#They wanted both Felix and Mari to have their moment and ended up messing up their own storyline

[ninadove]

It’s going to be a decent while until the finale airs, so I’m writing this in advance, but I want to address something I already know will come up:

Do NOT talk shit about Marinette.

The basement scene in Re-creation was beautiful, and I don’t mean that just because it plays into my love for the humanity-being-its-own-form-of-magic trope. Marinette has been working through her trust issues throughout the season: overcoming her trauma from Derision and communicating with Adrien, relying on Chat Noir again, becoming more trusting of people in general. Her offering Gabriel a helping hand was the logical culmination of her arc.

It isn’t dumb. In fact it has worked in the past:

And it is also motivated by love. Love for Adrien, who she cares enough for to give her oldest enemy a chance. She made the dangerous choice in that instant because it was the right one, and Gabriel did not.

So even though I knew right away it was trouble, I’m glad they went for it. It truly goes to show how much our girl has grown, and how different she is from our now dead main villain. I love her even more after this finale.

[linartblogs]

First, thank you very much for your response ! Also, I apologize for any mistakes, I'm not a native speaker, but I'll try to map out my thoughts as well as I can ! Also, for anyone reading, spoilers ahead for s6 (El Toro de Piedra).

On the Adrien = love thing, I see what you mean, I guess I just tend to ignore certain messages the show seems to push and interpret some things my own way (keeps me sane). s1-s5 already made me so skeptical about Adrien's parents, but s6 is just making them look worse to me, especially Gabriel. Him being involved with the cult they introduced in s6 (idk if you're caught up with that) makes me go "yeah no that guy was still weird even before his wife's death ? And she's maybe on it too ? They both wanted to reform the world ?" or maybe that was after Emilie's death who knoooows.

I guess a reasonable "fanon" interpretation of Emilie and Gabriel would be that while they DID love Adrien, they're still shitty, self-centered people and parents who always projected their own dreams/wants onto their kid, whom they wish to shape into the perfect little man. However, near her death, Emilie seemed to have semi gained some self awareness which is why, in her final moments, she tells Nathalie to change Gabriel's mind and to let Adrien choose who he wants to be. Idc if the show wants me to think that she was a good mom, but to me that seems to indicate that she only had a change of heart towards the end. So she was somewhat controlling at first, but finally understood that she could not mold Adrien into just who she wanted him to be. I guess making her a semi decent mom is a more interesting thing. It also makes her a more complex, realistic character.

So, maybe Adrien is made of multiple complex emotions : His parent's love, his mom's desire for freedom as you said, but also her desire for him to be a "better" version than her, destined for bigger, great things (to go with that theme of her projecting onto her kid). So I see him breaking free from Gabriel's control as a first step, which gets him some extra power, like shielding the ones he loves since he's so attached to his identity as a super hero ? Make him go like, marie-sue style and face off his dad in the finale ? Well, at least it has to be impactful to signify his emancipation from his father's control.

Felix being a copycat makes a lot of sense to me, I think he's naturally a genius (was made that way), which is why he is skilled at so many things. But him being a shape-shifter would add to his manipulator aspect a lot.

As for Kagami, truthfully I'd love for the show to release more information about her or her mom, since we don't even understand fully Tomoe's motivation, or even who actually made Kagami. Her father maybe, since he seems to be absent ?

Globally, Miraculous is a real mess to rewrite, because you have the sort out a looot of stuff. They have so many good ideas but they always execute them poorly or drop something right after being on the good track. I still think it's entertaining, and they seem to be fixing some stuff in s6 although it's a bit late lol.

Sentimonsters are beings made from a single emotion and Adrien's emotion is heavily implied to be love. Sentimonsters can also have any random power the writers decide to give them and have been established to sometimes get powers their creators didn't intend (see Feast). That is the ultimate setup to use the power of love to empower Adrien and yet the show gives us nothing.

(See power of love rant for more)

[aliensunflower-fics]

Marinette The Perfect Daughter In Law: A Prompt

[ I've seen a few ‘everyone loves Marinette AU’s’ and a couple Marvel DC ‘all the mentors want THEIR kid to end up with Marinette AU’s’ and well frankly! I felt inspired! So I present to you my new prompt / AU thing! In which all the most powerful / rich / popular people in Paris decide to play matchmaker… ]

It starts when Adrien and Kagami have a less than AMICABLE break up according to their parents and the media anyway in reality it was a really REALLY dull break up. The pair have been ‘dating’ (using each other as an excuse to go out and experience normal teenage stuff) since they were 15. Now at 17 soon to be 18 the pair decided to publicly break up in order to pursue other people and interests. The problem is they never told their parents the truth so both Gabriel and Kagami’s mother Tomeo feel protective and concerned about what must surely be an upsetting first heartbreak for their child. And okay maybe both parents take that out on each other and both get a bit defensive and protective. And MAYBE it ends with Tomeo vowing to get revenge for her daughter. Enter, Marinette. Up and coming fashion designer for the rich and famous! She’s single, talented, and as far as Tomeo knows Gabriel is interested in the girl for her talent. So what better revenge could exist but having Marinette take an interest in Kagami!

Kagami has no idea why her mother suddenly has an interest in Marinette but she wont complain about having more time with her very cute designer friend. And all the outfits Tomeo is paying Marinette to make for Kagami is giving the young fencer plenty of up-close and personal moments with Marinette. And okay Marinette is VERY cute and Kagami wont question why she suddenly has all this tine with Marinette, eating ice cream with the girl and having brunch. But she knows shes absolutely head over heels when Marinette shows up at her fencing tournament gives her a luck charm and cheers her on wearing HER colors. Obviously Kagami wiped the floor with all the competition she cant be seen hesitating in front of Marinette!

On Tomeo’s side of things she makes sure that the paparazzi still lurking around after Kagami and Adrien’s breakup catch photos of what could easily be interpreted as dates between the girls. After all this is a revenge ploy but also Marinette is fantastic so Tomeo is 300% down with Kagami ‘bringing her into the family’ something she tells Kagami after the first paparazzi ‘date photos’ leak into the news. Kagami still has no idea this was an orchestrated affair and just thinks her mothers caught on to her feelings and is overjoyed that Marinette is approved of because after the cheek kiss Marinette gave her for winning the fencing tournament Kagami was preparing to fight her mother for the right to pursue the young designer seriously. After all she never hesitates! 

But Tomeo never realized Gabriel isnt the only one interested in Marinette. Audrey Bourgeouis has been keeping an eye on Marinette trying to find a way to get Marinette on to her side and away from Gabriel. So when she sees the photos of Kagami and Marinette she sees an opportunity. After all if Marinette isnt exclusively into men (and those photos of her flushed cheeks as Kagami cleans ice cream off her bottom lip are a clear indication shes not) then Audrey smells opportunity. After all Marinette was Chloe’s first crush! How cute would that be! The next day Marinette is being offered yet another opportunity to intern under Audrey this time with much looser restrictions. When Marinette accepts she suddenly finds herself working with Chloe… A LOT. The pair are modeling together, often paired together for shoots in perfect complementary clothes that screams ‘opposites attract’. Chloe is also helping manage Marinette’s brand and the two start to get along very well. The model photos and their business lunches are soon plastered alongside the Kagami and Marinette outings with parisian gossip blogs finding their interest picked by this potential love triangle.

Chloe for one, was confused at first. Sure she knew her mom was interested in Marinette but she never thought SHE would be working so closely with her first crush. And Chloe tries to ignore it, after all those are dead feelings! And Marinette woud never forgive her anyway so why even- Wait. Is that Marinette in a downright gorgeous golden dress? A-and she will be posing right next to Chloe for their shared shoot? Well… Chloe always thought herself deserving of royalty and damn if Marinette aint the princess of her dreams. Sorry Adriken’s you had your chance to get the girl, but now its winner keeps all and Marinette is the only prize shes interested in. For the record Alya is freaked out by Chloe being nice, but shes more weirded out by Chloe being protective and handsy and downright shamelessly flirty with Marinette. Audrey is pleased when she hears the news and is quick to give her daughter encouragement acting as if none of this was premeditated at ALL.

Oh but they have no idea that this is just the beginning. Because guess who's moved back into town. Adrien’s favorite cousin and aunty. And Felix’s mom is quite the busybody and dammit Felix needs friends! And maybe a cute girlfriend! And oh whos that pretty girl on the magazine cover? Marinette? The one her celebrity connections have nothing but praise for? Perfect! Shes invited to lunch with Felix and herself on friday to discuss movie costumes! And oh Audrey dear dont you think Marinette would look fabulous sandwiched between TWO blondes! Felix hasnt modeled in a while but come now. So suddenly Marinette is being spotted with Felix guiding him about paris and modeling with him AND Chloe under AUDREY’s brand NOT Gabriels.

Felix thought hed really hate Marinette; he tried to ignore her he really did. But shes funny, witty and sweet. Not to mention trustworthy, so a good candidate for a business partner. And thats it, but then he has to admit hes impressed when he rolls up to a photoshoot and Chloe! The definition of brat personified is acting… Bearable. Yes, somehow Marinette has done the impossible! She has tamed the beast known as Chloe. And yes fine he will admit shes drop dead gorgeous and how intelligent of her to learn all sides of the fashion industry and boost her rep with modelling! Soon hes spending more time with her, he tries to argue he needs a guide, that shes the most bearable person to be with! That she is just a friend- Oh god. No it cant be! He sounds like-! Like ADRIEN! And Chloe already told him about THAT mess! No! Absolutely not! He will not lead on Marinette like his idiot cousin! Marinette is a rare and beautiful woman! She could be his queen! And god he has to admit it much as he loathes too Marinette’s smile is enough to make him thank every non-existent god. He will win her heart, show her that she deserves better than his brain dead cousin! Felix is sure mother will approve of his decision to pursue the girl, now he just needs to do more shoots with Marinette...

And that's what finally gets Gabriel to snap. Because REALLY Felix!? Is there no loyalty to FAMILY. Not to mention he was totally drafting a potential contract for Marinette when Audrey snapped her up the witch! But its fine! Marinette has always been interested in Adrien! Surely she still is? Surely she's not been swayed by any of her new suitors! Right? Gabriel knows he can't mess with Audrey’s contract so he goes through Adrien, freeing up his sons schedule and telling him to spend time with Marinette to help her ‘adapt’ to the harsh world of fashion and modeling. He uses Adrien’s heroic nature to make it sound like hed be saving her from Chloe and Felix. And sure enough Adrien bites, using his friendship with Chloe to worm into fittings, meetings, and photo shoots. At first hes just there to make sure Chloe and Felix arent hurting sweet Marinette. But when he sees the blondes fighting for her attention, flirting with her, posing with her in some rather romantic settings. Suddenly hes less worried and more… Jealous? No! Not him! Hes concerned, confused, suspicious! Obviously he needs to spend more time with Mari- Wait! When did Kagami get here to take Marinette to lunch! And why are they all ignoring him!!!

Now Marinette is fully in the public's eye. Gossip blogs are being fed bits of info writing up each ‘candidates’ appeal as THE romantic partner to the Marinette Dupain-Cheng paris new darling, the girl with a heart of gold too oblivious to see the trail of hearts following her around! But there is still another contender yet to enter the game! Jaggeds been away on tour teaching Luka his up and coming protege all the tricks. And lets not lie Luka has his own fans now, enough to rival all the others. Jagged sees Luka as his own son, even calling him as much! Hell hes even adopted Luka and Juleka and when I say adopted I mean Jagged literally got shared custody of the kids when their real dad tried to start trouble once Luka started gaining fame. Luka and Juleka for one love their adopted father and his wonderful fiance Penny. But back to Jagged, being Jagged. 

The moment Jagged is back in Paris he's checking up on his favorite designer and hopefully future daughter in law! When… WHAT'S THIS?! All the other ritchies in Paris are playing his game! Trying to get Marinette married into THEIR families! Not rock and roll at all! He was here first! And so being Jagged he decides to make Luka’s stake in the race for Marinette’s heart clear! By spamming social media with photos of Marinette being cute with Luka, taking his measurements, going out with him, the pair babying Fang, the two passed out against each other after a long concert. And he has photos going back at least a year or two! Soon Luka’s fans pick up the hype starting a trending hashtag finding the pair cute! Jagged feels confident that hes won! When Audrey retaliates, and from there its a complete train wreck. Before long each pair has a hashtag filled with cute moments and arguing over whos dating the model / fashion designer! 

Meanwhile Adrien is drowning in denial as he goes through each hashtag seething about how many MORE photos everyone else has with Marinette, when HE is her very good friend and was here first! Felix, Chloe and Kagami on the other hand have declared open war after they tried to talk to each other about the hashtags reasonably only for it to devolve into “so you agree Marinette is best with me!” - “WHAT! No! Thats not what I said! Besides she clearly is best with me!” - “Ridiculous!” And so on. Poor Luka is having an entirely different reaction hiding in shame unsure how to face Marinette because he WAS going to ask her on a proper date now that she seems over Adrien, because even with everything she's the melody playing in his heart and he had a plan! But now his mom and sister are texting him and teasing him and apparently he has MORE competition! Who do these people think they are to deserve Marinette! No! Luka won't lose Jagged has been teaching him to be bold and confident! And Marinette is worth all of his efforts! Jagged REGRETS NOTHING even if Penny confiscated the tv remote!

Marinette meanwhile has no idea what's going on because the whole class made a dumb bet on when the designer would notice with one of the bet conditions being that no one could tip Marinette off and that they have to keep her away from Paparazzi so they dont spoil it either. And sense Alya is helping manage Marinette’s social media Marinette hasn't looked at it yet so she has NO idea what's happening. But her birthday is coming up next week and Chloe definitely didn't get dibs on planning a surprise party for her all so she could spoil the girl and RUB her GREAT relationship with Marinette into her competitions FACES! The competition however (and Adrien JustAfriend Agreste) have decided that they really aren't going down without a fight!

[ Wanna Support Me? Donate HERE! ]

[ Wanna Read More? Masterlist HERE! ]

[pawsitivelymiraculous]

Le parfum de l'amour

This is the @maribat-secret-santa-2020 piece for @saltandfluff I am so sorry for being late!

Anyway, I will be using the quantic kids, but you don't necessary have to know them to understand this fic.

The only have to know that "Melodie" is Allegra's nickname.

Ao3

It was always a bad idea to try to mess with fate. Everyone knew this. Allegra knew this, but she didn't care. Not when it was taking a toll on her sanity.

There were only so many times a person could see two literal soulmates walk past each other before they decided to take matters into their own hands.

So that's what she did.

Or well, was going to do once she could convince her friends to help her out.

"I don't know, Mel." Allan rubbed the back of his neck nervously. "These things take time you know? You cannot rush it." He glanced at the corkboard that was behind Allegra and winced, it was going to be impossible to talk her out of the crazy plan.

On the corkboard, there were two pictures. One was a selfie of Marinette Dupain-cheng. A twenty-year-old who was a regular at the café where Allegra and Claude worked at. After chatting with her in the mornings, Allegra decided to adopt the girl, and she introduced her to the rest of the group. She quickly became friends with Allan and surprisingly enough, with Felix as well.

The second picture was a rather blurry photo that was clearly taken from afar. You could sort of make out the image of Timothy Drake. The sleep-deprived twenty-one-year-old who had started going to the café for about a month. All the employees loved him because he never failed to amuse everyone with his half-asleep antics.

The one thing that both pictures had in common was a coffee cup.

On Marinette's collarbone, there was a small tattoo-like mark that looked like a coffee cup. The same one that was on Tim's wrist. Soul marks . Granted, they looked a bit plain compared to most people's soul marks, but in Allegra's eyes, they were the excuse she needed to get them together.

Allegra had shipped her two favorite customers long before she noticed their soul marks. But now that she knew they were soulmates . Well, she was not going to rest until they finally met.

"I'm not trying to rush things!" Allegra insisted. "I just want to push them in the right direction."

Allan looked at her, doubtful. "That's basically the same thing. Plus do actually think that," he squinted to read the list of plans that was tacked on the corkboard. "'Locking them inside a room with no escape' is merely pushing them in the right direction? 'Cause I think that sounds more like a hostage situation."

Allegra glared at him. "You know what? I don't need your help. Claude will help me. Right, Claude?"

Claude looked at her with wide eyes. "Oh no no no. Sorry Melodie but I can't."

"Uh, I'm sorry what?" Allegra blinked. It was very out of character for Claude to turn down the opportunity to help her with one of her elaborate plans. Not to mention that in this case, they were doing it to help Marinette.

"Allegra," he said solemnly, "this is a destiny thing. We just can't interfere."

Allegra facepalmed. "You can't be serious."

Claude looked at her dead in the eye. "If we interfere we might end up," he leaned towards  her and whispered " cursed"

"Oh give me a break." Allegra pushed Claude away. "Are you guys kidding me? This is Marinette we're talking about. You all can't possibly think that Marinette wouldn't want to meet her soulmate, and as her friends, we have to help her."

"I agree with Allegra."

Everyone spun around in surprise.

Felix rolled his eyes at his friends' incredulous expressions. "What? Marinette is my friend as well. Is it really that shocking that I want to see her happy?" The three of them nodded. He ignored them. "Besides, I've heard Marinette ramble about soulmates nonstop, so it's clear that meeting hers is what she would want."

Allegra was the first to react "See guys? Even Felix agrees with me!"

Felix huffed. "Yes, but I also think that your plans are ridiculous and ineffective."

"Ouch"

"I think the best thing we can do to help is to get them to interact and we-"

"That's literally what my plans are for!" Allegra interrupted.

Claude crossed his arms. "And what do you mean by 'we'? I haven't agreed to do anything."

Shooting both of them a glare, Felix continued. "- can do that without needing to kidnap them. We simply have to make it so that they have no other choice but to sit at the same table at the café. You all know how friendly Marinette is, it will only be a matter of time before they start talking."

There was a beat of silence.

"That… that might actually work," Allan admitted. "Soulmates are naturally drawn to each other so once they actually have a conversation we won't have to do anything else. They can figure out that they're soulmates by themselves." He paused and then chuckled. "We'll just have to push them in the right direction."

"But how are we going to get them in the café at the same time?" Allegra asked. "Tim always comes in right after Mari has left."

"Pft that's easy!" Claude exclaimed. "Just tell her that you need help with something and that you'll need for her to stay a while longer at the café. Since Mari doesn't have early classes on Wednesday she'll agree and- oh!" Claude suddenly slapped his hand over his mouth as his eyes widened with horror. "This does not mean that I'm helping." He mumbled from underneath his hand.

Allan laughed. "I think you just did."

"Looks like someone's going to end up cursed." Allegra singed songed. "Not even ladybug is going to be able to help you with that bad luck that's to come." She teased.

Claude pouted. "Haha, laugh all you want." He then looked up at the corkboard and grimaced. "But you're right, there's no turning back now. What do you need me to do?"

Allegra clapped her hands in glee.

"Okay so here's the plan."

~♡~♡~♡~

Just like Claude had predicted, it was incredibly easy to convince Marinette to stay at the café. All that was left to do was orchestrate everything just so that the two soulmates had to sit at the same table.

It was easier said than done but after enlisting more people to help out, they were able to make sure that the café was full for that morning.

Everything was going according to plan…

Until…

"WHERE. IS. TIM?"

Claude looked around. "He hasn't arrived yet?"

"No!" Allegra cried. She glanced down at her watch and winced. They were running out of time.

Claude frowned. "And you know, it would have been nice if Marinette hadn't chosen today to wear a turtleneck."

Allegra couldn't help but agree. Sure, Marinette looked amazing with the turtleneck and skirt outfit but did she really have to wear it today? When they needed for her to show off her soul mark?

It was like the universe was against them.

But finally, Allegra heard a tinkling sound at the door. She spun around praying that it was Tim.

And it was!

He looked more tired than usual as he stumbled around trying to find a seat.

Allegra watched as Tim danced around the tables that were being occupied just as he was about to take a seat.

One after the other until finally, a good push later, he ended up at Marinette's table.

~♡~♡~♡~

Tim was too tired to deal with this.

All he wanted was to sit down, have a couple of cups of coffee at his favorite coffee shop and finally be awake enough to continue investigating the moth guy.

But apparently, that was too much to ask because almost all the tables were full.

"Sorry man," Claude whispered as he guided a couple and motioned them to sit at the table that Tim had beelined for.

"Oh, actually I'm waiting for Adam." Felix had said when Tim asked if he could sit with him. Which was strange since Adam had said that he was waiting for Felix when he asked him.

But he could barely comprehend what they were saying, so he was not conscious enough to complain.

Tim continued on his journey when he felt someone push him from behind. In his half-asleep haze, Tim lunged at the chair that was in front of him hoping that it would break his fall.

It took him a few seconds to recover. He wanted nothing more than to pass out right then and there, splayed out on a coffee shop chair as everyone stared at him wondering if he was drunk.

He too wondered if he was drunk, but he couldn't remember the last time he'd slept so if he was drunk, he was not going to figure it out on his own.

When he finally looked up, his eyes met with a pair of beautiful bluebell eyes.

~♡~♡~♡~

Marinette watched as a guy stumbled around the café until finally flopping onto the other chair at her table.

It was clear that he was sleep-deprived. She had seen enough videos that her evil friends had taken when she was in a similar state to know the poor guy probably hadn't slept at all for the last week or so.

Marinette wanted nothing more than to drag the guy to the nearest bed or couch and wrap him up in a bunch of blankets. Just because she didn't comprehend the term "self-care" for herself  didn't make Marinette any less of a "mom friend"

But she had to remind herself that she didn't know the guy, so it might be considered kidnapping to drag someone somewhere against their will.

Too bad.

The best she could do was offer him her own coffee.

"Hey, I think you need this more than I do at the moment." She said, pushing the drink his way as he stood up.

He mumbled something that could be interpreted as a "thank you" and eagerly took the drink. His eyes lit up when the heavenly liquid touched his tongue.

It was almost miraculous how quickly the caffeine took effect.

Actually, it was Marinette may or may not have mixed a little concoction she made with Tikki that helped her when she stayed up late with her regular coffee.

The guy blinked. "This. Is. Incredible."

Marinette laughed "Yeah, it's what I always get. Though you still look like you need to sleep."

"Yeah, yeah whatever." He waved her off. "But seriously, what is this called? I need a gallon of this."

"Sorry," Marinette said sheepishly "but I'm afraid that's a secret, you know, I'm kind of everyone's favorite, so I get the miracle coffee." Okay so that was a lie but what else could she say?

The guy pouted. Marinette had to admit that he looked adorable.

"Well, then I'm sure you can get me some then... um"

"Marinette."

"Ah, nice to meet you, coffee goddess, I'm Tim."

Marinette's cheeks heated up. "Uh, coffee goddess? Shouldn't they be the coffee gods and goddesses?" She pointed at Allegra, Claude, and the others.

"Nah, you have blessed me with this amazing coffee. Claude didn't even help me in my time of need."

"You know Claude?" Marinette asked, surprised.

"Yep, I've been coming here since I arrived in Paris, so I've gotten to know Allegra and Claude a bit."

"That's funny, I've never seen you. And I come here every day." Marinette said.

"Huh, that's weird. I've never seen you either. "

And from there they kept talking. Like they were old friends and not just acquaintances. Marinette found out that Tim had come from Gotham city. That he was in Paris because of business. Meanwhile, Tim learned that Marinette was an aspiring fashion designer and a college student who was close friends with almost everyone from the café.

Hours passed and the two were still deep in conversation completely oblivious to the crowd that had gathered behind the cafe's counter to watch the soulmates.

"I can't believe you didn't tell me about this before." Adrien, who had arrived after Tim, whispered to his cousin.

"I was under the impression that your father needed your assistance for the upcoming fashion show. I was not about to ask my dear uncle Gabe if I could steal you so that we could set up our friend and his future competitor, Marinette Dupain-cheng, with her soulmate."

Adrien hated to admit that he had a point. "Fine, but can you at least catch me up to date? Who is he?"

"He's a rich guy from Gotham city. He's pretty cool though he's basically Marinette when it comes to coffee which is honestly kinda scary now that I'm seeing them interact." Allegra whispered.

Adrien looked down to look at her. "Alright, I guess I'm going to have to do my own research since you guys are useless. What's his job? Why is he rich? If his from Gotham then who knows, maybe this guy is actually dangerous and wants to take Marinette as ransom for-"

"Oh please Adrien, stop with your theatrics. Do you honestly think that I would allow this if he was dangerous?" Felix interrupted.

"I mean-"

Felix glared at him.

"No?"

Felix sighed. "Timothy Drake is Marinette's soulmate, and I can assure you that he's clean. So don't worry about Marinette."

Allegra shushed the cousins. "Guys, I'm trying to listen here you know?"

"Um, you could probably hear better from up here" Felix nodded in agreement.

"Thanks, Adrien, but I don't want to risk Marinette seeing me and then remembering about time and stuff."

"Ah"

"Speaking of time, it's been years since I last ate, I'm hungry." Claude cut in.

"Claude! You're supposed to be with the customers!" Allegra whisper-shouted.

"Whoops."

~♡~♡~♡~

Unfortunately, all good things come to an end. Marinette eventually remembered the reason she had stayed in the cafe. Not only that but when she looked at her watch she realized that she was running late for class.

After Marinette's rushed exit, Tim went back to investigating Hawkmoth. But while they were trying to concentrate on their own thing. Marinette with her class and Tim with his research they found themselves zoning out and thinking about each other.

It was strange, they had quite literally just met.

Why had they made such an impact on each other?

~♡~♡~♡~

It wasn't until Marinette was getting ready to go to bed that she found the answer.

"Tikki is… is that what I think it is." Marinette's voice trembled as she stared at her reflection on the mirror.

Tikki gasped. "Oh Marinette, I think it is!"

Staring back at her was her soul mark, which no longer was a regular coffee cup but rather a gorgeous cup with beautiful red flowers that surrounded a somewhat familiar symbol.

"But, how? I mean they're not supposed to change… right? And why?" Marinette's eyes widened. "Does this mean that I met my soulmate? Who is it?"

Tikki giggled, "You seriously don't know?"

"Umm no? Should I?" Tikki continued to giggle as her holder looked at her confused. "Who is it Tikki?"

"Oh Marinette, how many new people did you meet today?"

"Uh, I don't know? I mean surely I must've passed by lots of strangers in the street." Marinette panicked. "Oh no Tikki! What if one of them is my soulmate? I'll never find out who they are!"

"So you don't remember meeting anyone else?"

"I don't think so, well other than ohhh- "

"Exactly"

~♡~♡~♡~

Tim could not believe what he was seeing. Gone was the plain coffee cup he was used to seeing, the daily reminder of the fact that he was still painfully single, it now had an intricate flower pattern that surrounded a symbol.

He recognized that symbol.

After weeks of researching and tailing the red Parisian heroine, he knew that it was the Ladybug symbol.

But why was it on his soul mark?

Unless…

No, the heroine couldn't be his soulmate, Tim hasn't even officially met her. Nor had he even seen her today.

The only blue-eyed girl he had met was Marinette.

Marinette  

No, it was impossible. Except it wasn't. Tim had only known the girl for a couple of hours, but he knew that  Marinette would make a great heroine or vigilante.

But, he… he was probably hallucinating, right? Tim hadn't slept for weeks, so surely he was just seeing things and his soul mark was still a plain coffee cup and the Marinette conclusion was just wishful thinking.

Right?

Because otherwise, his first meeting with his soulmate was him acting like a sleep-deprived zombie and Tim could not allow that.

Well, one thing was for sure, he really needed to get some sleep.

~♡~♡~♡~

Three days.

It took three days for Marinette to find Tim.

She looked everywhere. The coffee shop, Le Grand Paris Hotel, the tourist areas, and when she was ladybug she looked down from all the rooftops trying to find him.

But he had vanished, leaving Marinette worried sick that he had either A. Gone back to Gotham  B. Died or C. Been so horrified that she was his soulmate that he decided to move to a remote island and changed his name in hopes of never seeing her again.

Gosh, she was starting to sound like her fourteen-year-old self.

But finally, she saw him, sitting on a bench, not far from her own home, looking down at his wrist.

He looked at his wrist like it was some puzzle he needed to solve. Marinette also noticed that he looked a lot more refreshed, so he must've finally gotten some sleep.

Marinette cleared her throat. "Well, you've been a very hard person to find Mr. Drake."

Tim looked up. "Ma- Marinette!"

"We need to talk."

Tim nodded his mouth hanging wide open as he stared at her soul mark.  

"How do you feel about coffee? There's a coffee shop that's not very far from here, I hear their coffee is divine.

~♡~♡~♡~

Bonus:

(this was going to be a scene on the fic but I didn't know how to add it but it has important info sooo)

*They are at the coffee shop*

Marinette: So you're red robin.

Tim: And you're Ladybug

Marinette: Should I be worried? Like doesn't this compromise our secret identities?

*Claude and Allegra appear with some pastries*

Claude: Yooo Marinette! So you found your soulmate! Crazy right? We totally didn't have anything to do with it!

*Allegra elbows him*

Claude: So uh, congratulations! I um feel happy for you.

*looks nervously at Allegra who is glaring at him*

Claude: Bummer about the soul mark though…

*Allegra keeps glaring*

~♡~♡~♡~ Permanent tag list  ~♡~♡~♡~

Claude: What? It's just a plain white cup!

Bonus bonus:

(here's a bad doodle and my crappy handwriting)

(If you want to be added or removed please let me know!)

@charme-de-malchan, @theatreandcomicfreak, @m3owww, @elliebelliegirl, @genevieve-the-demonologist, @vixen-uchiha, @t1dwarrior-of-earth, @waffleyunsure, @technicallyburninggarden, @azuremayscarlet, @vroomtaka, @emimar7, @ichigorose, @maskedpainter, @art-is-hard-to-do-sorry

[spooky-z]

College Françoise Dupont’s talent show [5/5]

• 1 • 2 • 3 • 4 • 4.1 • 5 • 5.1 •

Warning: suicide mention at the final

@ozmav @maribat-archive

Damian was not one bit happy with the wistful eyes of Adrien for Marinette.

Since the confrontation with the class, Wayne noticed that the blonde did not take the eyes of his bride. Perhaps he was not even blinking. He could barely see the boy breathing!

“Damian, control your temper.” Tim nudged him. “Looks like you’re going to jump the golden boy’s neck anytime.”

They were sitting in the auditorium, lights on, people searching their seats. The whole family sitting in the third row of the main set of chairs, occupying the entire row.

The order being from the far left starting with Alfred, Bruce, Dick, Kori, Jason, Tim, Damian, Sabine, Tom, Chloe, Kagami, Allan, Allegra and Claude.

Jagged and Penny had been taken into the cabin, accompanied by Chloe’s parents and Kagami’s mother.

Adrien and the rest of the class, sitting in the second row. The blonde standing right in front of him, not disguising the fact that he was facing Marinette, who was on stage talking quietly with Felix and the director.

“If he doesn’t stop eating her with his eyes, I’ll…” and clenched his fist, imagining Agreste’s head in the middle of it.

Sabine, who had heard the exchange, laughed softly. Her son-in-law was so cute.

“Honey, it’s like we say: they may look, but they can’t have it,” she says, her hand on Damian’s fist. “My daughter looks beautiful. If no one looked at her twice, I would have been offended on her behalf.”

He bites his lip in conflict, but seems to decide that his mother-in-law was right and looked away from the blonde, preferring the sight of his angel.

“Good evening everyone.” The director says in the microphone, Marinette and Felix at his right side, microphones in their hands. “Today we mark the end of the talent week and also the end of the semester.” He pauses with the sound of the applause ���this week was indeed amazing. Many talents discovered; many laughs obtained. It was wonderful.“

The audience shouts in agreement. Damian frowns with the particularly high-pitched scream in his ear and glances quickly at Tim.

“Today, as you can see, I have two guests with me” the director says again “Marinette Dupain-Cheng-”

“Hello!” Marinette sings into the microphone, a sweet smile on her face.

“-And Felix Aguillard.” Felix bows to the audience “Our first graders of the year.” More applause.

At the sound of the applause, Damian was able to hear a loud "What ?!” coming from the row in front of him, but could not recognize the voice because of the noise.

“It’s been a year since they’ve been studying at both Dupont and a prestigious university.” General choke “Marinette at ESMOD and Felix at INSEAD-”

“WHAT?!” Lila shouts in surprise, cutting off the director. She sits up quickly when she realizes that she has lost control in front of everyone. “Sorry, I was just surprised.”

Chloe scoffs before shouting to the stage “THAT’S MY GIRL!”

Marinette laughs “And Fe? He’s your boy too, isn’t he?” Teases into the microphone.

Felix looks at her, the pained expression on his face.

Chloe scowls at them and screams once again, “I’m sorry, but I’m SUPER GAY.” And the audience laughs out loud at the antics. The director looks unsure of what to do.

“Ahem,” he catches everyone’s attention, the laughter calming down. “Continuing what I was saying- Today marks their last high school day, so nothing fairer than them being our special guests of the night. The two will open for today’s participants, but they will not be part of the competition.” And ends, waving to the two talk something before they begin.

Felix shakes his head, saying he doesn’t want to say anything and follows him off the stage, but Marinette takes the lead, microphone tight in her hands.

“Good evening everyone.” She says, “Like Principal Damocles said, my name is Marinette. Marinette Dupain-Cheng and I want a little of your time.” Her eyes gauge each of the audience, not stopping at anyone for long.

“Today has been a particularly special day for me.” It starts “But I’ll start with last month. Last month I was able to go a step further in my career. I received an undeniable proposal and now my things must be arriving at Gotham, my old and new residence.” She notices some violent reactions in the ranks of her former class. Alya. “Today… today I was proposed by the man I love. Today I have friends supporting me, I have my family by my side, I’m having you all now.” Her slightly wet eyes, Damian notes, wanting more than anything to be by her side right now.

“But it wasn’t always like that.” His tone a little bitter. “There was a time, like, about three years ago, that I had people in my life that I thought were there to support me. To be my friends. To support me when I’m not well…” she sighs “But I was wrong. So wrong.”

“I came to such a low point, so dark, that time has stopped. Like this. I had lost my will, my motivation. I was alive but not living.” Sabine, who had been holding back tears, could no longer and cried silently “But hey! This is not a sad story. It’s not because I found good people. Great friends. A great boyfriend. It was not easy at first. There have been relapses. Days I wanted to do nothing more than sleep and sleep. But I did it.” She winked at Lila, who seemed to have eaten something bad.

“I’m reaching my goals. Saying goodbye to most of you, see you soon to others and a ‘I hope I never have to see you again’ for the ones left.” She says sweet, so sweet that her teeth hurt.

“It was thinking about this past, this dark spot of my life, that I wrote a song … Yeah! I know! You were expecting a fashion show, but here I am, ready to sing.” Jokes with the general surprise.

She looks at the side edge of the stage. Luka was waiting for the signal to be able to enter. She blinks at him and he smiles, the guitar positioned in his hands.

“To sing this song I would need support, so a friend volunteered for this role.” She turns to the audience. “Please, a round of applause for Luka Couffaine, my best friend.”

///

Alya was… She didn’t know how she was feeling at that moment.

She had stopped trying to understand what had been going on since Chloe had appeared with Kagami two nights ago to pick up Marinette at the theater.

That was so frustrating! How, when … The three had become friends. How Marintte could forgive Chloe. When Marinette had overcome her rivalries with Kagami.

Alya didn’t understand. Alya didn’t know.

Alya didn’t remember when it was the last time she’d talked to Marinette. Her best friend.

But she remembered the last time she’d screamed at the brunette about being mean. About how after so many years, she still hasn’t gotten over her jealousy of Lila. How Adrien would never love her if she continued this behavior.

She remembered the teary blueberries, the flushed cheeks (of shame or anger she didn’t know) and the weak voice asking to leave her alone.

But it wasn’t her fault! She just wanted the brunette to grow up, take her head off the Adrien world, and live. Give Lila a chance.

What did not happen. Marinette just walked away.

She would come to school, attend classes, and then disappear. No one knew where she was going at breaks. During classes, she hardly interacted with others.

Just Chloe.

And Alya still couldn’t understand. Didn’t understand what Marinette was saying on that stage. Didn’t know what she was talking about. She was trying. Really. But it was all in vain to see Luka Couffaine come on stage.

His slightly longer, unruly hair combed anyway, torn black jeans, shiny boots, and a black T-shirt under a mossy green leather jacket. A guitar in his arms.

His eyes wrapped in a thick layer of khol.

He bent slightly toward Marinette’s microphone, a polite smile on his lips.

“Good night, Dupont. I’m Luka and I’m here today to help Minette in one or two songs.” He says “God knows how bad she is with the guitar.” He laughs when Marinette jokes him playfully.

She takes his microphone and says again "I think we should start, what do you think ?!”

A projector screen descends behind them and they begin.

No, I think I’ll stay in tonight

Skip the conversations and the “Oh, I’m fines”

No, I’m no stranger to surprise

This paper town has let me down too many times

And, man. She was good.

Alya was surprised, scared even.

Why do I even try? Give me a reason why

I thought that I could trust you, never mind

Why all the switching sides? Where do I draw the line?

I guess I’m too naive to read the signs

Adrien shifted uncomfortably beside Nino. His gravelly face.

He was sure the music was for them, the class.

For him.

I’m just lookin’ for some real friends

The screen behind them began to pass photos.

Photos of Marinette that no one in the class had ever seen before.

All they ever do is let me down

Every time I let somebody in

The first photo to appear contained Luka and Marinette hugging each other. Her arms around his neck, their cheeks glued together and his arms around her waist.

The unknown background landscapes. The sun shining bright.

Luka was wearing only a black T-shirt, his hair a mess and the tongue sticking out. Marinette in a black cropped with blue accents, her hair in a bun, eyes closed and a huge smile.

She looked so happy.

Adrien cringed.

Then I find out what they’re all about

I’m just lookin’ for some real friends

In the next picture, Chloe and the brunette were sleeping together on a futon, probably in Mari’s room.

Chloe wearing Ladybug pajamas being the small spoon and Marinette Abeille being the big spoon.

Alya tasted the blood.

Wonder where they’re all hidin’ out

I’m just lookin’ for some real friends

Gotta get up out of this town

In the third photo, Marinette was sitting on Kagami’s lap while they were taking selfies. The two making funny faces.

Kagami’s hands steady around Marinette.

And that was a shock to Nino.

The ice queen being funny and protective of someone.

Oh, oh

Oh, ah

A picture of the four of them together at a sleepover in what looked like Chloe’s room. Luka had a face mask, Chloe’s hair stuck in bobs, Kagami painting her nails, and Marinette reading a fashion magazine.

All of them on the bedroom floor, sweets and snacks spread and a television on in a black and white film.

The photo was taken by a fifth unknown person.

I stay up, talkin’ to the moon

Been feelin’ so alone in every crowded room

Can’t help but feel like something’s wrong, yeah

'Cause the place I’m livin’ in just doesn’t feel like home

This time it was a video of Marinette in what looked like a kitchen. A huge kitchen. Wearing a black shirt too big to be hers, probably making breakfast.

She had a spatula in her hand, distracted, using it as a microphone while singing something.

The man who had arrived with Bruce Wayne, the one with the black and white hair, joins her singing. They start dancing like crazy around the kitchen.

The video ends with him slipping and falling, Marinette laughing out loud before falling too.

It didn’t even last 20 seconds.

I’m just lookin’ for some real friends

All they ever do is let me down

Every time I let somebody in

Then I find out what they’re all about

Another video came, this time Marinette is sitting on the grass, surrounded by puppies. Two Great Dane resting their heads on her lap while she pats them.

Damian Wayne joins her and she rests against him.

He looks at the person filming and the filming quickly ends.

I’m just lookin’ for some real friends

Wonder where they’re all hidin’ out

I’m just lookin’ for some real friends

Gotta get up out of this town

The next picture had Marinette in a gym, leggings, black top, hair in a ponytail.

Another of the men who came in with Bruce Wayne, on her shoulders like a sack of potatoes.

She was all skinny muscle.

Nino heard Adrien choke and cough.

I just wanna talk about nothin’

With somebody that means somethin’

Spell the names of all our dreams and demons

For the times that I don’t understand

Marinette this time was in the same kitchen (video), an old man beside her watching her beat the dough in the bowl.

The crowded bench with Damian, Bruce and the other three men, Chloe, Kagami, Luka and… Félix?!

Tell me what’s the point of a moon like this

When I’m alone again

Can I run away to somewhere beautiful

Where nobody knows my name?

There was a joint gagging of class with the pool photo.

Damian felt jealous boil again.

I’m just lookin’ for some real friends

All they ever do is let me down

I let somebody in

But I find out what they’re all about

The next photo had Jagged Stone, Penny Rolling, Clara Nightingale, Prince Ali, and XY at a picnic. All dressed informally, looking comfortable, smiling at Marinette who was playing with Fang in the background.

And that’s how Ms. Bustier’s class seemed to remember that Jagged didn’t have a cat but a crocodile.

I’m just lookin’ for some real friends

All they ever do is let me down

I’m just lookin’ for some real friends

Gotta get up out of this town, yeah

The last picture was of everyone together.

Dupain-Cheng, Waynes, Chloe, Kagami, Luka, Felix, Claude, Allegra, Allan, Jagged, Penny, Clara, Ali, XY. Even Fang and the Great Danes.

Everyone was looking at the camera, smiling excitedly. Marinette in Damian’s arms and a banner with “Joyeux anniversaire, Marinette” in the background.

Oh, oh

Oh, ah

Marinette and Luka ended the song’s last chord when a video, this time with sound, played on the big screen.

“… Let me hear you say, this shit is bananas, B-A-N-A-N-A-S!”

Marinette turns horrified to the big screen.

“This shit is bananas, B-A-N-A-N-A-S!” Marinette on the big screen screams along with the music.

The girl throws her arms up, jumping on the bed. The Batman themed pajamas.

“Oh my god, Minette…” the recording person laughs softly so the girl doesn’t hear.

Marinette continues to scream the lyrics, unaware that she is being recorded, until the recording person starts laughing out loud and she gets scared.

“… Jason?” She has a confused expression on her face until she notices the camera and her face becomes homicidal. “Were you recording…?”

The man seems to be scared because the laughter soon dies.

“… No?” he tries.

“Really? So, you don’t mind me taking a look at your phone, do you?” She gets off the bed and goes toward him.

“… Listen, I think Alfred is calling me. Bye!” He runs from her, but doesn’t finish recording.

With him running, the phone only films the confused shapes of the house, but everyone is still able to hear Marinette running after him.

“BACK HERE TODD!”

"NOT! I DON’T WANT TO DIE AGAIN!”

Shooting continues for another two seconds and then ends abruptly.

Luka was laughing openly on stage, Marinette still with her back to the audience, blushing embarrassed and the audience laughing.

And that was how the last night of the Talent Show began.

///

Lila was waiting for her at the backstage.

Marinette knew that an hour would have to face the girl, but did not think she would attack in such an open and public place.

But objectively, this was the only chance she had, since Marinette was leaving Paris that night.

“Should I congratulate you on the engagement, Dupain-Cheng? Or should we talk about your poor attempt to come out on top?” Lila scoffs, the smugness on her face. “Because it didn’t work. They are still eating in the palm of my hand.”

Marinette sighs already tired.

"What do you want, Lila?”

“I just came to brag. I like to throw salt on the wound.”

“That’s good! Because I like it too.” Marinette says, her tone becoming sharp. “Do you really think I would go away and do nothing to unmask you, Lila Rossi?” Lila stiffens the smile. “Or rather, Volpina, the accomplice of Hawkmoth.”

The girl steps back as Marinette approaches.

"What are you talking about?” She countered. “Are you going crazy?”

“Crazy? I? No.” Marinette laughs “I just think it’s funny that you think there would be no consequences helping a terrorist. And no use denying, I know you have been helping Hawkmoth and Mayura all these years. Your best friend, Ladybug, told me.”

The two do not notice Adrien, Nino and Alya coming. Adrien, noticing the situation, prevents Alya from trying to help Lila and forces them both to hear the conversation hidden behind some wood panels.

“… So, what if I helped Hawkmoth?” They hear Lila say. Adrien feels his blood run cold. “I was a minor. A child. You have nothing against me.”

There is a break and Marinette respond.

“That’s where you’re wrong Lila. Gabriel Agreste may have been arrested and refused to speak, but the evidence, Lila, speaks for itself.” Her firm voice “One year, Lila. A year gathering evidence against you and look, I was surprised to learn that I wasn’t the only person you emotionally abused.”

“… What?” Lila whispers looking scared.

“Emilia Shawn’s suicide.” Marinette’s voice comes out like lightning. “Don’t you remember her, Lila? The girl you bullied so much she couldn’t stand and threw herself off the roof of your school in Italy?” Alya was crying on Nino’s shoulder.

“No problem you don’t remember Emilia!” Marinette says very cheerfully “As long as you remember Cassandra. Or Phillip. Marie… Rico.”

“How do you… how do you know those names?” Lila shouts.

“Because unlike you and our lovely classmates, Lila, families didn’t believe their children were abusive monsters and committed suicide because they were sorry.”

There are footsteps, Adrien gets up enough to see what was going on and recognizes Agent Raincomprix with the National Police, surrounding Marinette and Lila.

Damian Wayne appears along with Bruce Wayne alongside Marinette.

“You cannot do that! I was just a child! Children make mistakes!” Lila begins to freak out when she realizes the situation.

“No, Lila. This is murder and terrorism. And you will pay for what you did.” Marinette says.

Damian hugs the brunette in support and she squeezes his arms in thanks.

"Lila Aloisi Rossi, you are arrested for accomplice of murder and terrorism.” The Raincomprix agent says as he holds Lila in handcuffs “You have the right to remain silent. Whatever you say can and will be used against you.”

"What? NO! LET ME GO!” Lila shouts, going crazy as she struggles.

The police soon have to help the agent contain her and before they leave, he turns to Marinette and the Waynes.

“Bruce Wayne, Marinette. Thanks for your help.” He nods. “It’s up to us now.” And leaves.

“Thank you mr. Raincomprix.” Marinette says.

"I’ll go with you guys,” Bruce says and joins the agents.

Meanwhile, Lila was still screaming and kicking through the theater corridors, people leaving to find out what was going on.

Ms. Bustier’s whole class watching.

“YOU HAVE TO UNLEASH ME! I HAVE DIPLOMATIC IMMUNITY!” She shouted.

Bruce Wayne, who was right behind the National Police surrounding Lila, looked smug when he spoke.

“Your country has withdrawn your immunity after we have presented the evidence of your crimes, Lila Rossi.” Lila widened her eyes, the panic evident. “You will face justice in full rights.”

Damian believes that all of Paris was able to hear the scream that the Italian gave.

He turned the woman in his arms, needing to look her in the eye.

“It’s over, angel.” He whispers to her, noticing the tear in her eyes.

Marinette sighs, relaxing against him.

“It’s over, Dami. Ended.“

[tag list]

@mystery-5-5 @spicybelladonna @iglowinggemma28 @crazylittlemunchkin@lunaraquaenby @maude-zarella @mooshoon @kuroko26@littleredrobinhoodlum @fanboy7794 @shadowberrybinch @k-rena-k@captainmac6 @clumsy-owl-4178  @tazanna-blythe @vixen-uchiha @zebrabaker @chloe-bourgeois-is-big-gay @artxyra @ellerahs @minightrose@redscarlet95 @soaringowlsstuff @xxkelsey39

[golchaworld]

Subtract from this Divide | B.C

➳ pairing: delinquent!reader x student council president!chan

➳ genre: high school!au, fluff, mild angst

➳ word count: ~4.8k

➳ warnings: language, making out, mentions of smoking/drug use, mentions of sex/virginity

➳ summary: Putting a divide between you and Chan was the best thing you could have done for your reputations. But when the past starts to clash with the present, and rumors matter more than reputation, you find yourself feeling increasingly distant. Is there any way to subtract from the divide that has been created between you two?

A/N: So I started this piece over a year ago, which is super wild to think about. I wanted to do a reversal of the normal bad boy narrative, and this is what I ended up with. Tbh the plot is pretty bad, but I think the character study aspect is pretty interesting. As always, feel free to share your thoughts!

Your image as the baddest rebel in school was completely secure.  After three years at your godforsaken high school, you were able to be top dog.  No one ever messed with you.  As you walked down the hallways, the crowd practically parted for you.  Very simply, everyone was scared; and that was just how you liked it.

It started after you were suspended freshman year for graffiti in the bathroom.  You had gotten caught with a can of blue spray paint right as you were walking out.  Your principal was so furious that he thought that suspension wouldn’t be enough, but after a quick talk with your parents, you knew that your punishment wouldn’t be any worse.  From that moment on, you knew you could practically get off scot free for any offense, so you let it go to your head just a little bit.  You started cutting class, skateboarding in the hallways, and cursing at teachers, simply because you could.  Your punishment was never more than a detention or a brief scolding from the principal you had gotten oh so acquainted with over the years.

The rumors about you were wild, to say the least.  Boys fawned over you, intimidated in a way that had their fantasies running wild.  There was always gossip about you fucking someone knew, but it was never true.  Sure, you weren’t the Virgin Mary, but boys in your school didn’t truly appeal to you.  The girls were even worse.  They were the ones who created rumors about your home life, your GPA, and everything in between.  Little did they know that everything was fine.  The rebel image you upheld only applied to your personality and disciplinary history, not your home life or academic intelligence.  

Although you were secure in your position and persona, you knew that one person could change that entire thing: your boyfriend.  You loved Chan.  He was the sweetest and dorkiest guy you had ever met, and that was just the problem.  He was student council president, leader of the school’s acapella group, and top of the honor roll.  You two were polar opposites, and you knew that if news of you two dating got out, it would taint both of your images.  Your bad girl image would vanish if you admitted you had a soft spot for such a good guy.  Chan could no longer be Mr. Perfect if his girlfriend were such a rebel.  So you two decided to keep your relationship a secret.

It was easy in the beginning.  You two would only hang out outside of school.  You would go out of your way to go to events two, three towns over just to minimize the chances of running into someone from your school.  The two of you often found yourself in an ice cream shop 45 minutes away for your dates, just happy to be in each others’ presence despite the long journey.  However, you found that the perfect medium was hanging out at each others’ houses.  It was the perfect combination of seclusion and intimacy, allowing you two to be both carefree and close.

But as your relationship developed, and the two of you fell in love, it became harder and harder to conceal your relationship.  You found yourself wanting to tell your best friends, Changbin, Hyunjin, and Minho, about your wonderful boyfriend more often than not.  Chan had the same sentiment, struggling to keep his best friends, Jisung and Felix, out of the loop.  But you two had talked about it and decided that it was too risky, even to just be limited to best friends.  

So the two of you came up with a pact, you wouldn’t even look at each other when in school.  Everytime you passed each other in the hallways, it would be nothing but blank stares as you walked away.  There were no smiles, giggles, or heavy eye contact when anyone else was around.  But on the rare occasion that you two found yourselves alone during the school day, the pact went out of the window.  Whether it was quick makeouts in between the bookshelves of the library, or a check-in in the janitor’s closet, you two found any excuse to see each other during the day.  And no matter how much it happened, your heart always broke a little when it was time to go your separate ways.

As you walked down the hallway in between first and second period on a Tuesday morning, Minho was talking your ear off.  He felt the need to explain to you the details of the “best head he’d ever received” this past weekend.  It took all you had not to roll your eyes.  You loved Minho, but you two were very different.  Unlike you, he used his bad boy, rebel image to get with practically everyone in the school.  Girls, guys, it didn’t matter to Minho.  He was just in it for the orgasm.  No matter how much his behavior bothered you, he was one of your best friends, and you loved him.  But that didn’t mean you wanted to hear the details of his every sexual encounter.

The two of you trekked further down the middle of the hallway, watching everyone’s faces twist in fear as they spotted you.  It gave you a weird satisfaction, knowing that everyone revered and feared you.  But when you came across one group that refused to move for you, your heart contracted.  There was Chan, along with Jisung and Felix, walking straight in your direction.  It was hard for you not to outwardly coo, let alone keep your face set in stone.  Your boyfriend’s hair was in its natural curly state, a dark brown halo above his head.  His blue polo shirt was buttoned almost all the way up, khaki pants freshly ironed.  You were internally dying at the sight.  But you did nothing, keeping your eyes set straight ahead of you as you passed your secret love.  When you were a safe distance away, you let out a breath you didn’t know you were holding.

“What do you think about Chan?”  Minho asked casually as you two turned into your shared second period class.

“What is there to think about him?”  Your heart was racing in panic.  “I forget he exists sometimes.”

Minho chuckled from his desk beside yours.  “I call bullshit on that one.  He’s everywhere!  Hell, he’s student council president.  There’s no way you can forget about him, especially when he looks like that.”

It wasn’t new to you that people found your boyfriend attractive.  Since freshman year, everyone in school has been ogling over him, wanting to ruin the perfect pretty boy.  He kept his record clean though, never giving anyone in school the time of day.  That didn’t stop people from trying, though, including Minho.  It always sucked to hear your best friend go on and on about how hot your boyfriend was, even if he didn’t know he was your boyfriend.

“Eh, he’s not all that,”  you answered back coolly.  “I think you’re much hotter, Minho.”

Your best friend rolled his eyes at you as you jokingly smirked and winked.  This was normal for you two, casual flirty banter that had everyone in school secretly wondering if you were together on the down low.  It was actually extremely common.  The entire school practically assumed you were with one of your three best friends.  The best theory you heard was junior year, when the captain of the cheerleading squad spread the rumor that the four of you were in a polyamorous relationship.  Sure, you knew all of your friends were hot, but the rumor still had you laughing to date.  There was nothing better than the gossip you heard about yourself and your friends, but there was nothing worse than hearing gossip about your boyfriend.  So when you heard two girls whispering Chan’s name from the seats behind you, you instantly tuned in.

“I heard Chan is going to ask out Naomi.  Jisung told me that he does nothing but check her out all day,”  one girl whispered.

The other girl sighed loudly.  “God, what I would give to be Naomi.  I wish Chan would check me out all day.”

You felt your hand subconsciously curl around the edge of your desk.  You told yourself to breathe deep, counting to ten in an attempt to keep your temper in check.  It was difficult, however, as the girls continued to blabber on about Chan’s perfection.  Their banter was ultimately silenced by the bell, and then the teacher as class began.  You just picked up your pencil and began writing, making a mental note to bring up the incident with your boyfriend later on.

.        .        .

You paced the last bookshelf in the corner of the library during lunchtime, waiting for your boyfriend to appear.  When you sent your text about needing to see him, you meant it, the gossip of second period still heavy in your mind.  As the boy appeared, he made sure to check behind him before walking closer to you.  He was quick to encase you in his arms, pressing a sweet kiss to your lips.

“Hey, baby girl.  Missed me too much?” He smirked as he spoke, hands still placed firmly on your waist.

“I just needed to see you.”

Chan ducked down, placing another kiss on your lips.  He attempted to take it further, biting down softly on your bottom lip.  It took all of your resolve to push him away, and he whined quietly as you did.

“That’s not why I asked you to come here.”

When Chan saw the distress in your eyes, he was instantly concerned.  You were a tough one, and it took a lot for things to bother you.  So if something was bothering you to the point where you were physically in strife, he knew it must be serious.

“What’s wrong?”  Chan ran a hand through your hair, letting his other one still rest softly on your waist.

“So I heard that you’re into Naomi Hendricks now,”  you chuckled bitterly.  “A girl in class was talking all about how she wished to be Naomi so you could check her out like you check Naomi out.  And the funny thing is that apparently Jisung is convinced that you’re going to ask her out.  Now why would he think that, Christopher?”

Chan knew you only used his real name when you were truly upset.  “Y/N, it’s not like that.”

“Then what’s it like, Chris?”

“Jisung and Felix think that I’m not getting any, so they’re just trying to set me up with people.  I told them I’m not interested, but they just won’t listen.  You know better than anyone that I don’t want anyone but you.  I just can’t tell them that, so they just run with it.  I’m sorry, baby girl, that you have to hear these rumors, but you have to know they’re not true.”

You looked Chan in the eyes, searching for any reason not to trust his answer.  But as you got lost in his normal, sincere gaze, you knew he was telling the truth.  You sighed audibly.

“Alright, I’m sorry.  It just sucks hearing all of these rumors about you.  I don’t want to think about my boyfriend being into anyone else.”

Chan smiled brightly, letting his prominent dimples show.  “Tell me about it.  If I hear another thing about you fucking Changbin, I think I’m going to lose it.”

You laughed in return, letting your nose crinkle at the thought.  “Trust me, you don’t have to worry about it.”

“Just like you don’t have to worry about me,”  Chan stated softly.  “I love you, and only you.”

You let yourself nod, looking up to meet your boyfriend’s eyes.  He smiled back at you, leaning down to place a sweet kiss on your lips.  Your arms slowly snuck their way around his neck, allowing you to tilt your head and deepen the kiss.  You felt Chan sigh as you nibbled on his bottom lip, curling your fingers into the short hairs at the nape of his neck.  The two of you continued to kiss passionately, letting yourselves get lost in each other.  But as Chan began to trail kisses down your jaw and neck, the bell rang out loudly, signalling the end of the period.

“What class do you have?”  Chan whispered in your ear, making no moves to stop what he was doing.

“Math,”  you gasped out lightly.  “What about you?”

You felt Chan smirk against your jaw.  “Free period.”

Chan trailed back up to reconnect his lips to yours.  “I can skip,”  you breathed out in between heated kisses.  “Class can wait.”

Chan just shook his head, fully disconnecting from you.  He chuckled softly as you attempted to follow his lips for a moment before realizing that he was letting you go.  Your eyes shot open at the same time a frown manifested itself on your face.

“I can’t let you skip, baby.”

You cursed your boyfriend’s goody two shoes nature.  Rolling your eyes, you muttered out a “fine” before grabbing the backpack you had discarded on the floor.  You turned to leave, only to be pulled back by a warm hand on your wrist.  You barely had time to register your boyfriend’s warm lips on yours before he was pulling away, sending you off with a small tap of your backside.

“Have fun in class,” he whispered.  “Love you!”

You turned around to send him a sarcastic smile.  “I won’t.  Love you, too.”

.        .        .

After school, you walked to your locker with both Hyunjin and Changbin at your sides.  For some reason, the three of you couldn’t find Minho anywhere, so you assumed that he either got caught up flirting or fucking.  Either way, the three of you didn’t mind, you just planned to walk home together without him.

As you opened your locker, you heard labored breathing and heavy footsteps behind you.  With the distinct sound of Hyunjin’s laughter, you knew Minho had showed up.  You looked behind you briefly, but it was long enough to register Minho’s disheveled hair and the blooming red bruises on his jaw and neck.

“What happened to you?”  Changbin sounded exasperated.

Hyunjin was still laughing.  “More like who happened to you?  It looks like you just got out of a gang fight where you could only punch each other in the neck.”

You just shook your head, trying to find the right books to bring home for that night’s homework.  Your friends continued to bicker behind you, only growing louder as Minho insisted that the identity of the person who he was with remained a secret until the walk home.  When you finally gathered all of your materials, you shut your locker, signalling to your group of friends that it was time to go.

The four of you were quick to head out of the main school doors and down the street, heading first to Changbin’s house a few blocks away.  Once Minho deemed that you were far enough away from the school, he began to tell the story behind his appearance.

“Okay, so I couldn’t say this information earlier because it’s top secret.  No one can know about this.”

You saw Hyunjin roll his eyes.  “There’s no such thing as secrets with you, Minho.”

“Well then let this be my first,”  Minho retorted.  “So I was smoking out by the football field, when Han Jisung approached me and just started going off on me about how bad smoking is for your lungs and cancer and gum disease and blah blah blah.  And then next thing I know, we’re making out, and then he’s sucking my dick.”

Changbin groaned loudly.  “You really didn’t need to say that last part.”

You, on the other hand, were extremely confused.  In all the years you’d known Chan, he never once mentioned Jisung being interested in guys.  “I’m calling bullshit.  I don’t even think Jisung plays for the other team.”

“He doesn’t.”  Minho sent a smirk in your direction, prompting you to fake-gag.  “Can I just say that ruining straight boys is the best.”

Hyunjin scoffed.  “If you’re ‘ruining’ them, they must not have been straight to begin with.”

“You want to test that theory?”  Minho wiggled his eyebrows at Hyunjin, only to get shoved off the sidewalk by the taller boy.  

Changbin chuckled from his position next to you at their antics.  Although you knew the rest of the school saw the four of you as big, scary, bad kids, you were really just all dorks on the inside.  You were dorks who just happened to like wearing all black and breaking the rules.

About five minutes later, you all arrived at Changbin’s front door, waving him off with a simple goodbye.  Next was Minho’s house down the street.  When you finally dropped the hickey-covered boy off, Hyunjin immediately burst into loud laughter.  You looked at the boy as if he were crazy, completely confused on what could be so funny.

“Minho and Jisung.  Our Minho and Han Jisung!  That’s fucking hilarious.”  He clapped his hands together comically.

You just shook your head.  “I think it’s cute.”

“Cute?”  Hyunjin turned to face you.  “Our bad boy, flunking Minho, with honor roll, president of the school’s medical society Jisung.  It’s ridiculous!  It’s like something out of a movie.  But in real life, people like us don’t fit with people like that.  So Minho’s up for a rude awakening.”

“Don’t say that, Jinnie.”

The tall boy just shrugged.  “It’s the truth.  I didn’t make the rules.”

As you two approached your house, Hyunjin began to blabber on about something you couldn’t focus on.  You were barely listening, though, his commentary about Minho and Jisung still sticking fresh in your mind.  

People like us don’t fit with people like them.  

Part of you wanted to revisit the topic, tell Hyunjin that he was wrong and that stereotype was nothing but that, a stereotype.  But you knew any comment you would make would just arouse suspicion, so you decided to keep your mouth shut.  When you finally arrived at your house, you noticed a familiar car parked out front, making you smile brightly.  You bid Hyunjin goodbye with a quick hug, rushing to get inside and be with your boyfriend.

As you walked in through the front door, you could hear your mother chatting with Chan in the kitchen.  One of the perks of having to hang out at one of your houses all the time was the fact that you both got close with each others’ parents extremely quickly.  You made your way further inside, smiling as you spotted Chan standing next to your mother as she cooked something on the stove.  She dipped a spoon into the silver pot, pulling out some liquid and giving it to Chan to taste.

“Wow, mom.  You’re replacing me as the taste tester already!” You exclaimed in mock-offense.

Both your mother and Chan turned at the sound of your voice.  “Well if it isn’t my little delinquent,”  your mother teased.  “What kind of trouble did you get in today?” You just rolled your eyes, stepping closer to the two by the stove.  “Nothing today.  But that just means I have to go rob a few banks tomorrow.”

Chan chuckled, walking over to pull you in a hug and placing a kiss on the top of your head.  You took a deep breath as you cuddled into his chest, Hyunjin’s words still resonating with you.

“Chan and I are going upstairs, mom,”  you announced, taking your boyfriend’s hand and leading him out of the kitchen.

“Be safe!”  Your mom called after the two of you, making you groan loudly.  Chan just laughed as the two of you climbed the stairs and made your way into your bedroom.

You placed your backpack down next to your barely-used desk.  Doing your homework was a rare occurrence, but you scored high enough on tests that it never completely ruined your GPA.  Chan had scolded you about it multiple times, but after a few weeks, he gave up completely.

Chan just took his normal position on your bed, never hesitating to make himself comfortable.  You just smiled, rolling your eyes at the way he began to cuddle your pillow.  With the way he was splayed out, there was barely any room for you on the small, twin-sized bed.  Chan didn’t seem to give it any thought though, seeming as though he was unwilling to move from his comfortable position.

“I’m glad to see you’re always making yourself comfortable.”

Chan just hummed, nuzzling further into your purple silk pillowcase.  His dark hair seemed to almost blend in with the dark blacks and purples adorning your room.  You couldn’t help the way your heart melted, taking in the way Chan looked so at home in your room.  No matter how much you tried to deny it, this boy was truly your soft spot.

“After you left today,”  Chan started softly.  “I was thinking a lot about the shit we hear about each other.”

You nodded before realizing he couldn’t really see you.  “Mhm,” you encouraged.

“I just think we should be really open with each other.”

“Are we not already super open?”  You quirked an eyebrow at his unmoving form.

“Of course we are,”  Chan finally moved his head from the pillow to look at you completely.  “But I just don’t think there’s any harm in really letting each other in.  Maybe then the rumors won’t bother us as much.”

You sighed, rubbing a hand over your face.  You decided to use the black hair tie on your wrist to tie your hair up, knowing this was going to be a long process.  “Is this why you came over?”

“Don’t sound so disappointed.  I just want to know everything about you, baby girl.”

Chan reached out for you, making an aborted noise into the pillow.  You indulged him, getting up from the desk chair and squeezing onto your bed.  Chan almost instinctively wrapped an arm around your waist, pulling you close so you two were nose to nose.  He smiled softly, happy to finally have you carelessly in his arms.

“Hi there,”  he whispered.

“Hi,”  you responded softly.  “So what do you want to know?”

“Well, for one thing, you weren’t a virgin when we met.  You were my first time, but you never told me who yours was.”

You sighed as Chan’s hand began to rub slow circles into your waist.  It pained you to have to reveal this information to your boyfriend, and that’s why you tried so hard to keep it a secret all this time.  You knew that he would be beyond upset at the answer, but it was his fault for asking.

“Don’t be mad,”  you stated, looking into his eyes for any signs of distrust.

“What?  Why would I be mad?”

You let your eyes flicker downwards before coming back up to make eye contact.  “It was Hyunjin.”

Chan pulled away from you with so much force that you almost fell off of the side of the bed.  This was the reaction you dreaded.  The amount of gossip surrounding you and your friends was tumultuous, and you didn’t want to give validity to any of it.  But this, unfortunately, was very true.

“Hyunjin?”  Chan muttered.

“It was the end of sophomore year!  We were just young and fooling around as a ‘what if?’ and it escalated.  We were always just friends and super comfortable with each other so we decided that we’d be comfortable losing it to each other.  If I knew I was going to meet you and be with you three months later, I would have waited!”

Chan could sense the exasperation in your voice, but it wasn’t enough.  He was never mad about the fact that you weren’t a virgin.  He truly understood that different people tackle milestones at different paces.  But deep down, he was always suspicious of how close you were to your three male friends.  This just confirmed those suspicions.

“How many times?”  Chan asked bluntly, sitting up on the bed.  

You followed suit.  “How many times what?”

“How many times did you and Hyunjin have sex?”

You sat silently, unable to do more than just stare at your visibly irritated boyfriend.  Chan’s eyebrow raised at your ominous silence.  He couldn’t stop the bubble of anger that was rising in his chest.  If he had known this was going to be such a difficult conversation, he never would have initiated it.  Now, however, he didn’t know if he could stop prying.

“More than once?”

You nodded wordlessly, eyes trained down on your folded legs.

“More than--”

“It was four times,”  you cut your boyfriend off.  “Before I met you, I had sex with Hwang Hyunjin four whole times.  Is that what you were looking for?” 

Chan was quiet, looking at you in a way that had your toes curling in anxiety.  He didn’t have to know this, and you spent your entire relationship keeping it from him.  You guessed he was right about the two of you opening up, but you hated the inevitable rift it would cause between you.  Chan moved to stand, only to be stopped by your hand wrapping around his wrist, pulling him back.

“Don’t go, Chris.  Please.”  You pleaded with him softly.

Chan’s chest rose and fell once, twice, with each breath he took.  Eventually he sat back down on the bed, eyes slowly meeting yours.  You tried your best to smile, even though you could see the irritation in his eyes.

“Remember what you said to me earlier?  There’s nobody but you, Chan.”  You watched as your boyfriend’s eyes softened.  “I love you and only you.”

Chan couldn’t force his voice to go above a whisper.  “I love you, too.”

You smiled softly, removing your hand from his wrist only to lace his fingers with yours.  After a moment, Chan smiled, looking at you apologetically.  He couldn’t help the small flame of jealousy that ignited whenever there was mention of you with your three best friends.  He knew deep down that you all were nothing more than friends, but it was difficult to ignore this piece of your history.

“I’m sorry for bringing this up,”  he muttered.  “I didn’t know it would get so bad so fast.”

Your smile was warm.  “Don’t apologize.  I’m glad that you know a little bit more about me now.”

“Yeah, I guess this did serve its purpose.”

“Not completely,”  you teased.  “You still haven’t told me something secret.”

Chan just groaned, rubbing his free hand over his face and causing you to chuckle.  He knew exactly which story followed along the lines of the previous conversation, and he wondered if you could handle it.  But, after the information you just shared with him, he forced all of his doubts to the back of his mind.

“Okay, so this is super top secret.  You cannot tell anyone!  It doesn’t just involve me, which is what makes the secrecy extra super important.”

You nodded, lifting your free hand.  “I swear myself to secrecy.”

“So freshman year, Jisung was having a little sexuality crisis.  He was telling me and Felix about how he thought he was bisexual, but he was worried since he had never been with a boy.  So...we kissed.”

“Chan!”  Your eyes widened in shock.

“It was nothing!  I promise!  Jisung didn’t end up figuring out anything, though, because he said it was like kissing his brother.”

You couldn’t suppress the laughter that was bubbling up.  “You sound offended.”  You teased.

Chan instantly looked offended, placing a hand over his heart.  “I was offended!  Jisung had the luxury of kissing me, a hot, sexy guy, and ended up not even enjoying it.  It was some boy who he met last summer who made him fully realize that he was bi.  He took me for granted if you ask me.”

By the teasing smile taking hold on your boyfriend’s face, you knew he was joking.  His secret was still very real, but all of the outlandish reactions were just to make you smile.  If there was one thing you knew about your boyfriend at this point, it was that he would do anything to make you smile, even in the most serious moments.

“So then we both kissed our best friends?”  You raised an eyebrow.

Chan shrugged.  “I guess we did.”

“But now we’re only kissing each other, right?”

“Definitely,”  Chan chuckled slightly.  “Trust me, you’re the only one I want to kiss.”

You just smiled, leaning forward to connect your lips with your boyfriend’s.  It was difficult, though, seeing as you were both grinning too widely.  

[pandawritespoorly]

With Time: Chapter 38 - It’s Not Defamation If It’s True

Author’s Note: Who's ready for Gabriel getting his comeuppance?!?!?!

Settle down children, excitement and righteous fury is no excuse to forget your manners. Now get your snacks and get comfortable.

I hope you enjoy!

Chapter Summary: Gabriel underestimates the power of teenagers who care for their friend.

Edit: Whoops! I didn't check my comments in the doc! Strong language warning! "fucking"

First | Previous | Next

Marinette knows it’s spring because she wakes up easily. It’s always easier to wake up during spring, and, given her energy, it can be harder to rest.

She suspects Tikki is already up, enjoying the sun on the balcony. At the thought, the girl scrambles to get ready so she can enjoy the weather.

She’s done in record time, grabbing her phone as she joins Tikki.

 Kid Mime: good morning my faithful fair funny fast fancy festive fizzy funky friends

 Melodie: ‘Fizzy’?

 Kid Mime: i ran out of f adjectives

 Felix: You already had seven without that one.

 The Mom Friend: i think you did great

The Mom Friend 10/10 wood read again

 Kid Mime: yay!!

 Patisserie Princess: hiiiiii!!!!!!!

 Kid Mime: wats this????

Kid Mime: mari up??

 Melodie: With time to text too!

 Patisserie Princess: yep

Patisserie Princess: its spring!!!!!

 The Mom Friend: any of ur flowers blooming yet

 Patisserie Princess: not yet

Patisserie Princess: but soon. i can feel it

 Felix: That will certainly be exciting.

 Patisserie Princess: it will be!!!!!!!

Patisserie Princess: (◕ᴗ◕✿)

Patisserie Princess: k im heading out now!!!!!!!

 Kid Mime: byeeeeeeee!!!!!!

 Melodie: See you soon!

“Alright, let’s go, Tikki!” Marinette hops up from her chair, giving Tikki a moment to hide in her purse before hurrying downstairs. She shouts goodbye to her parents as she heads to school.

It’s so sunny, and she’s smiling wide. Today is a good day.

She arrives at school in what must be record time. She spots Allan and Claude walking into the building together and joins them.

“Hi!!!” Marinette chirps.

“Hey, ‘Nette. Good to see you so early,” Allan greets her.

Claude throws their arms in the air. “Marinette! Our sunshine has arrived!!”

“Adrien is our sunshine,” she corrects.

“Hmm.” Claude pretends to think this over. “This is a conundrum.”

“You’re a star,” Allan suggests.

“Yes!! Perfect!”

“You guys are stars too!!” Marinette smiles.

Claude strikes a DramaticPose™. “Well, of course I’m a star!”

Allan and Marinette clap appropriately. A few nearby students join in. Claude bows several times.

“Thank you, thank you!”

Marinette throws a flower at him. “Bravo!”

Claude gasps, clutching the flower to his chest. “The fair maiden has chosen me! I have been awarded a flower from our fair lady!”

Marinette curtsies. “‘Tis no trouble to me, my knight.”

“Shall I escort you and your companion to your court?”

“It would be very kind of you sir, I am expecting company from neighboring kingdoms.”

“Then we shall depart at once!”

With Allan and Marinette snickering, Claude leads the pair to the library where Felix and Allegra are calmly sitting at a table.

“Her royal highness, Our Star has arrived! Her meeting place is quieter than the courtyard, so we shall withhold the fanfare! Trumpets on standby!”

The librarian shoots him a grateful look, and Marinette can hear Allegra and Felix sigh in unison at Claude’s antics. Allegra shuts her book and turns. Allan and Marinette are both struggling to muffle their laughter. Claude has a flower behind his ear and leads the two to the table.

“Greetings fair lady Allegra and lord Felix of kingdoms Coudriet and Voclain! I am delighted to inform you that we have been blessed with the presence of Mademoiselle Dupain-Cheng and Monsieur Poirot!”

Allegra and Felix clap quietly.

“So what brought this on?” Felix queries.

“Marinette gave me a flower!” Claude chirps.

“You look great, Claude. Very cute.” Allegra smiles.

“Thanks! I’m gorgeous!” Claude pretends to flip his hair.

“Oh for sure,” Allan agrees. “Model material over here.”

---

The group is on their way out of school when Marinette gets a call. They slow down so she can talk and walk easier.

“Hello?”

They hear shouting on the other end.

“Well, I’m not opposed, but weren’t we-”

The person on the other end interrupts her.

“He is? Well- What do you mean he’s at school?!”

She pauses.

“Since yesterday? Excuse me, but he wasn’t also working?! Ohhh, he’s a dead man,” she growls. “Does he think-?!”

A sharp retort from the other end.

“It was rhetorical, and you didn’t let me finish.” Marinette rolls her eyes.

More talking on the other end, then the call ends.

“‘Just get over here now’” Marinette mimics, then deadpans, “Thanks for the suggestion, I was planning on touring France first.”

“What’s going on?” Claude asks.

Marinette wrinkles her nose, frowning. “That was Chloe, she says we’re doing it now.”

“Like, now? Weren’t we going to like… finalize things?” Allan asks.

“Oh heck yeah! Finally! That man is going down!” Allegra cheers.

“What happened?” Felix frowns.

Claude looks concerned. “Is Adrien okay?”

“No. He’s been crazy sick since yesterday, and Gabriel is making him go about as usual because he’s trying to get as much stuff out as he can to recover from all the backlash recently. We’re stopping by Dupont to bring him to the bakery, then we’re going to call in some favors a little earlier than anticipated.”

“I wish I could punch him. I wish I could punch him multiple times,” Allegra mutters.

---

Marinette leads them up the stairs of Dupont, and though she’s been attending a different school for the majority of the year, everyone there knows to stay out of her way with that look in her eyes.

She’s on the warpath.

At the library, she finds Chloe and Sabrina, with a very tired Adrien who is sleeping on his textbook.

He’s pale, and his face is flushed. He looks shaky and weak, and Marinette’s heart sinks at her kitty in such a state. She goes up to him, crouching beside his chair and running her fingers through his hair.

His eyes open and he squints at her through his half-open lids, his eyes glazed over.

“Hi.”

“Hey,” she whispers. “Want to go home?”

He nods, barely with her, and she runs her fingers through his hair a little more. His eyes slip closed again. She can hear her friends talking behind her, but that doesn’t matter at the moment. He’s purring, but it’s very quiet, and if she didn’t know better, she’d pass it off as just weird breathing from being so sick.

Keeping one hand in his hair, she stands and turns to her friends. “We’re taking him home now, then we can start finishing this.”

They nod, and Allan speaks up, “Who can carry him?”

Marinette just picks him up, which they all accept as an answer. She frowns. “He shouldn’t be this light.”

“Fucking Gabriel,” Allegra and Chloe mutter.

As she carries him outside, she sees Nino give her a relieved smile. He and Adrien may not hang out much anymore, but he still cares about the model.

When they arrive in the designer’s room, Marinette places him gently on the chaise, settling a blanket over him and sitting in front of him.

Chloe pulls down the sheet from Marinette’s ceiling. It’s covered in various sticky notes and lists. There’s phone numbers scattered about, with lines connecting them to other places. A checklist occupies the corner, with various things marked off, all are connected to some other part of the organized mess.

It’s impressive it all fits.

“Felix, Chloe, if either of you need to step out to speak with the lawyers, then go ahead. Sabrina-”

The other girl smiles, waving her off. “I’m already looking it over.”

“Great, thank you,” Marinette nods.

“I can call about the apartment,” Allegra volunteers.

“Good idea. Then I guess-”

Claude puts a hand on her shoulder. “Mari, it’s okay. We know what to do, you can just take care of Adrien right now.”

She sighs, smiling gratefully, and nodding, turning to Adrien. She tunes out the rest of the room, eyes only for her partner. She sees worried green eyes peering out from his overshirt, and waves at the Kwami subtly. The God simply nods at her and burrows closer to his Chosen.

Putting a hand to his forehead, she confirms that he definitely has a fever. She heads to the kitchen, finding the thermometer, and grabbing a glass of water in case he wants it.

Her room is a busy center for the various plans going on, as everyone assigns themselves tasks to complete to get as much done as quickly as they can. The noise level still manages to remain low, as everyone is aware of the model resting.

“Hey,” Marinette whispers, brushing Adrien’s hair out of his face. “Can I get your temperature quick?”

He manages a nod.

She frowns at the number displayed. “Definitely a fever.”

Adrien hums.

“I’d offer you water, but you probably just want to go back to sleep, huh?”

He slow blinks at her, and she smiles softly, returning the look and squeezing his hand quickly while he continues to sleep. She turns around, sitting against the chaise again.

Marinette gets out a laptop, typing furiously as she gets to work as well, emailing the journalists that Nadja had mentioned to her.

 Hello! You seem as though you’re a reputable reporter who can help me out! I hate to see people getting away with terrible things, and given the current state of the Agreste brand, this seems like a good time to bring this to light. Attached to this email, you’ll find…

 Greetings! I trust you’ll respect my wish to remain anonymous. I understand you specialize in exposés…

 I have attached some stories to this email that did not receive the attention they should have. I believe that this could be a good time for a journalist such as yourself to bring them back to light, so that this may receive the attention it deserves…

 I’d like to remain anonymous, but I thought you’d be interested…

 The Gabriel brand has a history of covering up less than flattering stories, but…

 The designer emails tens of reporters, all about a variety of things that Gabriel’s lawyers had gone to great lengths to keep from reaching the mainstream media. The stories range from everything to the treatment of their workers to claims of art theft, to suspicious movement of money, and more. She contacted people from all over, bloggers, to journalists to news anchors, and more than a few people outside of Paris and even France.

She emailed people mentioned in articles, encouraging them to speak out again. She went to relevant online forums and anonymously mentioned that now would be a good time for the brand’s darker secrets to come to like, if anyone was so inclined, and linked to several other news outlets that would likely take the stories.

She sent a variety of emails to big names in the fashion world, feigning hesitance to purchase from them, given their closeness to someone like Gabriel, who is currently so negatively viewed.

The best part is that all the things she’d mentioned were already true. She and her friends had spent weeks looking for the stories and the interviews that had been ignored and conveniently ‘lost’.  They were going to find even more, but even if they’re doing this early, internet sleuths will be entirely capable of finding it themselves, which will only lead to further waves.

Marinette was sure to ask for anonymity, or even encourage them to not mention her at all. She used different emails and forms of contact, using different styles of writing and, when contacting someone in a different language, she used different levels of fluency in the language. The people she contacted had little to no connections to each other, and she sent a few emails out on various delays.

Even if people suspected one person had been behind all of these reports coming out at once, they wouldn’t be able to tie it back to her, if they even thought that a group of teenagers could be responsible in the first place. Not that this is defamation.

No, that would imply that all of this is made up - and it’s all very, very true.

Gabriel doesn’t stand a chance.

---

Eventually, the others go home. Marinette had made a call to Nathalie to convince (read: threaten) her into letting Adrien have a sleepover. The woman had the nerve to argue that Adrien ‘is sick and needs to be under proper care’.

As if.

His proper care is never in the hands of Nathalie and Gabriel, no, Marinette is more than willing to take care of him.

He’d slept for most of the day. Even with everyone using her room as a headquarters for both Operation Emancipate Adrien and Operation Gabriel Takedown (it’s just more fun to have names, and it makes it feel a little less sad), he’d been dead to the world. She’s eaten dinner, so now she doesn’t really have much else to do.

Why not email some more people?

She’s in the middle of tracking down an article that could be useful when a hand reaches past her and shuts her laptop.

“Mari. Take a break.”

She turns to see a very tired Adrien awake once more, who is attempting to look reprimanding.

“I don’t need a break! I’m just-”

“Shhhhh.” He puts a finger over her mouth. “Don’t give m’ dumb dad all y’ur energy. Do something fun.”

“I’m not giving him all my energy. I’m just making sure he won’t have anything left to stand on. He’s gotten away with how he’s treated you for too long!” She argues.

“By wasting all your en’rgy on him. You guys have done plenty, don’ worry. Jus’... tell me how your garden’s doin’.”

Her face lights up at the question, and she excitedly describes to him how she has not one, not two, but three new sprouts, and how this plant is already blooming, and how that plant is doing so much better since she figured out that it wasn’t getting as much sun as she thought.

She rambles on and on, and he sinks back against the lounge, watching her happily update him on the state of one of her hobbies.

He loves seeing her smile.

He doesn’t realize he’s purring until she gives him a soft smile, just for him, that warms his heart. She starts scratching his head and continues to inform him about how different bugs are actually beneficial to gardens and different natural ways to keep unwanted bugs off plants without harming the plant or the good bugs.

He just lets her talk. His head still hurts, and he’s most certainly still sick, but this? This is nice.

Marinette notices that Adrien’s kitty kisses are beginning to give way to him struggling to keep his eyes open.

“Sleepy, Kitty?”

He hums.

“I’ll let you sleep.”

He reaches out to her slightly.

“Oh, alright. I guess.”

Feigning annoyance, she moves to sit with him on the chaise, hugging him close as he gets comfortable with the new arrangement. With a giant kitten sleeping and purring next to (and partially on) her, it isn’t long before she drifts off to sleep herself.

---

Author’s Note: So how was that? We'll be seeing it finally come to a close in chapter 40 (It's literally titled emancipation), but that focuses more on Adrien settling in to his new life.

I finished writing the last chapters last night. I'm still in shock I think, just a bit. I'll probably write a goodbye to this fic (because I'm sappy like that), then I can get started on all the events that I didn't write that I've promised to write for you guys. I know I promised Tikki and Plagg's talk after the reveal, as well as at least two or three other things, and, of course, Alya's (and Nino's) apologies to Adrien. I can't remember which events I promised, so please do let me know. (I think I have a few comments of a me listing them, so I may stalk through the comment section).

I know you all want the results to the survey, so you can find those here! (Another reminder that if you're here early, the link won't be there yet and you'll need to refresh the page 💕). I have a survey question that I really like, so after all the chapters I'll give it a one-shot all its own and, yes, it will have a survey that you guys can answer too. The next Dumb Debate will be in chapter 41, in case you were wondering. It's a fun one too.

Another thing to mention now that the story is wrapping up, I've saved scenes that I had to scrap or that went under intense rewrites so for those interested in seeing some deleted scenes, I'll post those the same day as the last chapter (which is an epilogue, and therefore shorter) to give you some extra content then.

Wow, it's weird that we're so close to the end.

Thank you all so much for reading!! Comments and kudos are my lifeblood and I cannot find enough ways to say thank you! Or if you're reading on tumblr, likes and reblogs (or asks, I never really get any) also make my day! Lovely to 'see' you guys and I hope you all have a wonderful day!

First | Previous | Next

[animatical-fandoms]

Kwami Swap Week Masterpost

Long post ahead; buckle up!

TIKKI

Adrien/Catbug- Well, it’s going to be canon. He needs to call Mari “Kitty” and hearing him say “miraculous ladybug” will be amazing

Alya/Ladybird - My personal design for @lunian‘s Ladybird AU. It’s awesome, go read their work!

Nino/Ladybeetle - In this AU, Mari was too nervous, despite Chat’s belief, and gives Nino the ladybug miraculous. He and Chat!Adrien are the best of friends, and Adrien lowkey crushes on him almost as bad as Mari!Ladybug.

Chloe/Lady Scarlet - My interpretation of the wonderful @zoe-oneesama‘s Scarlet Lady AU. 

Luka/Redbug - Plain and simple, Master Fu showed up a few years earlier, and ran into this kindhearted musician before Mari. TBH Luka is one of my faves, so he’s going to show up for the majority of the week because I loved playing around with designs for him

Felix/Lord Coccinelle- He doesn’t get cursed with bad luck, but with a kwami that insists he be responsible and help poor Lady Noire (Bridgette) break her curse. He’s gentler, kinder as a bug than as Felix, always happy to help others and to calm akuma victims after a fight. He’s drawn to Lady Noire, ever melancholy and mysterious, and lets himself loose with an edge against Bridgette because that’s how he’s always been.

PLAGG

Marinette/Lady Noir - Again, based off of the leaked art. I just really, really hope she’ll call Adrien some version of My Lady, and make at least one cat pun.

Alya/Nina Noir - Instead of Master Fu picking Adrien, he asks New Ladybug who she would like by her side. Obviously Alya is the first choice, and she’s ecstatic to be a superhero, keeping the Ladyblog focused on Ladybug because, you know, she can’t record herself. Nino and Adrien crush HARD on the new superheroes, and while that frustrates Mari, Alya is absolutely delighted.

Nino/Felus - Adrien pulls a Marinette, afraid that he’ll get caught since he’s under so much scrutiny as a model with a ton of visibility, and though it physically pains him to not fulfill his magical girl dreams, he knows Nino would be an amazing hero. Nino takes it in stride, and he and Mari!Ladybug are the bros to end all bros. Alya, crushing on Chat!Nino, creates both the Ladyblog and another blog dedicated to Nino’s alter ego. His thought? Best girlfriend ever.

Chloe/Duchess Noir - Adrien did the above, but with Chloe, thinking her confidence would be an asset  Mari as Ladybug would be irritated by Duchess, but it becomes a series of growing moments for Chloe, because she gets to see what a force she really can be on people’s lives and gets better at the Friend Thing.

Luka/Pantheon - My boy omg this one was fun to draw. Kinda similar AU to him as Ladybug. 

Bridgette/Lady Noire - Reverse PV - Bridgette thought her luck was bad enough with her being unable to speak at a normal pace and pitch in front of her crush, not to mention her clumsiness makes her look like a fool during their dance classes. Now she’s cursed with a god of destruction and a Perfect Superhero Partner - well, at least her clumsiness disappears when she’s Lady Noire. A shadow to Lordbug’s light. She knows it’s as hopeless to try and break her curse with him as it is to get together with Felix, so she just stands aside as his protector.

TRIXX

Marinette/Fennette - See the Ladybird AU with Alya; I couldn’t help myself!

Adrien/Kitsune - In the world where Alya is Chat and Mari is Ladybug, the two need help against the multiplying twins, same as before. Except Mari goes to lonely Adrien who she knows would be amazing. And the nerd goes for an anime name immediately. 

Nino/Volpino - The above babysitting disaster happens to be Nino’s little cousin, Chris, rather than Alya’s sisters, so Mari offers the fox miraculous to him. He and Adrien get to be bros for all sides of the mask. Alya makes an entirely new blog dedicated to the new fox.

Chloe/Mistress Amber - She made like Queen Bee and stole it, thinking: I can do way better than Lila because I won’t be faking it.

Luka/Vulpes - He probably would get this if another akuma was the reason they needed the Fox - maybe if Fu gave it to Ladybug while his mom was akumatized and he was worried about everyone’s safety.

Felix/Reynard - He was free of the Black Cat’s curse, and the miraculous could no longer be his. It got passed to Adrien through Fu without him knowing, and as soon as he sees his little brother vaulting across the city in a catsuit (without stripper boots, what the hell Plagg why did you make me suffer this way) he storms up to Fu’s place and says give me the fox those are small children my god and becomes Mentor #1 to the new Chat and Ladybug. Naturally, no one catches on that he’s himself. He’s a professional at this secret identity thing.

WAYZZ

Marinette/Mlle. Bouclier - In the world where Nino and Adrien are Ladybug and Chat respectively, Alya has been chosen as the fox. During Anansi, though, she’s captured - so Nino’s like omg Marinette could be the turtle and Marinette, upon receiving it, is having major panic mode set in, but you know, she does her best. Adrien takes a look at her protecting them and is like omg my Lady, a la Alya knowing exactly who Carapace was, but he keeps it to himself, and becomes more comfortable and flirty with Mari.

Adrien/La Tortue - Don’t know if this fits in with any of the others … but probably Chat!Chloe verse, and Marinette is like please can you be my partner forever

Alya/Turtledove - Instead of her getting kidnapped during Anansi, it’s Nino, since Nora had a beef with him being too girly. She totally saves him and fangirls over being a superhero and he just knows.

Chloe - How did this happen? I’m not even sure.

Luka - Both Alya and Nino are unavailable during Anansi, so Marinette is like, Luka was super helpful on the boat and is super nice let’s do this.

Bridgette - Fox!Felix verse - she sees her boyfriend, who was once Chat, as a fox teaching the two bb heroes the ropes. She goes to Fu, stands in the door with her eyebrow raised.  Fu had meant for her to succeed him as guardian anyway, and she takes up a job at his place so he can still hang out with Wayzz. She becomes Mentor #2 and is basically Mulan in fighting style - totally unexpected strategies. (It’s her fault that identity reveals happen, idk how, but it is)

POLLEN

Marinette/Marigold - My version from the Lady Scarlet universe!

Adrien/Goldenbee - From the universe where Chloe ends up as Chat, Marinette is super protective of this sunshine bee boy

Alya/Honeybee - Marinette actually? Gets the Bee Miraculous to Alya instead of losing it to Chloe?

Nino/Bumble - Mari’s mind goes to Nino instead of Alya when the Bee is needed, and she makes it to him.

Alix/Piquer - After seeing her do so awesome with Reverser, Marinette turns to Alix for help as the Bee. 

Max - well, I don’t have too much of a headcanon for him, but @kwamiswaps did a fanfic, so that’’s what this design is for! (I did little suspender stripes without meaning to omg I really do like how it turned out)

DUSUU

Marinette/Bluebird - The Peacock wasn’t damaged, just disappeared - and, while visiting Adrien for a study session, she ends up with a new bird friend.

Adrien/La Paon - He inherits it from his mom okay??? Like, Fu has it and knows and is like your mother would have wanted you to have this. And this pisses off Hawkmoth to no end because he thinks whoever stole it is Definitely Not Adrien and is disgracing his wife’s name. Obviously a lot of drama. 

Alya/Ava Azure - Swap the Peacock for the Fox - let’s just say Hawkmoth had a direct source to mess with Lila. Instead of illusions on the night the twins start multiplying, she creates a summoned creature to lure them all together.

Nino/Plume - The Peacock was damaged still, but Nino was willing to risk that to save his girlfriend and the city after a really nasy attack

Chloe/Royal Blue - Somehow, since the Mayor was friends with Gabriel and his wife, he ended up in possession of the Peacock before Gabriel knew what it was. Chloe gets her hands on it relatively at the same time she would have gotten the Bee and is just as Extra(TM).

Jagged/Pavo - He deserves to be a flashy birb. His suit would have sequins if I’d had time. 

NOOROO

Marinette/Mariposa - Mayura is the main villain in this universe, and Emilie is comatose because of a damaged Ladybug Miraculous. Adrien is still Chat, but he makes “my wings” and “my little butterfly” comments rather than “My Lady”. Gabriel has Nathalie generally doing his dirty work, and he calls Emilie his lady. Mari uses her friends’ best qualities to fight against the beasts Mayura creates.

Adrien/Papillon - He’s been Chat for some time, but now Gabriel has been revealed to him and Mari, and he gets really, really angry, and steals the miraculous as Adrien. This is a Problem. Plagg is concerned Adrien is getting too angry to deal with powers of destruction full-time, so Adrien brings him to Fu and alternates between Plagg and Nooroo, and he confronts Gabriel a lot as the Butterfly because betrayal reasons. Ladybug is concerned, but she trusts him and that’s what gets him through.

Nino/Wingbeat - He is So Supportive of his friends, okay? He gets chosen as the Butterfly holder when, say, Bridgette has the Turtle and they manage to take it from Hawkmoth but still need help getting the Peacock or some other stolen one.

Chloe/Madame Monarch - Okay, this version of Chloe does not get a redemption arc, like, ever - she’s Hawkmoth. Straight up.  She starts every akuma purposefully, becomes a villain, etc.  Don’t ask why; I don’t know - attention? I prefer Redeemed!Chloe, but I feel like she’d totally be past saving as this particular supervillain.

Kagami/Painted Lady - Adrien gets to pick some new holders in my personal headcanon. Let’s say while the Mouse and Snake go to Mari and Luka, they get the Butterfly so Adrien chooses Kagami because she tried to help him and she wouldn’t let her emotions get in the way when she chooses people with her powers.

Felix/Hawkmoth - Brother!AU. He was Chat Noir when he was younger, has been abroad with Bridgette, and comes home to see the canon situation. He is Not Fooled by Adrien, Mari, anyone - he’s been there, and he has distance of not knowing most of the people involved, so he gets very, very, angry. He knows his father is Hawkmoth. So he steals the butterfly and sides with Ladybug and Chat Noir, who are both thankful but confused at this new Butterfly who’s So Angry - Adrien doesn’t figure it out, but he comforts Felix without meaning to and Felix is so touched. Felix eventually reveals that he knows who the previous Hawkmoth and the current (insert new villain identity) is - Gabriel Agreste. Obviously disbelief and angst, but he reveals himself and is like I am the last person to want Gabriel to actually be a supervillain  and Agreste brotherly bonding and HawkDad butt-kicking. 

Another universe idea I had was that Felix and Adrien share the cat and the butterfly, trading depending on what’s needed. 

That’s a wrap!

[professionaltsundere]

Theory time! So with the release of the Chat Blanc trailer and it being midnight, my brain has gone into theory mode and im gonna go mad if i dont post this.

Let’s just say the impossible theory straight out the gate:

Felix is Adrien.

Now why im saying that is (hopefully) below the cut. I dont know how to format tumblr posts.

From the trailer we see Bunnix and Ladybug and just a ruined city, totally flooded and stuff. So we all think Ladybug is gonna have to go back in time and prevent the akuma from getting to Chat Noir in the first place.

This theory suggests that Ladybug and Bunnix weren’t the only two to travel back in time. Chat Blanc did too.

So Ladybug manages to capture the akuma, save the day, launch the cure to reverse any damage that the corrupted butterfly did. Problem: it hasn’t done any damage to this timeline. You may see where I’m going with this.

How it ends is Chat Blanc (probably) being de-evilized (or just detransforming, who knows? we never got an answer for what happens when a copy of the miraculous uses the special move in CopyCat nor Anti-Bug) but something goes wrong. He still has the icy personality, he’s not back to ‘normal’.

He’s also her age, so I guess you don’t age under akumatization because Bunnix was clearly an adult  ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

I’m getting off topic, this is a mess. Now Ladybug, and later Marinette, is left with a frigid blonde with a distain for humanity sans her. Bunnix left so unless she gives Alix the miraculous he’s here to stay and even if she did it might not work.

“You need a name.” is the first thing Marinette says to him that isn’t in panic or confusion, because she doesn’t want to know Chat’s real identity or take advantage of this situation. They eventually settle on Felix Blanche, because we’re creative at 12:30am, and Master Fu allows the boy to stay with him as temporary lodgings.

The episode would transition to Felix now as opposed to Chat Blanc, if it didn’t already, and we start on a beautiful morning of Marinette waking up late and rushing to get ready. Sabine calls up to Marinette saying a classmate is here to walk her to school, a boy. Turns out Fu and the school have a hell of a fast turn around for paperwork processing because Felix is joining her class, or at least auditing it right now.

Mari now has a espresso cat body guard, sans the literal cat part, who only listens to her and gives death glares to every other member of the class (tho he does give the iciest to Lila and Adrien, for some reason) and wants to occupy all her time. This does make Marinette uncomfortable so we get a wonderful moment of girls supporting girls and getting her away from Felix.

There are two scenerios I imagine from here:

1) Eventually someone will posit the idea that Felix is a sentimonster, probably Alya, and the class tries to find Ladybug to save Mari.

2) (and this depends on him being able to transform into Chat Blanc) Ladybug meets up with Chat Noir and he notices her... ‘shadow’. She explains the situation in broad strokes and admits to not knowing what to do. Chat Blanc, meanwhile, stays at least a rooftop away from Chat Noir at all times, hissing if he gets to close and always keeping an eye on Ladybug. This version of the events leads to Chat realizing how he relentless pursueing of Ladybug is actually really creepy because he see this alternate version of himself literally stalking her and getting way to close and making him think ‘wait- is this how i make her feel?’ and stuff.

Both of these could probably occur on the same path but we’re talking about a 30~ minute childrens show, it won’t.

The end of the episode, and Felix’s departure, would occur as Felix fades away, his timeline completely ceasing to exist because Chat now knows the way he’s acting is totally wrong and won’t reach that obsession level. It’s a sad ending, but also happy because we’d get promises from either Chat Noir or the rest of the class (probably Chat Noir) to re-evaluate how they were treating Ladybug/Marinette and improve from now on.

Lesson (because childrens show): The future isn’t set in stone. You need to be aware of how you treat people and consider their feelings.

[iceartweek]

Day 3: Sick Date

It was Luka’s turn to host date night as punishment for accidentally spoiling the book Kagami and Felix were reading. Juleka was out for the night with Rose exploring a night market, Anarka was out....Luka was never sure exactly what she did all he knew was she had mentioned chaos. Provided she wasn’t arrested then it would probably be fine. He had managed to find a sail to drop down, and got a projector set up so they had their own outdoor cinema. Although he knew his mother would mess everything up later, he did a quick tidy knowing that Felix and Kagami both were more comfortable when things were clean. Part of him considered also putting candles around but with the trees breaking through the glass roof and the whole boat being wood he wasn’t sure if that was his smartest idea.

Everything was perfect. Movie ready to play, esky filled with ice-cream and cold drinks, blankets laid out, and couch also moved up onto the deck. It was perfect. It was one of his more romantic moments if he did say so himself

Delayed. Mari hot. Luka laughed at Kagami’s text. Even after months together Kagami still would randomly text the others talking about how much she loved them

She meant, Mari is running hot. Felix corrected. Luka’s heart dropped. If it was serious then they would be more frantic and worried, but if she was getting a cold he didn’t want her out at night. She already spent most of her time exhausted from Ladybug duties that if she also got a cold she’d be out for a week. Luka would be lying if he said he wasn’t upset his effort was for nothing.

They’re being dramatic. See you in five ❤ . 

Don’t listen to her. She just started coughing like a smoker. Felix corrected again.

😡 Lix stop being mean. Luka, see you soon. I have chocolate ❤ Luka could nearly imagine what was happening on the other end of the phone. Felix and Kagami assuring her he wouldn’t mind delaying things, her health was top priority. Marinette doing her best to act well, grabbing her jacket and giving her ribbons a final tug. Felix telling her no while Kagami tried to take the phone away

M you’re priority. Had nothing special. We’ll do it next week. Responded Luka as he flopped down on the couch looking at the moon. He would go over to Marinette’s in a short while because she needed a care squad and he couldn’t let everything go to waste. Bike would be fastest as could just follow the river. Chemist was also on the way

“Health is more important,” Sass commented as he flew to turn off the projector. “At least Felix or Kagami could have come though.”

“No, Marinette would drop everything to care for us. I can do this all again next week.” Replied Luka realising perhaps Viperion was actually quickest way to Marinette’s. Just land on the balcony and drop blankets on her through the hatch.

“How many times do I have to tell you! You’re a priority too!” Ladybug snapped landing directly on Luka nearly winding him. “I’m not that sick. Felix just never gets a cold so overreacts to anything more than mild. Kagami just treasures people so again overreacted. I’m fine. Promise.”

“Did you transform-”

“LADYBUG!” Yelled Empress landing just beside the couch and trying to pick up Ladybug. She hugged Luka so the only way she could be lifted was if Luka was lifted as well.

“We told you to rest. Luka okayed it,” Felix continued dropping onto the boat as well. It really was a miracle none of their identities had been outed.

“OK, but look around,” Ladybug replied still hugging Luka. The other two rolled their eyes before turning to see Luka’s hardwork. “I’m really not that sick and if I’m at home the only difference is I’m without you.”

“We would all stay with you,” Luka smiled, sitting up, forcing her to straighten up as well. He still hugged her though. She was small and warm. “I would do this for you every week if it meant you would look after yourself now.”

“Yeah, but I’m here already,” Marinette smiled back before she detransformed. “If we went home then that’s physical strain and really the fresh air is good for me.”

“She’s about to do the puppy eyes isn’t she?” Felix sighed looking away so he wouldn’t be swayed.

“Quick, Fel, do it back,” Kagami begged just as Marinette pouted her bottom lip just a little and looked up at Luka. “We’ve lost.”

“Fine, but only one movie,” Luka sighed accepting they were all defenceless to Marinette’s determination. “And you must just sit. No running around trying to help me set up or anything. You sit. Under a blanket. Warm.”

“And no ice-cream as it increases mucus production so you’ll get sicker,” Felix ordered throwing the nearest blanket over her. He had detransformed as well, despite the mouse outfit looking more comfortable. “Only water or tea.”

“And afterwards I call my driver to take you home. No late night swinging or moonlit walks,” Commanded Kagami as she also detransformed settling next to Luka. “Oh, and if you cough even once we’re allowed to send you home and order you to sleep.”

“Also, cold and flu tablets, have them.” Felix tossed Marinette two small pills before curling up next to her. “You have to promise you will take care of yourself.”

“I have miraculous ladybug. It’ll make me better,” Declared Marinette adjusting herself between her two boys so they were comfortable. 

“That’s not how Tikki works,” Luka sighed as he started casting.

“Damn! I was in such a hurry to essss-” Marinette drew out the syllable when she felt Kagami and Felix about to glare at her. “Meet you that I completely forgot the toffee popcorn and chocolate.”

“Here,” Kagami replied pulling a bag from somewhere. Benefits of miraculouses infinite storage, with stored items appearing at will when detransformed. “I figured we’d lose to you will so brought it along. Doesn’t mean I approve.”

“Love you,”

[sgtcalhouns]

College AU, Ch. 20

i’m not gonna lie, this update is not a good time for felix. there’s plenty of hurt feelings to go around here, but i promise things will start to look up for the poor guy soon. enjoy!

Felix stormed into the office of the school newspaper with several papers in hand. The moment he burst through the door, his eyes zeroed in on the person who was about to be on the receiving end of his wrath: Turner Thatcher. Turner sat behind a desk in a small office that was separated from the rest of the workspace, looking as though he had been awaiting Felix’s arrival. Felix stomped into the room, letting the door slam shut behind him. 

“Well, it took you long enough,” said Turner.

“What did you do?!” Felix demanded, ignoring Turner’s greeting.

“Why, what ever do you mean?” Turner asked with a cheeky smile.

Felix flung his papers down on the desk, where they landed with a loud “thump.” Looking at the items before him, Turner saw that he had brought the copy of the newspaper with the incriminating photo, his love letter to Tamora, and the note that had been slipped under his door. 

“I know you’re behind this somehow,” Felix said. “I don’t know how, but you got your hands on this note that I wrote for Tamora and gave it to Mary.”

“Those are some pretty heavy accusations,” Turner replied.

“Mary was really hurt by this, Turner,” Felix said. “She thought I wanted to get back together. And then Tamora, she saw Mary leaving my apartment and assumed the worst.”

“It’s pretty incredible how quickly you managed to upset both of them,” Turner chuckled. “You probably beat some sort of record.”

“Look, whatever grudge you’re holding, it’s between you and me, not them,” Felix said. “Leave them out of this.”

“Now, why would I do that when they make it so much easier to get you riled up like this?” Turner asked, looking entirely too satisfied with himself. “I’ve got to say, I like seeing you this way. The take-charge attitude is a good look for you.”

Felix took a deep breath in an attempt to tamp down some of his anger.

“Look, I didn’t come here to fight with you,” he said. “I just wanted to let you know that your attempt to blackmail me isn’t going to work. As soon as I leave here, I’m going to Dr. Persi to tell him everything about my relationship with Tamora.”

“If such a relationship even exists anymore,” Turner chimed in.

“Go ahead and publish that paper; I don’t care,” Felix continued. “You don’t have any power over me anymore.”

“Oh, you think this is still about the paper?” Turner said with a devilish grin. “It looks like you misinterpreted my note.”

He opened a drawer in the desk and pulled out a photograph. 

“I’ve got something much better than that blurry old picture,” Turner said, placing the photo on the desk so Felix could see it. He gasped in horror at the image: Turner had somehow captured a picture of the moment Mary had kissed him. 

“How... How did you—?” Felix swallowed hard. “Are you going to put that in the paper?”

“Oh, please, my publishers would never approve this,” Turner said. “Besides, printing a newspaper takes time and I’ve never been one for delayed gratification.”

“So, what are you going to do with that?” Felix asked, his anger returning in full force.

“I haven’t decided yet,” Turner said with a shrug. “It would be easy to email it to the inbox of every student on campus. It would be just as quick to post it on one of the social media accounts for the paper. Or all of them.”

“Why are you doing this?” Felix growled. He slammed his hands down onto the desk, standing with hunched shoulders over Turner. “Why can’t you just let it go and move on with your life?”

“I wanted you to know how it feels,” Turner responded. “Mary, too. Tamora was just a bonus.”

“How what feels?” Felix asked.

“To want someone you can’t have, someone you shouldn’t have,” Turner answered. 

“Is this really still about me and Mary? Turner, that was years ago,” Felix said.

“And you still care more about her feelings than you ever cared about mine,” Turner replied, his voice rising in volume.

“What are you talking about?”

“You never wanted to date her! You knew she liked you and you were so concerned about hurting her feelings that you went out with her anyway,” Turner said as though it should have been obvious. “You two dated for nearly a year even though you never felt a thing for her, and I knew you would have never done the same for me.”

“...What are you saying?” Felix asked hesitantly.

“Oh, don’t act oblivious,” Turner said, growing irritated with Felix’s supposed innocence. “I made it more than obvious how I felt about you.”

“Turner, I’m sorry, but I don’t know what you’re talking about,” Felix replied, his confusion evident on his face.

“I was in love with you, alright?” Turner shouted, standing from his seat with his face barely an inch from Felix’s.

“What?” Felix asked quietly, Turner’s confession knocking the breath out of him.

“I loved you, and I couldn’t stand to watch you with Mary knowing it was all an act,” Turner said, coming down from his anger, although he was still panting for breath. He took a step back. “You just seemed stuck in that relationship, not knowing how to end it. I know it was stupid, but I thought that maybe if I got you out of it, you would see...”

He trailed off, taking on an uncharacteristic expression of shame and embarrassment.

“Why didn’t you tell me?” Felix asked. “I would have—”

“Would have what, Felix?” Turner snapped. “Turned gay for me? Pretended for my sake? It would have been exactly the same as it was with Mary, and I knew that, but there was this small, stupid part of my brain that couldn’t let go of the hope that maybe you could love me back.”

“Did you really expect that I would fall in love with you after finding out that you intentionally ruined my relationships so you could have your shot with me?” Felix asked in utter disbelief of the logic behind Turner’s plan. “I don’t know what kind of sick, twisted idea of love you have in your head, but that is not love.”

“I know it didn’t make any sense,” Turner tried to explain. “I was so blinded by my feelings for you, and so hurt from feeling rejected, that I couldn’t think straight.”

“Look, Turner, I’m really sorry that I hurt you,” Felix said. “But that is not an excuse to go around hurting others on purpose.”

“I’m sorry,” Turner said, his voice smaller than Felix had ever heard it. “Do you think there’s any chance that you could ever forgive me?”

“I... I don’t know, Turner,” Felix said, his bottom lip quivering and his eyes growing damp. “I’m having a hard time with the fact that you being in love with me caused you to do something so harmful and selfish. And the fact that you felt like you couldn’t talk to me about any of this, I just...”

“I tried, so many times,” Turner said, tears beginning to form in his own eyes. “I was scared of what would happen if I told you. I thought I might lose you as a friend. And then that happened anyway.”

“I can’t say for certain what I would have done if you had told me about your feelings back then,” Felix said, his voice thick. “But I can guarantee you that things between us would not be what they are right now.”

There was a brief moment of silence as the pair paused to gather their thoughts. Felix felt somewhat dizzy, his head reeling from this news, and he was finding it more and more difficult to look at Turner with each passing second. Suddenly, he felt a desperate need to leave, to go and find Tamora and fix the mess he had helped to create.

“...So, what do we do now?” Turner asked, timidly breaking the silence.

“Well, what I’m going to do is go explain all this to Tamora and hope she can forgive me,” Felix said. “Because I love her and I did something that hurt her and I can’t go another minute without telling her how I feel.”

“So that’s it, then,” Turner said. “After all that, you’re just going to leave?”

“I’m not sure what else I’m supposed to do, Turner,” Felix replied. “I... I think it’s best if we give each other some space for a while.”

“You can’t be serious.”

“And I understand if you’re upset by all this, but I’m going to ask that you don’t come near Mary or Tamora,” Felix said, his tone firm. “If you’re still angry, you can take it up with me. But I won’t let you hurt them again.”

“Felix, please—”

“Goodbye, Turner.”

At that, he grabbed the note he had written for Tamora and left, closing the door behind him. Turner finally gave in to the tears that he had been fighting to keep at bay, slumping back down in his chair. For a moment, he considered accepting this outcome and doing his best to move on from it; maybe he could finally find a healthier way to handle all these negative emotions. Yes, he almost took the high road.

Instead, he wiped his face on his sleeve and pulled out his cell phone, taking a picture of the photo of Felix and Mary that was still on his desk. It took only a few seconds for him to draft a message and hit “Send.” He finally began to feel like himself again as he received the confirmation that his message had been delivered—not to the whole school, but to the one person he knew would be the most deeply affected by receiving it. As he swept the papers that Felix had left behind into the trash, Turner chuckled to himself.

He had never been one for taking the high road.

[thenightling]

Faust in the Elvira comics (A brief analysis)

I am very pleased that the German gothic character of Faust appears in Elvira’s new comics books.  (Appearing Elvira: Mistress of the Dark and being name dropped in Elvira: The Shape of Elvira.)   I love Faust.  Faust is probably my favorite German folktale.  My favorite film adaptation is the 1926 silent film from F. W. Murnau (the man who gave us Nosferatu). 

Faust is the story of a doctor (and practicing sorcerer) who sells his soul to a demon and goes on many misadventures with his demon companion.

I’m a bit specific about which version of the Faust story I prefer. The two most famous versions are the plays by Marlowe and Goethe.   I like Goethe’s Faust a great deal more than Christopher Marlowe’s Doctor Faustus.  

(Note: I love this quote too.)

In Marlowe’s Faustus the bargain was for a demon servant for a certain term.  After that time Faust (Faustus) would belong to Mephisto. This premise was borrowed for the anime Black Butler.

(Nope.  There is NO version of Mephisto that is straight... Even when / especially when he’s renamed for manga and anime.)

  In Goethe’s version of Faust the bargain was actually for the ultimate life experience- the moment Faust would want to never end.  Faust believed that in that moment he would have the knowledge he always sought, the greatest knowledge anyone could attain.  In Goethe’s version of the story that moment came from caring about others and wanting to make life better for others and thus Faust’s soul was ultimately saved despite everything he had done with Mephisto. 

Both versions of Doktor (Doctor) Faust (Faustus) love knowledge.

Based on the final scene in the latest issue of Elvira: Mistress of The Dark (issue 4) I am inclined to think this version of Faust is more heavily based on Marlowe’s version.

Christopher Marlowe’s version of Faust has a miserable ending whereas Goethe’s version (if you read both parts 1 and 2) allows for Faust’s salvation.  Faust ascends to Heaven and he is reunited with Gretchen, his lover from part 1 of the story.   Despite dying it’s mostly a happy ending.  

Unfortunately I do not expect to see Faust’s salvation or anything to hint at it in Elvira: Mistress of The Dark...

Note: There is a slight continuity error in that in Elvira: The Shape of Elvira issue 1 Elvira starts to read Goethe’s Faust and says she wished she had read it before she met the guy.  Then how did she know when he was quoting from Goethe’s Faust?   She comments on the quoting in the most recent issue of Elvira: Mistress of The Dark.   

The reason I don’t think we’ll be seeing the salvation in Elvira: Mistress of the Dark are as follows:

1.  Based on Mephisto’s entrance it appears the bargain is more on part with the Christopher Marlowe version of the story.

2.  Though he quotes Goethe, the version of Faust that appears in the story is clearly modeled after the Richard Burton version.  Richard Burton starred in a film adaptation of Faust but the film was based on Christopher Marlowe’s version of the story, not the Goethe version and at the end he was dragged into Hell. (Note the amulet and haircut.)  

3.   In Goethe’s Faust, Mephisto becomes trapped thanks to a pentacle (five pointed star in a circle.  This happens in Part 1 of Goethe’s Faust.  Yet here in the comic Mephisto was actually drawn wearing a pentacle.   This makes it all the more likely David Avallone is not following Goethe’s version.

4.   In a “commentary” David Avallone did for issue 4 of Elvira he mentioned having read a few quote from Goethe’s Faust.  This indicated to me that he had not read all of Goethe’s Faust or perhaps if he had read it, he only read part 1.  Part 1 is often just sold as “Faust” and ends with Gretchen calling out for Heinrich and a voice stating she is saved.   Heinrich is Faust’s first name in Goethe’s version.  (The legend of Faust is loosely based on a real man.  And he was named Johann Georg Faust.)  

5.   Many people have read part 1 of Goethe’s Faust and because it’s often just sold as “Faust” they mistakenly think they read the whole thing.  The opera based on Goethe’s Faust and many film adaptations only tackle part 1.  One of the few adaptations that actually tells both parts 1 and 2 of Goethe’s Faust to any capacity (besides an episode of Wishbone called Flea-bitten Bargain) is the silent film from F. W. Murnau.

6. Part B.  Based on the artwork and the lack of referencing to the film (as I think he would have poked at it by now if he had seen it) I do not have reason to believe David Avallone watched the Murnau silent film of Faust or that he even realizes that this adaptation exists at all.  (Note for the curious: You can watch it with English language text for free on Youtube.)    

(He gets de-aged fairly early in the story.  Faust on the left, Mephisto on the right.)

I am not criticizing David Avallone.  So few people use Faust as a character that I was simply thrilled and surprised to see him used at all in Elvira.   And I am infinitely grateful for that.  I happen to like Faust more than Dorian Gray (though I do love Oscar Wilde).  The rarity of seeing the character used at all makes me willing to embrace a version that is only partly Goethe’s or a hodgepodge of many versions.   

I’m just putting out there that I have reason to believe David Avallone’s depiction of Faust will not gain the sympathetic slant that you see in Goethe’s play or the silent film, or the power metal band, Kamelot’s albums, Epica and The Black Halo (which retell Goethe’s Faust Parts 1 and 2 when played back to back but change Faust’s first name to Ariel and Gretchen’s name to Helena and mostly leaves out the Helen of Troy part of the story and the time travel for the most part.) ____________________________ 

  Further notes if David Avallone happens to read this:

(as someone enjoying the story this is my attempt to be helpful.)

1.  Something Elvira (the character) might know:  The first known horror film is a short silent French film called Le Château hanté (The Haunted castle).  The main villain of the story is Mephisto messing with people trying to enter or inhabit a particular castle.  Mephisto AKA Mephistopheles is the demon from the Faust legend.   You even get to see him transform into a bat before Dracula.   

2.  Despite pop culture often confusing the two, Mephisto AKA Mephistopheles is NOT Satan himself.   He’s a duke of Hell- a high ranking demon or “A” Devil as opposed to THE Devil.  In fact there’s a throwaway line in Goethe’s Faust where he says he does not like being mistaken as Satan.  And in the UrFaust (the long deleted part of Goethe’s version) there is a scene where Mephisto and Satan, himself, are present.   

3.  Mephistopheles does not exist in The Bible.  The first record of the name was in a grimoire by the actual Johann Georg Faust and that is why he is so tied to the Faust legend.  The Grimoire is called The Black Raven or The Trifold Coercion of Hell.  He seems to like the nickname of Mephisto in most versions of Faust.  

(Further note: There is a spell in that grimoire to make a cloak levitate like a flying carpet and with it is  a note from the author to always make sure the window is open first or there will be disaster.  I want to know what the Hell happened to make Faust have to add this note to open the window before flying on his cloak!  Did he slam into a wall?!)

4.  The version of Mephisto in Marvel comics is not even Marvel’s Satan (despite even comic book news sites making that mistake).   Satan is a separate character.  Marvel’s Mephisto is based on the one in the Faust legend.  In fact his usual M.O is to try to trick various Marvel heroes into signing one of his contracts in blood.  He was even used as the plot device to erase Spider-Man’s marriage to Mary Jane is what is now known as the worst storyline ever written in a Marvel comic (One More Day).

(Nope, still not straight. :-P)

  Ironically neither Marvel nor DC have used Faust as a character though DC has a character very similar to Faust and named for him (Felix Faust and his son Sebastian).  (About Felix Faust) “Sorcerer and Asshole Extraordinaire.” - quote from Constantine in Justice League Dark.  Yup, that fits most versions of the legendary Faust before his redemption.  

5. There are almost no good film adaptations that cover both parts of Goethe’s Faust so it’s very hard to cheat having read it or not.   The easiest work-around if you don’t want to read it is watch the 1922 silent film and listen to the Kamelot albums Epica and the Black halo and just know Ariel is the name they’re calling Faust instead of Heinrich or Johann, and Helena is Gretchen (while Helen of Troy is pretty much left out).

    Anyway, I’m tired and I babble when I’m tired. Thank you to anyone putting up with this.   I love the Elvira comics and Faust is an old favorite of mine so this became like peanut butter and chocolate for me.

I only over-analyze when I love.

[thearrangment-phff]

LXI.

May 2018

ARCHDUCHESS ISABELLA, THE DUCHESS OF SUSSEX HAS BEEN SAFELY DELIVERED OF TWO SONS

Her Imperial and Royal Highness Archduchess Isabella, The Duchess of Sussex was safely delivered of two sons at 5:15pm and 5:32pm.

The first baby weighs 10lbs 6 oz and the second baby weighs 11lbs 2 oz

The Duke of Sussex was present for the birth

The Queen, The Duke of Edinburgh, The Prince of Wales, The Duchess of Cornwall, The Duke of Cambridge, The Duchess of Cambridge, Grand Duke Jean of Luxembourg and members of both families have been informed and are delighted with the news.

Her Imperial and Royal Highness and her children are both doing well and have been remaining in Belgium since the birth.

“How are you?”  

“Very tired and still in pain,” answered Isabella.

“I went to go see the young princes. They are all you Belle.”

“Thank you, Michel, but they are not princes. Harry’s grandmother did not give them titles,” replied Isabella.

“But they will be one day.”

“Yes, but-”

“Have you thought about godparents yet?” interrupted Michel.

“I have,” answered Isabella.

“Forgive me. Since Alix gave birth to Olympia last year, I have been in heaven.”

“I understand.”

“It reminds me of my childhood that’s all. The dozens of cousins running around, the marriages, and the children. My mother is ecstatic about your sons,” smiled Michel.

“I only have three godparents chosen so far. One is Harry’s longtime friend and mentor, the other is Harry’s private secretary. The third is King Philippe.”

“The King? A great choice. He would be honored to godfather to a British prince. Something like that probably has not happened since the days of Queen Victoria.”

“I was also thinking of Henri,” added Isabella.

“My Henri?” asked Michel.

“Yes. He’s always been there for me, and I’ve just given birth in the Château he will one day inherit... so it seems like the right thing to do.”

“Anyone else?”

“A couple of cousins from both Harry and I and maybe some of Harry’s friends but that’s all. I was thinking of Charlie and Bertie each having about five or six godparents each,” answered Isabella.

“How you heard anything about Marie Gabrielle?” asked Michel.

“She’s on bedrest last time I heard. She’s due the first week of June and Antonius has been over the moon about having his little boy in his arms.”

“I also know your sister-in-law Kathleen is pregnant again. How many great-grandchildren for uncle Jean?”

“By the end of this year, it will be seventeen great-grandchildren. Charlie and Bertie are numbers seven and eight for Her Majesty,” answered Isabella.

“I have no doubt there will be several announcements in January. By 2019 I presume uncle Jean will have 25 great-grandchildren.”

“Perhaps. Grandpapa does have 17 grandchildren. Her Majesty only has 8. There is much difference between the two.”

“Of course there is. In our family, you have as many children as you want. With the British they can’t do that, they have too many eyes on them.”

“Do you think it was wise to marry Harry?”

Michel gave Isabella a shocked look, “Do you really want my opinion?” asked Michel.

“Of course. You are my family after all,” answered Isabella.

“I think it would have been wiser to marry my son or Joachim.”

“Marry Henri? I never thought about that so much in all honesty,” replied Isabella.

“Well, you and he did have flirtation before you and Joachim ever were something.”

“Michel, Joachim and I were always something.”

“Well yes, but I always thought that you and Henri would have been perfect. I can only hope he will marry someone with a great bloodline like yours,” smiled Michel.

“You mean your family. We have the same family after all,” laughed Isabella.

“Yes, well, you do have dozens of cousins. Bourbons or Habsburgs will be okay with me,” laughed Michel.

“Forgive me, but I think it’s time for me to relax. If you find my mother, please send her up here,” asked Isabella.

“Darling what’s wrong?” asked Marie Astrid.

“I just have some questions,” answered Isabella.

“Oh of course. What are they?”  

“How long will I be bleeding for?” asked Isabella.

“Some women bleed a little as 2 weeks, but for the most part it will be a month,” answered Marie Astrid.

“I feel so disgusting now. Giving birth is nothing like I expected. Why didn’t anyone tell me anything?!”

“You just had a more difficult pregnancy. I can assure you that most women and maybe even you will never have to experience something like that,” replied Marie Astrid.

“How are they? Are they healthy? I worry about them.”

“Gabriella finished feeding them a while ago. Don’t forget to thank your sister for doing that for you while you recover. They are large babies Belle! Such handsome little boys, they remind me of you when you were such a tiny little thing,” beamed Marie Astrid.

“How is Harry? Was he okay during... everything?”

“Poor boy was a mess. He was so worried for you and the boys. He looked so happy holding the boys in his arms. Everyone is just over the moon!”

“What about my stomach? I still look so pregnant.”

“With most women, it takes about a month for the uterus to return to normal size. Although, since you had twins and huge twins might I add, I think it would be well over two months for you,” answered Marie Astrid.

“I tried walking today and I just couldn’t. I gave birth almost a week ago, and it feels like it’s only been a day!” said Isabella.

“You were very weak in the beginning, it was a difficult pregnancy, and your body just needs time to recover. You have no rush to leave this room any time soon. Besides by the time you’ve healed, you’ll just feel so tired with two babies.”

“Okay,” replied Isabella accepting defeat.

“The Duchess of Sussex has given birth to Charles Henry Ferdinand Baudoin Jean Philip and Albert Maximilian Christian Leopold Felix Ludwig. Both the children and the mother are doing fine. The Duchess of Sussex has been remaining in Belgium until it is safe for her to travel.”

June 2018

“Belle I am telling you he is the cutest thing in the world!” yelled Marie Gabrielle, Isabella’s cousin.

“I’m so happy for you Elle!”

“I think we’ve decided on a name too, Zeno. It’s a family name on Toni’s side, and we just fell in love with it.”

“Any middle names yet?” asked Isabella.

“Probably Philippe after the king. Maybe Jean for great-grandpapa or Thierry for Toni’s grandfather.”

“What about godparents?”

“Nothing. I haven’t even chosen names, let alone godparents Belle,” laughed Marie Gabrielle.

“I think Wenceslas or Johan would be perfect as a godfather,” suggested Isabella.

“Why not Constantin?”  

“Constantin had a baby last month, he’s had his fair share of attention for the year. Besides, you know Wenceslas is my favorite of all of you,” replied Isabella.

“Well I am hurt Belle,” joked Marie Gabrielle.

“You have to call me the moment you pick a date for Zeno’s christening! I cannot wait to be with the family again.”

“What about Charlie and Bertie’s christening? Surely that will come before Zeno’s.”

“I was planning for it in a couple of days but my body is still recovering, and I don’t feel like going out in public just yet,” answered Isabella.

“How much longer do you think you and the twins will stay in Belgium? Surely you are wanted in London.”

“Buckingham Palace is going to release a statement that I will need time to recover after the difficult birth but obviously be vaguer than that.”

“Belle, Ella said that you almost died giving birth to those boys. Surely they will give you all the time to recover.”

“I did not almost die! That is such an exaggeration. Her Majesty would give me all the time in the world to recover, but the press and the people would not like it. I am the Edelweiss, and she is the English Rose,” said Isabella.

“It amazes me how confident yet insecure about yourself,” laughed Marie Gabrielle.

“I think this conversation has run its course. Goodbye Elle.”

“Okay. Goodbye Belle. Don’t worry too much, you are much too pretty for that,” laughed Marie Gabrielle.

[sieben9]

“going home” impressions

Hello friends, acquaintances, friendly strangers, and people who accidentally stumbled on this post and have no idea what I'm on about: Everything Is Terrible!

No, I stand by that.

My favourite character?

Terrible.

My OTP?

Terrible.

My other favourite relationship on the show?

Also terrible.

And the worst thing is: this is such a good episode. I loved every second of it, even as it ripped my still-beating heart out of my chest and used it as some kind of stress-relief ball.

Read on under the cut, but I'm afraid it doesn't get much more coherent than this.

So, when I pinpointed the themes for the season, I did not expect them to come back this spectacularly.

It's nice to be surprised, sometimes. Other times it's heartbreaking. Still nice, though, so there's that. (And I was plain wrong when I thought Emma's "I can't be a mother" thing was resolved by setting out into Neverland. Good job, show. I fell for that one)

I'll admit, I barely remember the first half of the episode. There was a wand, I think? Pan definitely used poor Felix's heart to cast the curse. Rest in peace, Long Boy, you were a complete ass, but you still deserved better.

What I remember most is the Blue Fairy rising from the dead like the monster from some horror movie.

She definitely has the smile for it.

Also, if you think that this post will be 90% pictures... you may well be right. I don't know. I'm still writing it. Anyway. Wand. Black fairy. Swap Henry back into his own body. That happens at roughly the halfway point, which is when everything starts going to hell, of course. Please bear with me if I mix up the order of these.

First, the anti-magic cuff Rumple had put on Pan's body fails. And not only that, Pan gets it on Rumple, too.

I will say that I am very glad nobody lost any limbs, though. Guess he could have just reattached it Whale-style afterwards, but still. Happy. ::shudder:: The whole confrontation between Rumple and Pan (both in the shop and in the street) was a thing of beauty. Pan throwing all of Rumple's worst inner demons at him, and Rumple... well, he didn't really rise above it, did he? He just went "I may be going down but so help me, I am taking you along for the ride!"

I guess I should be grateful. Someone did stab the bastard, after all.

::distant sobbing::

I feel like Rumple took the "villains don't get happy endings" sentence, and used it as a weapon. Because he may be a villain, but so is Pan. Neither of them gets to live happily ever after. The difference between them is: Rumple has people he cares for more than he cares for his own life, now. He can die happy knowing that his death will give Belle and Neal a chance. He's made his peace with Neal. He's fulfilled the purpose that drove him for the last couple of centuries. And now he's ready to die to give his loved once a chance at that "Happy End" he can never have. Nobody touch me, please.

And his goodbye to Neal and Belle... guh. "You made me stronger", indeed. (Though did you think for even a second what the poor woman is supposed to do without you, now? No, you didn't, because you picked now of all times to be a goddamn hero, you wonderful idiot!) And the way he kissed Malcolm... god, he is so messed up. We know for a fact now that his father never loved him, but that doesn’t mean Rumple never loved his father. I don’t think he regrets what he did by killing them both, but I do think he regrets all the “might have been” between them. And in a strange way, I think that kiss was him forgiving Malcolm. (I find it telling, too, that Pan turned back into Malcolm for that bit; not sure what it’s telling me, but I did notice)

In related news: someone needs to smack the director of this episode with a rolled-up newspaper, because what the hell was this?

What the hell is wrong with you people?

I mean, yes, I know Belle isn't friends with most of them, but still -- nobody felt the need to comfort the woman brokenly sobbing on the ground? Noone? Not even Neal? Not even Granny? Hell, even the camera keeps going back to her like "uh, guys? guys? anyone? she's still going to pieces, how about you... no? nobody?" I mean... wow, that's cold.

And then, as I was already on the ground, broken and dying, the rest of the episode happened. Because killing me once wasn't enough, apparently.

Look, it's more of the goddamn themes coming back to laugh at me for being right!

So. We just saw Rumple break a lifelong habit of self-preservation, we now get to see Regina give up the one thing she wanted to hold on to more than anything: Henry. After everything that happened this season. After going to Neverland, after moving heaven and earth to keep him safe, after raising him for his entire life, she gives him up to the woman she once wanted to keep away from him so badly, because as long as he's with Emma, he won't be alone. This isn't jus ther putting Henry first. She could have let everybody die and left with him. He never would have remembered and they could have been happy. But that's not the person she wants to be. To me, this is very much in the vein of "let me die as Regina" of last season, and I think giving up her life was still easier for her than giving up her son.

This was also a wonderful "full circle" moment in the story of Emma and Regina. From "stay away from my son or I will destroy you" to "my gift to you is good memories", these two have certainly bonded, and it was 100% over this boy that brought love and direction into both their lives.

...yes, I absolutely am emotional, why do you ask?

So. Now Emma and Henry remember a life where she never gave him up, and they've always been together. Damn, Regina. Just... damn. (And I feel vindicated, because I said so! I said that if Emma had looked at her child, she would have loved him and she would never have been able to let him go. I was right, and that almost makes it worth the burrowing pain in my chest.)

And finally, the other statement of theme in episode 1. I thought it was the same as “villains don’t get a happy ending,” but you know, I think I was wrong. Specifically, I’m talking about Snow’s "The minute I stop believing that things can turn out alright is the minute I know they never will." This is basically the piece of driftwood the episode handed me to cling to. The flashback to Henry getting the book from Mary Margaret, as well as that scene in the Charming’s castle where David has to comfort his wife. That wasn’t a variant, that was a promise in itself. “As long as you believe things may get better, they still can.” Which is something I needed to hear in this episode, I think.

In related news, there was the epilogue. Really, even if I was on board with the whole Captain Swan thing (which, not so much, sorry, fans), I am going to bloody tattoo it on everyone's forehead that True Love's Kiss doesn't work if the other persone doesn't remember you! We've had this conversation at least three times, by now. Why does nobody get that?

Anyway. I'm looking forward to the next episode. Wednesday, though. I need time to recover from this... this.

[booksarelife-stuff]

i’m only seventeen, i don’t know anything- Chapter 3

James Potter/ Lily Evans (Jily), minor Remus Lupin/ Sirius Black (wolfstar)

Co-authored with the amazing @queen-isabelle-writes :)

It's seventh year for the Marauders and Lily Evans. Lily and James are dealing with their feelings for each other while the war with Voldemort brews in the wings.

Canon Divergence. Angst, fluff, falling in love.

Word Count:  2,913

Read on AO3   Next Chapter   Series Master List   Master list

Chapter 3

 and there’s a dazzling haze, a mysterious way about you, dear

  ~lover, taylor swift

Weeks passed without incident. Lily was pleasantly surprised to find that the Marauders hadn’t executed any pranks yet, but she wasn’t holding her breath. She was sure that one was coming—she just hoped that it wouldn’t be too bad.

Lily was also pleasantly surprised by James and the way that he fit into his role as Head Boy. He was stern but fair, and the prefects had all taken a shine to him, aside from the Slytherins, which was to be expected.

Seventh year was going surprisingly well for Lily—her friends were great as always, Snape hadn’t accosted her aside from the time at the prefect’s meeting, and so far, Gryffindor had sustained no major points loss, which was a huge step up from last year when the Marauders had managed to dye Flitwick’s beard purple and he’d taken away two hundred and fifty points each.

Yes, Lily felt like she was on top of the world, and that feeling continued as she walked into Potions with Slughorn that Thursday morning with her friends by her side.

“I’m just so nervous about brewing this potion,” Alice said.

Lily nudged her friend with her shoulder playfully. “Don’t worry, Alice. With me by your side, there’s no way that we’ll mess it up.” Lily’s prowess with potions was well known throughout the school and only rivaled by Snape’s, not that he was gossiped about as much as Lily. When they worked together, as they often used to do, they were unstoppable. For a moment, Lily felt a twinge of regret. She bet that Snape was looking forward to brewing this potion as much as she was—the Draught of Living Death. Even the name sent shivers down her spine.

“Aw, man,” Mary said. “Why does Alice get Lily?”

“You had me two weeks ago,” Lily reminded her as Doe shook her head, laughing.

“Am I that bad to be stuck with, Mary?” Doe asked. Mary made a face, causing Lily and Alice to burst into laughter while Doe looked offended. The girls sat down at two of the tables, one in front of the other. Lily and Alice turned around in their seats to talk with the other two girls as Slughorn busied about at the front of the classroom and other students filed into the room. Lily noticed that Remus and Peter were already settled at a table a few spots behind her own, but James and Sirius were nowhere to be found.

Slughorn cleared his throat, drawing Lily’s attention to the front of the room.

“Welcome, class,” he began. “Today—welcome, gentlemen. Glad you could join us.” As one, the class turned to see James and Sirius in the doorway, their robes hanging off of them. James’s hair looked windswept, as if he’d just gotten off of a broom.

“Sorry, Professor, Quidditch ran late,” James said, making his way to the table near Remus and Peter.

“And your excuse, Mr. Black?” Slughorn asked Sirius, who simply shrugged and followed James to the table. Slughorn sighed and turned his attention back to the class as a whole. “Today, we will be brewing the Draught of Living Death. And, as I’ve done in the past, the reward for brewing the best potion will be this.”

Lily perked up at the mention of a reward—perhaps it would be extra credit? Instead, she watched as Slughorn withdrew a small vial from his robes and held it high for the whole class to see. It was a strange color, looking as if it were liquid gold almost. Lily was fascinated by it.

“Felix Felicis,” Slughorn said, staring at it in admiration. “It’s also known as liquid luck. The drinker will have success in everything they attempt for a period of time, but beware—it’s important to take it sparingly, and not all at once, for the side effects can be deadly. It’s a highly advanced potion that I’ve spent the past six months brewing, just as I’ve done every year for quite some time.”

Slughorn continued: “Whichever pair brews the best Draught of the Living Death will receive this potion, and to make things interesting, I’ve decided to assign your partners.”

Groans sounded out across the room. Lily just hoped that she wasn’t paired up with Snape. She risked a glance at him over her shoulder to see him staring intensely at her. She fought a shudder. Wouldn’t that be the worst luck, to reminisce over their old friendship just to be plunged back into it for a stupid project?

Perhaps I could fake sick, Lily thought. She’d never done so before, so it would certainly make it believable. But would Slughorn let her go? That was the question.

Lily tuned back into Slughorn’s voice as he began to call out the pairings.

“Black and Mulciber. Lupin and MacDonald. Pettigrew and Avery. Evans and Potter.” Lily’s eyes bulged at the sound of her name, though Slughorn continued calling out names, oblivious to her near coronary. She whipped around to find James, who seemed as surprised as her. He offered her a sheepish grin and a slight wave. Lily turned back to Alice.

“This can’t be happening,” Lily muttered to her friend.

“At least it’s not Snape,” Alice said. “Or one of his Death Eater friends.” Lily nodded her agreement just as Slughorn called out Alice’s name, pairing her with Snape. Alice winced.

“Sorry,” Lily whispered. Slughorn called for everyone to get started, and Alice slunk out of her seat and over to Snape’s table. Lily fought the urge to look back at her best friend and her ex-best friend. Snape catching her staring at him again would not cause anything good.

James dropped his bag onto the table beside Lily, making her jump. He laughed.

“Sorry, didn’t mean to startle you,” he told her. Lily tried to smile at him, but it came out as more of a grimace. She shook her head like an etch-a-sketch.

“Let’s just get started,” Lily said. Time passed. James got the ingredients they needed, chopped and sliced things when asked, and overall stayed out of her way, aside from looking over her shoulder as she stirred the potion.

Slughorn came up to them about halfway through the class and examined their progress. Lily prayed that the color of the potion was correct, even as she continued to boil it.

“Excellent work, Ms. Evans, Mr. Potter,” Slughorn said, nodding at them both. Lily swelled with pride. “I imagine that I’ll see you both tomorrow night, at our first Slug Club meeting?”

Lily nodded quickly. “Of course, Professor.”

“I’ll be there,” James said nonchalantly. Lily kicked him in the shin. Slughorn simply laughed before moving on to the next group. Lily fought a groan. How did James always manage to treat everything so coolly and flippantly and never get in trouble? Lily growled and stirred the potion with a little more force than necessary.

“What’s up, Evans?” James asked.

Lily shook her head. She didn’t want to talk about it, wasn’t sure that she could put into words what she was feeling without starting another argument. James was James, and he got away with stuff that Lily could never dream of getting away with—that’s just how it was. At least she was Slughorn’s favorite. Probably McGonagall’s, too.

“You’re going to Slug Club?” Lily asked instead.

“Of course,” James said. “If there’s a party, I’ll be there.”

Lily scoffed. “It’s not a party.”

“But there’s alcohol,” James pointed out. Lily remained silent. She hardly considered wine to be the type of alcohol that James was interested in.

Slughorn called for the end of class and declared Lily’s—and James’s, by default—potion to be the winner. Lily beamed as he walked over and handed her the Felix Felicis.

“Use it carefully,” he told her, a twinkle in his eye. It was almost as if he expected her to have some sort of secret plan, but that was ridiculous.

Lily turned to James after class was over and held the potion between them.

“I suppose we should figure out how to split it,” Lily said, eyeing the molten gold potion in her hand. James reached out and closed her fingers around it, his hand engulfing hers.

“No,” he said. “You keep it. You’re the one who earned it.”

Lily blinked in surprise. “You don’t want it? Surely you could pull off several good pranks with it.”

James shrugged. “I’m sure, but I’m also sure that I don’t need it to pull off pranks.”

Lily eyed him. “Don’t think I’ll go easy on you when the time comes.”

“I’m counting on it,” James said, smirking. Lily sighed and put the potion carefully in her bag.

“Lily! Come on! I’m starving!” Mary called. Lily looked up to see Mary, Alice, and Doe standing in the doorway. Lily glanced back at James and gave him a small wave before walking towards her friends.

Lily put on the nicest dress she had, smoothing the filmy material over her hips. From her bed, Mary sighed.

“You always look so good in everything,” she grumbled. Alice, who was lying beside Mary, laughed and nudged her friend. On the other side of Mary, Doe continued reading her book.

“What’s the Slug Club like, Lily?” Alice asked. The three girls weren’t a part of the club, which Lily found to be utterly disappointing. She had no one for company at these stupid parties, as they were mostly filled with Slytherins, including Snape.

“Boring,” Lily said. “It’s just a dinner party, and we all sit around the table and pretend like we don’t hate each other.”

“Maybe it won’t be so bad this year,” Doe said, not looking up from her book. “You said that he invited James this year. And there’s that Hufflepuff, right? Oh, what’s his name?”

“Frank Longbottom,” Alice said, with such certainty that Lily stopped fretting at herself in the mirror and turned to look at her friend. Alice blushed bright red at the attention. “What? He’s cute.”

“I’ll put in a good word,” she teased. Alice threw a pillow at the redhead and buried her face in the bed. Lily caught the pillow easily and laughed. She glanced down at her watch and sighed.

“I best be on my way, then,” Lily said. She grabbed a pair of heels and slipped them on before telling her friends goodbye and leaving their shared dormitory. She walked quickly down the stairs, through the Common Room, and stepped out from behind the Fat Lady. Lily started when she saw James standing just outside, in a button-up shirt and slacks, his glasses perched on his nose and a hand buried in his shaggy black hair. He looked up as the portrait opened and gave her a blinding smile.

“Hi, Evans,” James said, and Lily felt her heart skip. Since when had that happened?

“Hi,” Lily said.

“Care to accompany me?” James held out his arm. Lily fought a smile as she slipped her arm through his. He placed his hand atop hers, his palm warm against the back of her hand. They walked through Hogwarts silently, and a comfort slid over Lily. James was comforting, she realized. He had a calming presence on her usually racing mind. It was… nice.

Soon enough, they reached the room where the Slug Club was held. James reached out to the door, only to pause.

“I suppose that I should be honest,” he began, “I have no idea what I’m getting into.”

Lily let out a laugh. “It’s just a dinner, James. Don’t worry about it.”

James stared at her for a moment, long enough that Lily began to squirm underneath his gaze. He seemed to realize what he was doing as a faint blush colored his cheeks, and he gave an awkward cough.

“Shall we?” he said then and pulled the door open. Warm light flooded the hallway as Lily stepped inside, James following closely and closing the door behind them. Slughorn was in the middle of the room, holding court with several Slytherins, including Snape and Sirius’s little brother, Regulus. He turned to look at the newcomers and greeted them in a booming voice.

“Ms. Evans! Mr. Potter! So glad you could join us! Come, sit, sit.” Slughorn motioned at the seats surrounding him. James and Lily shared a glance before they headed for the table. James pulled out a chair for her, and Lily sat in it gratefully. He took the one next to her, leaving the seat on her right open. Lily noticed Snape eyeing it meaningfully, but she could also see the hesitation in his eyes. Whether that was because he didn’t want to push her or because James was sitting next to her, Lily wasn’t sure.

Lily didn’t have to worry about it much longer, for the seat was sliding back and soon the Hufflepuff boy was sitting next to her. Frank Longbottom. He was cute, Lily thought, she could certainly see why Alice liked him. He was a prefect as well, so Lily knew that he was responsible and smart. Perhaps she would do some meddling, see if she couldn’t set the two of them up.

Frank turned to her then, eyes alight. He struck up a conversation about the Slug Club, about how it was his first year. James overheard and was soon leaning over Lily, adding in his own thoughts about the Club. Lily hated to break it to the boys that the Club was dreadfully dull, so she simply let them talk and sat back in her seat.

Soon enough, Slughorn was tapping away at the glass in his hand, bringing the attention of all ten students back to him. “Welcome, everyone, to our first official meeting of the Slug Club. I would like to thank you all for coming, and I would like to say a few words. You were chosen because I see great promise in you. I choose only the best of the best, so be proud of that. I see something in you that you don’t yet see in yourselves, but that is okay because I am here to help guide you and become your best selves.”

Lily always thought that Slughorn’s speech was much more about himself than it was about the students. This was the third year that she’d heard it, and it was still the same—their accomplishments were somehow put on him, as if their success was purely because he made it so. Lily found Slughorn to be a silly, frivolous man, but he was harmless overall. She seriously doubted that he knew the majority of the older Slytherins were Death Eaters or planning to join Voldemort as soon as they graduated. He was oblivious like that.

Lily raised her glass as the other students did, and that was when she caught Snape’s eye from across the table. Apparently, instead of sitting next to her, he decided to sit directly across from her. Lily sighed and downed her drink in one go.

“Evans?” James asked from beside her. Lily shook her head. There was absolutely no need for a fight to break out, and Lily knew that James had a hero complex. Instead, Lily focused on the food in front of her and shoved some of it into her mouth.

The good thing about the Slug Club was that there was no actual meeting. All they did was sit and eat and talk. Lily hurriedly ate her food as it came along—appetizers, main course, dessert—and drank much more wine than she should have. By the time they were finished, Lily was firmly in the area of tipsy.

Slughorn bid them all farewell, and Lily quickly stood up from her seat, wobbling slightly. James reached out to grasp her waist and turned her to face him.

“Alright, Lil?” he asked. Lily wondered when she’d gotten a new nickname. Instead of asking, she hiccuped. “Are you drunk?”

“No,” she said, scandalized, before hiccuping again. James’s eyes were wide. He looked around at the rest of the students who were all also standing up and readying to leave.

“Nice to meet you both,” Frank said, appearing beside them.

“Likewise,” James said, ushering Lily towards the door. “We’ll have to chat more later, Frank. Lily isn’t feeling well.”

“I am so,” Lily said, fighting slightly against his hold on her.

“No, you aren’t,” James hissed in her ear. Lily huffed but allowed James to lead her out of the Slug Club and throughout Hogwarts, back to the Gryffindor Tower and the portrait of the Fat Lady. He practically dragged her inside and looked cagily around the Common Room. It was late at night and only Sirius remained in front of the fireplace, lounging about.

“Hey, Prongs, how was the Club?” Sirius said, lazily tilting his head back. He took note of Lily, and his eyes widened. “Oi, Evans, are you drunk?”

“No!” Lily hiccuped again. She growled under her breath and shook James’s hands off of her. “I am not! I’m going to bed!”

“Don’t fall down the stairs,” James said. He actually sounded concerned, as if he thought that were a real possibility. Lily growled again and flipped him off as she stomped towards the Girls’ Dormitory, though she didn’t turn to look around. Still, as she walked up the stairs to get her bed, Lily found herself carefully watching her feet, lest she fall.

[sgtcalhouns]

College AU, Ch. 17

well, it’s time for another update! there’s clearly some past tension between felix and turner that hasn’t been resolved, and it’s only going to get messier from here. enjoy!

“Well, well, well. Look what the cat dragged in.”

“Hi, Turner.”

Felix stood in the doorway of the office for the school newspaper, this week’s copy rolled up under his arm. Turner sat behind a desk, his chin resting on his hands and a satisfied smirk on his yellowed teeth. 

“What brings you here?” he asked, poorly feigning ignorance.

“I got a special delivery this morning,” Felix replied, stepping forward and dropping the paper on the desk. It unfurled to reveal the incriminating photo in the middle of the front page.

“I don’t see anything wrong here,” Turner said with a smug look on his sallow complexion.

“Then look again,” Felix said, taking a seat across from him. 

“What, could it be the fact that there’s a couple visible in the background of this picture?” he asked, thoroughly enjoying the power he currently felt over Felix. “A couple who, perhaps, shouldn’t be together?”

“...What do you know?”

“Not much, but I know enough,” Turner said threateningly. “It wasn’t hard to identify the girl in this picture and trace her back to your beginner’s woodshop class. I know as well as you do that Dr. Persi would not take kindly to the relationship you seem to have with her.”

“What is it that you hope to gain from this?” Felix asked, his fear slowly turning to anger.

“Oh, Felix, what I want is quite simple,” he replied with a sickening smile gleaming in his eyes. “And I think you know what it is.”

Felix paused, unable to hide the hurt in his expression as he was forced to face the reality of his situation: Turner wanted to force him apart from Tamora.

“But why?” Felix asked. 

“It doesn’t matter why,” Turner answered, “because, either way, you’re going to give me what I want.”

“Why would I do that?” Felix asked, his level of anger increasing. “Why would I end things with Tamora when being with her makes me so happy?”

“Because if you don’t, this paper will be distributed all over campus,” Turner said, holding up the paper in question. “Everyone will know about your little secret, and then it’s only a matter of time until Dr. Persi fails you both.”

“Why can’t you just let me be happy?” Felix asked. “We used to be friends.”

“Yeah, well we aren’t friends anymore.”

“And I still don’t know why,” Felix sighed in exasperation. “I never wanted to stop being your friend. But you seemed to have such a problem with it when I dated Mary that you couldn’t spend time with me anymore.”

“I knew she wasn’t right for you,” Turner said quietly. “You said you loved her, but I could tell you didn’t mean it.”

“Is that why you tried to break us up?” Felix asked. “Why didn’t you just talk to me about it?”

“You think I didn’t try?” Turner spat. “You wouldn’t listen because you didn’t want to hurt her feelings. You pour so much of your energy into caring about others that you don’t even notice the people who care about you.”

“What do you mean?” 

“Forget it.”

“Turner, I... I know we didn’t end things on the best terms, but I miss you. I miss our friendship,” Felix said quietly. “We can go back to being friends and forget all about this. We can still get back to Fix-It Felix and Turbo-Tastic. I know we can.”

Turner’s expression softened for a moment as he recalled all the weekends they had spent at the race track, Felix rushing to fix his car every time he got a little too reckless and crashed into something. Every weekend, without fail, Felix had been there, sitting in the stands to cheer him on while he raced. Turner glanced up at Felix, who was sitting across from him, smiling hopefully. Suddenly, his soft expression hardened once more, and he glowered at Felix, whose smile began to falter.

“Don’t you dare try to make me nostalgic for the good old days,” Turner growled. “I know you don’t really care, you just want me to leave you and your little girlfriend alone. Well, it’s not going to work.”

“That’s not true,” Felix said. “I meant what I said. I still care about you.”

Turner laughed bitterly, taking Felix by surprise.

“Just drop the act, okay?” Turner said. He ran a hand through his dark, slicked-back hair. Upon realizing that he had just coated his fingers in hair gel, he attempted to discreetly wipe them off on his khaki shorts. “You’ve got one week before this goes to print. I’d act fast if I were you.”

“Why are you doing this?” Felix asked, almost physically pained by this betrayal. “Why do you want to see me hurt so badly?”

“You’re not the only one who’s hurt, Felix,” Turner said. “Now get out of my office.”

Felix trudged through the door of his apartment, feeling even worse than when he had left. Tamora had gone to class, but Ralph was still home lounging on the couch.

“Felix,” he said. “How’d it go?”

Sighing heavily, Felix plopped into the armchair, letting himself sink into the cushions. 

“Not well, I take it,” Ralph commented.

“He wants me to break up with Tamora,” Felix said. “If I don’t, then he’s going to print that paper and distribute it across campus.”

“Why that little--” Ralph stopped short, attempting to calm himself down before fully losing his temper. “Why?”

“I don’t know,” Felix said. “He did say that he could tell Mary wasn’t right for me when we were together, that’s why he tried to break us up before. That he tried to talk to me about it, but I was too busy trying not to hurt her feelings.”

“I can’t exactly disagree with him there.”

“Ralph!” 

“That doesn’t mean I agree with his methods!” Ralph defended himself. “What did Tamora say when you told her?”

“Well, I... I didn’t exactly tell her,” Felix admitted.

“What?” Ralph asked. “Why not?”

“I don’t want her to have to worry about this. It’s my fault we’re in this mess, I’m the one who hurt Turner’s feelings in the past,” Felix explained. “And I don’t want her to try and end things between us to fix this. I couldn’t stand to lose her because of him.”

“Do you really think she would do that?”

“Well, she did take the fall when Dr. Persi caught us kissing before,” Felix said. “She didn’t want me to get in trouble because of her. I have a feeling she would do it again.”

“So what are you going to do?”

“I don’t know, brother,” Felix sighed in defeat. “Maybe I should just go to Dr. Persi and come clean. He might not punish Tamora if I take the blame.”

“Are you sure that’s a good idea?”

“No,” Felix said. “But I’m not sure what choice I have.”

“Well, don’t do anything just yet. Let’s see if we can’t find another way to deal with this,” Ralph said. “How long do you have before the paper goes out?”

“One week.”

“So we have some time before we have to figure this out,” Ralph said. “Let’s try not to make any rash decisions.”

Felix nodded in response, but his mind was elsewhere. Deep down, he knew it was his sole responsibility to fix this, and if that meant a failing grade and late graduation, then so be it. He wouldn’t let anyone else be hurt by this, especially not Tamora. It was ironic, really, the way this was playing out; it looked like Fix-It Felix was coming back one way or another.