#Emilie Agreste Has a Different Name

[sorcerystudios-writing]

The Heroes of Paris: Le Gardien des Pigeons

by Nakira Taisho

Date Posted: (2024-06-27)

Chapters: 20/28

Fandom: Miraculous Ladybug

Rating: General Audiences

Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply

Relationships: Adrien Agreste | Chat Noir & Marinette Dupain-Cheng | Ladybug

Characters: Marinette Dupain-Cheng | Ladybug, Chloé Bourgeois, Gabriel Agreste | Papillon | Hawk Moth, Original Kwami Character(s), Original Miraculous Ladybug Character(s)

Additional Tags: Gabriel Agreste Is Not Hawk Moth, Emilie Agreste Has a Different Name, Kwami Swap, Fox!Adrien, Chloé Bourgeois Redemption, Chloé Bourgeois has DID (Dissociative Identity Disorder), Peacock!Gabriel, Series Rewrite, Fake Dating, Bustier salt, will include some post s3 characters, Alya Salt

Series: Part 1 of What We Mean to Be

Summary: A design contest is interrupted when a pigeon controlling villain comes into play.

[gg-ladybug]

Unsolicited Miraculous Ladybug Headcanon: Adrien Agreste doesn’t know how to properly pronounce his own name. Sure, he SETTLES with one, but on a theoretical level, he has no idea with what intention he was named with.

Mind you, it’s not even because of anything nefarious— he just had two very different nationalities for parents. The French and British pronunciations were used interchangeably, because Emilie and Gabriel often argued on a daily basis about how Adrien is ‘supposed’ to be said. (Have you ever seen an Englishman and a Frenchman argue about culture? It’s thermonuclear.)

Ah-dree-uhn vs Ay-dree-uhn is a battle that has been waged within the Agreste household for years

(Based on a very real conversation I had with a English-French person named Adrien on my trip to France)

[uptoolateart]

Hey, hey, hey - time for a Gabriel analysis!

So. After we learned that Gabriel Agreste wasn't his original name, my mind jumped to Andre Bourgeois, who also once had a different name. In keeping with the themes of the show, we are seeing that secret identities don't always come with masks and comic book names.

We had a hint of Gabriel's secret past in Psycomedian, when Harry visited and alluded to his Gabi days. How, oh how could the Gabriel Agreste we all know have ever been friends with someone like Harry Clown? This is only possible if he was once a different sort of person.

We had further clues in Gabriel's vision of the past, in the time burrow in Evolution - and in Emilie's video messages left for Nathalie, and the photographs of Gabriel, Emilie and Nathalie on some expedition, seen in Passion - and in Amelie's accusation that Gabriel has changed, in Emotion.

Adrien is also aware his father has changed with time, demonstrated when he tells Gabriel that Emilie once said they came from different backgrounds.

The photos shown in Revelation finally gave concrete evidence that Gabriel used to have an adventurous spirit and he used to smile. He was fun...but something changed...and I don't think it was just Emilie's death that caused the personality shift. Based on casual comments Adrien has made throughout the series, his father has been strange for years.

Gabriel tells Adrien that he and Kagami are 'of the same design' - and we know he means this literally. But taking it as a metaphor...for two seasons I've wondered what Emilie's parents were like. We can infer that she comes from a wealthy, 'important' family. Maybe Gabriel struggled to fit in and win the approval of his in-laws. Maybe he never felt good enough. When he tells Adrien things like, 'You're clinging to Marinette because her mediocrity lets you shine more,' perhaps someone once talked like that about him. With that kind of background, it would be unsurprising that he decided to try to forge a new identity.

And let's remember that Gabriel is a designer. His whole empire is founded on inventing personae. Even beyond the sentimonster aspect, he tells Marinette that he designed the image the world holds of his son. Everything is his invention. That speech in Pretension proved just how deep his God complex runs - he fully believes he has made the world in his image. Even the episode title - Pretension - smacks of the image he is presenting to the world in lieu of truth.

At this point, what we're seeing is a 'new money' stereotype - a self-made man who now spurns those who remind him of where he came from. It's one of the most shameful things about him. No matter how much fame and money you get...you can't forget your roots, people. Maybe that's easy for me to say because I'm not rich or famous. But I just can't imagine turning my back on my own origin story. It's what makes you who you are. Gabriel clearly didn't want to be that person anymore...and that's sad.

What's also fascinating is that, if we zoom in on those pictures Nathalie took in Revelation, we see that once upon a time, Gabriel - Gabi Grassette - was a punk. Let's take a moment to appreciate the spiked hair, makeup, leather jacket, ripped jeans, and dog collar - not to mention that smirk. And far from being ashamed of his work with Harry Clown as a human frites (who, by the way, reminds me so much of Mr Banana), he was smiling about it. Man, he loved it. Contrast that with Gabriel in Party Crasher - 'JOY.... What's going on in my HOUSE!?'

If it were at all possible for the old Gabi to meet Cat Noir, I can imagine him loving Cat's costume. On that note, I can't help but compare that dog collar with Cat's bell. I've said before that I see the bell as a symbol of Cat being domesticated and under control. Gabi probably saw his dog collar more as a rebellion, but maybe it too is a symbol of how he once felt controlled by someone.

The thing is...the punk movement was all about anti-establishment anti-authoritarianism. Today, Gabriel is the establishment he once rebelled against. It makes me think of John Lydon of the Sex Pistols turning Conservative and advertising butter. Musicians like Donovan - not a punk, but in a similar category, as a 1960s hippie - are rare for maintaining that same spirit all through their lives.

Gabriel is a 'sell-out'. He gave up that spirit and became someone unrecognisable. Those photos demonstrate that Emilie isn't the only body buried in a 'basement' in the Agreste mansion. There is a different person buried under the cold veneer that is Gabriel - a person Nathalie probably misses. I expect that's why she's stuck with him all this time, despite her better instincts. Something tells me Gabi would've made a better father.

The irony is that Adrien's moments of rebellion are probably one of the few things he has in common with his father, if we look far enough back in Gabriel's past. That, and their temper - and randomly breaking into eccentric dance and song. Gabi might have appreciated Adrien more for standing true to his principles. Maybe Adrien sometimes reminds Gabriel of himself and he can't stand it - can't stand thinking of what he's lost along the way.

I believe Gabriel exists in a perpetual state of regret. Part of him probably misses Gabi, too. After all, Gabi got Emilie. What has Gabriel got? Wealth, sure, but Emilie's dead, Adrien all but hates him, Nathalie's wasting away, and Gabriel himself has only weeks to live.

If you think about it, Gabriel's whole quest has been about getting a do-over. He wants a second chance with Emilie - a second chance for Nathalie - a second chance at his own life. He then tells Adrien that his greatest wish is to try to reconnect with him...because he knows he doesn't have much time left with his son. Even then, though, his selfishness prevails. (Psst, Gabi...you can't make up for years of terrible parenting with banana pancakes.)

Thinking of the snake miraculous, the second chance lets you know what's going to happen, enabling you to make better decisions the next time around. In other words: it's about learning from your mistakes. Gabriel never learns, and it is his refusal to accept destiny and his own human fallibility that is causing his disintegration.

The more Gabriel necrotises, the more we can see this as his 'sins' catching up with him. He doesn't seem to grasp that all the blackness devouring him is, in a way, the blackness of his own heart. Even if he erases the whole world, he can't erase his deeds. If he managed to get his Wish and bring Emilie back, she would be horrified. She'd wonder where her Gabi went.

Gabriel is proof that 'evolution' isn't always positive. He reinvented himself once, and now, because it didn't go the way he wanted, he's trying to reinvent things again. Tomoe also hints at a belief that the solution to her problems is to make the world anew - to get a second chance. Felix tries this, too, when he creates the red moon to wipe out all people except his select group.

But Felix does learn - Ladybug helps him see that even if you erase all the people causing you so much grief...you still have to deal with that pain. What Gabriel fails to see is that - like Cat Blanc on the roof, all alone without his lady - destroying your witnesses won't remove the witness in your own heart.

Even if Gabriel wiped everyone else's memory of his crimes, he would still know what he'd done. And when you cross those kinds of lines, you can never go back to who you once were.

Please no post-Revelation spoilers in the comments :)

[ririchanva]

Read your Childhood AU for Izuku growing in Paris...so add this as a bonus:

...Izuku getting the ladybug miraculous and Chloe getting the cat

//...*smirks* Nonnie, you have intrigued me with creative determination. And took time to draw this up for you~

*cracks knuckles and stretches back and arms* With that out of the way, I think this would be a VERY interesting concept. Only because if this is ONE of the paths Izuku goes on in the Childhood Friends AU, then perhaps it would play out like this:

If we're going back to Origins this time around...but with Izuku and Chloe instead of Marinette and Adrien...well...

That would mean Emilie is gone by this time (remember in Childhood Friends AU part one, Emilie was still alive when Izuku first moved to Paris. So it would be *count fingers* probably maybe nine years? Almost a decade would've passed. Let's assume a year before the beginning of the last year of collège, Emilie mysteriously vanished. Thus enters Hawkmoth.

BUT WAIT~!

We could maybe change that up a bit~

For example, considering we have Chat Noir!Chloe this time around, what if Hawkmoth was...I dunno...Audrey?

"But Riri, how?! Audrey is in New York at this time?!"

But that's the beauty of it~

People would think that Audrey is in New York, there is no possible way that The Queen of Style would be Hawkmoth.

"But what purpose would Audrey have the Miraculous?"

With Emilie alive, Gabriel wouldn't have use for the Miraculous.

This means that Tomoe Tsurugi might have to change targets.

And who better than a fellow woman in the rich and powerful?

Audrey would be perfect for the role considering that she is 1) Someone familiar in the "Cult of the Wealthy" if we've seen in the episode Gabriel Agreste , and 2) She is someone who also is an ambitious individual that might have goals in getting a wish.

What Audrey's wish might be, who knows?

So, in turn, Audrey is given the Butterfly Miraculous and is soon named: Queen Butterfly.

With that in mind, Audrey tries out her powers as Queen Butterfly.

Meanwhile, in Collège Françoise Dupont, a new school year has jut begun and Izuku is surprisingly in a different class than Marinette and Adrien.

Instead of being in Bustier's class, he ended up in the class of the infamous and strict Science Teacher, Olga Mendeleiev.

This caused Chloe to switch herself over to that class too.

And so, while on the way to school, Izuku spotted an old man trying to cross the road.

Naturally being the good boy he was, he helped him cross and even carried his bag for him.

"Thank you, young man. How may I ever repay you?"

Izuku assures the old man that no payment is necessary and soon waves goodbye before heading into school.

A smile was on the old man's face, straightening his posture as he walked away, satisfied and intrigued.

A few minutes later, Chloe was running late. Curses for her alarms not waking her up or Jean Claude not doing his job. Ridiculous, utterly ridiculous!

And before she got out the car, she spotted an old man on the ground, groaning in pain.

Normally, Chloe would ignore the hermit of a geezer and go on her way.

But she then paused, strangely hearing a voice of Inko Midoriya in her head saying in a soft tone:

"Have a nice day, Chloe-chan! And remember, a kindness given, will receive kindness back~"

Groaning, Chloe reluctantly helped the old man up, and asked if he was okay. Even clicking her fingers to order her driver to take the man to the nearest clinic to help him.

As she stormed away to school, and the old man was driven to some local doctor...a voice spoke inside of the man's shirt once he was alone.

"Master...I don't think she'd be a good candicate."

The man would smile, stroking at his goatee, "Who knows? Sometimes the most unlikely people have the greatest destinies."

With being in a different class, Izuku was no longer Kim's target of bullying...but that means someone else became the target.

Ivan still turns into Stoneheart after being teased by Kim.

Izuku springs into action. While he doesn't have a quirk, it didn't mean he was going to stay still! All Might would do the same!

He rushed out the doors of the school, only to be knocked down by a girl with reddish brown hair and glasses as she ran past him.

Marinette spots him, and helps him up.

"I should follow after Alya. She's new in Paris and I don't want her to get into trouble on her first day here!"

"I'll go with you."

The two soon follow after Alya, but soon were captured by the police and escorted back to their homes to be safe.

Chloe, meanwhile, was already home when she saw something shining on her vanity desk.

At the same time, Izuku was in his own room when he saw the strange looking jewellery box.

"What's that doing here?"

The two of them open it at the same time.

When Chloe first saw Plagg, she immediately screamed and started throwing stuff at him while yelling "EWWWW SOME FLYING RAT IS IN MY ROOM!"

"I'm not a flying rat. That's Mullo. And I'm hungry!"

Meanwhile, Izuku was much calmer when faced to face with Tikki.

"So...lemme get this straight...you're a Kwami, a being that has powers to give me and become a superhero?"

Tikki would smile in pride, "That is correct!"

"....Alright, tell me what I should do, Tikki-san."

Tikki is ecstatic when explaining about the Miraculous and his role as the new Ladybug holder, even though it is a first in centuries to have a male as a holder. But she liked him because of how courageous and kind he was.

"Tikki-san, Spots On!"

Thus, Izuku transforms into Tīrumushi (literally translate into Teal Bug in Japanese)

Meanwhile, it took a few more minutes for Chloe to calm down, and Plagg was feeling a headache come on.

"So...I can turn into a hero with this tacky ring?"

"It's not tacky, and yes. All you have to say is Plagg, Claws Out! to transform and then--"

"PLAGG! CLAWS OUT!"

"Wait, hold on ya brat, Ineedtoexplaaaaaaaaain---!!!"

Thus, Chloe Bourgeois turns into Féline Noire.

With being instructed by Tikki on how to use his abilities as a Ladybug Hero, Tīrumushi easily found Stoneheart and mentally started strategising on how to defeat the Akuma.

"Although...did Tikki-san not say that I would have a partner?"

As if on cue, Féline Noire rushed into the scene and kept whacking the monster like villain with her bo-staff.

"AHHHH! MISS! YOU SHOULDN'T BE DOING THAT--"

But it was too late, as Stoneheart started to grow bigger with each hit that the cat heroine inflicted.

Looking frustrated, Tīrumushi used his yo-yo to grab at Féline Noire and pulled her away from the akuma and scolded her.

"Are you out of your mind?!" The Ladybug hero chided at the bored looking feline heroine, as he untied her and folded his arms, "Now the villain is going to be even harder to defeat now!"

This caused the blonde cat to roll her eyes as she scoffed, "Well, how else were we supposed to defeat this creep, huh? Hold hands and sing kum-ba-ya to it?" She said sarcastically.

"...Unbelievable. And you're supposed to be my partner?!"

"Partner?" Féline Noire looked him up and down for a moment then snorted, "Dressed like that? Surely not. Besides, I don't work with weirdos that don't have a fashion bone in their body.

Tīrumushi smacked a hand over his masked face as he groaned, rolling his eyes upwards, as if wondering to Kami-sama on how this girl has gotten a powerful object like the Miraculous of the Cat?

Remembering how All Might had many partners in his career, Tīrumushi realizes that if they were going to defeat Stoneheart...

"We're going to have to work together--"

"No thanks."

Tīrumushi's jaws dropped, "Excuse me?"

"Listen here, Mister Spots, and listen good."

"My name is Tīrumushi--"

"I don't care what sushi you are--"

Tīrumushi breathed in quietly to reign in his temper...which is a first.

"The name is Féline Noire~ Remember that after I defeat the monster and save the day~"

"W-wait, Féline Noire, you can't just--" And the male hero sighed as he watched her pole-vault away and after Stoneheart, "...Looks like I'm going to have to think of a plan and fast."

With that said, Tīrumushi swung his yo-yo and swung after them.

It was like she forgot his warning, because soon Féline Noire kept on attacking Stoneheart once more.

When Tīrumushi arrives in the football stadium where they were, he observed them at first.

But then his eyes widened when he saw that Alya and Marinette was there also, Alya filming the whole thing and Marinette looking nervous and worried.

When Stoneheart picked up a goat post and net to throw at Féline Noire, who dodged easily and---

It felt like the world was going in slow motion.

Seeing his childhood friend in danger. Marinette was in danger.

'What am I doing? Why am I running? Why can't I stop?'

"LUCKY CHARM!"

Tīrumushi activated his powers and soon grabbed the object that appeared before him, and it was like his body moved first before his brain. He didn't know why he just suddenly started to remember his past...before he came to Paris.

"Do you think...I could...be a hero, too?"

It was a question that he would ask himself at the time. Despite not having a quirk, could he live to be a hero like All Might?

No.

Memories of his book of heroes, notes he wrote himself on each person of their strengths, weaknesses...devising plan after plan of scenarios against villains of all shapes, sizes and backgrounds...

"I can be a hero now."

Tīrumushi kicked the goal post away from the girls, watching it fly to the side and landed in front of them heroically. Alya's eyes shined in amazement while Marinette looked in wonderment.

"Are you girls okay?" The hero would ask, looking over them in concern.

Alya squealed, but then her eyes widened and pointed behind him.

"BUG BOY, LOOK OUT!"

The Ladybug hero then turned around easily as he soon rushed at the monster, holding his Lucky Charm as he then picked up a hose and held it close, and had a big smile on his face. Like All Might would. To assure the citizens he could save them with a smile.

"COME AND GET ME, VILLAIN!"

Stoneheart roared, already having captured Féline Noire and now held her in his rock-like fist, and was now making a grab for Tīrumushi next. Smirking, he let himself be captured, and then turned his head to look at Marinette.

"MISS! TURN ON THE HOSE!"

Marinette snapped out of her daze as she rushed towards the faucet that connected the hose nearby, frantically turning on the water as she watched how Stoneheart's fist opened thanks to the object of Tīrumushi's (which seemed to be some sort of diver's suit) being filled with water.

Tīrumushi spotted a dark glowing ball of paper on the ground and soon picked it up, and broke it. He saw the butterfly fluttering away, and he narrowed his eyes as he twisted his yo-yo and reached to capture it.

"No more evil doing for you, little akuma!"

He caught it, purified it as Tikki had told him, and released it.

Tīrumushi smiled as he watched the white butterfly float away happily, and waved at it.

"Bye bye, little butterfly..."

Looking towards Stoneheart, he watched as the stones crumbled away and Ivan was back to normal. Quickly with fast reflexes, Tīrumushi caught Féline Noire in his arms after she was released, then looked down at the feline heroine with a small smile.

"Well, well...what was it you said about you saving the day~?"

He was expecting some sort of back talk from the cat, but he was surprised she was quiet. The green haired hero looked down at her and saw she was staring at him strangely, mouth parted and eyes were...were they sparkling?

"Wow..." She would murmur, Tīrumushi slowly placed her down and she then flustered for a moment, "That...you did...wow..."

"You said wow, twice."

A bright smile was featured on his face, while Féline Noire looked embarrassed and huffed.

"You did exceptionally. And I...I was totally useless..."

"Well, maybe next time you'd listen to me and we could've worked together like a team," He then offered a fist bump out to her, and softened his gaze towards her, "Hopefully we won't be seeing anymore villains like that Stoneheart fellow, anytime soon. But if we do? We'll be ready, together. Okay?"

Féline Noire looked at the offered fist, then had a small smile before she connected her own towards his.

"Pound it."

Needless to say, Tīrumushi and Féline Noire thought that this was a start of something amazing.

Alya rushed towards them to get an interview, but with Tīrumushi's earrings beeping, he knew he had to go before he transform.

So, he escaped, and left Féline Noire to deal with the reporter.

Who, in turn, made the TealBlog.

Marinette, on that day, felt her heart skip a beat at the hero.

"Wow...he really was...Miraculous."

[lostuntothisworld]

Why Adrien has 2 amoks Theory: He is his own twin sister

Mister Bug: There will be a price to pay! Safari: I have nothing left to lose! Mister Bug: You do! You can lose yourself and the ones you love. You can lose anyone who loves you back. No matter who you are, there is always someone out there who loves you!

This is a theory I’ve mentioned before but it bears repeating now that we’re (hopefully) soon getting season 6.

There’s been some salt regarding the fact that Colt died so much later than Emilie, and it’s not unfounded. We don’t have an explanation for why two “identical” sentikids caused such different outcomes for their creators.

The Peacock Miraculous was broken by mysterious circumstances prior to Adrien’s creation, and I have a separate theory for that, but that’s not the point of this post.

The theory I propose is that Emilie did not create just one, but two sentimonster embryos.

We know there’s a rule that only one sentimonster can be made at a time, and maybe the second embryo created worsened the Peacock’s damage? Still haven’t ironed out the details with that yet.

Either way, Nathalie created many more sentimonsters than Emilie and Colt, she also seemed to succumb much faster after even the first sentimonster she created in Mayura. Emilie and Colt seem to be implied that they only had effects after a period of time.

Back to the theorized Adrien’s twin. What happened to them? Here’s where things get juicy.

There’s a tragic phenomenon that can happen in early multiple births, called Vanishing Twin Syndrome. It’s when an embryo passes away and leaves the second twin alone. The deceased twin is often called a sunset baby, and the surviving twin, a sunrise baby.

Typically the embryo is absorbed by the mother, or is passed, but there’s a second phenomenon called Human Chimerism where the embryo is absorbed by their twin embryo. If the twins are fraternal, that means the surviving twin has two sets of DNA.

Two amoks joined, two rings that can be combined into a single ring, and two embryos that fused together to create one child: Adrien Agreste.

Here’s where my silly theory starts to go off the rails. I think Adrien’s twin was created to be a girl. I have no evidence of any of this other than vibes, the ridiculous amount of twin characters in Miraculous, Ivan’s baggage with his baby sister (Ivan is Comerade Aioli while Adrien is Comerade Mayonnaise), and Argos calling Red Moon “his sister”.

And then there’s the undeniable truth of Adrien’s treatment in the show, due to his inherent femininity.

And then we have ANOTHER phenomenon where Adrien has XX/XY Chimerism.

There are few intersex characters in fiction, and most of them are intersex due to mystical means. XX/XY Chimerism is rare, but it’s a real condition that actual humans in the real world can have. While Adrien was created through magic, he very much would have a real condition that exists in real life.

[Obligatory link for my meta about Sentikids being an allagory for intersex kids]

Now here’s where my crack spaghetti theory turns into speculation and where I’d personally go with the story. Going to warn you now that it gets a bit angsty. Something had to be sacrificed in order for the new Universe to be created afterall.

I’ve mentioned before many times that Gabemoth made the Wish before, if not multiple times, and the entirety of the ML is a 15 year timeloop.

Where I’d personally go with the story is that in Universe Zero, Adrien’s twin sister was born and is alive. And she held the Black Cat Miraculous, while her brother held the Ladybug Miraculous.

I’d personally name them Adrienne and Celeste Agreste. In their Universe, Gabriel also created Alliance rings, but instead they were called Perfect Horizon. A play on the Sea meeting the Sky.

You can’t deny the Cat and the Ladybug BOTH being connected to Gabemoth isn’t something that would have been incredible storytelling.

Anyway, I digress.

In the finale, it isn’t the Ladybug who is alone, but the Black Cat. Gabriel has somehow found out the identities of the two heroes.

 Adrienne, in her righteous fury acts impulsively, but Gabemoth is two steps ahead of her.

Because Felix wasn’t created until a later Universe, Gabemoth is still in possession of the Peacock Miraculous. He snaps Adrienne’s twin brother from existence.

Gabemoth has either an akumatized villain or a sentimonster deliver the Ladybug miraculous to him.

In her shocked grief, Gabemoth takes Adrienne’s Black Cat Ring from her.

He makes his Wish, with Adrienne as a sacrifice… The Universe is Destroyed and Remade, and the next cycle continues.

This would give meta reason that Adrien wasn’t at the final battle: he hasn’t learned about the twin sister, the original Chat Noire that loves him so much, and still exists in his heart and DNA.

It can bring about an arc of Adrien FINALLY learning to love and accept himself, flaws and all, and take off the various masks he wears both in and out of costume.

It would ALSO give a reason for Adrien to wield both the Ladybug and Black Cat Miraculous in a later major finale battle.

Thank you for coming to my TED talk

[unecoccinellenoire]

i wish you would write a fic where … hesperia is flirting with our nathalie. she’s cool with it.

It happens in a matter of seconds. One moment she’s talking to a despondent Adrien on the sofa trying to coax out how exactly he got back to Paris from the train while the television drones on about Monarch and the next an explosion shatters the window.

Bomb, her mind screams at her.

Nathalie throws herself over Adrien instinctively, but her prostheses weigh her down and throw her off balance and when she lands it’s against the sofa without her charge in sight. And then a body lands against hers and panic that Adrien would try to protect her shoots down her spine before she belatedly registers she’s being shielded by someone larger than her not smaller.

As her saviour gently lifts her she relaxes against his purple suit, and lets her eyes rest for a second against the bright light as she inhales that soothing masculine scent of his. She might despise Gabriel right now, she might know that any safety he appears to offer is an illusion, but that doesn’t mean that illusion isn’t working for her right now.

“It’s alright madame,” he promises in a soft baritone that-

-that isn’t Monarch’s booming tones.

She opens her eyes. This isn’t Gabriel. He’d never wear just the Butterfly Miraculous when he has the rest of them, and even if he did this isn’t Hawk Moth. The mask only covers part of his place and his fair hair hangs freely over it.

Her brain buzzes in confusion. Or maybe that’s her ears ringing from the explosion. Either way she’s too out of it to come up with anything more sensible than, “safe?”

His eyes are kind but something sparks in them as he smiles. It looks familiar. It looks like how Gabriel had used to smile at Emilie before unleashing some phrase he thought was exceedingly charming.

“A place like this isn’t a good place for a pretty lady like you,” he says, “much as it’d be a pleasure to keep rescuing you I wouldn’t be much of a hero if I left you in danger like that.”

An embarrassing warmth spreads below her stomach. Flirtation isn’t wholly unfamiliar to Nathalie, for all that she’s buried in an industry where beauty is the currency and she hardly draws attention. But usually the flirtation comes loaded with ulterior motives from people who know who she is.

Then again. This man has apparently stolen the Butterfly Miraculous from Gabriel. No doubt he does know who she is and he does have ulterior motives.

She needs to get it together.

“A pleasure, Isn’t that a bit forward? I don’t even know your name.”

“Hesperia, my lady.” He looks like he’d tip a hat to her if he had one, “and yours? Is it worthy of you?”

“I don’t know about worthy. I’m Nathalie.”

“That’s a beautiful name. Like you. But I really should get you somewhere safe- I don’t like the sound of this Monarch character.”

“Monarch?” She traces the Miraculous on his chest, “didn’t you take this from him?”

“I’m sorry to dash your hopes. This isn’t my universe my dear.”

“Oh.” She studies his face, that tanned skin, those eyes, those cheekbones. “And you’re- a hero?”

She tries to imagine it. Gabriel, a hero and not a villain. Flirting with her rather than eternally loyal to Emilie. She can’t hold the image in her mind. It seems too impossible. And yet the man in front of her clearly exists, clear is a possibility.

“I try my best.” He says, still smiling.

She raises an eyebrow. “When you’re not flirting with random woman?”

Though maybe being easily distracted is a trait it’s easier to reconcile with her Gabriel. The real Gabriel. Because this man is probably someone completely different in his universe.

“Well-“

“Or am I not random? Do you know me back home?” She interrupts. If Gabriel could be a hero, could have moved on from Emilie then maybe-

“I’m afraid not. A loss I assure you. Now, I found you in Gabriel Agreste’s home. Does he have a panic room? A bomb shelter? Somewhere I can stow you safely.”

Her heart fell into her stomach. Of course he didn’t know her. Of course she was just a random distraction to him. How could she be so stupid that Gabriel still had this grip on her even as he cared more about defeating a teenager than he did about her life?

“If he did it wouldn’t be for me,” her tone was as sour as the bile in her throat. It wasn’t quite true. Gabriel had never changed the code to where Emilie lay. She could hide down there. Only she didn’t care not, “Gabriel wouldn’t care if I died.”

He’d as good as told her that. Told her that it wasn’t about Emilie anymore either.

“Nathalie, I’m sure-“

But she can’t bear to hear such reassurances from him. Screw it, she decides, and drags him down by his lapels and stops him with her mouth on his.

He’ll probably drop her and leave her here, or stop her and lecture her about the morality of kissing people without asking first. She doesn’t care right now. She needs him to stop. And she needs to indulge in the pretence offered by his flirtation. That someone could want her, love her.

She wants to kiss someone before she dies.

And she’s dying sooner rather than later.

Hesperia gasps against her. He doesn’t do any of those things she’s expected. He lets her tongue into his mouth, and he’s warm and wet and perfect and he tastes a little like Gabriel’s favourite coffee.

Nathalie is the one to stop, as another crash shakes the roof they’re on.

“You should go.” She says, “put me down somewhere on the streets. I’ll be fine. We’re used to akuma attacks here. And- sorry.”

Those infuriating eyes are all pity, “I think you needed that. I am sorry Nathalie. That you have to live through these, akuma did you call it? Attacks. For whatever this Gabriel Agreste has done to you. And that I can’t see you again. But I have-“

“Your own universe to get back to. I get it. And you wouldn’t like me if you knew me anyway.” He’s a hero after all. Nathalie is the opposite of that. “And I’ll probably already be dead by any time you might come back to this universe.”

His eyebrows drew together, the corners of his mouth drooped down, “I don’t know you Nathalie. But I can tell you that you deserved better.”

“I don’t.” She has no illusions about that. She brought this on herself when Emilie had asked them to let her go. She hadn’t even managed to succeed in saving her. And she’d failed completely to care for Adrien, and perhaps even Gabriel like she’d asked her to. “You should go.”

“Alright,” he jumped down to street level with her still cradled in his arms and then gently deposited her down on the ground, “but Nathalie, do something for me?”

“What?” What could she possibly do for him?

“Don’t lose hope.”

She’d lost that already, had lost it the moment Gabriel had admitted to not just giving his past self the USB she’d meticulously prepared.

The one she’d given him knowing it would save her and Emilie at the cost of the friendship between them because had Emilie never fallen sick they would have continued that relationship of just messages on birthdays and at Christmas that they’d had after Tibet.

Only to discover Gabriel wasn’t even willing to sacrifice his pride.

But looking at Hesperia she finds she didn’t have the cruelty to crush him with that reality. Maybe that means he isn’t Gabriel.

She sighs, “I’ll try.”

And as she watches him leap away she thinks that maybe that wasn’t entirely a lie. That maybe she has no hope for her but herself but she can hope for the Nathalie of that world, that she’s happy and will be loved back. Can hope that the heroes here will beat Gabriel and somehow Adrien can be protected through all of it. Can hope she can do enough to ensure he’s safe.

[bittersweetresilience]

félix fic recs

Spread Your Wings by @myladynoire (5,895 words)

Set before the Finale. Félix uses his Kwagatama to summon his father's memory and has a talk with him.

every wall that i knock down (is just a wall that i'll replace) by @purplecatghostposts (8,355 words)

Now it’s Félix’s turn. Adrien needs to know about his own existence before anything else and Félix wanted to have that conversation himself. Marinette didn’t argue when he told her as much. If anything, she seemed slightly relieved. Félix has been meaning to do it for a long time. Adrien had been at risk if he said anything before, not to mention it felt cruel to tell him when he would still have to bend to his father’s orders until the rings were retrieved. But Adrien wears his own amoks now, making his own choices with no one forcing him to do any of it. All physical risks are out of the way. Félix only needs to break it to him. The problem is that it never seems to actually be the right moment.

Trapped by @trishacollins (13,368 words)

Felix asks to visit Adrien earlier, worried that his twin isn't responding to him on their bond. Gabriel catches him snooping and makes some assumptions about why. It gets worse from there.

hieroglyphics by Anonymous (1,408 words)

Marinette, up late overthinking, texts Félix to ask if he'll move to Paris. (Takes place at some point between Ladybug's battle with Monarch and the pool party.)

never been in love by @bittersweetresilience (1,562 words)

Félix wonders if he has a heart. If he does, it doesn't beat like that.

orbital departure by @bittersweetresilience, @keeperofthebox (2,567 words)

While Félix is visiting, Emilie makes a suggestion.

Eat Your Young by @redundant-lava (704 words)

What was Felix doing during the season 5 finale? He came back to London to hang out with his girlfriend but is straight up not having a good time right now

Pause, Rewind, Play by @piromina (4,717 words, ongoing)

Félix paused, eyes still locked on the pocket watch she held out in anticipation. This miraculous, it meant he could travel in time. To any time he wanted. He could relive so many events, fix so many things he wished had played out differently. He could even see the future.

Amor Fati by @myladynoire (82,940 words)

In which Félix finds out he’s a Sentimonster. A long and painful self-discovery journey ensues. (And Lila is in for the ride).

Hey, Ribbons by childoflightningg (11,553 words)

Chat Noir’s transformation fell away for the last time. A feeble flicker of green, a blur of black zipping away. Ladybug wasn’t sure she wanted to see his identity, but it didn’t matter. Even if she had averted her gaze, she would have heard the gasps, the whispered name rippling through the crowd. Félix Agreste.

I Love You (for senti-mental reasons) by @redundant-lava (1,766 words)

All Gabriel Agreste wants is what is best for his family. Adrien understands this, but Felix has been persistent in interfering with his uncle’s plans, much to Gabriel’s frustration. When Gabriel finally regains possession of both the Graham de Vanilly rings, he decides to have a conversation with his nephew and persuade the boy to see things from Gabriel’s point of view (a Sentimonster story)

bad body double by Ehlihr (7,941 words, ongoing)

New year, new powers, and Marinette's new classmate are proving to be a personal challenge.

I Won't Let You by generalluxun (3,827 words)

After Gabriel's defeat, two individuals not party to the celebration run into each other, and find each other.

Checkmate by theriveroflight (1,575 words)

Running away has consequences.

(sentitwins fic recs) (feligami fic recs)

💥🦐🥂🚨 FELINETTE ZONE 🚨🥂🦐💥

annotated by ritsukies (4,351 words)

Félix and Marinette share a quiet moment together in the shared space of Adrien's bedroom.

Filling space by beforesaturn (comic)

A Felix and Marinette centric story after the death of Adrien Agreste.

Sure, Ladybug by ouijadarling (4,051 words, ongoing)

'We both know it'll happen again.' Félix is an old hand at being kidnapped, mainly because Hawkmoth thinks he and Ladybug are dating, and therefore, knows her alter ego. Every week, a new Akuma wakes him up in the middle of the night for some interrogation, and Ladybug ends up rescuing him. It's starting to get wearisome, and also, Félix has the strangest feeling that the supervillain knows him in some way. And that he's in for a hell of a time this final year of school.

Copycat by imthepunchlord (76,805 words, ongoing)

It was supposed to be quick and easy. Become Adrien Agreste for a week, steal the surviving twin ring for his mother, return and offer back the reclaimed heirloom and be a decent enough cousin that he gave Adrien a week break away from that house. That's how it was supposed to go. Of course, nothing ever goes how it's supposed to go. Not when Adrien goes AWOL on him and he finds a magical ring with a snarky little being asking him to also play hero. Lucky for the little being, Felix is curious and bored enough to try. And who knows, maybe it'll have some perks in messing with his Uncle.

There's This Club At the School by enigmatic_emperor (17,078 words, ongoing)

There's this club at the school which researches the ancient miraculi, a group of jewels that are believed to hold mythical powers. However, it only has three members! When Marinette hears that a new student is transferring to Dupont, she is more than excited to invite them to join the club in a hope that the club could have more exposure. That is, until rumours begin to spread that the new transfer student goes by the name Felix, and has some sort of affiliation with the Agreste's.

When In Paris by Lumienn (13,963 words, ongoing)

Felix comes back to Paris a year after his last eventful visit. This time, he's here to stay for much longer. Between his own personal mission, hanging out with his cousin, being a tourist, and his first Akuma attack, he's got his hands full. But then Marinette shows up... and shakes things up to a whole new level.

[princess-of-the-corner]

ML Plot Points: The Agreste family Part 1

Gabriel was born as Gabi Grassette to teen parents. One of his parents’ (which one isn’t relevant) family had a French Fry restaurant that Gabriel basically grew up in. His parents weren’t particularly good at dealing with children, so they left him either alone or with his grandparents. Unfortunately, since his grandparents were busy trying to pay for the expenses of two teen parents and a child, they were busy working and dealt with Gabriel by having him work at the restaurant (which wouldn’t have been that much of a problem on its own had it not continued).

 When he was 10 and his parents got their shit together a bit more, Gabriel got his first sibling, and was expected to help babysit them. Gabi took well to this task, so his parents started “letting” him take care of his sibling and the two other siblings that came after.  He was also responsible enough to babysit some of the neighbours’ kids, help with the restaurant and do odd jobs for people every now and then. He was smart and managed to get high grades, so it wasn’t a problem for him. Even if he didn’t really have a lot of time to interact with other kids his age, he was fine.

When Gabi turned 18, he changed his name and went no contact with his family. He never told them what happened to him. He never reached out. They don’t know what happened to him.

As an adult, Gabriel has a hard time empathizing with people around him, especially children. When he married Emilie, he didn’t really want kids, but Emilie convinced him. She said he was “just nervous” and that “he’d love their child as soon as they had him”. Gabriel always stayed in the background when raising Adrien, letting Emilie and Nathalie take charge of him. It wasn’t a problem. Some people just show their love in different ways.

Except Gabriel doesn’t love Adrien. He never really has. He doesn’t hate Adrien by any stretch of the imagination, but for his whole life, Adrien has been “Emilie’s child”. After Emilie’s “disappearance”, Gabriel basically ignored him because he has never been involved or invested. He’ll continue to take care of him, he’ll continue to go with Emilie’s intentions towards him, but he’s not parent material. Never really has been. 

Gabriel acts as a reflection of Marinette. A talented, smart, responsible child who is given a lot of responsibility by the adults around him and who has a hard time empathizing with others. The difference is that Marinette’s character arc led her to start relying on people, whereas Gabriel just burned all his bridges. Gabriel also has a lot of issues when handling children that were just ignored or steamrolled through by Emilie without being addressed. This is why he doesn’t interact with Adrien and treats him like an employee more than like his child. 

That said, of the three adults in Adrien’s life, he’s the most willing to give him his freedom though. When Adrien sneaked out of the house to go to school, Gabriel agreed to let him be enrolled. When Adrien started missing photoshoots and official events to be with his friends (fight akumas), and asked to be given more time, Gabriel was fine with it. Gabriel was never too involved with raising Adrien, but every time he gets involved in the story, he starts to realize he unknowingly put Adrien thought the same thing he hated, and he’s trying to both give him more freedom while simultaneously staying within the same things Emilie did, which isn’t compatible.

Emilie Agreste, née Graham de Vanily.

 Emilie was born to British aristocracy, with all the expectations that come from that. “Act this way”, “that activity is not the proper one for one of your station”, “these are the people you should be interacting with” … And Emilie hated it. Her parents had her whole life planned out and the worst part is that her sister didn’t mind it, so her parents always had someone to compare her to.

Emilie went to a French college to get away from her parents and met Gabriel at a party that Harry threw and that she went to specifically because “wasn’t proper”. They quickly hit it off and were a thing for basically their entire time at college.

As an adult, Emilie finally had the chance to take control of her life. She could have the husband and girlfriend she loved, cool magic powers that she could have fun with and the child she always wanted. She didn’t get to have control of her life for a very long time, so now she’s justified in getting what she wants. Gabriel will come around about Adrien, she’s sure of it. And he’s so cute too, so eager to please and pose in photos. He’s the best child she could have asked for. Life is great. 

And then she went into a coma.

Emilie acts as a reflection of Adrien. Like Adrien, she never really had control of her life and had every facet of her life chosen for her. Like Adrien, she used the first chance she got to have a fairytale magical romance with the two most important people in her life. It’s even literally magical thanks to Nathalie. The difference is that while Adrien’s character arc involved becoming more responsible and, while still using magic as escapism somewhat, knows when things were serious and how to act in those situations. Emilie never got a wakeup call and just continued acting like her actions were justified and without consequence. She’s basically saltfic Chat Noir, but more subtle about it.

+ Bonus: Amelie Fathom née Graham de Vanily

I mentioned in Emilie’s part that Amelie is less concerned about the way her parents act towards her. This caused some friction but nothing too terrible. The fact that Amelie helped her steal the twin rings for her wedding with Gabriel helped.

She married Colt because her parents told her to, but she didn’t necessarily have a problem with it. Colt works as the head of a weapons manufacturing company with deals in the US and is newer money than her. They treated their marriage as a professional transaction and Amelie went to a therapist to sort out her pre-existing issues about her parents.

 When Amelie found out she was infertile, Emilie came to her and told her about the magical peacock brooch she had, even demonstrating the power beforehand so Amelie knows she’s not kidding, and helped her get a child.

Felix wasn’t an easy child. He was skittish and slow to trust. He rarely let anyone other than her touch him and he was clearly uncomfortable around his father. The few times Felix told her about things he only told her that he had a bad feeling about Colt and that even he wasn’t sure why, so she just tried to act as a mediator between the two. She knows Colt is a bit weird around Felix because of his… unorthodox conception, but he’s their child, and she knows Colt does love him.

When she learned that the brooch was making her sister sick, Amelie did everything in her power to help them, be it with money or resources, but eventually, her sister was gone. She grieved, obviously, but she was content with her life. And while she had her suspicions about who this “Hawkmoth” figure in Paris was, she technically didn’t know anything. Gabriel never told her. There’s no reason for her to say anything that could put “undeserved attention” on her brother-in-law.

Then her son killed her husband, and she learned that Colt was an abusive bastard. This messed her up significantly more than everything to do with Emilie because she lived in that house with him for years and never even noticed something was up. She was guilt ridden. And she will do whatever is necessary to help Felix.

 Amelie is not a reflection of anyone, she just is, and she genuinely had no idea what Colt was doing to Felix. “How could she not notice”, you ask. Simple; Felix, as a sentimonster, has a healing factor that gets rid of any physical wounds, and since Colt had the amok, he could erase any memories of it so even Felix wasn’t sure what the hell was going on. Amelie tried to be a mediator, but realistically, without knowing what the issue really is, there’s precious little she could do. And Colt is a charming bastard to anyone other than Felix.

I’ll be sending another post with Nathalie’s whole deal.

-

Good for Felix! But GOD everyone else

[twisted-art-wounders]

Marinette Dupain-Cheng The village baker and seamstress; Marinette does any different jobs around her village to make ends meet while dealing with the abuse spouted out by the noble Lady Chloe. Kind and creative Marinette does her best to help when she can, after helping a strange traveller she is gifted with a magical seed that grew into a small fairy who presented her a pair of magical earrings that could perform a miracle. Once she climbed to the top of a giant beanstalk she discovered a giant castle occupied by a giant named Adrien. At first she doesn't trust the giant (since he is friends with Chloe after all) but after making a deal with him to teach him how to bake bread in exchange for treasures she can use to help pay off Chloe, she starts to see how kind and gentle he really is.

After some time she convinces him to come with her back to the village and at first everyone is terrorized of him, but soon he starts to show off his kindness and helps the village to thrive.

(Prince) Adrien Agreste The giant that lives in the clouds; Adrien was once a happy prince set to inherit his mother's kingdom come his 18th birthday but tragically on his 16th birthday Adrien would lose his both his mother and his freedom. He was cursed and grow to a monstrous size that caused the total collapse of their castle which killed his mother. With his new found size Adrien was dazed and confused as he almost destroyed the kingdom but his father King Gabriel used a powerful spell and sent Adrien into the clouds where he'd soon live. 5 years would pass and Adrien was forced to live a new life among the clouds, while he had shelter, food and clothing thanks to his father he was also isolated and kept away form all humans as he father told him his presence among them would cause unrest.

With only Chloe as a visitor and rarely seeing his father anymore Adrien become more lonely then ever until he met Marinette. At first it was hard to get her to trust him but eventually the two started to bond over their baking and started to become close. Marinette convinces him to come back with her to her village.

King Gabriel Agreste The current King of the land of Graham de Vanily; after the great tragedy that befell the kingdom 5 years ago Gabriel become a recluse and stayed within his newly rebuilt palace after the death of his wife and disappearance of his son. While not of royal blood himself Gabriel is a gifted spell caster and using his powers he decided to punish his rotten brother in law by cursing his nephew Felix to become wild and uncontrollable. The spell seemed to backfire and made both Felix and Adrien grow to monstrous sizes and destroy both castles; causing Queen Emilie's death. Trying to hide the truth Gabriel used a powerful spell to send Adrien into the clouds creating a land form him to live on and to keep him away form the people of the land who he knew would blame him for the great tragedy. He then came up with the story of the monster that attacked both kingdoms and stole away prince Adrien.

Gabriel never told Adrien about the cause of his mother's death but did tell him in order to keep himself and world safe he'd have to live in the sky where no one would see him. Meanwhile Gabriel looked far and wide to find a away to bring his fallen queen back to life, he eventually discovered that a pair of powerful magical objects could grant the wish of anyone who held both items. Gabriel became consumed with finding those objects, neglecting Adrien and his kingdom causing the nobles to become more power hungry and driven. Lady Chloe Bourgeois Part of one of noble families that rule over Marinette's village; Chloe is spoiled and full of herself she'll do anything to get what she wants. She threatens both Marinette and her village with the fear of a giant she has full command over. She's Adrien's only friend at first and tricks him into believing she is a kind and caring person and tells him to help her hold onto all the treasures the villages pay her. She works closely with King Gabriel to keep Adrien locked away and keep the villages in order. Lady Kagami Tsurugi One of the nobles that rule over the smaller villages; Kagami was hired by the former queen Amelie to help her son the former prince of the fallen kingdom. Kagami and Felix set out together to find the truth about what King Gabriel is after and why he cursed Felix. Kagmai is very capable and strong she's able to command armies and fight on even footing with the strongest swordsmen. She starts become close to Felix and he treasures her as both a close friend and a lover. Prince Felix Fathom The son of the former queen Amelie; at the age of 16 he was cursed by an evil spell that caused him to grow to a monstrous size, in a fit of rage and confusion he destroyed the castle killing his father and destroyed the rest of the kingdom. After his rampage he and his mother had to abandon their kingdom and go into hiding, Felix continued to grow as he aged but managed to stay hidden thanks to his mother's powers. Felix soon discovered that the curse that made him grow and have a rampage was caused by his uncle King Gabriel. He decided to set out and find out what really happened to his cousin the long lost prince Adrien. He knew Adrien was also cursed and wanted to free him form his uncle's control, his mother enlisted the help of the noble woman Kagami Tsurugi to accompany Felix on his quest and find the true intentions of the corrupt King.

[plumsaffron]

Lmfao, Gabriel Agreste’s hair is like a cockatoo’s arse (I recall in one fanfic Emilie pointed it out during her drunken state while she ranted about how awful he is. And her boyfriend/Adrien’s new dad, an OC, comforted her the best he can, reassuring her that she shouldn’t blame herself for falling for Gabriel’s lies.) His villain attire is also ugly. (Then again in that same fanfic series, another character called HawkMoth condom/head or smth.)

Whelp lol, now I also get why you called the fandom fugly. It’s not just the characters having ugly uncanny designs but the canon and fandom attitudes. There’s no going back and there’s no fixing it thanks to certain fandom incidents we know of.

Thou NGL, I’d rather pick different Gabriels from other series even if those guys aren’t the best bc they’d probably not abuse their own kid(s). Unfortunately, Gabriel has become one of the many tarnished names in fiction thanks to ML…

Damn when I think of Gabriel’s hair I think of

Or this

He got that onion hair pacman hairline and the rest of his hair ends up looking like a rug or towel or cloth.

[sorcerystudios-writing]

The Heroes of Paris: Le Fanclub de Guitar Vilain

by Nakira Taisho

Date Posted: (2024-08-01)

Chapters: 25/28

Fandom: Miraculous Ladybug

Rating: General Audiences

Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply

Relationships: Adrien Agreste | Chat Noir & Marinette Dupain-Cheng | Ladybug

Characters: Marinette Dupain-Cheng | Ladybug, Chloé Bourgeois, Gabriel Agreste | Papillon | Hawk Moth, Original Kwami Character(s), Original Miraculous Ladybug Character(s)

Additional Tags: Gabriel Agreste Is Not Hawk Moth, Emilie Agreste Has a Different Name, Kwami Swap, Fox!Adrien, Chloé Bourgeois Redemption, Chloé Bourgeois has DID (Dissociative Identity Disorder), Peacock!Gabriel, Series Rewrite, Fake Dating, Bustier salt, will include some post s3 characters, Alya Salt

Series: Part 1 of What We Mean to Be

Summary: Jagged Stone is pestered into becoming a victim of Hawkmoth

[logically-asexual]

Love like you

summary:

Betterfly finds himself in a confrontation with Shadybug and Claw Noir inside the Agreste Mansion of the alternate universe they traveled to. Nathalie is in her bedroom processing the fact that Gabriel has finally lost it. Their journeys unexpectedly cross when Betterfly akumatizes Nathalie by accident.

Read on AO3

Chapter 3

| First | | Previous | | Next |

words: 2,010

As she sat on a cozy couch, reading an adventure novel she had never heard of before and drinking a warm cup of tea, Nathalie realized she got exactly what she had wished for the night before. She got to spend the entire day in this quiet and peaceful place, finally allowing herself to rest and forget about everything.

After passing out, which was funnily the only way she could get some sleep, Betterfly carried her to lay on the couch of the library while he went back to finish what he had been doing in Nathalie’s universe. At sunrise she woke up, not long before Gabriel returned and explained the situation to her. The existence of parallel worlds and portals between them was a lot to take in but Nathalie was now used to magic affecting her life in the most unexpected ways.

The most unnerving part was how similar yet so different her Gabriel and the one keeping her company here were. Apparently their decisions had been almost the same for most of their lives, but the Gabriel from this universe, which was oppressed by some mysterious entity he didn’t want to discuss, resolved by himself that he had to use his powers for the greater good after he lost his wife.

The fact that Emilie was gone here, as well, wasn’t easy to hear. It forced Nathalie once again to confront her own reality, to question the meaning of it all. Earlier that night, Gabriel’s behavior and his resolution that inflicting pain on others would be worth it in the name of love stopped being impressive for Nathalie and began seeming crazy. Now perhaps she had to go further and accept that the whole endeavor to rewrite destiny wasn’t a good idea from the start.

She was grateful that she was able to reflect on all this with a clear head, now that she didn’t have to worry about what Gabriel was doing. She did have to tell the Gabriel from this universe about her own, particularly the explanation for why she confused Betterfly with the other Gabriel Agreste. When told that the origin of Hawk Moth, who would later become Monarch, was the loss of Emilie to a magical illness, he bitterly understood the other man, aware that Monarch’s path could have been his own, too.

She didn’t talk about Mayura. Despite obviously being unable to walk, she chose to pretend she was just tired. Now this act of service she did for Gabriel seemed less heroic and more foolish and embarrassing.

Nathalie should go back to her own Gabriel eventually. Still, when Betterfly asked in the morning if he should take her back home, she replied that she wanted to stay just a little longer. It would be the first real vacation she’d have in so long, if it could be called that. Ironically, forgetting about the miraculous was only possible when she had another version of the miraculous that she could shift her focus to instead.

It was interesting to learn how Betterfly’s power worked. From his explanations and what she found in books within arms’ reach in his library, it seemed to Nathalie that the power was just the same as Hawk Moth’s, but due to their circumstances neither of them had tried to use the opposite type of emotion that they had become used to from the start, and the different names for the butterflies and the process was just a side effect of this. She was convinced they were just different old translations of the same original word in the code of the guardians.

Despite her curiosity, she made an effort to stop investigating and take advantage of the time she had. While Gabriel was out helping the Ladybug and Black Cat kids from this world as they settled into a new independent life as vigilantes, Nathalie stayed in to relax. She scanned the collection of fictional stories on the bottom shelf and settled for a space travel adventure. At least with that she had no experience.

Later Gabriel brought her a tea set when he arrived, before leaving the room again to greet his son returning home from school.

This place was calm like the eye of a hurricane. Betterfly’s world faced a more intimidating enemy, with more powerful control over the miraculous holders, and his work as the starter of what he hoped could become a revolution seemed more dangerous than the daily fight Ladybug and Cat Noir had against a random akumatized citizen. Nevertheless, when he was home he was smiling. peaceful and confident that he was doing what was best. Nathalie had never expected the Agreste mansion to feel so warm and comforting, but she feared what The Supreme, whoever that was, could do to her the moment she stepped outside if they knew who she was.

Gabriel came back and sat on the couch. Nathalie could tell he was exhausted, despite trying to appear as if he wasn’t. It was Gabriel after all, and he had the same tells. She finished the last sentences of the book in her hands, put it down, and shuffled slightly closer to him.

“How was your day?” she asked. She swallowed the “sir” at the end of the sentence that wanted to come out by habit.

“Certainly not as stressful as last night.” He thought for a moment. “I’m glad your Ladybug and Cat Noir helped my kids break free from their fear of The Supreme, but I’m still not sure how I could work together with them after being alone for so long.”

“It’s good to have help.” She smiled. “And now you can have information from the inside.”

“I do. I hope they agree to stay undercover, it would be very useful.”

“It would also be safer for them than a public rebellion that would make them a target. For you as well. In fact, it might be good not to let them in on all your secrets yet, if The Supreme is in control of the kwamis like you said.”

Gabriel nodded, then sighed. “You’re right. I hadn’t thought of that.”

He stayed in thoughtful silence for a moment. Nathalie got the teapot and poured a cup for him, which he accepted.

“I’m sorry,” he said as he put the cup down. “I didn’t want to worry you with more problems related to the miraculous.”

“It’s fine, really. I can’t begin to express how grateful I am that you let me stay here a while.”

“It’s nothing, I’m just as glad to have you here.” He placed a hand on top of hers.

Nathalie admired the way his platinum hair glowed under the sunset rays coming from the window. That in addition to his eyes that had known darkness yet persevered hopeful and the warm smile on his face made her feel at home.

“Are you hungry? I can arrange for dinner to be brought up here for us if you want.”

That made her pause. “You’re not eating with your son?”

Gabriel looked sheepishly to the floor. “I… Adrien… Well, he prefers being alone.”

“He does?”

“Emilie’s death was hard for both of us. I’ve tried to cheer him up but he just gets angry at me. I’ve found for now that it’s better to give him some… space.”

“I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to intrude.”

“No, it’s fine. You’re just concerned for our wellbeing. You’re just like my own Nathalie, but back then I was angry, too, and I didn’t understand her good intentions.”

Every time he brought up his world’s version of Nathalie he talked about “back then.” Though he did use the present tense when talking about her, so she wasn’t dead. They must not have spoken in a while. Maybe years, because apparently something happened between them before he became a superhero.

She held his hand tighter.

Though Nathalie liked being here with Gabriel now and seeing that he had learned from his mistakes, she couldn’t help but understand her other self’s decision to leave, just like Nathalie should have left her own boss long ago. Nathalie was aware it wasn’t good for her and yet she stayed and made everything worse not just for her, but for the entire Agreste family. Apparently she was born in the universe where everyone was a little more stupid.

“I see things more clearly now,” Gabriel continued. “You’re— I mean—, she is the most loyal person I’ve ever met, it was only under the extreme stress I must have put her through that she was forced to go away. Before that she was always there for me. She always knew what to say to make things easier. I never appreciated her as much as she deserved. Then she left,” his voice cracked. “And now you’re here I just… I missed you.”

This admission of Gabriel’s feelings towards her caused Nathalie’s heartbeat to cease for a moment.

“Gabriel, I…”

She wanted to reply in some way but she couldn’t find the words. He had said something she had always dreamed of hearing but never expected the man to utter.

“I don’t know what happened in this Paris but… I’ll always be there for you, because I want to. You have also given me so much. Thanks to you I have learned so much, I’ve traveled the world, and I’m— I was part of a lovely family, something I had never really had. You showed me what true love was.”

Gabriel blinked in surprise and Nathalie had to stop herself to rewind her words, as they had been pouring out of her mouth without her thinking any of them through.

“Did— Did you…?”

Nathalie finally caught up and felt a red blush spread across her face. “No! I mean— I meant you and Emilie. You both, uh, inspired me.”

“Oh.” Now he was blushing, too.

Nathalie bit her lip to force herself to stay quiet.

After an excruciating minute of avoiding eye contact and hoping the house would start crumbling again, she was forced to look up when Gabriel spoke up.

“You… look just as beautiful as I remember.”

She noticed his hand never left hers. “You look well, too. Happiness suits you.”

Gabriel lifted a hand towards his chest, touching just below where Nathalie knew the brooch was hidden. “Hey... Since we’re both here now. May I try something? I probably won’t get a chance like this ever again so, just once, to satisfy this… curiosity. I— I can tell you feel the same.”

“What do you mean?” She was beginning to get the unspoken idea before even finishing the question, when she noticed Gabriel leaning in closer.

“May I?” he asked when his face was just millimeters apart from hers.

Nathalie nodded.

He pressed his lips to hers gently, as if he was worried he would break her with even a little force. It lasted a second and then he began pulling away, but Nathalie chased after him. She wouldn’t ever get a chance like this again either, she couldn’t waste it. Luckily he reciprocated her effort.

Gabriel’s skin was as soft as she expected. She had felt his hands before for fleeting moments but it couldn’t compare to cradling his face and keeping the warmth from his mouth close to her.

She sighed, feeling a weight lift from her shoulders as she allowed herself to love him outwardly. She felt him use that short moment to smile, before pulling her back in.

Nathalie never thought she would kiss Gabriel Agreste and if she ever did she thought it would be an awkward experience, with Gabriel showing the same apprehension he did whenever they got too close, and Nathalie worrying about what the world would think.

Now, however, there was no need for reservation. No impact to worry about in either of their worlds, because no one had to know that they had met or what they were doing, and Gabriel was more than eager to focus on her and nothing else. They were free.

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[ct-multifandom]

Hey so there was this theory with the pic of Emilie and Gabriel looking at lil Adrien and I just wanted to ask you if you could explain it a bit more clearly cuz this theory sounds absolutely insanely fantastic and id like to understand it properly,thanks sm

Hi! Sorry for the very late response. I’m still not caught up on the show, so I’m probably missing many details, and for that reason I’d like to open this post up to other people to discuss because I think the things I noticed in prior seasons have become more relevant with the s5 finale.

the Amelie vs Emilie “theory”

For the new people, about a year ago I made two posts in response to the s4 episodes Wishmaker and Gabriel Agreste pointing out things that caught my eye regarding the twins.

All in all I don’t have much of a solid conclusion for the “theory” which is why it’s so confusing. It’s mostly a compilation of details I thought were strange and potentially foreshadowing a future plot twist. I’ll list some below.

In Wishmaker, Adrien’s baby memory depicts his mother with blue eyes and his father with green eyes. Astruc claims this was an error, which might be true.

Many depictions of Emilie have her in black and white. For example, the movie she starred in was B&W, and Felix and Kagami’s award winning indie film was all B&W, plus their eye colors didn’t change anyway under the masks

When Gabriel made the wish, Emilie didn’t open her eyes, she stayed dead

In the first post I pointed out that Emilie and Amelie are wearing different colored blazers, although I believe Astruc has since also said that’s insignificant. Once again dk if that’s true or not. In Andre’s dream box, he has headshots of supposedly young Tomoe and either Emilie or Amelie, but she’s wearing Amelie’s blazer.

Of course, since I’ve made those posts, we’ve seen actual scenes of Gabriel and his wife where she clearly has green eyes

I want to put emphasis on this because I’ve never seen anyone except me mention it: in the episode Gabriel Agreste, Gabriel’s tablet falls and breaks due to Marino’s antics. Amelie and Felix are the only guests to arrive AFTER this and NOT get their finger prints scanned.

Most recently, the writers commented on the finale. They said that Emilie has not come back to life, but intentionally avoided specifying who was at the pool party in the big sunhat. This would lead us to just say it’s Amelie then, but the vagueness makes me wonder.

The writers also suggested they left the contents of Gabriel’s wish vague on purpose to pull some twist. They said you’d think it just healed Nathalie’s illness, but that’s not all, and there’s a trick to it.

Minor note, but the whole reason people were confused about the swimsuit woman’s identity is because the leaked texture reference page for her character model was labeled Emilie. Either they changed the story, had a spelling mixup, or [insert conspiracy]

Adding on, after the first post I made, someone sent me old concept art of Adrien’s mom simply labeled “Adrien’s mother”. Either they didn’t come up with her name yet back then, or [insert conspiracy]

So at the end of the day, I have some level of confidence that they’re planning something with these GDV twins, but every explanation I can come up with for it sounds kinda crazy. Perhaps the most straightforward thing I can suggest is that the two swapped places early on in the overall plot? Idk. I’d love to hear other people’s ideas no matter how crazy. Maybe Gabriel wished for Emilie’s ghost to possess Amelie, awaken in the dead of night, and carry on his legacy of throwing plastic trash directly into the river. Who even is Emilie? Who’s Amelie? I’m excited to see where it all goes.

[exammole]

My changes to Miraculous for my rewrite: Season 0

Part 2: Story

Part 1: Magic System

Note: Although I will be using the show as a base, with a lot of the storybeats being in this rewrite. I’ll also be changing and adding new stuff to it.

Also I’m realising this just now, I’ll probably have to change my plan. Instead of putting Magic System, Plot, Characters into three posts. I’ll be spreading the Plot between 5 different posts for every season in this rewrite.

Order of the Guardians

Kwami are the celestial beings that embody the various components of Gimme, the god of Reality, all Kwami are extensions of them and are created whenever a new concept is created. Tikki and Plagg would be the first to be born, being gifted the specific power that if their domains were ever to cross, she’d be summoned.

The Kwami would soon wish to be apart of the world they helped define, so Gimme would grant a human the power to give them physical form 2000 years ago. This man would become the first Mage. This mage would first created 7 Miraculous, magic jewellery that could give Kwami a physical form; these Kwami would be Tikki, Plagg, Nooroo, Wayzz, Trixx, Pollen and Duusu, followed by many more during his lifetime. He would pass this skill onto his children, who would pass it down to theirs, and so fourth.

This would be the beginning of the ‘Order of the Guarduans’, which at the time consisted of Mages and their non magical famiy members, who would become blessed by Gimme to become Guardians. But would eventually grow out and become a secret society hidden in Tibet. Attempts were made to globalise the Order, but the Witch Trials of Massachusetts would prove to dangerous.

An attempt to recreate the Kwami was made, creating the Prodigious and the Renlings as a result, but the power would prove to dangerous for use and be kept under the protection of Mei Shi, created by Gimme to ward off use.

Fu Wang

In 1919 a young Wang Fu would be training to become a Guardian. Fu was excruciatingly hungry during this session, so he’d use the Peacock Miraculous to create a sentimonster to send him food. His anger towards being a Guardian fueled it’s creation, and went on an eating spree destroying everything. The only survivors were Fu, some Grimoires, the 7 main Miraculous (with the Peacock being lost). And Su-Han who hid in Fluff’s pocket dimension before the jewel was destroyed, along woth all the items already being held within.

(In this rewrite Fluff’s power is Abduction, and has access to a pocket dimension. This pocket dimension isn’t bound to time)

Fu would start travelling the world, holding immense trauma and guilt on his shoulders. He would find his way to Paris in 1938, meeting a girl called Marianne Lenoir. The two would fall in love, with Fu telling her about the Miraculous later on into their friendship. 1940’s Paris happened and Fu would insist her to come with him to London, but she refused and stayed in Paris. He would gift her the Butterfly Miraculous to aid her, and he didn’t tell her his feelings that night. Marianne would use the Butterfly to bevome Delias.

Four years later he would come back for her, but when he found out Marianne had fell for another man he couldn’t bare the hurt anymore and left without retrieving the Butterfly, let alone saying a word.

The Agreste’s and Graham de Vanily’s

Marianne and her soon to be husband Jules Grassette (he’s a new character) would get married a few years later with a son called Gabi. Gabi would start to get into fashion, meeting Natalie and Emilie in school (Dupont). Gabi would grow up to be a tailor, getting engaged to Emilie after graduation, and the three would remain close for years to come.

Gabi would change his name to Gabriel Agreste years later, after getting big after he helped Andre Bourgeois impress Audrey. Around the same time he’d be given the Butterfly Miraculous as an heirloom from his parents who would’ve died. This is where him, Emilie and Natalie would first learn of the Miraculous.

Emilie was the eldest daughter of the Graham de Vanily’s, an aristocratic family in Paris, followed by her twin sister Amelie. Emilie was very rebellious, and her marriage with a humble tailor got her removed from the inheritance. This would leave Amelie in line, amd she’d be married off too billionaire Colt Fathom.

Both sisters would desire to have children, but as both were infertile Her, Gabriel and Natalie would begin their search for a way. They’d come into contact with Tomoe Tsurugi, the owner of tech company Tsurugi Industies, who would give them a Grimoire in agreement that Gabriel would join the Affluent Society (rich people controlling the world club.) With the Grimoire and with the aid of Nooroo, the three would find the destroyed remains of the Order and locate the location of the Peacock.

Some years would go by, Emilie would use the Miraculous, becoming Peahen. Creating Adrien with the use of a power she was not ready for. Colt eventually used the Miraculous himself to create Felix, jealous that his family didn’t have an heir first. Jumping to a power that they were not trained for, both Emilie and Colt broke the Peacock in use, which started draining their life force. The two would die during Adrien and Felix’s childhoods, Gabriel shutting himself in his house trying to find a way to reverse the effect of the Peacock, and to bring his wife back from death.

[star-dust-n-astral-wind]

So Let's Talk About Emilie Agreste!

Of all the characters in the needlessly convoluted and badly explained backstory of Miraculous: The Tales Of Ladybug and Chat Noir, one character stands out as a paragon of "...wait, what?" And that person is Emilie Agreste.

Emilie Agreset is the wife of Gabriel Agreste, AKA Hawk Moth, AKA Scarlet Moth, AKA Shadow Moth, AKA Monarch, AKA the Collector, and probably a few others but I think six different names is enough.

Emilie is also the mother of Adrien. This is surprisingly unimportant, considering that Adrien is ostensibly one of our co-leads.

Exactly who Emilie was as a person and her role in the backstory is shrouded rather heavily in mystery. We have some facts, but not a whole lot.

One thing to note is that everyone seems to hold Emilie in pretty high regard, with basically everyone that knew of her throwing out at least one compliment about her.

But was she a good person? Really?

We know that Adrien was isolated for his whole childhood. We also know that (despite what may be assumed from Season 1) Emilie died (or was in a coma? I feel that was never really made clear) only a short time before the events of Origins. We even have a "one hundred week anniversary" at one point, so this wasn't a thing that happened a long time ago.

So was Emilie okay with the isolation, or could she just not dissuade Gabriel? Did she sign off on her son becoming a model (something that has a long and troubled history), or was she overpowered by her husband?

And what actually took her down? As I said before, we're horribly lacking on what I'd consider key details about the backstory. We know she used the damaged Peacock Miraculous at least once in the past, but all evidence suggests that was several years ago. When Nathalie used it, she was crippled within hours, something that we're not told happened to Emilie.

All in all, exactly who Emilie was as a person and even what happened to her is something we really don't know for sure. Which I personally find to be really annoying, as she's arguably the single most important character in the entire backstory of the show! Nearly everything that happens across the entire first five seasons can be tied back to her!

So who was Emilie Agreste and what actually happened to her? We just don't know, not for sure at least.

[lostuntothisworld]

An updated List of ML Crack Theories I Am Considering, part 1

Part 2 here

Adrien has never eaten a potato

Adrien is going to wear a white version of this jacket for the second story arc.

There were at least 3 different Ladybugs before Maribug and the whole show is a 15 year timeloop.

Adrien was a previous Ladybug and Felix was a previous Chat Noir, but not at the same time. Felix is actually the rogue Chat Noir Su-Han should have been worried about.

Adrien/Felix, Emilie/Amelie, and Gabe/Colt were originally one single person. Certain previous Wishes via Gabemoth or someone else split them all up into two people, and the previous Ladybugs lost their humanity and became sentimonsters.

The two disguises Lilamoth wears in season 5 were previous Ladybugs she stole the lives of.

Marinette became a sentimonster in the Wish because someone Wished to be human (probably Gabe or Colt), and all the actual changes in the Universe happened off screen, and the show's trajectory/story itself is unchanged.

Colt was brought back to life with the Wish and is in cahoots with Tomoe. He is also technically the same person as Gabriel

The lighning behind Lilamoth in the season 5 finale has to do with Colt Fathom

The United Heroes are too detailed not to be important later

The moon represents Adrichat, and maybe also the previous Ladybugs, and not the Love Square or LadyNoir like the fandom theorizes

We've already met the people who are The Supreme

Derision was a red herring and NOT completely the reason Marinette has issues with love

Anne-Jeanne Theoxanne du Bocquale is a time traveling adopted daughter of Lukadrien or Marigami Adrienette

Bob Roth is gonna make good on his promise that Luka is going to sing for him no matter what.

Adrien's bedroom in the Agreste Mansion was originally the Master Suite

Adrien is going to intern at the Dupain-Cheng bakery. It will not end well.

Luka is going to work for the new flower shop next door, by doing flower deliveries. This will end better because of... reasons.

The ring Felix gave Kagami isn't actually her amok, but an identical copy.

Luka's nightmare (which we never find out in the season 5 finale, oddly enough) is that his actions reveal Ladybug and Chat Noir's identities, Monarque finds out, takes advantage of this and secures the Miraculous and makes his wish... Somehow Luka finds out about Ephemeral, and is horrified that his actions caused the end of the world. He goes to Marinette and she tells him that "the timeline doesn't exist anymore," so he shouldn't feel bad that his actions caused the wish to occur. "Everyone makes mistakes." We as the audience know she is trying to make herself feel better about her choices in the season 5 finale. She begins a word salad about how even Chat Noir flooded the entire planet and nearly destroyed the universe in Chat Blanc, but the timeline no longer exists and it's all okay now! So now both boys know they ended the world in deleted timelines.

The main conflict of season 6 will be the reveal of Ephemeral and Chat Blanc. Season 7 will end in revealing The Truth to Adrien. Season 8 will be about figuring out how to sever Adrien's connection to his amoks, and the Peacock Miraculous.

Luka will be the one to reveal The Truth to Adrichat

Luka will help Adrien sever his connection to his amoks and the Peacock Miraculous. The Miraculous Ladybugs can't bring back a sentimonster after the amok has been destroyed, but Second Chance can give them infinite tries to figure out how to sever the connections.

Human sentimonsters can do and be anything a normally created person can do EXCEPT reproduce. Sentimonsters cannot create life.

The Peacock Miraculous broke from whoever created Kagami. There's something poetic about a girl named mirror is the one who was created to be perfect and the image of a broken mirror.

Adrien is his own dead twin sister, which is why he has two amoks

Adrien was not his original planned name. He was actually named after his dead twin sister Adrienne, once his parents learned he was connected to both amoks. I'm partial to his original planned name being Celeste, which is a unisex name in France.

Emilie and Amelie (identical twins) are both sentimonsters who share one amok (The moonstone star brooch that Emelie wears)

The actual moon is a sentimonster, and Adrien will time-travel 4 billion years into the past to recreate the Theia Impact in a future season after a long character arc of personal growth, healing, and accepting The Truth. (I'll admit this one is more wishful hoping than anything else lmao)

Ladynoir is dead. Marichat is dead. Ladrien is dead. I think they're going to kill Adrienette sooner rather than later.

Adrien falls in love (or thinks he falls in love) with Marinette due to an amok order by a time traveling Lilamoth. (Adrienette getting together pretty much opened the way for Gabe to get his wish, and thus Lilamoth's acquisition of the Butterfly Miraculous.)

After a rewatch, and studying the transcript, I think there's a possibility Maribug would have kept The Truth from Adrien even if Gabe never asked her to.

Gabe failed his redemption character arc of moving on and letting go of Emilie. Emilie's dying wish was for Gabe to move on, properly parent Adrien, and allow him to choose his own happiness. Instead, Gabe made his own wish in order to be with her in death, abandoning Adrien. But before he did that, he gave Marinette his blessing to be with his son, with stipulations that she never tell him The Truth. I think Gabe ALSO passed on his failed character arc to Marinette. She is going to have to learn to let Adrien go.

Felix is a morally gray antihero who will actually get a proper backstory and redemption. He is working for Colt but he doesn't want to. This is just a pipedream tho lol

Lukadrien and Marigami are endgame