#Lila gets plummeted

[nixthelapin]

You know, I liked Lila as a character much better when she was just a lonely girl who lied to get attention and clout rather than some evil mastermind who somehow has three (3) different identities and has a secret lair in the catacombs under Paris.

But the writing team doesn’t want to hear that.

[mochinek0]

The Al Ghul Family

Lila glared at the evidence in front of her. She quickly wet the papers she had in her hands and threw it in the trash.

'Dammit! If only I had never heard her say the name 'Al Ghul'.'

Lila gripped the sink in the girl's bathroom as hard as she could. She glared at her reflection in the mirror as if it could turn back time. It wasn't her fault that she heard Marinette talking on the phone to someone and calling herself an Al Ghul. Lila had searched up the Al Ghul's and learned they were tied to a dangerous lineage of killers in the past. There wasn't much about them; it was almost as if they were ninjas. The only thing she knew about Marinette was that had some type of Asian heritage. Sure, if she asked around she'd probably know, but she didn't really care.

She felt like she only closed her eyes for a second, as she sighed. When she opened them, Marinette was standing behind her, smiling.

'Speak of the devil.'

"I hope you enjoyed your little game, Layla." Marinette smiled.

"What are you talking about?" Lila questioned, peeved by hearing that name.

"You figured it out by now, right?" Mari continued, cornering Lila like she had done to her long ago, "You were never a threat to me. You do realize that don't you? Gabriel Agreste has always said yes to me. You have to manipulate people to get your way. I could have had you murdered at any moment, but I chose for you to live. I wanted to see what a toy could do when the thought they were in charge. Step out of line again and an accident will happen."

"I'll tell everyone!" Lila hissed.

Marinette stepped back and giggled, "You-You think they'll believe you!"

Lila smirked, "They already do."

"It wasn't hard to find out about you Layla Agetha Vincourt Rossario."

Lila froze and took a step back. She felt the color drain from her face.

"When I show everyone the mess you made at your last five schools. I mean, Audrey Bourgeois wants me as part of her staff. She may not love Chloe, but a national security risk? She'll make sure everyone knows." Mari ranted off, "Think of all the problems you would cause for Gabriel: stocks would plummet and all the recalls. Poor Adrien will be drowning in photoshoots to make up for the publicity. Not to mention, them blacklisting you. To a thief, a liar, and a murder in the eyes of the boy you want."

"I didn't-" Lila began.

"The evidence stands for itself." Marinette shrugged, "Maybe it was an accident that you poisoned the Minister's nephew, but all the people they talked to. All those people who heard you pull the same shit that you do to me? How you cried about being bullied and how his girlfriend was hurting you for just being friends? Do you really think the Minister of Italy won't catch the first flight over to arrest you when he hears you're doing the same thing to a poor baker's daughter. Imagine how much news it will make when people learn about you and your doing the exact same thing in Paris! It'll make international news! How a murder was trying to gain the attention of a famous model and lied her way into is father's graces."

Marinette smiled, "All it would take is one little phone call to the Minister of Italy for him to know where you are now. I don't even have to be the one to make the call. Your poor mother, losing you and her only source of income. Your father is in America with his new wife and new family. I hear his new daughter is everything he ever hoped for."

"Shut up!" growled Lila.

"She's a straight A student, popular, dating a musician that her father approves of."

"Shut up!" Lila repeated.

"You're just jealous of your little sister because she's everything you're not. Too think, she's only one year younger than you? I heard she took after her mother, but you took after your father. He cheated on your mother didn't he? He lost his job because he was employed by your mother's family. Then, he married into his mistress's family. Of course, none of it is his money; it belongs to his wife and daughter. If he doesn't behave, he doesn't get an allowance. Smart of her to make him sign a pre-nup. He cheats and he's back to being broke." Marinette laughed, "Your mother would hate you if she knew you were just like him. She has sole custody. Your father didn't even want you."

"Shut up!" Lila screamed, before charging after Marinette.

Marinette yawned and easily flipped her onto her back.

"You're nothing, but a disappointment." Mari hissed, "Weren't those his last words to you?"

Lila laid there and sobbed.

"You truly are disappointing; I expected more of my so-called bully." Mari sighed, "Make sure you behave from now on and if you decide to make me your bully again, well, Mommy will find out just how much of a Daddy's girl you really are. I'd be careful with my next move if I were you."

Marinette walked out of the school and smiled. I was great to see a familiar face

"So?" Damian questioned, as Marinette towards him.

Marinette smirked, "Mother always did say innocence was my best look."

"Think the liar will listen?" Damian asked.

"Eh." Mari shrugged, "I'll call you if she doesn't. Just forward everything to her mother and let me know. I don't want to miss the fall out."

"What about Gabriel?" he asked.

Marinette smiled, "He has two years to change. If not, I'll burn his company down or buy it out; I haven't decided yet."

"What about Junior?" her brother questioned.

"I've already convinced him to give up modeling and Agreste Senior agreed, but that bitch doesn't know that." his sister commented.

"Sometimes I wonder if I should be convinced how much you think like Mother, but look like Father." Damian stated.

"A female isn't needed on the throne." she shrugged.

"That was Grandfather's mistake." Damian growled, "Mother was just as deadly as him. What about coming to the manor?"

"Not yet. Father is still adjusting to you." Marinette declared, "He may know of me, but that doesn't mean he views me as his. I don't want his legacy and that's all he cares about. He thinks I'm 'safe' so we'll keep it that way."

Damian smirked, "Gotham would likely be destroyed in an instant if we both took it on."

"You know how to reach me if there is ever anything you need." Mari commented.

"I gave Todd your number for emergency use only." Damian declared, "If I can't call, he will."

"You better be dead if he calls me." Marinette frowned, glaring at her brother.

'Just as dramatic as Mother.'

Damian noticed someone walking towards them and changed his demeanor.

"Thank you." he spoke and began to walk away.

Marinette watched, confused, at least until she heard some footsteps.

"Who was that, Marinette?" Adrien questioned.

Marinette blushed at his sudden appearance by her side.

"T-Tourist." she smiled, "Um, lover. NO! I-I mean louve. He wanted to know about the louve! Where, um-"

Adrien chuckled and listened patiently, as she explained the stranger's presence.

"Think I can walk you home?" he asked, taking her hand.

Damian watched as Marinette turned red and looked away from the blonde.

'Adrien Agreste, hmmmm. I'll still never get over how scary like Mother she is. She always knows what she wants and how to get it. I doubt she'll slip anything into his drink, though.'

"Welcome to the Al-Ghul family, Agreste." Damian smirked.

TAG LIST: @animeweebgirl @a-star-with-a-human-name @meme991001 @vixen-uchiha @abrx2002 @alysrose-starchild @fandom-trapped-03 @dood-space @moonlightstar64 @saltymiraculer @marveldcedits20 @09shell-sea09 @icerosecrystal @animegirlweeb @insane-fangirl-of-everything @blueblossombliss @nickristus-dreamer @megawhitleycalderonpaganus

[dust-jacket-analysis]

Watched the London special, and now I'm going to word vomit here, to then eventually (potentially) refine this post into some solid analysis. (Spoilers for the special, obviously)

First off, holy fuck that was brutal. I mean, Marinette?? Girl??/ Get therapy??? I don't think there was a moment I stopped crying. Even when things weren't necessarily sad, I was still crying?

Just the whole scene of Marinette telling Adrien his father died, and that he was hero (tf he was *eyebrow raise*) was soul-crushing. Him lashing out was so... so good. Good writing genuinely. (Also everyone who got mad at Adrien for jumping the gun and blaming Marinette, fuck off *crafting a future post in my mind as we speak*).

The fight scenes were top tier. The part where Marinette leaps through two of the little time tunnel portal things, dodging Lila, was BRILLIANT. Her sass while doing so? God she's so cool.

Also Lila's breakdown was wild. No analysis, just shock (as if there's any semblance of analysis in any of this post).

The end scene was amazing! The little hug and then the "pound it" at the end had me legitimately bawling like a baby. Rip current animation.

Now, I loved the special. But I have BIG grievances. Well, just one big grievance.

WHERE TF WAS ADRIEN THIS WHOLE SPECIAL?

Like why did the writers, once again, backseat him? The thing I wanted most was to see Adrien grieving and coping with the death of his father and how that would impact him as Chat Noir the whole time. I wanted to see him talk more about it, and see him and ladybugs interactions the whole movie.

Instead, It was the fucking Marinette show the whole time. This is not Marinette hate, she is my daughter and I will protect her from all the haters. No this is "hate" to the writers.

They do this constantly and it pisses me off. Because the show started with them clearly being co-leads. Yeah, Marinette was a bit more focused on, but it was clearly supposed to have some semblance of balance. And then season five hits and *boom* Adrien's screentime (Correction: His quality screentime) plummets. And it's never been more clear than in this special.

Like the entirety of this whole arc plot revolves around Adrien. His father is the main villain, his father's motive is to revive his mother, who died using the peacock miraculous. which was used to create him because he's a sentimonster. Mayura is Nathalie, his sort of surrogate mother who is in love with his father. His house is literally the location of that final battle.

WHICH HE"S BENCHED FOR WHAT THE FUCK

And now, in the aftermath of all that, he's benched too. No participation, hardly any screentime. It's sad, disheartening.

All in all, this special has summed up the last couple of years of the show/franchise pretty well. Great emotional impact, more plot, and more intense themes. But also the disproportionate amount of focus on Marinette and the disservice to Adrien, all at the cost of good writing.

Still, I did love the special. It was good. I just think it had the opportunity to give fans what (I think) they wanted and could've been great.

[dream-a-little-bigger-x]

New Romantics | Spencer Reid

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Pairing: Spencer Reid x Fem!Reader

Summary: After a bad breakup, Reader and her friends go out to party where she meets one young FBI agent. Suddenly, she'd forgotten her ex even existed and was more interested in getting to know the stranger.

Warnings: alcohol use, reader is drunk for half of this, mention of puking, not proofread, it's generally just not really good but it's the best I can do.

Words: 1.4K

It had been ninety-two days to be exact. Ninety-two days of crying into tubs of ice cream, not wanting to admit that it was over and partying non-stop. It was day twenty when her friends had had enough of her wallowing and forced her into a little black dress and heels, and took her out to party. 

Ever since that day, the partying hadn’t quite stopped. 

Her heart had been broken in a thousand pieces, smashed to a pulp and stepped on by one person alone. The one person she once loved but now absolutely loathed. Charlie Denisco. Now the most hated person in her friend group. 

The partying did help a lot with working through the heartbreak. She didn’t know if it was because she wasn’t holed up in her apartment underneath every possible blanket she had or because of the alcohol, but whatever it was; she felt herself slowly healing. 

“We should find you a new love interest,” Sasha, one of her best friends, stated as she hooked an arm of hers with y/n’s. 

Scoffing, y/n shook her head while Lila voiced her thoughts. “This isn’t a romantic comedy, Sash.”

“What if we made it to be?” Sasha shrugged, earning raised eyebrows and glares from her friends. “Come on! Think about it! We’re out, partying, looking hot as shit, most of us single as shit. What if we romanticized our life and pretend we’re in a rom-com? It could be so fun!”

“Okay,” Ella indulged. “If we do this, what’s gonna happen?” 

Sasha’s face lit up, glad her friends were indulging in her delusions. “Okay, so, we’d be The New Romantics, a group of fun-loving twenty-something teenagers who go out to party, on the road to ruin. We play dumb, but we know exactly what we’re doing.” Her friends chuckled. Sasha had clearly thought about this before. 

“Sounds good to me,” y/n mumbled with a shrug, watching as Sasha’s smile widened even more, taking over her entire face. 

“Should we have, like, our own personas?” Florence suggested with a mischievous smirk on her face. 

Her friends’ smiles mirrored hers, all four of them almost excitedly about the idea. On their way to the bar, the girls started thinking up their New Romantics personas. Flo started, seeing that she was the one who came up with the idea. 

“My name is… Paige Gallagher,” she started. “I’m twenty-nine and a kindergarten–no, primary school teacher. And I enjoy talking to men the way I talk to my students.” The girls all burst out laughing at Florence’s idea. 

“Okay, okay,” y/n then giggled. “My turn. I’m Astrid Wright. I’m twenty-eight and I’m a… coffee shop owner. I like to pick up men when they pick up their coffees.” 

And just like that, Paige Gallagher, Astrid Wright, Nadia Hernandez and Taylor Bates were born from the imaginative minds of four best friends who had dubbed themselves the New Romantics that night. It was a lot fun, at first, with each of them flirting with the men at the bar, getting free drinks from each of them. It was all fun and games until y/n found herself all alone with all three of her friends chatting up the people in the bar. 

Suddenly, her heart plummeted at the feeling of being completely left alone. The memories of her and Charlie flooded back in her mind, shattering every last piece of her heart she had so carefully glued together again. Feeling the tears prick her eyes and the ground behind her sink away, she stumbled outside the bar where she crashed onto the floor, sobbing. 

“Woah, hey,” she heard an unfamiliar voice. “Hey, are you okay?” 

She looked up through her tear-filled eyes. Her sight was blurry, but she could make out the outlines of his curls and sharp jawline. “They left me alone,” she cried. “They left me alone but I can’t be alone right now.” 

“Hey, hey, sssh,” he shushed her, hoping it would soothe her violents sobs before offering his lime soda. “Here, drink this,” he said. “We need to get you a little sobered up.” For a moment, he watched her as she gulped the drink, which stopped her crying. “I’m Spencer…” 

“I’m Astrid–” she stopped herself, then shook her head. “No, that’s not right. I’m y/n.” 

Even in her drunk state, she wasn’t going to lie to this guy who was helping her out. She’d been doing that to everyone in the bar, but she didn’t want to do it to him. He seemed genuinely nice. 

“Okay, y/n,” Spencer said and grabbed her upper arms cautiously. “Can you stand? We gotta get you inside. It’s way too cold out here.” The girl nodded her head and let him help her up to her feet. She stumbled ever so slightly in doing so, but Spencer quickly regained his grip and kept her steady.

She didn’t even know where they were going. All she could focus on was his face. From where she was staring up at him from underneath his arm, she had the perfect view of his sharp jawline and adorable nose. A hiccup escaped from her throat as he gently put her down in one of the booths in the back of the bar. 

“Stay here,” he ordered. “I’m gonna get you some water.” Nodding her head, y/n let herself fall back on the bench, much to Spencer’s dismay. Within a second, he was back by her side and helped her up again. “No. No, no. Sit back up, please,” he ordered and forced her to turn so she was sitting with her back against the back of the couch. 

“But I’m so tired,” she whined, but Spencer was already gone. 

It didn’t take Spencer too long to get the girl sober again. A good five glasses of water and some sobering questions did just the trick, something he had learned from taking care of his many drunk friends. But the more sober she became, the more embarrassed she became. 

“I’m so sorry,” she cried out, fresh tears running down her cheeks. 

Spencer reached over and clutched her hand in his. “Hey, no, you don’t have to apologize.” 

“Yes, I do,” she whimpered, her bottom lip quivering. “Because I’m a drunk, blubbering mess and you’re so nice and so pretty and I just– I’m not normally like this.” She hiccuped before taking another sip, missing a light pink dusting Spencer’s cheeks. 

He himself took a sip from his water, debating whether or not to say the next words brewing in his genius brain. “Okay,” he said, more to himself than to her. “Okay, then show me who you normally are. We’re gonna sit here, you’re gonna drink your water and we’re gonna talk until you’re sober enough to go home.” 

And so they did. For hours, the two sat in the booth, chatting about seemingly random stuff while drinking one water after the other. Spencer managed to keep the girl awake to the point where she really had to go to the bathroom, having drunk too much water. 

The bar was pretty much empty at this point. Even her friends had ditched her for the people they’d picked up that night with their ‘personas’. So much for the New Romantics, y/n thought. But she was grateful for Spencer that he wanted to take the time to sober her up and get to know her. 

And it had worked, too. The room wasn’t spinning when she sat on the toilet and she didn’t feel like puking anymore. All good signs that told her she was, in fact, sobering up. 

“I can’t believe my friends just ditched me,” she muttered as she slid back into the booth, rejoining Spencer. “We’d actually pretended to be other people all night long.” 

“Why’s that?” Spencer chuckled. 

“Well,” y/n scoffed and rolled her eyes at how ridiculous it all sounded now. “I’ve just come out of a pretty brutal breakup and they’ve been trying to cheer me up. When we came out tonight, we’d decided to use different personas to try and create some sort of mystique, I guess?” She took another gulp of water. “I don’t know, it sounds stupid.” 

“Did it help you get over your ex?” Spencer then asked, to which y/n nodded. “Then it’s not stupid.” 

As y/n looked into Spencer’s eyes, she noticed the golden specks in his irises and she realized she could see her whole world in them. With just one simple look, one simple smile, he had turned her life upside down. Charlie, who? She had forgotten all about them. That night had felt like a dream. 

“I’m not sure it was that, what made me forget my ex…” 

Everything taglist: @calamitykaty @littlemissaddict @n0wornever @wanniiieeee @unnowhatthisistbh

Criminal Minds Taglist: @boimlers-gonna-boim @samsbirks @tinaasthings @dysphoricsanity @love4lando @elenamoncada-ibarra @r-3dlips @magstheslayer @astess 

[forasecondtherewedwon]

The Park Across the Way

Fandom: The Umbrella Academy Pairing: Five x Lila Rating: T Word Count: 587

Summary: Reincarnation: that’s another thing. What’s happening to them isn’t something he’s been able to find an explanation for in any text, scientific or religious. It happens anyway. Who is he to stand against the will of the universe?

Grace is playing in the park when she spots the flowers. She knows about gardens, and that you shouldn’t pull them up, but it seems to her that there are plenty of flowers, and she’s only taking two.

She brings them to her auntie, who looks like she wants to scold but softens instead. Her palm cups Grace’s chin and she says, okay, they can take them home.

The stems are short, so instead of a vase, Grace’s auntie drops them into a cup of cool water. They bob together, even when Grace sticks her finger in the water and stirs it around. She’s trying to make a little whirlpool like Claire showed her one time.

The bright petals crisp and discolour, and the flowers die after a couple days. Grace has already forgotten them and moved on to other pursuits. Her auntie drains the water, then tips the flowers into the trash, not noticing how those roughly-severed stems have curled around one another. If she had tried, she would have found they required effort to separate.

—

Sometimes they’re not them—they’re not anyone.

They come back as eight clouds that hover over the same park where there were once eight flowers. They come back as hairs on the same head, two of them caught in an elastic and pulled from the scalp when a ponytail is let down. They come back as sparrows. Their bird minds are keen and make choices for survival, but when two of the males want to build a nest with the same female, they fight until one plummets to the grass. That’s the first time, as he’s falling, that he feels an echo of pain, and it’s not from his damaged wing.

Sometimes they’re not them—they’re not anyone—but when they are, she knows him.

It’s always that park. Five doesn’t know how it works, but he doesn’t always recognize the place. He accepted a long time ago that there’s a hell of a lot he doesn’t understand. Reincarnation: that’s another thing. What’s happening to them isn’t something he’s been able to find an explanation for in any text, scientific or religious. It happens anyway. Who is he to stand against the will of the universe? They’re here, aren’t they? Alive when they shouldn’t be? When he’s him, and she’s her, and they’re people, the rest doesn’t matter. The stuff they’re made of insists every time they meet is a harbinger of the apocalypse, but it feels like magic to him. Somehow, they both end up under the same tree. Five looks at Lila, the dappled sunlight making her welling eyes gleam, and he suddenly can’t breathe.

Nice knowing you, he thinks, because the beginning is always the end.

But she laughs through the tears—guess he said his thought out loud—and he knows, again, that he’ll die with her. He’ll go willingly. Whatever it is.

“Do you want to get a tea or something?”

“Not really my style.”

“You could try branching out from coffee after a hundred lifetimes.”

“I could,” he says.

“Fine,” she says. “Coffee.”

When Lila puts her arm through his, they’re just a couple walking through a park on a beautiful day. This is the kind of thing they died trying to give other people. Five would like to think it’s not their fault that their good intentions count for shit, but it probably is. After a hundred lifetimes, he doesn’t really care. He turns his head and presses a kiss to Lila’s hair.

[radiant-reid]

HEYY! can you please do a blurb on spencer telling his gf about the lila thing and down playijg it how you say in the post but then she hears the truth from someone else

Spencer’s dreading tell you what happened in LA.

It’ll break your heart, and although he would prefer he’s the one hurting, it’ll break his heart as well. It’s not going to be good. No, it’s going to be a hurtful conversation that will leave nothing but negative feelings and as he’s waking to your door, he wishes it were a conversation he didn’t need to have.

You look and sound so happy jumping up to greet him, wrapping your arms around his neck and pulling his body into yours. It’s been a while since you’ve seen him, the profiling seminar being extended for a serial killer hunt- so his texts told you.

“Hi, sweetheart.” He greets you, wishing he could relax in the warmth that being with you brings. He really wants to, but he doesn’t allow himself to. Not when he doesn’t deserve it.

“How was your case?” You ask, pulling him through your apartment to your living room.

Spencer bites down on his bottom lip, knowing it’s now or never, except it can’t be never. “I was playing bodyguard and I got dragged into a pool and kissed.”

Your mouth falls open, heart plummeting straight down and preparing to shatter against concrete. “What?” You ask breathlessly.

“She kissed me.” He repeats, forcing himself to look at your tears. He needs to see them as his own form of punishment, although it will never be enough. He keeps talking before you can make any move to get him away from you. “I pushed her off, Y/n, I swear. It was one kiss and then I told her I had a girlfriend and even if I didn’t, I would never go there since she’s part of our case.” He claims.

There’s too many negative thoughts running through your head for one not to slip out. “Is she pretty?”

You’re breaking his heart just sitting there looking like you think you’re not enough, but he knows you're not going to accept him hugging you.

"Y/n, it meant nothing." He promises from so deep in his heart that you believe it. "You're all I was thinking about. I love you and I think you're the most beautiful person in the world." He knows he shouldn't say something so meaningful to get you to forgive him.

Spencer's been nothing but good to you since you met, and you can't lose that, not when you've never had that before and doubt you will again.

"It didn't mean anything?" You doubt check.

"Absolutely nothing." He promises, finally taking your hand. "It was one kiss, and I pushed her away."

You don't see it, the way he twitches slightly as he pulls you into a hug and the deep breath he takes when he realizes the lie has worked.

"I really missed you." You tell him, moving closer to him.

He reciprocates your physical affection, holding you as tightly as he wanted to on the jet home knowing you might break up with him. "I really missed you more."

He feels like dirt for it, so guilty that he barely sleeps that night.

It gets easier. The lie is never too far from the front of his mind, but after that night he realized he couldn't tell you the truth ever.

You barely think about it again. Spencer's lips become exclusively yours and it feels like nothing has changed. He's just your caring, wonderful boyfriend again.

In fact, the first time you've thought about it in a month is when Elle mentions it on a night out. "So, you and Reid are you?" She asks.

"Yeah." You say, slightly confused like the answer should be obvious.

"I hate to bring it up, but you know I'll smack him if you need me to." She assures you, and you nod, wanting her to continue as the sense that you're missing something strikes you. "He's an idiot, seriously. Making out with Lila in her pool was the dumbest thing I've seen him do."

Your heart drops again like it did that night, clenching in your chest, but you have to push her to keep going or you might never know. "Was it more than a casual kiss? Tell me the truth."

She cringes at your paled face but figures she would want to know, so she answers honestly. "Yes, multiple, and they weren't pecks."

"I need to go and talk to him." You realize, standing up and looking for him at the bar before turning back to her. "Thank you."

He greets you happily, blissfully unaware of how you're feeling- for now. "Hey, Y/n, what's up?"

"We're going." You announce, not caring about if it's rude to pull him away from his friends.

He frowns at you, trying to figure out what you're thinking. Whatever it is, it's not good, but his brain doesn't jump to his damaging lie.

Morgan thinks it's something else, patting Spencer on the back. "Ooo, someone's getting some tonight."

You don't look at him as you drag him out of the bar, anger covering your upset. It's colder outside, and he goes to hand you his jacket when you angrily spin around to face him.

"What's wrong?" He wonders carefully.

"You lied to me." You accuse him, but it still doesn't stick. "You told me it was one kiss!" Oh. He gets it then, the realization and accusation hitting him forcefully. "I actually can't believe you. You swore- promised- it was one kiss that you rejected, not a long make-out session. How could you lie to me like that?" You don't give him time to answer. "Were you just going to go on lying to me forever?"

"It was a mistake." He assures you, not comforting you at all.

You shake your head, not wanting to hear another excuse that you can't trust. "Your lying was intentional." You remind him firmly. "How would I ever trust you again?"

[lilbittymonster]

WIP Wednesday

Tagged by @lilas tysm 💜

Tagging: @laspocelliere @anneapocalypse @myreia @crackinglamb @nidstiniens and

@crystallineconflict

Have a bit from the HW WIP that's been making me scream into my pillow.

~

Kitali was scanning the room intently as a number of the party-goers took to the dance floor once more.

“Something the matter?” he asked.

“This is one of the few songs I actually know how to dance to,” she said distractedly, “but I don’t see Haurche anywhere.”

Estinien looked about the room as well, failing to see the distinct silver-blue head of hair amidst the crowd. He swirled what little liquid was left in the bottom of his glass, then downed it and set it on a nearby table before offering his hand out to her. Kitali looked first at his hand, then up at him, raising a brow in bemusement.

“What?”

“I didn’t take you for the dancing type.”

He huffed. “I’m not, but I also made a promise that I’d make an appearance, so…”

“Oh, I see how it is,” she said, taking his hand anyways and allowing him to lead her to the edge of the crowd.

The tune was familiar enough and they settled into the rhythm together easily. After the third or so turn it became evident that neither of them were going to step on the other’s toes, and Estinien actually found he was enjoying himself despite the crowd.

“I see your time with the Fortemps has not been wasted,” he observed.

“Would you believe me if I said I learned this in a single evening with Haurchefant?” she said.

“I would,” he replied. “I’ve seen him dance plenty.”

“Is he the one who taught you, too?”

“Nay.” A knot of nostalgia and heartache surfaced. “’Twas Aymeric who taught me. On the grounds that I should need to know how, should I ever become the Azure Dragoon.”

Kitali tilted her head at him. “What’s that got to do with it?”

“I believe he was under the impression I would play into the politics of the upper houses and be attending lavish parties such as this more regularly.”

That got a snort of laughter from her.

“And here we both are,” she said.

“Aye, here we are.”

He lifted their arms so she could spin again, and by the time she was facing him again her expression had gone from relaxed to fearful. She stumbled on the next step and it was only thanks to years of practise that he was able to keep carrying them through the dance.

“What’s wrong?” he asked.

“Everyone’s staring at me,” she said in a tight voice.

Estinien took a long look around the room as they spun, careful not to linger too long on any one face, and indeed most of the crowd was now gawping and whispering behind their hands while looking at the pair of them.

“It’s far more likely that they’re all staring at me,” he tried to reassure her. “I can guarantee this is the first time some of these people have ever seen my face.”

“Sure.” She didn’t sound convinced.

The rest of their dance was far stiffer, her movements far from clumsy but had grown mechanical. When the song came to an end he pulled them to a stop, still holding onto her. Her gaze was unfocused and she seemed wholly unaware of the crowd surrounding them.

“Come, let’s get some fresh air.”

He gently led her towards the edge of the crowd, a hand pressed pressed between her shoulders to guide her. The whispers and stares were far more blatant as he moved the pair of them but he paid them no mind. He was far more interested in finding a private balcony for them to hide out on.

Pushing open a set of double glass doors, he was greeted with the refreshing chill of the night air. His breath clouded out in front of him as Kitali continued forwards until she was perched at the railing. She was leaning so far over the edge he half-expected her to plummet back down into Foundation. Instead she turned and sat upon the stone facing towards the door defensively.

“Better?” he asked.

“Much,” she sighed. “Thanks.”

“Not one for crowds either?”

“Well, last time I was at a party this large I was framed for murder and had to flee to Coerthas,” she said flatly. “Most of my time around nobles since coming here hasn’t exactly helped that impression.”

His hands flexed as he leaned on the stone next to her.

“I hope by now that you know if anyone tried to harm you, they’d have to go through every dragoon in the city. Myself most of all.”

She looked up at him with an unusually softened expression. She opened her mouth to respond but just then the door opened again, startling them both. Estinien snapped his gaze to the door, already pushing off of the stone defensively, to see Aymeric standing awkwardly with a glass in each hand.

“Am I interrupting something?” he asked lightly.

[nionom-art]

EXECUTIONS OF THE GUILTY

(Miraculous Danganronpa Au)

CURTAIN CALL (ZOE EXECUTION)

Zoe is dropped onto a stage and the curtain closes on her. Her clothes change into an Alice in Wonderland Scene where she is forced to down boiling hot tea. The scene changes again, with her in a Cinderella costume and on a flight on stairs. The bell chimes so loud she loses balance and tumbles down her leg. The scene changes a final time as she is dressed as a cockroach and a giant Chloe raises her foot and she tries to run. She is stepped on and roses are thrown onto the now bloody stage. The screen zooms into the crowd with the students looking on in horror.

CHRONICLES OF SUPERKUMA (NATHANIEL’S EXECUTION)

A comic book manuscript opens up revealing a drawing of Nathaniel tied on top of a building. The screen zooms out to reveal the real Nathaniel on top of a building. An artist Monokuma begins to draw the scene adding heavy rain, where it is revealed that the pole he is tied on is a lightning rod which attracts a lighting bolt which electrocutes Nathaniel. He is dizzy and the binds burn off and he falls off, plummeting to the ground. He is saved by a Monokuma in a superhero suit and they see a hospital nearby. The artist Monokuma then draws another lighting bolt which shocks the Superhero Monokuma and he drops Nathaniel onto a railway where a train is approaching. With nowhere to go, Nathaniel is ran over by the train and the Artist Monokuma throws the manuscript into the garbage.

CLEARANCE SALE (SABRINA’S EXECUTION)

Sabrina is dropped in what looks like a giant mall. In front of her a Chloe Monokuma shoves a collar on her neck and gives her a list of things to buy. The collar is making suspicious beeping noises and a countdown begins. Sabrina rushes from store to store grabbing the things she needs, which are covered in spikes or poison, causing her hands to bleed and swell. As she reaches the end of her list the last thing she needs; a pair of shoes are at the top of a mountain of clothing and shoes. She begins to climb, with her hands leaving behind bloody handprints and just before she can reach the shoes, the clothes beneath her collapse and she falls. The countdown ends and to her surprise, it doesn’t explode. Instead she is revealed to be on a massive incinerator and the conveyer belt begins to move. She tries to run, but the clothes that dropped with her block her path and she is fed to the incinerator. On the other side pops a pair of bloody stilettos with pictures of a screaming Sabrina printed on the side. It is displayed in the mall for someone to buy.

THE PUPPET WARRIOR (KAGAMI EXECUTION)

Kagami’s dead body is strung up like a puppet with her sword sewn to her hands. A massive robot dressed like her mother holds the strings. She is in a large dojo and is faced off with harmless creatures and people from rabbits, cats, and even replicas of Marinette and Adrien. Her corpse swings back and forth easily slicing her opponents. But during a fight with an innocent person, the robot makes a mistake and Kagami’s corpse misses the opponent and they escape. Blaming this on Kagami, she puppets her body to a bagger and forces Kagami’s body to commit Seppuku. She lets go of the strings and Kagami’s dead body flops lifelessly on the ground.

DRESS UP! FINAL FASHION SHOW! (MARINETTE FAILED EXECUTION)

Marinette is in a dark room that lights up revealing a large runway. As she looks around, mannequins wearing her classmate’s clothes surround her. Suddenly a giant golden stiletto slams down near her, onto the Zoe mannequin barely missing her. The mannequins are subjected to similar fates as her classmates such as the Nathaniel mannequin getting hit by a train or a Sabrina mannequin getting set on fire, only leaving her feet. Finally, as she was battered by the weapons that were used on the mannequins, a Lila mannequin is raises up from the floor with a knife in it’s clutch. It raises it to stab her….. and then the lights go out and it stops. Marinette inches away from the mannequin and off the runway floor as she runs out of the venue.

Wow! I love these (especially Marinette’s- it reminds me of Makoto’s dream sequence in the anime).

[kyndaris]

Filling Plot Holes

Back in the olden days, games were simpler affairs. Instead of realistic high definition graphics, developers relied on pixel art styles to portray the setting and characters. It wasn't the most amazing thing to look at but it was astonishing for their time. Nor were games incredibly complex in terms of gameplay. In those days, it was hard for developers in 3D and have competing objectives for the player to keep in mind.

Instead, many early games were in the vein of point-and-click adventure games. And none were as renowned as The Secret of Monkey Island by Lucasfilm Games.

This was the game which introduced us to beloved character Guybrush Threepwood as he journeyed across the islands of the Caribbean in order to make a name for himself as a pirate. Along the way, he made both friends and enemies, as well as fell in love with Governor Elaine Marley.

Over the years, several sequels came out. Often, Guybrush would do battle with his arch nemesis, LeChuck, before saving the day. And in 2009, it all came to an end with Tales of Monkey Island.

That is, of course, until 2022 where Return to Monkey Island, came roaring onto all available consoles as well as the PC. What made it special, though, was that it was the first Monkey Island game by series creator, Ron Gilbert, since Monkey Island 2: LeChuck's Revenge. So, of course I booted it up after two years of having it sit in my Steam library.

I'm anything if not consistent when it comes to the backlog of games I have waiting to be played!

Return to Monkey Island starts off with Boybrush Threepwood and his friend, Chuckie, playing at an amusement park and re-enacting Guybrush's previous adventures. For a while, they amuse themselves with scurvy dogs and by pretending an elderly couple also at the park are their parents. It isn't long before Boybrush finds his father and prompts Guybrush to recount the tale of when he found the secret of Monkey Island - a sticking point of the first game.

The game then pivots to Guybrush in the past. Wishing to be the first person to discover the secret, Guybrush has travelled back to Melee Island in order to gather a crew and ship. With his usual suave, he approaches the Pirate Leaders - only to discover they are no longer the three men he knew in the first two games. Instead, they've been replaced with a new trio of dark magic users: Madison, Lila and Trent.

These new Pirate Leaders refuse to help. Undeterred, Guybrush finds another way to find a crew and ship to get to Monkey Island before LeChuck. To do so, he disguises himself as a zombie and is hired onto LeChuck's ship as a swabbie.

Yet though Guybrush manages to steal the map to the secret, he is soon discovered to be an impostor when he accidentally removes the magical eyepatch he was wearing to serve as his disguise. Infuriated by the deception, LeChuck duels Guybrush on the bow of the ship. A duel which Guybrush loses and he plummets down into the sea.

Of course, given how close the ship was to Monkey Island and Guybrush's ability to hold his breath for ten eight minutes, he is able to walk the rest of the way to shore. Following the map he stole from LeChuck, Guybrush falls into a trap set by the Pirate Leaders who reveal they had the real map. Unfortunately, the map is magically encrypted and they need LeChuck's catchphrase, his theme song and his favourite food to unlock it. All, of which, fall onto Guybrush's shoulder to obtain.

But obtain them he does - unlocking the map and revealing to all present that the secret of Monkey Island is at the International House of Mojo back on Melee Island.

It isn't long before Guybrush is betrayed and is left at the bottom of a cliff. Elaine, however, comes to his rescue and they escape the island by rebuilding Guybrush's old ship: the Sea Monkey.

Despite all these setbacks, Guybrush is the first to arrive back at Melee Island where he finds the secret locked inside a safe requiring five golden keys to open. He sets out across the Caribbean, visiting Brrr Muda and Terror Island along the way, before returning to the International House of Mojo to unlock the chest.

After opening the safe, Guybrush finds another locked chest inside. Before he can open it though, LeChuck steals the chest and takes it back to Monkey Island, where, in order to open it, a ritual is needed. Guybrush and Elaine follow. After descending down into the depths, following the footsteps of LeChuck, Guybrush emerges into a theme park recreation of Melee Island. After opening the chest, he is gifted with a novelty T-shirt.

Like many of point-and-click adventure games from yesteryear, there is a strong focus on humour. The story is silly and ridiculous, though the writing remains sharp as ever in its witty social commentary. One that stood out to me was Elaine's campaign to end scurvy and how sailors on a plague ship refused to believe in science - preferring instead Saleman Stan's flyer with its half-truths and blatant lies before they would consider getting the necessary Vitamin C from limes to combat the disease.

It was an apt metaphor for COVID.

Perhaps if there is another deadly illness travelling across the globe, we'll need to peddle masks and vaccine as if we're snake oil merchants. It might actually let the dunderheads in the world finally try it. Especially when all the difficult science jargon has been removed!

That aside, I feel like the story could have gone to greater lengths if it so chose. Yet, on the other hand, I can see why Ron Gilbert went the route he did. After hyping up the secret of Money Island, it was easier to pull the rug out from underneath Boybrush, as well as the players, as whatever it truly was would have never lived up to the standards we'd all made up in our heads.

So, in keeping with tradition, and with its unique style of comedy, Return to Monkey Island had to make the 'secret' less than ideal.

Methinks, though, that Guybrush hasn't truly mastered the art of good storytelling and still needs to work on how to end his fanciful tales of adventure. Yes, he joined the Chums and was able to impress the old Pirate Leaders, but he still has far to go if he wants to be a storyteller worth any salt.

From a gameplay perspective, Return to Monkey Island returns to its roots as a point-and-click adventure where solutions aren't always as simple as they seem and logic is oft thrown out the window. Other times, the item Guybrush needs to advance is tucked away in a different part of the world and the player is forced to backtrack because it wasn't evident from the first one would need it.

Return to Monkey Island does furnish players with a hint book, however. One that provides valuable hints should they get stuck.

Of course, if you aren't playing on 'Hard Mode' and you do use the hint book in any capacity, people on the internet will decry you for cheating and not playing the game as intended.

But what a stranger on the internet doesn't know won't hurt them. Nor should one feel obligated to only ever play a game the 'correct' way.

If you want to play the game on casual mode and rely on the hint book if you're unsure how to proceed, my advice is: GO FOR IT! After all, the time you have on the world is limited. Getting stuck on a puzzle in a video game needn't be the be-all and end-all when it comes to one's satisfaction in life.

Overall, I enjoyed my adventure with Return to Monkey Island. After I surprised myself with how long I spent with Banishers: Ghosts of New Eden, it was nice to play a relatively short game without high stakes. Especially when so many video games are keen to take up all of one's time in a never-ending cycle of live service. Similarly, the vibrant art style and fun story provided some much needed levity from the direction of many dour and serious video games.

So, dear readers, if you're looking for something a little old-school and provides a rollicking adventure through the Caribbean island, look no further than Return to Monkey Island!

[p-artsypants]

Blurb #4

I'm going to try to share 70 blurbs from my WIPs and unfinished fics to celebrate reaching 70 posted fics! To help with this endeavor, please feel free to send me a word or a fandom you know I write for, and I'll share the blurb. IDK if I'll get 70 prompts, but let's try it! Send as many as you want!

“Come on, Marinette,” said Kim, “You’re only cold because you aren’t getting your blood pumping. Race me to the end of the bridge and back!”

“She can’t run in all those layers,” Chloe laughed. “You’re just looking for an easy win.”

Marinette didn’t protest. It was hard to run in her coat and boots, and she was really tired. A river excursion is the last thing she wanted first thing in the morning.

“I think we should take a photo!” Said Lila, “for memories! It’s not every day we get out of the school building with our friends!” Marinette was instantly suspicious.

But it seemed like no one else was. “What a wonderful idea, Lila! See? The Seine can bring out so much inspiration in us. I hope everyone is tapping into this goldmine!”

Everyone organized themselves by shortest to tallest, with most of the boys in the back and most of the girls in the front. Lila, being unnaturally tall, and wearing huge wedges, was among the boys in the back.

“Marinette, you should sit on the railing so you don’t get lost in the back,” said Lila.

“I’m good,” replied Marinette, cautious as ever.

“No no, that’s a great idea!” Said Rose. “You’re just a little too tall for the front, and too short for the back. Sitting on the railing would be perfect!”

Before she could protest, Marinette was lifted by Ivan to sit along the rail. “Just be careful,” she warned. “You know how my balance is.”

“We won’t let you fall, Marinette!” Kim assured. She wanted to believe them. She wanted to trust them. But too many times, luck just wasn’t on her side. So when Miss Bustier yelled “cheese!” And Lila raised her hands to pose, Marinette found one of Lila’s hands smacking her in the face. She reeled backwards and no one was quick enough to stop her fall. Marinette plummeted down into the frozen water. Her back hit the ice, which knocked all the air from her. If that wasn’t enough, her puffy jacket and other multiple layers absorbed water like sponges. Even kicking kept her from moving. She was going to drown here, from a cruel prank from a classmate. She would die at the bottom of the stinky, sludgy river. Warmth caressed her face, and tender softness pressed to her mouth. Something moist parted her lips and air rushed into her lungs. She blinked then, realizing that she wasn’t going to die. Huge green eyes stared back at her. Eyes of a strange creature, with slitted pupils and lime sclera. She let out all her fresh air in a gasp of bubbles.

[celestiall0tus]

Alright, getting my thoughts together as I TRY to relax after work fuckers piss me off.

Into the Fire

(y'all are getting nothing more on Lady and the Scoundrel tonight as I'm in no mood to address Chloe stans. I will snap and none of ya wanna see that.)

This will be taking place before the next school year when the characters are set to start high school (since that is where canon loosely left off at (I think)). The summer is coming to an end and it's been a whirlwind. The group encountered an Eldritch kwami known as Velze who shuffled the kwamis and changed their concept and powers, the group has been relearning about the kwamis' powers and other abilities, as well as adapting to the kwamis' new personalities.

Now it all comes to a head when a portal opens and grabs Cicada (Marinette), dragging her through. In an attempt to save her, Luka, Juleka, Rose, Alix, Adrien, Kagami, Alya, Mylene, Emilie, and Nathalie are pulled in with her.

A portal opens above Paris in the reverse universe where the Supreme rules, though their rule weakened with the loss of the ladybug and black cat jewels. The heroes plummet from the portal and are separated save for Marinette. She remains suspended just below the portal trapped within a bright, prismatic light until the bells begin to toll.

Now the group must find each other again while navigating the strange world and fighting against the makeshift squad of Paris's elites and up-and-coming youth vying for the Supreme's favor.

This squad will consist of reverse Luka, Juleka, Zoe, Chloe, Lila, Alix, Felix, and Kagami.

The (rough) groups will consist of:

Emilie

Nathalie and Alya

Adrien, Kagami, and Luka

Juleka

Rose and Alix

Mylene

This is a rough draft, things are subject to change.

[moonrise0111]

I’m adding more for our lovely old man five

• This man goes on a ROAD TRIP. He hits all the stops he had on his map in season 3 with a bunch more added

• He visits the Grand Canyon and becomes slightly obsessed with it

• He sends postcards to his family from all over if they aren't with him on his trip (with extra toys for Diego and Lila’s kiddos)

• Whenever he is close to Diego and Lila’s he always makes sure to go to the little league games and joins Lila in scREAMING for this small child holding a bat bigger than her

• He and Klaus went back to the ball of twine for memories (read: Five was leaving to go on his next trip and Klaus dove into the car and didn’t stop talking until Five agreed to go back)

• He tries lots of new food and loves enjoying all the different kinds he has at his disposal (I’m sure others have talked about it but keep in mind this man was in the apocalypse for 45 years where there was barely any food, then the commission (seriously do we think they had good food there, no), then saving the world three times thank you very much which doesn’t leave a lot of time to enjoy actually living)

• Has stayed in a bunch of different hotels to determine the best ones. His favorite is one he thought he wasn’t going to like but ended up loving because the bed was comfortable but not Too Comfortable and their breakfast in the morning had genuinely good coffee.

• He also helps Luther look for Sloane in this timeline. He’s had a few good leads but always checks them out first because he doesn’t want to get Luther’s hopes up for them to plummet again

• When he’s in the area, he helps Claire with schoolwork, especially math. Allison has to remind him that Claire is a small child learning math for the first time and therefore does not need to understand complex calculus on their first day. He gets the hang of teaching after awhile and makes up games for him and Claire to play to make learning a bit more fun

• He visits Viktor whenever he’s free and listens to the drama with Viktor’s current girlfriend. Right now it’s a brunette named Penny and she thinks Viktor doesn’t give her enough attention. Five can understand that, from what he’s said he can already tell Viktor barely gives her any attention. He gave Viktor advice about it a few times and this relationship has lasted longer than the others so fingers crossed here people. He just hopes that Viktor is happy and from what Five can tell, he is.

• Ben is a jerk and Five laughed when he say the Ben went to jail for crypto

god fuck it. high lila and diego thoughts post. credit to this post for sparking this thought waterfall. sorry if these are weird.

they have the HEALTHIEST relationship once they settle down. fuck it. they would be so happy together fuck s4.

there date nights would be like the coolest shit! i feel like they would fucking roleplay as batman and catwomen and go full villain vigilante all over the city. Lila steals from the 7-11, diego is on the chase witch ends with him and her up against an ally wall and its the most romantic shit ever. she might even stab him.

i refuse to believe they dont have the craziest kids on the planet. like they care for them and love them but they say shit like "mommy said i shouldn't talk to cops because they are squealing twaks." or "dad said i cant go to your birthday party. yeah, we have axe throwing lessons that day."

that van would be filled with blankets and pillows and shit that would be dangerous in a car. Lilla would make that van a mini home.

Five is the best brother in law who would NEVER sleep with Lila ever. tbh i feel like they would develop a sibling in law funny cartoonish side kick to a depressed noir detective gimmick. frenemies till the end with NOTHING ELSE. like they both collective went "lets try to HOTWIRE THIS BRIEFCASE" they fight over the brain cell. i love their dynamic tbh and the fact that s4fucked it up UPSETS ME.

Diego becomes a little league couch and gets REALLY into it.

Lila is the mom who cheers WAY TOO LOUDLY AND SWEARS.

might even get into a fist flight.

their kids love them dearly but are also rather embarrassed to be their kids.

five gets really into scrapbooking and making greeting cards. the kids really love them and they enjoy getting them for every holiday.

five and viktor baby sit all the time and are the best babysitters. five is stone-faced and awkward at first but overtime is a very affectionate uncle.

[skye-huntress]

Atelier Ryza Anime Reaction

Episode 3: “A Memorable Scent”

Based off the title alone, the only thing that comes to mind is a side quest series from an old lady.

She now has a bigger stick! It’s a bit of a retcon since that weapon is called the Handmade Staff, i.e. hand made by Ryza.

Someone’s been busy. And there’s a pain I’m familiar with, running out materials. At least the ones I actually need.

I kind of understand her mother a bit. Alchemy isn’t common and barely understood. Since it hasn’t yet shown results that benefit others, yet, it doesn’t look like Ryza is doing anything productive and just slacking off as usual.

I thought the name might be familiar. They’ve skipped ahead a bit on a related side quest involving the dye house, likely so Ryza can get inspiration in making something different while giving her a chance to make a positive impact on the island with her alchemy.

I admit while I have gotten better at updating every character’s weapon, I’m still a bit slack when it comes to making apparel and accessories.

The way to a girl’s heart is through her stomach, or something like that. Klaudia’s snacks are always popular, but she tends to spoil Ryza the most.

And of course, Ryza is the first Klaudia wants to play for. Perhaps because she is closer to her than the others, or she feels more at ease around her.

Oh look, there’s that old lady I mentioned before, so my guess was right. It might seem like an odd thing to dedicate an episode to, but quests like this cement the kind of alchemist Ryza becomes, and her reputation in the future.

It seems like every generation among the islanders there are always “those three brats”. I’m surprised there aren’t more given the conservatism and isolationism.

In the game, the flower needed for the scent is from a higher level area in the later stages of the game, so I can understand why they’d switch it with a different one.

I feel for Klaudia. Without saying too much, we have to go through so many hoops before she is finally allowed to join the party.

I can understand why Lila is keeping them to task. It’s easy to get sidetracked when gathering and reaching the limit of how much you can carry. Since fast travel isn’t canon, that would actually be a huge pain to double back before you find what you’re actually looking for.

Even when Ryza isn’t around, it’s amazing how often Klaudia thinks of her, especially compared to anyone else.

Lent, you have to get the basics down. It doesn’t matter how good you are in a fight if you allow an enemy to get the drop on you. And if you face anything you can’t handle and didn’t have an escape route already planned, your odds of survival plummet. Lila is not going to waste her time teaching combat moves to someone who is definitely going to get themselves killed because they thought skill alone was enough.

Mr Goat!

I think it is possible Lila noticed Ryza move out of sight but said nothing. Lent’s the one who needs to learn to pay more attention, after all.

That’s some impressive powers of deduction. Of course, Barbara probably already knew who the sender was, it’s not like she’d know many people off the island well enough to be sent such a letter.

At this point, Ryza’s just hyping herself up to impress Klaudia.

He’s challenging Ryza to think up recipes on her own without his help or other references. And given it’s a more difficult synthesis, it’s a pretty good way to test her.

Instead of Ryza’s room, they picked a rather romantic setting for Klaudia to play for Ryza. Naturally, I’m all for this change.

[filmmarvel]

Ranking the Umbrella Academy Members in Season 3

Ranked on enjoyability! This was genuinely difficult, I loved them all so so much! Just to be clear this isn’t a ranking of who’s my favorite, but rather who stood out to me this season. I actually ended up putting them in tiers as opposed to ranking them individually because I just couldn’t decide!

🚨Spoilers Ahead🚨

Top Tier: Luther, Diego, Klaus

To be honest, I’ve come to really adore Luther. He’s had the biggest character glow up from season 1 (I properly hated him back then). Now he’s just this hilarious, lovable himbo, and that was clearer than ever this season.

Diego is a similar comedic delight, and his relationships with Lila, and especially, his ���son” Stan were lovely to watch.

And lastly, Klaus is always a highlight, but watching him come into his own with his powers was awesome. Also I just love that his family is Amish.

Second Tier: Lila, Five

It goes without saying that I adore these characters as well. Their dynamic was super fun, and they’ll always be up there with my favorites.

Third Tier: Viktor, Allison

I can already tell I’m gonna catch some flack for putting Viktor down here, so let me preface this by saying this is my personal opinion, and of course, that I genuinely really like Viktor! His transition was truly lovely to watch, and he really brought out the best of some of his siblings this season. That being said, that plotline was short lived, and the rest of his role was a little less enjoyable. I’ve found that while he may be a good character, his personality is just so mild that it can be hard to compete with his siblings (and we don’t often get to see the good parts of his personality since he’s so frequently… distraught? And rightly so, but still it’s a little irritating that he just can’t catch a break and ends up crying all the time).

As for Allison, she went full on villain this season. And while a lot of that was understandable and warranted (and could’ve made for great character development), other regions of that plotline were a little less compelling. Namely, when she assaulted Luther, which instantly plummeted her to the bottom of the list for me- that was truly fucked up.

[mcheang]

Malignette du Pain

This draft is inspired by Cruella (2021)

When Lila’s lies have ostracised Marinette from the student body, she has nowhere to go.

Chloé and Sabrina adopt her into their clique.

Chloé makes it clear to Marinette that if she wants to survive school, she has to be the shark everyone believes she is. Otherwise she is a lost cause.

Fearful of getting bullied and emotionally distressed, Marinette begins to change.

She is still kind and helpful, but only to her real friends. Everyone else is ignored so she becomes an ice queen. (It was either ignore or bully)

Audrey then re-extends her offer to hire Marinette as her intern.

Working for Audrey is like working for Miranda Priestly. And yes, even the work environment is a every-man-for-himself situation, people look out for themselves first.

Marinette begins to develop a new persona and is nicknamed Malignette.

At a gala hosted by Gabriel, she makes a statement entrance, stealing the limelight from Lila and Adrien.

Malignette is not easily recognisable because she is wearing a red wig and constantly dons a mask.

Anyway, whenever Lila is due to attend an event, Malignette will definitely show up and steal the spotlight. She also takes great pleasure in critiquing her classmates.

Lila eventually figures out Marinette is Malignette and tries to get rid of her competition by setting her bakery on fire (this is a girl who wanted Oniichan to kill a hero.)

Malignette survives thanks to Adrien. He reveals he is being blackmailed by his father to befriend Lila or else Nino and the boys would be sued for trespassing and messing with the electricity on his birthday. (Whether he can or cannot does not matter because Adrien believes he can)

Marinette decides the Bourgeois women are right. In fashion, you are either a shark or shark bait.

A party is being held to celebrate Malignette’s triumphs. Attending are the celebrities Lila claims to associate with. And she is certainly intending to take selfies with them.

Careful with her own public appearance, Malignette doesn’t want the sole attention to be on her but wants everyone to enjoy how much they have all accomplished.

There are video screens showing award winnings by Jagged and Clara, Prince Ali’s charities, Chloe’s manner in organising akuma evacuation rules for schools, and of course, Lila’s accomplishments with the attending celebrities.

Needless to say, the celebrities are outraged and turn on Lila, and by extension Gabriel.

Some go to their social accounts to discredit Lila on the spot.

Lila runs away. Gabriel excuses himself to go akumatize her.

Come on, even Ladybug would know to watch out for an akuma. Imagine her surprise to see Lila reach out for an akuma.

Nonetheless, Ladybug quickly knocks out Lila as soon as the transformation into Chameleon is complete.

Oh look. Her lucky charm is another clam. Good thing there is a shellfish bar at the party. Not to mention the security cameras.

Lila is arrested.

Malignette threatens the school faculty to either give Marinette a public apology and a clean record, or she will expose them to the education board for their failures.

Malignette is tempted to do that anyway. They really are horrible. But Chloé likes them because they give her free reign.

Chloé now rules the school with an iron fist. And this time, Marinette isn’t there to defend her former friends. And they are too shaken by Lila’s deceit to make much of a stand anyway.

Gabriel is being criticised after Malignette says either he is incompetent in investigating model backgrounds before hiring them, or he didn’t care since she was his “muse.”

Adrien is encouraged to spend more time with his normal friends after this backlash, so as to save face of their Lila association. But it doesn’t work. Gabriel sales have plummeted. The fact that no celebrity will endorse him now save his own son might have someone to do with that.

Unwilling to abandon his villain agenda to focus on saving his company, Gabriel decides to sell it (planning on reclaiming it once he made his wish).

Malignette takes over and releases Adrien from his contract. He happily goes on to lead a normal life.

Marinette renames the brand.

[luca-street-chris-deacon-rp]

Deacon understood that in stressful situations, the appetite was the first thing to be affected, and it could be affected in the long term depending on the situation. "Don't worry, Annie is batch cooking as we speak, and she's going to drop it off, and Chris and Street are going to get some groceries in. And he's got the best person around him to make sure he's doing what he should be doing." He offered a genuine small smile and he genuinely liked Lois, way more than he had liked his other girlfriend's. She was genuine, caring and she didn't have an alterior motive when it came to Luca's finances.

"You're doing more than enough, and let us handle the investigation. It's going to be hard keeping Luca on an even keel while he recovers because he can't sit on his butt for more than ten minutes." Everyone knew Luca was always doing something, always involved in doing something. Even when he had the flu, he had turned up at HQ, and even after getting surgery on his hip he had been meddling with projects at home. He was a nightmare and Annie was convinced it was ADHD that had never been diagnosed.

Lois's expression told Deacon everything he needed to know, and his heart plummeted into his stomach, feeling nauseated himself. "I see. Well....." He wasn't even sure what to say. "I'm glad you convinced him to let us do our jobs because these......animals can't get away with this. But the team is going to have to known about.....what happened. It's not going to be easy for either of you, but we'll be there with you every step of the way. Annie said she's got to since Luca is Lila's favorite uncle." He offered with a warm smile. "How are you holding up?"

Open Starter (Would absolutely love to do this one)

Open to mutuals/non mutuals

Connection - girlfriend/wife, boyfriend/ husband, friend with benefits, lovers, friends to lovers

Plot- Luca has been undercover for the last three years trying to infiltrate a gang and gain evidence against gang members, but they found out and beat Luca within an inch of his life, however that wasn't the only thing that was done to him (s3xual assault)

Trigger warnings - Male s3xual assault, violence, alcohol and drug use, mental health episodes and much more

Authors note - The reason I've picked a very taboo subject is because this DOES HAPPEN! I want to raise awareness and I want to help end stigma that comes along with it

After being found unconscious in his cell with a bloody pipe lying by his head, he had been taken to the medical wing and assessed that he would need surgery to repair some of the Internal injuries and in that time, the prison warden and the undercover case handling team managed to pull the strings on the operation. No longer under prison officers watchful eyes or handcuffed to the bed, he would be allowed to recover in hospital properly.

Luca winced while opening his eyes and it felt like his entire body had been hit with a truck, confused with his surroundings and seeing two police officers standing guard at the door to the private room he was in. Then it all came flooding back, how he had received such brutal punishments and that because they discovered he was a cop.

And in the silence of the room except the beeping of the machines, he felt more alone than ever.