#and all the questions of if that was necessary and how felix rejected any chance to change

[hipstersoulgushers-art]

A petty and malicious sacrifice

[starshine583]

New Girl on the Block (18)

(Hey, everyone! I have an announcement to make! After posting this chapter, I am going to be taking a temporary leave due to family matters. They’re fun family matters, so don’t worry! but they will prevent me from writing any further chapters at this time. I plan to post the next chapter on June 27th. Sorry for the long wait! That’s just how things worked out, but I hope I’ll get to see you all then, and please enjoy this new update! Feel free to check out the mini series connected to this called Journal Entries!)

Ch. 1 / Ch. 17 / Ch. 19 (ao3)

Chapter 18: It’s the Little Moments

Felix grumbled to himself as he picked up his tie to pull it around his neck. Valentine’s Day parties were bad enough already with all of the love-sick couples that tended to crowd around him throughout the evening. Did he really have to further his torment by dressing up as well? His previous suit was perfectly fine for an event such as this. Fashionable, sleek, formal- there was no reason to change. Especially when it came to this ridiculous, unseemly-

“Oh, lighten up.” His mother told him, shooing his hands away so she could tie the tie herself. “It’s just a Valentine’s Day suit, and you’re wearing it for one night. There’s no need to scowl over it. I’m sure the other boys will be wearing some form of pink too.”

Felix scoffed. “Mother, don’t patronize me. You know I don’t care about the pink color. It’s the fact that you’re dressing me up to match the theme.”

Bridgette eyed him. “And?  You’re supposed to match the theme for parties. That’s why it’s called a theme.”

“But if I match the theme, other girls at the party will probably think I approve of the theme too.” Felix argued. “And then they’ll be asking me to dance or trying to talk with me in general. I’ll have to spend the entire evening trying to shoo them off.”

A laugh tumbled from his mother’s lips. “Aw~, it must be so exhausting having all of the girls fall in love with you.”

Felix shot her a flat look. “Would you want to spend an evening rejecting people?”

Bridgette tilted her head in a nod. “I’ll give you that one, but you know Allegra could always scare them off if they become too overbearing.”

Felix blew out a relenting sigh. He supposed that was true.

“Besides, even if the girls are chasing you, you still need to look nice Marinette, don’t you?”

Felix furrowed his eyebrows, confused. “No? Marinette’s not going to care what I look like, so long as I’m not a fashion disaster, that is.”

Which, in this suit, he might very well be, to be honest. Perhaps he should text her a warning.

“I thought you two were supposed to be going on a fake date tonight.” His mother replied, tugging lightly on Felix’s tie to straighten it.

Felix’s gaze snapped to her. “Where did you hear that?”

Bridgette chuckled, offering him a teasing glance as she said, “Oh, please. You know Allegra and I talk.”

Felix tisked and rolled his shoulders, making sure his suit wasn’t too tight. Of course Allegra would mention that ridiculous suggestion to his mother. Those two loved to gossip together, specifically about him.

“Well, we’re not.” He remarked, leveling out the annoyance in his tone. “That was just some frivolous idea that Claude came up with the other day.”

“Really? I thought the idea sounded rather exciting.”

Felix resisted the urge to scoff again. Her too? “Why on earth would it be exciting? You galivant around with someone, probably doing the exact same thing you would do with them on a normal basis, but you call it a ‘fake date’ for what? A good laugh when someone assumes you’re a real couple? I can’t wrap my brain around the reasoning.”

Another chuckle came from Bridgette. “No, I suppose you wouldn’t, but consider this: If you and Marinette pretend you’re dating for the evening, you might not have so many girls coming to ask you for a dance.”

Felix paused, his eyes widening slightly. That.. actually wasn’t such a bad idea. He might even consider it if the thought of asking Marinette didn’t sound so incredibly arrogant. ‘Would you mind being my fake date to help me escape the supposed hoards of girls who are going to chase after me tonight?’ You can’t convince him that that proposal didn’t sound anything less than tacky. She’d probably tease him about it the whole night.

“If it bothers you so much, though,” his mother spoke again, “why not ask Marinette out on a real date?”

Felix sputtered a bit at the comment, blurting out a bewildered, “Excuse me?”

Don’t get him wrong, Marinette was an extraordinary person and anyone who ended up with her would undoubtedly be lucky, but the very thought of him asking her out on a date felt.. strange. He couldn’t imagine asking her for anything more than what she was giving him right now, and he didn’t think there was anything she’d want from him when it came to a relationship anyway. Their dynamic was comfortable as it was. Why should they try to complicate things?

“Alright, alright, I was just asking.” his mother assured, almost seeming to laugh as she did. “You two are only friends. I understand.”

Something about the smile in her eyes told him that she didn’t understand, but he simply glanced to the side, electing to ignore it. Arguing wouldn’t change her mind either way, and in the end it was just a question. His friendship with Marinette wasn’t going to change over it, because neither of them harbored romantic feelings for each other. He was perfectly content to keep it that way. 

~~~~~~

Marinette stood in front of her vanity mirror, twisting her hair into a side ponytail for the fifth time that evening. She’d spent the last hour trying over and over again to perfect the hairstyle, but she could never seem to get it right. The ponytail was always too lopsided or too messy or the braid tied into it would begin to unwind. Now, the ponytail was tied tightly enough, but the braid was crooked, and there were too many stray hairs flying around for it to look neat. How can she still be struggling after practicing this for an hour?

“Ugh! I give up!” She huffed, throwing her hands down and staring ruefully at her nearly knotted locks. This is what she gets for taking the easy route and always putting her hair in pigtails. “I’m just going to stay home.”

“No, don’t do that!” Tikki quickly spoke up, flying to her holder’s side. “You’ve worked too hard on your dress to stay home! And your hair really doesn’t look all that bad. I’m sure no one will think twice about it.”

Marinette tisked, plopping into her rolling chair and crossing her arms. “But I’ll think about it, Tikki, and I’ll be more self-conscious than I was going to be before.”

Tonight wasn’t just a Valentine’s Day party for Marinette. That was mainly what it was, of course, but she also saw it as a sort of debut. With the amount of time she spent hanging around Allegra and Claude and the others, she hadn’t had time to truly meet her other classmates at Rosemary, but tonight, they would all be gathered together for her convenience and she would finally have a chance to introduce herself to the school as a whole. It was exhilarating.. and a tad frightening. She’d seen plenty of students in passing that appeared to be less than friendly. How were they going to react to her? Were they going to be as sweet as her current friends? Or did she happen to run into the best group in the school first? There was no telling.

“Try not to overthink it.” Her kwami said softly, though they both knew she would. “Why don’t you try a different hairstyle?”

“Because I don’t know any other hairstyles.” Marinette sighed. “Well.. I know a bun, I guess, but I really wanted this hairstyle for tonight. I feel like it would really bring the dress together, you know?”

“It would.” Tikki agreed. “And it does. But if you think you can’t figure it out-”

“Marinette! Felix is here to pick you up!”

Panic seized Marinette’s chest at the call, and she leapt out of her chair to look in the mirror again. Felix was there already? The party wasn’t for another thirty minutes! Why did he always have to be early? 

“Uh- j-just a second, Maman!” She called back, frantically trying to straighten her braid and smooth the wisps of hair around her ponytail. It didn’t work, unfortunately, so she threw a silver pin in her hair as a last ditch effort and made her way downstairs, trying not to whimper too much.

“Oh, Marinette, you look wonderful!” Her mother cooed as Marinette descended the stairs. “I need to go get Tom. Oh, and a camera!”

Marinette pulled a wince. They were going to have photo evidence of this failure of a hairstyle? 

“Maman, are you sure that’s necessary? I get dressed up like this all the time.” She tried to dissuade, but Sabine merely waved off her comment. 

“Of course it is! This is your first party at Rosemary. We must have pictures.”

“Best be prepared.” A voice cut in, catching Marinette’s attention immediately. “Claude will undoubtedly be thinking the same thing when we arrive.”

Marinette turned towards the front door with a smile, but a gasp escaped her when she saw Felix standing there. She knew it would be him, of course. She simply hadn’t expected him to be wearing a different outfit. 

“You..” She paused, briefly wondering if it would be rude to finish, then continued, “you changed your suit.”

Logically, she knew he had more than one suit. No one can wear the same suit forever, and Felix seemed to be too proper to do it even if he could. However, when he didn’t wear his usual suit, he continued to maintain the black and grey color scheme, so it never quite stuck with her that he’d changed. Tonight, though, his suit was entirely red, so deep a red that she might acquate it with blood, and he had a wonderfully pink tie on, along with a pink cloth folded in his front vest pocket to complement it. The sight nearly knocked her off her feet. He was even matching the party’s theme! She didn’t think he cared for things such as that.

A smirk ghosted Felix’s lips, and he nodded. “Yes, courtesy of my mother. I see you changed your hair as well.”

A blush crept across her cheeks, and Marinette reached up to feel how horrible the hairstyle was again. Here Felix was, doing his best and looking great as always, and she was just standing there looking like a mess. Typical.

“O-Oh, yeah, I mean.. I tried to change it. I don’t think it worked out too well..” She muttered, glancing down at the ground. Maybe she still had time to take it out before they left? 

Felix’s footsteps brought her gaze back upwards, and she watched him cross the room to her. His eyes were squinted ever-so-slightly, the way they always were when he was pondering something, and once he was close enough, he reached out, his hand lightly tracing over the side braid she’d attempted. 

Marinette stood still, allowing him to ‘examine’ her for a moment before saying, “It’s awful, isn’t it? I couldn’t get anything to stay where it was supposed to.”

Felix hummed absently, bringing his hand down to let the tip of her ponytail slide off of his fingertips. “No, not awful. If you practice a few more times, I’m sure it would be perfect.”

Marinette blew out a small sigh. That meant it wasn’t perfect now.

“Do you have the reference you used? If I see it, I might be able to straighten the braid out before we leave at least.” Felix inquired, causing Marinette’s eyes to widen. Oh?

“You know how to do hair?”

“Not quite,” he admitted, “but I learned some of the basics during a few sleepovers. For some reason, Claude and Allegra thought it important that I had a decent grasp on the subject.”

A smile came to Marinette’s lips. That sounded like something they would do. “And you think you can fix my hairstyle from your limited knowledge?”

“Possibly, if you have reference,” Felix smirked, “but it’s alright if you prefer to keep what you have.”

“Oh no, please.” Marinette said, quickly pulling her phone out of her heart shaped purse. “Anything’s probably better than what I have in now. Are you sure we have time, though?”

Felix nodded. “I always leave around ten or fifteen minutes ahead of schedule, so we should have plenty of time.”

Marinette nodded as well and opened the reference video she’d used for her hairstyle. Felix took the phone from her and watched it once or twice as she pulled out the pins in her hair. Then, when everything was down again, Felix handed the phone back to her and let it play in her hands for a third time while he set to work. His fingers brushed through her hair, carefully separating the different locks and tying them together. The feeling behind it was quite strange, mostly because she could hardly feel it at all. His hands were so gentle, so cautious that even when he had to tug on her hair to tighten the braid, it seemed as light as a cloud. Felix was always soft like that. He spoke harshly to others and liked to scowl often, but when it came to his actions, she couldn’t recall a single time he’d been rough. 

Recently, she’s been hearing that secret softness in his voice too, and it never failed to make her smile. 

“Aw, did her hair fall out?”

Sabine’s voice brought the two’s gaze to the living room doorway. She was standing there with Tom, a camera in her hands and a slight, disappointed frown on her lips.

“No, I took it out.” Marinette assured over her shoulder. “Felix offered to do the hairdo himself so it would look better.”

“Oh, how gentlemanly of him.” Tom chimed in with a satisfied smile. 

“Do you mind if I get a picture?” Sabine requested, prepping the camera in her hands.

“Uh..” Marinette looked to Felix as best she could. “Are you okay with that?”

“I don’t mind.” Felix shrugged. “Mother already bombarded me with pictures before I left. What’s a few more?”

Marinette chuckled. “You said she was the one who gave you the suit right?”

“No, she’s the one who made me wear it.” Felix corrected. “Something about having to match the theme.”

“Ah, I see.” Marinette said. She should have known Felix wouldn’t throw away his black and grey color scheme willingly. “She has great taste. You’ll have to let me meet her sometime so I can tell her ‘thank you’.”

A playful scoff passed his lips and brushed against her ear. “You know, I’m sure she would be delighted to do just that.”

*Click!*

The camera flash brought the two’s attention back to Sabine and Tom, who were both holding giddy smiles at this point.

“I think you both look fantastic.” Tom grinned. “Those boys will be falling over each other to get to Marinette tonight, I’m sure.”

Felix hummed as he twisted her hair to pin it into a side ponytail, muttering, “I quite agree.”

The comment was soft and absent, and it sent a blush exploding across Marinette’s face. That’s the second time he’s agreed to her being pretty and a supposed ‘boy magnet’. Does he ever think about what he’s saying or is it just some logical fact to him that shouldn’t mean anything? She’s not sure which one she prefers. 

“Done.” 

Felix’s hands fell back to his sides, and Marinette reached up to feel the hairstyle- gently, though, so as not to mess it up. The pull of the bobby pins was comfortable and tight, and her braid felt nice and straight as she grazed her fingers over it. Overall, it felt perfect, which was exactly what she’d wanted.

“Thanks, Felix.” She said, offering him a quick smile as she checked the reflection in her phone. “It looks great. You’re a life-saver.”

“And you two are going to be late if you don’t hurry up.” Her maman cut in. “Now gather together for a picture so we can send you off.”

Marinette rolled her eyes with a smile and tucked her phone back in her purse, then turned to stand next to Felix. He, in turn, straightened slightly next to her and clasped his hand behind his back for the picture.

“Alright, say cheese!” Sabine coaxed, holding up her camera.

The pair smiled. “Cheese!”

*Click!*

~~~~~~~

Claude’s grin stretched from ear to ear as he watched his fellow Rosemary students pile into the Mandarin Oriental. As usual, people of all shapes and sizes were here. The ‘cool’ kids, the music kids, the nerd kids, the geeks, the dancers- anyone and everyone who had a popular status at the school, along with a good group of others who counted as the stalking crowd. The younger, less-popular students who tended to follow the social hierarchies like loyal dogs. The ‘baby paparazzis’, if you will. They were all crowding inside with an urgency that only his- and Allegra and Allan and Marinette and Felix’s -parties could bring. Soon, Marinette and Felix will be there as well, and then the fun will really begin.

“Alright, Marinette just texted.” Allegra spoke up behind him. She was currently hovering around the buffet table to ensure the punch drinks were being dispersed properly. Claude, of course, was hovering around Allegra in case she needed his help with anything. 

“She said they’re parking now.” His ‘fake date’ continued, glancing over her phone screen as she re-read the text. “You remember what to do, right?”

Claude huffed out a playful scoff, reaching for the platter of shrimp as he replied, “Of course I do. Take her onto the dance floor to help her get comfortable in the ‘party atmosphere’, convince her to dance with Felix while you convince Felix to dance with her, and-”

Allegra slapped his hand, coaxing a yelp from the brunette.

“Don’t touch the shrimp until the other guests have some first.” She scolded.

Claude rubbed his hand with a pout. So touchy. Why should he have to wait for the guests to eat? If they wanted shrimp, they should come up and get some. Why can’t he have the food that he helped pay for? (Well, the food that his parents helped pay for.)

“And keep your voice down too.” Allegra added, flipping her hair over her shoulder when it fell in the way. Wearing it in a half-up-half-down style wasn’t nearly as convenient as her casual braid, but he had to admit, the free curls that fell around her shoulders were extremely nice. “Do you know the amount of people here who would love to get their grubby little hands on the fact that we’re trying to set stubborn, stuck-up, stone-faced Felix with the new, cotton-candy-sweet, bakery-girl Marinette? The gossip would reach both of them within seconds.”

“Yeah, it probably would.” He agreed. “But at least they’ll both know they like each other then. Saves us the trouble, right?”

Allegra shot him a flat look, meaning he probably said something wildly inaccurate again.

“Claude, the only gossip that would be spreading would be the fact that we’re trying to get them together. Not that they like each other. How do you think Felix is going to react when he realizes we’re playing matchmaker? What about Marinette? I think they’d probably be a little uncomfortable considering neither of them probably think that the other person likes them. Which is why we decided to be subtle about this in the first place.”

“Oh.”

“Yeah.”

“That makes sense.”

“Yes, it does.” Allegra said, crossing her arms. “So keep your voice down when talking about it from now on, please.”

Claude nodded, leaning back on the buffet table as he faced the crowd again. “Sure, sorry.”

This was going to be a tough evening, trying to get Marinette and Felix together while not blurting the scheme out to the world. He just felt like everything would be easier if they simply talked to each other about it openly. But Allegra was more perceptive than he was. She probably knew things he didn’t about the situation. So he’ll go along with her plan and hope it works out. 

Besides, this way he gets to mess with Felix as much as he wants. And he won’t get scolded, this time! 

And if everything does work out, Marinette and Felix will be all the happier for it.

Win-win-win-win.

“Hey, guys.” Allan spoke up, joining them at the table and swiping a shrimp. “Do you know if Felix and Marinette are here yet? I haven’t seen them.”

Allegra opened her mouth to scold him about the shrimp as she had Claude, but Allan popped it into his mouth before she could. Claude held back a snort, watching Allegra purse her lips in annoyance. If he couldn’t have a shrimp, at least Allan got one.

“They’re on their way up now.” The blonde replied with narrowed eyes, unbeknownst to Allan. “They just parked a few minutes ago.”

“Cool. We’re still having Claude do his thing, right?”

“Yep.” Claude said, a devilish grin spreading across his lips. “And I am so ready to cause mischief.”

Allegra snorted and lightly nudged him in the arm. “Not too much mischief. This is supposed to be romantic, remember?”

“Yeah, yeah.” Claude waved her off. “I’ll get them to be romantic. After I get to mess with them.”

“Claude-”

“Oh- there they are! Hey, guys!” 

Claude perked up at the interruption, the familiar voice drawing his gaze to the front of the Mandarin Oriental. It was the very voice they’d been waiting for, and the source wasn’t hard to find.

Marinette and Felix were making their way through the crowd towards them, Marinette clearly excited as she waved them down with a bright smile. The designer dress she was wearing looked fantastic, as Felix had predicted, and the hearts littering it matched the theme perfectly. She even had her hair all done up tonight! (Which really brought out the elegance of the dress, in his opinion.) An outfit like that was only going to make his job of setting up a romantic thought process between the two that much easier.

(Of course, with the way Felix was staring at Marinette right now, Claude had a feeling that that thought process might already be set up.)

“Hey!” he greeted, meeting the pair halfway to give Marinette a hug. Was it the flowers on the table or did this girl actually smell like roses tonight? Did she use a special perfume? Oh, Allegra was going to love this.

“You two look awesome! I was starting to think you’d never get here.” He teased, stepping back again to get a better view of her face. She decided to go with a pinker shade of lipstick tonight, along with a glittering, light pink eyeshadow, and it’s a wonder that Felix hasn’t collapsed from swooning at this point. (Though maybe Claude can catch that when the two dance later. The video footage would be priceless!)

Marinette let out a light laugh, touching the tip of her side ponytail with a sheepish smile. “Yeah, sorry about that. Felix was helping me with my hair.”

“Aw, Felix!” Allegra cooed, coming up behind Claude just then to join them. “You did Marinette’s hair? It looks lovely.”

“I knew those lessons would come in handy.” Claude smirked. 

“Yes, who would’ve guessed?” Felix muttered, briefly rolling his eyes, but Claude wasn’t fooled. He could hear the almost airy tone to Felix’s voice, see his eyes soften anytime he so much as glanced at Marinette. That guy had probably been ecstatic to do Marinette’s hair, and he just didn’t want to show it. 

He would, though.. Soon enough.

“Hey, guys.” Allan chimed in, finally joining them as well. “You both look great. I haven’t seen Felix wear that dark of red in a while.”

“Or red in general.” Allegra remarked with a smile. 

“Or pink.” Claude added, eyeing Felix’s shirt sleeves. “Actually, I haven’t seen you wear anything besides gray or black since Marinette had you wear that green, plaid shirt after the ‘flour incident’.”

“In other words.. Your mom made you wear that, didn’t she?” Allegra asked lightheartedly.

“Of course she did.” Felix said. “Why else would I wear it?”

“Well, I imagine you’d just want to look nice.” Claude joked, wrapping his arm around Felix’s shoulders and ignoring the blond’s scowl. “Either way, remind your mom how awesome she is for me when you get home.”

“I’m sure she already knows.” Felix replied curtly, shoving Claude’s arm off of him again.

A giggle brought Claude’s attention back to Marinette, who was now observing the party with sparkling interest.

“Everything looks incredible, you guys!” She nearly squealed. “The lights, the flowers, the food.. But I thought the party started at six. Did I get the times mixed up again?”

“No, it does- er, did.” Claude said. “People just get excited and like to get in as soon as they can.”

“Oh.” Marinette muttered, relief smoothing out her features. “So we’re not late?”

“Not at all. In fact..” Claude swept into a bow, offering his hand to her with a grin. “We were just about to start the dancing. Would you mind giving me the honors?”

A surprised laugh fell from Marinette’s lips. “Me? I thought Allegra was your ‘fake date’ for the evening.”

“She is, but I have to save the best for last, right?” Claude threw a wink at Allegra, who also let out a laugh and rolled her eyes. The slight blush on the her cheeks gave her away, though, and it caused his grin to widen.

Marinette gave an “Aw~.” and slipped her hand into his. “Well, in that case, I’d be delighted to dance with you.”

“Great!” Claude cheered, pulling her close. 

They glided onto the dance floor, quickly catching the attention of the room, and with that, the first part of the plan fell into place. Claude was dancing with Marinette. Now he needed to convince her to dance with Felix.

Out of the corner of his eye, Claude could already see Felix starting to flounder. He simply stood there, quietly watching them dance with that neutral expression of his and occasionally looking elsewhere. Without Marinette to anchor him in a room of people, the blond would no doubt resort to being a wallflower again and wander over to some corner. A nice, hidden corner where Allegra could easily- and discreetly -convince Felix to dance with Marinette. They all knew him too well.

“Are we the only ones dancing?” Marinette asked, bringing Claude’s attention back to her.

“For now,” he confirmed, “but someone has to start it, right? Look, they’re already joining in.”

“I guess that’s true..” Marinette said, glancing at the few couples that had indeed started to join them. “I don’t normally dance all that much, to be honest. So it’s a little weird for me to be the one starting it for once.”

Claude laughed and took a step back to spin her around. “Really? You’re a natural at it!”

“Oh, thanks. That’s a relief to hear.” Marinette smiled, hobbling into a spin.

“Course. But you know who else is a natural at it?”

Marinette hummed. “Let me guess.. Is it you?”

Claude snorted. “Well, duh, but I was actually talking about Felix.”

Marinette’s eyes widened. “Felix?”

“Yeah! He takes waltzing classes at the school and everything, but he never dances! Can you believe it?”

A chuckle passed Marinette’s lips. “Kind of. This is Felix we’re talking about. Maybe his mom wanted him to take dance lessons like she wanted him to wear that tuxedo.”

“Maybe.. But it’s still a shame to waste such carefully crafted skills. You should try to get him to dance tonight.”

Marinette snorted. “Oh? And who would I get him to dance with? He doesn’t like getting close to random people.” 

Claude hummed. “Now, that’s a question, isn’t it? Who should dance with Felix tonight..” 

He made a show of looking around the dance floor as he and Marinette waltzed in a circle, then looked back to her. “..Why don’t you dance with him?”

Marinette nearly tripped over her own two feet at the suggestion, and Claude had to hold back a smile. Was she getting flustered? That’s a good sign.

“You want me to.. Are you sure he’d be comfortable with that? I’m pretty sure he doesn’t even want to dance.”

“Come on, who else could get Felix to dance?” Claude insisted. “He’ll say yes if it’s you, and we can’t let him be a wallflower forever.”

Marinette let out a soft laugh, looking quite bashful as a blush curled onto her cheeks, and she glanced over at Felix. He was already standing next to the wall near the punch bowl, looking idle as he watched the dancing crowd. 

“I don’t know, Claude. I think he rather enjoys being a wallflower.”

Claude chuckled. “Just say you’ll try? At the very least, it’ll make Allegra happy to see Felix out and about.”

Marinette turned her attention back to him and smiled. “..Alright. I guess I’ll try, but no promises about actually getting him to dance.”

“Deal.” Claude grinned. Mission success!

“On an entirely different note, though, your dress is incredible. You made that yourself, right?”

Marinette brightened and nodded. “Yes, I did! I had lots of fun with it so I’m glad you guys like it.”

“Aw, I’m pretty sure I’d like anything you make. You always put a cool twist on things.” Claude smiled. “By the way, how’s my prince suit coming along? Have you started it yet?”

“I have! It’s actually pretty close to being done. I’m on the ‘details’ stage.”

A gasp of delight escaped him. He hadn’t realized how close she was to finishing it! 

“Oh, sweet! You’re gonna have to come over to my house when you finish it. We can even have a mini-fashion show for you!”

Marinette giggled. “That sounds like a blast.”

“Yes!” Claude briefly let go of Marinette’s waist to pump his fist. “Man, am I glad you came to Rosemary. I mean, not just because of the prince suit- even though that is pretty awesome -but also because you’re a fun person to be around, ya know? Everyone thinks so.”

“Really?” Marinette’s steps lagged slightly, clearly taken aback by the statement. “That’s.. Thank you. That means a lot to me.”

For a moment, she almost looked relieved.. Or even sad. But another blinding smile appeared before he could figure out why.

“I think you guys are fun to be around too.” She said warmly.

Claude smiled, feeling his uneasiness melt away. She didn’t sound sad or solemn at all. He was probably just imagining things, or seeing a trick of the light.

“Excuse me.”

Claude and Marinette slowed to a stop, turning to another boy who had come to interrupt them. 

“Mind switching off with me?” He asked, offering his hand to Marinette. Was that even allowed during an informal dance such as this?

Nevertheless, Claude caught Marinette’s eye. “What do you say, Mari? Wanna switch off?”

Marinette blinked. “Oh- uh -sure. If you’re okay with it.”

“Absolutely.” Claude smirked, jokingly spinning Marinette into the other boy’s arms. “Just don’t forget your promise to try!”

Marinette chuckled as she re-situated herself into the dance position. “Wouldn’t dream of it.”

Claude watched the two dance away, smiling proudly at the seed he’d sown for Marinette and Felix’s romantic evening. Allegra was surely going to be pleased with his work, and he was going to be pleased watching it unfold.

Now to get that shrimp.

~~~~~~~

Felix leaned against the wall, quietly observing the other party members dance, specifically Marinette. Her smile shined brightly as a boy twirled her, and her shoulders shook with giggles when the boy dipped her a second later. She appeared to be enjoying herself, and Felix was enjoying watching her. He had a feeling the other boys from Rosemary would be showering her with attention tonight- it was one of the rare times when she wasn’t being smothered by himself and the trio, after all -but he was admittedly surprised by the amount of stamina she possessed. It’d been at least an hour or two since the dancing started, yet she was still going as strong as ever, non-stop.

Well, he supposed it wasn’t non-stop. She had spun over to his little corner a few times to talk, which was how he ended up carrying two cups of punch instead of his one. Still, she should probably take a seat soon. Those heels she’d decided to wear were bound to be painful after a while. Perhaps he should grab her attention and find an empty table-

“U-um, excuse me, Felix?”

Felix glanced to his right, meeting the face of a girl that seemed vaguely familiar and a tad timid. She stood a certain distance away from him, her lips stretched into a nervous smile, and gave a little wave. Was that all she intended to do?  

“Can I help you?” He asked, raising a brow.

“Oh- well-” The girl faltered, as though she hadn’t expected to get this far, and rubbed her arm. “A-actually, I was wondering if maybe you’d like to.. Dance? With me. Of course.”

Ah, Felix thought, heaving a mental sigh. He should have known that that would be her intention. Now her visible anxiety made sense.

“Apologies, but I don’t dance.” He replied smoothly.

The girl’s shoulders sank. “Oh.. really? I thought you took waltzing classes at the school.”

Felix schooled a neutral expression, if only to avoid glaring. What, was she stalking him or something?

“I assure you they are for my Mother’s pleasure only, but I myself do not dance.” He said, a flatter note in his voice than before. Take the hint.

Thankfully, she did, but not in the way Felix was hoping.

“Ah, I see.. How about I keep you company then?” The girl suggested, getting entirely too comfortable next to him. “You’ve been over here by yourself for a while now.”

Felix’s grip on the cups tightened. So she was stalking him. 

“While I appreciate the gesture, it’s quite unnecessary. I’m simply waiting for my friend to get back.”

“Your friend?” The girl asked, glancing into the crowd curiously. “You mean the black-haired girl who gave you that drink, right?”

Felix held back another scowl, his eye twitching. Seriously, how long had this girl been watching him? Didn’t she have someone better to bother? There were plenty of other guys here that would be willing to dance or talk with her. Why did she have to choose to annoy him specifically?

“Her hair is raven, and yes, she’s the one that gave me this drink.” He responded curtly, taking a sip of his own punch.

The girl nodded thoughtfully, blissfully unaware of his thinning patience. “I guess her hair does have a blue shine to it. Do you want me to hold one of the drinks? I imagine they get heavy after a while.”

Felix pulled the drinks away from her grasp, finally fixing her with a look. 

I want you to mind your business, you little-

“Felix!”

Marinette’s punch was plucked from his hands, and an arm settled on his left shoulder. He whipped to the new interruption, thinking what now? and about ready to snap at someone, until he saw Allegra’s smiling face. She must have noticed him getting irritated and came over to investigate.

“You look like you’re having fun.” She said brightly, swirling Marinette’s punch in her hand. “Thanks for holding my drink for me.”

Felix winced, practically feeling the gears in the girl’s head turning. He’d just told her that the drink was Marinette’s, not Allegra’s. She was no doubt going to pick up on that. (Unless she was dimmer than he gave her credit for. That could always be a possibility.)

“Wait-” The girl said, her brows furrowing. Great. “Your drink? Felix just told me that that raven-haired girl gave him the drink.”

Felix gave Allegra a tired look. Try getting out of this one now.

At least she got Marinette’s hair color right that time.

Allegra ignored Felix’s look, instead throwing the girl a sharp smile. It was a rare sight to behold, but a welcome one. (So long as it wasn’t directed at him, of course.) It meant she was preparing herself to tear someone apart.

“Yes,” She replied shortly, “I gave the drink to Marinette, so she could give it to Felix. Is there a problem?”

The girl frowned. “But that doesn’t make any sense. I saw her-”

“You don’t believe me?” Allegra cut her off. “That’s rather rude to say to the hostess of the party, don’t you think? Go ask her yourself if you’re so skeptical. I wouldn’t recommend coming back to me afterwards, though.”

The girl huffed and crossed her arms, but turned around anyway, marching right off to a small group of girls that must have encouraged her to come talk with him in the first place. They swarmed her quickly, asking what happened and glaring at Allegra, but all Felix cared to do was take Marinette’s punch back from the blonde.

“I’m grateful, but I’m still going to need this back.” He said.

Allegra laughed and straightened to throw her hands in the air as a sign of surrender. “Fine with me. I didn’t realize you’d grown so attached to the beverage.”

Felix rolled his eyes. “I didn’t. You just might drink it by accident while we’re talking.”

Allegra tilted her head in a nod. “That’s a fair assumption. So what did that girl want from you?”

He sighed. “A dance. What else would people be asking me for at this ridiculous party?”

“Hey, it’s not ridiculous.” Allegra argued. “Marinette’s having a pretty good time.”

Felix’s gaze swept over the crowd again, finding Marinette easily as she switched off to a new dance partner. Her smile was contagious as always, and it spread onto Felix’s lips with little resistance.

“Yes, I suppose she is.” He agreed, taking another sip of his punch.

Allegra leaned against the wall next to him with a light chuckle. “You know, I bet if Marinette asked you to dance with her, you would.”

Felix scoffed at the implication her tone gave. Of course he would dance with Marinette if she asked, but only because it would make her happy, not because he wanted to dance with her. (Not that he particularly minded dancing with her either-)

“She wouldn’t ask me to dance,” he said before his thoughts could get out of hand, “because she knows I don’t fancy it.”

Allegra hummed. “Maybe you should ask her then.”

Felix shot her a look. This was going to be as tiresome as the other girl, wasn’t it?

“And why would I do that?”

“Because you need to not be a total wallflower this evening.” Allegra smiled. “And it would make Marinette happy. She’s already danced with Allan and Claude tonight, but with your professional lessons, I’m sure she’d have a blast.”

“I believe we just established that she is already having a blast.” Felix remarked, to which Allegra groaned.

“Just think about it, alright?”

“Unlikely.”

Why should he have to entertain an uncomfortable idea when Marinette was already enjoying herself? Granted, dancing with her didn’t sound awful, but the thought that it might encourage others to attempt dancing with him did. People were already asking him to dance while he was hiding near a wall. Imagine how many girls would come out of the woodwork once they actually saw him dancing.

Allegra rolled her eyes and waved him off. “Alright, whatever. I’m going back to the buffet table. Feel free to walk over if you start getting the urge to snap on someone again.”

Felix smirked. “In other words, I’ll see you in a few minutes?”

Allegra snorted as she walked away, and Felix settled back against the wall.. Just in time to see Marinette making her way towards him from the midst of the crowd. She appeared to be out of breath, though she offered him a tired smile when they locked eyes, and he moved forward to meet her halfway. That way she won’t have to trek all the way across the room for a drink.

“Are you finally taking another break?” He asked, handing her her punch when they joined at the edge of the crowd.

Marinette breathed out a laugh and took her drink with a “thanks”. It amazed him how well her outfit was staying together. The bow that held the dress together over her shoulders hadn’t loosened at all, and her hair seemed to be in place as well, save for a few stray strands. One would think that that amount of dancing would have her looking more disheveled.

“Yeah, just for a second.” She panted. “I’m starting to get dizzy from spinning so much.”

Felix chuckled. “Would you like to go find a table for a bit?”

“Uh..” Marinette glanced around the room for a moment, thinking it over. “You know what? Sure. I could sit for a bit.”

Felix smiled and gestured for her to lead the way, though he did point out an empty table that he had spotted earlier.

Marinette sat down first, with Felix pulling out her chair for her, and he sat down next to her. Their position faced the party rather than the wall, which allowed them- or at least Marinette -to continue enjoying the party atmosphere while they spoke.

“So are you having a decent time?” Marinette asked, taking a quick sip of her punch. “I know parties aren’t your thing, but you’re not too miserable, right?”

A bitter laugh escaped him, and he twirled his cup on the table as he said, “Miserable is certainly a good word to describe this evening.”

“Aw~, I’m sorry. Do you think going out to get some air would help?”

Felix offered her a smile. “That sounds delightful, but it’s as you said: Parties simply aren’t my preference. This party especially.”

Marinette’s eyebrows knitted together. “Because it’s a Valentine’s Day party or because there are so many people?”

“The Valentine’s Day theme.” Felix confirmed. “Not only are people more inclined to invade my personal space, but they also like to make the ‘Day of Love’ about romance exclusively. It diminishes the other definition to a ridiculous amount in my opinion.”

“Other definitions?” Marinette inquired. “What do you mean?”

Felix allowed a small, humorous smile to catch his lips. She’d just inadvertently proven his point right there. People were so focused on the romantic sense of love that they seemed to forget the several other types of love that exist. 

“There’s more than one type of love, such as platonic love or familial love. In fact, the Greeks had seven different words for love. I believe they’re all important, so to see them all be dwindled down to just romantic love is aggravating.”

“Huh..” Marinette muttered, absorbing his words. “I never knew about the Greeks using seven different words for love. What were they?”

Felix briefly glanced up in thought. “If I remember correctly, they were Philia, Ludus, Storge, Philautia, Pragma, Agape, and Eros.”

“Wow.” Marinette smiled. “They sound beautiful. What do they mean?”

Felix smirked as well. Marinette Dupain-Cheng. Always willing to listen and learn from my random facts.

“Well, the meanings are all decently complicated, but I supposed they can be summed up to this: Philia is the type of intimate love between friends. Ludus is the playful and ‘exciting’ type of love that one would get with a random crush. Storge is familial love, Philautia is the love of self, Pragma is the enduring type of love- which is the type of love needed for marriages or serious relationships -Agape is the unconditional love for humanity as a whole- which I clearly do not have-” He gained a snort from that “-and Eros is that of sexual love.”

The meaning of the last one felt a bit awkward on his tongue, but he pushed away the uneasiness. She had asked for the definitions, after all.

“I like those definitions.” Marinette said, a soft look coming to her features. “It’s cool that you know so much about them.”

“I have mentioned that I enjoy knowing things.”

Marinette giggled. “So you have. Just out of curiosity, though- and this may be a bit contradictory to the conversation -but have you ever had a crush on anyone? Or just, you know.. Been in a relationship in general? You don’t have to answer if you don’t want to.”

Felix’s eyes widened slightly. He honestly hadn’t expected her to ever ask him such a thing. It made sense, considering the topic of the conversation they were having, but it was still surprising coming from her.

Nevertheless, he answered. 

“No, neither. I’ve never been interested in anyone enough to pursue them, and anyone interested in me has always been too clingy. If I wanted someone to fawn over me constantly, I would simply invite Claude and Allegra to my house more often.”

For some reason, his answer didn’t feel quite right as he said it, and he found himself gauging Marinette’s reaction. Did he answer the question incorrectly? Was she going to be upset? Or possibly disappointed? Why would she be either? How could there possibly be an ‘incorrect’ answer to the question he’d just been asked?

Marinette snorted, clearly not upset at all, and it left him wondering why he’d bothered to worry.

“I figured you’d say that. You don’t seem like the type to get caught up in feelings like that.”

Felix nodded, though he silently questioned what she meant by the comment. Was she implying that he couldn’t get caught up in those types of feelings? Why did that seem so offensive to him?

“What about you?” he asked, brushing his thoughts to the side. He was just being ridiculous anyway. “Have you ever had romantic feelings towards another or been in a relationship?”

He already knew about her affections for Adrien Agreste, of course, but he’d yet to find out how far they went. And, on top of that, there was always the possibility of her having more than one lover. So it only made sense to ask the question, especially since she had asked him first.

A grimace overtook her features, clearly telling him that she had, in fact, had a romantic encounter before.

“Well.. I’ll admit I’ve had a lot of crushes, but there was this one that really got me. You, uh, you’ve actually met him already. Technically, anyway.”

Felix took a guess. “Adrien Agreste?”

She nodded, a bitter smile coming to her lips. “Cliché, right? The baker girl falling for the famous model..” She glanced down at her drink, absently tilting the cup to watch the liquid swirl. “I didn’t like him because he was a model, though. I liked him because he was sweet, and he was thoughtful, and.. I don’t know, I guess I thought.. that we could live a happy life together.”

Felix frowned at the cloud that seemed to pass over her, the pain that swelled in her eyes. He hadn’t realized how strong her attachment to Agreste was.

Marinette shook her head, breaking free of the thought process, and plastered on a smile. “I’m sorry, you didn’t ask about that.”

“No, it’s alright.” He assured her. “You can’t let things weigh on your mind unattended. If you feel you need to talk about it, then I’m willing to lend an ear.”

Marinette’s posture relaxed, relief making her smile a bit more genuine as she said, “Thank you. I appreciate it.. I don’t have any feelings for him now, but the pain is.. It still comes back, especially with how things ended. Sometimes I wish it had been different, sometimes I wish I had been different, and sometimes I wish I hadn’t fallen for him at all.. but mostly, I’m just glad it’s over.”

“What happened?”

“Well.. nothing happened, to be honest. And I think that was the hardest part.” Marinette drew in a deep breath, allowing herself to relax before continuing, “He came to my school a little over two years ago. Everyone was excited, but I didn’t even know who he was. When I did find out, though, we actually had a little bit of a misunderstanding. It’s funny when I think about it now, the way things turned out during that first day.”

“He apologized about it later, even though it wasn’t his fault, and I think that’s when I started to see him as something more than a friend. The more I got to know him, the more I started falling head over heels, and soon my friends found out about it. They thought we would be a great couple too, which kind of made me excited, and we all started planning these elaborate schemes to get him to notice me.”

She put her head in her hands and groaned. “It was so embarrassing, Felix, you should have seen them. One even involved me dressing up like a cat since he loved Chat Noir so much.” 

Felix grimaced, though he tried not to show it. Marinette dressing up like a cat for some random guy’s attention? He couldn’t even fathom it. Who came up with that suggestion?

“Did it.. work?” He almost hesitated to ask.

Marinette laid her head on the table then, shaking it with a whine. “Not even close. This group of dogs saw me on my way over, and I guess my costume was too convincing because they chased me all around Paris. I ended up muddy and scratched up when Adrien actually saw me, which didn’t help at all.”

Felix was careful not to react, but he almost felt the need to pat her on the shoulder. How had she not died from embarrassment yet? If someone put him through that, he’d never go outside again.

“You see? That’s how all of it was. All. of. It.” Marinette said, lifting her head again to lean her chin into her palm. “Two years I spent chasing after him, making all of these plans and trying to catch his eye just once, but no matter what I did, I was only ever his ‘good friend’. A-And I’m not saying I hated being his friend or anything, I just.. I was trying so hard to be more, wondering why I wasn’t enough, and my friends were constantly cheering me on to keep going. It was exhausting.”

Felix offered her a sympathetic look as she went on, though he couldn’t help feeling annoyed by the story. What kind of ‘friends’ did she use to have that they would willingly push her to make a fool of herself in front of her love? What kind of friends would encourage her to continue chasing after someone who clearly wasn’t interested in her? That wasn’t healthy at all, and he could only imagine how miserable it would have made her.

Wait..

“Is that why he’s coming to see you now?” Felix asked. (or more of blurted out.) “Because of your previous feelings for him?”

“Oh, no.” Marinette said, going so far as to let out a laugh. “No, I doubt he’s ever going to see me in that light, but it’s still frustrating that he’s trying to visit me. Moving to Rosemary was supposed to be an easy break, but he just has to follow me here too.. Again, it’s not that I mind being his friend or anything, it’s.. I need time. To get over him. I don’t like the person I became when I only lived to gain his affection, and it’s hard to get over that mindset, ya know?”

Felix nodded. He didn’t quite understand her experience since he’d never loved someone himself, but he knew that old habits were hard to break, and that love can be known as an intoxicating and addicting emotion. It wouldn’t be easy to get rid of.

“You’re strong for deciding that.” He said sincerely. “It takes an immense amount of will power to let go of something that you think will make you happy, but I believe you’re right in thinking you’ll be better for it.”

Marinette pulled a small smile, twisting the small tip of her ponytail. “Thanks. I hope I am.”

Felix smiled as well and turned his chair to face Marinette more fully. He wanted to ensure that she would hear the words he was about to say.

“Marinette, you are.. an incredible person. And I’m not just telling you this to lift your spirits, I am saying it because it’s true. You are talented, intelligent, kind, and capable all on your own. You don’t need anyone to validate how amazing you are, because it’s evident in everything you do, and I truly hope you don’t ever doubt yourself because of Adrien’s foolishness.”

A blush bloomed across Marinette’s cheeks, and she glanced down to fiddle with her hands. “O-Oh, uhm.. Thanks.. Again. I won’t.”

Felix smiled, satisfied with the reaction, and picked up his cup to extend it towards her.

“Here,” he said light-heartedly, “to finding someone new, someone who appreciates you, even if that someone is yourself.”

Marinette giggled and picked up her drink as well, clinking the glasses together. “To finding someone new.”

Felix took a sip of his cup to complete the toast, but to his surprise, Marinette set hers to the side, instead standing up and offering her hand to him.

“Let’s go dance.”

Felix choked on his drink.

“Pardon?”

“Come on, it’ll be fun!” Marinette insisted. “I mean, you only have to come if you want to, of course, but I haven’t danced with you yet, and Claude said that you took waltzing lessons at the school.”

Felix held back a scoff and glanced around the room, hoping to catch Claude’s eyes so he could glare at him. Why did that dolt keep telling people he took waltzing lessons? It only made it harder for Felix’s to reject people when asked to dance. 

However.

He looked back to Marinette, who held a fresh, bright smile, waiting for his response.

“I bet if Marinette asked you to dance, you would.”

Allegra’s words resurfaced in his mind, unwelcomed. Why did she always have to be right? It only made her more smug as a person.

Nevertheless, Felix took Marinette’s hand. “Alright, but only one dance. I don’t want anyone else thinking I’m open to the idea.”

Marinette chuckled and pulled Felix to his feet. “Of course not. We’ll dance near the darker spots of the room so your face won’t be seen.”

They moved to the dance floor, and Marinette put her hand on his shoulder, while Felix wrapped his arm around her waist. It was a bit awkward pulling each other close, since the only other person he’d been this close to was his mother and father, but once they actually started to dance, his years of practice easily took over. Felix slid into the role of leading, and Marinette followed him willingly as he spun her around the party room, smiling when she laughed during a dip.

Such a fool.. He thought, tugging her back up to him. How anyone could pass up Marinette’s affection was beyond him, but in a way, Felix was delighted that Adrien had. He might not have been able to meet her otherwise.

With the two being so enveloped in each other’s movements, they didn’t notice Allegra, Claude, and Allan watching them from across the room, nor did they catch the smiles and high-fives that the trio shared.

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[nobodyfamousposts]

Felix Culpa First Impressions - Marinette

It was his first day and already he wanted the entire year to be over.

He agreed to their petty requests. To go to this school where the children of the acclaimed attend. To come to Paris and play the part of the dutiful son in the public eye. He even agreed to do a few cover spreads for the Gabriel line because that was what his dear mother wanted. All while trying to convince himself it wasn’t a complete mistake or utter waste of his time. So he had left for the first day of school with a vague promise that he would at least try to make friends.

Fifteen minutes in and he already hated his class and everyone in it.

Well, almost everyone.

Felix looked to the girl who was to be his guide to the campus. She was clearly nervous and a babbler, the latter likely due to the former. Not that he could hold that against her since she was at least trying. There was a sincerity in her efforts, even if she was nervous and uncertain how to proceed. Then there was the matter of the scene he had first walked in on. She may very well still be stressed from that.

He probably hadn’t helped matters, not that he felt particularly inclined to apologize for speaking up, regardless of whether she appreciated it. It just hadn’t set right with him to see her pushed to the back like that. It wasn’t necessary and no one had even asked for her input before making decisions for her. He knew all too well what that was like and sympathized with her. A part of him may very well have projected his own troubles onto her.

Not to mention that he knew an emotional appeal when he saw it. While it may have been fully possible that the other girl in the class had been genuine in her offer to give up her seat at the front, it still would have been little more than a pity party she was throwing for herself. Whether she was intentionally manipulating others to get her way or “martyring” herself simply to gain sympathy, it was still distasteful of her and Felix found it questionable which reason he despised more.

This girl—Marinette Dupain-Cheng? She at least didn’t buy in to it so much as she seemed pushed by everyone else’s reactions. She seemed one to care what others felt. There were also indications from that initial meeting as well as her presentation since that she was a friendly sort who would certainly go out of her way for the sake of others.

He wasn’t sure if that was a good thing or not.

It was better to observe for now and reserve judgement for when he had more information. So he chose to stay silent and simply follow her as she showed him around. There was also the added benefit of having more time away from that classroom and the pointless drama within.

This was why he wanted to be homeschooled, but nooooo…

“So Felix,” Dupain-Cheng said, pulling him out of his thoughts, “what school did you attend before? This may not be all that different.”

She seemed to be looking for a point of correlation. It would be a useful way to connect through. She was looking to utilizing a common point to build off of in introducing him to his new school. A pity.

“None actually. I had a private education.”

Her eyes widened in interest but not surprise nor expectation. She likely knew someone else who had been homeschooled previously and had at least some familiarity. “Oh really? What brings you to Francoise Dupont at this point in the school year?”

He felt his hackles rise but tried not to show it. She was trying to get to know him, he reminded himself. She isn’t digging for dirt, she is just being friendly.

And it must certainly be unusual to have a student transfer in the middle of the school year. The fact that he arrived the same day as the Rossi girl’s ‘return’ no doubt didn’t help matters. Nor did his initial introduction to his new classmates.

“My parents wished it.” He replied evenly. There was no reason not to tell her, after all. She didn’t need the whole story, but a simple answer would suffice.

“Oh.”

Except in this case, it did more than suffice if her sudden change of expression to something more pensive was any indication. He was confused by her response but didn’t show it, simply looking at her and waiting for her to speak whatever she clearly wanted to say.

“It sounds like something you didn’t get much say in.”

...Perceptive. She wasn’t wrong.

Felix straightened at the answer. That was a surprise. She was able to read into his statement and pick up on his feelings rather keenly. And true to his initial impression, she seemed concerned. Her words and tone held sympathy on his behalf rather than not-so-subtly pushing him for private information about his family or to open up when he gave no sign of any desire to. She was worried for him, for all that they had only met that day.

It was kind of her, though it wasn’t necessary.

“I’m making the most of it.”

He’s trying to, at any rate. It was evident he was not off to the best start. His new class was already proving to be a considerable strain on his patience for all that he hasn’t even had a full class period with them yet. He couldn’t say he was sorry, as he honestly didn’t care. And none of them really stood out to him as people he should want or need to interact with if he could help it.

Perhaps if he claimed they were unapproachable, he would be excused for simply ignoring them for the rest of the school year?

He noticed she maintained a certain distance from him, and given her expression, it seemed to be more for his comfort rather than her own. While she clearly wanted to reach out to him, she refrained from doing so, which he appreciated. She seemed respectful of personal space and boundaries, at least. He would give her that much.

“So hey…”

And here it comes.

“I know it’s your first day and the situation you walked in on wasn’t...the best.” She finished with a small wince.

That was putting it mildly.

“It’s hard starting someplace new, especially if it’s not something you really had a say in and didn’t want to do in the first place.”

It seemed she could read him rather well then. He listened, curious. She seemed to be speaking from the heart. Or perhaps from experience?

“Please don’t let these circumstances dictate the rest of the school year. You may not have a say in being here or who your classmates are, and I know things don’t seem that great right now…” She was babbling and seemed to realize it. “But you’re ultimately the one who can decide how this year will go for you.”

That was true.

She looked up at him, smiling. “I’m hoping that you can find something you enjoy while you’re here. There are plenty of good things about Dupont.”

“Such as?” He asked, actually curious rather than incredulous.

She seemed to brighten at that. “Well, we have an art club for starters! I’m part of it! So are Nathaniel and Alix! We each have our own focus, of course, but the teacher offers us a place to practice and useful guidance to improve.”

That was interesting. “You do art?”

Dupain-Cheng nodded, blushing somewhat. “I’m really into fashion design. I draw out and make my own clothes and accessories.” She explained, giving a brief gesture to her outfit as well as the purse she was carrying.

That was...rather impressive for someone her age. He glanced over her outfit in consideration. The materials weren’t quite the best quality and the stitching appeared uneven in places. But for the most part, it was holding together and appeared to give the overall look she seemed to want. Her purse in particular looked well-made, and with the design, he could have mistaken it as a logo for an official brand if he wasn’t already familiar with most of them to realize otherwise.

She didn’t seem eager or showing off. She wasn’t looking at him with anticipation. Nor did she appear to be expecting anything. She hadn’t even been inviting him to inspect the outfit, merely gesturing to her look as an example of something she made that she likes rather than a display of her talent to impress. Which was unusual. Normally people would be bragging or pointing out the “intricacies” of their designs or the techniques with the materials. They would play up their designs as the “newest trend” or the “next big thing”. And of course they would be making plays at him to try to get his interest and see if he wouldn’t be willing to spend just a bit of his time to see what they come up with and if they can’t tailor something to him personally. If she was a fashion designer, surely she would know about the usefulness of building connections.

Unless she didn’t…

He paused.

She didn’t know who he was.

He shook it off.

Whether she knew or not, it didn’t matter. Not to him, since he had no interest regardless. And it appeared to not matter to her either, as she proceeded to move on rather quickly from talking about herself or her creations to instead expounding more upon the new institution he happened to find himself obligated to attend.

“We’re bound to find something that you’ll be able to enjoy while you’re here!” She insisted, now appearing quite determined to help Felix have a good school year.

He wasn’t so sure, but didn’t feel inclined to argue. If they could find some manner of activity or purpose that could offer him something to look forward to, he was hardly going to reject it. That would simply be foolish, and while he wasn’t happy about being there, he wasn’t nearly that spiteful.

The library, at least, sounded interesting. And it appeared quite large from the look he was able to get when they passed it as they started to make their way back.

“And...about the class…”

He stopped.

“They’re good people, really.” She tried to reassure him. “They’re really nice and often helpful to others. You may get along with them if you give them a chance.”

Reading between the lines, he could hear what wasn’t said. Being helpful meant that help was often provided specifically more to those they thought needed it. And if the Rossi girl’s behavior was any indication, they appeared to be fooled into trying to help someone who didn’t actually need it at this point. And with Dupain-Cheng appearing to oppose that attempt to help, regardless of the overall poor way they chose to go about it...

The scene was making more sense now, but still was not an improvement from what he had initially observed. It only meant they were fools on top of being domineering.

As if she could tell where his thoughts were going, she waved her hands. “It’s really not as bad as you think.”

“That remains to be seen.”

He didn’t know enough about them to fully judge, but so far, what he had seen of the class had left him less than impressed.

But he’d also gotten a glimpse at the Class Representative for his new life away from home. And while a bit naive, she seemed rather polite and personable—one would dare say genuine and friendly. She was empathetic and could read people, and was able to read him well enough to respect his boundaries and address his points of frustration about his current situation.

His first impression of Marinette Dupain-Cheng…

…she was tolerable.

[immancahig]

Validating the Initial Problem: First Interview Blog

My weekly blog no. 2

This week our team had conducted our very first interview for this subject. For my part, it is so hard because we will be doing this to other people in which we may not know. Even though the person we asked to interview is someone we know already, it is still quite difficult to do since we will be acquiring their personal ideas and compare it to our main problem for validation purposes. They may not get our point and will answer it on a way we did not expect them to response. We also havedifficulty in approaching our respondents because we are all ashamed. We thought that they may reject our permission to interview them for a while. And this proves to be true since many times, we were turned down and they refuse to be interviewed. Almost all the responders also did not want to be taken a picture or a video for privacy reasons that is why we cannot force them to be taken.

I have learned that it is necessary to conduct experiments when deciding whether a certain problem will be also poses a great hindrance to other people. It may be or it may not. Base on the responses given to us, I can say that there are people that find the problem about dark areas/poorly lighted places on different ways. Some says that they see it as a big threat for them since it can cause a breeding ground for potentially hazardous scenarios (e.g. robbery, accidents) but some says that they only feel it moderately. Having analyses on the said observation, I pointed out that these people have different views/perspective about the said topic because of their differences of locations especially on the municipalities or barangays we have conducted. By the way, we did this because we wanted to know the different views or ideas on different people when we asked them same questions. Gathering multiple ideas help us think that there are various problems given different places but some still have common problems experienced like dark areas during night, floods, etc.

Our hypothesis is that before we conducted our interview, have thought thought that our responders will all think that dark areas during night will be poses a threat to them since security issues will follow because of it. We assumed that almost everyone is deeply concerned about this problem.

So what we have did? As an instruction to us, we have interviewed some people to verify our assumptions because our instructor said that the true data in this activity will be found outside the classroom. We approached them properly and asked them to be interviewed. We asked them the basic information that we need about them and some questions that will help us know what are their ideas and reactions. Among the questions we asked them are about how long they stayed on their area; about the problems they have experienced due to geographical reasons; and if they will not mention about dark areas, we prepared to ask them what their problems are during night time. We also asked their ideas if they will be given a chance to speak or give recommendations to their local government unit in order to solve the problems they are experiencing.

At first, it is really difficult to approach them and we were even turned down. But later, we found someone to be asked for this activity.

After gathering all of the responses, we have found out that there are various problems associated with different people living in different areas. Below is the summary of the data we have gathered. I did not put it in chronological order.

1.      Responder’s Name: Adela Salvan

Age: 43 years old

Occupation: Housewife and Small Store owner

Location: Looc, Villanueva, Mis. Or

Problem(s) encountered:  

·         Landslides/Flashfloods during rainy season:

She said it poses a great danger to them due to the fact that they experienced to be temporarily evacuate their home.

 ·         Security Issues especially during night:

The responder also experienced to be stolen at their store at night and did not able to see the theft’s whereabout because it run through dark area outside their premises. Though it is only a small amount but it must also be a concern. She said that there are barangay tanods provided by the barangay but they are not doing their job properly.

She also has a college student who usually went home late at night (more or less 9 pm) and she is afraid of her safety because their house is away from the highway and her daughter will walk towards home.

Recommendations:

·         More security measures taken like assigning responsible barangay tanods and more street lights for convenience.

·         If possible, find them a safer area to be transferred because they are afraid of landslides.

 2.      Responder’s Name: Maria Mae Pingkian

Age: 19 years old

Occupation: USTP Student

Location: Imelda Villanueva, Mis. Or

Problem(s) encountered:  

On behalf of her family she will give her answers since she also lived away from the highway and coming home late at night is an issue for her.

·         Water Supply:

It poses a big problem for her because it is almost a month since the water on their place is so scarce.

·         Poor drainage system:

It can cause flood outside their house during rainy season.

·         Security during night:

Even it is peaceful in their area, it cannot be guarantee safe from any danger. Since their location is near a downward road of a mountain highway, vehicular accidents is not impossible to happen especially during rainy nights. Crime can also happen there.

Recommendation(s):

·         Properly regulated water reservoir

·         Regulation of drainage systems

·         CCTV and street lights on dark areas

 3.      Responder’s Name:  Felix Equacion

Age: 65 years old

Occupation: Coconut fruit gatherer, Owner of a small rental place in their place

Location: Lower Dayawan, Villanueva, Mis. Or

Problem(s) encountered:

·         Noise:

Since his rental place is closed to his house, it will be very noisy especially during at night where all the boarders are present. There will also be a time that some boarders will drink liquors and will be drunk. They will be noisy and the responder’s family will be disturbed especially during sleeping hours. Noise problem is even magnified due to bystanders in the front of their house. It is because near them there is a basketball court and many will still play event night time.

 ·         Remote house location:

For information purposes, Lower Dayawan is a barangay in which is quite far from the highway so entering that place will also take quite time.

Due to this one and the responder’s children already have a night shift works, he is concerned about the security of his children especially they will be passing some dark areas in which many bystanders roamed even late at night.

Recommendations:

·         Noise cannot be controlled especially when it came from others but he suggested to have a law in order to control those staying outside late at night and minimizes noise.

·         To have street lights for convenience especially for his children and other neighbours returning home late at night.

4.      Responder’s Name:  Myrna Dagohoy

Age: 47 years old

Occupation: AMLEY Food Production worker

Location: Lokong, Upper Dayawan, Villanueva, Mis. Or

Problem(s) encountered:

·         Very Muddy Path during rainy season:

The only path that they used to access toward the central part of their barangay is so muddy when it rains. It is because it was not continued when road access project were done long ago. Since there is no other way, some residents will be forced to use the non-cemented road. It is a big problem for them because the uniforms of their children will be dirty. It is also slippery.

·         Poor Spillway:

During rainy season, the spillway that helps the residents to cross a small river was being reached by the river current. This make them wait for the water to subdue until they will cross. It was even taken from afternoon to evening before they can safely pass using the spillway.

Recommendation(s):

·         The respondent recommended that it will be convenient for them if the LGU will continue to cement their public road access because it will gradually save them from muddy roads and accidents.

·         To elevate the height of the spillway so that it will not be flooded when rainy season come. It will also make the residents convenient to use it even the river current is strong.

·         To put streetlights at their path to help them during the night. Or fi not street light, atleast they will be given flashlights to be used.

 5.      Responder’s Name:  Jaime Perchora

Age: 25 years old

Occupation: Housewife

Location: San Roque Village, Dayawan, Villanueva, Mis. Or

Problem(s):

·         Dark areas during night time due to the non-replaced electrical posts and street lights.

Many bystanders are roaming at the dark areas which gives them fear.

Recommendation(s):

·         To replace the non-performing street lights in their area for their convenience.

 To summarize the results of our interview, there are many possible problems given different places or areas in which the interview is done. But there are still some common problem that exist. Based on the reports mentioned above, we can say that our problem about the dark areas or the poorly lighted areas are being verified true. Even though some put it as “moderate” level and other was “great” it is still an implication that this problem can cause disturbances and inconvenience to the people.

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[trulycertain]

Unsent

This was meant to be a quick fic because I realised I hadn’t done anything epistolary. Oops, I accidentally 2.8k. Set in an AU where these two were a lot stupider for a lot longer. Lots and lots of pining.

Well, the Herald’s an odd one. One moment it’s scowling and frightening the neighbours, the next it’s sprinting up the steps like some sort of oversized mabari to ask me questions about the Imperium and the architecture and Dorian, just how far ahead in thaumaturgy is the Imperium? It’s almost endearing. Certainly, it makes me think he’d be fun to have a drink with.

I think he’s smuggling me books. I found On Marches Spirit Magic had somehow ended up on my desk the other day. It’s a kind thought. I thanked him and he denied it. But he’s a truly dreadful liar. And when he smiles, even broken-nosed and with those startling tattoos, he’s… almost handsome. An odd thought, and one I ought to dismiss, really, if I know what’s good for me.

My father would be asking me why I’m keeping a diary like some simpering adolescent, but with all the oddities I’ve found so far, I thought it might be useful to document them. Especially if I can make notes for letters to Felix, find a few things to make him laugh. He deserves that.

And now I’m getting morose. Time to end this before I think too much.

Herald, though I know you’d protest to being addressed as such,

I’d forgotten what it was like, the anger. Usually it’s something in the pit of my stomach, heavy and uncomfortable and there, but ignorable. I thought I’d spent enough anger on my disaster of a family that I didn’t have any to spare. Apparently I was wrong.

I shouldn’t have got you drunk, and I shouldn’t have asked about Ostwick. Perhaps if I hadn’t, I wouldn’t be sitting here wanting to immolate your mother and every one of your Chantry instructors, slowly and painfully.

Odd. Usually I’m more sanguine about the myriad ways the world disappoints us. I suppose, with Felix and Mae across an ocean and everyone else probably donning Venatori hoods as I write, it’s been too long since I’ve had a friend. Is that what we are? Friends? We’ve sort of drifted into it. You have the only decent book collection in this backwater of a village.

Once again, I wonder why I’m writing what can be barely described as a letter; a glorified note. And it will certainly never be sent. I’ve heard of worse ways to cope with it all, I suppose. In fact, I’m currently looking at an excellent vintage and wondering how much worse it will be, exactly. The fun sort of worse, I think.

   You’re not dead. Oh, thank the Maker. For a moment I thought I’d we’d lost you.

Why am I writing this?

   Ser No-Longer-Trevelyan,

I doubt you know this, but you have some fascinating nightmares. When we shared a tent, I picked up various mumblings about the Divine and about lyrium, red or otherwise. I wasn’t about to disturb you, even if I did want to take notes, but you reached out as if you were in pain, and -

I took your hand. I don’t know why I did. Dangerous and stupid, probably, even if it wasn’t the one that likes to crackle.

It seemed to soothe you somewhat. I don’t know why I lingered and kept my hand around yours, even for a little time after you quieted.

I don’t know.

(That’s a lie.)

   To The Inquisitor, He of the Glowing Hand, Saviour From Rifts and Batterer of Templars:

You honestly have no idea, do you? It’s almost absurd - no, there’s no almost about it. You casually throw troops around the battlefield, carry an Inquisition on your frighteningly broad shoulders with nary a complaint, come back from the bloody dead, and then you act as though you have less right to be here than any of us.

You have this terrible habit, or more precisely, both of us do: you shed your shirt with no ceremony - ridiculous, frankly, you should receive all the fanfare any other piece of art gets upon its unveiling - and then I do something foolish like look (and believe me, I know how to be subtle, but I’ve begun to think I could probably bring a telescope and you wouldn’t notice). The desire demons have gone from hinting at ideas of scars and soporati to outright laughing at me. Thank you for that.

If only it were just that. But then you go and help villagers; you aid elderly women with collecting water; you spend hours hunting for meat for people you’ve never met and you put yourself and your shield in front of everyone from scowling templar recruits to lowly scouts. You read Chantry tomes and you frown at perceived injustices and I’ve realised that if I ask you about some trivial point of history in the Exalted Age I’m likely to get that smile and the most words anyone has ever heard from you. Perhaps with those small gestures that from anyone else - oh, I mean from me - would be undignified arm-waving. And I find myself smiling at unexpected moments, too. Not just in the way that means I’m trying not to laugh at you, either.

And worst of all, the way you look at me when I summon a wisp or I throw together some spell to clean off blood splatter, as if there’s something wondrous about me. Of course there is, I’d say. I’m the most worthy of admiration here. But sometimes you look at me, and I realise that you would know how hollow the words sound inside my head. After all, so many would disagree, and with good reason. Or when I say something and it startles a laugh out of you and you look at me with that terrible fondness, the way you do with all our merry little band of misfits. As if we’ve blessed you simply by being your friends.

I wish that simply being your friend was all I wanted to do. It would make my life far easier.

This will pass. It always does, in the end. I’ll nod and smile and make light conversation and try not to think about the way you look thoughtful when no-one’s watching you, or the pattern of scars under your ribs. Or the way it seems that the world has so often mistreated you, and I’d like to be the exception. Someone needs to show you how marvellous and unusual you are, especially when the world is ending and there might be few chances. Someone needs to show you that body is made for beauty, not just to be a battering ram. For once in this bloody world, someone needs to be gentle with you, because you deserve so much better. We all do, but you especially, because you seem determined to carry us all through this, on your back if necessary.

I’m far from frightened about wanting to sleep with you. It’s the wanting to wake up with you that worries me.

And now I thank everything that’s holy you’ll never find these. They’re my odd little way of making sure certain things stay unsaid, I suppose. They should probably stay unthought, too, but I’ve always been contrary.

I could sign this, but I suppose in some other timeline, if you were reading this, you’d recognise my handwriting by now.

  Gal,

You need to stop. Please.

Brave, you called me. I don’t think anyone has ever called me that before. However, it’s untrue, because bravery isn’t swallowing every other sentence, afraid that it might give you away. Bravery isn’t using your frightening intelligence to contemplate what you can’t have, scratching at it like an old wound.

You need to stop with the patience and the finding me in between all your duties and the kindness. If I were a better man I could appreciate that kindness for what it is, but I’ve never been a better man. Instead I find myself wondering if there’s something more to it; if perhaps, when I look, you’re looking back.

Foolish, I know. Even if by some chance I was right, it’s not as if I have anything to offer you: you’re the Inquisitor, saviour of nations and leader of armies, and I’m a Tevinter reject who couldn’t even make a decent thaumaturgical discovery without it being ripped out from under him and being used to tear the world apart. You’re the Herald of Andraste, and I’m the magister just waiting to get at your blood and begin pulling your strings. Myself, I find the irony of that accusation amusing, but for all you seem to have a badly-hidden sense of humour, I doubt you would. I’ve seen the way you look at people who dare say such things. I remember it from when we’d only just met and I could have been a Venatori spy, for all you knew - and yet you thanked me for saving your life, made anyone who said otherwise cower in their boots. You have an impressive glare; I’ve almost come to miss it, these past few months. It might be that you’re happier now. I hope it is. A man like you deserves happiness. The man that warned off idiot farmer’s sons who wanted to start a tussle with the Tevinter menace, spent hours trying to bake because Sera asked, watched the entire mess with my father and then called me brave - that man is entirely worthy of fair treatment. Better than fair.

I’d like to make you happy. And there, rank stupidity; I sound like some swooning maiden in one of Cassandra’s rags.

I know you’re only being kind. I know. Even if sometimes you say things and I wonder… Well. There are ways of holding a gaze, ways that say all one needs to know. Sometimes I wonder if that’s what I’m seeing, but that’s just wishful thinking. And even if it is, that doesn’t mean you want anything more than a quick diversion and to get some decent use out of that grand bed. I quite understand. If I had hand-carved Orlesian posts and that many furs, I, too, would want to show off.

We’re both adults; I’m not about to waste away pining. There’s a world to save, after all. Even if I do wonder, sometimes.

But you need to stop drinking with me - I know for a fact you hate the dwarven ale, you’re a truly underwhelming liar - and giving me that soft smile. You need to stop saying I’m a good man and coming to me with staff blades found in the arse-end of caves. You need to stop asking for recommendations on magical theory and reading with me as if there’s no place you’d rather be. You’re making time specially; I can tell, you know. You hurry about to speak to us all, to be with us in between saving Wardens and wooing courts, as if we matter. As if I matter.

You need to stop this, all of it, because I might start to hope. Surely you can see how that might be a problem.

Please.

   (The writing is smudged and illegible in several places, and the parchment appears to have had wine spilt on it)

You bastard. I should never have come here, I don’t know what I expected to find but it certainly wasn’t something like you -

Venhedis. Festis bei umo canavarum. Te amo, te amo, te amo.

   Gal,

My last “letter” was rather a wobble and should be ignored entirely - not that you’ll read any of these, but it’s the thought that counts. I’m never going near elven wine again, for my own good and that of Thedas.

I’ll live. This is hardly life-threatening. And, as I said after that last fight in the Graves, you won’t even see me bleed. As much as it pains me to confess, you’re possibly the best friend I’ve ever had, and that will be more than enough.

As I also said after that fight: you need to reach for potions sooner and not just hoard them to throw them at us while you stagger towards the nearest mage. I say that as the nearest mage. Bloody idiot.

   Gal,

STOP RUNNING AT PRIDE DEMONS. I don’t care if Vivienne and I have triple-barriered you and you’ve finally found some decent armour, STOP. Do you want House Pavus’ last hope dead of a heart attack at thirty? No, I thought not.

   Dorian,

I didn’t mean to find these. I promise. I was looking through the Geology section and they just fell out; I thought they were ordinary Inquisition correspondence. I think Leliana saw me scrabbling to try and pick up pieces of parchment, because it looked like she was trying not to laugh. I was going to put them back and then I saw my title. I suppose things spiralled from there. The dates are all recent, so I think you check this pile; you must add to it sometimes.

You’re going to see this and then you’re going to panic. You might well go off to get very drunk. Just read this first. Please.

I don’t know when it began. I was waiting for death from a demon or from a Chantry sword; I wasn’t sure which. No-one could meet my eye but Josephine, and that first week, I wanted to fall to my knees and thank her. I wish I was exaggerating.

Redcliffe was nothing like I’d expected, and as you said, Alexius sounded exactly like the worst stories I’d grown up hearing about the Imperium. I knew there had to be something else, better people. It made as much sense to me as calling every Marcher a Kirkwall templar. I thought Felix might be a decent man. I was right, and I’m glad for that. (I keep meaning to say something about that. It must have hurt, losing your friend one day at a time. I can never find the words; it isn’t like I’d understand.)

When I walked into the Chantry, the first thing I thought was Not another bloody rift, and the second was, He’s too handsome to be on our side. I could have lived with that, until you looked at me - not the Mark and not the Inquisition, me - and you did it like I was interesting, without flinching or hesitating. Then you saved my life. So perhaps you made an impression. I’d never expected to meet someone Tevene, but when I did, you were everything I hadn’t known to hope for. I wasn’t used to bright funny free mages who could run circles around me. Those first few weeks, I felt clumsy around you all the time; I was out of practice at talking, and even more out of practice at talking to men who made me feel like I’d been bashed around the head with a shield, and who could quote pretty much the entirety of Horatius’ Theorem, and whose arse made me want to believe in the Maker.

Maybe I should try this again.

My mother would be appalled; she always tried to made sure I could write a decent letter. Back then, it was expected they’d have the Trevelyan seal, so I had to wear the family name decently. Afterwards, there was the Chantry, and you had to be able to structure a sentence if you ever wanted to even look at Knight-Commander. My mother and my old superiors would all be horrified at me using those skills to write something like this, especially to a man. Not that it matters; it doesn’t matter to me.

I meant to say that I was a miserable Chantry reject with a death sentence waiting, and you were brilliant. I didn’t know what to do with that. I still don’t. I’ve never met anyone else like you and I doubt I ever will. You’d put it better. When I tried saying something honest about that, I thought I was making a fool of myself. I didn’t think you’d be interested. After the Conclave, I wasn’t much good at parties. When you were flirting with me, I assumed you were just being polite and laughing at me for saying something stupid. Later, I thought you were just being kind (you are, even if you pretend not to be) and humouring me. You deserved better. You’d become my best friend here, and I didn’t want to jeopardise that.

I thought it was just me, too. I would have said something. I didn’t mean to leave you on the hook. I swear, I didn’t know.

So it’s not just you. I have to say that: it’s not just you. You were right. Every time you were looking, I was looking back.

I know what te amo means. Me too. If you read this, find me and I’ll say it in person, as often as you need to hear it. I promise.

- G