#drawing chat noir being dramatic is fun
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tears-of-xion · 6 months ago
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She's about five seconds from tossing him back into the ocean.
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Please do not use or re-post my artwork without my permission. Thank you!   (reblogs, however, are welcome and appreciated)
I do not own Miraculous: Tales of Ladybug and Cat Noir, nor it’s characters. All rights to their owners.
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what-plant-metaphor-am-i · 2 years ago
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2022 Creators Self-Love Extravaganza!
Rules: It’s time to love yourselves! Choose your 5 favorite works (fics, art, edits, etc.) you’ve created this year and link them below to reflect on the amazing things you’ve brought into the world in 2022. If you don’t have five published works, that’s fine! Include ideas/drafts/whatever you like that you’ve worked on/thought about, and talk a little about them instead! Remember, this is all about self-love and positive enthusiasm, so fuck the rules if you need to. Have fun, and tag as many fellow creators as you like so they can share the love!
Considering myself tagged by @onedivinemisfit ;) thanks!! Similarly, if anyone wants to do this and hasn't been tagged yet, I tag you! <3
Hug Lessons
I was so pleased to finally get this drawn on paper after it had lived in my head for so long :) Still makes me laugh to imagine this interaction between them...
2. Drinks and Hijinks
Gosh this took me SO LONG to finish! I'm proud of the work I put into it and the overall finished piece, especially considering how I find clothes and poses verrry difficult to draw :') I like seeing the whole gang together, and it was my first time properly drawing Zen!
3. Soirée Away
A fic that I had a great time writing! I got pretty immersed in the scenes and was happy with the outcome~ Dramatic Eisetsu was super fun to write :D
4. Chat Noir Obi
Like I said before poses and clothes are tricky for me, and this is a full-body pose, in other words, a moment of triumph. I have a whole list of ML au notes that I might build on one day, and if it gets me improving full body poses and clothes then it certainly is miraculous, ahaha
5. Concern...
A smally but a goody! I really like her expression and the detail I got into her hair and collar :) Also: Bun Shirayuki!!
Some honourable mentions:
Pillow Talk Part 2 (finally completed it omg)
The Sassassins
Blanket Obi being a Mood
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sandradoodles · 2 years ago
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So since you asked for asks, thought I'd throw one out there. What do you think Adrien's personal style might be if he didn't have to wear his dad's designs or dress to his approval? Do you think dating or being closer to Marinette might influence his personal style?
Oooooh good question. I am not super knowledgeable about clothing and style but I will answer to the best of my ability!
To the surprise of no one, this is long and full of rambling.
Knowing that the only time we see him for sure wearing something he actually wants to wear is when he's transformed into Chat Noir is either highly informative or not informative at all lol. Personally I believe parts of his daily outfit are actually representative of him (the stripes on his shirt, both because they are used in his "Adrien vision" in Oblivio and because Marinette sews them onto That Hat in Chat Blanc; and also his orange sneakers because I want to believe he thinks they are very cool.) The crispy white overshirt is all Gabe though. He dresses Adrien in white too much and the vibe is icky. "Look at my flawless son, a perfect blank slate for me to design myself." Do not want.
Dating Marinette would be great for Adrien in all ways, including developing personal style because she could encourage him to try new things and she's the person he's most comfortable around, so he can be honest with her about what he likes. He would be SUPER into wearing anything she gifted him as often as possible (and being borderline obnoxious about it like "MY GIRLFRIEND MADE THIS WITH HER OWN HANDS".) I can also imagine them having cheesy private fashion show dates where he models her other designs, poses over dramatically on purpose, and makes repeated ~catwalk~ jokes, but that's just for the two of them. Professional modeling is pointless, but supporting your girlfriend and treasuring her talent is anything but!
As for exactly where I think he'd land in terms of personal style... This is all gonna veer wildly into my own aesthetic and what I want to draw him wearing BUT ANYWAY I think a wider range of color and relaxed fit are the main things, which I realize is the exact opposite of Chat Noir but listen. His clothing should provide maximum comfort and freedom. Nothing that has to be starched, ironed, or fully tailored unless he has no other choice. (Obviously he's going to wear a very nice suit to Alya's and Nino's future wedding.)
For color schemes I'm again leaning hard into my own aesthetic but I think he'd be comfortable in the colorful neutrals: olive green, burnt orange, navy blue, etc. They're fun but not so loud that he's the first person you'd pick out of a crowd, which he deserves after being in an unwanted spotlight for so long. (More hats for the same reason, esp slouchy beanies that Marinette knits for him.) He punches up the color and accessorizes more when he's going to be hanging out with friends.
Extremely specific thing that I want him to wear: satin bomber jackets with striped cuffs. Some floral accents because he asked Marinette to add her own touch. Like:
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I accept constructive criticism but this really does feel right to me.
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miraculousfanworks · 3 years ago
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Artist Spotlight: Riley
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The Miraculous Fanworks Discord server is introducing the creator spotlight! Each month, one artist and one writer from the server will have their accounts and content promoted on our social media accounts. This month's artist of the month is Riley! See the writer of the month post here! Riley is a fantastic artist! He's constantly posting various content with his unique art style. From animation clips, to fanworks, to comics, his works are always fun and exciting! We've interviewed Riley, asking him questions about his artworks, fanworks, and advice for other artists.
1. How long have you been drawing in general?
About nine to ten years! I began drawing back in middle school with animals from book series I was into at the time, and then just kept going and going until I had a pretty wide range of things I could do.
2. How long have you been creating for the fandom, and what's your favorite part of the process?
Not very long at all! I’ve had a few drawings and even an animatic that never saw the light of day in 2019-2020, but it isn’t until this past August that I began to make things actively for the Miraculous Ladybug fandom, whether it’s funny comics, random drawings, or animatics. My favourite thing is honestly reading reactions to art posted; it’s so fun to see what people comment. I know that when I see a keysmash I’ve done something right. My favourite thing to make though is definitely animatics/AMVs! Time-consuming as they are- I have one set for release in late December in the works right now, actually! It’s kinda funny it took me so long to begin drawing for ML since I’ve been watching it since 2015!
3. Has there been anything in particular that influences your style?
I’ve always loved Glen Keane’s character sheets, how expressions look and work, and trying to exaggerate certain things to help beat same face syndrome. I can’t really say I bank off of just him, though; the style I’ve developed has been the result of transitioning from drawing just cats to people back in 2017, and finding something comfortable! The funniest comment I’ve ever gotten on my art style said it was feral and I don’t think I’ve stopped cackling since.
4. Do you have any advice you'd like to give to other creators?
Don’t put the value of your work on how others respond to it! I’m in art school currently, and the thing they hammered into us on day one of my program was never to take a response to your work personally. You should love to create and love what you do create. I try to put a little love into everything I make, even if it’s something big and fancy for a class or something quick and silly for the internet!
5. How do you think the identity reveal is going to go? Feel free to draw something quick if you want to!
I
 honestly have zero clue, but I know I do want it to be Ladybug who is revealed first! Maybe it’s all the angst I’ve read in the past month but a reveal in a really tense, dramatic moment? Like, I dunno, an akumatized Marinette- final boss, amiright? That has a special spot in my heart. Dunno if canon will ever have that, though, but a dude can dream!
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Riley can be found here on Tumblr @rileyclaw and on YouTube under the username rileybigfoot. Some of his works include art of Chat Noir in a an autumn tree, Marichat on a balcony, and sides of the love square at night! He also creates animatics and MVs, like How to Fall and I Love You So. Go check them out!
Interested in being featured? Come join the server!
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thr-333 · 4 years ago
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Drastic Measures- Part 1
@daminette-december2019-2020ïżœïżœâ€‹
~Inspiration~
*Emerges from my hole*: oh ho ho~ we have another month of inspiration on our hands!
Next
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Marinette steps through the portal immediately collapsing; she doesn't drop the transformation until she hears Chat drop down next to her. She calls the transformation of both the Horse and Ladybug miraculous, knowing Chat will close his eyes without her asking, Marinette does the same for him as he calls off his own.
They stay like that, panting on the rooftop. It’ll be sunrise soon, Marinette knows what she has to do.
“He’s moved,” She breaks the silence. Stating the obvious, they’ve known this for months.
“At least he wont be bothering Paris anymore,” Chat laughs, without any humor.
“But Gotham is so much worse,” Marinette groans, “We can’t keep doing this, not like we are, Spots on,”
Marinette stands letting the transformation wash over her while keeping her eyes shut, this will be easier to say without looking at him anyway.
“Chat Noir, hand over your miraculous,” Marinette recoils at the wounded sound he makes, “I have to leave Paris,”
“What? No! Claws out!” Marinette opens her eyes to see Chat, furious and with tears in his eyes, “I’m coming with you!”
She thought he would say that. Probably would have hurt if he didn’t.
“I can’t just ask you to leave your life, your friends,” Marinette chokes up, “Your family,”
“And what about you?!” Chat says with such heartbreaking sincerity, “Who will you be leaving behind!?”
“... Everyone,”
But she had put it off for too long. Hawkmoth slowed his attacks in Paris months ago, they thought he was giving up
 then he attacked Gotham. The attacks in Paris stopped. The ones in Gotham were so much worse. She thought
 she thought she could keep it up, jumping through a portal every time Gotham needed her. It was the best of both worlds. Her family and friends were safe and she could still defeat Hawkmoth. But nothing was ever that easy. Gotham needed her, completely, with undivided attention. Paris didn’t. Gotham needed Ladybug more than Paris needed Marinette.
“Not me,” Chat breaks Marinette from her thoughts, gently holding her shoulders, “I’m coming with you,”
She should argue. She planned to argue, every detail ever rebuttal. But she was weak. Marinette so desperately wanted him to come. To have someone, anyone there for her. No not anyone she wanted Chat by her side. Her partner through thick and thin. The one who would help her take down Hawkmoth. It was so unbelievably selfish. 
She wanted him with her more than she wanted him to live his life here.
“Chat you realize we can’t tell anyone,” They could make the connection, they would try to stop them, or worse, follow them. If they went to Gotham alone at least they wouldn't have a life outside of this, they could focus wholly on taking down Hawkmoth, and maybe finally succeed, “... we have to run away,”
“Bug a boo that's the fun part,” Chat teases, Marinette couldn't see how leaving her friends and family would be at all fun, “... sorry
 I know you’re leaving a lot behind,”
“If you do this-”
“When I do this,” Marinette raises a brow at him, he does it right back.
“We should reveal our identities,”
“Oh no, what a shame,” Chat dramatically ‘faints’, “Damn that makes this so much harder,”
“You know what?” Marinette ‘thoughtfully’ taps her chin, “I can probably find a new Chat Noir,”
“No, no! Sorry,” Chat immediately stands back up, “That’s obviously not why I’m doing this,”
“I know kitty,” Marinette smiles, getting him to relax, “But you need to think this over, I’m
 I’m going to go pack,”
“Don’t need to think it over,” Chat smirks, “Claws off!”
“Chat! NO!” Marinette yelps, chiding, before actually processing who it was standing before her, “Adrien?!”
“Uhh, you know me?” Adrien stands there so awkwardly Marinette just burst into laughter, “Ummm,”
“S-sorry it’s it’s just,” Marinette held her sides as she kept cracking up, “Spots off!”
Her transformation fell and at that moment Marinette couldn’t even manage to feel any anxiety at him finding out, the ‘o’ face he made was too priceless. Before she could even think of being nervous Adrien also bursts out laughing, the two ending up as wheezing messes on the rooftop. It took a long while and lots of giggling to calm down.
“Well at least I’m not leaving all my friends behind,” Marinette says to the sky, “That is if you still want to come?”
“Meet you here tomorrow Marinette,” Adrien stands up, offering a hand to Marinette, “Same time,”
“See you kitty,” Marinette waves as they part ways, for now. She had a lot she needed to do today.
Marinette doesn't sleep when she gets home. She searches deep in her draws for that special fabric she put aside. Flips through her sketchbook to find that perfect design she did once. Then gets to work making a pattern. It is well past sunrise by the time she is done. She’s late for school. It doesn't matter anymore.
Not running to class for once she makes sure her parents are free later that night. She’d like to spend all day with them, but Marinette wants to see her friends one last time. She stuffs her bag with all the presents she had made her friends for future birthdays. Might as well give them now. Lila smirks at her as she walks into class, Marinette would usually worry. It doesn't matter anymore.
“Hey girl, I was wondering, Lila said some-” Marinette cuts her off, handing Alya a pile of wrapped gifts.
“Hi, sorry I’ve been busy, kind of went into a design frenzy,” Marinette laughs sheepishly, “I was going to give them at your birthday, but I just couldn't wait,”
“Awe, girl this is amazing!” Alya holds up the jacket Marinette made a few months ago, she hugs Marinette tight, “See I told you, Lila, Marinette's just been busy!”
“Too busy to make me anything, I’m sure,” Lila says, teary eyed.
“Actually no,” Marinette smiles, enjoying the utterly shocked look.
“I made this to welcome you to the class, but then you went to Achu,” Marinette places it down with open hostility, “And, well, there wasn't really an opportunity after that,”
After that Lila has a hard time trying to twist it against her. Even the complaints that the bandanna is so much smaller than everyone else's gifts is weak as it has beautiful embroidery of a fox and ladybug, everyone cooing over how sweet and personal the design is. Back when Marinette actually believed her lie that they could start over and be friends. It also was hard to turn anyone against Marinette as she handed out presents to anyone that walked through the door. Laughing and apologizing for her absence lately, claiming the whole time she was making things for them.
When Adrien came to class they both tried to stifle their laughter. Marinette only gave him one thing, so as not to be suspicious. It would help to have all new clothes when they ran away, she would give the rest to him then. It was a scarf, one she made a while ago with the new addition of a green cat paw in the corner.
Marinette, for all intents and purposes, felt wonderful for the rest of the day. She caught up with her friends, felt closer to them than she had in a while actually. They talked and laughed, Marinette for once not encouraging them to keep quiet, joking along with them, and taking a million pictures. Madame bustier didn't complain much, after all, she had an all-new makeup bag plus more.
It was fun. And the ‘see you tomorrow’ was hollow.
Marinette was dreading going back home. She asked for a special dinner that night, saying she had a special surprise to show them. And special it was, Marinette had made a new dress for her Maman, a more casual version of her wedding dress, with a special Marinette flare, plus a matching outfit for her Papa. They smiled saying it was beautiful, just as they had with her very first design and everything she made since then. They ate together and played video games together.
Marinette asked to look at old photo albums and they spent the rest of the night pouring over them. If she slipped a few out to take with her, neither noticed.
“I love you both,” Marinette hugs them tight, imagining she’ll never see them again.
Even if they do defeat Hawkmoth, Marinette's not sure she’ll make it through the fight. She could be gone for years, or maybe never return to Paris. Marinette didn’t know if she’d ever see them again, this could be it.
“We love you too,” Her Maman smiles, cupping her cheek, “Now go to bed we don't want you to be late for school tomorrow,”
Sorry I will be
Marinette just nods, hugging them one last time before heading upstairs. She packs her bag, full of newly brought or made clothes, clothes for Adrien, food, and whatever cash she had on hand. She leaves a note, saying there's something she has to do, that she loves them both and this is in no way their fault, not to look for her but Marinette doubts they’ll listen. She grabs her bag and the miracle box, saying goodbye to her home and disappearing into the night with Tikki.
By the time she meets up with Adrien Marinette is a sobbing mess. They hug each other. Adrien's not crying but she can sense the deep sadness in him. Tikki hugs her too, getting Marinette to calm down.
“So what’s the plan?”
“Go to Gotham,” Marinette shrugs, that was really the extent of it.
“We have nowhere to go,” Chat hums, trying to act nonchalant about everything, 
“I guess this means we’re homeless,” Marinette shrugs again, she had really only planned this for herself, and none of that seemed like a concern.
“We can find an abandoned warehouse, set up shop,”
“Either way we’re going to be pretty busy,” Constantly on the run, either running from someone or running after someone.
“Well, you know what they say,” Chat smirks, “We’ll sleep when this bastard is taken down,”
“You know it,” Marinette smiles, genuinely this time, “Pound it?”
“Pound it,”
 ---
 “After last week we can indeed confirm these attacks are occurring,”
“Oh sure it wasn't like I told you a month ago,” Jason scoffs, getting glared at by Bruce for interrupting.
“Well you have to admit ‘this guy came and destroyed ten blocks’ is pretty unbelievable when everything’s unscratched,” Tim continues to tap away at his computer, “And now we know the cause,”
The footage was shakily taken from the next building over, partly destroyed. With a bright light everything was fixed.
“Magic,” Dick says needlessly.
“Meta humans,” Batman growls, “Not approved and playing at being heroes,”
“Can we really complain if they fix everything after a fight?” Duke speaks up, “The police didn't even report any casualties, they don’t seem to be rookies,”
“Magic makes them reckless,” Batman shuts the argument down, “More so if they can fix everything, what happens when they can’t?”
“So basically you want them out,” Damian cuts in, there was no point arguing over it for however long, Bruce wouldn't allow them to keep roaming the city.
“Yes,” Bruce fixes them all with a hard stare, making it clear this is an order, “When you come in contact tell them they are to leave or be removed,”
They all agreed. Damian wishes he didn’t have to waste his time worrying about some second rate wannabes thinking they could challenge Batman for the protection of Gotham. They couldn't. What did they have that Batman didn’t?
 ---
 A lot was the answer. 
Or this particular new villain. It didn’t make any sense, usually, first time villains were easier to deal with, but no, here Robin was watching as Batman fought a losing battle against them. It didn’t help that they were brainwashing civilians, turning them against the rest. Robin was given very specific instructions not to harm them. Hard when they had no such orders.
Robin barely processes that Batman is thrown through a building before the main villain is turning to him. At least he could use more drastic measures with the actual villain, unsheathing his sword Robin lunges. He trades a few blows, unfortunately doing less damage than the villain can do with a singular super powered punch. With super strength, magic and Gotham citizens being steadily taken over this was looking more like a Justice league threat by the second. Everytime the villains should be down for the count they got back up, Damian couldn't find their weakness.
Robin knows he took a wrong step as the villain doesn't rush forward to take advantage but shoots out a beam, the same one Damian had just watch turn a civilian against the rest of his family. And he has no leverage to dodge. This would be so much worse than the civilians, setting his strength against the others? Without concern for killing them? Would Damian remember?
“Watch out!” A wire wraps around Robin, yanking him out of the way. He falls at someone's feet the wire slipping away, he can hear it whirling above him. 
Damian sits up, looking to who grabbed him, ready to fight if necessary, and- Loses his breath.
She's standing over him protectively, a makeshift wire shield repelling the beams that had been causing them so much trouble with ease. Like it was second nature. She looks down at him and smiles so gently, without a hint of fear or worry. Promising she has everything under control.
There's something to be said of Batman's intimidating, steady nature. It can put people at ease in its own way and be even more effective at cutting down enemies with a glare. But this? This is warmth, assurance, a steady appearance more in line with Wonder Woman yet still completely it’s own.
“You alright?” She holds out a hand for him.
Damian snaps out of it taking her hand startling at how she actually lifts him up without any effort on his part.
“Chat you ready?”
“Ready my Lady!”
My lady? Who’s Chat?
His answer comes a second later as a spotted container comes crashing down, fracturing the street. In an instant, the wire wraps around the container a hundred times over.
“Now!” My Lady commands.
“Cataclysm!” Chat yells out, the container crumbles under his touch, wire moving in to constrict around the villain.
The villain thrashes, still being able to send out beams wildly and with their minions closing in. Chat breaks off to fend them all off while Robin tries to catch his breath, Batman still in the rubble of a building. My Lady can’t hold the villain back and fight at the same time. Damian struggles to stand up and help her.
“Lucky charm replay!” 
Robin cringes at the bright light then watches as another spotted object falls into her hands. It’s a bent tube she looks around for a few seconds before holding it up. Damian rushes forward as a beam races towards her and she makes no effort to dodge. She catches it with the tube sending it back to the villain, it hits them square in the chest with no effect. Lady nods to herself before doing the same with the next beam. This time robin watches as it misses the villain, grazing their ear and sending their ear peice flying off.
“Chat!”
“On it!” Chat Noir catches the earring from midair, calling cataclysm again turning it to dust.
Damian watches not willing to let his jaw drop as the hideous villain transforms into a normal civilian. It’s such an intriguing sight that Robin startles when something flies towards Chat Noir snatching a purple butterfly from the air and pulling it back to My Lady. A few seconds later a white butterfly is flying out a
 yo yo?
“Bye bye little butterfly,” She waves the glowing white butterfly away.
That was so cute
“Who are you?” Batman demands having just recovered, motioning for them to circle around them.
“Uh, your welcome,” Chat Noir scoffs, helping the previous villain up.
“I am Ladybug, this is my partner Chat Noir,” Partner? “We’re the previous heroes of Paris,”
“Paris has no heroes,” Batman glares at them, civilians around them still closing in Robin turns his defenses towards them.
“Then that makes the past what six? Seven? Years really awkward,” Chat Noir looks at Ladybug who shrugs, a civilian takes a swing at her she dodges smoothly before throwing the pipe in the air.
“Miraculous Ladybug!” Now Robin's jaw does drop as a thousand glowing ladybugs swarm around the nearby buildings, maybe all of Gotham not even leaving a scratch behind.
“Why are you in Gotham now then?” Batman recovers first, civilians nearby blinking back into reality.
“Hawkmoth has moved his operations to Gotham to feed off the negative emotions here,” well there’s plenty of that here “It makes his Akuma more powerful and we can no longer continue to operate from Paris,”
“Then he’s in Gotham now and is my problem,” our problem “I can handle this,”
“Well you did a great job of that,” Chat Noir rolls his eyes, leaning on his staff, “How's your back by the way?”
“Chat Noir,”  Ladybug scowls, then turns to Batman, “You can’t and it’s my responsibility as Ladybug and as guardian of the miraculous,”
“What's that-”
Nightwing is interrupted by a beeping from Chat Noir's ring.
“It would be that, we have to go now,” Chat Noir salutes moving to leave, they tighten their circle surrounding them.
“You will leave Gotham,” Batman demands, this time its Ladybugs turn to glare she tsks and rounds on him, not managing to seem that threatening in her brightly colored costume.
“You don’t know who Hawkmoth is, you don’t know what Akuma are, you don't know about the miraculous, you have no clue about the guardians, you hadn't heard of whats been happening in Paris for years and you don’t know who we are or what we’ve done,” Batman is shocked under the forces of the heroine's righteous fury, “There are things going on here that you don't understand, we are here to stay until hawkmoth is defeated,”
Robin watches as she leaves a shell shocked Batman behind dissapering into Gotham’s night with her partner.
Inspiring
 —-
 “And why can’t they be in Gotham?” Damian demands from him yet again.
“No metahumans,” Bruce sighs, Damian had been unreasonably stubborn on this front, “They only cause more damage,”
“Actually they repaired a lot,” Damian leans over the desk to glare over that him, “And saved you,”
“Go to bed,” Bruce demands, Alfred busy patching up his wounds. Damian scoffs before storming out of the cave, still half in his robin uniform, “Whats wrong with him?”
“I couldn’t say, master Bruce,” Usually for Alfred that meant he knew exactly what was going on. He tied the final bandage before holding the phone out, “There's a call for you,”
Bruce shrugs on his shirt before answering. It wasn't the phone reserved for business so at least it wouldn't be that big a pain in the neck.
“Bruce,”
Never mind
“Talia,” Bruce growls, going to glare at Alfred who had already made himself scarce, “What do you want?”
“Oh please I’m not up to anything sinister,” Bruce can just imagine her waving him off with a smirk, “This time,”
“But you still want something,” Bruce acknowledged, sinister or not she can cause a lot more trouble without being out too.
“A missing person case, a friend of mine got in touch, her daughter ran away yesterday, l thought it would be right up your alley,”
“Why would you tell me this,” There was obviously more to this, there always was with Talia, “And more importantly why do you care,”
“Oh because she’s Sabine's daughter,” Bruce freezes, a million case files and reports flashing through his mind, none of which outlined a daughter let alone a family, “Surely you’ve heard of Sabine?”
“... We’re on the case,”
“Great, good luck~”
Now he has to worry about potentially one of the most dangerous assassins in the world on the loose. A shift in the shadows catches his eye before disappearing. Great. And now the whole family knew, or would soon.
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Taglist? nope don’t have one, horrible at keeping track of them sorry~
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liquid-luck-00 · 4 years ago
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WonderBug
Angst Edition
Diana Prince (Wonder Woman) x Marinette Dupain-Cheng (Ladybug)
I am late. SO, so , so late but here it is
1: Soulmates @maribat-angst-fluff-april
My partner is the wonderful @thedragonbug
Ao3
Fuffy Edition
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Soulmates exist, and Marinette hates hers. You see everyone is born with their half or part of a complete soul mark. The other parts would appear when you were closer to your soulmate and be permanent when they were close emotionally. For everyone, the appearance or 'drawing' of the mark was light and warm. But not for her, no her drawing was heavy and hot, like a hot knife digging into her arm.
Her parents knew this, and it was concerning, to know that their child was in pain because of their soulmate. Seeing as the marks were not supposed to be painful. Yet as there was no good reason given by medical and mark professionals, and the fact that her soulmate didn't stay near her for long there was nothing that they could do. They did tell her that few, this phenomenon affects one in a million people and she was just lucky enough to be one of them.
Over the years she grew used to the pain, but every time she did it would come back even stronger than the last. She slowly hated her mark and in turn her soulmate. Marinette would cover her mark, ignore it, even wish it away. All her soulmate did was bring her pain. Sure, it upped her pain tolerance, but it hurt her still.
When she turned fourteen, she became Ladybug. She then recognized that her mark was actually the wire of her yo-yo.
The first time Chat Noir claimed they were soulmates she broke down in tears. luckily for her he told her during patrol and not an attack.
"We aren't soulmates, Chat, and I'm glad we aren't." She nearly whispered.
"Why Bug?"
"Because I hate my soulmate, and I don’t want to ever hate you."
"Why would you hate your soulmate?" He seemed genuinely curious. But no one outside her parents knew, not a single person knew what happens to her.
"Because it hurts when they are close, it hurts so badly. The drawing is painful. I never want to meet the person who keeps hunting me." Tears formed in her eyes and Chat hugged her.
"I'm not your soulmate, then." She shook her head. "Good thing I'm your partner, and Plagg help me I am going to be your best friend. Got that Bugaboo?"
A half-hearted chuckle and a small smile escaped her. "Sounds good Kitty." The first person she has ever told, the person who was convinced that they were soulmates, cares for her, to help alleviate some of her pain.
The two became inseparable after that, to the point that most of Paris believed they were in a relationship.
When Nadia asked them about it during an interview, their reactions were memorable. Both all but gagged, turned to face each other, and then laughed almost falling out of the seats.
"I believe we have missed the joke." Nadia commented, worried, and confused.
"Why would I date my sister?"
"Sister?"
"Ladybug and I consider each other siblings in all but blood."
"Everything between us is simply platonic, not even close to romantic.” Ladybug answered after Chat.
“Then why would the whole of Paris believe you to be soulmates?” She may be good at hiding her pain, but the question must have made her react slightly, or Chat knew how sensitive the topic was to her.
“We aren’t soulmates, not the bonded ones that everyone thinks of.” He began. “We are the holders of the black cat and ladybug respectively because our souls resonate with the miraculous. Sure, they are two parts of a whole, but we are practically twins, two halves of coin. She is the sister I choose, she is my partner, and that is our relationship.”
“He’s completely right, now I think it’s time for us to start our patrol, BugOut!” Her smile now in place and their excuse to leave perfectly timed and respectful they made their exit.
They went on their patrol as normal, except just as they arrived at the Eiffel Tower to end the patrol. She was about to land on the platform when a searing pain flashed and radiating affecting her entire body blinding her momentarily. A single moment caused her to collapse on the tower landing, crumpling on the platform.
“LB!” Her breath came out in short bursts, she was clutching her upper arm eyes squeezed shut. This was the worst it has ever happened before, and she wanted it to end. As soon as the cause of pain came it disappeared. Leaving only the memory and a phantom pain.
"Just give me a minute." She slowly got her breathing under control, starting to get accustomed to the new level of pain.
"You weren't kidding that is the worst I’ve ever seen you hurt."
"Yeah not fun."
---
A month after that her mark burned again. This time during class. The teachers knew she would randomly stop due to pain, but they were told they were random migraines. To the point Mari would hold her head and rub her arm to sooth herself, while playing up a headache. Adrien stayed back after the class let out." You know you don't always need to put on a brave face Bugaboo."
Her attention snapped to him. "Well it's easier than constantly answering questions Kitty." She figured quickly.
Sure, they found out one another's identity, but that worked in their favor. After Tikki got sick, Fu started training Mari, and after a month Marinette was given guardianship. Fu still hasn’t lost his memories because Mari let Wayzz stay with him, for the time being, he eventually returns it to Mari in order to move on with his life, his memories fading gradually.
When Adrien got his hands on the grimoire, he of course showed it to Marinette.
“Kitty I know you don’t want to hear this, but I think your dad might be Hawkmoth.” This seemed to perfect for him to have without him being a villain.
“I know, but
”
“Adrien is there any motive anything that might be what he would wish for?”
“My mom. Dad closed himself off when she disappeared. I bet he would wish for her back.”
“Okay, so I’m going to be blunt okay.” He nodded. “So, if your mom is dead there isn’t anything that can be done without the wish, meaning at least one other person is dying.”
“So
”
“But if she is anything but.” She flipped through the grimoire recalling the studies she’s did with Fu. “There are ways we can find or even heal her.”
“This is all riding on an if.” He looked unsure as if this was too much to accept.
“Do you trust me?”
“If I didn’t, I would have turned tail and run a long time ago.”
“You dork.” She lightly shoved him, but he swayed dramatically.
“You two are close.” The new student in their class came up to them.
“Lila, right?”
“That’s right.” She answered sickly sweet, almost fake. “Are you two soulmates by any chance?”
“No.” Adrien answered. “Why?”
“You’re Adrien Agreste! Why would you be in public school?” She finally seemed to recognize.
“Let’s just say it’s a bit of rebellion.” He chuckled.
“We’re still on for video games, right?” She brought up to end the conversation seeing that Adrien was getting uncomfortable.
“Your winning streak is going down.” He announced.
“You want to join us, Lila?” She offered.
“Why?”
“Because your new and I want to get to know you.” Marinette answered honestly.
“Why?”
“Because we know you lied but still want to know you, the real you.” Adrien added.
“Why?” She asked suspiciously now.
“Question! Is it a felony to kidnap her to play video games, have snacks, get to know her, then let her go?”
“Well the kidnapping part is but if she goes willingly, I call that a hangout session.” Adrien mused.
“True, true.” She hummed. “So, what do you say, because now I am determined to get to know you.”
“Wh
”
“Kidnapping it is.” Adrien decided and grabbed the new girl’s wrist pulling her out of the library. Mari picking up their bags.
Lila herself wasn’t too bad once she started telling the truth, lying is a coping mechanism she created, because she is constantly moving schools, cities, and even countries. She is pretty interesting when she isn’t exaggerating. She was on a Hollywood movie set, but she was there on accident, she was looking for the bathroom in a restaurant and they were filming there that day. She did save a kitten on a tarmac once, but one it wasn’t Jagged Stones, it was a kitten who spooked out of their carrier and rushed down the stairs. Lila dove and caught it before it could leave the passenger unloading area to get the tram to the airport. (Some small airports unload passengers in a certain area of the tarmac and either shuttle them to the building or have a sectioned of walkway that is cleared for passengers, to walk back in only.)
After almost two hours Lila left for home when Adrien’s father called, and he was angry. Together she and Adrien ran back to the Agreste Mansion.
“Adrien!” Gabriel came out disheveled and slightly panicked. “And Miss Dupain-Cheng.” He slightly composed himself.
“Sorry I kept him.” She apologized. “He showed me this really cool book and you know how it is when inspiration hits.”
“Ah yes the inspiring fashion designer friend.” Adrien had walked up and handed his father the grimoire.
“It’s quite an interesting spell book.”
“You can read it?”
“Yes, I can. (Come on out little butterfly.)” Nooroo flew out from his hiding spot. “Hello kwamii of transmission and to you as well Hawkmoth.” She was calm deathly calm.
“How?!” Gabriel growled.
“Calm down. I have a question for you first. You want the jewels used by Ladybug and Chat Noir, why?”
“Would my answer change your plan of action to urn me into authorities and to the heroes?”
“My response may change, but you’ll have to answer to find out.”
“My wife wielder the peacock miraculous, it is broken, and she fell ill, and is in a comatose state.”
“Ah! So here is what is going to happen.” She took the grimoire from Gabriel and flipped over pages. “There is a way to revive her without resorting to using the wish.”
“How do you know this?”
She simply smiled. “You mind gathering these ingredients please Adrien?” She text him a list.
“Sure.”
“How do I know that this isn’t a ruse?”
“One I hate liars, and two because all magic has a cost, and this way is less than if you were to use the wish.”
“What do you mean cost?”
“Just like using your transformation wears on the kwamii, and the power affects your limit. Magic has its cost. The wish because it will always rewrite reality, the price is steep. Bringing back one life means you lose at minimum one other person from your life most likely more.”
“And this?”
“From what I understand. Everyone involved in the spell will have their energies deprecated so they will sleep for a day to a week.”
“Randomly?”
“No, the more people the less each person sleeps.”
“Here they are!” Adrien burst back in the room.
“Do you have the peacock miraculous?” Gabriel nodded. “Okay we’ll need that first, so lead the way to the kitchen.” Both men shuffled confused. “You do know where the kitchen is right?”
“Um well find it eventually.” Adrien chuckled. They were lucky and form it easily and Gabriel left while she and Adrien began to individually brew two separate potions. Adrien the more complex one for his mother’s revival. And she did the simpler one to fix the miraculous. Sue her Adrien is the better one in chemistry, sure he can’t cook to save himself, but he has a gift for chem, and Tikki help her she will teach him to cook. It’s practically edible chemistry, right?!
She took the Brock from Gabriel and fixed it, allowing Duusu out. “Okay so who is going to do this?”
“We will,” Adrien answered for himself and his Father, who nodded.
“Please let be help as well.” Miss Sancoeur offered.
Nooroo, Duusu, Tikki, and Plagg (they came out of hiding now) came to her. “We can help.”
She nodded and saw that Gabriel and Natalie were staring wide eyed between her and Adrien. She thought she heard Natalie say, ‘That explains so much’ but she isn’t sure.
Long story short they were able to wake up Emile, but she took back the peacock and butterfly, leaving Plagg with Adrien. Funnily enough the Agreste’s became a second family to her, once Gabriel finally grasped how to be a father. They told Paris that they had found Hawkmoth, but he would be tried by the order of Miraculous, meaning he would be stripped of the gem and his memories of the miraculous erased. It was a lie but Tikki told her that was what would have happened. There was some outcry, but they explained that they would have no recollection of it, and it wouldn’t make sense to try them.
The next few years of her life were blissfully normal, aside from the fact she had a contract under the Gabriel brand as the designer MDC, who was also endorsed by Style Queen. Chloe isn’t as bad as she puts on when she isn’t masking the hurt of being constantly ignored and bought by her parents.
- - -
It wasn’t until she was twenty-two and accompanying Adrien to a Wayne charity gala, one he didn’t want to go alone and two she was invited anyways, Chloe, Kagami, and Luka were also there on their own merits and invitations so they all stuck relatively together. Since arriving there Marinette was a constant pain, her arm burned and ached, but she forced herself to simply breathe and tried her hardest to push it out of her mind. But her luck wouldn’t hold, three hours into the event she was approached by who she recognized as Bruce Wayne, the host of the gala, and a woman to his left, the pain was almost unbearable the closer the two approached. Her friends noticed, they knew what her pain actually meant, as she opened up to them about it after a while, but she grit her teeth and tried to push through it.
“Mr. Agreste, Miss Bourgeois It is good to see you both again.” Bruce Wayne acknowledged. “It’s nice to meet all of you as well, Bruce Wayne.” He introduced to the rest, shaking hands. “And this is a good friend of mine.”
“Diana Prince.” She also went to shake everyone’s hands and had left Marinette for the last. The moment their hands touched she almost crumpled, she shrunk back and into Adrien and Chloe. “Is she okay?”
“Diana?” Bruce pointed towards her upper arm, the mark most of them overlooked before was now complete and glowing lightly. What Marinette remembered was that there was her yo-yo string and a golden rope that she only saw once before on her own arm. She felt sick, Diana was staring at her now, she recognized that Marinette was her soulmate.
“Melody?” Luka now stepped up.
“I want to leave.” She answered flatly.
“You are
”
She completely turned away, but by now her friends knew what was going on and were glaring at Diana. “I want to leave, now.” She repeated.
“Come on bug, let’s get you away from
 this.” He threw a look at Diana, who was looking confused and seemingly alarmed.
The other three were putting as much space as they could between their friend and who is unknowingly causing her pain.
“Please is she alright?” Diana asked stepping forward barely grazing her hand covering her mark. This time it felt as if the skin itself was burning and stung almost like it was being pricked over and over and over again.
“Don’t touch me and stay away from me.” On the outside she looks clam and relaxed, but her voice was soft and raw, her eyes burned in pain. “You and that completed mark can stay far from me.”
“Luka, Kagami mind taking her back to the house?” The two in question led her away and once a safe distance away she broke down in tears, sobbing from the pain she was biting down.
- - -
The two that stayed were simultaneously glaring at her and watching their friends leave the gala.
“Is she alright?” Bruce finally bole the tension.
“As soon as she is far enough away from her.” The girl, Chloe, snapped at her. “Now that we know who is the the person causing her pain, we can keep her from them.” She snapped towards her, but it was a slap to Diana.
“I don’t follow. We are
”
“Soulmates, yeah we figured.” Adrien this time spoke.
“They why would she want to leave, without speaking?”
“One one in a million people are in pain when they are close to their soulmates.” Adrien spoke calmly but stoically. “No one knows why.” He began to fidget with a ring on hi# finger, she couldn’t recall if she saw any jewelry on her soulmate, Marinette, but she has a suspicion. After all she feels similar to her Mother’s aura and presence, that of a Ladybug.
“You are wrong. There is an explanation, but only a few know why that is.” She feels certain that she knows what this is.
“Let me guess you know why.” Chloe remarked, sarcastically and unamused.
“Allow me to explain this another time and place, as this is neither.”
“Fine call this number at noon est tomorrow.” Adrien handed her a phone number and the two turned and left.
“Diana?” Bruce snapped her attention. “What was that about?” He was still calm and collected but she knew he would be the one to ask, figuring out what was the next step, what had the best options of success.
“Magic.”
- - -
The next day she called the number and she was invited to a video call by the recipient. It turned out to be Marinette.
“Hello Diana.” Her voice was not cold but it was emotionless, as if she was forced into this conversation. Granted she did think she would be speaking with Adrien and Chloe.
“I never wanted to harm you, I swear that on the river Styx.” she began but before she could continue Marinette cut in.
“Let’s be clear, I don’t care about your apologies. I just want to know why this is happening and how to either get rid of it or to never have contact with you in any way or proximity.”
“I am apologizing because this is known as the curse of the ladybug and black cat.” She saw the young woman tense at that. “The reason I know of this is from by Mother, Queen Hippolyta Of the Amazon’s.” She allowed that to sink in and the other woman allowed her to drop her defense, nodding to what is said.
“When you say the curse of the ladybug and black cat what do you mean by that?”
“True souls of the miraculous, when in their life they come into contract with their given gems, cause a reaction.” Diana explained. “For the ladybug they receive the pain of their soulmate through their marks. Which is what I assume is going on.”
“Yes you’re right, but this has been going ever since I could remember.”
“Call it what you will fate, destiny, but you were always going to wield the ladybug jewel, that is why the curse manifested itself.”
“What about the black cat?”
“I am unsure, the black cat of my Mother’s time died before meeting their soulmate, but I would assume it would be similar to our situation.”
“Then how do we solve this?”
~~~~~~~~~~
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ordinaryschmuck · 3 years ago
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Why I (Want to) Love Miraculous: Tales of Ladybug and Chat Noir
Salutations, random people on the internet who circumstantially won’t read this! I am an Ordinary Schmuck. I write stories and reviews and draw comics and cartoons.
Several weeks back, I got a request from an Anon to do a review of Miraculous: Tales of Ladybug and Chat Noir. With it being the first time anybody has ever requested me to review anything, I was more than excited to say yes...too bad they picked a show I'm not entirely in love with.
Don't misunderstand. I do enjoy Miraculous (I'm not saying the rest of the title from now on. It is way too long). It is a fun show more times than not. It's just that there are a lot of issues about it that make it hard to love. Unfortunately, explaining those issues requires talking about spoilers, so I highly suggest that you check out the show for yourself before seeing what I have to say about it. It's always important to form your own opinion before listening to someone else's.
With that said, allow me the chance to explain that while Miraculous is a good show, it's not entirely a perfect one.
Now, let's review, shall we?
WHAT I LIKED
The Love Square: Ok, here's how it works: Marinette, who is Ladybug, has a crush on Adrien. But Adrien, who is Chat Noir, has a crush on Ladybug. Neither knows the other's secret identity nor do Ladybug or Adrien show feelings for Chat Noir and Marinette respectfully. And that. Is. Brilliant.
That is the best concept I've heard for a romantic subplot in the over twenty years that I have been alive. Not only because the dramatic irony is exquisite but also because of how Marinette and Adrien fall for the perfect versions of each other. Ladybug and Adrien are masks (the first one literal, the second not so much) that the characters put on for people to think they're the epitome of perfection. But Marinette and Chat Noir are the versions of their true selves, with the glitz and glam disregarded. So if they have to end up together, they have two options:
There's the easy way, which is to find out their "close friend" is the person they're head over heels in love with. Because why deny someone's feelings for you if they're the same person you've fallen for.
Then there's the hard way, which is to let Marinette slowly catch feelings for Chat Noir, and vice versa, as that's letting them fall in love with the honest versions of themselves.
Obviously, I'm more of a fan of option B (Marichat all the way, baby), but the end result doesn't really matter. What's important is how well-utilized the concept is, and I wholeheartedly believe it's executed perfectly. Yes, some moments make me want to tear my hair out (and I'll get to that), but more times than not, I find myself entertained by these two idiots being unable to figure out that the person they love sort of doesn't love them back. Some other ideas could have used a little more work, but I will always voice how the love square is easily the smartest move any writer has made in history.
The Animation: The animation is pretty incredible in this series. It's mildly expressive, movements are fluid and smooth, and the character designs are pretty impressive.
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...most of the time. The designs are pretty impressive most of the time.
But what amazes me more is that this is all done through CGI animation. Televised CGI animation has come a long way, but only when enough money is put into the project. If not, the whole thing looks stilted and kind of ugly. And that's even with the best shows. For Miraculous, it's clear some care was put into the final product. Aside from a couple of poor designs and recycled animation (not counting the transformation sequences), a good majority of this show is pleasant to look at more times than not. Primarily through the action scenes, which I feel is where the animation shines the most. The camera angles can be impressive, and the dozens of cloned minions can be massive, which is something that would take much longer and with much more effort if the show was hand-drawn as initially intended. Although some fight scenes can look a little floaty and rarely does it look like characters actually get hurt, I can at least tell that the animators were hard at work trying to make the show look good. And they certainly succeeded in that end.
Tiki and Plague: Tiki and Plague act as the perfect companions to Marinette and Adrien. They both offer the right amount of support each character needs, offering the required advice to make them grow. Tiki, for example, acts as a moral compass for Marinette, extending words of wisdom as if Tiki was an angle on Marienette's shoulder. As for Plague, he offers fun for Adrien's life, urging him to live the high life and letting Adrien live carefree despite his responsibilities. Both are well-meaning mindsets to teach, and you see how much Tiki and Plague's influence affects Marinette and Adrien when they're Ladybug and Chat Noir. They act almost as if they're representations of their respective kwamis but still acting like themselves during specific moments. It shows how great mentors Tiki and Plague are while still giving Marinette and Adrien a chance to act as their own heroes.
(Plus, Tiki and Plague are cute as hell. And if you know me, you know I can't resist cute s**t).
Alya: Alya is the best character in the entire series, and no, I will not hear otherwise. She's a solid best friend to Marinette, her fangirling over superheroes are pretty fun, and Alya's work as Rena Rouge makes her the brightest and most capable hero in the show. Plus, it's pretty clear that out of all the characters, she has the one working brain cell. If you hate Alya as a character, something that just boggles my mind, I wholeheartedly don't understand what makes you do so.
The “Villain of the Week” Format: I really dig this style of storytelling when it comes to action cartoons. It's beginning to phase out recently as more and more shows lean toward having serialized storytelling and single villains for a season, which makes me appreciate the few times we do get a villain-of-the-week type of format again. It shines in Miraculous, as we get several really cool villains, most with their own creative powers that can create some epic action set-pieces from time to time. My personal favorite episodes are the times when not only do we see some villains return but even get to watch them team up and fight Ladybug and Chat Noir all at once. It forces our heroes to creatively think as they figure out how to properly deal with each foe and watching the villains use excellent ways to combine powers in an attack. You couldn't get this type of content with a serialized show where one antagonist takes most of the focus. This is why it's great to have Hawkmoth as the main antagonist. He creates supervillains, making him an ongoing threat while still giving the show its villain-of-the-week format. It's a "have your cake and eat it too" scenario that I personally can't help but admire with how well it's executed.
Season Four (So far): It's still pretty early to tell, but with what we've seen so far of the first half of the new season, Season Four has been killing it! The stakes get higher, the drama hits harder, most characters are improved, and the story is a helluva lot more tighter. Ever since Season Two, the series has been dipping its toe into having an overarching story, and it's been hit and miss for the most part. It's different in Season Four, as more times than not, you'll see how choices and events that happen in one episode directly affect what happens in the next. Like how character identities get revealed to create more tension and entertaining interactions. Or seeing Adrien grow more and more distant with Ladybug as he's beginning to feel a lack of trust from her. Most of it is really engaging, and if I had to judge the series by this season alone, I'd say it would have earned its spot on my Top 20 Favorites list.
But it's also four seasons too late, and...Yeah, let's talk about why that is.
WHAT I DISLIKED
“Guitar Villain”: ...Was Hawkmoth having an off day with this one?
I mean...Guitar Villain? What, was Evil Musician Who Plays a String Instrument too obvious?
I've heard that it's probably a pun to the video game titled Guitar Hero, but even then, who in their right mind would immediately think of that. A pun works by taking the well-known, common word, and twisting it for humor. Not an obscure title for a video game that nobody gives a s**t about anymore.
I'm never going to get over this. The series could have the most perfectly written and well-executed episode in television's history, and I still won't get over this.
(Ok, now that I got the jokey nitpick out of the way, let's move onto the real complaints)
Chloé: Yeah, I know, shocker. A person doesn't like Chloé Bourgeois. In other news: Guitar Villain is a stupid name (Told you I'll never get over it)!
Here's the thing: The reasons why I hate Chloé goes beyond the fact that she's so annoying and insufferable that she makes Ronaldo from Steven Universe pleasant in comparison. It's because the writers made an effort to make Chloé a better person, only to give up on it completely. Most of Season Two is dedicated to giving Chloé some form of redemption, making her role as a superhero all the more believable. But because she takes a page out of Iron Man's book and reveals her secret identity, that puts the Miraculous at risk, and Chloé can't be Queen Bee anymore. That shouldn't be a big deal, right? She should just take the lessons that she learned and still act nicer to her peers, right? And she would...but she doesn't. Instead, she backslides hard, ultimately joining Hawkmoth in the Season Three finale despite all the hard work put into making her decent. I'd agree that becoming a villain is part of the grand plan of the series, but if that's true, then why dedicate so much time to showing Chloé's good side? Did the writers suddenly change their minds? Why?! Why would they do this?! I'm honestly asking.
Oh, and before I forget, Chloé is DOWNRIGHT INSUFFERABLE! I'm ignoring her voice and line delivery because I exclusively watch the English dub. After all, I don't have the attention span to read subtitles. Do you want to know what I can judge, though? Her actions. Cheese and rice, Chloé might just be the most selfish, petty, and absolutely evil character I have ever seen on television, with the worst part being that most of it are probably not intentional. 
She caused so many supervillains, something noted by her classmates, Chloé herself, and even Hawkmoth. That's right. Hawkmoth openly admits, several times, that Chloé is his most valuable asset (emphasis on ass), and the other characters still don't do anything about it! 
They almost let her leave to New York with Mommy Dearest, but Adrien was sad, and therefore it was the wrong thing to do. Buddy, your stalker of a love interest and best friend who nearly killed you in a jealous rage treats you better than that witch of a girl! GET OVER IT!
And somehow--SOMEHOW--Chloé manages to get WORSE in Season Four. I didn't think it was possible either, but she did. And it's the one thing about Season Four I do not like. F**k Chloé, f**k everything she represents, and f**k our heroes for actually saving her life every time when they know that does more harm than good.
How the Romance is Written: Oh, boy. You thought I ranted about Chloé? Well, wait until you see what I've got to say about this. Because, yes, I like the love square. It's a clever concept that I've never seen before, and I consider it executed fairly well. The rest of the romance? Not so much.
Everything that the writers could have done wrong with Marinette and Adrien's romance is done in this series, and, surprise-surprise, it isn't fun to watch. Like the fact that they're an endgame couple who clearly won't get together until the end of the series. I full-heartedly don't understand why writers still do this. Are there people out there who seriously believe that the best part of a romance is never seeing both characters act like a couple? Oh, but that's the thing, though. In two separate episodes, we're given these hypothetical scenarios that do show them as a couple. And guess what: They're adorable! On top of that, it makes you think, "Wow, a series about a superhero couple would be pretty interesting." Which it would. Do we ever get it? Nope. And odds are, we never will. Because apparently, it's so hard to make an endgame couple get together halfway through the series and still craft interesting stories with them.
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UNLESS YOU'RE INCOMPETENT!
But fine, whatever. Marinette and Adrien are an endgame couple that most likely won't get together until the series finale. It sucks, but I can live with that...what I can't live with are MOTHER F**KING LOVE TRIANGLES!
I despise them, as do others, as well. We do so because:
A. They're pointless because it's obvious who's going to end up with who in the end.
And B. It's always unfair to the people who find enjoyment with the pairing existing, only to find out it'll be torn apart.
But this show doesn’t just use one love triangle. No no no. That would be somewhat bearable. Instead, both Adrien and Marinette, for a brief time, fall for someone else. What's even worse is that they do the same will-they-or-won't-they crap that they pull on each other. And even worse than that, when Adrien and Marinette finally get together with these different characters, it basically lasts for one episode. Meaning that not only was it pointless, but it also didn't give fans the satisfaction of seeing them act as a couple. Which begs the question: "What the f**k was even the point?!"
Look, the love square was brilliant. And I wouldn't change it for a second. What I would do is eradicate the love triangles (because that's a trope that needs to die) and let Marinette and Adrien get together halfway through the series. Not wait until the end and tease fans of what could be instead of what should be. Otherwise, that's a failure on all parts.
Marinette is a Stalker: While on the topic of romance, let's dive into how the writers royally f**ked up on Marinette's end of it.
I'm not exaggerating, by the way. A lot of Marinette's behavior towards Adrien gets borderline creepy at times. She memorizes his schedule to an immaculate degree, has photos of Adrien, and only Adrien, littering her walls, and literally flew all the way to another country just to see him. Not her uncle, who was basically an after-thought to this plan of hers. Adrien. Just Adrien. And if you seriously don't see how that could ring SO MANY alarm bells in someone...you're part of the problem.
Seriously, and this is no joke, talk to professionals if you see Marinette's actions as normal. Because they aren't, no matter how much the writers try to make it seem so. Sure, they'll lampshade it a couple times, only to then do the whole bit where characters shake their head with a smile and say, "Oh, Marinette. You're so quirky!"
NO! She isn't! She might possibly be butt-f**king insane, which is a term that I shouldn't use to describe a superhero who's designed to be a role model!
Look, flaws for a hero are nice, encouraged even. Stuff like Marinette being clumsy or awkward around Adrien is nice. Her stalker behavior? Yeah, probably for the best to cut that s**t out.
Trying to Gain Sympathy for Gabriel: "Boo-hoo, my wife's dead!" SO GET ON TINDR AND MOVE ON--I'm sorry...I'm sorry...I'm still a little hot from my last three rants.
I'm not as infuriated that the writers try to garnish sympathy from Gabriel's efforts as I was with the last three complaints I had, but that doesn't change how poorly it is handled. The man created supervillains who can kill who knows how many people and utterly destroys Paris And yet we're also expected to feel sorry for him because he refuses to accept that his wife is gone and never coming back. I get it. Heartbreak hurts, especially from people we care so deeply for. But there's a limit for how far a person goes before we have to admit that enough is enough.
Now, in fairness, it's not necessarily a bad thing to make audiences feel sorry for the villains. Just look at Killmonger from Black Panther. His backstory is beyond tragic, and you can fully understand how it shaped his point of view to do some pretty heinous stuff. By the end, when his plans fail, you feel sorry for him after realizing how bad of hand he's been dealt. And do you want to know why that works so effectively? It's because it goes beyond him losing someone he loved. It's what that person did for Killmonger and the unfulfilled promises, made to him that forcing to live without in a less than desirable environment and make his actions understandable, even if you disagree with them. We don't get that with Gabriel. Or, at least, we haven't yet. There might be an episode down the line that better explains the lengths he goes through for his wife, but if there is, it should have come long ago. I'm sorry, but while seeing a villain shed a tear after their latest failure would be a moment of humanity I would applaud for, it doesn't work as effectively here.
Season Three’s a Mess: It is. It really is.
There are two halves to Season Three. The first half of it is that it's the season of pandering. Several episodes try to give fans exactly what they want they've been demanding from the series. Like Marinette and Adrien switching Miraculouses, Chat Blanc, Marichat being canon, Adrien's original pilot personality being his own character, and seeing Adrien and Marinette get together. All of these are actual plots to episodes in this series, and it is...not handled well. How? Well, let's run through them real quick.
Plague and Tiki delivering the Miraculouses to Adrien and Marinette in the chaos of duplicates was too risky, and it’s a miracle that they didn’t get caught. Having Adrien and Marinette just making a bet over who would be the better version of the hero would be simpler and easy to understand.
While Chat Blanc is notably disturbing in many ways, it is insanely contrived saying that it happened because he and Marinette knew each other's identities. Which it isn't. It's because Gabriel is a sick bastard who treats his son like s**t.
Marinette lying about having a crush on Chat Noir (not Adrien) and her father getting excited about it is painfully rushed, and it is excruciating seeing Tom act so idiotically.
Felix is an incredibly unlikeable character (not in a good way), and it is made so clear why the original version of Adrien's personality got dropped.
And the alternate scenarios of Marinette and Adrien being a couple is so uncalled for because it teases us with what we could get over what we want. With it being more frustrating in "Oblivio." Seriously, why the F**K WOULD THE MAGIC LADYBUGS MAKE THEM FORGET EACH OTHER'S IDENTITIES?! IT'S STUPID, MAKES NO SENSE, AND IS BORDERLINE--GAAAAAAAAAH!
The second half lies within the characters. More specifically, the choices that they make. Plague risking the safety of him and Adrien over cheese is too stupid, even for him. Marinette being so blind by Adrien that she doesn't even recognize Luka's talents is stupid, even for her. Master Fu bringing the Miraculouses with him to an all-boys party is stupid, even for--Actually, not even that. It's downright idiotic. He's supposed to be the all-knowing and responsible guardian of the Miraculous Box, so risking the safety of it for a party is a bad case of awful writing, even for this season!
And that's just the tip of the iceberg. So many times, characters act like total idiots all so the plot could happen. I mean, for f**k's sake, MARINETTE TEAMS UP WITH CHLOÉ TO SABOTAGE SOMEONE! That alone should tell you how badly the writers f**ked up this season.
The worst part is, a lot of important stuff happens this season. New heroes are introduced, new plot threads get added, and consequences to characters' choices largely impact the season going forward. Meaning that you really can't skip Season Three even if you wanted to. At least Community had the decency to blame a gas leak on why everything went so horribly wrong with the plot, characters, and overall development. Here? Not so much. Everything is canon, and you're going to have to deal with it. No matter how badly you wished you didn’t.
Luka (Seasons Two and Three): Take note that I'm talking about the Luka in Seasons Two and Three. By Season Four, he is written as a somewhat compelling character by gaining a strained relationship with his father and having the most intriguing concept given to anyone else: He knows that both Marinette and Adrien are Ladybug and Chat Noir. Alya may know Marinette's secret identity and vice versa, but Luca holds the most valuable secret out of all the characters introduced so far. It thoroughly grasps my interest, and I can't wait to see what happens next with him. Before that, though, Luka was barely even a character. If anything, he was a plot device used to make Marinette feel confused about her feelings toward Adrien, which any pretty boy can accomplish if they have the right face. It was boring seeing how stale and noble he was, making me all the happier to see the writers finally making adjustments to his personality, giving it time to develop more than the plank of wood we've dealt with for two seasons...which brings me to why I think I find myself wanting to love Miraculous.
IN CONCLUSION
This show...is far from perfect. It's a C- series with below-average writing, poorly-made choices, and some really hard to like characters. A good chunk of it needs improving, but that's the thing: It already is. Season Four is everything the show has been trying to be for a while, improving on some mistakes and keeping most of what we love. I wouldn't say it's miraculous, but it's at least trying. And that effort makes the series good enough for me.
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dfcfanfics · 3 years ago
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Good god, I'm still writing this stuff.
So... what the heck did I actually manage to write this year?
All links go to AO3. Sorry, FFN people, but if you know me you know where my profile is there and you can look these up yourself...
If you like 'em, great! Kudos and comments are always welcome.
LONGFICS:
Delicate (NSFW, 33 chapters, 193k words, complete)
An unusual night leads to an even more unusual rescue, with a university-aged Ladybug finding her former crush in a compromising and unenviable position. It works out better than either expected... but once Adrien's realizations about that night open his eyes, the two enter into a far grander partnership than either had anticipated, and many mysteries of their past are finally solved.
Most of this one was written in 2020, but the last few chapters and epilogues were in 2021. This was my first experiment in NSFW MLB storywriting (so look for it under my "dfc_afterdark" pseud), but make no mistake -- while there are steamy scenes, there's plenty of plot to go around. What did happen in the years in which Adrien was absent from Paris... and how will many, many wounds finally be healed?
Throw Me Around Like One of Your French Girls (78k words, 14/16 chapters, Adrienette, STILL not complete)
Reflecting upon an unpleasant encounter, Marinette makes a small realization... as Ladybug, she can defend herself with ease, but what happens if she's facing down unwanted physicality as Marinette? It's a good thing that she happens to know a classmate who's studying the martial arts, if he'd be willing to teach her some things? Fluff, fashion choices, twisted arms, friendship, tension and tap-outs.
I am... in an apologetic mood regarding this one. I have the last two chapters nestled deep within my brain, the ending that I'd planned since before the midway point, and the words are just NOT COMING OUT the way that I want them to be. It's coming. I promise. The reaction to this one has been far too positive for me to even consider letting it go unfinished.
Multi-Chapter Stories:
The Waiting Is The Hardest Part (13k words, 4 chapters, complete)
A rooftop confrontation between Hawkmoth, Ladybug and Chat Noir ends with a dramatic miscalculation; Chat's magical energy is drained, Adrien Agreste goes flying over the roof's edge instead, and only major heroics from Ladybug save him.
The hospital remains his destination, though... where Marinette and Gabriel exchange knowing looks in the waiting room. There's no making excuses or feigning ignorance this time. Inside, in private, they will have so many things to talk about while they wait for news... won't they?
A fun thought experiment that I think turned out rather well. ABSOLUTELY NOT TORTURE PORN; no MCD, no permanent injuries, more focus on emotional trauma than physical trauma.
SEASON FOUR ONE-SHOTS:
Under New Management: Can Ladybug thread the needle and be both Ladybug and the Guardian of the Miraculous at the same time? The more that she thinks about it, the surer she is that she cannot. But that means handing off one role or the other. Whom could she trust? Who has Master Fu's knack for reading people, but isn't in her immediate social circle? Hmmm...
One Little Favor: Being Ladybug and the Guardian at the same time is a dangerous thing, Marinette has come to realize... but she can't give up either role. It might be a good idea for her to set up a safeguard, a trusted ally who could help protect the Miracle Box and the Miraculous. And, so, on a stormy night... someone's bedroom window that's always left open draws a visitor.
When No Words Can Suffice: Adrien's romance with Kagami has reached at least the opening stages of physical affection... and it has not gone unnoticed. So, Adrien is startled one afternoon when his father arrives to talk with him about certain things... specifically, THE Talk. It may or may not be fortunate, however, that the main part of the discussion is left to someone else to deliver.
There's Something You Should Know...: Ladybug tells Chat Noir about a certain confession she's made, doing her best to make sure that his feelings aren't hurt... and while he's reeling, he's coping fairly well. Well enough that he's ready to take her suggestion and make his OWN little admission to someone he can trust. ...But who could that be? (Marichat.)
The Silent Treatment: Adrien's got something that he needs to tell SOMEBODY... a secret that no one else knows. This is not a minor thing; this is something that he can only share with someone he trusts, someone who will allow themselves to be sworn to secrecy and never tell anyone else.
The Truth Shall Set You Free: When Ladybug and Chat Noir confronted Luka's Akumatized self, they managed to narrowly avoid speaking out each other's deepest secrets. But what if Truth had been just a little bit quicker on the draw... and had stunned Chat Noir with his response? (Marichat.)
Choose Your Words Carefully: In the heat of battle, sometimes little things can make a huge difference. One shift of momentum can swing a fight, one moment of weakness can cost one dearly, one misstep can change lives forever. Chat Noir's penchant for one-liners is no exception to that... and he's about to find out how potent they can be.
Truth, Lies, and Everything In-Between: After Kagami broke up with him, Adrien feels like he needs to do something to clear his head... so he puts his ears on and runs, wherever his feet lead him.
After Luka broke up with her, Marinette feels the weight of the world on her shoulders... so she goes up to her balcony to think.
As usual, they meet up and get to talking... but not much else on this night seems usual. (Marichat.)
What Happens On A Rooftop... Stays On A Rooftop (NSFW!): In the not-THAT-distant future, a long and boring patrol leads Chat Noir to offer Ladybug a refreshing break - a rooftop, two bottles of wine and a soft blanket. The conversation leads them to interesting places... and an even more interesting wager. (LadyNoir.)
Picture Perfect: With Luka and Kagami each out of Our Heroes' romantic picture for now... at least Marinette's found it easier to just be Adrien's friend for now. A "come over and hang out?" invitation from Adrien promises to at least be a fun Saturday afternoon.
But Adrien forgot one little detail in his room that will shake things up... (Adrienette.)
(My favorite of my one-shots this year.)
That's ONE Way To Break The Ice (mildly NSFW!): On a dark and stormy night, a sinister figure stands in Marinette Dupain-Cheng's apartment bedroom... cape fluttering behind him, mask covering familiar-looking green eyes, a smirk on his lips. He announces his intentions to use her as bait to lure Ladybug out of hiding, and to use his powers and his natural... talents to convert her from his enemy to his willing ally. Her reaction may or may not be what he'd expected. (Adrienette.)
The Direct Approach: Alya is pretty sure that she has the cure for the funk that Marinette's in -- kisses from Adrien.
"Yeah, sure," Marinette grumps. "Like I've never tried for those before."
But Alya's got a plan this time. A change of wardrobe, a full makeover, a beautiful and glamorous look designed to blow Adrien's mind and shock him out of his preconceived mental image of Marinette... and a confession, an approach and a first kiss before either Marinette or Adrien can overthink it.
"Ladybug's courage can do anything," Alya reminds her. "Ladybug can do ANYTHING she wants badly enough."
Anything?
Well, maybe... (Adrienette.)
Friendship Comes With Benefits - And Options: Two young friends sit on one's couch, watching a movie... all alone for the next few hours.
Neither one of them is in a relationship. They care very much for each other. What might they get up to?
Marinette... has some ideas. She just needs to explain to Adrien how there are different levels of friendship, and to get him to consider the major benefits that might come from a minor upgrade to their status.
And to keep him from asking one little question. (Adrienette.)
Down to the Last Detail: A young woman's imagination can be a very complicated and dangerous thing. For Marinette, that lends itself to her sketchbook full of her innermost fantasies and flights of fancy -- her pink-cloud world in pencil-sketch form, essentially. Daydreams of things she and Adrien have shared together, interpretations of how they might have gone, fantasies about their future together with a house with a white picket fence and three adorable children and the cutest hamster ever...
There's nothing wrong with any of that, of course. Lots of young people fantasize and daydream, and Marinette understands the difference between fantasy and reality.
She should hope that Adrien knows that she does, however... because while her mother called her away to help with a small emergency, Adrien _found_ a certain notebook that she'd somehow forgotten to hide. (Adrienette.)
It's All In The Phrasing: It's a quiet summer afternoon at the Agrestes', and Adrien couldn't be happier. Marinette is visiting, the weather is perfect, and even the nearby Gorilla is smiling and content.
Marinette does have one question for the bodyguard, however... one which she soon wishes to retract having asked. CRAAAAACK.
When You Know What You Want: Adrien Agreste's far bedroom window is always open just a crack, at least... for a very important reason. Late at night, one night, that reason comes true.
Ladybug is standing before him, filled with emotion... and the conversation that follows goes where he'd always dreamed it would.
But when has anything ever been simple in anyone's life when Kwamis are around? (Adrienette.)
Waking Up Is Hard To Do: It's Marinette's sixteenth birthday... and her favorite black-clad superhero drops by with his well-wishes and a small handful of gifts. As it happens, she's already wearing a different new gift... a necklace, given to her by the Kwamis, with _sixteen_ Kwagatamas on it. Unbeknownst to her _or_ Tikki, though, this batch of Kwagatamas has a little extra, shall we say, magical "juice" embedded in them, designed to give Marinette the confidence boost and peace of mind that the Zodiacs are sure she needs.
Will Marinette and Chat ever be the same... particularly when morning comes? (Marichat/Adrienette.)
It Seemed Like A Simple Question: On a quiet summer evening, a young woman and her cat-eared companion study the stars together and talk about whatever comes to mind. Chat notes how Marinette and her parents trust him with her implicitly, and takes mock offense to that. The conversation that follows goes somewhere that neither of them expected, with one little question hitting with some impact. (Marichat.)
Two Kits That Pass In The Night: At a Halloween costume party for her father's merchant's association, Marinette is the very model of adorable femininity in a handmade kitten costume. But she is without company her own age, and bored... until a mysterious blond pirate appears, catching her attention and keeping her guessing.
Is this Chat Noir's normal self... or is it Adrien? It certainly couldn't be... both... (Marichat/Adrienette.)
Definitely Maybe Absolutely Sort-Of Ready... I Think (mildly NSFW!): In the not-too-distant future, Adrienette's a thing, and on their four-month anniversary, they're thinking about escalating... but they're both hesitating. So Chat Noir asks his best female friend about what's on his mind... and it turns out that Ladybug's in a remarkably similar situation. What a coincidence, huh?
And when the time comes and our young lovebirds get some privacy, each took good advice to heart... and they talk things out once more.
(No sexual acts, explicit or otherwise... but lots of discussion of sex and its implications. Adrienette.)
No Gift Receipt Required: Christmastime has returned once again... and brought with it a new set of heartaches for one Adrien Agreste, still dearly missing his departed mother. He puts up a good show, keeping a smile on his face and cheer in his voice... but Marinette can tell that he's anything but himself these days. And since she noticed the same thing last Christmas...
A few bits of detective work (and suffering through some muddy jeans) provide the answers that she needs... and deeper insight than ever before into what Adrien might truly need. And though its consequences might dismay her, if this turns out how she suspects it might... there's one certain gift that she can give him that requires no wrapping or boxes, but just might help ease his pain. What follows is unexpected for both of them. (Adrienette.)
And Knowing Is Half The Battle: 'Twas the night before Christmas... and a strange visitor drops by Marinette's bedroom, bearing an unexpected gift. Normally, future Bunnyx appearing is a sign that something's gone very, very wrong, but this time, it's something a bit different. A bit more... useful and inspirational? (Adrienette.)
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e-milieeee · 4 years ago
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paris’ sweethearts—ladynoir
Summary: When Ladybug and Chat Noir are interviewed by a particularly intrusive reporter, they decide to have a bit of fun by trolling her as payback.
Disaster has never felt so good.
Notes: Day 7: Interviews for @ladynoirjuly2020, requested by anon! Dating shenanigans, pre reveal, established relationship requested by anon :) 
Or read on AO3 | Kofi
paris’ sweethearts
“Good evening, Paris!” the interviewer—her name tag reads Elise, and Ladybug absolutely hates her. Why couldn’t Nadja Chamack have taken this interview? “On this lovely night, we have Paris’ sweethearts with us! Everybody, welcome Chat Noir and Ladybug!”
Help me, she mouths at Chat before they enter the scrutiny of the cameras. He flashes her a wink. I’ll handle this, he mouths back.
Elise already has a large grin plastered on as they sit down on the couch in front of her. Ladybug eyes her and tries to keep her own smile on her face, even if her mind is recalling the last dreaded time Elise had interviewed them. If Nadja was intrusive with the dating questions, Elise was an absolute monster. She and Chat had left feeling thoroughly awkward with each other, and that had been before they started dating. Now

“I’m so excited to interview you two again!” she chirps, nauseatingly excited.
Chat shoots her a warning look before replying. “We are, as well. Ladybug and I wanted to focus this interview more on the situation with Hawkmoth, and how all of you Parisans can help make our job easier. I’m sure you have questions prepared that many have wanted answered.”
How he says all of that without looking like he wants to sock Elise over the face, Ladybug doesn’t know. She applauds his self control.
“Of course.” Elise leans forward on her chair. “Now, first order of business: the last time you two were here, both of you mentioned that you were single!”
Here it comes.
“Yes,” Chat replies carefully.
“I’m sure many ladies would line up to date you, Chat Noir, but I’m certain there are equally as many fans who really want you and Ladybug together.”
“I know,” Ladybug cuts in grimly. “I’ve seen.”
Oh, she’d seen alright. She’d seen the merch—she’d nearly been trampled by a herd of Ladynoir shippers, all with matching shirts that had a frightfully good edit of her and Chat Noir kissing. Even after she swung away to safety, Ladybug was almost certain that the girls would end up trampling each other. She’d seen the fanfictions written online. Some were admittedly rather sweet, but others
 they were a breed of their own. The list of terror went on and on.
She suppresses the shudder and snaps out of the reverie. “Chat Noir and I would like to relay a message to Parisans about Hawkmoth,” she tells Elise as firmly as possibly. Put your foot down so she can’t refuse you.
Elise beams. “Of course! But first: are you two finally dating?”
Back at square one. Ladybug contemplates slamming her head against the table. To her horror, Chat shoots Elise an easy grin and leans back on the couch, arms draped against the back of the chair. “Yes,” he drawls, “I have a girlfriend.”
Ladybug’s own eyes widen in disbelief and confusion. It takes all of her willpower not to look over at Chat and demand what he’s doing—they’d agreed to skirt around the topic because it was simpler without people probing. But now, Elise has latched onto it, her cheeks flushed in excitement. Even the cameraman’s mouth has dropped open.
“You’re dating?” Elise asks, recovering from her brief confusion. “That is so amazing to hear, Chat Noir! We’ve been waiting for this to happen. What’s the ship name? Popular demand calls for Ladynoir, but there is a small cry for Cat Bug as well! Which do you prefer?”
Chat catches her eye in her periphery, and she immediately knows what he’s gunning for.
“Oh, you’re mistaken,” she tells Elise in her best apologetic voice. It’s a miracle she doesn’t burst out laughing then and there. “I have a boyfriend, and he has a girlfriend.”
The cameraman’s mouth opens wider, if that’s even possible. Elise looks like the ground has been knocked out under her feet. She is quite literally gaping.
“S-so you two
 you two aren’t
?”
Chat doesn’t answer the question. “It’s really hard balancing all the superhero work while being in a relationship,” he bemoans. “My girlfriend really hates that I’m Chat Noir. I mean, it comes with its perks, but she’s always worried about me.”
Elise recovers from the second shock that night to approach the problem at a different angle. “Can we have a name for your girlfriend?”
“She’s a very private person, so I’m afraid I can’t reveal her identity.”
She isn’t deterred. “What does she look like, then?”
Chat gives Ladybug a sweeping, obvious glance. “She’s beautiful,” he sighs, so convincingly, ridiculously dreamy in tone that Ladybug isn’t sure if she’s to laugh or pretend to hurl.
When Elise seems to realize that Chat Noir is a lost cause, she moves back to Ladybug. Her smile is a bit more strained, and Ladybug would’ve felt bad if it hadn’t been for the lingering horror of the last interview. “Ladybug, I’m sure you can tell us a bit about your boyfriend,” she grits out.
Ladybug smiles sweetly. “I’ll answer what I can.”
“Great. What’s he like?”
She parrots Chat’s dramatic sigh. “He’s so handsome. The most handsome in all of Paris. I’m just
 not that fond of his job.”
“His job?” Elise asks, jumping quickly onto that tidbit of information. “Why? What does your boyfriend do for a living?”
“It’s
 complicated. His occupation is dangerous, though, but he won’t listen so all I can do is tell him to be more careful. It’s really hard, sometimes.”
Elise connects the dots again. Her eyebrows draw together, lifting a hand to point at Chat Noir. “Wait! You... if you say your girlfriend doesn’t like your job and you say you don’t like your boyfriend’s job
 you two are dating!”
Chat practically throws his hands up. “Ladybug and I, dating?” he asks, so convincingly scandalized by the suggestion. “Oh God, no. No offense, Bugaboo. We’re honestly just meant to be friends.”
“But—”
“No offense taken!” she chirps. “Chat and I are just really, really good friends. Best friends, even!” For extra emphasis, she links her arm around Chat’s.
Elise opens her mouth to speak again. “Would you two share just a little bit more about your significant others? I’m sure Paris would love to hear it.”
Ladybug smiles sweetly at the camera. “Paris, if you’re listening, this is my message to you: stay safe! Chat Noir and I are working our best to take down Hawkmoth, and we want to promise you that soon, Paris will be free of him. But in order for that process to go smoother, we need your cooperation in any way possible. Be sure to get out of the way when there’s an akuma attack, and if you find anything suspicious, be sure to call the line that will be provided. Bug out!”
Chat makes a motion at the camera man, and just like that, they’re off screen once more.
Elise looks at both of them as if they’ve sprouted second heads. It really shouldn’t feel so wickedly satisfying, but Ladybug reminds herself once more of their last meeting and decides that the satisfaction is well-deserved.
“I have to go, now,” Ladybug tells the reporter. “I promised my boyfriend I’d meet him at eight outside.”
“Same,” Chat echoes. “My girlfriend’s going to be so mad if I’m late. She’s all about punctuality. Eight o'clock, sharp!”
He offers her his hand, and Ladybug takes it with a little smirk. “See you around,” she calls.
Notes: Here’s my fics masterlist!
Reblogs are very much appreciated :)
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macaronsforchat · 4 years ago
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Ladynoir July Day 13 - Cuddles
@ladynoirjuly2020
read on ao3!
“I’m gonna detransform, okay?”
Those four words brought her back to reality, back to where she was standing, back to how tense she felt.
“A-are you sure? You wouldn’t rather sleep in your suit?” she asked, laughing nervously. He smiled knowingly, shaking his head a little. She watched the hair bounce on his head, biting her tongue and wondering how she’d gotten herself into such a situation.
“I have my mask on underneath, m’lady. Everything is going to be fine,” he smiled, and she wanted to believe him even though her heart was beating out of control. She slowly nodded, letting him know that he could go ahead, and his smile widened.
“Plagg, claws in,” he spoke gently, and the words made her stomach do a flip, her hands coming up to cover her eyes in panic. She squeaked, squeezing them shut behind her hands just in case.
Ladybug heard him laughing and then start moving closer. Plagg grumbled something, but she was too busy trying to drown out her deafening thoughts to be able to make it out.
“Hey, it’s just me,” he said, trying to reassure her. Despite all the years they’d spent together fighting evil, she was still just an anxious teen when she got scared.
She felt his hands, his bare hands, wrap around her wrists gently. She let him pull the shield away from her face even though she was still freaking out. She trusted him, and if he said it would be okay, it would be.
Blinking her eyes open once more, she was met with the face of her partner, of Chat Noir. The only thing that had changed was that he wasn’t wearing a tight black suit and instead had opted for some Ladybug-themed pajamas. Other than that, it was the face of her best friend, and seeing his warm smile for her calmed her nerves.
“Think you’ll be okay, bugaboo? Or am I too handsome?” he asked, a smirk replacing his kind smile. She squinted her eyes at him, shaking his hands from her wrists and scoffing.
“Keep dreaming,” she said, turning her head a little to try and hide the fact that his comment had made her blush slightly.
“Speaking of dreaming, you should detransform too. I don’t know about you,” he started, a yawn interrupting him and drawing her eyes back to him. It was unfair of him to be so cute when he was tired, but she tried to reason that she’d seen him like that before so there was no reason for her to be so enamored. Then again, if it distracted her from being so scared about detransforming, maybe it wasn't so bad that he was utterly adorable.
“But I’m wiped,” he finished, eyeing her and making her look away again quickly. She cleared her throat, glancing around the hotel room and shrugging to feign nonchalance.
“Yeah, I’m pretty tired too,” she said, seeing him stretching out of the corner of her eye.
“Got your mask on?” he wondered, and she bit her bottom lip nervously, nodding. “Whenever you’re ready then,” he said, moving to his side of the bed and pulling the covers back, shooting her a glance every few seconds.
She took a deep breath, slightly surprised that she didn’t mind if he was watching her.
“Tikki, spots off,” she breathed out, feeling her protective suit disappear from her body. She watched her kwami float up and land in her hands, the two of them smiling at each other before Tikki floated over to join Plagg.  
Marinette pressed her mask against the skin around her eyes, making sure that it was there and that it was going to stay on. Looking back at him, she was surprised when she saw his mouth open in shock.
“W-what?” she asked anxiously, looking down at her clothes. She’d decided to wear the official Chat Noir merchandise instead of any other pajamas she owned, just in case. It was just a pair of leggings and a tank top, but suddenly she felt underdressed beneath his piercing stare. Or overdressed. She couldn’t tell with all the thoughts bouncing around in her head.
“Nothing, just
” he trailed off, looking away from her and sliding under the covers of the bed. “Care to join me?” he asked, trying to change the subject. He offered her a small smirk, his cheeks slightly pink, and she scowled at him.
“If you’re gonna be cheeky, I can leave,” she said flatly, hooking a thumb towards the door and watching him laugh.
“Just kidding,” he spoke lightly, flopping his head down on his pillow and making his hair more disheveled (and cute) than it already was.
The bed was a whole other situation that she’d been stressed about. There was nothing sexual about it, but being so close to him without either of their suits was still nerve-wracking. It was a closeness they hadn’t shared yet, and she was scared that she’d mess it up by being too nervous. And that only made her more nervous.
But she swallowed her anxieties and walked over, pulling the covers over herself and lying on her side to face Chat. He blinked at her, smiling like she’d given him a compliment that he’d been waiting to hear. She gave him a small smile back, biting her tongue when he yawned and twisted his body towards the nightstand on his side of the bed.
“D’you mind if I turn the lamp off?” he asked. She shook her head, and a gentle clicking noise doused the room in darkness. He got comfortable again, from the sound of the rustling, and then he breathed out slowly through his nose.
“So, tell me about your day,” he said, the volume of his voice lowering. She felt a little more comfortable in the dark. She couldn’t see that he was out of his suit, but hearing his voice so close to her with strong hints of drowsiness in it made her stomach do somersaults. She found herself confused by the fact that she wished the air conditioner were a little quieter so that she could hear him even more clearly.
“I thought you were tired,” she replied, pulling the covers up under her chin as goosebumps raced across her skin.
“I am,” he chuckled. “But you can lull me to sleep with your voice.” She snickered at that, trying not to clue him in on how much his voice was cut out for putting her to sleep. Well, if she weren’t so on edge.
“Fine,” she said lightly, hearing him hum happily. She smiled to herself and thought about her day, already having a few things on her mental list that she’d marked down as things she could tell him.
“School was as enjoyable as school can be,” she started, and he hummed, the noise leading into a short laugh. “Oh, but I had a good lunch today. I tried out that guacamole from that store you told me about,” she told him, and he gasped dramatically.
“It’s bomb, right?” he asked, and she laughed, remembering the taste well.
“Yeah, it was fantastic,” she smiled.
“What else?” he prompted. She pursed her lips, humming.
“Why don’t you tell me about your day?” she asked, genuinely curious.
“That’s no fun,” he whined. “I like listening to you talk.” She’d heard that line a thousand times, but never had she been so grateful that she was able to hide her blush. She knew she couldn’t argue with him, so she took another breath and went back to thinking.
“Okay, uh, oh. I made my coffee way too sweet this morning because I was so tired,” she said, and he hummed lightly, telling her to keep going.
“I got a papercut,” she said, remembering how worried Adrien had seemed when she winced in pain during fourth period.
“Where?” Chat asked, and she blinked, running her thumb over the middle of her index finger.
“My left hand,” she told him, hearing him moving before feeling his warm fingers reaching out towards her. Her left hand was extended in front of her, so he found it easily, holding it gently. She felt her heart spring up in her chest, but she didn’t expect him to lean down and kiss her knuckles a few times. Her shoulders tensed up, and she held her breath, feeling like she might explode if he kept going.
“What else?” he asked between pressing kisses to her hand.
“I think I’m all out,” she said quickly, feeling her cheek burning into the pillow.
“You sure? I was just about to doze off,” he sighed teasingly, leaving her hand to tingle from the pressure of his lips.
“Then you should sleep,” she said, breathing out a light laugh.
“Ahh, you’re no fun,” he whined again, and she smiled.
“I know, kitty. You never let me forget it,” she joked, and they both laughed. When their voices went silent, neither one of them spoke up again. His hand was still holding hers, and after a few minutes passed, she heard his breathing slow down and even out.
Marinette tried to calm her thoughts, but with her hand in his, she didn’t know if that was possible. She had tried not to think about snuggling up to Chat Noir when she thought about that night, but it lingered in the back of her mind no matter what she did. She felt safe with him, and knowing what it felt like to be completely enveloped by his arms was something a deep part of her longed to experience.
After biting her tongue for a moment, she called his name quietly to see if he was still awake. She waited, hearing that he was still breathing deeply and slowly. He must have been telling the truth about being wiped out.
Wishing that she would have talked to him for a little longer, she wiggled her fingers out of his grasp, wanting to let him sleep peacefully. But as soon as she had, she missed the warmth of his touch, and she found herself wondering what it would be like to really hold his hand.
Marinette pushed her hand back into his, intertwining their fingers and feeling a breath hitch in her throat. His hand was larger than hers, she’d known that, but somehow their fingers fit perfectly together. His fingers gently came down to rest against her knuckles, and it felt like they belonged there, against her skin.
She let her eyes fall closed until his hand twitched and he inhaled suddenly.
“M’lady?” he asked, trying to speak up but only getting his words out in a rough whisper. “Did I fall asleep?”
“Yeah, sorry,” she said quietly, moving to take her hand away. But he kept it there, tightening his hand around hers and making her freeze.
“I wanted to do this too,” he said, and she blinked at him in the darkness. “But I didn’t want to ask and embarrass you.” She let herself smile, shifting her hand back into his more and squeezing it. He breathed out quickly, and she knew from that sound that he was smiling, the warmth from it tickling her fingers. It made her shiver a little, and she realized how cold she was compared to him.
“Chat?” she called without really thinking.
“Yeah?” he answered, and she frowned, pressing her lips together.
“Ah...nevermind,” she said, and he squeezed her hand a little.
“Tell me,” he urged softly.
“You’re really warm,” she said, mentally face-palming and wanting to groan. That wasn’t what she’d wanted to say. At least, not all of it.
“Is my hand too hot?” he asked, and she snickered.
“No,” she said quickly. “I’m just pretty cold right now.”
“Do you want me to turn the air down?” he offered, and she furrowed her eyebrows, blushing.
“No, it’s okay,” she said.
“Do you want an extra blanket?” he asked, and she wanted to laugh, wondering if she should have said anything at all. How could she get it across to him?
“No,” was all she could say, and he chuckled cluelessly. She scrunched up her nose and took a deep breath, reaching forward with her free hand and finding his chest, pinching a small section of his shirt.
“I want to be closer,” she said plainly, hearing him go to speak, but nothing came out. She squeezed her eyes shut, wishing she were more eloquent and not so nervous.
Without saying a word, he pulled himself closer to her, their hands still intertwined between them. Her heart was already running a marathon, but he’d only moved a little.
“Like this?” he asked, his voice shaky. She blinked at the nervousness showing through in his voice and wondered why it made her feel braver.
She let go of his shirt, sliding across the mattress until she could feel his ragged breaths on her cheek. At that point, she let go of his hand, using both arms to wrap herself around him into a tight hug. It was a lot at once, and she could feel his heart pounding against her, but she was grinning like an idiot as she pressed her cheek to his shoulder.
After a heavy moment, he slid his arms around her too, one resting across her lower back and the other reaching under her arm and crossing over the space between her shoulder blades.
Marinette wasn’t cold anymore, burying herself in the heat of his body and not letting go. They didn’t say another word, but she didn’t mind.
Eventually, she found herself beginning to doze off, after he’d snuzzled his face into her neck and after she’d hooked a leg over him to pull herself even closer.
She was in the arms of the one she loved most, and she’d never been more comfortable.
~~~~~
this made me so happy to write ahhhhh
thank you all so much for reading! i love you all!! <3
stay safe! 
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lils-of-the-valley · 4 years ago
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Welp, I was unaware that Lie was out until 10 minutes ago, so I guess I’m watching it instead of doing uni work! Time for a reaction! (Y’all tell me if you rather me put my reactions under a cut or something. I know long posts are sometimes a pain to scroll by)
The theme song really did change and it kinda slaps 
Ay! Tikki hype Mari up! Also love that the kwamis are just floating around Mari’s room
 Of course a documentary on Adrien’s life pops up
what the fuck does “Can you redo it but a little more orange” mean??? I know it’s to make it sound ridiculous, but still
Lol “Imma pop in my phone, make it sound like I’m playing piano and peace out of here” Like imagine if his phone bugs and just music that Nino sent to Adrien starts playing full blast, so Natalie or Gorilla come and check and find Adrien gone (I would suggest Gab goes to check, but we all know he doesnt care enough about his kid)
Plagg about to eat his cheese and just get sucked into the ring without having gotten to eat
Oh no, Buginette isn’t there :(((
OH NO! CHATON IS LEFT ALONE
Aw, he’s humming the theme song
He’s so sad but also so supportive and understanding
Chat stans! 
Ok, but his message thing whatever is so funny! “No message but don’t forget my cheese!” (It’s funnier in french because it rhymes....)
Fucking banana man and Mr. Pigeon 
Chat is so bored and sad 
Lol, Chat goes to the hotel bar for a glass of milk
Everyone asking about Ladybug, but no one asking about him
Lol, Chloe, wtf
“After a moment of refection, I’m actually gonna take a double milk” babe, where are you learning this? Where are you learning this kind of language? Aren’t you sheltered? 
Also, this kitten is really desperate to see his Lady, wishing for an Akuma
KAGAMI BABYYYY
Plagg ships Adrigami 
Lol, Gab and whatever Mrs. Tsurugi’s name is blaming each other when its all Kagami who wanted a moment to herself
KAGAMI DRAWS OMG THATS SO CUTE
Adrien modeling for her (from her request) 
LOL KAGAMI “Drawing you is easy because you’re beautiful, but I want to draw the real you, the person within” Loving that confidence 
The glare when he poses as Chat
“No, that’s you when you’re fooling around” “Maybe when I’m fooling around is when I’m truly me?” Chat is who Adrien really is confirmed 
KAGAMI BABE WHAT ARE YOU DOING SO CONFIDENT 
Interrupted Adrimi kiss.... obviously
Cute kissies 
Wait, is this- YES!!! YEET THE KITTY! SAME TIME AS TRUTH
Oh, the truth parallels (or repeating scenes?)
That’s a weird place to have a kiss? Through cars?
Oh no, he dropped the Mari charm. 
Kagami’s really putting his heart out there
“Do you also like me?” Oh baby :((( 
“To tell the truth, it’s only with you that I have this much fun” is such a cute and sad line (I love Kagami and I hurt for her the same way I hurt for Luka in Truth)
Kagami, baby, I dont think about being liars is a good thing. Like I get why you lie, but I wouldnt pride myself with the fact that both you and Adrien are liars
Oh, there it is “I lie to spend time with you. You lie to not spend time with me”
That dramatic angle on Adrien 
Fuck Gabriel Agreste
Jagged Stone is more loving to Prince Ali than to his own kid.... 
Kagami is just eating everyone with white light 
Chat lying is giving up a lot of info on him. Like how he hates béchamel cauliflower (which is amazing, btw)
  Lol, they gonna use Fang to eat Kagami (or the akuma item) 
Chat sacrificing himself is so dramatic omg
“No! Chat Noir! Don’t do that! You’re crazy!” “Yeah, crazy for you” cue the dramatic drop to his death
Bro, is the cat road kill? He just splat on the ground
I don’t know how Fang actually hit the charm, but like... good for LB
LB isn’t happy about the sacrifice but Chat finds angry LB adorable so he won’t stop 
Kagami is pissed at Adrien omg, girl is going hard 
Oh. Lukanette at least stayed friends. Adrimi are totally done with each other
Ok, overall reaction. This one was wild. I loved it from start to finished. I really liked the Truth clips, showing how they overlap. I love how much we learned about Kagami. I actually love her intensity. Will her black and whiteness bite her in the ass some day? Probably if she stays like that all her life, but she’s like 15, so she has time to grow. But I really like the contrast between her and Luka, how she’s so intense and he’s so chill. I think they would benefit hanging out together. So I loved this episode a lot and it had some really good lines! 10/10! 
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2manyfandoms2count · 5 years ago
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#MarichatMay Day 13
I think you can tell by now that my aesthetic is basically Marichat hanging out together and being oblivious to their ~ReAl fEeLiNgS~
Thanks for reading!
@marichatmay 
---
Day 13: Flower crowns
It was a beautiful Bank holiday weekend in Paris. The Sun had been shining non-stop for a couple of weeks, raising the temperature above what Parisians where used to in mid-May, thus drawing the population out into the open. Many sat down next to the Seine to picnic with friends or read in the shade, or just walked around, generally enjoying the nice weather. 
Marinette observed the riverbank crowd from her balcony. It was at times like these she was particularly thankful for her little corner of Paradise; she felt included in the buoyant city life, without being caught in the sea of people below.
Her eyes came back to her task. She had accepted, despite her incoming exams, to create the costumes for Manon’s dance recital; she had been too tempted to refuse when she had seen one of the rehearsals. She had seen the perfect outfits as the children danced to the Nutcracker’s Flower Waltz. The fluid, dryad-y dresses for the little girls, elvish costumes for the little boys, all in spring colours. And flower crowns for all.
“Why did I have to talk about the flower crowns?” Marinette sighed as she shifted the arrangement of a small bouquet of roses and daisies to find a good balance. 
The first few crowns had been fun to make. She’d done her research and established which look she liked best, before making some prototypes with a variety of flowers. Tikki had been an excellent model at that stage. Marinette had then scaled up, and had enjoyed spending time arranging the flowers in a bucolic way. She had made good progress on the project, before being distracted by outings with her friends and schoolwork. Now the recital was just around the corner, she still needed about ten crowns, and as she improved her technique, she felt like the fist ones lacked quality.
Her silent wish for her perfectionist thoughts to leave her alone for a couple of days was seemingly immediately granted, the answer taking the form of her friendly neighbourhood cat.
“‘Afternoon, Purr-incess.” Chat Noir hopped onto the balcony and sat crossed-legged in front of her. “Don’t you look like a nymph just out of a painting, today.”
“Thanks Chat.” She smiled, attaching a bunch of filler leaves to her crown.
“What’s with the florist display? Have you fur-saken your dream?” He gasped, a hand dramatically flying to his chest. “Who will make me my next costume? I was counting on you!”
“I thought those were magic?” She arched an eyebrow. Did he know something she didn’t? Was it possible to change their suit’s design?
“Yes, but there’s something about how we can influence them somehow. I’m sure the design you’d make for me would be spectacular enough to get it to change.” He shrugged. 
“That would be neat.” She struggled to maintain a rose on the headband and tie the loose ends of the string she was using to fix the vegetation. 
Chat swiftly grabbed a pair of scissors and came to sit next to her. He wrapped the string around the flower, made a knot and cut it while Marinette held the structure in place. Before she could say anything about being impressed that he’d known exactly what to do, Chat started playing with the string, like... well, like a cat with a ball of yarn. 
“Your behaviour really is influenced by your animal-sake, huh?” She shook her head.
Her comment seemed to jerk him out of a sort of trance. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.” He said, letting go of the string like it was a burning object. “Anyway, you didn’t answer my question. What’s all this?”
“I’m making flower crowns for Manon’s dance class.” 
“Cool! Can I help?” 
“Do you know how to make them?” Marinette asked.
“No, but I’m a fast learner!” He replied enthusiastically. 
Marinette sighed, looking down at the partly completed headband in her hands. On the one hand, she would probably waste some time explaining the concepts to Chat, and his first creations would probably not be good enough quality to give for the recital. On the other hand, she’d be quite happy to have him hang out with her. She glimpsed at her partner, who was already tying flowers together with string. He was sticking out his tongue in concentration, frowning slightly. He looked up when he was satisfied the three flowers he’d picked were securely attached in a circle, looking very satisfied.
“See?” He asked, presenting his work. Marinette almost burst out laughing at the sight. It was literally just a circle with three rose buttons on it. He looked so proud of it, though. 
“Not bad!” She complimented. “Not exactly the kind of base I’ve been working with, but we can build on it!”
She proceeded to explain how to improve his technique. He listened carefully, nodding along as she showed him on her own crown and mimicking her. It was really cute, and the way he beamed any time she would compliment his progress made her feel all warm inside.
“For you.” Chat said adoringly when he’d finished his first crown, as he reverently placed it on her head. He kissed her gently on the cheek before stepping back to appreciate his work. “Purr-fect. A real life purr-incess.” 
Marinette felt herself blush. “Thanks, kitty.”  
“Now another one!”
They spent the rest of the afternoon on the terrasse side by side, braiding flowers and foliage. Marinette made sure Chat reapplied sunscreen every once in a while to protect his identity. She’d never noticed how fair and delicate his skin was before. Probably because she’d never been this close to him in a situation where she could focus on her partner’s face, rather than on their surroundings. Had she not had a task at hand, she might have spent a bit too long examining Chat Noir’s face. There was something familiar about it, but she couldn’t quite put her finger on it. 
She gifted him a flower crown before he left, very aware of the proximity of Chat’s face as she adjusted it on his blond hair. “For my knight in leather armour.” She smiled. “A token of my gratitude.”
“I shall cherish it forever.” Chat bowed as he kissed her hand. “Thank you for letting me join you.”
“Always a pleasure, kitty-cat.”
Chat seemed to be skipping on the rooftops as he disappeared into the sunset. Later that week, Adrien published a photoshoot picture, wearing a flower crown. As much as she liked the picture, Marinette couldn’t help but think Chat Noir had worn it better. 
She blamed it on Spring.
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emsylcatac · 5 years ago
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đŸ€ĄđŸ’đŸ€ŠđŸ»â€â™€ïžđŸ€ł marinette, chat noir
Aw I love these emojis hahaha
* * * * *
“... And then, you enter the scene, arm in arm with your bodyguard – because I refuse your father to be the one accompanying you – and immediately drop your jaw at the sight of me in the beautiful dress I made.” Marinette dramatically explained, making wild gestures and picking up a small paper character to fix it to the board that used to be her “Adrien’s schedule”.
Chat Noir, who was engrossed at first in her story, suddenly startled at the sight of what was supposed to be himself and frowned.
“... Why did you draw me in a clown costume, Marinette?” he asked.
“It is because you ARE a clown, good sir!” she proudly replied as if it was an evidence.
Chat Noir facepalmed. “You’re really not going to let that one go, are you?” he asked half-exasperated, half-amused.
She only grinned and nodded in response. They both marked a pause to gaze at each other waiting for the other to capitulate until Chat Noir sighed loudly, reluctantly letting Marinette win their silly argument.
“SUDDENLY,” she spoke again, “the magnificent bride – did I say her dress was stunning? Anyway – the GORGEOUS bride throws her bouquet in the air under the applause and admiration of all the guests who instantly get tears in their eyes in front of this spectacular spectacle!” Marinette continued, picking up the paper bouquet she drew and making it spin on the board towards what were supposed to be the guests.
“Woooaaah!!” Chat Noir exclaimed in fake-wonder at her theatrics.
“Thank you, husband.” she bowed with her hand on her heart. She suddenly straightened up. “Peeewwwww flash flash pffffffeeewww woaw!” Marinette went on while making every guests move a bit, “The crowd is going wild and whistles and flashes of cameras can be heard from everywhere and people all take out their phones to record this emotional moment as we both finally meet in a passionate kiss... Mwaah!” Marinette ended making Adrien’s and hers paper characters kiss.
Chat Noir slowly applauded while whistling in a fake-impressed tone. “Brilliant, wonderful. Astounding!” he added mimicking being in total admiration of her show.
“Thank you, thank you, THANK YOU!” Marinette said while bowing in every directions as if she was facing an audience full of people.
A beat of silence followed her last bow with the both of them looking at each other before suddenly bursting out in a fit of uncontrollable giggles.
“Our wedding sounds amazing Marinette, I can’t wait.” Chat Noir said once they had both regained a certain control of themselves, his eyes full of love and glee despite having made fun of her antics the whole time.
____________
Thanks for the ask ♄ I really had a lot of fun with this one hahaha (this is obviously post-reveal. Now I let you guys decide whether it is be pre or post-relationship...)
5 emojis and 2 characters game đŸ˜ŠđŸ’©đŸ˜±đŸ˜»đŸ‘€ (/!\ I already received a lot to do – thanks by the way – so I just leave the link here in case someone else want to participate to the game as well).
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ronninoir · 4 years ago
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Can I Steal You For A Second? Chapter 23
Summary: Adrien is forced to participate in a new dating show, but becomes more excited when Ladybug says she’ll participate as her civilian self.
AKA: AU where Adrien doesn’t know Marinette, the superheroes are 22 and Gabriel is mean and ruthless but not Hawkmoth.
Read on AO3
Start from the beginning Chp 1 on AO3
Chapter 23
Marinette hoped that she had explained her plan well enough to Chat last night that this week would be the end of Lila’s reign on her life, and possibly her time on the show. Thankfully, he trusted her plans without any doubts, so that just left Marinette to worry about the success of it all.
Monday was a slow affair, and for some reason they didn’t do the date card until late that afternoon. Rumor was that Adrien had to make some last-minute changes to the date cards and the people who were going on it. Marinette hoped that rumor was true.
Once they were all gathered in the Date Card room, Camille was asked to go retrieve the date card when the knock came. There was a dramatic pause, which Marinette has decided is what the Bachelor show is best at, before Camille read, “Sasha,” as receiving the one-on-one. The card said something cheesy like, “Let’s go exploring,” and all of the girls broke out in squeals of excitement for Sasha, including Marinette. It was only later that Marinette realized that the date card didn’t have a pun on it. She made a mental note to ask Adrien about that once they pulled off their plan.
Waiting for the group date card the next day was agonizing, especially when the only thing the girls had to talk about once Sasha was prepped and ready was what the last-minute change could have been to the date cards. Marinette tried very hard to not get involved in those conversations just because she knew what Adrien had done because she was the one to suggest it.
The next morning, the girls all gathered to send Sasha off. They were down to eight girls, and going on one-on-ones were almost more of a risk than a fun time, as it was fully possible that Adrien could send someone home at the end of the date, rather than giving them a rose. After Sasha left, they were ushered into the Date Card room and Juliette was chosen to read the two date cards. When the knock at the door came, she squealed a little and came back waving the cards like she owned the world, which in this moment she kind of did.
“I’ve got the group date card!” she announced to the group, just for the sake of appearances. She snapped open the card, took a deep breath, and began to read, “Hanna, Camille, Lila,” that got a small sneer from Lila and a gloating smirk from Juliette before she continued. “Marinette, Juliette,” she did a small hair flip and dance to show that she was excited. There were only two girls left, Lucie and Kagami. The former looked nervous and slightly excited that she could be the first to get two one-on-ones, whereas the latter looked as though she would rather be running around stabbing people with her sharp stick than sitting in this room listening to these names.
Juliette took another deep breath before reading off, “Lucie,” the girl deflated slightly, but everyone seemed very excited for Kagami, even if she didn’t. Although Marinette could have sworn she saw a small smile cross Kagami’s face, but she could have imagined that.
“I think I’ve found my perfect shot.” All of the girls stilled, trying to figure out the meaning of the date card. Even Marinette didn’t know what this could be, but she had a hunch it had something to do with photos, knowing Adrien.
Kagami’s date card was read quickly, it saying something about “practicing together.” After they were done recording, everyone took a moment to congratulate Kagami on her one-on-one before rushing off to find outfits and get excited about their group date.
                    ----------------------------------------------------
 Marinette only told Hanna and Juliette about her camera theory, but looking at the set-up before them, she wished she had been more vocal about her guess; the impressed looks that Hanna and Juliette were giving her from across the group were very satisfying. Before them all was a white stage that was very clearly set-up for a photoshoot, just like they had done before they were all cast in the show.
They were inside of a studio that was set-up with multiple stages so multiple girls could take pictures at one time. Behind the gathered group of girls were doors that Marinette assumed led to dressing rooms. Adrien was in the corner, talking with a tall man with rust colored hair wearing red and green plaid pants, a white shirt and grey suspenders. Adrien seemed very comfortable around him and was nodding and laughing at something the man had said. Once Adrien noticed the gathered girls, he brought the man over and addressed the group.
“Good morning ladies! I have something very exciting planned for today. Part of my everyday job for my Father’s company is to take photos in all the new clothes for magazines, posters, and billboards. Today, we are going to be staging a photoshoot, but this one has a special twist to it.” Adrien’s smile grew brighter, and Marinette became very sure that this idea really was Adrien’s. Very rarely did he ever look that proud. “Because we are in Paris, the home of Ladybug and Chat Noir, we are going to be modeling outfits inspired by the superheroes and the various villains they have faced.” 
Marinette blanched slightly, suddenly terrified that Adrien would make her dress up as Ladybug. She could see the excitement dancing in his eyes as their gazes locked and she shook her head ever so slightly at him. He shot her a quick wink before moving on in his speech.
“You guys are going to randomly pick which characters you’ll be dressed as out of a hat, and then the outfits will be altered to fit you, but the make-up and shoes will be up to you. Before we do all that, let me introduce our photographer today.” Adrien smiled at the man he had brought over with him. “This is Vincent, and he’s been taking my picture since I was little and didn’t know how all of this modeling stuff worked.”
Vincent let out a laugh and addressed the group of girls, “You think he’s handsome now, ladies, you should have seen him with his chubby cheeks and awkward smiles.” His accent was very strongly Italian, and Marinette saw Lila stand a little taller about having even more of a connection with the man taking pictures of them today.
Adrien let out a laugh, and the group of girls giggled. It was very clear that Adrien was comfortable around Vincent, which Marinette imagined helped when he was going through long photoshoots with him. “If you’d like, Vincent can share more baby stories later. Right now, let’s get to the fun stuff.” One of the crew members stepped out from behind the equipment then, with an actual hat, that must contain all of the different outfit choices. It was passed around and the girls were able to pick who they would be today. 
Camille picked Evilllustrator, Lucy picked Chat Noir (which Marinette noticed Adrien was extremely relieved about), Juliette picked Pixelator, and Hanna picked Horrificator. Marinette was one of the last to pick, only Lila and Adrien left, and she was slightly freaking out that none of the girls had picked Ladybug. When the crew member brought the hat over to her, she quickly glanced at Adrien and shot him a slightly panicked look before reaching her hand into the outstretched hat. There were only three pieces of paper left, and she grabbed the third one she had touched and pulled it out. Marinette’s heart was beating fast and she was terrified of what that paper would say, hoping beyond hope that her Ladybug luck would carry over to just this piece of paper and allow her to be anyone except Ladybug. As she opened the paper, her sigh of relief was audible, but she turned it into a squeal of excitement when she saw what was written. “Lady WiFi,” she announced to the group, a huge smile spreading across her face.
She glanced back up at Adrien and saw that he was just as relieved as she was. Lila was next and pulled out “Darkblade,” which she seemed annoyed about. Marinette was starting to wonder if anything actually made Lila happy. Adrien was the last to draw, and considering everyone knew what name would be in there, Marinette couldn’t help but let out a laugh with the other girls. Adrien, being the drama queen that he was, made a big show out of pulling the paper out of the hat, fumbling to open it, and then announcing to the group that he would be dressed as Ladybug.
They were then dismissed to find the dressing room that had their outfits listed on them, and Marinette immediately turned to join Hanna and Juliette to begin the search. As she was about to start walking towards them, a voice startled her from behind.
“I see you making eye contact with him,” Lila whispered into Marinette’s ear. Marinette felt her heart sink a little. She had gotten so caught up in the date and everything that she and Adrien had planned that she forgot that Lila still monopolized on her time with Adrien. “It stops now. No more eye contact, no talking, nothing. You do as you’re told and that’s it.” Marinette turned around to snap an “I know,” but Lila had already disappeared. 
“Come on, Marinette!” Hanna called from the door that did lead to the dressing rooms. Marinette shook her head once, to clear the feel of Lila breathing down her neck, and quickly crossed to the other side of the stage.
                    ----------------------------------------------------
To say Marinette was excited was an understatement. The outfit they had planned out for Lady WiFi was perfect, in Marinette’s opinion. They had given her a light black sweater, with a black, purple, red and white plaid skirt. She tucked the sweater into the skirt and threw a long, light purple, clear coat, almost like a rain jacket, on top of it. She found some purple tennis shoes, and a matching pair of knee-high tube socks, that accented the plaid skirt really well. She decided to put her hair up in space buns, half up, half down style, and she threw on some red ribbon, like from her Ladybug pigtails, to accent the red in her skirt. Finally, while she was rummaging through the accessories they had supplied her to choose from, Marinette found a purple and black striped tie to finish off the ensemble.
When she walked into the hallway, Juliette and Lucie were waiting there, also dressed and ready to go. Juliette looked stunning in her Pixelator outfit. It was a mostly teal jumpsuit made of stretchy material that looked very soft, that was accented by curving black stripes on the legs that made her look taller. The top of the jumpsuit had black accents as well as dark purple almost maroon at the top that made it look like she was made of pixels. There was a jacket on top that had the same pixel-like design on it, with different shades of teal and purple and black. The sleeves were bell sleeves and the ends were boxy and almost shredded looking to appear more like pixels. She had paired the outfit with some teal boots, a silver and teal necklace and a ball cap that had the same color scheme and pixel appearance as the outfit. Her dark hair was styled down and straight, but pulled out of her face and done to let the ballcap shine.
Lucie was easily recognizable as Chat Noir. Instead of a skin-tight outfit, however, she had on baggy black pants, a plain black T-shirt, a chunky black and neon green jacket with cat eyes on the pockets, and a green and red plaid shirt tied around her waist. She was wearing lime green Jordans, and like Marinette, her hair was pulled into two space buns, but in front of each of them were black and green cat ears to pull the whole ensemble together. Where Marinette and Juliette had kept their make-up more natural, Lucie had gone with bright green eyeshadow and dark green lipstick.
“You two look amazing!” Marinette gushed as she walked to meet the girls in the middle of the hallway.
“Marinette, that outfit is adorable!” Juliette gushed, giving Marinette a gentle hug. 
“Do you want to know something super crazy?” Marinette started, and both Lucie and Juliette nodded eagerly. “My best friend was akumatized into Lady WiFi.” 
“No way!” Lucie exclaimed.
“She’s going to freak when she sees me dressed in an outfit inspired by her, kind of.” Marinette giggled, imagining Alya screaming at the TV and posting about it on the Ladyblog.
“This is such a fun date idea!” Juliette squealed, and Lucie and Marinette echoed their agreement as Hanna stepped into the hallway to join them.
Where Juliette’s outfit was all teals and black, Hanna’s was all pinks and purples. She was wearing a fringe, off the shoulder, shirt that was pink that ombrĂ©ed into purple. She was wearing overalls over the shirt that had the same obrĂ©ed look from pink at the top to purple on her legs. The top of the overalls had little white teeth, as well as the pocket on the side. Hanna had pulled her blonde hair into pigtails and tied them up with hair ties that looked like yellow eyeballs. Her choker also looked like a monster eye and her shoes were Jordans, but these were pink and purple. Her eyeshadow was also purple and her lips a pink that matched her color scheme. Hanna’s outfit made her look younger than she was and matched her carefree, joyful attitude perfectly.
The girls began chatting and were moved into the staging area by a crew member so as to not block the hallway. Adrien was already waiting in the staging area, and when Marinette spotted him, she stopped dead in her tracks. While she had been consciously aware that Adrien would be dressed as her, she wasn’t mentally prepared to see him in her signature red and black spots.
He was wearing a bright red suit set that was covered in black polka dots. He had on a black button-down shirt and a red and black polka dotted tie. His shoes were smooth black dress shoes, which caused him to look like his normal, handsome self, just sporting more spots. Thankfully, Lila wasn’t around as Adrien’s eyes immediately met hers. She watched him drag his gaze up and down her body, analyzing her outfit, just as she had done to him. He gave her a sweet smile and walked up to the group of girls, complimenting them on how they looked.
Camille arrived shortly after, wearing a black and white striped top with cut-out shoulders, the seams colored one red and one a light blue. She wore black leggings that faded into red, white boots with colored balls at the end of the laces, and her hair pulled back with multi-colored hair ties. She had added earrings that matched the light blue, red and yellow accents of the outfit and a yellow necklace that helped her neck look less bare.
Nearly ten minutes after Camille walked in, Lila graced them all with her presence. She looked less upset about her chosen akuma and was walking smugly toward the group. Marinette did have to admit that she looked beautiful. She was wearing a sweetheart neckline dress that poofed out into a skirt that stopped around her mid-thigh. The top of the dress had black and grey stripes, her waist wrapped in a red stripe. Below the red were three layers of skirt that Marinette could see. The bottom layer was red, then a black, topped with a shimmering tulle that was a light grey that sparkled when she moved. She had a light grey gossamer material that covered the top of her chest and travelled down her arms. Her legs were covered in black leggings and she had chosen bright red heels that matched the coloring of the dress very well. There was a black and red necklace around her neck and her hair was down, curly, and flowing as she walked. As she got closer, Marinette noticed that sprouting from the neckline of the dress and gracefully covering her shoulders in strips, were pieces of silver metal that must have represented the knight outfit of Darkblade.  
Once everyone had arrived on the stage, the photoshoot started. Marinette was handed a black plastic cell phone, and Juliette a camera to loop around her neck, and then they were off. There were three staging areas total around the room, and while crew members were positioning some girls, others were having lighting adjusted while the last actually had their pictures taken by Vincent, who rotated around the different stages, calling out poses for them to make and saying things like “Think of the spaghetti!” which either confused the girls or made them laugh. Marinette had a moment of satisfaction when Vincent ignored Lila’s comments about being a model and being from Italy as well and focused on correcting her positioning and praising Marinette for her natural posing ability. 
All of the girls took turns taking pictures with just Adrien, one by one. During Marinette’s solo picture, the only time she was allowed alone with him thanks to Lila, Adrien took advantage of it and whispered in her ear, “How weird is it to see me in your spots?”
“Interestingly enough, it’s not the first time,” she replied with a laugh. He quickly joined in, remembering the chaos that had been Reflekdoll, right as Vincent snapped a picture.
“Perfetto!” he cried, before moving on to the next set, Adrien following him, but giving Marinette a wink before getting posed with Camille.
After they were all done with that, Vincent paired up the Akumas and everyone rotated around, taking pictures with everyone else. A lot of pictures were taken of Lucie and Adrien together, since they were Ladybug and Chat Noir, and every akuma took a picture with the two heroes as well, which were always super fun. At the very end, they took a couple of group pictures, and Marinette couldn’t wait to see how they turned out. By the end of the date, Marinette was tired and pictured out, but was unable to keep the smile off of her face. The photoshoot was a lot of fun, and it helped that she had friends like Hanna and Juliette to make the day portion of the date even better.
                     ----------------------------------------------------
Marinette dressed for battle tonight, putting on black, sparkly dress with a very low V neckline held up by a small slice of fabric on both shoulders, a slit on her right side that went up to her mid-thigh and a short train of the dress that slid across the floor when she walked like a snake. Her simple black heels made her almost the same height as the other girls, and Marinette walked into the hotel for the night portion of the date standing taller than she ever had before on the show.
They were seated on the couches, chatting excitedly about the date they had had that morning, when Adrien walked into the room.
He was wearing a light blue and white pinstripe suit, paired with a light pink button-down shirt and tan leather shoes. He was without a tie and his suit coat wasn’t buttoned, giving Adrien the look of someone going to a much more casual event, though he looked no less jaw dropping.
“Good evening ladies, you look wonderful tonight,” Adrien said as he stopped in front of the gathered girls to give his expected speech. “I had such a wonderful time taking photos with you all on the date today, and I am excited to be able to talk with each of you tonight.” His eyes lingered slightly on Marinette when he said that, before quickly moving on. “So, without further ado, Hanna, can I steal you for a second?”
The night dragged on slowly, and as the passing minutes went by, Marinette became more and more anxious. She was grateful that she was pulling this off with Adrien by her side, otherwise she probably would have accepted her defeat a while ago. It was something Marinette had been thinking about recently. Chat looked at Ladybug as though he couldn’t accomplish anything without her by his side, and sometimes the world looked at them the same way as well. But Marinette knew that she was stronger, either as Ladybug or Marinette, when Adrien was next to her. He always gave her the support and encouragement that she needed. In the very beginning, seven years ago when she was first given her Miraculous, she would have given up being Ladybug if it weren’t for Chat’s encouragement. Marinette felt confident that no matter who they faced, whether it be Hawkmoth, Gabriel, Lila, or anyone else who stood in their way, as long as Marinette had Adrien to fight them with, she was going to be okay.
Marinette was brought out of her thoughts by Adrien, who had walked up right to her, and asked her to join him for a chat. Lila was fuming, and Marinette knew she was waiting to see what she would do. 
Marinette hesitated and before she could answer, Adrien had walked over to Lila and asked, “Would you like to join us too, Lila?”
Lila looked speechless only for a moment, before regaining her composure and responding, “Oh, I’d love to, Adrien, thank you.” Lila stood and made her way towards Adrien, and Marinette followed close behind, avoiding the other girls who were clearly trying to catch her attention.
Adrien led the three of them to a spot as far away from the gathered girls as possible. “How are you guys doing?” Adrien asked the two girls once they were all seated.
“I’m wonderful, Adrien,” Lila responded with a slight purr that almost made Marinette gag. Marinette just smiled and nodded, trying to look as though she wasn’t going to say anything.
“I’ve been meaning to talk to you all night,” Adrien started, but Lila cut him off before he could continue.
“I’ve been waiting to talk with you too, Adrien,” Lila said smoothly, leaning in close and moving her hand up his arm. “Why don’t we go off somewhere just the two of us?”
Adrien cleared his throat before saying, “Actually I need to talk with both you and Marinette together.” Lila blanched and didn’t say anything, and Adrien jumped on the chance to talk. “I got the results of the voice analysis back from the movie date two weeks ago.” Lila paled, her eyes darted between Marinette and Adrien and Marinette made sure her expression was blank so she had nothing to read there.
“What did you find?” Marinette asked, sweetly.
Adrien shifted so he could see both girls at the same time. “Do you want to answer that question...” Adrien paused before finishing his question, just as Marinette had told him to. She knew the cameras would eat this up. “Lila?” he asked, turning fully towards the girl in question. 
Lila stilled, like an animal trapped in the corner before they try to escape. “I—I don’t know what you mean.” Lila stammered, trying to sound innocent. 
Adrien looked to the gathered producers and one of them walked towards the three of them and handed Adrien a manila folder. He unclasped the folder and slid out some paperwork. “These pages here contain the analysis of both of your voices as well as the conversation in the bathroom. It was determined that the voice that threatened the other was in fact, yours, Lila.” He handed the paperwork to Lila, and even from across the couch, Marinette could read that they had indeed identified Lila as the villain in this situation.
Lila didn’t say a word and Adrien continued, gently taking the papers out of her hands and slipping them back into their folder. “Lila, you lied to me, both at the movie set and at the evening portion of the date. I told you that I cannot stand liars. What possessed you to threaten Marinette, rip her dress, and slap yourself, I may never know. But, I would like to ask you to leave the show.” 
That seemed to snap Lila out of her daze. Her head snapped up and she had tears beginning to stream down her face. “Please, Adrien I am so sorry. I felt threatened by Marinette in that beautiful dress and I was just trying to get you to notice me. Please, don’t send me home. We have so much in our relationship that we can explore and I really see you and I making it far in this competition.” The tears were coming steadily now and her voice was getting louder and more hysterical. “Please, I’ll do anything. I’ll be nicer around the house and stop messing with Marinette, and do whatever you want, but please let me stay.” Lila glanced at Marinette, with what appeared to be genuine sorrow in her eyes, though Marinette had a feeling that whatever she was about to say was solely for the benefit of Adrien. “Maybe we could start again, on a clean slate. I bet we could be really great friends.” Lila’s eyes had a slight twinkle to them that Marinette recognized as a challenge. If Marinette turned down Lila, she would be seen as the mean one who pushed away a crying girl begging for friendship. Marinette didn’t really have a choice. 
“Of course, I’ll forgive you Lila,” Marinette said, choking on the words. She forced a smile on her face before reaching out and grabbing Lila’s hand. Lila grasped Marinette’s hand with her other one and Marinette saw Adrien glance between the two girls.
“Lila, I’ll make a deal with you. If you can improve your attitude and be nicer to everyone on set, not just to me and Marinette, and I can see the evidence at the cocktail party, I’ll let you stay.” Marinette felt her heart sink as Lila nodded aggressively and flung her arms around Adrien’s neck. That was not part of the plan, but very typical of Adrien. When the two broke apart and Adrien met Marinette’s eyes, she could feel the disbelief and slight betrayal portrayed in them. He paled slightly and mouthed “We’ll talk later,” before he was blocked by Lila standing up and facing Marinette.
Marinette stood up and offered Lila a hug, knowing full well that she would have to accept it. With her mouth covered by Lila’s hair, she whispered, “You don’t own me anymore and you don’t tell a single soul about what you saw that night, is that clear?” When they broke a part, Lila gave her a slight nod, even though there was a fire blazing in her eyes. She then walked back to the gathered group of girls, and Marinette made to follow, but was stopped by Adrien grabbing onto her hand and pulling her back.
“Thank you for always being honest with me, Marinette,” Adrien said, pulling her closer to him, an apology written on his face. Marinette sighed and let go of her frustration with Lila staying. Right now, Adrien needed a friend, not someone who questions his decisions. She could bring it up after the cocktail party later this week. 
“I like you too much and I’m falling for you too hard to ever disrespect you by lying to you.” Marinette said sweetly, very aware of Adrien’s lips and how close they were to hers. He slowly, agonizingly, closed the distance between them and gently kissed her. She melted under his touch and felt her heart swell. She wished she could shout it from the rooftops that she loved this man, but it wasn’t time yet, and she knew that. But it did make her heart skip a couple of beats knowing that not only did he know that she loved him, but he loved her too. 
They broke apart, and Adrien walked Marinette back to the gathered group of girls. He grabbed the group date rose as Marinette sat down next to Juliette, who whispered, “Talk later?” to which Marinette nodded. Adrien scanned the group of girls before his eyes settled on Marinette’s corner of the couch. 
“Juliette,” he said, and she blushed before standing to walk closer to him. “Will you accept this rose?” She gave him an enthusiastic “Yes!” before giving him a hug and sitting back down next to Marinette. Marinette reached over and squeezed her arm as Lucie did the same from the other side of her.
“Thank you so much ladies for a great day. I had a ton of fun with you all and I am looking forward to seeing you again at the cocktail party later this week.” He gave the group one of his dazzling smiles before Victoria stepped forward and rushed the girls out to the van that was waiting to take them all, Lila included, back to the mansion.
~~~
I do not own the rights to these akuma outfits. The akuma outfits were heavily based off of this amazing post I found on Tumblr! We absolutely adored the look and talent of these and thought they would be perfect for this chapter! We made Copy Cat’s outfit into Chat Noir’s and inverted Antibug (switched the black and red) to make Ladybug, but otherwise all of these ideas are hers! Randa’s descriptions aren’t as amazing as the actual artwork, so check out the original post and tell her how amazing she is! @thesleepypencil​
Let me know if you wanna be added to the tag list
@momor3202
@legendaryneckjudgestudent
@discoveringmiraculouswriters
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nobodyfamousposts · 5 years ago
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So I couldn’t help myself and wrote a continuation for your Felix July First Kiss story. Hope you enjoy.
~~~
One moment, Marinette had shoved Felix out of the way, shouting for him to run just before she was hit. The next moment, there were hands on either side of her face, and there was Felix who was shockingly close.
“Felix?”
For a moment, they stared at each other, and Marinette’s mind stuttered and reeled as it took in the hands on her face, the way he was so close that they were only a few inches from brushing their noses together or
and then the moment was gone and Felix pulled away as if he had been burnt.
“We need to get out of here,” he said, and his voice was cold and curt in a familiar way. Marinette couldn’t miss how uncomfortable he looked if she tried, and so she didn’t ask questions, just stood from her seat (when had she ended up seated?) and attempted to take a step forward, only to immediately step on her dress and nearly topple forward, barely managing to regain her balance.
This
this was not the dress she had made. It was
well she guessed it looked good, but she had made her dress accounting for the fact that she was clumsier than a blind mouse, especially when Adrien was around, and so it had been a few inches off the ground. This
this was completely floor length, and also heavy, covered pearls and silver and Marinette kind of hated it now that she was in her right mind.
“
Felix, how did you get up here?”
“Stairs.”
“How many stairs?”
“
”
Felix bit his lip (and that was a nervous tic she hadn’t noticed from him before), and he didn’t need to say anything for Marinette to get an idea of what kind of an escape this was going to be.
She was going to die before she ever reached the bottom of the stairs, because this dress was going to murder her.
Also, she wasn’t alone to transform, and that wasn’t good.
What had even happened? She had clearly been under the effects of the stupid akuma, but how had

Oh

Nope! Not thinking about it. She was not thinking about it, because she was Ladybug and she had to plan and no she was not going to think about the fact that Felix had almost certainly kissed her.
Plans. That was something she was good at.
“Okay, so this dress is complete dead weight, and my chances of getting down the stairs without falling to my death and dragging you down with me are minimal,” Marinette noted aloud, forcing her brain to focus on the relevant details and not that Felix had kissed her. “The dress is magical, so the chances of me being able to remove it or cut it through ordinary means are slim. This tower is-” She checked out the window. “-approximately fifteen stories up, guessing by the windows. No chance of being able to climb down in this dress anyway. Currently, the akuma won’t be after me, since as far as he knows I’m still under his control, but you’re a target because he hasn’t gotten to you yet.”
Marinette took a deep breath. She knew what she was going to have to convince Felix to do. Like it or not, the only way she could safely escape this tower was as Ladybug, but she couldn’t transform in front of him. But considering Felix had climbed fifteen stories of stairs on foot and kissed her (don’t think about it don’t think about it) to help her out, she wasn’t sure he’d listen to her perfectly reasonable argument here.
She needed to appeal to his logical side.
“Okay.” She took a deep breath, before turning to face Felix again. “You’re going to need to get out of here alone.”
“I’m not going to-” he began, but Marinette held up a hand.
“The akuma hasn’t gotten to you yet, but the longer you stay here the more likely he is to try and control you. And if you stay here or if I try to follow you, then he might try and control me again and we’ll both be screwed. As much as it kills me, the best thing I can do is sit here and not draw attention to the fact that we aren’t being controlled.” She let out a disgusted groan. “And besides, this dress was not designed with mobility in mind, and I don’t think you’ll want to see the ensuing rampage if I end up face to face with the akuma.”
Felix looked annoyed, but Marinette knew him well enough to know he would listen to her. She had made a perfectly reasonable point and, even if it annoyed him to have to leave her here, he would realize it was necessary.
Honestly, she owed him a lot just for the fact that he came up here at all.

Nope, not thinking about it right now.
“Fine,” Felix ground out, clearly not happy. “You have a point.”
She nodded. “Thanks for the rescue, Felix. I do prefer having control over my own body. Now run.”
Felix went through the tower door, sparing a glance back at her before turning and running, the door shutting behind him.
Tikki flew out from hiding as Felix’s footsteps grew quieter, and Marinette waited until she couldn’t hear them before saying, “Tikki, spots on.”
~~~
The battle was ridiculous.
Marinette had dealt with ridiculous and annoying battles before, but her patience was thin going into the battle, and Chat Noir had taken her arrival as an immediate sign that he should jump in the way of the next attack, ending up one of the akuma’s minions seconds after she had figured out a plan that involved him. So she had to immediately reconsider her plans and devise another plan while a mind-controlled Chat Noir was attacking her, giving off a rotating set of stock lines like NPCs did in a video game.
Was that what she had been like? Well, considering the dress, she probably hadn’t been doing much attacking, but if it was all otherwise the same then she wasn’t amused.
She technically should blame the akuma, but they were the victim in this case and so screw that, she was blaming Hawk Moth.
Once she had incapacitated Chat Noir (who didn’t stop saying those lines even when he wasn’t moving anymore, and that was disturbing), it was getting to the akuma, summoning Lucky Charm, creating a plan within seconds, getting the object and breaking it, purifying akuma, and done.
Yeah, if Hawk Moth made another go at the miraculous today after that freaking dress, Marinette was going to hunt him down and kill him, with her bare hands, in civilian form.
She didn’t wait to fistbump Chat Noir, didn’t wait for anyone to approach her. It was back into the hotel as soon as possible, detransforming, sighing with relief because her costume was her’s again, and then heading for the elevator down.
Felix was outside the building, and Marinette was no longer in a situation where she couldn’t think about the fact that Felix kissed her and she obviously didn’t remember it and she hoped it wasn’t his first kiss because her first kiss had been with Chat Noir in rage mode and kissing people controlled by akuma wasn’t exactly fun and-
She tripped out the door, because even with a dress specifically designed with her clumsiness in mind, Marinette was still Marinette, and she always tripped more when her brain got too overwhelmed to focus on her feet.
Fortunately, she didn’t hit the ground.
Unfortunately, that was because Adrien caught her, and wow, that was just what she needed, wasn’t it? While having a crisis about a boy kissing her, she absolutely needed to have the boy she was not so secretly in love with to be there too.
Geez, Felix’s salt might be rubbing off on her a bit.
“You okay?” Adrien asked, and Marinette decided that no, she wasn’t going to deal with him right now because her brain was already fried.
“Yeah yeah, I’m fine,” she insisted, removing herself from Adrien’s arms. “You go check on the director, make sure he’s okay. I’ve got to do something.”
And, in a delightful twist of something going right for her today, Adrien nodded with a determined expression and ran off.
Felix was looking at her from the side of the building, and Marinette steeled herself, lifting her skirts and moving over to him for this conversation. This was some dramatic, regency drama garbage that she had a feeling Felix was just as uninterested in as she was.
“I assume you’re okay,” he noted as she stopped beside him, his voice almost emotionless, and she gave a sharp nod.
“Yeah.” She took a deep breath and ripped off the Band-Aid. “Thanks, by the way. I know
I know you don’t like touching people much or anything like that, so I’m sorry you were forced to do that to help me out.” He had probably saved Paris in the process, though she wouldn’t tell him that.
He looked uncomfortable for a moment, and Marinette was about to apologize for bringing it up when he spoke.
“It wasn’t right, to leave you like that,” he said simply, and yet there was a weight behind those words that Marinette didn’t really get. She wondered, for a moment, how bad she must have been for him to feel desperate enough to kiss her when he didn’t even feel comfortable holding someone’s hand usually. She’d have to ask Tikki later.
For now, she simply smiled at him. “Well, either way, I owe you one.”
He made eye contact with her for the briefest of moments before turning his head away, focusing his gaze on something down the street. “Considering you were only in that situation because of me, I think we’re even.”
“If you’re sure.” She was definitely getting him salted caramel cookies from the bakery anyway, because she could. “I should probably get back to the play then, see what work needs to be done to fix Lila’s sabotage. See you later?”
He nodded silently, and she smiled again, a little bit brighter as she did.
“Later Felix.”
He nodded to her, and when she eventually turned back to him to wave, he gave a tentative wave back.
Thinking about the situation, she wasn’t really sure how she left. She knew she liked Adrien, but
but maybe

No, not right now. Kissing her had been uncomfortable for Felix already. He didn’t need her mixed up feelings on top of that.
Needless to say though, by the time she was done with the play, she was not in the mood to be a princess anymore.
___________________________________
Spectacular work by Ace and a lovely continuation of the original First Kiss prompt! Thank you!
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sparklyaxolotlstudent · 5 years ago
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More than 900 notes on the “Lila gets Exposed” ficlet? I love you guys.
And writting Lila liying stupidly and being caught stupidly is fun. so yeah, I might make this a series on different characters catching Lila lying. At least I have some idea on how Alya, Chloe, Nino, Rose and maybe Juleka might catch her. 
These are meant to be unrelated and one shots, but I will try to kept characters other than Marinette and Lila out of the fic that aren’t their so they can still form a coherent narrative if the reader want to feel like Lila was caught by everyone.
———————-
Lila gets Exposed As The Lying Liar Who Only Lies
Marc and Nathaniel.
“Did you want to see me?”
Marinette got inside the classroom of the art club, where Marc and Nathaniel were waiting for her.
“Hiya Mari!” greeted overenthusiastically Marc, guiding her to a seat near a table where Nathaniel and he had been working. They had something covered in cloth, which Marinette found a bit suspicious, but was used to how theatrically dramatically extra those two could get.
“What’s this?”
“Well, remember our comic?”
“Which one? Where Super Nathaniel saves me from Stormy Weather and Lady Wifi and then we ki
”
“NOT THAT ONE!” reacted Nathaniel not so quickly, blushing so much his skin got the same color of his hair. “Ahem. The one where Might Illustrator and Reverser teamed up with Ladybug and Chat Noir for
”
“The double date one or the one where they fight Queen Wasp?”
“
 Queen Wasp.” Marc turned to Nathaniel. “You told her about the double date one?” Nathaniel shook his head, both looked at Marinette confused, but she just smiled innocently and sweetly.
“Ha! You guys are so transparent. I was just guessing”
Marc made a face “meanie” he added a raspberry for emphasis. Nathaniel just kept his red hue.
“ANYWAY. The comic with us as heroes being heroes alongside the heroes of Paris” said Nathaniel very quickly.  Marinette giggled at how easy was to push Nathaniel’s buttons.
“And you’re our Everyday Ladybug, so we decided it was only fair that you would join the team!”
“We actually wanted to say you’re the real Ladybug, but realized that would be a bit problematic
 and Alya would freak out big time”
Marinette had never panicked and been relieved so quickly in her life.
“Yeah, right, clumsy old Marinette as Ladybug, who would believe a loser like me was a superhero?”
Nathaniel and Marc looked at each other.
“Marinette, sweetie
” Marc said, holding Marinette’s hand “We love you with all our hearts, brains and other internal organs, but if you dare to call yourself bad names ever again, I will be legally and morally obligated to slap you silly until you learn to appreciate the wonderful human being that you are.”
“Duly noted”
“SO! Since you have never been akumatized –kudos for that, by the way, you rock – we didn’t had anything to base your herosona with
 so we started thinking, and your main forte is designing, but bringing stuff that you draw to life is sort of Mighty Illustrator gimmick
”
“It’s not a gimmick!”
“Right right
 so, Nathaniel thought about the hat you designed and we basically took a peek at your sketchbook, and we decided that fashion was going to be your thing!”
They grabbed the cloth and pulled it at the same time, uncovering a series of illustrations of Marinette in several hero suits. Some very elaborate some more simple. The main one seemed to be a play on her normal clothes, with a dark pink bodysuit with white details, including a belt, a dark grey jacket, and a brooch that resembled the ladybug earrings, just in the same shade of dark pink as the body suit.
“We based her a bit on Ladybug. With the brooch she can switch between suits, and the brooch changes colors to match which suit she is using. Her standard outfit is the pink one, which we based on your clothes, and it gives her agility and strength. The other suits are more specialized, like the blue one allowing her to breathe underwater and swim more efficiently.  We’re thinking a rainbow theme, with 7 suits plus the pink one. We might squeeze a black and white one too, although that is Reverser gimmick.” Nathaniel looked at Marc with a sly smile. Marc rolled his eyes.
“Touche. Anyway, we call her Fashionette, unless you want to be called something else”
Marinette couldn’t help but notice that they somehow had made the power of the suits match the power of the potions that Master Fu had given her. Still, it was different enough from Ladybug to throw suspicions
 even though Nathaniel had made an illustration of Ladybug, ‘Fashionette’, Chat, Reverser and Mighty Illustrator. To Nathaniel’s credit, he had made Ladybug with longer hair, taller and more muscular than herself. She then wondered if that’s how other people saw Ladybug or if it was just Nathaniel’s artistic view.
“Marinette as a hero? Wow, you guys are so talented!”
They had been so focused on their explanation of Fashionette that they hadn’t noticed that Lila the lying liar who lies had entered the art room. Marinette closed her eyes and took a deep breath.
“Oh, and you did a drawing of her with Ladybug, my best friend.”
“Well yeah. We’re making a comic and including Marinette as a hero with us. I’m sorry, who are you?” asked Marc sincerely, as he had no idea who this girl with sausage hair was, but felt weird for how she was talking.
“Oh, you don’t know me? I’m Ladybug’s best friend, Lila Rossi”
“Isn’t Ladybug’s best friend Chat Noir?”
Lila’s eye twitched, but decided that Marc probably would question her if she kept that lie. Marinette smiled wide at that, hoping that Lila would go, but alas, she just approached the table and grabbed one of Marc and Nathaniel’s comics.
“Oh, a comic book. Cool. I know Stan Lee, he basically based Spider-Gwen on me. I might be able to get you to meet him someday.”
The three art kids looked at each other, a bit confused.
“Are you going to use a Ouija?”
“What?”
“Stan Lee died last year”
“And Spider-Gwen was created by Jason Latour and Robbi Rodriguez, not Stan Lee”
“I
 I was just testing you. I meant he based Spider-man on me, way before he died, of course.”
“Didn’t know you had a time machine. Must be awesome”
“What?”
“Lila, Spider-man was created in 1962, so either you have aged really well, or you have a time machine.”
“Ugh you guys, always misunderstanding me! I mean the spider-man from the movie!  He’s my best friend!”
“Didn’t know you and Tom Hiddleston were friends”
“Of course, we are very close!”
“Hiddleston is the guy who plays Loki. Holland is Spider-man.” Lila was speechless.
Marinette was using all her power to not fall from her chair laughing. Lila trying to outgeek Marc and Nathaniel, comic book fans extraordinaries, was the funniest thing she had ever seen. Even more fun than when Chloe fell in a puddle of mud.
“Ugh, you suck!”
Lila threw the illustrations to the floor, without noticing that Mister Perrault, the art teacher had gotten in the art room just that moment.
“What is going on?”
“This girl who I am still not sure who is” said Marc quickly, as he could see Lila was going to respond something “started trying to impress us with her lies, but since we didn’t believe her, she just threw our work”
“They were being mean to me!” Lila tried to sob, while the other three teens were gathering the stuff she had thrown.
“Regardless of what they might have said, I caught you on the act of trying to destroy the work of art they had done for Marinette, and if there is something I will not tolerate in my club, is precisely that. Follow me to the Principal’s office
 whoever you are.”
The trio smiled. Marinette couldn’t help but worry at Lila being akumatized yet again, but she also wanted to put some input on her “super hero” persona that Marc and Nathaniel had created with so much love for her.
——-
Art Teacher has no canon name, so I landed in “Perrault” after searching for french last names. If you don’t know who Charles Perrault is, I weep for your childhood. 
And I do accept suggestions for “Fashionette” canon name, which would be also my Akumanette, should I ever write one. 
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