#again i can't stress how much this is just a dumb stoned thought i had

[crisispider]

OKAY SO  it’s rotting in my brain, so all of you get to see it. (Until I delete it later probably.) If you want to go on this wild ride with me. read under the cut!

SO: The Horse and the Infant from Epic: The Musical currently lives in my skull, and since my current brainrot is all things Peter B. This dumb little AU formed in my head. NOW IMAGINE: An AU (LIKE I’M TALKING EXTREME AU we aren’t here for accuracy)  where the spider society was around before the first movie’s events and Peter B is in a polycule with Mary Jane and Miguel. (This is before mayday! We are going to say that Miguel helped Peter get his shit together and mend things with MJ and then also both of them bringing Miguel in.

So Miguel is still in charge of the society obviously and it starts of with Peter just working with the other spiders and then like the big collision happens and the mess of the first movie happens (but obviously altered) and then the immediately after and leading into essientially the plot (a darker version tho) of across the spiderverse.

SO CLICK THIS (warning it might be loud! I have it starting right where i’m fucking with lyrics)  And then come back to this post!

Then read along with the lyrics. (Note: this isn’t like perfect by any means, i’m a little stoned so you know.. bare with me.)

[PETER B. : ] Find that inner strength now Use that well of pride Fight through every pain now Ask yourself inside What do you live for? What do you try for? What do you wish for? What do you fight for? 
[SPIDEY ENSAMBLE:] What do you live for? What do you try for? What do you wish for? What do you fight for?

[PETER B. (OTHER SPIDERS):] Mary Jane… Mary Jane… And Miguel I fight for us, I fight for us (What do you live for?) Mary Jane (What do you try for?) Miguel (What do you wish for?) I'm on my way (What do you fight for?) Attack!

[MIGUEL:] A vision of what is to come, can not be outrun, can only be dealt with right here and now

[PETER B.:] Tell me how

[MIGUEL:] I don't think you're ready A mission to kill someone's son, a foe who won't run, unlike anyone you have faced before

[PETER B.:] Say no more, I know that I'm ready

[MIGUEL:] I don't think you're ready

[PETER B.:] It's just an teeeen, it's just a boy, what sort of imminent threat does he pose that we can not avoid?

[MIGUEL (ENSEMBLE):] This is the non-canon that took a bite from another universe, know that he will grow from a boy to an anomaly One fuelled with determination as you're consumed by age (If you don't end him now you'll have no one left to save) You can say goodbye to Mary Jane.., you can say goodbye to Mary Jane..

[PETER B.  (MIGUEL):] I could take him under my wing! (He will be stubborn and defy you) Or send him far away from home (He'll find you wherever you go) Make sure his love of Gwen is never known (The canon will make him know) I'd rather bleed for ya, down on my knees for ya (He's bringing you down on your knees for ya) I'm begging, please (Oh, this is a canon event.)

Please don't make me do this, don't make me do this

[MIGUEL:] The blood on your hands is something you won't lose

[ALL:] All you can choose is whose

[moroaica-vamp]

Story snippet: 

It was quiet when Zack walked out into the garden. In a lot of ways, Rin was like his mother. When she needed to think, she liked to be among the flowers. Hopefully this time, they would bring him some much needed peace too. He didn't bother with his shoes; she kept the garden terrace from their apartment in the castle utterly  immaculate. And it wasn't like the stones would leave a permanent mark. Unlike the newest one to adorn his chest. 

He frowned as his fingers brushed along it. It was still angry and red. He wondered if it would fade to silver over time like the rest. Part of him knew damn well that it wouldn't. 

The night was quiet and clear, and the moon was full. He found her where he thought he might - sitting on the bench among the spider and eterna lilies. Once, she told him what these flowers had come to mean in the wastes of Midgar, a cultural artifact from far after his own time. Death, and resurrection. When she planted them after her own murder at the hands of Lazarus, he had found it morbid. He couldn't stand to look at them, and didn't know how she could. All he saw was he broken, rotting body. 

Now, he wondered if she saw his. That was the last thing he wanted. If he could erase that image from her mind forever, he would. 

Let alone the final images in his own. 

The tentacle of the monster swung, and he watched his sword shatter to pieces in his hands-

Breathe, he demanded of himself. She doesn't need this shit from you. You have to be strong for her.

"Are you going to tell me what's going on with you?" she said softly from the bench without turning around. He didn't know how she did that. He moved as silently as ever, and not even their children could sense her presence like they could other vampires. 

"I'm fine, babe."

She turned around then. "Zack. Stop lying to me!" 

"I'm not-"

He broke under her gaze. "You don't need this," he said. "You're sick. And our baby isn't okay either."

She put a hand on her still slight stomach. "The baby is fine, and I can take whatever it is. Watching you freak out and try to hide it is way more stressful than whatever it is you need to tell me."

"Rin-"

"Zack."

Silence hung between them for a moment. She softened. "Sit with me?"

He obliged. 

"You had an episode at the ball too," she said. 

"Yeah..."

"So tell me what brought it on."

He wanted to, but he couldn't. It was so much. 

She placed a hand on his knee, and took his own with the other. "Didn't we promise eachother?"

The vampire sighed. When he started to let it out, it came out all at once: "I can't stop seeing the way it killed me."

Her expression turned to one of raw empathy. Zack hated it almost as much as it made him feel better. He was supposed to be the strong one, the one to keep her safe. It just felt wrong that now he was so weak and sniveling, from something that was over, done with, and not even physically happening anymore!

Which was why it made him hate himself that much more when his restored heart began to hammer every time he thought of it. His claws dug into his own palm and drew blood in a futile attempt to calm himself down and make the images go away. It didn't work. 

For the first time in his life, Zack understood why his father drank so fucking much. 

"It's not easy," Rin touched a hand to his cheek. Zack leaned into her touch. "I had nightmares for a long time after too. It only helped a bit that I woke up in your arms. Sometimes-" she paused, and bit her lip. "Sometimes I'd see Cloud's or Tifa's fangs and get scared that they'd kill me too."

"... Did you ever feel that around me?" he breathed, feeling even more guilt bear down on him. 

She shook her head. "Only once. And it was over something dumb! We were cooking together in the kitchen, and you laughed. It triggered a flashback but-" she stroked his cheek again. "I knew I was safe. I knew you weren't Lazarus."

"I'd kill that bastard again if I could," Zack mused. 

"I know you would."

A heavy silence hung between them punctuated only by the rustling of wind through flora. "I'm not gonna be able to kill this thing on my own," he said. 

"No," she shook her head. "I don't think any vampire could. But... Zack, you tried. And you bought so many people enough time to get away."

"But I almost didn't come home to you!" he snapped. "I almost made our kids grow up without a Dad! This one wouldn't even have met me!" he didn't mean to yell at her, but he couldn't help it. "Yeah, my dumbass just had to piss a Goddess off, didn't I?!" his tone turned bitter and his voice wavered with his oncoming tears. "And now Aerith is gone. Because of me."

Rin blinked, and her next words came out with a hint of raw agony. "I don't want to think about what would have happened if she didn't do what she did..."

Zack kept going. "You know I remember it, right?"

"The lifestream?"

"The negative lifestream, yeah. The same shit that possessed me, back when we met," he let out an exhale that shook like a laugh. "Man, the people who came up with Nibelrung's Hells? They had nothing on that shit."

"Zack-"

"How am I supposed to just let that go, babe? How am I supposed to let feeling an alien abomination destroy my heart go? How am I supposed to let go of being Sephiroth's plaything? It might only have been a couple of days. I don't know. I don't care. It felt like way longer."

Rin sighed. "I went to therapy."

Zack remembered that. Once a week, for months, a therapist from the WRO came to the castle to talk to her in their living room, on his father's dime. Apparently, he'd suggested it. It made him wonder why the man was still hitting the bottle, if it was so "effective". 

"What would a therapist know?! A therapist didn't die that way! They could never understand!" 

He hated himself for yelling at her. It made him wish he was still dead. But he couldn't stop. If he was yelling, then he wasn't crying. 

"It's okay to cry..."

God, why the fuck did you have to say that?!

The vampire broke down. His beloved human pulled him into a deep hug and rubbed the bare skin of his back. "They can't understand, not really," she said to him, tears apparent in her own voice. "But they can help to make it easier."

Zack was practically inconsolable. Rin pulled him down into her lap, and stroked her fingers through his hair in the moonlight. "Shhhh.... you're okay. You came back to me. You came back to Kirri and Ceres. You'll meet our new baby in a few months... shhh... Zack, you don't need to hold it in. You're okay."

He almost cried harder, but her fingers running through his hair helped bring him down. He took several deep breaths, trying so hard to relax and bring his restored heart back down to something normal. 

"You don't have to stick with it, not if you don't want to," she offered. "All I ask is that you try three sessions. And if you don't like it, fine. I want you to talk to me instead. Unlike the therapist, I do understand what it's like to be dead."

He wished so badly that she didn't.

"Okay..." he agreed. 

She leaned down briefly to kiss him in the moonlight. 

In her arms, among the spider lilies, he found some semblance of peace in this life found anew.

[thesevro]

besties / headcanons

𝖋𝖔𝖗 𝖋𝖚𝖘𝖍𝖎𝖌𝖚𝖗𝖔 𝖙𝖔𝖏𝖎, 𝖌𝖔𝖏𝖔 𝖘𝖆𝖙𝖔𝖗𝖚, 𝖆𝖓𝖉 𝖓𝖆𝖓𝖆𝖒𝖎 𝖐𝖊𝖓𝖙𝖔

𝖜𝖔𝖗𝖉 𝖈𝖔𝖚𝖓𝖙: 1.4K words

𝖘𝖚𝖒𝖒𝖆𝖗𝖞: how toji, satoru and kento would act as your best friend

GOJO SATORU

- Gojo may not be very loyal as your boyfriend, but he would definitely be one among your most loyal friends.

- Whenever you're sitting down at some place, literally anywhere, be it at a cafe or on some random stone ledge, he'll let you lean back into him.

- Gojo is tall, and he's somehow always so warm, so treating him as a platonic cuddle buddy would be so nice.

- So imagine you're exhausted from a long day and you find this stout little ledge to rest on. Gojo would sit down with you there. 

- You could lean onto him, press your head into his shoulder and Gojo would actually feel very relaxed to have someone he trusts and holds dear next to him. 

- Knowing that one of his closest friends is safe calms him to an impossible degree. He knows he's lost too many already.

- And if the day has been too long, he'll let you sleep on his shoulder. Let you enjoy having a little power nap while ignoring the little line of drool that will wet his uniform.

- Hip to hip, your head to his shoulder, it does not feel as romantically intimate as it could be, but he loves that you're here with him all the same. He's always been scared of losing his friends, no matter how well he hides it.

- So he'll keep you warm as you nap on his shoulder. 

- PARTING FROM OUR ANGSTIER PARTS... Gojo would be the best hype-man. 

- You wearing a dress that barely reaches your knees and flaunts your ass whenever you jump? He'll cheer for you and scream, "THAT'S MY HOT BESTIE!!!"

- You have a crush on some dude? Some gal? He'll get very close with that guy or gal and tell them all the good things about you.

- If you like someone from the school it'll be even worse for you. He would blatantly skip missions just to set your crush up with you as your partner. 

- Gojo would be a great, awesome, amazing BFF and you cannot tell me otherwise.

NANAMI KENTO

- Nanami as your friend would just be. Aw.

- He would be the most attentive friend out there.

- You just come back from a mission, hair and clothes a mess, face streaked with blood? He'll let you use his handkerchief to wipe the mess off. And he'll fetch some bandages for you if you need it.

- If you're bed-ridden, he'll stay by your bedside and talk to you there. Silence with him is also just... so nice. So peaceful. So serene.

- Nanami would even make you coffee, tea, whatever it is you like just so he can help you feel more refreshed after whatever tiring mission you went on, or whatever complicated job it was you had to finish.

- He knows what your favorite drink is. What your favorite food is. He also knows the best place to find both.

- Will eat lunch together with you every day at the school, or at yours or his favorite restaurant.

- He can't really make food for you... so he always buys something for lunches at the school with you.

- Sometimes he'll just stand in front of one of the school vending machines, in undeniably deep thought about what your drink of the day could be.

- Whenever he visits your favorite coffee shop, or whatever place sells your favorite drink, he'll ask the cashier to add the specific extras you like incorporating into your drink. He knows all of them.

- AND OKAY. LISTEN. NANAMI WOULD TOTALLY CALL YOU AT THREE A.M. TO RANT ABOUT WORK.

- Of course he would first say something along the lines of, "I must apologize for bothering you. I promise to buy you (insert fav. drink) and (insert fav. food) and (insert fav. dessert) tomorrow. Promise." Then he finally reveals how stressed he is, "But. Are you aware of how much I want to wring Gojo Satoru's neck and kick him off a cliff?"

- It would turn into some sort of comedy, where Nanami mocks every single person who has stressed him out (Gojo Satoru for once in your life just STFU) in that sonorous, baritone rumble of his.

- Imagine hearing something like that at three in the morning. Sometimes it makes you question why it is no one has asked the guy out yet. (AND WHY YOU HAVEN'T DONE THAT EITHER.)

- Nanami would also be the BEST listener.

- You have a problem with something? With someone? Okay. He'll hear you out. Will not interrupt you while you're speaking. Not once will he do that.

- If it's something serious, and you start sniffling or maybe even crying, okay let's be honest he wouldn't really know what to do...

- SO. Because he doesn't know, he'll do what he sees everyone else do.

- He'll hug you. His arms will be stiff and that deep pit of awkwardness will definitely form in his stomach, but if it helps you, he'll do it all the same.

- If this is your first time crying in front of him, he'll only pull out one of his handkerchiefs and hand it to you. Sorry, but he wouldn't know how else to comfort you.

- He'll also comfort you with words of logic. Nanami has that perspicacious outsider's perspective that lets him see the rational portion of everything.

- BUT HE WOULD ALSO BE SO UNDERSTANDING. If you voice that you think your feelings are stupid, or dumb, he would FIRMLY insist that no, no (Y/N), your feelings are not stupid. Your feelings matter to me. And nothing that matters to me is "stupid."

- And he would proceed to help you find a solution to your problem, or would just hear you out some more. You can be honest with him and he would not judge you for any of your feelings.

- In conclusion, Nanami Kento would be the most caring BFF out there.

FUSHIGURO TOJI

- Okay HEAR ME OUT ON THIS. HEAR ME OUT.

- Toji would be an AWESOME best friend.

- He would be the guy you could punch in the arm with abandon.

- Toji would ALSO be the mean tease of a friend who is able to bed you at least once.

- After getting you in his bed though he'll let you go back to the casual thing you share, if that's what you want. But if you want to be together, well... he would be willing to try, but only because you're his friend.

- It may or may not work out. But he does try to make it work. Whether it does in the end... depends.

- MOVING FORWARD, again, Toji would be the friend you could punch without being hit back for it. He'll just be like yeah, okay short stuff then move on.

- He's just someone you could debate with, have fun with, and tease and test to no end.

- AND TOJI is the type of guy who would be super casual about letting people stay over at his house. You had a tiring day? You want to crash at his house? He'll let you.

- You open his door and he'll look at you like he was expecting you, but maybe that's because you'd just ranted about how someone at work had treated you like shit.

- You know. Through the private messaging app only assassins like him use. But since you're his bestie he let you download it too.

- HE CALLS YOU EVERY SINGLE PET NAME OUT THERE TOO

- And he always greets you with, "Something wrong, short stuff?" when you come through the door

- AND HE WOULD EVEN CALL YOU "PRINCESS" WHEN HE REALLY FEELS LIKE PUSHING IT

- And listen bitch even if you're tall... this asshole is literally as tall as Gojo (I think?????) AND he's a DILF. So shut your mouth, short stuff.

- At his house you can either: 1. Order take-out and eat together on the dingy old table someone's great-grandfather used to eat on; he might pay if you really aren't feeling it but he's also an avaricious, money-hoarding bitch (in other words, broke) soooo don't expect much. Or 2. Just sleep on his couch while he watches TV. His bed smells like shit and really his couch isn't any better buuutt at least it doesn't have... stains.

- And please, don't even think about venting your feelings to this guy. He would either laugh his ass off at you or only nod with a tight smile of discomfort on his face.

- Princess, he won't be tucking you into bed, but he'll definitely have some leftover pizza ready for you in the morning. His love language is lazy as hell, but it's love all the same.

- Though your pizza will most definitely be either burnt or cold as shit.

- But either way, he cares.

- So if you're feeling down because someone looked at you wrong in the streets, expect to see a "Missing Person's Report" on the news in the morning.

[ladyanput]

Ok so this is the third time that I'm sending you an ask tonight. (or is it night time in your country?) I'm being annoying right now but whatever. So I've been cackling about those salt fics you wrote because they are just amazing. I have a request, though it is up to you to write it or not. So, can you write a salt fic where someone got an interview with Ladybug (probably Aurore) and then they ask her why they replaced the old heroes like Rena Rouge, Carapace and etc. and LB is just like I don't work with dumb shits or somethin'. Then there is also a new Black Cat (Probably Luka, Felix, or Damian) because Adrien here is an asshole and this fic is saltier than salt water. Then LB also insults Alya's blog and their school. Those foolish mortals get some lawsuits and the rest is up to you. (This request is probably messed up since it's already midnight here and I can't sleep.)

You're never annoying, I just apologize that it took me so long to get to you. I do hope you don't hold it against me, darling.

A one on one interview with Ladybug was basically unheard of if you weren't the Ladyblog or Nadja Chadwick. Ladybug had made it firm that she wasn't a celebrity, she was a hero. She wasn't there for clout, for attention, for fame or fortune. She just wanted to keep Paris safe.

That's was Aurore admired about her. And why she felt queasy as she sat across from the heroine, who had given her of all people an interview. But she got ahold of herself, taking deep breaths as the cameraman began counting down. And when he hit 'one', she put on her best smile and straightened in her seat.

"Hello Paris! Welcome back to 'Latest Buzz'! I am your lovable host, Aurore Beauréal. Today I am here with a very, very special guest, our very own heroine of Paris; Ladybug!"

Ladybug beamed right at the camera, but gave a shy little wave, giving away the nerves she obviously had.

"Now, Ladybug, I'm so glad you requested to be on the show. You know, I initially thought I had misheard when Estelle told me. Usually you're not big on personal interviews." Aurore gave her full attention to Ladybug, but keeping the bright, friendly smile and perfect posture.

"Well, I tried a few times actually. But when I did, none of them were really great experiences." Ladybug admitted and both girls immediately thought of that disastrous Face-to-Face interview. It left a bitter taste in their mouths. "My issue is that misinformation has been spread around a lot recently. It's made me realize that I need to find more trustworthy sources."

"Ladybug. I vow on my integrity as a host and Estelle's reputation as a journalist that we are people who research facts. We don't ambush our guests, we respect them." She said, placing a hand on her heart. Ladybug saw an honesty in her eyes that she hadn't seen in such a long time. It honestly made her feel.. Respected. "Now, Ladybug.. We both know you have a lot of fans. A lot of admirers. False information can be spread so easily these days, which sources specifically are you telling people to avoid?"

"Well.. With Face-to-Face, I found that I was entirely ambushed in that interview. I wanted to speak about my hero work, but instead Nadja kept trying to needle her way into my personal life. That picture she had shown in largely out of context; when Dark Cupid attacked and Chat Noir was under his spell, it was the only way to get him free."

"Yes, I remember watching that. I'll be honest Ladybug, I felt bad for you." Aurore bit her lip, but smiled a bit when Ladybug nodded. "I mean, Chat Noir wasn't helping either. He seemed to be trying to push this narrative forward that you two are a couple."

"And we're not!" Ladybug burst out before she could stop herself. Everyone in that studio could hear the utter stress and frustration in her voice. "I've begged and begged Chat Noir to stop with the flirting, the 'telling people we're dating', everything! I just wanted him to focus and he couldn't seem to do that!"

"Is that why you replaced him? Because of his slacking off and refusing to take anything seriously?" Aurora sat up an bit straighter, her eyes going wide.

".. Not exactly, no. It was a bunch of issues that eventually piled up and boiled over." Ladybug made some gestures with her hands, trying her hardest to find the words but just letting out a long and pained sigh in the end. "I do enjoy my new partner now. He is more serious, more stable. I know he won't go off and pout if I deny something he wanted. I needed an entirely new team, as a matter of fact."

"Well I am going to say, on behalf of everyone here, that we're glad. We swear on our integrity as journalists that if such rumours were to ever surface again, we will do our proper research." Aurore beamed and many of the staff and crew behind the cameras nodded and gave Ladybug their thumbs up. Honestly, it warmed Ladybug's heart to see such support.

When had been the last time someone had supported her like this? Sure, her parents supported her, but her friends..? Her peers? No, none of them had supported her in a long time.

"Speaking of research, I'd say to stay away from the Ladyblog." It burned to say it but it had to be said. Alya had crossed so many lines it wasn't even forgivable at this point. She had gone too far, had betrayed too many.

"Wait, what?" Aurore nearly jumped out of her seat but quickly composed herself, taking a deep breath. "Pardon me Ladybug, but the Ladyblog has been a vital source of information since the very beginning."

"And I'm not denying that!" Ladybug quickly held up her hands, her eyes desperate now. "But please let me explain. The Ladyblog was amazing in the beginning, but like all things, it started to go astray. It was things like trying so hard to find out my identity. Trying to push that narrative of that whole superhero couple thing.. Ladyblogger Alya Césaire has proven time and time again that she is not trustworthy. I mean, I thought she was my biggest fan. Why does she keep pushing my words aside?"

Many people who watched the interview would agree. If you idolized someone, respected someone, truly looked up to them.. Why would you push aside their words, their wishes to try and push the narrative you're so convinced is true, but isn't there?

"And don't get me started on the whole Lila Rossi craze she seemed to be on now." At Ladybug's mention of Lila Rossi, both Estelle and Aurore had to keep from rolling their eyes. They knew all about the girl.

"You speak as if you are quite frustrated, Ladybug. What an odd reaction to your best friend." Aurore leaned forward a bit in her seat. Everyone else got to the edge of theirs. Ladybug only shook her head, looking utterly defeated.

"That's the thing, she isn't my best friend." It took everything to keep from satin that she hated her, that she had taken away her friends and her life. "The only times she's met Ladybug is when she's been akumatized, which has been around six or seven times at this point. And the other things she's claiming are so outlandish! Saving Jagged Stone's kitten from a airport runway? Clara Nightengale stealing her dance moves? And the Ladyblog just posts it out there, claiming every single story is true. I'm just scared that people are taking this one hundred percent seriously. That's why I had to drop Rena Rouge and Carapace from the team as they believed Lila Rossi over me. They didn't even try to confirm these rumours! And it hurts to think that one day, someone will take Lila's words seriously and get hurt. What if she says it's safe to dip strawberries in bleach? Or tells someone that she found a way to tame some kind of wild animal? Someone would get hurt because they believe her story and try it out for themselves!"

"My goodness, I can definitely see how that is a problem. Misinformation is very easy to spread thanks to the internet, so you being worried is a very relatable thing." Aurore nodded, then tilted her head ever so slightly. "Ladybug, do you know anyone who has taken her word seriously? This is besides the Ladyblog of course."

Ladybug closed her eyes briefly, mentally debating with herself before finally giving in. These things needed to be said.

"Collège François DuPont. Now I wasn't there personally, but I heard about this situation and looked into it. The entire situation was appalling. Apparently a student was found to have cheated, assaulted another student, and commited thievery. But the thing that stuck out is only one person saw her do all of these things; Lila Rossi. No investigation was done, no questioning other students. This student was then expelled immediately. Her teacher and her principal didn't even give her a chance. And from what people have been saying, Miss Rossi's behaviour is actively encouraged in that school. She misses countless days, no, months of school, claiming she's traveling. But when she was supposedly in Achu, doing whatever it was she was claiming with Prince Ali, I was fighting her akuma here in Paris on Heroes Day!"

"I was at school the day that happened. I knew the student that happened to. They're the nicest person in that school! Never a bad thing to say about anyone, always willing to help! I agree with you on how things were handled, it's a level of incompetence that is baffling." Aurore's hands slowly curled into fists as she remembered it all. She slowly shook her head. "The principal, their teacher, their class who backed up Rossi. It must have hurt them so much, made them feel so alone."

"That's why I want people to be more careful with what information they take as fact. It's so important, because stuff like that can lead people to a desperate place. They feel alone, like the entire world is against them. I wouldn't have let the principal and the teacher get away with that gross negligence in their jobs." Ladybug leveled her gaze directly to the camera. "People of Paris, please listen to what I am saying. I am here to be a hero, to protect you from the terror of Hawkmoth and to defeat him. But please, do not be like Principal Damocles, do not be like that teacher and her class at DuPont. Do your research, look up your facts. Do not let a liar lead you to do something dangerous and hurt yourself as well as others. Respect each other, talk and be honest. I swear on my life that I shall do the same. You are the people I swore to protect and I love. I am saying this all to protect you. And I'll hope you'll all forgive me for not protecting you sooner."

...

The interview rocked Paris. Ladybug speaking so openly about her frustrations, about the discrepancies in the Ladyblog and Lila Rossi had many people double checking the sources of everything they learned from that blog.

Alya could barely show her face as she made her way though the school hallways. Her reputation as a journalist had gone down the drain. People had basically started boycotting her blog, harrassing her, or trash talking her on other forums and sites. Even a lot of news outlets picked this up.

What hurt the most from that interview last night was Ladybug's words towards her, both as Rena Rouge and as Alya. Surely the heroine had to be mistaken, she had never beytrayed Ladybug! And that Oblivio incident, it was just to show Chat Noir and Ladybug that they were meant to be together!

Her family was upset with her. No, upset was too tame of a word. They were pissed.

"I can't believe she lied to us.."

"Well what do you expect from someone who keeps harrassing Ladybug?"

Alya flinched when she heard the whispers and rushed into Miss Buster's class. The entire class was there, all seated, all looking utterly miserable. Many of them looked as if they had been crying all night. A lot like she had.

"W-where's Miss Bustier?" Alya asked when she eyed the empty desk. Many of her classmates shot her glares, but didn't say anything about the interview last night. After all, they had no room to talk.

"She and Principal Damocles are with the school board now. We're getting a new teacher." Adrien was the one that spoke up. He looked utterly miserable. So unlike his usual self.

"Lila isn't coming back. She was pulled from school when her mother found out what happened." Alix muttered from her seat, arms crossed and shoulders hunched.

The class went quiet as they all internally contemplated how things had gotten like this. Their eyes focused on the door when it abruptly opened and Marinette came strolling in, carrying a box.

"Good morning everyone!" She said brightly, pretending not to notice the downcast expressions on their faces. She set the box on the teacher's desk before she turned towards them. "Oh? What's wrong everyone?"

".. Did you not watch the interview with Ladybug on 'Latest Buzz'?" Alya stared at Marinette, a bit dumbfounded by her friend's lack of awareness of the situation. She had been expecting Marinette to rush in with support and a fiery vengeance against those who had humiliated her best friend, maybe even a fresh pastry. But instead she was greeted with empty hands and a cheerful hello?

"Oh, well I haven't really had the time to watch much television. I mean, with my transfer papers, needing to plan out my new schedule with all of those new classes. Busy as a bee, that's me!" Marinette just beamed, giving Adrien a playful wink that had his stomach churning.

"Wait, transfering?" It was Rose that spoke up, her large eyes seeming impossibly large now. "Transfer what?"

"To my new school, of course." Marinette giggled and clasped her hands together. "I start on Monday."

"New school?!" Alya was on her feet and rushing towards Marinette. The others quickly followed, crowding around her. "What do you mean new school?! When did you ever say you were going to a new school?"

Marinette blinked, as if stunned, then tilted her head ever so slightly.

"I told you all last week, don't you remember?" Marinette tapped her lower lip, seeming to be wracking her brain before she abruptly snapped her fingers. "Oh! I forgot, you all were deep in conversation with Lila about her upcoming event with Jagged Stone and Clara Nightengale. You know, the one she said she'd be attending with Ladybug, since they're such good friends. Did she ever say how it went?"

All of the students shifted uneasily, suddenly seeming to refuse to meet her face.

Alix murmured something so barely audible, Marinette held a hand to her ear and leaned closer.

"I'm sorry, what was that?"

"Lila was lying to us!" Alix snapped as her cheeks went a flaming red.

"About everything! She never knew Jagged Stone!" Juleka spat out in fury.

"Or Prince Ali!" Rose sniffled.

"And she wasn't friends with Ladybug? They were barely acquaintances!" Alya wailed out as tears welled up in her eyes.

But Marinette hardly reacted the way they were expecting. She just gave them a small smile and nodded.

"Oh, yeah. I know."

Alya sucked in a breath sharply.

"You knew..? But why did you never..?"

"Oh Alya, you silly forgetful thing. I told you the day she returned from her long 'trip', remember? I told you she was lying." Marinette gave Alya a smile that said 'oh you silly thing'. "But you told me that I should really check my sources. And I got tired of trying to bring up any lies, since that was always your response. So I decided to just stop. I mean, since you're such an inspiring, honest journalist you must double and triple check every source you come across and found every story to be true!"

Alya flinched and looked away, feeling the churning feeling in her gut again. No, the Ladyblog had been the only source for the stories. The. Only. One.

"And I'm sure all of you knew what you were doing! I mean, it makes sense; trusting the words of a complete stranger over someone you've known for a while now. Some of you since we were in diapers!" She focused her gaze on Nino and Kim, who had the grace to at least look ashamed.

"Marinette, you really should-" Adrien began, reaching out for the girl, but was cut off by her clapping her hands together.

"But it's alright! I decided that fighting with you all wasn't worth it, so I took Adrien's advice and took the high road! Don't bother exposing Lila, she isn't hurting anyone!" Marinette announced brightly, giving her hands a little wave.

The temperature in the classroom dropped by several degrees.

".. Adrien, she's kidding, right?" Nino glanced over at his friend, his eyes pleading for him to deny it all. But the sight of the blood draining from the model's face and the sweat starting to bead at his forehead told him everything he needed to know. "Dude.."

"How could you?! You knew this entire time and didn't even try to tell me?!" Alya rounded on Adrien, fury in her eyes.

"Now, now, don't get mad at Adrien. I'm sure he knew you all were going to do you research. Besides, it's not like this did anything bad for anyone." Marinette pressed a hand to her cheek, still grinning. "I mean, it's not like you all took her advice without doing any research. You didn't try the things she suggested without actually checking them out to be true, right? No one lost any scholarships or job opportunities. No one's relationships were ruined. No one was hurt."

The nauseous feeling spread to all of the class as the reality of everything caught up with them.

"I'm sure everything will go back to normal, right? I mean, I'm sure that that woman from the education bureau isn't here to fire Damocles and Bustier for their severe neglect in their duties. Expelling me with the most mediocre and shaky proof. Surely that's a school I should feel safe in! That I should be proud to be a part of. But alas, my preparations for my new school are already done, so oh well."

Marinette shrugged and adjusted her purse strap.

"Anyhow, I wish you all luck with the amazing things Lila has helped you to do! I know it must have been worth ignoring me and convincing me I was crazy. With all of the free time I've had, with you guys practically replacing me with Lila in the group, I've had tons of time to spend with my boyfriend."

"Boyfriend?!" Alya's eyes went owlishly wide as she gaped at Marinette. "But what about Adrien?!"

"Oh Alya, I fell out of love with Adrien forever ago." Marinette shook her head in an almost patronizing way that had Alya's cheeks burning with embarrassment. They didn't even pay attention to Adrien's noises of surprise. "I mean, you claimed I was jealous of Lila getting close to Adrien, that I should let the jealousy go. And you know what? You were right! So I decided Adrien wasn't worth the stress, the embarrassment.. I mean, I couldn't even talk to him straight. I thought he was the most perfect guy in the world! Goodness, did I learn my lesson!"

She giggled as if she found the entire thing amusing. She then beamed at the class.

"Well, ta-ta! I need to get back home and make sure everything is ready to go. I wish you all the best, I really do!"

They all watched, shellshocked as Marinette breezed out of the classroom like it was nothing. Like she wasn't leaving her friends, her school, her life behind. And they all would wonder exactly how badly they screwed up, if she could walk away do easily, without a care.

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[unyieldingfashav]

Here goes round two of me rambling and raving about everything I love about this because it's perfection and was the bright spot of my day today

Okay right off the bat, I love that we're starting from Kotallo's perspective, you did an amazing job writing him, absolutely on point and just fantastic.

The fact that he's immediately suspicious of what she's up to is so on brand. I love it. He's like you're scheming, I can see it in your eyes.

The bit where he's like "I can still swim" and like can't help but feel like he still has to prove what he's capable of makes my heart ache for him because as much as he's proven how capable of a warrior he is it does kind of feel like he has this own personal need to keep proving to himself and everyone else that whether or not he has his arm he's just as strong and fierce as he was before the embassy.

Aloy's comment about him getting some sun because his face looks a little white had me full on cackling it was such a dumb joke but also so incredibly perfect and I can just picture the scowl he would give her at a comment like that.

I love the fact that he sees Aloy's discomfort with people praising her achievements and makes a point of trying to not do that and to make sure when they talk and spend time together she doesn't feel that pressure that she must whenever people are calling her savior and champion. It shows how observant he can be and how much he can care about the feelings of the people important to him.

Kotallo reflecting on being sent to Stone Crest has my heart ACHING for him, I just want to give him a hug. Just knowing his emotions were kind of a mess after everything that happened at the embassy (not surprising) and then he was having to go home and face Tekotteh with all of that stress breaks my heart and he just deserves the world.

"More often than not, he finds that his gaze is drawn to her the way falling objects are drawn to the ground, obeying a pull that is inexorable." This line is the kind of line that love stories are rooted in and gives me all the butterflies it's so lovely.

Her coming out of the water and just like "onto our next stop" without any explanation about what's going on and him just kind of being grumbly but gladly following her because of course he's going to follow her no matter what just makes me so happy.

"he wraps his arm around her without a second thought" I squealed. Out loud. In front of other people. It was embarrassing but that's how you know it's a good story.

"He doesn’t loosen his hold." Again, squealing. I went full on fangirl and lost my mind over that sentence like a crazy person. I ship this so much now.

I love the switch to Aloy's perspective and that we get to see a somewhat insecure side of her as she goes through this little stunt of going to get the seashell and then taking him to Hidden Embers. It's that very realistic feeling of trying to impress your crush with something you hope they like and worrying in the midst of it all that it's all just going to backfire.

The mention of Varl made me tear up, the idea that he's still there in the back of her mind as some kind of guiding voice, giving her advice on what to do.

I absolutely adore that the two of them riding the sunwing has become a regular thing and just like the quality time for the two of them. It's so sweet and I just love the idea of them soaring all over the place going to different corners of the west.

"There is an emotion, there, the kind he doesn’t voice, but she feels it all the same." More squealing. I cannot handle these two. I have so many feels. I ship it so much.

Kotallo actually smiling as he listens to a seashell is the most precious image and I absolutely adore it.

Aloy trying to analyze the seashell and figure out what it is and what makes it do that is so accurate. She is absolutely the kind who tends to analyze instead of just enjoying most things.

And I absolutely love that Kotallo is the one to bring her out of the analysis and make her just be in the moment.

Everything about him moving closer to her, him turning off her focus, him making her be in the moment and just listen to the sound of the ocean in the middle of the desert. It made my heart explode, it was so lovely and sweet and gave me chills and was just perfection.

“Close your eyes,” he says simply, his low voice making the air between them vibrate, his tone encouraging more than it is commanding. “And listen.” SIR. I CANNOT. THIS MAN. GOOD LORD.

When she opens her eyes and smiles, meeting his gaze again, she knows he doesn’t just see that phantom ocean, surrounding them.

He sees her, too.

It's sheer perfection. I left me a pile of goo, absolutely in love with how you write these two and dying to read more. You are doing such an amazingly wonderful job with this. It's perfection.

[Aloy/Kotallo] On the Wings of the Ten - Seashells

Here I go. Officially doomed. Ah well.

Previous parts: Flying

[READ THE NEW PART ON AO3]

“Wait here.”

That is the extent of her instruction as she pulls an odd-looking gear from her satchel, made of some sort of tubing.

Kotallo is not one to question orders while in the thick of battle, but this is the opposite of battle.

“What are you up to?”

He doesn’t even try to mask the suspicion from his voice; from her crooked smile alone, he knows she won’t answer.

“You really think I’m just gonna tell you?” she confirms indeed, and when he scowls in response, her smile widens. “What would be the fun in that?”

“I don’t know about ‘fun’, but it certainly would be an unexpected yet welcome development,” he states with a note of sarcasm.

“It sure would be,” she banters back as she finishes hooking the device to the front of her armor.

She’s already knee-deep into the water, clearly moments away from diving in—and leaving him behind. This surprises him; it is unlike her, to dismiss him like that.

“I can still swim,” he says. “Not as fast as I once did, but my legs work well enough.”

[CONTINUE READING ON AO3]