#I just talked about it to my friend the other day how Lila is literally the only person who domesticated Chloé

[iwasbored777]

Every time Chloé is being extra and Lila is telling her to tone it the fuck down I always imagine this meme and I finally made it

They're literally like this 😭😭😭

[miraculouslbcnreactions]

In Defense of Marinette

I like Marinette. While there are many valid criticisms of her writing, the same can be said for literally every other character and she's actually doing pretty well given that she's the main character. After all, in a show where consistent characterization is an ongoing issue, the one with the most screen time will probably be the one who's the biggest victim of the issue.

This is heavily exacerbated by the rule that supposedly governs Miraculous. Namely that, in each story, Marinette must make a mistake. Or, at least, so says the head writer:

I really do not care what this guy says on Twitter or anywhere else. I only care about what's in the show because, if you have to go outside the text to understand the text, then you have no idea how to tell a good story.

However, unlike many of the tweets that I've seen, this one isn't some BS bit of lore. It's a writing rule and it has substantial backing in the text. It's extremely rare to have an episode where Marinette comes out smelling like roses and that's a problem because Miraculous has over 100 episodes. In other words, to follow this rule, the writers have to come up with over 100 ways for Marinette to be wrong so of course she's going to come across poorly. Why would you do this to your main character?

It's extremely common for kids shows to have a "lesson of the day" element to them. Someone always needs to learn something, but I've never seen a show misunderstand the assignment so badly. Learning a lesson is not the same as doing something wrong.

It's been a while since I watched the 2010 version of My Little Pony, but it really leaned into that whole "lesson of the day" thing and it actually knew what it was doing, so I'm going to talk about it briefly to discuss things that Miraculous should have done.

The first thing to note is that MLP had an unambiguous main character - Twilight Sparkle - but Twilight was not the one who learned all of the lessons. She had a pet dragon and a crew of five friends who would, occasionally, be the ones to learn the lesson because there were lots of lessons that simply didn't fit Twilight's character. Instead of warping Twilight to make the idea work (cough cough Ikari Gozen cough), the writers just let someone else have the spotlight for a bit.

This is an excellent way to build out your cast and Miraculous had plenty of opportunities to do it. For example, Lila should not have been Marinette's issue. The fact that Lila hates Marinette could have certainly stuck around, but the one who takes her down and learns to investigate her sources? That should have been Alya. A liar is the perfect enemy for an investigative journalist, but a poor enemy for someone who shines as a battlefield commander and overthinks when she's given too much time.

Another way that MLP would teach lessons was to have someone other than Twilight or the main crew cause the issue that they then had to deal with. This leads to one of the best moments in children's television:

And, frankly? Marinette deserves a moment like this. That poor girl has been through hell and is never allowed to make the right call when it really matters. The show will even completely rewrite its lore to make her fail (see: Strike Back). That is such an awful thing to do to your lead! Shows about female empowerment should include women feeling powerful and, no, Lila and Chloe don't count!

Also, the show is literally about Gabriel taking advantage of people who are upset. You don't need to have Marinette make a mistake to shoehorn in a life lesson. Akumas are life lesson fodder and season 1 actually seemed to get this. I'm not sure why they switched gears to "Marinette is the star and, therefore, must always be wrong."

The final way that MLP taught lessons was to have Twilight do something wrong because having your main character do something wrong is a totally valid way to teach lessons. It just shouldn't be your only way because you know who is always wrong in children's media?

Villains.

They wrote Marinette like a villain.

And a large part of the fandom hates her for it because of course they do.

You're not supposed to like villains.

[stars-and-the-min]

☆ the wrong way to hard launch (6) | OP81

summary : oscar's girlfriend is a walking pr problem for literally everyone (including herself) social media au

pairing : oscar piastri x zhou!fem!singer!oc

a/n the highs (friends) and lows (exes) of life aka lina lore 👀 preface : i know nothing about nfl or american football so suspend ur beliefs if u happen to know a thing or two, also my amateur photoshopping skills are really improving from this

masterlist | last part | part 6 | next part

INSTAGRAM

logansargeant

liked by alex_albon and 142,394 others

logansargeant The long-awaited ultimate rematch tagged: selinabui and oscarpiastri

alex_albon Wait, why wasn't I invited?

selinabui ok captain america pack it up ↳ logansargeant @ selinabui Stay mad 😎 ↳ oscarpiastri @ selinabui Why would you challenge two professional racing drivers to a racing game? ↳ selinabui @ oscarpiastri i thought you loved me? ↳ oscarpiastri @ selinabui Ah but you love winners more 😏 ↳ logansargeant @ oscarpiastri Stop flirting in my comments???

cofrisy_f1 LOSCAR??? OSCALINA??? LOLINA???

beemiepie she chose the orange car 🥺🥺🥺 ↳ siera_mblanc @beemiepie a true papaya girlie 🧡🧡

cameliazzz just posted to their story

replies selinabui cami, did u or did u not insist u'd be fine 😭

lukaszhang the SLANDER??? didn't we have loads of fun???

aidan_ebass Touché Millie, see you soon?

eb_jonno sidenote: can you bring mochi on the plane? are there food restrictions?

oscarpiastri

liked by opeightyone and 121,983 others

oscarpiastri 次回まで trans: until next time

piastri_lina obsessed with this couple's dedication to never tagging each other

opeightyone Get 'em next year 💪

selinabui currently feeling like a 1930's housewife waiting for her husband to return from war ↳ cameliazzz @ selinabui HELLO NOT YOU PLAGARISING MY STORY??? FOR A GUY??? ↳ selinabui @ cameliazzz nooooo wifey i didn't mean like that :(((

TWITTER

lina !!! @EB_selina · 37m you've gotta be shitting me

NFL Jersey Numbers @nfljerseywatch · 1h Tennessee Titans RB Thomas Howard (@THowdy) is wearing number 24. Last worn by Kenny Vaccaro. #Titans

↳ kayla @luna_apocolypse · 34m no fucking way... i don't wanna jump to conclusions but... ↳ emme @flowersforcami · 32m he tweeted about it. girl- jump to those conclusions.

Thomas Howard @THowdy · 58m The move to the #Titans has been a huge change, and 24 has been a number close to my heart for many years, I'd consider it a lucky number for a lucky year 👊 ↳ liv is SEEING EB LIVE!! @olivielina · 23m eat shit and die i'm so fucking serious you have no right to wear her number ↳ kayla @luna_apocolypse · 22m hahaha (not) funny but april fools was last week say sike RIGHT NOW

fiona🩷 @fififorlina · 29m thinking about how tommy is playing with lina’s number i'm weak 😭 ↳ 🕯️manifesting EB3 🕯️@ linabelles · 13m no, we're absolutely not doing this, it's not sweet at all, do you even know how badly he treated lina? ↳ emme @flowersforcami · 11m there are tommy-supporting linami’s in this day and age???

oscalina real ?! @emptyginbottles · 39m lina watching her ex and cousin play/drive with her number be like:

↳ lila💚 @kasdanrights · 23m idk how to feel bc it's kinda hilarious that our little rockstar is slowly plaguing the sporting world with her number

lina !!! @EB_selina · 22m @LoganSargeant for my own mental health we're not going to talk for the next... 50 years ↳ Logan Sargeant @LoganSargeant · 8m I'm sorry? Did I do something wrong? ↳ lina !!! @EB_selina · 5m it's not you, it's just your countrymen (i'm generalising again)

MESSAGES

from the phone of selina bui

TWITTER

liv is SEEING EB LIVE!! @olivielina · 35m WHY IS EVERYONE FLOODING MY TL WITH T*MMY SHIT ↳ liv is SEEING EB LIVE!! @olivielina · 34m lina is one of the only music girlies who is SO SO SO vocal about how much she HATES her ex and you still can't listen to her??? ↳ liv is SEEING EB LIVE!! @olivielina · 34m not just with her music but as in SHE OUTRIGHT HATES HIS GUTS ON MAIN she COULD NOT possibly make it clearer that she would rather shoot herself in the head than ever consider getting back together with him ↳ liv is SEEING EB LIVE!! @olivielina · 33m i'm so tired can't you just let the woman be happy with oscar ↳ abby <3 @devilvows · 17m liv, baby, i think you need to change ur name to 'defense minister of linami nation'

INSTAGRAM

selinabui

liked by oscarpiastri and 139,204 others

selinabui some weird second string loser who's not worth mentioning

cameliazzz thought the message was 'let everyone know i'm doing ok'? ↳ selinabui @ cameliazzz message appropriately sent :)

oliviarodrigo AAHHH stunning as always 💝💝 ↳ selinabui @ oliviarodrigo watch out, the literal moment we're in the same city i'm hunting u down (my favourite american 🥺)

oscarpiastri Haha not me though right :) ↳ selinabui @ oscarpiastri idk maybe...?

TWITTER

lina !!! @EB_selina · 1h this is really hindering my enjoyment of 'so american' ↳ Oscar Piastri @ OscarPiastri · 1h I reaaally hate to break it to you but I think you might be the American in this relationship ↳ lina !!! @EB_selina · 53m take that back rn i'm serious ↳ Oscar Piastri @ OscarPiastri · 49m Which one of us has lived in California for half a decade? 🤔

↳ abby <3 @devilvows · 37m can you imagine waking up to that face? oscar piastri, you lucky bitch

↳ lila💚 @kasdanrights · 2h oscar piastri i was not familiar with your game ↳ lila💚 @kasdanrights · 2h selina, i understand you now, i get it now, truly i do, hooooly

oscalina real ?! @ emptyginbottles · 1h i think the entire empty bottles fandom and oscalina shippers trying to cleanse the tl by posting some of the most jaw-clenching, hottest pictures of oscar and lina is so funny ↳ oscalina real ?! @ emptyginbottles · 1h the best part is that it's actually working and also so many more empty bottles fans are realising how unfairly attractive oscar piastri is

INSTAGRAM

selinabui Seoul, South Korea

liked by oscarpiastri and 138,958 others

selinabui heal my s(e)oul tagged: cameliazzz, blublublupi, and lukaszhang

lukaszhang i thought i specifically asked you not to post that ↳ selinabui @lukaszhang i actually wasn't gonna but then you told me not to so obviously i had to

oscarpiastri 🧡 ↳ selinabui @ oscarpiastri any other fucking colour heart i beg ↳ oscarpiastri @ selinabui You know I'm contractually obligated

emptybottlos i'm convinced they agreed to go on tour just to travel, visit friends and eat a bunch of authentic food

ceciliapham someone else is in seoul rn 👀 ↳ marie_h.sb @ceciliapham in what world do you think your gonna see lina and chris yamada in the same room again?

✧･ﾟ: ✧･ﾟ:✧･ﾟ: ✧･ﾟ:✧･ﾟ: ✧･ﾟ:

taglist @ririyulife @ashy-kit @fionaschicken @namgification @cherry-piee

[marinettesaltprompts]

Prompt by @kawaiichibiart

I wanted to expand on one of my first prompts I shared, which was the class/school transfer but instead of Marinette it's Adrien. Marinette Salt, implied Akuma class salt (implied because I feel like you could leave it out and the story will still work). Deceptive Gabriel Sugar (you think he's being nice but it's all part of his plans to get the miraculous).

--------

After being told he knew about Lila the whole time, the Akuma class turns on Adrien. It starts with ignoring him and not inviting him to things. The only reason he shows up for band practice is because of Luka.

It then evolves into badmouthing him and some of his old classmates even go as far as bullying him.

It gets to be too much for him that he starts ditching and eventually, in that extremely rare "good dad" moment, Gabriel pulls him out of school.

The two sit down and talk about what happened to let things get to this point, and Adrien tells him what he knows. Lila lying, how he thought it was just for attention, the highroad, how Marinette told their classmates he knew Lila was lying but didn't tell them anything else, like how Lila was threatening her, something he kinda figured out on his own when she got Marinette expelled, or well, he assumed Lila hurt Marinette someway...she made it seem like he was okay with Lila lying when he wasn't. He just...didn't know how to stop her or how to get people to listen without any proper evidence.

And Marinette just, threw him under the bus. He thought she was his friend. That he and his classmates were friends. Maybe, maybe Gabriel was right. He never should have gone to school.

Time for extremely rare "good dad" Gabe to strike again: in a two birds one stone moment, Gabriel suggests Adrien lives with his aunt and cousin in London. They can find a good school for him to attend if he still wants to attend one in person. It'll also keep him safe from Akumas, he still thinks about Gorizilla and how he could have lost him (and also this way he didn't have to worry about Adrien potentially being the one he has to akumatize. Once he wins, Adrien will be able to return home to his mother).

Adrien agrees and moves in with Amelie and Felix. And because they honestly feel like it, the boys literally become twins. Felix and Adrien Graham de Vanily both attend a private school where they can focus on their future careers.

We skip a bit forward in time and DuPont is now in London on a field trip. They're getting a tour of one of their biggest private schools. They're able to see students working on their schedules, each one differing from one another due to the difference of career paths. And once they enter the labs, they see Adrien and Felix.

The twins are working on experiments together when the DuPont students arrive. Some of them try to talk to Adrien, but Felix blocks them, speaking over them or shushing them. As part of their trip, they get to attend the school for a few days. During this time, they try to reconnect with Adrien.

But either their schedules don't align, Felix gets in the way, or Adrien remains civil but isn't interested in mending bridges.

Some of them understand. They hurt him. He moved on. They messed up and lost a friend.

Others don't. He had to be exaggerating his hurt feelings. He was always so forgiving with Chloe. What made them different??

The worst is Marinette. Not only is Adrien ignoring her, he literally told her to not speak to him. To stay away from him. She didn't do anything wrong. She didn't mean any harm when she said he knew about Lila. Why can't he forgive her?!

"I'm trying to be nice!! I've forgiven you for that bullshit advice and you decide you're too good for me?!"

"Ha, "too good." Sure."

"I'm not talking to you. Adrien-"

"Doesn't want to talk to you. But I, on the other hand, have some words for you. Stay away from us. Go back to your petty filled life in Paris. You say you "forgive" my cousin for the advice he have you. Advice you willingly took, no?"

"Well, I-"

"Or am I missing the part where my favorite cousin made you take that advice. Advice can be given but it doesn't have to be taken. You taking the highroad, was ultimately, you're choice. You made that decision and got someone else hurt. But it doesn't matter, does it?"

"Felix-"

"It doesn't matter so long as you end up on top. As long as you aren't the one being pushed around and ignored and hurt. As long as you win."

"THAT'S NOT TRUE!!"

"We both know it is. If it wasn't, you never would have let things get as far as they did. You would have told the entire truth. Not held things back. You would have accepted responsibility for your part in what your class did to my cousin, no, to my brother."

"I already said I was sorry!! What more do you want?!"

"I want you to leave."

"Adrien-"

"Leave, Marinette. I have nothing to say to you."

"You heard him. Get. Out."

some additional points I couldn't work into the prompt:

• Adrien is still Chat Noir, but he's no longer Paris's hero. Chat Noir is active in London. Costume and name change are optional.

• Of his old friends, he only speaks to Luka, Kagami, and occasionally Chloe.

• Felix and Adrien played "rock, paper, scissors" to determine who's birthday they would use. Winner also got to be the eldest twin. Felix won.

• Felix switches between referring to Adrien as his cousin and his brother.

• This isn't a requirement but if someone can manage to work it in, get Felix his miraculous (the peacock) early. I love the cat bird duo.

• Marinette still has a crush on Adrien and expected him to beg for her forgiveness, which she would give him after he groveled for a while, so she's surprised when he cuts contact with her entirely.

• Possible rare "good dad" Gabriel moment four: he tells the public a shortened version as to why Adrien left, which is his son was being bullied and he worried that that would cause him to be akumatized. Not wanting to risk it, he sent him to live with his aunt and cousin in London. And once everything was over, he could return, hopefully happier and safer. Which, sadly, means Adrien won't be modeling for Gabriel for the foreseeable future. But that's a chance he's willing to take if it means his son isn't hurt or targeted.

It's his way of showing the public he's just a concerned father who had the means to send his child somewhere he could be safe. It's something other parents had considered and some also decide to go through with the idea.

• Of his past classmates, the ones Adrien is a bit more welcoming to are: Juleka, Sabrina and Nathaniel. This is mostly because they just stayed on the sidelines the entire time. Something they regret but acknowledge can't be taken back. So, while the bridge hasn't been mended, the distance isn't big enough that they have to worry about falling and drowning.

[babydollmarauders]

MINE — TREVOR ZEGRAS

request: “Hi! I love your work! <3 Can you make a little comfort fic with Trevor? Like someone said something nasty about the reader and Trevor's relationship like he's not good enough for her and that he couldn't please her like he could, so Trevor gets all protective and fights him and when he comes home, he's all cuddly and clingy because he's scared that the reader is gonna leave him?”

summary: in which y/n sees two new sides of Trevor: protectiveness and fear.

warnings: profanity, fighting

notes: i don’t really know how i feel about this one. i definitely don’t think angst is really my strong suit, but i tried! p.s. i drew a very minimal and light inspiration from Mine by Taylor Swift for this one.

at this point i feel like it’s a universal experience among girls to have a guy friend with an obvious crush on you but you don’t like them that way.

for me, that guy is my friend, Drew. he and i became friends in high school, and when we both enrolled in the same college, i was excited to have a close friend there with me. but in our freshman year things started standing out to me more, the looks that Drew sent me from across the room, the way that he would glare down any guy who so much as looked at me, the way he was quick to drop any other plans in order to hang out with me. and then in sophomore year, i noticed the continuous compliments, the increased touching, and the way that he would start commenting about how ‘special’ our friendship is.

suffice it to say that i was hoping he would get the hint and back off when i started dating my boyfriend Trevor. but now it’s been a year and he’s only gotten more obvious with his advances.

which brings us to tonight. my friend, Lila is hosting an early graduation party at her house and of course our entire friend group is here, including Drew, who’s already drunk, an hour into the party. i’m standing in the living room in a circle of my close friends, all talking about how glad they are to be free from college. we all worked hard to graduate a semester early, and we may have only gotten associate’s degrees but it doesn’t change how done we were with school by the time we got out of our last ever class yesterday. my gaze bounces between my friends and the front door, waiting for my boyfriend to arrive. he just got back from a week long roadie yesterday and i’ve yet to see him since arrived back in town, so he agreed to come and stay an hour before taking me back to his apartment.

“girl, you look like a crazy person with your eyes twitching back and forth like that!” Lila laughs, nudging into my shoulder with her own. “calm down, hun! i’m sure he’ll be here soon.”

“yeah, i know. i’m just excited. i haven’t seen him in eight days.” my smile is weak and it only dims when i catch sight of Drew rolling his eyes. he’s never been one to keep a filter when he drinks. but it’s forgotten when i glance back towards the door and my eyes lock with the subject of our discussion. i bounce on my feet a couple times, waiting for him to make his way over, but i eventually lose my patience when i see him get stopped by a guy. who, based on his passionate gestures, i’m assuming is a fan of the Anaheim Ducks. i watch as Trevor smiles and nods, exchanging words with the random who holds his attention, and i know if i don’t get over there soon it could potentially never end. Trevor could talk about hockey all night if someone would let him, which i have on numerous occasions. sending one more smile over to my friends, i step towards my boyfriend, but i’m rooted in place by a hand wrapping around my wrist, pulling me back.

“what are you even doing with him y/n/n?” i spin back around at Drew’s voice.

“what?” i pack a mighty bite into my one worded response, but Drew obviously doesn’t seem to catch it.

“he’s not good enough for you. you literally just said he left you alone for eight days.” he looks up and scowls over my shoulder, probably looking at Trevor. “i could treat you so much better than that pretty boy does.”

i’m stunned into silence at his outburst. my lips open and close, and i’m begging for something, anything, to come out. he’s never been this up front about his feelings for me, and i had naively hoped that he never would be. taking my silence as an invitation to keep going, Drew speaks once again.

“could definitely please you better than he could too.” my blood boils, and i swear i see red. but before i can jump to the defense of my boyfriend, i’m lightly pushed to the side and i look over in time to see Trevor barreling past me, straight to Drew. He shoves him but Drew’s hand is still gripped on my wrist, making him pull me forward when he stumbles.

“get your hand off my girlfriend before i remove it for you, asshole.” Trevor’s voice is low and he speaks between clenched teeth. “i’ve put up with your pining glances and your barely subtle remarks for this long, because she’s too nice to say it to your face, but i will. she’s not interested in you. she never will be. and the fact that she’s made that clear multiple times and you still won’t back off doesn’t make you ‘persistent’. it makes you a creep.”

Drew lets go of my arm but it only takes one look at him to guess his next move, and before i can warn Trevor or pull him out of the way, Drew’s fist connects with his face. i gasp, my hand flying up to cover my open mouth, and feel myself being pulled back from the brewing fight by dainty hands. Lila’s, i assume.

Trevor doesn’t go down, instead he just laughs, like Drew’s punch was nothing but a bee sting. Drew’s face pinches in confusion at Trevor’s reaction, but he doesn’t get much time to ponder it before Trevor throws his own punch directly at Drew’s nose. i hear the crunch before Drew’s body crumples to the floor in two seconds flat. my wide eyes scan the scene in front of me, my boyfriend shaking out his hand, no doubt bruises will line his knuckles in the morning, and blood dripping down Drew’s face.

“you can talk your shit about me, you can curse my name, hit me, i don’t care. but you keep your hands off my damn girlfriend.” Trevor spits out, looking down his nose at my now ex-friend, before he turns around. he takes ahold of my hand and marches out of the house with his head held high. i glance back at my other friends, my eyes still as wide as saucers and my lips mouthing silent apologies. Lila waves her hand in a dismissive motion, shrugging her shoulders, shaking her head, and mouthing her own words of ‘it’s okay’.

Trevor leads me to his car, opening the passenger door for me as if it’s just another date night, before jogging around and sliding into the drivers seat.

the drive back to his place is done in silence, and i make no attempts to break it. i can feel the energy radiating off of him. no longer hostile, but still tense. when we arrive, i trail behind him into his apartment. Trevor walks into his bedroom, mumbling something about getting changed and grabbing me a change of clothes, and i stand in the living room. his friend/teammate/roommate, Jamie, sits on the couch, locked into a video game but spares a quick glance at me.

“hey, you guys are back early.” his focus is immediately turned back to his game, and i’m not sure he expects a response but i reply anyways.

“yeah. it’s, uh, been a night.” Trevor is back quickly, handing me a pair of sweats that i left here and one of his t-shirts.

“you can go ahead and get changed and then we can watch a movie in my room.” he plants a kiss on my forehead, his lips lingering for a few seconds before he pulls back. i nod and walk down the hallway to his room, closing the door behind me. i take a couple minutes to change before opening the door and peeking my head out.

“you can come in, Trev.” i call down the hallway, and it’s not but a second before i see him jogging down the hall. he enters the room and jumps onto the middle of the bed, patting the space beside him.

“come cuddle with me. tell me everything i missed while i was gone.” i crawl up the bed, snuggling close into his arms and he tightens them around me, pressing my face to his chest.

“we talked every day.” i laugh. “i think you know more about what happened while you were gone than some of the people who were actually here.”

Trevor chuckles for a few moments before he speaks again, his voice somber.

“you know i hate having to leave you, right?” i look up at his face, about to make a joke but see the guilt-ridden expression on his face.

“yeah, no, i know that. it’s your job, Trev. does it suck being away from you? sure. but you’re good at what you do and the team needs you.” i raise my hand to his face, brushing my thumb against his cheek.

“are you upset? about what i did?” he looks so fragile, like my next words could make or break him.

“what? punching Drew? no. honestly, it brought me some relief.” i confess. “i’ve always been too afraid to outright reject him. i never gave any reason to think i liked him, so i thought maybe he would take the hint that i didn’t have those kinds of feelings for him. but obviously i was wrong. i feel way more guilty than i am upset. if i had just told him i didn’t like him, there wouldn’t’ve been a reason for you to have to fight him.”

“don’t.” the word comes out stern. his voice dropping into what almost seems like a growl. “don’t blame yourself. you may not have explicitly stated that you didn’t like him like that, but you showed it over and over again in your actions. i’ve seen the way you pull away from his touches, how you make up excuses to distance yourself when he says something too romantic, the faces you pull when he talks about how ‘special’ your friendship is. not to mention the fact that you have a boyfriend, and yet he still pulled that shit.”

i nod along to his words and press my head back onto his chest.

“so, you’re really not mad at me?” he asks.

“i’m really not mad at you. why would i be? you protected me. i’m grateful for you.” he gives me a brief squeeze, laying a kiss on the top of my head.

“i know how long you guys have been friends. i don’t know, i guess i thought maybe you would be mad that i may have ruined your friendship with him. i know you’ve chosen me before but-” his drops into a whisper before he speaks again. “i thought you might choose him over me this time.”

i pull back, shifting up in the bed more so that my face is directly in line with his. cradling his face with my hands and placing my forehead against his, i look into his eyes.

“i’ll never leave you alone.” i whisper. “Trev, you mean so much to me. is it gonna be different not having Drew as a friend anymore? yeah, i’ve known him since i was fourteen. but by now, with how he and i’s friendship was going, it never would’ve lasted. but you, you make me so happy. you make me feel seen, and heard, and loved. i love waking up next you, and going on coffee dates, and our movie nights. i love talking with you about stupid things, and staying up listening to you talk about your games. i love celebrating wins with you, and i love that you let me be there for you after a loss. i never loved him the way i love you. i would always choose you.”

[gamerknight7310]

A Response

Alright, I'll get straight to it. @shipsandpuns I disagree with your post on "Queens of the Clouds" (Aurore and Kagami) being a terrible ship in the SL universe and how "Birds of a Feather" (Felix and Kagami) is supposedly better, so let's get started.

First, let's talk about "Birds of a Feather," since you praise it so highly. Felix was introduced to us in the episode "Felix," where he acts rudely towards Adrien and his friends, and even after apologizing, his sincerity is questionable. The next time we see him is in "Gabriel Agreste." Here, his and Kagami's first interaction is just them staring at each other, with Kagami looking at him like he's trouble, which he is. Later in the two-part finale, Felix tricks Moronette and gives all the miraculouses to Gabriel for the peacock miraculous, and he also gives him the ring back, which he knows would give him full control over Adrien. Then, all of a sudden, in Emotion, he does a 180 in character, proclaiming to have always "loved" his cousin, and now we're supposed to see him as misunderstood. Yeah, right, I smell bullshit right there. Then he kidnaps her in the literal next episode, and now she's okay with him? A friend pointed out so graciously to me that "her personality vanished along with her integrity so he could have his redemption by pulling some virtuous sentussy," and I couldn't agree more with that statement.

Now, onto "Queens of the Clouds." I have my issues with SL (ahem, Chloe), but I was pleasantly surprised by this ship. We're first introduced to it in "Despair Bear," where the two meet at the party and begin to dance with each other. I will admit we don't get to see much of them, but their meeting and relationship feel a bit natural compared to "Birds of a Feather." You also pointed out that Kagami isn't lesbian, which I agree with because I think she's bi. There are hints to this being the case (see episodes Heart Hunter and Perfection), plus another friend told me she gives off Japanese prince energy, and I agree with this statement as well.

In conclusion, both ships have their flaws, but for the story of SL, "Queens of the Clouds" works here and feel natural compared to "Birds of a Feather" in the canon show. I'm not saying that Feligami couldn't work; it can totally work, as seen with the fandom, and to be honest, I love rare ships as the dynamics of the characters could go anywhere based on how well the story is written. Some fun ones are Lila and Alix from Lotus, Chloe and Juleka from Kari, Sabrina and Adrien from General, and even Zoe and Adrien from you, ma'am, to name a few. My point is that shipping is something all of us do, and that's okay if there's a ship you don't agree with, but for you to put it down and tell us that a ship that has little chemistry in its canon works better is disingenuous, so I ask you to be respectful of others opinions and to have a good day.

[rozonrozark]

I was wondering

1-Does Marinette invents new powers all by herself or she alredy knew their possibilities somehow (and never mentioned that to kwamis because they seem suprised)

2-Soo about Nadja's plans, will she really sucessfully bring Misterbug and Cheshire to her show? Its been years since i seen that episode but i remember her being akumatised because it didnt go acording to plan. (i guess she showed the picture of them kissing and...?)

3-What are your plans on Lila? Will she stay in background or became someone important to story?

4-Adult Alix seems very very worried about Bread and she talks about how she will pay her back... im assuming something very very wrong happened to Bread or Alix just feels really guilty. (It also confirms she will know her identity in the future. Is it due to her job or at one time she revealed herself or got revealed? oh no)

5-Considering lack of humans in her life, would it be too much of a exaggerate to believe that Mari didnt interact with anyone who isnt a kwami for days at some point?

6-Its more like wanting some sweet karma but when the fuck will Cloe exiled to literally anywhere else? And what about rest of the class? Seeing them comotose in captured au was a balm to my soul. Also, does Mari knows she can teleport Cloe to noth pole and get away with it? Im sure as hell at least half of kwamis would cheer on her.

8-Mari isnt a cat and that probably means she is a bug but what if she is something else? I really can't come with any ideas but thats interesting as heck.

9-If bonding with your kwami in long term means you gain similar traits from them, assuming Bread keeps Plag for much longer does that means she will be much more like cat like? Will she hate showering? Will she knock of stuff from tables? Will she develop heavy preferance to meat? Will she develop claws???

1: For the most part she knew that there were other powers based on the theories of her ancestor. But the powers she came up with that surprised the kwamies were the ones that should have been impossible. Like, the Black Storm Dragon that was a fusion of two kwamies powers.

2: Nadja's plan in this AU will come about but unlike in the Cannon, where they kept pushing for higher ratings, there is no concern for the same thing to get to her.

3: She is the Starscream, that is all I will say.

4: Alix is concerned about Mari because she hates everything that happened to her BEST friend. I will not say if anything else bad will happen to Mari just that she will be getting some positive development. Now as for how she will learn the cat's identity, that is something to be found out.

5: Now what do you count as Marinette having human contact? Becuase Cheshire would have regular human contact thanks to patrols and other such. Marinette though... She does have contact with her parents through texts and phone calls. Let that just say what you want.

6: The various kwami have pointed out what they could do but Marinette has passed on them. After all the miraculous need to be used for the betterment of humanity.

7: I just double checked and you skipped this number. I don't say that to be mean I just found it funny :D

8: I have honstly been thinking about what Mari could have been. Either a Bug or a Fox. Both are creative and she would work well with either.

9: She will become more cat but as for claws and the like? Those kinda changes will only come about due to over-using Catalyst.

[galactic-glamour-girl-posts]

RANT : ML Season 5's Ending

I don't post about Miraculous much, but I need to get this off my chest.

WARNING :

Salt. Just...all the salt.

Chloe:

I don't like Chloe, she's a horrible person and hogged a lot of screen time throughout the show that could have been given to other characters, such as Nino. However, I find it disturbing that they decided to send a teenage girl to live with her abuser, with absolutely no friends; meanwhile her father, who only deciding to put his foot down last minute, gets to quit the job he's always hated anyway (even though he's abused his power before, and not just for Chloe's sake) without being called out for how he spoiled his daughter AND the adult magical terrorist gets a statue.

Not to mention Felix, a teenage boy who also has done terrible things, basically gets away scot-free. Remember when he basically tried to kill EVERYONE except for four people including himself, remember when he tried to force himself onto Ladybug, remember when he gave all the miraculous to a terrorist, remember when all it took to "redeem" himself was to emotionally manipulate someone in a vulnerable state into watching a play to convince her to solve the problem he caused for him (btw I can't believe Kagami came up with that plan and revealed Ladybug's identity behind her back, what the heck?) I get that he was abused, at the end of the day he's an abuse victim doing literally anything he can to gain the freedom he never had, but if he gets sympathy after all of that, what about Chloe? She was abused, she was neglected. Felix not only is seemingly forgiven and "redeemed", but still gets to be a permanent miraculous holder. When you combine that with how the narrative treats Gabriel and Andre, it looks like a sexist double standard...probably because it is.

Chloe sucks but that isn't entirely her fault. Andre spoiled her rotten, Audrey was a horrible influence when she wasn't straight up neglecting or verbally abusing her, Miss Bustier coddled her and Damocles let her get away with pretty much anything (although in their case I guess the mayor would've prevented them from letting Chloe face substantial consequences), Gabriel (and Lila) manipulated her multiple times. I'm not absolving Chloe of all blame, but she's 14. Leaving her with her abuser is horrible. That isn't cathartic, it's cruel. I'm not even asking for a redemption, I just think this "punishment" is too much.

Gabriel (and Tomoe too I guess):

Let's talk more about Gabriel. Gabriel, the abusive father, the magical terrorist, the guy that spent some of his final moments manipulating a teen, not only gets to make his wish, but also gets to be remembered as a hero. Statue included. Never mind that pretty much all of Adrien's classmates knew he was a terrible father at this point, they all clap and cheer when it's revealed he's getting a statue. The whole world is lied to and told the Alliance rings were hijacked by Monarch and that Gabriel sacrificed himself whilst trying to help stop him (I don't blame Ladybug for that though, I'm solely blaming the writers here). And we're supposed to be fine with this because he misses his wife and "tried to be a good father"? No.

An abused teenage girl is supposedly terrible beyond redemption, but an adult abuser is essentially outright vindicated by the narrative (the person he abused is tricked into thinking he was a hero, and Paris is basically a utopia post-wish). What a horrible message.

Remember, this may not be the end of the show, but this is the end of Gabriel's Agreste's story, and what an unfitting end it is.

Oh, and Tomoe gets away scot-free by the looks of it, because of course. Maybe she'll get comeuppance in a later season, but I'm not gonna defend the finale because of what a future episode might do, especially when this would've been the perfect time (and this goes for the possibility of Gabriel's secret identity being revealed to the public too).

Adrien:

I think Adrien is easily the most overrated character in the show. He's constantly coddled by the narrative, tends to "inspire" Marinette to be more passive and forgiving than she should be, and is incredibly bland (or at least he was until they started pushing just how angry he could get and how entitled to Ladybug's love he could feel, which I guess is something, but that something sure isn't pleasant); but you're telling me he doesn't get to have a legit passion beyond knowing he loves Marinette, to be involved in the final battle, to find out his dad is Monarch OR even that he's a sentimonster? He needs to know his life is tied to that ring and that he should be careful with it. This isn't "protecting him" (he's not a baby, if Felix eventually came to terms with being a sentimonster so can Adrien), if anything it's the opposite. Not letting him know that is dangerous! If not Marinette, Felix? Kagami? Nathalie? No one's going to tell him?! I hate to say it, but by robbing him of his agency and deciding they know what's best for him, they're being controlling over Adrien too; and no, I don't think that's "interesting", not after five seasons of Adrien already being controlled by someone else.

What is the show even trying to say? That Adrien needs to be controlled because he can't handle his emotions? Forget about giving him time or a good support system, he just wouldn't be able to handle it? If it was just his nightmare that'd be one thing, but Chat Blanc seems to indicate this is legitimately what they're saying. Why is this show trying to portray an abuse victim as someone who's dangerous and needs to be kept under control? Not just dangerous, but ultimately more dangerous than his abuser, since Gabriel made his wish and everything turned out fine (and at worst maybe one innocent person would have died/fallen into a coma had his wish not changed), but in "Chat Blanc" EVERYONE other than Chat died.

It does not matter if he finds out in a later season; it doesn't change the fact that his family is willingly lying to him and potentially endangering him by doing so, all for the sake of his abuser. Sure, you could argue Gabriel emotionally manipulated Marinette, but what's everyone else's excuse? I don't care if it leads to "interesting conflict", a) it's a conflict they've done before (Ladybug keeping secrets from Chat Noir), I'm not gonna praise the show for repeating itself, b) don't tell me telling Adrien the truth would've been "too sad" for the show to do but Marinette having to keep her mouth shut about Gabriel for the rest of her life (or even temporarily) is "interesting angst" (at least try to hide your favouritism, besides it's never even implied she feels guilty over this), and c) it's not like it will have a satisfying payoff, after all, it didn't last time. Even if Adrien does find out, Gabriel's not around anymore, so chances are Marinette will have to suffer the consequences of that, not Gabriel. That's not satisfying.

Like...Gabriel may as well have been related to Marinette instead (not her father but her uncle or something). Why not? Remember when he was her favourite fashion designer? (Don't worry if you don't, the show doesn't either.) Maybe have him become her mentor, imagine how much more of a personal impact Ladybug and Monarch finding out each other's identities could've had on both of them.

Why even have the main villain be related to the deuteragonist (giving him a closer connection to the main villain of the show than the actual main character) if you were just gonna side-line him in the final battle and rob him of any sense of closure? Whatever drama they can squeeze out of him finding out who Monarch is (IF he does) won't be nearly as interesting as it would've been to see Chat Noir confront Monarch, face to face, knowing that he's his father. Adrien might not even remember Gabriel being abusive at all, it's not made clear. But if he doesn't, all that time spent on Adrien's relationship with his father, building up a big confrontation between them? Wasted.

Remember how season 4 ended? How it built up Ladybug and Chat Noir working together to retrieve all the Miraculous back, after a season of them being more distant?

What a joke.

Is he the deuteragonist, or a trophy? The show can't seem to decide.

Marinette:

And then there's Marinette who, in a show that supposedly wants to empower young girls, doesn't even get to defeat the main male bad guy. After multiple seasons with her as the main lead, after multiple episodes where she's apologised or made to feel bad for either completely justifiable reactions or things that straight up weren't her fault (remember when she was made to say she was "out of line" at the end of an episode that was supposed to be about racism and police aggression?) meanwhile other characters rarely apologise to her in return, we don't even get the satisfaction of seeing her truly defeat the person that's caused her so much grief.

Seriously, she went through so much in this show; between the class consistently siding with Lila over her (btw turns out Lila basically had nothing to lose the whole time because she had multiple identities, yet another unsatisfying conclusion to a conflict), being forced to become a guardian, losing all the Miraculous, etc, and for what?

She failed. That's not me being too harsh. She may have influenced Gabriel to change his wish (emphasis on "may have", I'm pretty sure that woman was originally Emilie but in that case Nathalie being healed doesn't make sense), but her goal was to prevent the wish in the first place.

And why did they have to make her look like a fool? Felix's play spelled it out for her that Gabriel is Monarch, she even realises that he referred to the day she lost the Miraculous, but from the way it's presented she only figures out Gabe's Monarch after seeing him de-transform? Why did she think giving him a another chance would turn out well? She tried that all the way back in season 2, and it didn't work. Marinette is kind-hearted but she has her limits. You're telling me Lila crossed a line but Monarch could maybe be reasoned with? Why? Because he has a sob story?

Marinette is strategic and quick-witted. She's not an idiot.

Gabriel gets to make his wish and everyone else (who am I kidding, just Ladybug) has to clean up after him. Not only that, Ladybug does him a favour and ensures everyone is tricked into believing he was a hero. If anything, Chat Noir, the main male superhero, landed the killing blow.

Great. Just great. How empowering.

Bonus nit-picks:

--Did everyone on the planet seriously forget that the Adrien and Kagami in the Alliance rings aren't real, they're virtual simulations? That wasn't a secret. How did they fall for Gabriel's fake plea?

--If they were gonna put the girls from the specials and Future!Alix on the poster, they could've have them do more at least.

--Okay, Luka training with Su-Han was random but I guess since he was a temporary Miraculous holder it kinda makes sense...Penny and ESPECIALLY Jagged though? Nah.

--Ivan was the first person to EVER be akumatized then saved by Ladybug and Chat Noir. So with that in mind, surely he more than anyone would trust that they'd never kidnap two virtual innocent people, and would join Alya in reminding everyone else how they were always there for them, in a touching moment that brings the "first arc" full circle...oh.

--Look, Marinette is very talented, and I realise she had the book to help her but...I'm sorry literally HOW did she fix the Miraculous? Gabriel needed high-tech, presumably very expensive, machinery to re-shape them.

Final thoughts:

What makes this all sting so much more is that, wasn't season 5 supposed to be the original ending, just in case future seasons didn't happen? All seasons after this one are basically bonus seasons. So originally the show ended HERE. The last we would've seen of Chloe was her crying, trapped with her abusive mother. For all we knew Adrien would've been living a lie the rest of his life, looking up to his abuser. Gabriel is never fully revealed as the monster he truly was and is honoured as a "hero". Marinette literally gets stabbed in the back (well, it was her stomach, but you get the idea). There wasn't even a reveal, Ladybug and Chat Noir would've just never found out who the other truly is I guess.

Oh, but don't worry. Marinette and Adrien kissed.

That's all that really matters, right? (Never mind the fact that they spent five seasons building up to the start of a romantic relationship, and it will undoubtedly take even more for it to become a healthy one.)

Maybe the ending was originally different. Maybe they modified the ending of the season finale after finding out season 5 wouldn't be the last season. Maybe this will all somehow be fixed later (no matter how long they may will drag it out for).

Or maybe Marinette's blatantly out of character action (she hates liars, and only lied about her identity because she had to, even considering Gabriel's attempts to emotionally manipulate her previous episodes have made it clear she would not lie to Adrien, let alone the WHOLE WORLD, about Gabriel) will come back to bite her for the sake of having something to blame her for next season.

I don't know.

I don't care.

The writing for this show has been poor for a LONG time. I only stuck around because I still found myself having fun watching it from time to time, even as the problems got worse. That, and I was hopeful it would at least stick the landing. But after this, I don't think I can stomach continuing to watch a show that will probably continue to push such awful messages, and with such awful pacing.

Word of advice, all shows have flaws, so feel free to complain when a show does something you think is stupid (I've never found the argument that kids shows shouldn't be criticised because they're kid shows to make sense), but if you're not enjoying yourself because you can't overlook a show's problems, if you don't find pleasure in watching a show...just stop watching it. It's a waste of your time. Don't "wait for it to get good", don't wait for future seasons to clean up a current season's mess, don't continue watching it just because the fandom makes better content. I promise you there are better shows out there that deserve (and need) your attention.

So with that in mind...I don't think I'll be watching what comes next.

[sunny6677]

Ramble about how my day went—

My day went kinda okay compared to yesterday. Sky looked pretty as per usual and it was all cloudy and cool this morning. I've been getting into taking photos of stuff a lot for some reason. And along the bus ride, I admired the scenery from outside and took some videos of it, but I won't be sharing them. The grass always looks really green and pretty tho.

Had some Gatorade for breakfast since I didn't wanna eat anything they were serving, and sat with my friends. Then I went to Psychology once breakfast was over—the lesson kinda went off track because the teacher and the students kept talking, and we were also doing an introduction thing to the next unit.

I ended up going to Spanish next, which was really fun since it was someone's birthday and the teacher themed the lesson around birthdays this time around. She kept talking about food though and that just ended up making us all hungry jdndndn

And then in Chemistry, we just cut some stuff out and glued it in our notebooks. Kinda messed up halfway through, but my friend helped me out. My other friend was also kinda having trouble the whole time.

And then in Technology, we kinda literally just got to play games all day because we're apparently gonna make some thing about how we think the animation in said game works. I ended up creating a Roblox account and played Natural Disaster Survival and Resturant Tycoon it til the period was over.

Lunch came around, and the sky was all bright and blue and the grass was really green as well. It was really warm though like usual. I only ended up eating two chip bags and a coca cola for lunch, and my other other friend stole a small gummy thing I packed cuz he wanted it (he usually always wants my food��). I just joked around with my friends the whole time and played some more Roblox on my phone.

Then English came around—we read some more of a book we're currently reading (It's called Monster and it's about this sixteen year old boy on trial for murder but I can't remember who wrote it), and once we finished with that, we did a small activity. While waiting for everyone else to finish, I also doodled Lila and Carmen on the board. Don't have any photos of it tho. We ended up having to read what we wrote for the activity aloud, and I have a very quiet voice, so I had to talk in my 'radio' voice when reading 😭

Theater came around as well—and I worked on a Tablo about the Three Little Piggys with my group since we were doing fairytale themed ones. We kinda goofed off the entire time though and couldn't stop laughing. We were put on hold because someone fainted in the hallway apparently, so we were given a few more minutes of class. Still hoping whoever it was is okay. We got time to perform our tablo at the end of class tho.

Then Geometry—my normal teacher who makes me really uncomfortable wasn't around and just the coach who actually owns the classroom, so I got to work on my geometry assignment in peace without being interrupted or asked a bunch of personal questions or being stared at. My wifi ended up going wonky about halfway though and I had to sit in boredom for the last few minutes of class til it was time to go.

As for my last period which is World History—we just did some test thing which went by surprisingly fast, but the boys were kinda talking during studying time and making it hard for some people to focus. Not sure what grade I got yet but I think I did well. I was given a different version of the text because of my autism I think. Not sure why I actually received a different version though. I went on my computer and watched spooky month for a bit til it was time to go.

And then on the bus ride back, I watched a Phisnom vod, drew the Mauve image I drew for her blog on the way, and recorded some more videos of the drive because of how pretty it looked outside.. that's pretty much it.

[azukanacrown]

Okay I know I’m late to the party, but I’ve just gotta get this outta my system. I’ve been watching Miraculous Ladybug Season 5 and I just finished the episode where Lila tries to frame Marionette for foraging all the class’ portfolios (or whatever they’re called) and it’s just a reminder of how shit of character Lila is. Not necessarily because she’s an awful person, but because she’s horribly written.

I understand that Miraculous is a kid’s show but that doesn’t mean everyone constantly has to be a moron. Like, every time Lila spins a lie the writing surrounding her just completely dumbs down. She isn’t even that necessary as a character. I think the only reason she’s kept around is so she can become the next Hawkmoth (if this is revealed in the last few episodes, don’t tell me), given Bunnix & that one-time traveling villain talking about the Hawkmoth of the future.

Anyways, it’s just annoying how everyone believes her for no good reason. Like, for example, that episode where she’s calling from the Middle East because she’s visiting Prince Ali. Nobody questions the fact that nothing is moving in the background, like no birds no clouds, lighting, people, nothing, nor the lack of visual depth. Because human eyes can tell when something is flat or not (usually). Also, an orange lamp? Really? What is this, a Hollywood movie of the Middle East or any “desert” place?

Then you have Alya refusing to believe Marionette about Lila. Like yes, you shouldn’t just take people’s word for things but once it gets to the point where someone else is also agreeing, aka Adrien and you still refuse to believe them that’s on you. Not to mention, conveniently, Adrien just doesn’t talk about the time when he talked to Lila to ensure she unspins her lies about Marionette pushing her down the stairs. On top of that, she literally said she has a disorder that makes her lie. SHE LITERALLY ADMITTED TO RANDOMLY LYING (even if though that was a lie too other people don’t know that). So even if she “doesn’t mean to” that at least means she compulsively lies and can’t control it.

I also just hate how Alya says it’s cute that Adrien is standing up for his girl instead of considering the fact that he’s just telling the truth. Adrien is someone who tried to see good in even Chloe and now he’s speaking ill of another person, for love or not, that is not in his nature to do and yet they still don’t take either of them seriously (he was in love with Ladybug and she made it pretty clear she didn’t like Chloe and yet he still defended her). It was also very infantilizing towards Marionette. (Also the fact that she just conveniently forgot about the fact that Lila lied about being friends with Ladybug even though she knows Marionette hates her is just pathetic)

Then there’s the fact that, even though Marionette is apparently so busy with her love life and other things, she has the time to not only rewrite but take the time to learn the handwriting of about 16 students. And do it in like a day or two, given she was doing it out of spite for not being picked to be the class rep. Unlike Lila, Marionette has plenty of history to prove her good nature. None of them actually know Lila other than for the things she tells them she does. Like sure, maybe she convinces some of the class but the ENTIRE class. Many of which have always believed in Marionette’s good nature (namely Rose & Mylene).

It pisses me off how Ms. Bustier also tried to send Chloe & Lila to go comfort Sabrina after all of them watched her have a literal breakdown saying it was those exact two that made her do it. And it’s obvious it was just so they could catch their conversation in the bathroom (which, not to mention, is strange it has a two sided mirror into the girls bathroom. I get it was to get proof, but that’s still weird). But then there’s the fact no one turned on those two when they not only watched Sabrina breakdown and turn against Chloe, her literal best-friend and master, but also watch Lila not try to comfort her at ALL, only continuing to try and turn it against Marionette in this honeyed tone. Like it’s just ridiculous (utterly) how much they twist the writing to make sure Lila gets away with her lying even though if they took like two seconds to add Adrien telling his story or someone else having common sense they never would’ve believed her.

I know I am overthinking a kid’s show, you do not have to tell me 💀 trust me I am fully aware.

[zhimaqiu]

Ok so a lecturer of the university but from a different field wanted to fucking kiss me 💀 And probably other things.

It's a long story short: after a lecture I attended, after 8pm I went to a bar to eat something because I havent eaten anything since breakfast. I ate a sandwich, read a book, drank a coffee and was halfway another one when I started playing with a set I've got from the lecture in the said bar. A group of three men seemed genuinely interested and they invited me to their table so I thought: Sure why not. I explained the stuff, got really autism happy I can talk about something that interests me. Then we talked and talked about different subjects, eventually two of the guy's friends, gay and a pair btw, left. Then the shit started.

Dude is almost 40, has children, CALLED ME "KID" and like. Dude. I told you I'm from ace spec. I am not interested in white men. Literally said "Somehow I only find Asian and Native American men attractive". I'VE ONLY BEEN WITH ASIANS. I told him to get his hand off me. He did. We were taking about some sexual shit, because I've got that stupid sexshop magazine, but got I was so... technical and sceptical about the things I've seen. He was making some jokes and I was like "Haha yeah" in a "not funny" way. Eventually I said that meh nothing interests me. I completely forgot that people may get aroused looking at such stuff and generally the topic of sex is rather taboo especially with a complete stranger. But oh well, my acespec ass forgor that only because my cunt doesn't care doesn't mean others' shit doesn't too.

When he was about to leave, because I kept rejecting him, he said:

"How about I kiss you and we call it a day."

"No, thank you. You have children and I do not support such behavior."

Hand on my goddamn thigh earlier. I thought he maybe was just doing a bit too touchy, but once it lingered in there for too long without looking at him from the magazine we were reading together I said "Don't touch me" in even colder tone that I anticipated. Completely different how we talked a moment earlier and moment after. Sure, he was drunk. And that's also why I pushed him away right away once I realized it wasn't just being touchy friendly.

I should have said something more about his children like "Do you really want Lila to have a father who wants to bang a girl 7 years older than her brother?". I should have said I pity him. Because really, I'm not even angry at him. I'm just sad that something pushed him to do that.

Once I got back home I felt so fucking sexrepulsive and despite the fact that nothing happened I had to very intensely wash my mouth and my intimate area, because I felt so fucking filthy. Demisexual experience yippie!! Not the first time. I did however made a remark that I feel like he added something to my coffee and he left feeling very down after he said he didn't add anything, but I think it hit him right.

Sigh. What a night. I'm safe, don't worry

[critical-thinking-is-mandatory]

I find it so funny when stans say that Adrien and other rich kids in the show are "groundbreaking representation" or something because they're not. It's an overused trope that makes all of us appreciate how damn broke we all are because at least "we don't suffer like rich people do". What I mean is, you have Adrien, who's born super mega rich, but is trapped in this golden cage and isn't allowed to be himself. There's a clear link to his suffering and his status as a rich model. He also has an "emotional support poor", Marinette, who is "the only one who understands his pain" and is also "the only one who can ground him". Because unlike rich people, poor people don't have trouble with complicated relationships to their families. And this is very striking in miraculous, every poor person has a good relationship with their family (the biggest family issue was maybe the Luka/Jagged thing but even that got resolved immediately) while the rich kids all suffer abuse. And they do nothing about it not because the writers want to showcase how hard it can be for abuse victims but because they think that's the job of the poor friends they have, mainly Marinette. She is supposed to fix Adrien's family problems for him accordung to the bible, she was Kagami's first friend and had to talk to her mom to let her compete in the friendship game and she even tried to help Chloe's family situation! ... Sorry this got so long, it was just a thought I had and I felt like sharing.

Anon, you're literally so right.

Like, how many characters exist that are just like "privileged child of terrible parent feat. optional heroism or redemption"? I can think of at least 4 in Avatar: tla ALONE. (All of which were done miles and miles better than Adrien.)

Virtually every show, movie or book you point a stick at will have somebody from a privileged background with shitty parents/guardians do something that sets them apart from their background. Virtually every princess archetype is "wah, my parent is so mean by making me get married for the good of the kingdom (my only job). Being rich is terrible."

Like GIRL. "Rich character with sad background" is so overdone!

And Miraculous has got not one, not two, but at least 4 characters who are rich with sad backstories :((( Adrien, Felix, Kagami and Chloe. This isn't even including Lila, Prince Ali, Gabriel or Zoe. And, objectively, none of these characters have any compelling storyline. Kagami I have a soft spot for but objectively, she is also on this list.

None of them are compelling 'richy rich with sob story' characters. Sure, we can pity them, but they're not *compelling*. We're not inspired or moved or awed by them. None of them are original or interesting or unique.

But you're right, anon. They feel like a slap in the face. It's like, its almost like the creators are romanticising the working class. "Oh being rich is so hard, I wish I was like the normal people who work every single day and are so happy because money can't buy happiness."

it's really, really tone deaf, and honestly? Annoying. Like, at least if you're gonna make a rich kid with a sob story at least make them unique or compelling, like Batman or Zuko or Toph.

[iwasbored777]

I just freakin adore how Marinette managed to stand up for herself more in this season and despite her self-blaming never stopped she knows how to defend herself and knows how to sort things out and make difference what bad and what good things and people are and how her emotions evolved and how she's learning so much and everything I just love how developed her feelings are and how she can control them (not fully but she's trying guys she's still trying to think with her head first and heart second) and how this is both great and sad because a 14-year-old is not supposed to know so much already and IS supposed to spend the next two years collecting stickers and napkins and eat candies and have fun and she should be emotional - seriously us girls know how rough this age was emotionally - but she left me taken aback this season with her emotional struggle and how it's not at all as big as it used to be - she knows to judge both other people and herself when something goes wrong. Like how she takes no shit from Su-Han anymore and how she was mad at Alya and Nino, and how she does blame herself for Strikeback now but she doesn't make herself a victim even though she is she wants to know Adrien better because she doesn't want her feelings to be shallow and how she is (I already mentioned this two times already but it's so goddamn important) Lila's friend in public SHE'S DOING EVERYTHING IN HER POWER GUYS AND NO ONE TAUGHT HER HOW TO DEAL WITH STUFF GUYS NO ONE SHE IS LEARNING AS SHE GOES SHE IS THE ONLY PERSON MAKING THESE DECISIONS AND SHE'S SO GOOD. And my favourite thing about her is that she is always trying so hard to make things better whatever happens it's so amazing I love her so much. She doesn't deserve to be like this so young it's not fair but the way she is carrying it is amazing and honestly everyone who says she's not a good role model for young girls can suck it.

Literally the more I watch and the more I find out about this season I love her more and she literally has the biggest and most complex character development in the show and no one is talking about it. She inspired me so much one day I had a rough day at work and I cried for the rest of the day and I remembered her and I said to myself "Marinette would cry but she wouldn't give up and would give her all the next day and would keep fighting if animated child and handle loss so well so can you" she was the first person I thought about and I learned more from her than any other superhero ever and I know a lot of them. Literally both of her so-called mentors were useless as fuck when it comes to emotional burden the superhero life would bring her and no one prepared her for this and every season she is more unhinged but she's also more grown up and if she can get traumatised so often and learn a lesson to move on and become an even better person so can all of us. She's the best superhero for a reason.

[marinettesaltprompts]

Cat in the Belfry (Part 2)

Adrien x Gotham City Sirens

Prompt by @somereaderinblue

Harley wonders if somehow, there’s something in Paris’s water that’s stronger than the literal toxic soup running through Gotham’s pipes. Like, she’s pretty sure the principal skipped 80% of protocol when he chose to hire her as the new counselor. Then again, that’s probably how Bustier got her job, nevermind that she’s more suited to teach kindergarteners.

Bustier is all too eager to preach about her perfect class & model students. When Harley meets them however, ooooh boy. It’s no wonder most of them have gotten akumatized. She meets Marinette, who takes the chance to rant abt Lila, the class’s ingratitude & Adrien’s betrayal. When Harley tries to poke holes (i.e. how Mari tried to call a witch hunt everyone understandably balks at & how she never told Adrien abt the threats), Mari throws her hands up & storms out, fed up that another adult ‘failed her’.

Red flags raised, Harley is shocked to see Lila practically molesting Adrien & once, swore she saw Mari look through a trash bin Adrien used. She asked his help to do a little test & yup, somehow, Mari knew abt Adrien’s private schedule. Adrien talks to Nino, who talks to Alya, who confirms the extent of Mari’s stalking. Needless to say, both boys are horrified & after lots of much-needed heart to hearts, Adrien tells them the truth abt Lila & Alya sees the error of her ways.

She & Nino try to apologize to Mari but she refuses to accept them bzc teenage impulsivity is clearly an unforgivable crime. Slowly, Adrien reaches out to the other classmates to help them see the light. They’re angry & hurt but he convinces them to apologize to Mari privately and ignore Lila, which for a pathological attention seeker, is punishment enough.

Mari shuns their apologies, wanting them to grovel some more & Lila is left to stew. The Italian’s reign goes out with a whimper as Adrien simply contacts her mom, mentions Lila’s lies & she’s transferred to a strict boarding school in Italy.

Adrien would be lying if he said he didn’t enjoy being sneaky.

But yeah, Mari is shocked when the class doesn’t come crawling back to her for forgiveness. They point out that they already said sorry but she chose to stew in her grudges & isolate herself. When she plays the victim card, they call her out, asking if all her ‘kindness’ were bribes to turn them into sheep. She has no response to that.

As LB, things get complicated. The mayor is panicking as Selina steals from the corrupt elite & discovers a lot of juicy blackmail. LB promises to help. CN confronts Selina abt it & rather than get angry, she’s amused.

She takes him to see the nitty-gritties of Paris. Opens his eyes to human trafficking, the homeless, the poor & the corruption and lies. Gives him some hard nuanced lessons that pushes him to act instead of react, patrolling in neglected areas & always checking up on past victims. He feeds the strays with Catwoman, Ivy helps him with a bio project & Harley teaches him how to dye his hair green.

One day, LB swoops in while Catwoman is doing a robbery. CN also shows up to defend her. He tries to explain that he hired her to help. LB is enraged that he made such a decision without her input & is defending a criminal.

CN: Are you any closer to finding out who Hawkmoth is?!

LB: I’m trying my best! All I have are Fu’s notes!

CN: Are you?! Were you & Fu trying to find Hawkmoth or is he just teaching you how to be a ‘better Guardian’? I didn’t have his teaching or his notes but at least I’m actually trying to do something about it.

LB: Do you think being a Guardian’s a game?!

CN: I think it’s a second priority to stopping Hawkmoth! Maybe becoming the Guardian will help us stop his akumas but it won’t. End. The status quo. We need to go for the head.

LB: And we do that with the help of a criminal?!

CN: This ‘criminal’ is a better hero & a better friend than you are!

Everyone is stunned by that statement. But it’s true. CN wouldn’t go as far as to call Selina a maternal figure, but her, Harley & Ivy are the cool wine aunts he’s never had. 

LB glares at CN & though he has the power of destruction, she’s the one who decides to land the final blow.

“Traitor.”

The next morning, LB goes on TV & tells everyone that CN is now a criminal.

[mariharem-trash-heap]

Five Times Lila Lied to Marinette’s Family...

... And the One Time They Decided to Do Something About It.

(Request) Marinette was beginning to lose hope that anyone would believe her about her classmate’s lying habit... until her grandmother turned to her one day and said, “Jagged Stone is in England. What is this child talking about?” And, as they say, it was all downhill from there.

Notes:

I don’t usually do 5+1 fics anymore, but I had a good time reversing the trope that Mari’s family believes a literal stranger over their own blood.

1) Gina Dupain

Despite Grandparents’ Day being squarely during summer break, Dupont decided to hold a party to celebrate. Every student, current and upcoming, was invited along with their grandparents.

As it happened, this year Marinette’s grandma happened to be in town for the week, and when Tom mentioned the party at dinner, she was delighted.

“Oh, Marinette, why don’t we go?” She asked, turning to the teenager with sparkling eyes. “It will be fun! I haven’t gotten to properly meet your friends, either...”

Marinette paused in sipping her water, before setting the cup back down and nodding with a smile. “Sure, why not?”

-0-0-0-0-

The party was going smoothly, or as smooth as it could be, by the time the two walked over from the bakery. Gina had dressed up in her best pantsuit, and Marinette went in a nice blouse and capris.

Almost immediately, Marinette’s face brightened and she made to hurry away, but at the last second remembered her guest and tugged at her arm. “I see Alya. Let’s go.”

“Oh, Alya,” Gina murmured. “That’s your friend, right?”

“Yep, we’re best friends.”

“I see.” A smile spread across the older woman’s face.

“Mari!” Alya seemed to have spotted them too, as her own grin appeared and she reached to hug the noirette.

The two squeezed each other tight for a few seconds before they pulled away. Marinette looked to Nino with a smile, one that he returned.

“Alya, this is my grandma,” she introduced. “Nonna, this is my friend Alya, and her boyfriend, Nino.”

“It’s good to actually meet you properly this time!” Gina chuckled, nodding to the kids. “Dating already, are you? Goodness, you kids grow up too fast.”

“We just started dating this year, actually.” Alya smiled, locking her arm into Nino’s. “It’s nice to meet you, Marinette’s grandma!”

“Oh, please, call me Nonna.” Gina shook her head, eyes twinkling.

Marinette looked around with a slight frown. “Let me guess, Adrien couldn’t make it?”

“You know how his dad is,” Nino lamented with a huff, stuffing his hand in his pocket. “I doubt he even has grandparents to come, anyway, so he would’ve felt weird about it.”

“I suppose.” With a sigh, the girl wilted a little.

“Hey, cheer up.” Alya bumped her with her elbow, a secretive look on her face. “I know something that’ll cheer you up - Jagged Stone is coming to Paris again!”

The girl’s eyes widened as she searched her face. “Wait... really? When?”

“It’s supposed to be a secret, but since you’re my bestie I have it on good authority that he’s scheduling a trip next week.” With a wink, her friend added, “You can thank Lila for that info!”

Gina watched as her granddaughter’s demeanor changed. In an instant her surprise wilted into suspicion, only for a moment, before she schooled her face into a more neutral expression. “Oh, is that so?”

“Yeah, she’s here if you wanna get it straight from her if you want!”

Exchanging a look with her grandma, Marinette forced a smile. “You know what? Sure. Let me hear it from the source.”

She almost felt bad at the way Alya brightened up. Turning to her boyfriend with a murmur, she rushed off, pulling him in tow.

“What was that about, Marinette?” She questioned.

“Oh, just a girl in my class.” She answered halfheartedly with a shrug. “She has all these impossible stories she likes to tell. I’m not sure a lot of them are real, but everyone else seems to buy them.”

With a frown, the woman hummed in thought. Glancing down the hallway to where the girl and boy had run off to, she mused, “Jagged Stone is in England. What is this child talking about?”

Marinette froze, out of the corner of her eye.

“I’ve been meaning to keep it a secret, but for your birthday I’ve been speaking with your parents to take you to a concert of his.” She smiled in amusement at her granddaughter’s surprise. “Unfortunately, he’s going to be in England for another few weeks, so we would have to go out of the country for it.”

“Oh, Grandma,” Marinette breathed, wrapping her arms around her in a tight hug.

“It’s not the surprise gift I wanted it to be, but-- Marinette?” Gina paused, concerned, when she felt wetness gathering on the front of her blouse. “Are you alright?”

“I’m-- I’m just fine,” came a little sniffle from below. “I’m perfect, actually.”

2) Roland Dupain

“Marinette!” Roland greeted happily, opening his arms so that his granddaughter could throw herself in for a hug. “So good to see you. How have you been?”

“I’ve been well, Grandpa,” she answered happily as she squeezed the old man tight before pulling away. “How are you?”

“Much better now!” He stepped out of the doorway, allowing her in. “Apparently Paris is trying a new youth program, calls it the Senior Outreach Program.” He snorted. “I’m far from senior, I’m still in my prime. But anyway, they sent the most charming little girl - she’s been helping me get used to all this confounded new technology.”

“That’s great, Grandpa,” Marinette answered, hanging her coat up by the door as he shut it.

“Yes, I think she goes to your school,” he said next, and it sent a pang of dread through her body. “Lila Rossi, is it? She’s had a lot to say about how welcoming your friends are.”

And there it was.

Marinette tried her best to smile at him, though it came out looking almost constipated. “Oh, really? How nice.”

“I admit, I was a little skeptical at first, but apparently she grew up in the same exact region of Italy that I lived in for a time!” He chuckled. “Very small world, isn’t it? We had a wonderful time talking about our families’ traditions and recipes. Turns out she’s related to the Marianis! Isn’t that neat?”

“She is?” Well, that would be news to her. Marinette gently said, “Grandpa, she’s been telling all of us that she’s related to the current president of Italy. There’s been no mention of the Mariani family or anything - not even when I mentioned having Italian ancestors.”

“Eh? Really?” He squinted. “Marinette, ancestry doesn’t just go one way, you know.”

“Believe me, if she was related to one of the oldest restaurant-owning families in Italy, she would have mentioned it, especially after Alya told her my parents own a bakery.” She insisted with a frown. “Especially since she’s apparently gluten-intolerant.”

This got Roland’s attention. “Gluten intolerance?! She helped me bake a loaf of bread just yesterday! She didn’t mention anything about any gluten intolerance, or whatever you kids are making up these days!”

“She’s a liar, Grandpa,” She answered.

“Well!” He scoffed with a scowl, turning to head for the landline. “I’ll be having words about this with her supervisor! Sending me a child with a supposed ‘gluten allergy’... of all the nerve...!”

All Marinette could do was sigh as he grumbled to himself while dialing, hoping that her time with her grandfather hadn’t been spoiled.

3) Wang Cheng

"Uncle Wang?” Marinette startled in surprise as her great-uncle walked into the room with a smile. “What are you doing here? Where’s Papa?”

“I’m going to be the one giving the cooking lesson today,” he replied, patting her on the head as he passed. Setting down the giant pot he’d brought with him, he asked, “Has your mother taught you how to make xiaolongbao yet?”

“Ah, no, not yet,” she sheepishly rubbed the back of her neck. “We’ve both been too busy to try. The bakery got a huge order this week, and I’m trying to plan a picnic day for the class...”

The man seemed a little disappointed, but he shrugged. “Well, that’s alright. Perhaps I can stop in and we can make them together, all three of us.”

“That would be great!” His little great-niece smiled up at him, and it warmed his heart.

-0-0-0-0-

The cooking lesson went on without a hitch - someone had spoken to Chloe, he surmised, because the blonde teenager didn’t so much as look at him the whole time and allowed Sabrina to mix the ingredients into the soup for her.

There was someone new here this time, however - a brunette with long hair and a tanned complexion, one who was chatting amiably with a couple of other girls as they mixed their soup together. Or rather, she was not; her partners were mixing it for her, as she claimed she’d sprained her wrist. Marinette had just rolled her eyes, surprising the man. That was not like his great-niece, or so he’d thought.

Indeed, the girl spent much of her time waving her wrist about, this way and that - but whenever he walked over to inspect their progress, suddenly it was still and limp again on the table, a doe-eyed, innocent look on her face. It was all too suspicious.

By the end of class, he leaned in to Marinette’s ear and whispered, Marinette, who is that girl with the sprained wrist?”

“That’s Lila,” she responded dismissively. “She’s lying about her wrist being sprained. She just doesn’t want to make soup today.”

Oh. Well that was troubling information. “Does she not like soup?”

“I don’t know, but if she’s in a group she’ll find any way to get out of doing work that she can.” She spared a sympathetic glance to the two girls with her. “I feel bad for Juleka and Rose, honestly. Rose is so kind that she can’t bear it if she can’t help someone in need, and Juleka seems to believe her wild stories...”

Most troubling indeed.

“I see,” said the man, gathering up his supplies. “Well. Have a good day, Marinette. I’m coming over for dinner - perhaps then I can help you and Sabine.”

Her answering smile made the troubling clouds over his mind dissipate somewhat.

4) Tom Dupain

Tom hadn’t expecting the volume of middle-schoolers walking into his bakery one afternoon. But the happy chatter and smiling faces of his daughter’s classmates were no unwelcome sight as he fixed a smile on his face and leaned forward. “Welcome! What can I get for you today?”

“We wanted to bring Lila to check out your bakery,” Adrien explained with a winning smile as the girl in question shuffled behind him. “She’s never had proper French pastries before and was curious to try some.”

“Oh, of course! Lila, is it? You’re my daughter’s new classmate.” He nodded politely to the brunette. “What would you like? We’ve got a large arrangement.”

“Oh, I don’t know,” the girl seemed timid, like a fawn, her large eyes looking back and forth across the display case. “I hate having so many choices...”

“Well, might I recommend an éclair?” He gestured to the little plate of custard-filled dough. “We’ve got chocolate, raspberry, and orange as our specialties today.”

“That sounds marvelous, I’ll take orange, please.” The girl flashed a pleasant expression.

“Orange it is!” He turned to pluck one of the pastries carefully, placing it in a liner and setting it on the counter. “Since you’re one of Marinette’s classmates, I’ll give you a discount - just €2.75.”

“O- oh,” here came a disappointed frown. “I, ah, this is embarrassing. I forgot my wallet today.”

“Oh, it’s no problem!” Alya spoke up, raising her own. “I’ll cover for you.”

“You really don’t have to,” she simpered.

“You’re our friend,” she reassured with a wink. “I’ll pay for it, Mr. Dupain.”

“Alright, is there anything else I can get you kids?” He accepted the notes and gave her change before handing the éclair to the brunette.

One by one the other kids spoke up, happily asking for this or that, until Adrien said, “I’d like a gougere, please.”

Tom chuckled, winking at the blond. “Cheese bread? I thought the day would never come. No problem.” As soon as he walked a few steps away to grab it, he heard it.

“Oh...” A tiny murmur from the brunette girl, Lila, he’d noted.

“What’s wrong?” Alya was asking quietly.

“I... I forgot I’m lactose intolerant,” she sheepishly answered. “I didn’t bring my medicine with me. And this is kind of stale...”

“Oh, girl, why didn’t you say something? Why’d you choose the éclair?”

“I didn’t want to cause trouble...”

As he turned back around, Alya straightened up and Lila paused her squirming.

“Is there a problem?” He asked kindly.

“Lila’s éclair is stale,” she stated. “And she’s lactose intolerant.”

“Stale? Already?” His brows raised to his hairline. “I just made them this morning. Are you certain?”

“This is why I didn’t want to say anything,” the girl muttered as she covered her face with one hand. “This is so embarrassing, Alya...”

“Forgive me, but I make my pastries at most a day in advance, and that’s for more complicated things like mille-feuille,” he explained. “Why didn’t you speak up? I’d have gotten you something lactose-free from the back. We always try to cater to customers with food allergies.”

“I forgot,” she said quietly.

“Well,” Tom sighed, “Are you feeling alright? Do you need some Lactaid?”

“I’ll be fine,” Lila insisted, though a troubled expression came over her face.

“If you don’t want it, I’ll eat it,” Nino volunteered.

“A free éclair? Heck no, I’ll eat it,” Kim retorted.

Tom stood there, brow furrowed in thought, as he handed Adrien his bread. The boy looked uncomfortable and apologetic, even as he paid for it.

He would have to speak with Marinette about this development.

5) Sabine Cheng

“Marinette?” Sabine gently knocked on her daughter’s door after dinner with a plate of cut strawberries and whipped cream in hand, brow knit in concern despite the frustration still smoldering in her chest. “Baozi?”

A shuffling from inside, and her daughter’s emotion-choked voice cracked, “What?”

Sabine hesitated. What could she say to make things better? She hated fighting with her - she hated fighting with anyone, at that - and while her head was screaming one thing, her heart was pleading another.

“Are you... are you alright?” She tried instead, her voice dropping into a more worried tone at how desolate she sounded.

There was another pause, before Marinette’s voice answered again, sounding much worse. “No.”

Sabine gave a quiet sigh. “Can I come in?”

Don’t be like your mother, her heart whispered. Talk to her. Be understanding.

At a noncommittal noise, she took a chance. Opening the door a crack, she peeked in to see no Marinette in sight; but when she looked up at the girl’s bed, a head poked up to look.

“I brought you dessert, since you missed it,” she explained as gently as she could, a grimacing smile on her face. “Why don’t you come down so we can talk it out?”

For a moment, the girl didn’t move.

Then, finally, after ducking her head back down and something akin to soft murmuring from above, she slowly slid out of bed, covers retracting to show her mussed hair and blotchy face.

Sabine’s latent anger finally began to flicker out, and her eyes softened as Marinette slowly came down.

“Oh, bǎobèi,” she murmured, setting the plate down on the chaise and opening her arms.

Without a word, her daughter flung herself into them and squeezed her tight, hiccupping as the tears began to flow again.

“I’m sorry,” she whimpered. “I’m sorry I yelled at you.”

“I’m sorry for yelling too, Marinette,” Sabine soothed, brushing back her hair and holding her tight. Her heart ached for her teenage daughter as she began to cry, soaking the front of her shirt. “I would like to understand what’s going on instead of fight you about it. Will you tell me, so I can make things better?”

Marinette shakily nodded and hummed a response. As she pulled back, her face red from her tears, she answered, “There’s-- there’s this girl. In my class.”

“Go on,” the mother encouraged, brow knit in concern.

“And- and she lies, like all the time, and I’m the only one that knows she’s lying.” She sniffled, brushing away strands of hair that stuck to her face. “None of my friends believe me about anything she says, and-- and Adrien--”

“Breathe, sweetheart,” Sabine gently ordered, brushing a thumb across her cheek. “What about Adrien? Doesn’t he stand up for you?”

“No!” Marinette burst, fresh hot tears spilling down her cheeks. “All he said was that she isn’t hurting anyone with her lies, but-- but she’s hurting me! She’s hurting everyone because they believe her about all these things she promises, and-- and I don’t want them to be disappointed and upset when she doesn’t pull through!”

Sabine’s eyes hardened and she nodded, painful memories of her husband’s akumatization fresh in their memories. Tom had been so distraught, worrying about Marinette falling prey to that horrible butterfly-toting villain tonight.

“I’m trying so hard not to say anything about it, but-- but now she’s lying to you, and I can’t stand it!” Marinette sobbed, hiding her face in her mother’s chest. “I’m not bullying anyone, I swear! I’m not like Chloe!”

“I believe you, bǎobèi,” her mother soothed, running her fingers through her hair. “I was shocked, and upset, but I believe you. We’ve raised you better than that.”

“I’m just so tired of being singled out all the time,” she sniffled. “The very first day she came back to school, she threatened to steal all of my friends. And it’s working. I don’t want her lying to my family too!”

Sabine continued to murmur to her, holding her tight. It broke her heart to see her daughter so broken over this, and as she sat with her, listening to her talk about everything that had happened in the past month, the fiery anger in her gut rekindled itself - though not at Marinette.

She had to do something about this. But first, she thought, offering a cream-covered strawberry slice to her sniffling teenager, to comfort Marinette.

+1) They Do Something About It

The next morning, Tom and Sabine, along with Tom’s parents and Sabine’s uncle, marched over to the school, box of pastries in hand. After talking about it for much of the night previously, they had come to the conclusion that something needed to be done about their daughter’s new bully.

Principal Damocles spluttered in surprise as they entered his office. “Oh, well- well hello, Mr. Dupain, Mrs. Cheng, ah - Dupains, and...”

“Wang Cheng,” the man offered. “I’m Marinette’s great-uncle.”

Damocles squinted for a moment, before adding, “Chengs. What, ah, what brings you here this morning? Classes have only just begun.”

“We need to discuss something very important with you, Principal,” Tom answered, extending the box. “But first, would you like a pastry? Freshly baked.”

The bearded man’s eyes lit up in delight. “Don’t mind if I do, thank you.”

Roland and Gina sat down before his desk, the rest standing, as he picked out a croissant with butter glistening along its still-steaming surface, watching as he carefully ate it above the napkin provided.

“Now,” said Sabine pleasantly, “We’ve had some concerns over behavior coming from our daughter’s classroom lately. Perhaps you could lend your thoughts about the situation?”

“Miss Bustier’s classroom?” He questioned, wiping his beard free of crumbs. “Ah, yes, yes, I’ve heard some concerns from her about some developing behavioral problems between a couple of her students. Your daughter has been... acting rather bizarre, as of late.”

“Bizarre how?” Tom questioned. “Bizarre as in being rude and bullying her friends, or bizarre as in coming to class early?”

“Bizarre as in, oh, how to put this gently...” Damocles cleared his throat and threaded his fingers together. “Dupain, Cheng, your daughter has been unfairly targeting another student for perceived wrongs and causing distress on her part.”

Sabine’s eyes darkened for a second, before Tom spoke up. “Principal Damocles, I’m afraid we’ve heard another thing entirely - and it’s not just us, but her grandparents and great-uncle as well.”

“That’s right!” Roland added, a grumpy frown on his face.

“My great-niece would never bully someone,” Wang’s face was pinched with disappointment. “Are you sure you’ve heard correctly?”

“Unfortunately so.” Damocles pressed a button on the intercom. “Madame Bustier, would you please make your way to the principal’s office?”

“The stories we’ve heard at home have been quite different,” Sabine said as soon as his finger left the button. “My daughter was distraught when we told her about the girl she’d supposedly been bullying. She doesn’t have a mean bone in her body!”

“I have had evidence of the girl lying, myself,” Gina supplied, folding her arms across her chest. “This past July, in fact. However long this has been going on, I’m disappointed that it’s gone as long as it has.”

“W- well,” the principal cleared his throat, “surely her teacher will have more to add that I cannot.”

As if on cue, there was a polite knock at the door and he called, “Come in, please.”

Caline Bustier stopped short as she stepped into the office, brow knit in confusion and concern when she saw the group. “Um, you called for me, principal Damocles?”

“Yes, yes, please, come in,” he answered. “I’m sorry for pulling you away from your instructions, but I would like your input on a discussion.”

“Of course,” said the redhead, and as she closed the door and walked in, she smiled at Tom and Sabine. “Hello, Mr. Dupain, Mrs. Cheng.”

“Madame Bustier, it’s come to our attention that our daughter is being bullied right under your nose,” Sabine said bluntly, causing the teacher to startle. “Yet the story we’re hearing from school is that she’s the one doing the bullying?”

“Oh, well- bullying is a strong term,” she answered hesitantly, clasping her hands together. “But yes, there have been some disagreements going on in the classroom recently, involving Marinette and another student.”

“I do hope you aren’t about to tell me my own daughter would cry and lie to me about a girl promising to make her school life terrible.” The woman’s eyes narrowed.

“She- she said that?” Caline stopped short, a shocked pull to her expression. “Who on earth would tell her that?”

“The very girl she’s supposedly bullying,” Tom answered for her, folding his arms across his chest. “A girl named Lila. And nothing is being done to keep her safe from bully behavior? I have to say I’m very disappointed in Dupont. Marinette has been being bullied by Chloe Bourgeois for years now, and not once has anything been done to remedy that. Now another student is bullying my daughter and the report from school is that she’s the one being a bully? Not my Marinette.”

“That’s right,” added Gina with a frown. “My granddaughter is not the type to be a bully.”

“I understand that you may have some contrary opinions, being that it is your daughter, but unfortunately this issue has been going on for quite a while now.” Caline had the audacity to look disappointedly at them. “Marinette is supposed to be a representative for our classroom, but has fallen quite short in being an example.”

“Give me examples of her bullying,” Sabine ordered. Behind her, Wang placed a gentle hand on her shoulder.

“Well,” said the younger woman, “there was an incident on Lila’s first day of school. She was happily making friends, but Marinette tried to dissuade them and paint her in a bad light. I, personally, thought she was jealous, and I tried to stand up for the new student.”

“Jealous, perhaps, but Marinette would never warn others away just because of that. We’ve raised her to be truthful and justice-minded.” Tom retorted. “What else?”

“Well, there is the fact that she continues to be obstinate and stubbornly refuses to accept Lila’s ailments.” Ticking them off on her fingers, “she has admitted to a number of allergies and injuries that Marinette has mocked and called her a liar for, she has refused to help her out when she needs it, and has led a bad example for the other students when it comes to accepting someone different.”

“Well?” Roland demanded next. “Have you verified those allergies and injuries? Because she never told me about any gluten allergy, and I made bread with her! She didn’t look sick to me!”

“Not all allergies and ailments manifest themselves the same,” Damocles reminded.

“She should’ve at least looked sick!” The old man retorted. “Tom told me all about gluten intolerance - not once did she even look it! And now you’re telling me my granddaughter is dismissive of something like that? Not on your life, she isn’t!”

“Marinette goes above and beyond in trying to help others, even when it negatively affects her,” Wang added. “In fact, I distinctly remember hearing that she was a star student in your classroom at the beginning of this year. She’s never once gotten in trouble for bullying, and it’s not like her to suddenly become nasty.”

“W- well,” Caline shifted from foot to foot, unsure, “there is a matter of personal drama between girls, but...”

“Are you telling me my daughter would bully someone else just because they like the same boy?” Sabine’s voice was deadly quiet.

“I’m not saying so, but I am saying--”

“You’re saying that my daughter is so flighty and possessive that she would emulate Chloe Bourgeois just because a new girl happens to have a crush.” Tom flatly accused. “Believe me, Madame Bustier, I’ve been on the receiving end of many, many discussions about this boy she likes, and not once has she ever shown signs of being this person you’re telling me she’s becoming.”

“You haven’t had to teach her for several hours a day almost every day of the week.” The redhead’s face was pinched.

“So allow me to sit in one day, just so I can see what kind of situation my daughter is in,” Sabine pressured. “Let me see what’s happening with my own eyes.”

“That wouldn’t be a very good way of diagnosing the issue, Mrs. Cheng,” Damocles patiently explained. “If Marinette knew her mother was going to be in class with her, she would be on her best behavior.”

“But would the other students?” She pressured, leaning in. “What reason do they have to care about my approval? My daughter’s bully certainly doesn’t - do you remember the time she tried to frame my daughter for pulling the fire alarm and stealing her bracelet? Because Tom and I certainly do. Do you remember when she showed blatantly racist behavior towards my uncle and ruined his soup, getting him akumatized? Because we certainly do. You have done nothing to curtail the treatment she has been getting for years now, and we are sick and tired of having to watch our daughter become this anxious, beaten dog of a person because you don’t feel like doing your job.”

“If we stir up trouble with her father, our school’s good standing would suffer tremendously,” the principal defended.

“You would look the other way on a deviant’s behavior just because of who her father is? You disgust me, Damocles. I thought this school had more integrity than that, but I suppose I was wrong.” Anger finally flashed in the father’s eyes, and he leaned in, towering over the balding man. “If you cannot get your affairs in order and start cracking down on this misbehavior, then we are pulling Marinette out - and you can say goodbye to the extra services we’ve been offering the school. No student discounts on baked goods, no baking lessons, no catering - no nothing!”

Caline and Damocles watched helplessly as the family stood, angry and disappointed with them.

“For a school named after a famous hero of France, you sure are showing how villainous you can be,” Sabine bit out, hands clenched. “We’re taking Marinette home early today, at lunchtime. If I hear one more ill word from her about this bullying situation, we’re reporting you to the Ministry of National Education. And don’t you even think about strong-arming her into staying silent about this - Marinette knows she can trust us, and I will not stand for anyone blackmailing my daughter into suffering in silence.”

“You need to investigate this girl,” Wang scolded. “More than once my great-niece has told me she fakes her injuries to get out of doing her fair share of work. She faked a sprained wrist when I helped your class with their cooking lesson - where is her mother? Does she know her daughter is getting hurt all the time with nobody else to help her but her classmates and friends?”

“At the very least, you need to discipline her,” Tom emphasized. “If she truly isn’t acting maliciously, you need to help her understand what behavior is and is not acceptable at school. You are educators. You need to act like it instead of kowtowing to every last little whim of your children; today’s youth needs guidance, not friends.”

“Of- of course, Mr. Dupain, Mrs. Cheng,” Damocles stammered. “Is- is that all?”

“We’ve said our piece. The rest is up to you.” With a cold smile, the parents added, “Good day to you both, Principal, Madame.”

[plumsaffron]

rewatching chameleon made me realize that Marinette was being a bit too extra with her coping and seething. someone changes her seat to sit next to her crush. seething. she could literally sit next to lila if she want to convince her to stop lying. she fucking refuses because "she's a liar!!! I don't befriend them!!!" despite being one of them hersELF. lila is doing absolutely nothing to marinette. "guyz she's a manipulative bitch guys did you know she lied about being ladybug's best friend. guys you have to believe me she is evil". what did lila do to you? use the names of famous personalities YOU know personally. use that so that she can get closer to your crush. and that shit completely backfired.

did you know. you are a liar. alya is a liar. even adrien had lied. literally everyone at some point has.

and I noticed something at the end of the episode. ladybug had locked Lila in a shell and told her "we should be friends, not enemies". This could possibly be how Marinette had felt when she said that to her. Lila probably wanted her to not be a problem or something, but Mari was literally silenced, and muffled, like the shell. this shit is ride or die. Marinette was legitimately asking for the War to happen, thinking it would be a revolution

this is why lilanette canon. both hate each other so much. both see the other as a rival in a personal way. also lukadrien canon because both of them them were pushover rebounds

also thomas wants us to hate lila as much as possible, so he puts us at marinette's position in later episodes, making lila do evil shit such as framing, theft, harrassment, to the point it kinda actually warped the tone of the series. which also means lilanette canon. i rest my case

dang. You hit Adrien and Luka with the pushover rebounds. AHAHAHAHAHA.

But yeah Marinette is really bizarre.

You expect her to be above minuscule common things due to her saving Paris from Hawkmoth or think like hey maybe I shouldn't cause something Hawkmoth can feed off. Once she feels inferior to a person that has a liking to her lust, she's out to do whatever it takes by any means to end what she views as an interloper (oh how this makes season 5 age well in this case).

Volpina pretty much explains I fear Lila is better than me in every way and will take Adrien. Heck she even goes out her way to find a flaw of Volpina. It's in her face that she just wanted to see a fault (just like earlier to be HAH). And then you're later like I was wrong please accept my apology after being all that. Bruh she couldn't even handle Volpina taking charge, all I MUST LEAD YOU ALL. I don't get why some find it hard to understand why Lila should not be forgiving to Ladybug. Now on with Lila in heroes day Catalyst of S2 video chat, you already have Marinette going out her way to try to expose Lila. Oh and it's the second video chat to the class (the first was never shown but still...). Again Marinette's thirst of being a Lila Flaw finder.

Then in season 2-3 is I fell below Kagami need to find something wrong with her or she'll ruin my dream with Adrien. 3 also is just I must stop Lila despite Adrien Alya and Tikki's words because I don't believe in Adrien and my friends or I think everything Lila says is false. Adrien likes you more bruh. But to Her it's her duty to expose Lila, I can't leave Rossi alone. I think you're a joke Lila but I'm still gonna snoop upon you. Heck Nino told her snooping ain't cool in Chameleon. And nearing the end of Chameleon lecture Ladybug gave to Lila made my chuckle.

"You don't have to lie and pretend to be something you're not. People will like you for just being yourself."

Like What? Does Ladybug even remember herself or listen to herself? I guess I can only say you must be a super hero to ignore my speech to you but still. Marinette still just doesn't know she should stop talking about her lying. She knows darn well Lila doesn't like being labeled or referred as such from earlier and as Marinette lives a double life should be extra award but yet she'll proceed labeling her or being a nuisance.

*Breaks to S4 briefly*

Anytime Lila could just do the same to Marinette. Oh Marinette you're such a klutz LOL. Marinette please stop slipping and falling. Marinette why are you staggering and fumbling around Adrien. Heh she could have called out Marinette in Guilt Trip as she can see that Marinette is mad distracted fawning for Adrien. Oh Marinette why are you lying. Shame on you (Marinette explodes in anger ahahahaha).

*Back to S3 and to S4*.

Then she's like I give up cause Kagami actually did nothing wrong. Oh and I realized I was the issue and was so wrong. And it's best for Adrien. I'm gonna be with Luka now. Kagami can be with Adrien and should be together even if they broke up. She can't handle seeing Lila winning or being in control. She loathes it (oof puts a smile on my face after season 3 still).

Doesn't Marinette have better things todo that obsess over Lila? Gets angry or offended at retaliation. Retaliation = you are on the same field as Hawkmoth.

Marinette and a lot of the miraculous fandom hold hands hating Lila but mostly that only stems really from a generic common trait they almost to all share that Lila does. They probably upset because they put a fanfiction of why they expected Volpina to be like of probably a goodie two shoes to bond between Ladybug and Chat Noir but things weren't as they framed at first sight when released.

I'll end this with the funny

Reminder that there's like 2 weeks left of school and she won't have to see those 2 scrubs again for awhile (unless they decide to visit her home nearby or park to troll). And next episode, Marinette (with Sabrina) finally takes her down in a horrible plan set up fashion (It's all kinds of wrong. It really is and a lot are weirdly happy over it like over a million). What makes it worse is that speech she gave to Hoaxer for the previous episode. Also reinforcing she learned nothing of previouses and thus put Sabrina in possible danger. Ladybug/Marinette can't see anything. She doesn't get it.

She basically just asking for her life to be Cataclysmed.

Flairmidable swiping the miraculousesto do an exchange with Gabriel pales in comparision to Marinette/Ladybug's boundless disgust at Lila's existence.

I wonder if she'll surpass Lila Rossi and Gabriel Agreste. Maybe she did lol.

It's so romantic ahahha.

All because

is too hard for Marinette.