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terrible-fanfiction-of-course · 4 years ago

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All thanks to you

Lila sits in her room rewriting the latest chapter of her novel, A novel she started when she transferred to (school name). As she finished, she mused on the best part that had yet to come. You see, Lila is a writer who loves being inspired by life. She doesn’t mind trying to create her inspiration, also known as manipulating people. Lila moves so often that it been a hobby for some time now, Lila had long given up on actually forming real bonds with people. It never works out and she usually would have to move soon after.

Lila daydreams about the first days of this school initially she wanted to try and write a romance novel about two people from different worlds type of thing when that got ruined fast. Hence, she assumed her inspiration would become someone having to deal with having a wrong first impression and coping with bullying, so she avoided school for a while, and strangely when she came back, no one else knew she was a liar. And her lies were not smart. It would have been too easy to figure her out, yet these people believed every word she said, barring that Marinette character. Marinette was prefect; she created such a beautiful chance at her favorite genre of writing. Tragedy. She loves tragedy, she loves the aspect of seeing a story play out, and with only a few decisions seeing something that could be a happily ever after turn so terrible. Lila realizes that this makes her a terrible person she just doesn’t care, at least she will come out and say it. when she wants to. but for now she wants to think about Marinette

Marinette was the prefect protagonists or I guess victim, I so easily turned all her friends against shifts the aspect and comfort she took from those people and even poisoned her own thoughts about them. To the point, she chose a healthier life and has moved on mostly, cutting all of those too stupid and greedy to see through the thin veneer of my lies before it was too late. And while she didn’t leave without a few emotional scars, she will be all the better in the end. Marinette, my wonderful protagonist, had her ending. But the tragedy aspect of the story is no longer just hers. An epilogue is in order for those left.

The players who made this whole drama come to life deserve to know what there just deserts are. As Lila finishes typing up Marinette’s new ending, she stands up and gets to gathering items she has been buying and saving for months. Being a part-time model did help with this, but she doesn’t think she would want to continue with this. Modeling was tedious, and so was Adrien. So dull that she is almost glad that her romance novel failed so fast, she has a feeling that she would have had to scrap it anyway. Anyhow she got to finishing warping all her gifts for her wonderful classmates. Monday would be an exciting class. She had already convinced her naive teacher to be out of the classroom for her show. She can’t for the life of her recall what lie she used for this but it’s unimportant as she finished her preparations and snuggles up to bed and falls asleep. Monday comes around as Lila gets up early and makes her way to school with giant bags of presents. She made it to class first; she places all the gifts on each desk. She then makes her hidden cameras were well hidden and video set up. She sits on the teacher’s desk and waits, and as her classmates come inside, she tells them that she has a surprise but not to open the present till the end. As everyone gets to their sits and looks so excited and happy and really why shouldn’t they be? They don’t know what about to happen to the perception of reality. The only desk with no gift was Chloe a very surprising character indeed, she made for a beautiful and unexpected redemption arch, she sits in her seat and simply glares at me. I smile sheepishly and once everyone is settled. I start my spiel. “Hello everyone, today I wanted to thank you so much for all that you have done. If it weren’t for you all, none of this would have been possible. I’m going to play this video and I just need you all to watch to the end thank you as Lila leaves the room and goes to an empty classroom to watch from the cameras she had set up earlier in the morning. The video starts with Rose, “Rose I wanted to thank you. You saw me as a friend and trusted me so fast, you were so able to gather all the girls like no other and because of you, Marinette understood that none of her ‘friends’ really cared about her anymore” Lila makes sure to air quotes, in the video, the word friends of course. She had seen true and real pure friendship and this class didn’t cut it. Rose and really the whole class seem to turn from happy and thankful to shock as she continued to speak, and Adrien looked the sickest of them all. But seemingly too shocked to stop her speech. “Of and Juleka I also have to thank you for being so willing I believe everything I said and making sure Marinette couldn’t get comfort from your big brother of yours it really helped the isolation aspect that you completely turned everyone outside of school against her but really I guess I can give credit to everyone for that” Lila blow a big kiss to room and flips her hair back. This unforcedly seems to break them from there stupor and Rose stood and said “I-I didn’t do that! I just wanted Marinette to go back to being a good friend why would you say such things?!” and Juleka says more quietly “Marinette did so many terrible things I didn’t want my brother getting involved in the wrong crowd” she seems to tremble like the weight of saying her words are too much. Lila having seen this coming had set up the video to say “now calm down, I have a reason for saying all this, and I promise everything will be clear in the end, while everything may seem bad to you now I promise by the end you’ll have new clarity about everything.” this rather surprisingly seems to calm them down. Though I have the sneaking thought that the present in front of them was an excellent positive investment to say silent for just a while longer.

I start going through everyone involved with making Marinette miserable, some of the highlight being Kim looking somewhat ashamed when he and Alix pushed Marinette down the stair multiple times and Max and Sabrina made sure to get the taps erased every time. Their expression was of a child being scolded for something they didn’t think was wrong. Which made sense they still thought of Marinette as a bully a terrine person. They didn’t seem to understand why I brought all this up. And why I was adding you chose and did this with no instruction from anymore else to the statements. The build-up was killing Lila and looked like it was killing Adrien as well. Oh, to see him squirmed was such fun. From her classroom, she laughed and kept recording there reactions. So much fun really. But before we get to the fun of causing a spineless boy to squirm their video goes over Alya’s involvement of her so-called ‘my best friend’ “Alya oh Alya you were always there for me, guarding me and making sure Marinette stayed in her place. Calling her a jealous bitched and completely disregarding anything she tried to tell you while also still trying to take advance of free babysitting and free clothes and pasties usually on the same day you make her cry.” Alya’s face was red she stands up to start yelling she had a betrayed expression on her face. “Girl what are you saying? I was defending you from a bully!” The class nodded in agreement. And Chloe starts to laugh “Really are you all this ridiculously stupid??? She is literally telling you how you fucked up and you still can’t take responsibility” Chloe said expression of sadness and slight disgust as she stares at them. While Lila didn’t like the interruptions to her spicy video she let it slide as it gave pause time for people to scream for a good ten seconds. “we still have one more person because I can finish my little speech.” past Lila said with a wink. She then speaks to Adrien I wanted to thank you most! If you had gas-lighted Marinette into staying silent and then totally abandoning her when supporting her would have been a widdle bit hard, without your totally knowing and willing approve and support now of this would be possible.” Before the class could argue more she added “Most all of you took my side because you thought you could get something from me, you wanted to use me the same way, Marinette was going to let herself be used by you. You deemed me a more valuable asset when you found you couldn’t have both and then diluted yourselves into thinking you are the justified ones. But your wrong, because I was lying to you all about everything I said to you were totally lies.” The class seems to freeze then exploded and start yelling and freaking out, I stare at them to recall all their beautiful betrayed reactions. As they started calling me the bad guy, all I say is please open your gift and read the letters first” video Lila was explaining what the letter was because the gifts were just that useful nice gifts for the most part. Rewards for being such good suckers and throwing away their ‘good friend’ The letter was super well-documented evidence of the harassment and bullying they had all done to Marinette while Lila was in the class. It showed how they chose to do what they did. It finally seemed to sink in for them that hey had fucked up and the expressions on their faces would be so helpful to finish off her novel as the all tried to call Marinette only to discover that she was gone they have no way to get in contact with her. Truly only then had some of there actions seem to matter at all to them. They have finally expressed the loss that Lila was craving for them to feel.

#Class salt #alya salt #Lila spicy #adrien salt #Im salty #i dont really write but here #ml salt

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gabriel-agreste-has-no-rights · 5 years ago

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I keep forgetting to post my fics here. have some ladynoir angst, desperada + gamer 2.0 flavor. inspired by @marinetteplztakeabreak

Rating: T

Summary: Chat Noir refuses to let anyone else play as Desperada. Ladybug doesn't know why. But she /does/ know that if he sacrifices himself one more time, her heart won't be able to take it. He doesn't know how it feels to watch her vanish in front of him... right? (Ladynoir, Set during/after Gamer 2.0)

Word Count: 5771

XXX

“No!”

Marinette’s hand paused, leaving her red cursor highlighting the triangular icon for Desperada.

“Chat?” Her eyes darted around the cramped pyramid, wishing she could see him, but her field of vision was eclipsed with the akuma selection screen until she chose a fighter. And even then, she’d enter the body of the akumatized victim; she still wouldn’t be able to reach her Kitty.

Had Gamer 2.0 broken the rules? Chat had seemed to be enjoying this game, but his voice just then—

“Don’t pick Desperada,” his voice crackled through her earpiece. Something was off for sure.

“Why not?” She asked. “She’s got an easy power to win with. I know you’re having fun, but we do still need to win.”

“I know, I know, but… please. You can win with anyone, my Lady. I’ll take Desperada.”

It was a strange request, but Marinette wasn’t picky. He was right; her strategy didn’t require any overpowered finishing moves.

“Are we going to play or not?” Gamer 2.0’s voice whined.

Marinette scrolled her cursor up and over to Gigantitan. Chat was always willing to listen to her plans. Of course she would respect the one thing he asked of her.

Though she easily won the match, she couldn’t shake the echo of Chat Noir’s panicked voice.

XXX

Stupid, stupid. Adrien’s hands still shook where they were trapped inside of the control console.

He should’ve just let Ladybug play as Desperada. What safer place could there be for her than inside the villain—no, victim, he could usually remember that—who haunted his nightmares? She couldn’t go up in golden smoke if she was the one wielding Desperada’s shapeshifting instrument.

But still, he wasn’t sure he could watch Desperada in action without clawing at his wrist, even if he knew his Lady was the one beneath her skin. And he knew he couldn’t let Ladybug face her—and he couldn’t face her—so there was only one solution his suddenly-whirling mind provided him.

He selected Desperada and slammed the button.

His body flickered, leaving him weightless for a brief second before he was thrust into the akuma victim’s body. He kept his eyes shut for as long as he could afford—not long, since Gamer 2.0 had chosen Pixelator. Another villain with a one-hit k.o.

Just don’t think about it. It’s just a game. It’s not her, you’re not Aspik, you’re not going to be trapped here again, you’re Chat Noir and you LOVE video games it’s just a game it’s just a game it’s just—

Pixelator’s blast nearly hit his feet. Only a quick skid across the slick arena floor saved him. Not that he’d be gone gone if he lost this match—but it would mean that Gamer 2.0 ended up with Desperada’s weapon.

Adrien grit his teeth. He couldn’t risk that. Her would win.

“Chat? Are you okay?” Ladybug’s voice came through his earpiece, but he couldn’t afford to be distracted by her. Not like he had been 25,913 times before.

“Fine!” He managed to choke out before gripping the trombone in his hands.

Pixelator fired off a few more shots, but apparently Gamer 2.0’s practice hadn’t improved his hand-eye coordination. The glitchy-looking projectiles flew wide enough for Adrien to scramble away, roll, take aim.

One shot. He just needed one shot. It would be easy.

But squeezing the modified trombone’s trigger? Not so much.

Panic gripped him, months upon months of memories slamming back into him as his gaze skirted the brass weapon. Five thousand separate instances where his Lady had disintegrated at its hand.

“Chat! Get your head in the game!”

Ladybug’s voice startled him enough that his hands clenched—squeezing the trigger and blasting that horrible, horrible noise.

Pixelator vanished in a spray of golden smoke.

Pixelator. Not his Lady.

His hand squeezed the blood from his left wrist anyway.

“Desperada wins!”

The announcer’s voice hit like a punch to the gut, and his body reacted by leaking bile into his throat.

But he won.

He won.

His body rematerialized in the control pyramid, and Ladybug wasted no time in picking her next fighter. She was laughing, using Prime Queen to hurl Princess Fragrance against the ground. She was having fun.

She was here, with him, even if he couldn’t squeeze her hand to physically reassure himself. She was here.

...And, he realized when it was his turn at the selection screen again, she still needed him.

If his time fighting Desperada had taught him anything, it was that he would never let down his Lady.

XXX

“The times when I have the most fun—my favorite moments— are when I'm with you, my Lady. And I would give up everything for just that.”

Chat Noir’s words echoed in Marinette’s mind hours after the fight with Gamer 2.0. Hours after Max had left her house, cheered by the time spent with her and her parents. Hours after she lady in bed, trying to convince herself to sleep.

He did give up everything for her. All the time. Including today.

Did he know how much it hurt to watch him fall out of the arena? And he’d had the nerve to wink at her while he did it! While she couldn’t doubt his logic—and while warmth pooled in her at his trust—what if she’d failed? She’d been pushed to the brink today; she’d snapped and directed her frustrations from her civilian life at him. And the whole time, he’d taken it, talked her down, taken the hit.

Just like he always did.

He always did.

She buried her face in her pillow, wishing she’d at least taken the time to thank him today. He knew she couldn’t do this without him, didn’t he? So much of their partnership went without saying…

But then again, she hadn’t realized how much she meant to him until he’d said it, either.

“Marinette?” Tikki whispered from her spot next to her pillow. “I thought you’d be asleep by now. You were exhausted today.”

“I am exhausted,” she groaned, squeezing the pillow against the sides of her head. “But I can’t stop thinking about…”

“About who?”

Marinette peeked out enough to glare at her kwami. She knew, of course—she’d said who, not what—but she was going to make Marinette say it.

“Chat Noir,” she huffed into the pillowcase. “He sacrificed himself again today.”

Tikki nodded, even though she probably already knew that too. Her kwami had a good sense of what happened while Marinette was in the suit, though she was unable to explain how it worked in a way that a human mind could understand.

“But you saved him,” Tikki said. “Just like he knew you would.”

“I know I can, but… it still hurts, you know?” Her voice came out as little more than a whimper. “I know I’m Ladybug, and I have to purify the akuma, but still… I couldn’t do it without him. And it’s like he didn’t even think before jumping today!”

“Because he trusts you, Marinette.”

“I know! But—”

But what? There really wasn’t anything else to it. She’d tried talking Chat out of taking hits before. She could never get him to promise to stop, not when Paris needed the Miraculous Cure more than it needed his Cataclysm.

But.

She just wanted him to be okay. He’d said he was fine—that his favorite moments were with her.

How could they be, when he was always in so much danger?

How would he feel if he knew how much she worried about him? Not all the time, of course—just times like this, when she remembered him falling like a ragdoll, disappearing, fading from existence. It hadn’t been as bad as Timebreaker for sure, or even the Puppeteer when he’d been briefly turned against her—but those had been so long ago. Maybe it was just the recentness of it, reminding her again just how much she cherished her partner.

Not that she could tell him that so directly. He’d never stop riding the high of it.

Tikki smiled knowingly. “If you’re worried about Chat Noir, you should tell him. He’s your partner. And I… don’t think he gets to hear how much he means to people very often.”

Of course, Tikki had managed to follow her train of thought. Being literally merged as Ladybug tended to make that easier for her.

“You really think his ego isn’t big enough?” Marinette grumbled.

Tikki’s eyes turned sad. “This isn’t Chloe we’re talking about. He’s your friend.”

Marinette’s brows drew together. He was her friend, and her partner, and… and he couldn’t be more than that. Today had reminded her why.

If it already hurt so much to watch Chat throw his life away, how could she handle it if she were in love with him?

“Right,” she mumbled, hating the way her exhaustion twisted her thoughts. She couldn’t be in love with Chat anyway—because she was in love with Adrien. She’d taken down some of his pictures since becoming better friends with him, but a few still peeked out from the top of her cork board.

She’d never displayed a picture of Chat Noir, even if she could easily pass herself off as a casual fan. She wasn’t sure her heart would be able to take both blond-haired boys staring down at her.

This was useless. She’d been worried about Chat’s safety, not whether or not she was in love with him!

“Tikki? You think I could get out for a bit to clear my head?” Lying here in the dark certainly wasn’t cutting it.

“Of course. Just don’t stay out too long; you still need your rest.”

That much was obvious, especially if she was entertaining romantic thoughts of Chat Noir.

After a whispered “spots on,” she swung out into the night.

XXX

Adrien wound the red string around his left wrist. Breathed in.

Unwound. Breathed out.

Wound. Breathed in.

Unwound.

The rooftop’s shingles still dug into Adrien’s back, but some of the tension uncoiled from his shoulders as he methodically twisted Marinette’s lucky charm. Maybe it was silly, but more than anything else he’d tried, it worked. Having something to replace the weight of the miraculous bracelet he’d worn for so long… maybe it should’ve been a reminder of all the times he’d failed, but instead it gave him hope.

How could anything bad happen to him while he held his friend’s lucky charm?

A gentle breeze kissed his masked face as he held his wrist up to the moon. The green and pink beads glinted brightly against the inky black of his gloves.

He was glad the moon was the only one who could see him from his hiding spot on the abandoned roof. What would Ladybug think if she knew he had such a weird way of clearing his head? Maybe she’d joke that she was being replaced, that he didn’t need her luck anymore if he had Marinette’s. But no, that thought wouldn’t even occur to her. Unlike Adrien, she knew she couldn’t be replaced.

“Chat Noir! You know you’re irreplaceable.”

He tried to remember her reassuring words every time those doubts crept in. She had needed him today. Something had been off with her, a vulnerability he rarely got to see.

“Aren't you scared you'll eventually have to sacrifice everything you love for all of this?”

It would be hard to sacrifice everything he loved when everything he loved was her. He’d toned down that sentiment out loud, but he still wished he could pull her into his arms, promise her that everything was going to be okay, that they’d beat Hawkmoth and steal his miraculous and reveal their identities to each other and fall and love and move to a private island with a hamster—

He chuckled at his own fantasy. He could dream, right? He had to have something to get through the days when all he could remember was her vanishing over and over, golden smoke and shocked blue eyes—

The charm bracelet was too tight on his wrist. He quickly unwound it before the red string could snap.

Breathed out. Wound. Breathed in—

And nearly choked when his staff started ringing.

He rolled over and whipped it out from behind his back, too shocked to even pretend he was busy before picking up. “LB? You okay?”

“Oh, um… I didn’t think you’d be up, honestly.” Her awkward laugh echoed over the pounding of his heart. “Are you okay?”

“I’m absolutely purrrrfect now, my Lady.” He grinned. Marinette’s lucky charm has paid off again. “How about yourself? Just wanted to have a chat on this feline evening?”

“Nope, nope, that’s it, I’m hanging up.”

“No no no don’t go,” he said in one breath, both hands tightening around his staff-phone. “I mean. You didn’t even tell me why you called yet.”

“I can’t just want to chat with my kitty?”

Oh, that put fluttery feelings in his stomach. It was probably for the best that she wasn’t there in person to see his absolutely smitten look. “You made a pun.”

“Completely accidental!”

“Suuuure it was, bugaboo.” He was pushing it, he knew, but she’d called her his kitty. Either something was finally going right for him… or something was very, very wrong. “Seriously, though. You never make house calls. What’s up?”

“I… nevermind, this was stupid,” she muttered.

“No excuse to talk to you is stupid.”

She paused, and for a moment he was sure she’d hung up. But then she said, “Meet me at the Eiffel Tower in ten minutes.”

“As you wish, my Lady.”

He tucked Marinette’s lucky charm away in his pocket, making sure to zip it shut. Then he vaulted off into the night, leaving memories of other bracelets and vanishing Ladybugs behind.

XXX

“We need to talk.” Marinette crossed her arms to keep them from shaking.

Chat Noir dropped onto the crossbeam in front of her, a grin wide on his face. “What, you’re not even going to take me out to dinner first?”

She found herself wishing she’d brought some croissants, if only to have one to throw at him. “Can you—can you be serious for once?”

Her voice cracked pitifully. She was doing it again—taking out her fear and anger on him, and he didn’t deserve it, and she just…

She covered her eyes and crouched down on the cold crossbar. “I’m sorry, Chat. I—I shouldn’t have asked you to come out this late.”

“Hey.”

She felt more than saw Chat sit down beside her. His arms came gently around her, slow enough that she could’ve chosen to pull away.

“You know I’ll always come when you call, little Bug.”

She tried to snort at the nickname, but it felt all too accurate. She felt so, so small.

“I know you will,” she murmured, twisting to better return his undeserved embrace. “I’m still sorry. I just wanted to tell you how much I appreciated you today. I’ve been… having a rough time in my civilian life. It wasn’t fair to take it out on you.”

“We all have off days, LB. Don’t worry about it.”

Of course, it hadn’t even fazed him. How many times had she taken that for granted?

“I know you don’t want to reveal too much about our identities, but if you want to talk about anything that’s bothering you, I’m all ears.” He pulled back just a little, enough for her to see him twitch his leather cat ears.

She rolled her eyes, but couldn’t hide a smile. “I just took on too many obligations at the same time, that’s all. It’s a problem I have.”

“Somehow that doesn’t surprise me.” He smiled sadly. “You’re always sacrificing so much for others. I can’t imagine your civilian self is any different.”

Her face warmed at his praise. She did do a lot, but she doubted he’d find her exploits as Marinette half as impressive as Ladybug. Besides—

“I can’t believe I’m hearing this from you, the most self-sacrificing person I know.”

Her gaze peeled away from him as his most recent sacrifice again flashed through her mind. Would it be worth bringing up again? He’d never stop choosing her safety over his own. And she really didn’t want to argue after just apologizing to him.

“Sorry.”

His soft, sad voice surprised her. Of course it hadn’t been hard for him to guess what she was thinking—he did that all the time when they fought side by side—but he’d never sounded so much like… like he understood.

“I should’ve thought a little harder before jumping today. That was probably hard to watch.”

“Probably?” She couldn’t help gaping. “Chat, it hurts every time I see you throw yourself into danger. We could’ve found a way to trick Gamer 2.0, or at least come up with a plan. But you just…”

Left me.

That was it, wasn’t it? It was supposed to be her and him against the world. Even if the fight could technically be handled alone sometimes, she needed him.

Her partner’s claws scratched at his wrist, just below the leather brace. His gaze wouldn’t focus on her.

“I’m sorry, Ladybug, I really am. I wasn’t... having the best day either, I guess.”

“Hey,” she said, taking his hand—had his claws been digging into his suit?—and giving it a gentle squeeze. “I’m sorry. I know we’ve talked about this, and I don’t want to fight about it again.” There had been too many tears last time, from both of them. (Mostly her.) “I’m sorry today was hard for you too.”

“Don’t worry about it.” He shook his head, but his grip tightened on her hand, like she was anchoring him. “It was nothing, really. Just not at the top of my game.”

The pun was forced, and she knew it. She frowned up at him.

“I’m not going to stop worrying about you just because you tell me to, Chat. Do you want to talk about it?”

“Can’t. Civilian stuff,” he said quickly.

“Really? I guess I just thought… nevermind.”

“What?”

Maybe she’d misread the situation earlier—after all, she hadn’t been able to see his face while they were in the Gamer’s domain. Could the strange panic she’d thought she heard in his voice just been her imagination?

“You didn’t want me to play as Desperada. And you seemed a little off afterwards…”

He shuddered at the akuma’s name. “You noticed?”

“Of course I did. You sounded scared, but I didn’t want to ask and give Gamer 2.0 anything he could use against you.”

“Smart,” he said under his breath. “I should know I can’t hide anything from you.”

“I don’t know about that. It’s not like I know your identity.”

He gave a shallow laugh at that. “Right…”

There was an awkward silence, where nothing passed between them but Chat’s rapid pulse against her palm. She still hadn’t let go of his hand. He hadn’t teased her about it—which was more of a sign that something was wrong than anything.

“You know,” she said under her breath, tracing her thumb along the back of his hand, “keeping you safe is my number one priority, right?”

“No it’s not.” He shook his head, but he didn’t sound bitter about it. “Keeping Paris safe is your priority. Keeping you safe is mine.”

She bit her lip. Unfortunately, no matter how her heart felt, he was right.

“I just mean… the rules we have, about identities and everything—it’s to protect us.” She swallowed, wondering if she’d regret what she was about to say, if she was only considering it because she’d been worn down by the emotionally exhausting day. “But if you need to talk about something related to your civilian identity that’s affecting you in battle, well… I can’t protect you if I don’t know what’s going on.”

His eyes snapped up to hers. “Don’t say that.”

“W-what?” His intensity caught her off guard. She was always one to shut down conversations that danced too close to their civilian life, not him.

“If you give me permission to talk about this… I don’t know that I’ll be able to stop.”

His shoulders hunched; his knees pulled up to his chest. For all that he’d called her Little Bug earlier, she’d never seen him look so small. Not when she’d told him she was in love with someone else. Not when they’d fought a horde of akumas turned by Scarlett Moth.

But she’d rather face a hundred akumas then see her partner look so defeated.

“Chat Noir.” She squeezed his hand tighter, afraid he would slip away. “I trust you. I know you wouldn’t reveal yourself to me on purpose. I’m not trying to tempt you or anything, I just… I hate seeing you like this.”

Maybe it was selfish of her, but could he really blame her for wanting to help him?

“Let me protect you for once,” she whispered.

“You already have.” He looked up, and to her surprise, tears welled in the corners of his green eyes. “So many times.”

“Then let me do it again. Maybe I can’t keep you from getting hurt, but at least let me be here for you. You don’t have to pretend to be okay all the time, you know that, right?”

“I do, actually.” He snorted, wiping at one eye with his free hand. “Can’t get akumatized.”

Marinette could’ve punched Hawkmoth in the face right then. Well, she wanted to punch Hawkmoth all the time, but especially now.

“Forget about that. I’ll watch out for any butterflies, if you just want to… you know.”

Sometimes you just needed a good cry. Marinette hadn’t had that luxury since becoming Ladybug two years ago—except for a few rare times where Tikki had kept watch for her—but she had no idea how much Chat might have been bottling up.

From the sound of his shaking sobs, it was a lot.

“It’s okay, kitty, I’ve got you.”

She released his hand, but only so she could better wrap her arms around him, curling into his side. He collapsed into her embrace.

“It’s okay. I promise, I’m not going anywhere.” She ran her hands through his hair, scratched gently behind his cat ears, until a low rumble sounded in his chest. She didn’t let that fool her though; she’d read that cats sometimes purred when they were in pain.

And her kitty was in more pain than she’d ever realized.

“I can’t lose you again,” he finally said against her collarbone. “I can’t. I know you won’t leave me on purpose, but—even just remembering it—”

“I’ll never leave you, Chaton. It’s you and me against the world.” She kept up her soothing touches, steadfastly ignoring just how nice it felt to her too. She was here to comfort her partner, not get lost in the scent of his strawberry shampoo and leather suit.

“But what if I can’t save you?” He finally burst, looking up at her with tearstained eyes. “I… we don’t always get second chances…”

It wasn’t the first time she’d had that fear—though usually hers was the fear of failing as a whole, of watching Chat disappear forever, of watching Paris crumble around her.

“I know,” she murmured. She wouldn’t lie and pretend there was nothing to be afraid of. “But I also know that no matter what we’ve faced, you’ve always been here to save me. You saved me today.”

As much as it pained her to admit, his self-sacrificing stunt had allowed her to win. While she understood his fear, why was it catching up to him now, of all times? Maybe it was just remembering all the akumas they’d faced, all their close calls…

“Don’t pick Desperada.”

That one… hadn’t been worse than usual, had it?

“We don’t always get second chances…”

“I don’t always save you,” he said. “I don’t, and—and I can’t tell you, and that’s what hurts more than anything.” He squeezed his eyes shut before dropping his head back onto her shoulder.

“I don’t understand. I’m still here. Safe,” she reassured him while rubbing his back. “That should be proof enough that you didn’t fail.”

“Only because you don’t remember.”

Didn’t… remember? Had there been an akuma attack like Oblivio that she had no memory of? But surely she would’ve remembered casting the Cure at least, and noticed that there was a gap in time that she’d missed…

And she still didn’t understand how any of this could relate to worries about Chat’s civilian identity, unless that had just been a bluff to keep her from asking. But she doubted that—Chat Noir didn’t lie to her.

“25,913 times…”

She wasn’t supposed to hear that. She knew that from the way it was mumbled despondently into the crook of her neck. She knew it from the way his whole body froze at the admission.

She knew it from the way she had that number memorized. If it had been anything else, any other number, she would’ve thought he was exaggerating, but—

“It was the 25,913th time. I don’t know what to do anymore!”

“No,” she gasped. He was—and he had— “Adrien?”

Slowly, as if every degree he lifted his head caused him pain, he met her eyes. His lips tried to twitch into a hopeful smile, but they wavered before letting out another sob.

“I told you I wouldn’t be able to stop.”

“It doesn’t matter,” she said quickly, even though it did matter, because the boy she loved was the other boy she loved, and—now was not the time to be coming out of denial! “I mean, it does matter, of course I care who you are, but I’m not—we’ll get through it, okay?”

“You’re mad, aren’t you?” He sniffed.

She squeezed him before he could pull out of her hug—even though he had every right to pull away. She had been the one to give him the snake miraculous.

Everything snapped into place. Why Desperada had freaked him out. His fear of failing her. Why he would jump into danger so rashly.

And she’d thought it was bad to watch Chat sacrifice himself. He he’d been in love with her all along, and she’d made him watch her vanish 25,913 times.

She’d tried to check on Adrien as Ladybug shortly after the Desperada fight. She’d known there was a chance that he’d be struggling, he said he’d been in the time loop for months, but every time she tried to visit he was gone or asleep (she knew she should’ve kept his schedule!) and then he’d come to school and he’d seemed fine, but all along…

“Talk to me, Bug, please,” he choked out.

“Sorry!” She released him from her hug, but only so she could grab his hands instead.

(She was holding Adrien’s hands, the useless part of her brain screamed.)

(She told it to shut up.)

“I’m not mad, I promise. I’m just so—so stupid,” she finally said, traitorous tears already welling in her own eyes, spilling over, clinging to the edge of her mask. Blurring her view of the one person who meant more to her than anyone. “I’m so sorry, chaton— if anyone should be mad it’s you. I was the one who chose you to use the snake miraculous; I was so selfish—”

“Ladybug, no.” He shook his head, blond hair flaring out around his human ears. “You couldn’t know I was Chat Noir. I was… I was thrilled that you picked my civilian self.”

“But I shouldn’t have. I should have used my head instead of my heart.” She bit her lip. How could he still look at her with such warmth when he’d been trapped trying to protect her for so long?

“You always use your head. I’m the one who was stupid enough to keep trying.”

“Because you trusted me—”

“Because I love you.”

Her head snapped up, wet blue eyes locking on shimmering green ones. Those were the words she’d wanted to hear ever since he’d caught her in the rain two years ago. She’d never expected to hear them here, now, when she felt she least deserved them.

“You—still?” Her breath caught.

He chuckled. “I thought it was obvious, Bugaboo.”

“How do you stand it?” She blurted. Wrong time, wrong words, but she couldn’t stop. “I mean… if you don’t want to talk about it, I get it, I really do, but—how did you watch me… get hit all those times, when you love me, and not—”

She wasn’t going to cry again. She wasn’t.

“Go crazy?” He smiled sadly. “I think it’s too late for that.”

“Adrien…”

“But it means I know how you feel now. I’m sorry I made you watch me disappear again today. That wasn’t cool of me.”

“Stop it—stop apologizing, Chat, I mean—you—agh!” She threw her arms around his neck, and from the brief look of panic on his face, he must have thought she was going to strangle him. But she just pulled him into another crushing hug. “You’re so much braver than I am.”

“Pawsitively untrue.”

“True! I always knew I wouldn’t be able to stand it if I watched you take the hits you do, and I was… and I was… in love with you,” she mumbled.

This time his chuckle was hollow, echoing in the pit of her stomach.

“I guess it’s a good thing you’re not in love with me, then.”

“I am.”

Cold clarity washed over her. Did—did she really just say that? No! She wasn’t supposed to say it like that, when they’d both been crying and…

And it didn’t matter.

Because he was looking at her like she’d just cast the Miracle Cure over his whole world.

“You… you’re…”

“In love with you,” she said, because she could, oh she could and it felt like someone had finally breathed the air back into her lungs. “I’m in love with you, Chat Noir. Adrien. Both of you—just you, wow, that’s still going to take some getting used to…”

But it felt right. ...Maybe just because she was relieved she didn’t have to choose between her all-consuming crush and her partner who she wouldn’t give up for the world. But still.

“You’re in love with me,” he breathed. The grin that spread across his face could’ve powered the whole Eiffel Tower—no, all of Paris. She could still hardly believe he’d grace her with it, after everything that had happened—

But they were partners. They were friends. Even if they weren’t in love—which they were, she thought with a giddy shiver—nothing could tear apart Ladybug and Chat Noir.

To her surprise, his hand detangled from hers to unzip his pocket. But the even bigger surprise was what he fished out.

“I’m going to have to to thank Marinette again.” He held up her old beaded bracelet by one end of the red string. “I think her lucky charm works almost as well as yours.”

A laugh bubbled out of her. Even when he’d been in love with Ladybug, he’d carried Marinette’s charm with him?

The urge to yank his bell and kiss him punched her in the gut. But she had to hold out for at least a little longer—just long enough to blow his mind, she hoped.

“You’re welcome, chaton,” she said with a smirk. “I’m glad you’re making good use of it. Seems like you needed it more than I did.”

He blinked, his jaw dropping open. “Wh—no way, Marinette?”

Her face heated. She was used to teasing and flirting with Chat, but hearing him say her name while she was suited up—there was something about it that shot lightning from her toes to the tips of her fingers.

“Er—surprise?”

“I love you,” he said before slapping his hands over his mouth. Which was too bad, because she was really close to just pressing her own mouth over his. Her lucky charm dangled teasingly between his fingers, probably touching his lips, not fair—

“Yep, you’ve said that.” She giggled.

“Agh, I know, but—it was you! Marinette!”

She wasn’t really sure what was playing out in his head right now. His eyes shifted through so many expressions before settling on one that just about melted her insides.

“I know you said not to apologize—”

“Don’t you dare.” She jabbed his chest. “I’m just going to forgive you anyway.”

“Because you love me.” He grinned dopily, clutching her lucky charm to the spot she’d poked.

“No.” It was really hard to keep glaring when he just stared at her like she was the only star in the sky.

“Yes.”

“Yes, I love you, no, it’s because you’re my partner and I think we’ve both sacrificed ourselves enough for each other. We’re both superheroes. We’re going to have to take hard hits, it’s our job.” She took a deep breath. Even though it might hurt even more now… “I trust you, Chat. You’re not going to jump in front of an akuma unless you really have to, right?”

“Of course. Right.” He nodded. “But that wasn’t what I was apologizing for this time.”

“Oh.” She blinked. She’d still forgive him anyway, but she had to admit she was curious now.

“I’m sorry I never noticed that the love of my life was in front of me this whole time.”

He twined their fingers, the red string of her charm tangling in between them.

She let out a half-laugh. That was it?

“I could apologize for the same thing, you know.”

“Or,” he said with a mischievous smirk pulling at his lips, “we could skip to the part where we kiss and make—mmpf!”

Her mouth was clumsy against his, but she was so high on the exhilaration of kissing him that it didn’t matter. He followed her lips with equal fervor, no longer shaking, his claws digging wonderfully into the divot just to the side of her spine.

For that moment, they didn’t have to be superheroes. They didn’t have to think about failing, about consequences—they were just two teenagers, in love, chasing each others breaths on the side of the Eiffel Tower.

Kissing her partner wouldn’t fix everything. But for now it was a reprieve, and a promise.

She would always, always be here for her kitty.

#fic tag #tali writes #miraculous ladybug #ladynoir #ladybug #chat noir #love square #ml #angst #hurt/comfort #reveal fic

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haymaker-mva · 4 years ago

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Chloé Bourgeois: HBIC

(Check it out on Ao3!)

Now, Chloé Bourgeois may be a “Queen Bitch”, but these students were her subjects. And Lila was on her turf, dammit.

----

Now, Chloe knew that she was a bit of a bitch, excuse her french. She had at least some self awareness. She had bullied Marinette for years, she was a jerk to about anyone possible, and tended to get in Adrien’s personal space. That last one… Chloe had recently realized a few things about Adrien. #1: He was interested in some mystery girl, and seemed to have something happening with Kagami. And #2: Chloe had never really liked him in the first place. Yeah, she had pulled out all the stops to be near him, but now that she thought about it, it felt more like her protecting him then her just wanting to be a thing with him.

Chloe also realized that she had been a hair short of a villain after being deakumatized from being Queen Wasp.

She had spent a ton of time rethinking her actions and decisions and decided to try and change for the better. Chloe knew that if she went all-in immediately, she’d probably mess up, and no one would trust her suddenly being nice. So instead, she subtly changed. She stopped ordering Sabrina and started requesting. She went from picking on everyone to ignoring them most of the time, but of course adding in a sarcastic comment from time to time.

But then Lila arrived.

Chloe knew Lila was full of bs from the start. Ladybug? Being best friends with a civilian? Yeah. Sure. Chloe knew that she had claimed the same thing, but she knew now that she just wanted to feel closer to her idol, and everyone else knew that too. But because of the whole Queen Bee tobacle, Chloe knew that Ladybug would not risk such a thing. So this Rossi girl was lying.

And while Chloe was still trying to get better.... This was her turf. She was in charge. The class would figure out Lila’s damage in a week, tops. But still, Chloe had overestimated her idiotic classmates.

Seriously. Marinette. Their Marinette Dupain-Cheng. She would hate a girl for no reason? Adrien might’ve been a good explanation… except for the fact that Marinette’s jealousy spouts lasted about an hour, but then she would always be out of spite. So something was going on here. Another inconsistency.

Since Chloe knew the truth, she could see Lila’s predatory smirk, disguised as a sweet smile and Lila’s disgust at anything from the Dupain-Cheng bakery. Now, Chloe hated Dupain-Cheng. But the bakery was the fucking bomb. Not that Choe would ever admit it.

The last nail in the coffin was when Chloe saw Marinette run to the bathroom, probably to cry. Chloe sighed and got up. Dupain-Cheng may be Chloe’s rival, but the enemy of my enemy is my friend, or something , Chloe thought.

Anyway, she was just getting up when Lila mentioned something about going to the nurse and went after Marinette instead. Chloe made sure to sneak ahead of Lila, and even Marinette. Chloe made a guess of where the two were heading, and hid in a bathroom stall.

She had just gotten her phone out and pressed record when Marinette walked into the room. The sounds of muffled crying started, and then Lila chose that moment to walk in.

“Marinette? Oh, are you crying?” Lila asked with faux concern.

“No I’m not!”

“I can sense that you don't like me, but I don't understand why. We barely know each other.” Lila wondered with that obnoxiously fake voice of hers.

“Don't tell me it's because of this new seating arrangement in class!” Chloe heard a very quiet rustle. “It is! Of course, you're jealous because I'm sitting next to Adrien, because you would've given anything to sit there yourself. You know what? It's really not worth fighting over a boy. You and I could be friends, and who knows, I might even be able to help you with Adrien.”

“You and I will only be friends the day you stop lying, Lila!” Lila gasped, and Chloe silently applauded Marinette on the comeback. “I can't prove it, but I know for a fact that you don't have tinnitus, that your wrist is just fine, that you don't know Prince Ali because you've never even stepped foot in Achu, and despite what you got Alya to write on her Ladyblog, Ladybug has never saved your life!” Chloe was a bit iffy on that last one. Ladybug didn’t know Lila personally for sure, but Ladybug may have saved her once. Chloe waved the thought away. It didn’t matter right then.

“I only tell people what they want to hear.” Lila said, facade dropping at Marin-- Dupain-Cheng’s bold declaration.

“It's called lying!”

“There's nothing you can do about it, anyway. People can't resist when they hear what they like to hear. If you don't want to be my friend, fine! But soon you won't have any friends left at all. And trust me, I'll make sure you never get close to Adrien in class or anywhere. You seem a little less dumb than the others, so I'll give you one last chance. You are either with me or against me. You don't have to answer right away. I'll give you 'till the end of class today.” A door opened and shut, and Chloe knew that the liar had left.

There were noises that Chloe recognized as Marinette stepping into a stall herself. Chloe stopped recording, but started another one when she heard Marinette start talking again.

“I thought Chloé was evil,” Wow, rude. Valid, but rude. “but Lila really takes the whole cake! She's like a supervillain who doesn't even need a costume!” Chloe wondered who the noirette was talking to, but her question was answered when someone responded to Marinette’s words.

“You mustn't let her get to you, Marinette.” The strangely high-pitched voice consoled the girl.

“If I don't manage to expose her lies, she'll ruin my life, Tikki. She'll turn my friends against me, including Adrien!” The normally kind and gentle girl let out a scream of frustration, and Chlow heard a loud noise, and deducted that Marinette had punched the inside of a stall. The blonde stopped her second recording and deleted it. None of the words spoken in it were important. The first one on the other hand…

Chloe noiselessly sighed. She really was gonna have to step down from her throne for a bit to deal with this lowly liar.

Now, Chloe may be a “Queen Bitch,” but these students were her subjects.

“Rossi.”

“What do you need, Chloe?” Lila asked, batting her eyes.

“I’d like to talk.” Chloe threw a glance at Alya. “Alone.”

Alya was about to get on Chloe’s case, probably about to spout something about intentions or whatever, but Lila reassured her. “I’ll be fine. If I need help, I’ll just yell.”

“Good.” Chloe walked into the bathrooms that she heard Dupain-Cheng being threatened in. Gotta get that aesthetic.

“So, let’s cut the crap.” Chloe stated, turning toward the italian. Chloe started recording on her phone that was hidden behind her back.

“I know you’re a liar, Lie-la.”

“What are you talking about?” Lila asked innocently. “Oh! Did Marinette tell you that? She’s just jealous of me having to sit next to Adrien is all--”

“Yeah, yeah, sure whatever. I don’t believe you.” Chloe cut her off. “I know you’re lying, drop the act."

After Chloe’s admission, Lila did in fact drop her act. The silver-tongued girl’s entire stance changed.

“I’m just going to tell you the same thing I did to that goody-goody-faker. You are either with me or against me.”

“Yeah, again for sure. I may be a bitch and a bully, but I pay my dues without the comfort of any hidden shadows. I’m no underhanded dunce.” Chloe rolled her eyes.

“Well fine, I’ll destroy your reputation too. I’ll take all your friends-”

“Yeah, you can’t use the same threat you used on Marinette. I only have Sabrina, and she already knows you're lying too.” Chloe interrupted her.

“You’ll see what I can do, bitch.” Lila growled and sashayed out of the room.

Chloe snickered. Lila had forgotten that she could’ve framed Chloe for something right there by just sitting on the ground and screaming.

Anyway, Chloe stopped her second recording and giggled. Time to take down a lying bitch.

A few minutes later, when she was going over her plans with Sabrina, Sabrina went silent for a second.

“I have an idea.”

Now, the old Chloe would've been offended that Sabrina dared to question her plans, even if mentioning an idea was hardly shooting down another. But I did tell you that Chloe was trying to get better, didn’t I? So the heiress listened to Sabrina’s idea, who beamed at being listened to.

“Do you believe Lila or Marinette?” Sabrina asked.

“I love Marinette, but I believe in Lila. Marinette can get nasty when she’s jealous; I see that first-hand a lot.” Alya responded, certain.

“I’ve known Nette’ for years, dude. I don’t think she would stay angry at Lila, even if she was jealous. I mean, she and Kagami go out for orange juice once a week.” Nino voiced his thoughts.

“Marinette? She’s awesome! Lila is too though. I’ve known Mari for years, but you never really know a person, you know?” Kim said, already bored from sitting still for that small amount of time.

“I sincerely doubt that Marinette is lying. I believe with almost 100% certainty that Marinette would not do such a thing. I do not know Lila enough to judge her yet. The napkin could have just been an accident on both sides.” Max theorized, pushing his glasses up his nose.

“Well, Marinette can get jealous and do some petty things, but I don’t really believe that. She did help me and Marc after all.” Nathaniel said, smiling at the memory.

“Lila is really nice! Marinette is really nice too! I like them both. Marinette can get a bit jealous though. I’m sure she’ll get over it!” Rose gushed.

“I’m not sure… I’d want to talk to Rose and Luka about it first…” Juleka mumbled.

“I don’t really have an opinion, but I’ll bet my skates that Marinette doesn’t mean any harm. She is probably jealous though.” Alix shrugged.

“Well, I like both Lila and Marinette. Lila just needs a bit more help, with her injuries and all.” Mylene said thoughtfully.

“I don’t know. I’ll just agree with whatever Mylene said.” Ivan replied shortly.

Last one was Adrien.

Chloe was about to try and talk to him, but he was already talking to Dupain-Cheng. Chloe pressed record, just in case, and eavesdropped.

“Are you going to tell everyone?” Adrien was asking the noirette.

“'Course I am. Lila is--”

“A liar. Yes, I know.” Adrien responded, cutting her off. “But do you really think exposing her will make things better? If you humiliate her, she'll just be hurt more. Making a bad guy suffer has never turned them into a good guy.”

“So we just stand by and let her lie?” Marinette replied, unsure.

“As long as you and I both know the truth, does it really matter?”

Chloe saw Adrien give Marinette a warm smile and walk away.

Well, that answered her question.

That sheltered little boy. Chloe knew why that was bad advice, specifically for Marinette Dupain-Cheng. DC was a goody-two-shoes. It would absolutely kill her to see her friends being manipulated.

But Adrien had been homeschooled for years, and was never taught the ins and outs of social affairs not related to the brand.

So Chloe couldn’t entirely blame him.

But that advice he gave Dupain-Cheng was shit.

Chloe and Sabrina put it together that night, and managed to get Miss Bustier’s permission to do a small presentation about a “surprise” the next day. It was all falling into place.

Checkmate, Rossi.

----

Ao3!

#marinette dupain cheng #chloé bourgeois #chloe bourgeois #lila salt #ml salt #mlb salt #salt #fanfic #fanfiction #ml fanfic #lila rossi #lila rossi exposed #chloe serves lila #adrien and his A+ advice smh #adrien agreste #no romance really #hehehehehe #I'm sorry i just really like the chloe where she just goes off one lila

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dalekofchaos · 6 years ago

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Why Deck Nine did not understand Chloe Price

Like I did with my Rachel post, I will explain why I believe that Deck Nine did not do Chloe justice.

I don’t feel that Deck Nine did Chloe justice. The writers attempt to evoke empathy with Chloe feeling grief which is done via exactly one emotion- which is a very childish understanding of how loss and coping works. She had no character arc, considering she was the exact same character that we already knew in LiS Episode 1 (A bitter disaffected teenage youth with no regard for authority) so we didn't get to see Chloe evolve into the character we loved in the first game. She just already was it.

The gameplay undid the narrative we were given about Chloe being a loner in that you can talk to and make friends with pretty much anybody and they all acted like they liked and were genuinely happy to see Chloe. Very rarely were there interactions with Blackwell students that ended with Chloe's presence not being welcomed, only Wells, Victoria and Nathan showed contempt for Chloe(even with Nathan that goes away when he claps for her at the play.) The reason this is done is because the game wouldn't be fun if Chloe actually was a loner. The core mechanic of Life is Strange is being able to talk to people and experiment with your surroundings. A game where nobody wanted to talk to Chloe works against the core mechanic. But in making her the main character it undoes the weight of the narrative of Chloe being alone until Rachel/Max. I just strongly feel that Deck Nine did not understand Chloe as a character and did not do her justice.

Deck Nine ignores established facts about Chloe. From turning being left handed to right handed, how she was suspended, ignoring the fact that Joyce and David are married when she’s 16, and Chloe already having blue streaks in her hair.

Deck Nine doesn’t understand that Chloe does not have a good relationship with David, or even Joyce. Deck Nine forces us to be nice to David and every time we choose to pick the most Chloe like choice we are punished. The game outright makes us look like jerks for being true to Chloe’s character regarding David. Deck Nine screwed up everything when it came to Chloe and David. The only thing I felt they got right was his comment about “vacation from not having a father figure” and saying he’ll show what a stable home is like. The way he said that he can FINALLY show Chloe what a stabilized home looks like…..like she didn’t have a stable home when her father was alive. That really got under my skin. But let me explain, Deck Nine did not understand Chloe’s relationship with David and did their best to villainize Chloe for not giving him a chance. I do not want to feel bad for David. Stop trying to make us feel bad for this abusive piece of shit and make Chloe out to be the villain for not giving this asshole a chance. He emotionally, mentally and physically abuses her and joyce normalizes it, violates her privacy, installs cameras in the house without her or Joyce’s knowledge cause he will not trust her and Rachel, David makes Chloe feel like a prisoner in her own home. David getting a job at Blackwell makes her want to get expelled, whenever he is around she does not feel safe. He makes her so afraid that she feels like she’s living with a Nazi. They are not meant to have a good relationship. As for Joyce. The fandom likes to paint Joyce as this great mother to Chloe, and she was when William was alive but she chose her own happiness and interests over the safety and well being of her own daughter. Joyce enabled an abusive stepfather and ignored her daughter being hit and verbally abused (and there is a word for that: culpability. Joyce is guilty of child abuse. If we do not back up Chloe in episode 1 and we tell Joyce David hit Chloe, Joyce just brushes it off like it’s not a big deal...and this is who the fandom perceives as a good mother? What Deck Nine should have done is have it open with it stated that Joyce and David are married. Chloe’s life is a living hell. David does not understand nor does he care about Chloe’s depression and grief for losing William and Max moving away. Show that David physically, mentally and emotionally abuses her. Joyce normalizes it like saying “you keep pushing him, what did you think was gonna happen” you might think that’s out of character for Joyce, but she put her own interests over the safety and stability of her own child. Joyce didn’t want to be alone anymore, so she settled down with the first guy that came her way. The abuse is normalized in their household and Chloe’s definitely internalized it. Keep in David’s comment about “vacation from not having a father figure” David violates her trust and feelings and boundaries and bosses her around and calling her a loser who has no friends and burdens her mother. Show why Chloe is terrified of him to the point where she labels him a Nazi and to the point she feels like he will kill her if he finds Max in her room, so make a hint that David starts to put surveillance around the house because of his unwillingness to trust Chloe and Rachel. Chloe and David do not have a good relationship and fuck Deck Nine for making us feel bad and look bad for not giving David a chance. Fuck you.

Even in the last episode, Chloe is stripped away of her agency. The big difference between Life Is Strange and Before The Storm is Max saved herself - David shows up and he loses to Jefferson. Every time you try to get David to save the day… it fails. Only by having Max herself take initiative against Jefferson does David actually stop Jefferson… Max retains her autonomy and agency through that story, In Before The Storm. Damon Merrick is a rushed villain tossed in at the last minute. Deck Nine was probably like “Oh shit, we need a conflict don't we?". It was rushed and came off as really stupid. the way they threw in the Sera and Damon plot was so bad. But more to the point. Chloe is knocked unconscious and saved for doing nothing while Frank kills Damon Merrick off screen. Chloe is not instrumental or has any agency in leading to the defeat of the villain of her story.

Chloe’s “Rachel was my angel” comment showed a lot to how Chloe loved Rachel and how much she meant to her. Chloe tells Max that Rachel entered her life when was at her absolute lowest and that it was she who helped her deal with the grief of having lost her father but the entire game is centered around Chloe being the one who is supporting Rachel as she deals with a serious family drama of her own. What Before The Storm should have been. Rachel helping lift Chloe through the worse point of her life. If Rachel had stopped Chloe from committing suicide… as was the commonly believed interpretation to what happened between Chloe and Rachel up until BtS, then Chloe’s ”“she was my angel” would have meant it was truly special and real. But instead they bump into each other at an illegal concert and Rachel distracted some thug who works for Damon and we spend the game finding out who Sera is in a reveal we all saw it coming and only to have Rachel taken out of the third episode where Rachel never talks to her and makes the whole thing feel pointless. What the game should have been was Chloe and Rachel together having fun rocking out and Chloe starting to live again and show that Chloe Price loves Rachel Amber and Rachel loves Chloe.

We should’ve gotten Chloe at her lowest, evolving from Max’s best friend to the character we know in the first game and Rachel helping lift Chloe through the worse point of her life. Chloe and Rachel together having fun rocking out and Chloe starting to live again and show that Chloe Price loves Rachel Amber and Rachel loves Chloe. Chloe losing Rachel and showing how Chloe has to deal with Rachel missing, how she became in debt to Frank and how she got involved with Nathan and how Chloe ends up in the bathroom.

#Life Is Strange #Chloe Price #Life Is Strange Before The Storm #Amberprice #Pricefield

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