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sassyduckqueen · 5 years ago

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30 Days of Lukanette- Missed Connection

Based on Chameleon. Hope you enjoy :)

Also I edited Flavor again and changed it from Ladybug happening to Feast happening instead so in this AU, Ladybug hasn't happened yet.

The ones that have happened Backwarder, Weredad, Bakerix, Startrain, Kwami Buster, Animaestro, Desperda, Chrismaster, Oblivio, The Puppeteer 2, Silencer and the Battle of the Miraculous. Some of these were made into chapters but some of them weren't.

The ones that haven't happened and will be turned into chapters or mentioned are Party Crasher, Reflekdoll, Gamer 2.0, Stormy Weather 2, Ikari Gozen, Time Tagger, Cat Blanc, Ladybug, Oni-Chan and Felix

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"Ok so you know what this one does?" Marinette asked, holding up the green potion. Luka was laid on her bed with Sass curled up on his chest as they talked Miraculous business. She had made some of the power up potions for him and was teaching him what each one did.

"That's the aqua potion," He stated, looking at her. "It gives the kwami the ability to adapt to water so the user can breathe underwater and swim faster then they could naturally,"

"Good," She smiled before holding up the blue one. "This one?"

"Ice right?" He asked, getting a nod off her. "Gives the holder ice skates,"

"And?" She asked but he bit his lip as he thought. She felt herself blush as he looked cute when he did that.

"Immunity to be turned into an ice statue?" He asked.

"I don't think so," She replied. "But it does give you cold resistance so you can survive in extreme cold,"

"Oh cool," He smiled before he realized the unintentional joke as Marinette smiled. "Pun not intended,"

"But accepted," She smiled before holding up the red potion. "This one?"

"That's the fire one I think," He explains. "Similar to the ice one but opposite in effect,"

"Yep and this one does make you fire resistance but we've only needed to use the water and ice ones so far," She explained before holding up the yellow potion.

"That's the psychic one?" He asked, unsure. She shook her head. "Flight?"

"Nope," She replied. "It's the luck potion. It makes the user immunity to any form of luck so if we had a villain that's ability was to curse people with bad luck, we're used this. It can also be used to gain extreme perception if needed,"

"Cool," He smiled as she held up the orange potion. "That's the earth one,"

"Very good," She smiled. "What does it do?"

"Makes it easier to climb trees,"

"And to go through swamps, jungles and subterranean areas as well mountain like areas," She explains. "The costume gains grips on the hand and feet areas so you can climb anything. Also if you can't see in the dark naturally, this potion will allow you to do so,"

"Awesome," Luka grinned.

"Ok. Purple?"

"That's one the flight one right?"

"Yeah," She smiled. "We gain wings as part of it and it also makes it easier for us to be in the sky at extreme heights so no fear of heights and we can breathe as normal. Also friction, air pressure and temperature don't affect us with this potion. Ok last but not least. Pink?"

"Um.... that one's unlimited power up?" He asked before frowning as she shook her head.

"No. It's the psychic potion. Makes us immune to any villain that has psychic abilities but also increases our own nature 'sixth senses'... like your music gift. It's a form of empathy which is a type of psychic ability so if you used this potion, you'd be able to hear people's heart songs more then you already do,"

"That is pretty awesome but I could imagine it would get noisy," He replied, gently stroking Sass's head as Marinette gets up and walks over to her draw.

"So I know Sass really likes cakes so I made him some mini cake slices that I baked the potions into," She smiled, taking out a little box and handing them to Luka. "I've also made some bread for Longg so Ryuko can also use the transformations,"

"Marinette, you're amazing," He smiled, making her blush. "Do you want to go out and get a bite to eat?"

"Yeah, I'd like that," She smiled softly, moving the hair out of her eyes. He smiled and poked Sass lightly in the head.

"I was sleeeping, Luka," The little snake yawned as Tikki giggled before the two kwamis flew up as their owners got their jackets and leave the room.

(***)

Marinette smiled to herself as she entered her classroom before noticing that the seating plan had been arranged. She rose an eyebrow before noticing Alya and Nino sat together and the only seat left was next to Adrien. She felt a stab of pain in her heart before shaking her head and walking up to Alya.

"Hey, Alya," She smiled weakly. "You didn't rearrange the seating plan so I could sit next to Adrien, did you? Cause you know he's dating Kagami and I really think that it would be a bad idea if I sat next to him,"

"Easy there, Marinette. Miss Bustier asked us to rearrange the seating plan so she could have a place in the front. I'm sorry but we had to put you in the back. I hope you don't mind," Alya frowned, making Marinette frown before she whispered to her. "Plus I know you're still hurt over the whole Adrien dating Kagami so you could actually have space to breathe and relax, maybe doodle some designs down without Miss Bustier actually seeing you,"

She winked, clearly thinking it was a good idea.

"I know it must be hard for you to see him in class and all so I figured a bit space might help. I hope you don't mind that you're in the back,"

"Um... no I guess but who's sitting at the front?" She asked, as Miss Bustier came in.

"Good morning, students," Miss Bustier smiled as she walked in. "I assume you all know that Lila is back from her trip to Atua and is back in school again,"

"Hi everyone," Lila smiled, waving as she walked in. Marinette frowned.

"Hi, Lila,"

"Ooh a seat in the front row," She gasped, dramatically. "You all remembered my hearing issue. You're such sweethearts! All of you!"

She threw fake kisses towards everyone as Marinette watched in annoyance.

"You have a hearing problem, Lila?"

"Yes. I suffer from Tinnitus, a constant ringing in my left ear," She stated, coldly. "I've had ever since the sound of an airplane engine burst my eardrum on the run way when I was saving Jagged Stone's lost kitten,"

"Oh, that's so terrible. How did you manage to hear a single thing at Jagged Stone's concert?" Marinette asked. "And doesn't Jagged have a crodile?"

"Now, it is. Yes but it use to be a kitten before he found he was allergic," She replied. "As for a concert, I haven't been to one recently,"

"Really? Because I saw you backstage at his most recent one," She replied but Lila laughed.

"Are you sure it was me?"

"Oh, I'm certain,"

"Oh really?"

"Really," Marinette smiled as Lila glared at her before showing her a clear picture of her, Luka and Jagged that had clearly had Lila in the background. "Weren't you suppose to be in Atau at that point?"

Lila's face almost drained off color before she laughed it off.

"Oh that was this weekend just gone-"

"It was three weeks ago, Lila," Adrien pointed out. "I was also at that gig and I saw you there too,"

"Was it? Oh man I didn't realize," She smiled slyly, playing dumb. "The jag lag must have gotten to me. I'm so sorry, Miss Bustier,"

"That's ok, Lila. These things happen," She smiled, causing Marinette to frown deeply. "Marinette, do you mind taking a seat so I can begin my lesson?"

"Miss Bustier, why do I have to sit in the back?" Marinette sighed, making Miss Bustier frown.

"Do you have trouble with your hearing, Marinette?" She asked, concerned. "We can work around if you do,"

"My eyesight and hearing are good so I'll sit in the back of the class," Adrien piped up. "Marinette, you can sit next to Lila-"

"No!" Both Lila and Marinette gasped, making everyone frown.

"Oh no... my return is causing trouble," Lila sighed. "Maybe I should have just stayed on the other side of the world. If Marinette has an issue too then I should be the one to go sit in the back. It's ok,"

The whole class gasped, looking at Marinette angrily. She sighed in defeat and shook her head.

"I don't actually have any sight or hearing problems..." She mumbled, thinking about her options. She could lie like Lila and make up some story but then she'd be just as bad and it's probably a bad idea for her to sit next to Adrien anyway. It's not like she minded someone sitting next to Adrien but what she did mind was that Lila had lied to the class just so she could sit next to him. Taking a deep breathe, she looked at Miss Bustier. "I'm sorry to disturb your class, Miss. I'll sit at the back,"

With that, she sat down but found herself getting more and more annoyed as Lila intentionally flirted with Adrien, who seemed extremely uncomfortable with it. However, Miss Bustier started her lesson and Marinette's anger went away with it. The rest of the morning was uneventful but soon, Lunch time turned up and Marinette found herself, walking to a table with her food tray. To her annoyance, Lila was getting people to bring her dishes, claiming she couldn't carry them herself due to an injured wrist. What annoyed Marinette even more was most of Kitty Section was been used by her. She pulled Juleka aside.

"Why are you getting her food?"

"Oh, she can't carry it herself," She mumbled, making Marinette frown.

"She's lying, Juleka,"

"W-what? No, she isn't,"

"She is and she's using you," She mumbled, making Juleka frown. "Look, what if I could prove it?"

"Um..."

"She said her wrist is sprained right?" She asked, causing Juleka to nod. Marinette grabbed a napkin. "Hey, Lila. You forgot your napkin,"

She threw it at her and naturally, Lila caught it without hesitation.

"Oh, I didn't realize your wrist had gotten better," Marinette smiled, victorious but Lila realized what she had done.

"Oww," She gasped in a delayed reaction. "Once I was in India, I witnessed someone getting their eye gourded out with the corner of a napkin. If I hadn't caught it, Max would have lost his eye. I didn't have a choice. Owww!"

"That's impossible!" Marinette gasped, getting more annoyed.

"Lila, you saved my eye!" Max gasped.

"Lila's in more pain now because of you," Kim frowned.

"Are you proud of yourself?"

"Don't blame Marinette. She was just trying to give me a napkin," Lila gasped, smiling at her. Marinette had enough at this point. She stood up and stormed out of the dining room before going to bathroom. She took a few deep breathes as she tried to calm down but someone came in.

"Marinette?" Lila's voice instantly grated on her nerves. She faced her as the girl walked over and reached out towards her. "Are you crying?"

"No, I'm not," She snapped, frowning. Lila frowned and withdrew her hand.

"I can sense you don't like me but I don't understand why," She gasped. "We barely know each other,"

Marinette's mind flicked back to when she called her out as Ladybug and to when Lila basically called Luka a loser for been akumatized and that she had a thing for villains. Clearly, Lila thought she could win over Marinette and pretend that didn't happen but Marinette knew her game.

"Don't tell me it's because of this new seating arrangement in class!" Lila gasped, looking upset. Marinette knew it was fake but she had to give credit where it was due. Lila may be a bad person but her acting skill was amazing. Marinette huffed and turned to the side, not wanting to face the trickster. "It is!"

Marinette frowned.

"Of course. You're jealous because I was sitting next to Adrien. You would have given anything to sit there yourself," She replied. "We shouldn't fight over a boy. You and I could be friends. In fact, I could help you with Adrien,"

"You and I will only be friends the day you stop lying, Lila," Marinette replied, facing her. Lila frowned. "Also Adrien has a girlfriend and unlike you, I respect that,"

She gasped, looking shocked at Marientte's words.

"I can't prove it but I know for a fact that you don't have Tinnitus, that your wrist is just fine, that you don't know Prince Ali because you've never even set foot in Achu and despite what you got Alya to write on her blog, Ladybug has never saved your life!" Marinette gasped before pinching her nose. "Honestly, I don't care about the seating plan. I care that you're using everyone and lying through your teeth to look good,"

For a moment, Lila looked shocked but her facade finally dropped and she grinned wickedly.

"I only tell people what they want to hear," She replied, smirking.

"It's called lying!"

"There's nothing you can do about it anyway," Lila stated, calmly. "People can't resist when they hear what they like to hear,"

She walked forward, making Marinette step back.

"If you don't want to be my friend... fine," She smiled wickedly. "But soon, you won't have any friends left at all and trust me, I'll make sure you don't get close to Adrien in class or anywhere. He'll hate you by the time I'm finished. Everyone will,"

She slammed her hands on the wall by Marinette's head and moved in closer.

"You seem a little less dumb then the others so I'll give you one last chance," She threatened. "You're either with me or against me,"

Marinette stared at her in shock and fear as Lila continued.

"You don't have to answer me right away," She smirked. "I'll give you to the end of class today,"

With that, she moved away and walked out of the bathroom, leaving Marinette shaken up from the encounter. She knew Lila was bad but this was a whole different level of wicked then she was use to. Hell, she'd rather face Miracle Queen again. After all Chloe's betrayal came from a place of suffering. Lila just seemed to enjoy hurting and using people. She rushed to the toilet stall and locked the door as Tikki popped out of her bag.

"I thought Chloe was evil but Lila takes the whole cake," She gasped, feeling tears stinging her eyes. "She's like a super villain who doesn't even need a costume,"

"You mustn't let her get to you, Marinette,"

"She threatened me, Tikki," She gasped. "If I don't manage to expose her lies, she'll ruin my life. She'll turn everyone against me,"

She felt her anger build so she hit the wall before she burst into tears. Lila was truly a horrible person.

"Marinette! Look out!" Tikki gasped, making her look up. Her eyes widen in shock as she saw the purple butterfly.

"An akuma!?" She gasped, jumping up as it flew towards her.

"You can resist it, Marinette!" Tikki encouraged. "Hawkmoth's power only effects people who think there's no solution to the problems,"

The butterfly was so close she could feel the flutter of her wings.

"And you always find a solution!" Tikki gasped.

"You're right!" Marinette gasped, smiling before staring at the butterfly. "You won't get me! I'm proud, I'm confident. I'm Marinette!"

The butterfly flew off and Marinette grinned before transforming with Tikki to go after it. She went to go out the door but saw Adrien and gasped, closing the door and looking around. Seeing the air vent, she used her yoyo to open it and climbed up into the vent before heading up to the roof. She crawled out and frowned to herself as she saw Adrien acting completely out of character. He stole Nino's hand and jumped up onto the roof, saying something about been at the effiel tower before leaving the school. Ladybug followed him. She saved a mother and child getting hit from the bus and made her way to the effiel tower. When she got there, she saw Adrien on the edge of the tower, walking across it. She jumped and landed on the edge.

"Adrien!"

"Help me, Ladybug! I'm losing my balance!" He shouted before he misplaced his footing and fell. Ladybug jumped down and rescued him, getting a cheer from the crown. "Oh my princess charming! You saved my life!"

He went to kiss her but she pushed him back and jumped away.

"You're not Adrien!" She gasped, making him grin.

"You're right! I'm Chameleon!" He smirked. "You're getting better at this, Ladybug, which is a good thing. It will make this fight all the more interesting,"

He charged at her, swinging his fists and trying to kiss her. She blocked and fought back, avoiding his attempts. She grabbed him and threw him on the ground before taking the hat and tore it in half. To her surprise, there was no akuma. When she looked down, she saw he had vanished. She jumped up and flew off.

(***)

Ladybug jumped around as she searched for the new villain. So far, she was still alone so she took out a phone and sent a text to Cat, Ryuko and Viperion before she continued to look around.

"Ladybug!" A little boy yelled, making her look at him. "I saw the villain running away,"

He pointed to the merry go round.

"Thanks," She smiled. "Don't stay here, okay? It's dangerous!"

She turned around to face the merry go round, spinning her yoyo but before she could do anything, a woman cried out that she had found her son, making her turn round. The kid jumped at her as if to kiss her but before he could, Cat Noir jumped in front of her taking the kiss. The kid transformed into him as he felt asleep. Chameleon went to grab his ring but she stopped him before he turned to her.

"It's down to you and me, Ladybug!" He shouted before summoning his power. The two of them started to fight but Ladybug got the upper hand and headed to the tower again. She summoned her luck charm and received a shirt. Unsure what to do with it, she wrapped it around her wrist and fought him. She grabbed his baton and broke it but again, it contained nothing. He fought with her more and finally got the upper hand, pinning her down while he tried to kiss her. She pushed back his head and held back his arm but he was pushing against her, getting closer. Before he could kiss her though, a green blurt suddenly knocked into him, throwing him off. "Well, well. Looks we got a snake in the grass,"

"I take it you're not Cat," Viperion asked, dodging the attacks off the villain. He tried to kiss him but Viperion grabbed his arm and twisted it, slamming him against the side of the tower. "And what's with the kissing? Haven't you heard of consent?"

"Viper! Use his cataclysm on the floor here!" Ladybug shouted. Viperion nodded and twisted him around, forcing his hand on the floor. The three of them fell into the bar area. Chameleon jumped up and went to kiss Ladybug but she shoved an oyster on his lips, forcing him to kiss it. The villain looked shocked before he turned into another oyster. Viperion picked it up as they both hear the muffled cries of a girl.

"Well, seems like we have a shellfish villain,"

"Leave the puns to me, Danger Noodle," Cat Noir laughed, jumping down. "I take it they clammed up?"

Ladybug laughed and rolled her eyes before picking up the oyster.

"Anyway, we're not out of the woods yet," Cat Noir stated. "Any idea where the Akumatized object is?"

"I have an idea," Ladybug replied. "Waiter... if you don't mind,"

She handed the oyster and the t-shirt to her and the woman opened it, revealing a black pearl. Ladybug took it inbetween her finger and thumbs.

"Now we can find out what you really look like, Chameleon," She mumbled.

"You'll see," Cat replied. "It's an old acquaintance,"

"I dread to think," Viperion replied before Ladybug broke it and purified the akuma. The oyster turned into Lila to both Viperion and Ladybug's surprise, who seemed confused.

"Lila?!"

"Ladybug?!" She asked, moving back a little.

"At least, now you can say I saved your life for real. Truce?" She asked, holding out her hand. Lila looked at it surprised. Lila sighed and before smiling and shaking her hand.

"Thanks, Ladybug," She replied. "I'd be honored to call you my friend,"

"Yeah? I'm happy to hear that," She smiled. "Some advice. You don't have to lie and pretend to be something you're not. People will like you for just who you are,"

"You have my word, Ladybug," Lila smiled before her eyes flickered to Viperion. "Oh, wow! You're Viperion right? I'm a huge fan! Not that I'm not a fan of you two,"

"It's cool, Lila," Cat Noir smiled. "Danger Noodle, here, is pretty awesome,"

"And has to be else where I'm afraid. It was nice to meet you, Lila," Viperion replied but it wasn't in his usual wise voice. Not that Lila noticed. "Cat, Bug. A pleasure as always,"

With that, he ran off before he jumped down, disappearing. Ladybug's eyes lingered on him for a moment before she turned to Lila as both hers and Cat's miraculouses beeped.

"I'm sorry, Lila. We have to go. Will you be ok?"

"I'll be fine!" She smiled. The two heroes flew off and Lila finally dropped her act as she glared evilly at them. She got up and took the lift down to the ground floor. As she exited, a limo pulled up and the door opened. She rose an eyebrow as it appeared no one was inside it.

"Lila Rossi... I think it's time we met in person, don't you?" Hawkmoth's voice surprised her. She stepped back but her back hit something and she spun round. To her surprise, Mayura was stood there, smirking. "Why do you get in and I'll have you dropped off anyway you want after we've had a talk?"

She looked around before getting into the car. The doors closed and the limo drove off. Luka slipped out from his hiding place and frowned as he sent the photo he took to Marniette before he got on his bike and cycled off, getting back on his shift.

(***)

Marinette frowned to herself as she looked at the picture Luka had sent her. She'd have to look into it as Ladybug but she's not surprised that Hawkmoth had his eyes on Lila. While she was an awful person, she was a gifted actress and liar. They would have to take extra precaution with her. After all, a leopard doesn't change it's spots and while she had given Lila some advice to stop lying, she was doubtful she would. Of course, Lila thought Ladybug believed her so she could use that to her advantage. Nino and Alya came up to her as she closed the picture.

"Thanks for sitting next to me, Alya," She smiled.

"No problem, girl," She grinned. "I'm glad our seating plan's gone back to the way it was. Hey, you doing anything tonight?"

"I'm watching Kitty Section's band practice," Marinette replied. "Do you guys want to come? I can ask Luka,"

"Sure," Alya smiled as Adrien walked down the steps. "Hey, Adrien. Do you want to come and watch Kitty Section's band practice with Kagami?"

"Oh, we can't. My dad actually booked us a table at the Casa Bini," He smiled before waving at them as he gets into the limo. Marinette rose an eyebrow as she looked at it.

"I better go," She smiled. "I'll message you once I've asked Luka,"

"Ok, girl! See you later!" Alya waved, along with Nino. Marinette turned around but found herself face to face with Lila.

"I see you've made your decision, Marinette," She grinned, evilly before leaning in to her. "From now on, you and I are at war. You will lose your friends and wind up all alone. And Adrien will soon be mine,"

"We'll see about that, Lila," Marinette replied, coolly. "For one, Adrien already has a girlfriend and we're just friends,"

With that, Marinette walked away, leaving an angry Lila behind.

(***)

Marinette smiled to herself as she walked onto the boat. Luka was cool with Alya and Nino coming by and the evening was going to be good. She slipped into the kitchen and waved to Anarka, who waved back before she went to the back and knocked on Luka's door.

"Come in," His voice replied and she opened it before going. "Hey, Mari,"

"Hey," She smiled, closing the door. Sass was curled up on top of his drawers, happily snoozing. Luka, himself, was sat on his bed as if he was mediating. She moved over and sat on the edge of the bed but he wrapped his arms around her waist and pulled her onto his lap before nuzzling his nose against her neck. She giggled and moved her arms around his shoulders. "Comfortable?"

"Um hm," He replied, looking up at her with big, blue eyes. "What's wrong?"

"What makes you think something's wrong?"

"Your song is off a little," He replied, making her frown. "Talk to me?"

"I had a rough day at school," She mumbled, looking down. "Lila came back today..."

"Well, that's never good news," He mumbled. "I assume this has something to do with her akuma?"

"It wasn't originally hers," Marinette mumbled, making him frown. "It came for me,"

"What?!" He gasped, looking at her with fear. "Why? What happened?"

"She happened," She muttered, looking down. "First, she convinced everyone to have her sit at the front of the class because of her 'tinnitus', which she claims she got when she rescued Jagged's lost kitten on a runway,"

"Jagged has Fang,"

"I pointed that out but she claimed it was before Fang,"

"He's never had cats," Luka pointed out. She sighed. "Go on,"

"Well, she only wanted to be at the front so she could be next to Adrien. She was flirting with him and he looked so uncomfortable and because of her so called 'tinnitus', I had to sit in the back on my own. If it was genuine I wouldn't care but it's clear it isn't. Anyway, I was fine til Lunch. She was getting other people to get her food for her cause she claimed her wrist was sprained! And people were actually doing it! I tried to show Juleka-"

"Hold up. Juleka was helping her get her lunch?"

"Most of Kitty Section were. Actually, literally the only member who wasn't was you and that's because you weren't there," She replied, making him frown. "Rose is caught up in her lies about Prince Ali. I've heard her promising to put Juleka in touch with a photographer so she can model and Ivan and Melene worship the ground she walks on. Anyway, I chucked her a napkin and she caught it fine, like really quickly. I said her arm must of gotten better and only then did she go oww and then claimed that she had seen someone having their eye gourded out by a napkin in India! A frigging napkin!"

"Well, that seems stupid. People believed this?"

"Yeah and then blamed me for hurting her more!" She huffed. "I ended up going to the bathroom but she followed me and at first, she acted like she didn't do anything wrong but once I revealed that I knew she was a liar, she turned on me. She actually threatened me, Luka! She literally told me that I wouldn't have any friends left at all and that everyone would hate me by the time she's finished,"

At this point, she had tears in her eyes. Luka was silent, which was never a good sign.

"S-she told me I had til the end of the day to make my mind up," She mumbled, trying to control her breathe and wipe away her tears. "At the end of the day, she told me that we are at war and that I'll lose my friends and wind up all alone,"

She sniffed and wiped away the tears that were falling.

"I brushed it off but she really got to me," She mumbled, looking down. "And I'm sure no one will believe me if I tried to tell them about it, apart from you.... Luka?"

She looked at him and almost gasped in shock. His expression could only be described as murderous and he was physically shaking as if trying to control him. He looked like Silencer.

"Luka? Please don't get angry. I didn't mean-"

"You didn't do anything," He stated the words a little too harshly, causing her to frown before his eyes softened. "Sorry. I just hate seeing you upset,"

He cupped her face and wiped the tears from her eyes with his thumb before leaning in and pressing his lips softly against hers but before she could kiss back, he pulled away, realizing what he did.

"Sorry," He mumbled, a little calmer. "You should tell a teacher,"

"I don't have any proof that she threatened me and no one will believe me. She has everyone in that school wrapped around her little finger," She mumbled as her phone buzzed. She moved to her jacket and grabbed it, seeing that Alya had text her. "Alya's here,"

"I'm serious,"

"We'll talk about it later ok?" She mumbled. "Besides, I need to talk to you about that picture as well,"

"Alright," He mumbled, looking up at her as she knelt on the bed. He lightly grabbed her hips and moved her so she was laid on her back and he was leaning over her. He linked their fingers together, making her blush. "I have your back,"

"I know," She smiled, leaning up and kissing his cheek. He smiled softly before getting up and pulling her up before he grabbed his guitar and headed outside with her. Alya waved at her but to her fear and annoyance, Lila was sat next to her and Nino. She smirked over at Marinette, daring her to do something. She frowned to herself and both her and Luka took deep breathes until Juleka came over and handed her a drink.

"Aww thank you, Juleka," She smiled but her eyes told a different story as she looked around the place before her eyes landed on Luka. "Oh I remember you. You know I still have Bob Roth's number. I really wouldn't mind putting you in contact with him-"

"As I told you last time, no thanks," He replied, making her frown. "I have no interest in working with the guy who tried to steal my work,"

"Your loss," She mumbled, shrugging. "You know this is the first time I've ever been in a boat house. It's so cool and I just love how chilled out you are about the clutter,"

"Is there something wrong with the place?" He suddenly asked, making her look at him as she held out her hand.

"W-what? No," She laughed nervously. "I'm just use to a tidier kind of place. You know I've been to Prince Ali's palace and it's just so immaculate there and I forget that not everyone has that kind of standard,"

"So what you're trying to say is our home is a tip?"

"W-what?! No!" She gasped, laughing again. "It's just kind messy... I don't know how you can live with it is all I'm saying. I couldn't but I'm a clean freak,"

"Well, no one's asking you to stay," He pointed out.

"Luka," Juleka hissed, moving over to him. "What the hell is wrong with you?"

"I get bad vibes from her, Jules," He replied. "Also she just insulted our home,"

"She just said she loves how chilled we are about the clutter,"

"That's called a back handed compliment, Jules," He explained. "It's a clever way to insult without people knowing and what did you think she meant by 'that not everyone has that kind of standard',"

"S-she's my friend..." She muttered, looking down.

"Juleka... you know I'm not just rude to anyone for no reason,"

"She offered to put you in contact with Bob Roth,"

"The man who tried to steal our work," He muttered. "Also she offered before and then proceed to tell me that it would have been easier just to let XY have our music and Marinette's designs and that she was sure his version would have been better,"

"S-she said that?" She frowned before shaking her head. "Let's just get on with the practice,"

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collapsingstars-nova · 5 years ago

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Dreams.

I wasn’t sure where to write this down, here or the goals blog, but I’m just gonna put it here.

I keep having two dreams, one of which is a nicer dream, and then the worst dream ever.

The Nicer Dream:

I wake up early, on a breezy summer day. The sun hasn’t quite fully risen which means everything’s still cast in that early morning gray light. I love that lighting. I pull on regular clothes and go down to my garden. I’ve got a backyard that’s much bigger than the one I actually have, and a huge three-tiered box garden that’s right outside my second-story window, scaling up the hill.

It’s not all hunky-dory. On the top tier on the right, I’ve got unnamed plants growing, tomatoes in the middle, and corn stalks on the left. In the dream I turn on a water system, that cascades down the from the top of the hill to the bottom to water everybody. My tomatoes were having a hard time, but they are growing nicely now, and I’m supremely pleased because it’s hard to grow tomatoes, especially in Colorado (which IRL is true.) Whatever on the right is good, and the corn is good, but some nasty weeds have gotten in the way of their healthy growth, and I spent a lot of time in my dream there, pulling out nasty black weeds that look like the corn, but aren’t. Every time I have this dream, the weeds get bigger, and there’s more of them. But they don’t touch any other plants, in fact, there aren’t any other weeds in my garden I’m aware of. Just when I’m starting to feel accomplished for pulling those weeds, I notice something has gone wrong with the watering. The sprinkler system is failing, and the second tier of the garden, which sometimes I remember as spinach and sometimes as carrots, or both, is absolutely flooded, and it’s going to destroy the plants. These plants are pretty hardy and so I tun the water off and let it drain, hoping the sun will dry up the excess and the carrots and spinach which are sprouting will survive, and I resign myself to hand watering the garden until I fix the leak.

The bottom row of the garden, I never touch, I never take care of or explore what’s there, and when I wake up my curiosity always peaks and I can’t help but wonder why that is, and what’s there. I also know on the far left side on my backyard is more planted, but I never explore it either. The only other thing I explore is tucked away in the corner right. I’ve got a chest-high wooden fence, and behind it are garbage cans. Some are open and some are not, and inside all of them are full of dirt with one random gourd plant growing on top. I can’t count how many are open and closed, in the dream if I do, I immediately forget. And it always ends here, after I’ve checked the gourds, and I am satisfied. The sun never rises anymore than it had when I woke up.

I’ve had this dream six times since the beginning of February, and it always falls into the same groundhog day scenario, except the weeds in the corn are bigger and more numerous, and I’m aware of that. Sometimes realizing that about the weeds, I become aware I’m dreaming, but I can’t seem to change anything until the dream is over and I become unconscious after the gourds, or I wake up.

It doesn’t bother me very much, in fact, I enjoy the dream, because I do like to garden, but I’m bothered by how precise and exact the scene and scenarios are every time.

The Worst Dream Ever:

In this dream, I’ve got long hair. The length changes, sometimes below the shoulder, sometimes around my eyes and chin, but it always is long enough to cover the back of my neck. It always starts with me in various scenarios. In the eight times I’ve had this dream in the past two weeks I’ve been 1) twice at the gym with it tied up, 2) once I was dancing with someone, 3) three times someone has been playing with it and running their fingers in it (which I enjoy IRL) 4) once I was sleeping and finally 5) once I was gardening, which is important and I’ll get to that. I’m watching myself do stuff from the third person, and then it switches to my POV, and someone is pulling on my hair, hard, hard enough to drag me. I end up in the dark, floating in a featureless dark room, and I get a reprieve for only a moment before that same person grabs it and takes dull scissors to it. It hurts enormously, and then when they’re done I’m thrown back into my room, at night, and I’m curled up underneath my window with my hair chopped close to my scalp and in pieces around me.

This dream makes me anxious enough that I’ve had to wake up and throw up almost every time. The last three times I was expecting it, and ironically enough two of those three was someone playing with my hair, and the third I was gardening.

I have some premise for this one I can identify IRL; I have had my hair cut in a short pixie since high school, for various reasons. It’s easier to take care of; I’m in an ever ongoing, quiet, gender and sexuality identification crisis; my mom wasn’t ever around to teach me how to take care of it or do anything with it, and I didn’t have any sisters or other femme role models either; at the time it was a load off my mind. And I loved it, and strangely enough, since I did it, it’s become one of the things that helps me to stick out in people’s minds, in a good way. My hair and expressing who I am have become intrinsically linked. But now I’m curious and want to feed that curiosity. I can understand being anxious about it. But to the point of being anxious enough about it, that I keep having this same dream, and it’s incredibly violent toward me, is upsetting.

...

I figure if I boil it down I’m probably just anxious about some life things.

But the reoccurrence, specificity, and pointed notes my brain continues to make in these dreams are more than a bit odd. Especially since last night. I had the gardening dream again, and it had been awhile, and as I was weeding, someone grabbed my hair, and it swung right into my hair dream. I had a physical headache when I woke up and spent a good chunk of time coming down from an almost panic attack.

The combination has been enough to keep me up since early morning, and I’ve spent all day taking care of whatever adult things I’ve been putting off to stave off whatever anxiety is plaguing me, to see if it will help. It feels good but at the same time, I can feel it’s not these things that are wrong. I am just kind of at a loss. I also sat and tried to identify if there was anything in my life that I did regularly that my brain would keep bringing up, but I ingest media, look for a job, and go to the gm. I don’t even listen to the same music over and over. It’s the worst of winter in Colorado right now, I’m not even gardening.

I’m already aware I need some therapy, but while I’m battling that uphill battle, I thought I’d write something down somewhere. I’ve got a mess of each of these dreams in my notebook and typing things down helps me to sort out messy journal notes.

And because I’m a glutton for attention/punishment, I thought I’d post it on Tumblr. If someone’s got a better idea as to what the fuck my brain is doing, feel free to hit me up. If not - they’re quite curious dreams anyway.

#lovers goals #dreams #personal but not untouchable #if anything they are some weird dreams someone might get a kick out of #i need a psychologist probably #or a psychic

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asksep · 2 years ago

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Happy pre-halloween!! (do you have halloween?)

Yeah, walking a day on a broken ankle wasn't pleasant but it didn't register to me at the time that it mightve been broken 😅 (which is partly why I said I wouldn't be surprised if it had happened to marcia) I just thought I must've twisted it really badly until my parents dragged me to the hospital to get it checked lol

Cactus is still alive, I'm not watering it, I'm not touching it, it has sunlight and it doesn't smell of root rot so hopefully it'll make it 😬 I'll have to wait and see though.

And I'm glad you have safety procedures lol, I'd have been very worried if you didn't! You mentioned that you and marcia are a lot more careful with more dangerous spells in case it takes both of you out at once - has that ever happened? And what's the worst thing that's come of something going wrong with a spell that you know of (not necessarily with you and/or marcia, just in general)? I'll admit I know nothing about spells and how they work but I imagine things can get bad quickly

~sincerely, your favourite stranger from the internet of the distant past :)

Dear favourite stranger from the internet of the distant past :),

Happy Halloween! Hallowseeth as we call it is popular in the port but is pretty much ignored in the castle - it tends to get a bit messy and no one wants to deal with that 😅 Quite a few people head to the port though as the whole dressing up and drinking bit can be good fun. I kinda wish we did the whole carving gourds thing, they're always really cool to see.

Yeah thats pretty relatable, I've been both the person dragged to the sick bay and the one doing the dragging lmao

Good luck to the cactus! An inspiration to us all🌵

Thankfully we've never had anything get both of us at once - I've knocked myself out a couple of times (and lightly set myself on fire once) and Marcia once passed out from Magykal exhaustion. Considering this is over the course of like. 10 years i don't think thats too bad really. There's also the non-badly-injuring mishaps which half of the time are harder to deal with but obvs not as threatening.

For things going wrong. Death is the biggie lmao. It's been years since we've had any in the wizard tower or the castle in general i think (like. pre me and pre marcia) but every few years you'll end up with someone trying out magyk way too advanced for themselves and doing some damage.

Last death as far as I know was when Alther had just started his apprenticeship and one of the slightly more idiotic wizards had a go at combining a Perception spell with a bit of Darkeness to try and make himself permanently seem taller and more intimidating. Adding in the Darke can twist intentions if you're not careful though, and he lost control so instead of it just being a perception spell it became a personal one. Instead of only seeming taller to people around him he actually stretched himself and broke his own neck 😬

Generally issues arise when someone tries to combine different types of spells (particularly when adding in a bit of Darkeness like above) or someone gets in the way of a spell. Someone getting in the way of a spell can be really bad as even pretty innocent low level ones can do damage if misdirected. There was a nasty case a while back where someone was trying to do a basyk Fyre spell (used often to get a fireplace going, pretty much everyone has a charm for this lying around), their grandma walked in front of them and Whoosh. she went up in flames. Thankfully she got put out quickly before much damage was done but that could've been really bad if they didn't live right next to the moat.

Sincerely, Sep "somehow still alive" Heap

#dont try combining spells kids #you too could end up four foot taller and dead #some spells are also volatile and they can go kaboom if pushed in the wrong direction #and magykal backlash aint fun to deal with itll leave you feeling sick all day

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cuddlysmii7y · 7 years ago

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Decor (An Ohmtoonz Halloween)

“Do you really think we need to decorate more? I mean, we’re already getting pumpkins to carve.” Luke asked as they pulled into the parking lot of a Halloween store.

“Of course! And besides, we can use them every year! Pumpkins only last a month or so.” Ryan grinned.

“Just… don’t get too many, alright?”

In all honesty, they didn’t really need to decorate for the spooky holiday, but since their rental house was in a neighborhood with a lot of kids, Ryan felt as though they should try to be those awesome neighbors who are known to go all out.

#ohmtoonz #ohmwrecker #ohm #ryan #cartoonz #toonz #luke #bbs #banana bus squad #fic #fanfic #fanfiction #fanfic friday #my writing #embry's writing

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usnewsaggregator-blog · 7 years ago

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The D.C. sportswriter who went from covering the Redskins to selling organic food

New Post has been published on https://usnewsaggregator.com/sport/the-d-c-sportswriter-who-went-from-covering-the-redskins-to-selling-organic-food/

The D.C. sportswriter who went from covering the Redskins to selling organic food

(Jen Dominic for The Washington Post)

STAUNTON, Va. — The tin of cookies emerged from behind his desk, three dozen or so. They were dark chocolate-cranberry-pumpkin-maple. The pumpkin came from real pumpkins, which Joseph White had acquired by asking businesses in this marvelous downtown whether they still needed their decorative Halloween gourds. The cookies were delightful.

If White had brought a baked treat like this to the Redskins Park media trailer — which he did, week after week, year after year, during some of the craziest moments in franchise history — “I’d have to hire two guards to keep [reporters] away,” he noted.

But his new colleagues are a bit different than the ones he left behind in Ashburn. Three dozen homemade cookies here last days, not seconds. He’s given up on the idea of throwing parties centered around food. And when White takes his employees out for dinner, he can pay with a $20 bill and get change. “These people just don’t eat,” he said of the staff at at Cranberry’s Grocery & Eatery.

There are other differences, too. The folks inside Cranberry’s aren’t glued to Twitter, aren’t surgically attached to their phones and don’t particularly care whether the Redskins opt for continuity or chaos this offseason. Which isn’t to say nothing changes here. On the day I visited the natural-food outpost now owned by White, he offered up a brand-new creation dreamed up by his staffers: Earl Grey rolls. Imagine a cinnamon roll dipped in bergamot oil, and served warm. They were delightful, too.

You might not know White’s name, but you’ve probably read his work or heard his voice. For about two decades, he was the Associated Press’s D.C. sports correspondent, the guy who asked the first question at most Redskins news conferences, the man tasked with describing Christmas Eve at FedEx Field for readers across the country. He wrote about Norv Turner and Marty Schottenheimer, about Steve Spurrier and Joe Gibbs, about Clinton Portis’s costumes and Sean Taylor’s death. He chronicled the return of baseball, the rise of Ovechkin and the fall of Arenas. He traveled to five Olympics, covered the National Spelling Bee as well as anyone has ever covered anything and was named the 2005 AP Sportswriter of the Year. Then he left, taking a sabbatical from the AP and buying a health-food store and restaurant 140 miles from Ashburn.

The sabbatical is over. White isn’t coming back.

How do you go from covering one of the NFL’s most chaotic franchises to selling local honey (“the greatest honey you’ll ever have”) and local kombucha (“you can feel the probiotics flow through you”) and an exclusive label of organic fair-trade coffee, while bragging that “there is not a drop of high-fructose corn syrup anywhere in the building”?

“After a while, you’re just ready for a new adventure,” White said as we munched on cookies and listened to classical music near a stack of local newspapers. (“7-Eleven Removes Gas Pumps to Allow for More Parking,” read one front-page headline.) “I was originally a theater person, then I became a radio person, then I became a writer, and now I do this. You move on to the next thing, because there’s another cool thing to do.”

If nothing else, I am consistent. First snow creature my store’s street. Meet Charley, the @GoCranberrys snow gnome. pic.twitter.com/8rulLjVjuE

— Joseph White Jr. (@JGatlinWhite) February 17, 2015

I’m not sure if this is a sports story. Maybe it’s a media story, or a retail story. There’s probably more than a little wish fulfillment involved. But I do know this: The sportswriting business once had an allure of authentic characters, one-of-a-kind types you wouldn’t meet elsewhere, people you couldn’t possibly forget. I’m sure they still exist, but they seem harder to find every year. And I promise you this: You would never forget Joseph White.

What other sportswriter would pull over on his way out of Redskins Park, set up his telescope on top of his car and observe the four moons of Jupiter? What other sportswriter would bike to Redskins Park — and then keep his helmet on while interviewing Mike Shanahan? What other sportswriter would produce logic puzzles for other writers to work on during rain delays? What other sportswriter would leave the baseball stadium and immediately go camping; or build an igloo; or travel to Edgar Allan Poe’s grave for an annual birthday vigil; or present his media-room pals with homemade pumpkin-mint-chocolate chip cookies, or butterscotch pie, or treats made with hand-picked mulberries, or a full barbecue feast brought back from North Carolina?

That one came after his father’s death. His dad had taught him that if he ever had spare change, he should do something nice for someone else. When he was tidying up his dad’s house, he found some spare change. So he brought back lunch for his friends.

On his last day covering the Redskins, the other reporters gave him a standing ovation.

“Joe really is one of a kind,” wrote former Skins beat writer Mike Jones, when I asked about White. “You could say that about a lot of people, but it really did apply to him, and his quirky ways were part of the reason why everybody liked him.”

“When I think of Joe, I think of a true original — a man who marches to a singular tune in his head,” The Post’s Liz Clarke wrote. “I think what has made him so beloved among fellow sportswriters is that unlike so many journalists, Joe rarely, if ever, complains and lacks the cynicism and pettiness that too often mars the profession.”

“We all find him endearing and gentle and down-to-earth,” former Washington Times writer Zac Boyer wrote, “but there’s also a quirkiness to him that warms your heart.”

“Joe will be missed because he’s simply a good guy,” wrote ESPN’s John Keim, “and because he liked to bake for us.”

If White didn’t act like everyone else, he didn’t write like us, either, glorying in the weirdest stories, the goofiest anecdotes, the most outlandish quotes. I always figured that’s why he reveled in covering every inch of the Spelling Bee, an event he has attended even after leaving the business. Turns out it was more than that.

“I felt like it was important to tell the stories of the Spelling Bee kids, because they get such a stereotype about them,” he told me. “Hey, this is an awesome kid who plays baseball and the violin and goes to public school — and these are the kids who are going to make a difference in the world. They’re going to be the doctors and lawyers and scientists and so forth, which is a whole heckuva lot more important than making a bunch of three-pointers.”

Arrived inBaltimore for the Poe Vigil w/ cookies for all and scorecards to judge the Faux Toasters. Join us! pic.twitter.com/IDreyw4jwP

— Joseph White Jr. (@JGatlinWhite) January 19, 2014

He didn’t dress like us, either. Former Redskins lineman Stephen Bowen — who called White “F-Dot” because of his Freddy Krueger attire — once stopped an interview, looked at White’s sweater and asked, “What the hell are you wearing? Is that sweater from 1989?” White thought about it, and told Bowen the sweater was probably five years older than that. He recently told a friend that there are three things left he wants to buy — a new telescope, a straight razor and a pair of cross-country skis — “and once I get those three things, I’ll own everything I want.”

It’s a lifestyle that helped open the possibilities of a new business adventure. White, now 54, previously had worked as a country-music DJ in North Carolina, and for AP radio in London. Nearly two decades covering Washington sports was a long time tilting at the same windmill. By the end, it felt like he didn’t need to use his tape recorder anymore; he had heard the same quotes in 1997, and 2001, and 2005; heard rookies saying how happy they were to be in Washington and optimistic coaches promising a fresh new era.

His brother had lived in Staunton for years, and White and his son loved visiting the arts-and-theater town. So out of nowhere, he e-mailed the owners of Cranberry’s, asking what retail niches in the active downtown district still needed filling. They told him they were ready to retire and suggested he just buy their store. Many months later, he did. He took a two-year sabbatical from the AP but knew pretty quickly that he wouldn’t be going back.

And so, on the day I visited, instead of chronicling the melancholic end of yet another playoff-free Redskins season, White was rejoicing about a delivery from Blue Ridge Bakery, and getting change from the bank (“you’re awesome!” he told the teller as he left), and singing showtunes from “South Pacific” with a customer-turned-friend, and getting ready to make posters for that week’s trivia night. (Introducing a weekly trivia night was one of his first innovations as store owner. He writes the questions himself.)

When protesters gather in front of the nearby courthouse, he brings them free coffee. When staffers need a break, he fills in behind the register. His favorite thing about the gig is meeting new people: the backpacker from Finland, the random late-night shopper who became one of his new best friends, the Amtrak travelers who hop off the thrice-weekly Cardinal Route, telling him about their adventures and listening to his.

He’s trying to launch an “Amazing Race”-style event in Staunton, and a program to offer low-income kids a meal at Cranberry’s, and a show at the adjacent Blackfriars theater. Many of his staffers are into the city’s thriving theater scene; one directed “Doctor Faustus,” and another directed “A Winter’s Tale.” He’s embraced Staunton’s Harry Potter festival; “we definitely have to order more chocolate frogs this year,” he noted. On Thursday night, he hosted a Solstice Bonfire.

The store and cafe were already successful before he arrived, and he mostly tries to stay out of his employees’ way — “all I did was just hop on a galloping horse,” he said. So he waters the plants and changes the light bulbs and designs the monthly placemats and tries to make the place feel like a home.

His mom ran a country store for more than two decades in rural North Carolina — that was his living room as a kid — and he wants Cranberry’s to have that same community-gathering-place appeal. He even made a replica of a sign that used to hang in her store. “You are a stranger here but once,” it reads. It feels like it.

“Why do I like this?” he said, repeating my question, as it snowed gently outside. (“It’s snowing!” he had shouted, when the first flakes appeared.)

“It’s a really cool place,” he finally answered. “I have really cool people working for me. I’ve got really cool customers. There’s not a day I turn that corner to come down here and look at the building and go, ‘Man, I don’t want to come to work today.’ I mean, there are times you could easily feel that way as a sportswriter — ‘Man, I don’t feel like going to practice today: It’s day 17 of training camp, I’d rather be home with my family.’ There’s not a day that I’ve come here where I was like, what did I get myself into?”

Mom used to have a sign like this in the country store she ran for 22 years. Figured I’d get one for @GoCranberrys. pic.twitter.com/ijJEWyiXf8

— Joseph White Jr. (@JGatlinWhite) February 11, 2015

He was talking about this general idea with Rob, his grocer, just the other day. They always banter about song lyrics and conspiracy theories and philosophy, and this time they were talking about how time is more valuable than money, because one is finite and the other isn’t. Why is that so easy to forget?

“You know, you don’t get moments back,” White said. “And I don’t know what the next adventure will be beyond this. Who knows?”

He’s having one now, though. Maybe stop in and see him if you’re ever in Staunton. Ask for the Earl Grey rolls.