…

Voicemail #16: 

Marc: MARINETTE!!!!! EVERYTHING’S OUT OF CONTROL!!!!! PLEASE HELP ME, I DON’T KNOW WHAT ELSE TO DO!!!!

Voicemail #18: 

Marc: (Marc called Marinette accidentally while he was banging his head on the phone) Idiot! Marc, why do you have to be so stupid, stupid, STUPID!!!!! You just HAD to kick Nath out of the house! “Oh, don’t worry, Nath! I can handle these kids and Marinette will be back soon anyway. I’ll be fine, I swear.”. Idiot! Idiot! IDIOT!!!! What were you thinking?!

Voicemail #19:

Marc: Um…hey Marinette. Uhh…can we just pretend that the last call didn’t happen? Yeah, I think I might have butt-dialed you by mistake while I was talking about…uh…something else. I-I swear nothing that I said was directed towards you. Anyway, please call me back soon.

Voicemail #21:

Marc: MARINETTE! PICK UP THE FUCKING PHONE ALREADY!!!!!

Voicemail #23:

Marc: MARINETTE, I SWEAR IF I GET SENT TO VOICEMAIL AGAIN, I WILL CALL ADRIEN MYSELF IF I HAVE TO AND TELL HIM HOW YOU FEEL!!!!! DO NOT TEST ME! ANSWER THE FUCKING PHONE!!!!!

Voicemail #24:

Marc: H-Hey…Marinette. Look, I’m sorry if I was rude during my last couple of calls. I-I am just feeling a bit…overwhelmed and a little stressed…please don’t hate me. I swear, I wasn’t seriously going to tell Adrien. Please just call me back already…I-I…don’t know how much longer I can hold out for…

Voicemail #29:

Marc: M-Marinette…I-I’m at my l-limit…I-I don’t know what else to do! Everything is not okay! Everything is falling apart! Everything is CHAOS!!!! The girls and Chris are running wild and I don’t know how to make them stop! (Marc’s voice starts to break) Aimé is never like this! H-He’s…a-always so well behaved! He’s such a good kid! Aimé! I-I…love you s-so…much and I’m s-sorry if I never tell you enough how much of a good boy you are…

Aimé: Marc, are you sad?

Voicemail #30:

Marc: (shaky, hyperventilating breaths and sobbing are heard)......

Aimé: Marinette? It’s Aimé. Can you please call my big brother? He’s very upset right now.

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐Bonus⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Voicemail #31:

Hello, Marinette. I know that you are busy foolishly attempting to flirt with Adrien, so I’ll make this short. I’ve got a message…no, a warning for you all right. There is no more Marc! Reverser is back in town! And I’m coming for you, bitch! See you soon…(evil laughter)

Marinette’s Voicemail: End of messages…

So yeah...Marinette's screwed. Please feel free to share your thoughts and opinions. I'll also answer any questions regarding this post or this AU in general if you have any.

@nerd-chocolate @andromeda612 @artzychic27 @princessbutterflysposts @arny20252 @imsparky2002 @msweebyness

[lajulie24]

It Had to Be You

A Han/Leia When Harry Met Sally-inspired Playlist

For Han/Leia Appreciation Week 2023 - Day 1: Anniversary / Memory

I Could Write a Book / Harry Connick, Jr.

Slow Burn / Kacey Musgraves

Don’t Dream It’s Over / Crowded House

A Sunday Kind of Love / Etta James

Collide / Howie Day

Hold You in My Arms / Ray LaMontagne

They Can’t Take That Away From Me / Ella Fitzgerald and Louis Armstrong

Crazy Little Thing Called Love / Queen

I Believe (When I Fall In Love It Will Be Forever) / Stevie Wonder

By Your Side / Sade

Let’s Stay Together / Al Green

Come What May - from “Moulin Rouge” / Ewan McGregor and Nicole Kidman

You’re the First, The Last, My Everything / Barry White

It Had to Be You (Big Band and Vocals) / Harry Connick, Jr.

Look out for the companion fic, “It Had to Be You”, also to be posted today!

[goodblacknews]

MUSIC MONDAY: "Ultimate Soul of the Season" - The Black Christmas Soundtrack - Expanded Edition 2023

by Jeff Meier (FB: Jeff.Meier.90) Welcome to the holiday season, Good Black News family!  We hope you had a wonderful Thanksgiving – and are counting down the 25 days of Christmas now that it’s December. In what’s become a holiday tradition, we’ve updated our now massive Black Christmas music Spotify playlist with a whole heap of new songs. The month of November was spent searching far and wide…

[deweydell25]

(via GIPHY)

[ulrpart]

Here are some other apartments in the hotel. Zoe's room and Jagged's. Also the cesaire's appartment.

This is the first thing the girls did after moving in.