#i don't know how long it'd even be. i don't know how long edgar could take it

[carbonateddelusion]

gnawing on this song like a rabid animal

Friend showed it to me and said it was Them and. GOD it so is I'm fuckin'. RAAAUGHH

[katoska]

Ok, I know shippers are having a ball with the "psychic link" line, but personally, I don't think it's needed to explain Betelgeuse's new smoopyness (+ I don't like magic-induced/fated love, but you do you).

My personal theory is that Lydia subconsciously hit "block" on him so she can pretend he's gone forever. This is imo substantiated by the fact that she can't/won't see Richard - who's body was never found, and whose death was thus deniable as long as she did not see his ghost - either.

And while Richard was ok with not being seen because he was the kind of chill guy who would be satisfied with seeing his family to make sure they were ok, Betelgeuse... is not that kind of guy.

Betelgeuse is a huge drama queen who wants ALL the attention. He wants acknowlegdement. He's the ghost with the most, and you better not forget it.

So, imagine how he must have felt the first time Lydia showed up in a house he'd been hired to haunt ...and did not acknowledge him. Did not see him, didn't seem to see the monster he turned into that still had his face, nothing stripey or funny or with any of that personal touch seemed to register. Flying books, rattling cutlery, cold spots, all that boring generic stuff she could see, but nothing Juice-y.

He'd get fucking obsessed with making her notice him.

Which would mean making sure that he's there the next time she investigates another haunting, or luring her in by making a house look spectacularly haunted (coming to see her mere presence as a reward for a job well done in the process). And maybe, anytime a client forgot to banish him (do they even all get told how to do that?), he might have, if he was close enough, managed to drop in on her outside work, try to catch her off-guard. Which would mean getting awareness of her personal problems, again, and feeling empathy for her, again.

Cause I think that's the main emotion he felt for her back when she was a weird and unusual, deeply lonely, overty suicidal teen. I believe that very creepy tone he used when talking about "Edgar Alan Poe's daughter" was there to mask the fact that he was feeling sorry for her and felt a kinship with her because his existence also sucked. Cause, like, he's got a reputation to uphold, he can't be seen caring about some Breather's feelings or be seen relating to them unironically.

Except in this movie, Betelgeuse seemed to be in a far better headspace (while Lydia very much was not), so when he realised he still cared about her feelings, he couldn't put it down to projection. He had to acknowledge that he'd become attached. I headcanon that he figured out just how attached he'd gotten shortly after she started seeing Rory, cause... ok, hands up: Who else here, when watching the movie, had the thought "Wow, Rory sucks! She'd have been better off with Betelgeuse." Like, idc if you ship Beetlebabes or not, it's just objectively true that Betelgeuse would be the better option (even if you only think that's because the bar's in hell). I think that same thought would have crossed B's mind, too, upon which he'd have his "Oh. Oh. Oh shit" moment. He later made sure that Lydia too would become aware just how goddamn shitty Rory was, and he technically did not need to do that because Lydia already did not want to marry Rory, but y'know, it'd make B look better in her eyes if he made her aware of and helped her dodge this particular bullet.

Though actually, maybe this had been strategically unwise. Only if Betelgeuse had really planned on coercing Lydia into marriage ofc, which I don't buy in the first place. But for argument's sake: If Betelgeuse hadn't given Rory that truth serum, Lydia could have used the demon deal as a non-confrontational escape from her engagement. Which would have made her less inclined to pull any tricks to get out of her marriage with B, because even if she escaped him there would still be Rory. Ok yeah, Rory eventually got eaten by a Sandworm, but B couldn't have predicted that. But, speaking as a Code 699 truther (tldr: B knew the contract would be voided but either hoped Lydia would marry him anyway, or the whole song and dance was just about him wanting to declare his feelings), he could have predicted his marriage contract being voided. Though personally, I have doubts that Astrid would have been as quick to speak up if Lydia hadn't broken up with Rory and Rory hadn't got eaten.

[pagesofkenna]

Eurovision all songs playlist first thoughts (based on the Official Music Video playlist)

Heart of Steel - Ukraine can't win two years in a row which is why they're bringing a black musician so he can perform a song that slaps so hard for all of the white europeans to be too intimidated to vote for

Bridges - Pretty ballad, I can see tumblr hating how many votes this will get, I hope her voice does it justice on stage

Due Vite - I can already see how boring the stage presentation will be. pretty ballad tho

Who the Hell is Edgar - this is gonna be that song I'm OBSESSED with that doesn't make it past the semis

I Wrote a Song - This is this year's poor man's Fuego, people will either inexplicably love it or inexplicably hate it

Aijā - I think I'm too distracted by that music video to know how to feel about the song itself lmao

Carpe Diem - Fun, but kind of a generic dance pop?

Power - Also kind of a milquetoast power ballad

Mama ŠČ - I'm... hearing that this is beloved, so I will have to look it up lol

Dance (Our Own Party) - A good stage performance would guarantee this for the finale, definitely fun, not not top 5

D.G.T. (Off and On) - The top YouTube comment 'love the song but I can't watch without cringing' really hits the nail on the head lmaoo. automatically disinterested in anyone who thinks having girls dancing in lingerie around a boringly-dressed dude is good stage direction

Solo - This is one of the few 'pretty girl does nothing but dance around looking pretty' MVs that I'm 100% here for, I love it and I love her. however I happen to know there was drama in the vote in Poland so I'll accept her probably not making it past the semis

Like An Animal - Can't wait to hear a proper recording of this lmao. a decent generic pop dance I think

Promise - I spent the first 20 seconds worried this would have a boring stage but I don't think I'm worried anymore lmao. I'd be OK with this winning (if it wasn't Australia)

Samo Mi Se Spava - A sentiment I can relate lol. the second song so far that I'm OBSESSED with. I hope they don't ruin the stage design (if they can find a way to improve on this??? get a real big robot on stage maybe??? please do this justice!!)

My Sister's Crown - A damn good entry, one of those ones it'd be an actual crime not to promote to finals, as long as they can get the staging right (wish they could get all the costumes on stage!)

Unicorn - Something about her proudly claiming the 'power of a unicorn' in this power ballad is so??? funny to me?? I can't tell how seriously I'm supposed to take this

Tattoo - What is it about four inch long nails this year.

Évidemment - lmaoooooo is so French, even when the beat drops. I hope she doesn't stand on a pedestal the whole time on stage

Burning Daylight - I really love it and I can't really vocalize why exactly, I just hope this one makes it through to the finals

Future Lover - This music video is trying extremely hard to convince me this woman knows how to perform, but I'm not convinced. If she stands there is a cool costume doing nothing but waving her arms and gets all the points, I will be mad

Cha Cha Cha - Another make or break based on stage performance. not usually my style of music but I can see it being a great pump up song

EAEA - This isn't an obvious winner at first but I do love it?? if they can accomplish on stage what they're hitting in the MV they could be awesome???

Echo - I'm... half convinced her voice isn't going to be able to work on stage. there won't be enough weird backup dancers to distract

Stay - I'm kind of not expecting a lot from this one and yet it did make me feel emotional? so

Watergun - Yeah I'm here for this song winning, I'm generally kinda meh about songs where the political/social message is to obvious and common, but this is a good and different take on the anti-war song

Tell Me More - I like it well enough, sweet and catchy and probably one that my brain will come back to on its own

What They Say - I'm afraid of this being the song this year that I like and Calyx says sounds too American for her taste lmaoo. not such a fan of the MV tho

Break A Broken Heart - I mean, I guess I appreciate a good 'look how sexy this man is' song after all the 'look how sexy this woman is' songs

Duje - What is this, Albania's entry from last year?

Because of You - Oh OK, I thought we were lacking on toothless songs that try too hard to look made for the Queers

Blood & Glitter - YOOOO YEAH SEE THIS IS HOW YOU DO IT this is my kind of metal performance lmaooo. I hope they don't drop the ball on the stage!!

We Are One - Honestly without the costumes this could be such a generic boring song, which is a great way to show how presentation can effect the performance.

Soarele şi Luna - The kind of Culture song I really love, which gets mixed results during the semis so I hope this does well!

Queen of Kings - Fun, sure, but even if it wasn't in the first spot I wouldn't expect it to pass to finals

Breaking My Heart - Danish kpop wannabe?? lets see how well that works to get him over the first spot slump lmaoo (youtube comment says he looks like he was made on TikTok which is exactly right lol. that'll either work for or against him)

Ai Coração - Fun? Curious to see how it'll go on stage more than anything.

[bronze-bell]

Even as Frederick watched over Victor and Aesop from a distance, he couldn't help but smile, knowing they were comfortable, knowing they were warm and safe and that they had somewhere they could go if they needed to.

Both of the others were quite visibly asleep, and the sky was growing dark, anyway. Maybe it would be best to have them over for the night. Maybe they'll stay until morning, maybe they won't, but he was happy they chose him to lean on anyway.

Untying long, white hair and letting it fall, he stared into the bathroom mirror as he contemplated just what he'd learned, what he'd entrusted to Victor and Aesop, what he hoped the two wouldn't have to learn. Before he finally retired to bed, he placed his hands ever so gently on the heads of the two men who were currently asleep within his room, another peace offering, another wish for them to be happy, for him to be enough for them.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~

In another room entirely, meanwhile, a man is standing in front of a blank canvas balanced on an easel, hand and brush frozen. Frustration mounts as he examines the paints on his palette, glaring as he mixes selections despite not being sure if any are going to work, until a breaking point strikes, and he slides the palette knife along the canvas, marbled, partially mixed oils creating a ground for whatever may come next.

...Oh god, that actually sort of looks good. Oh, he can use this.

Painting tools clatter to the ground beneath him as he remembers something he told himself he was going to do. After all, this paint needs a long time to dry. Pen in hand, hurried script, breaths heaving and eyes much too wide, he set to work.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~

(The paper appears to be notably expensive, a deep crimson border ornamenting the words, as does the envelope. The wax seal is red, bearing only the initials "E.V." on its stamp. As for the writing on the letter, the handwriting is frantic, shaky, stressed.)

Good day.

I could not tell you when I'm writing this letter, with the hours blurring together, only that it's by lanternlight. I could not tell you why I'm sending it to you of all people. Only that I believe you will not tell others of what's inside. Do not prove me wrong.

I was told by the composer—Frederick, I believe—that it didn't matter who I played to. That they didn't care for me anyway and I should paint for myself. I don't know what that means anymore. How should I know what "I" want? I know people don't want me. I know they won't listen, or bother with anything that isn't packaged as the right misconception of art. But if I don't pander, I can't survive. Even if I know what art and its meaning should be, why can't I create something that lives up to that? How haven't I been able to since... god, I don't know when? If I don't have to get things right, then what does any of my work mean?

I started a new painting today. I froze in front of the canvas for so long, I tried something undeniably stupid. And it worked. I can see all too many things in just what I've put on the canvas, I can see all sorts of ways I can show things that live outside of a single moment in time, things that feel like they move and glow and flicker and burn. The world is too large to show everything, but I can select my subjects and what I focus on within them to make a point. Beauty, pain, fear, time moving forward, meaning lives around us.

The paintings have gotten louder since then. I used to be able to hide from their screeching and hissing in my room. What happened?

I don't care if you respond. It's probably better if you don't even read this, frankly. After all, these are my words you're reading. If you chose to do so anyway, I will tell you one thing. If anyone asks, I'm fine.

Edgar Valden

They stayed in that sanctuary until morning, Victor waking up to warmth and safety and love for the first time since he was a child. Unfortunately for Victor and his loneliness, not doing his job for a few days was starting to get to him, and so he eventually decided it'd be best to leave and continue his duties somewhere.

If there were a few tears shed upon leaving, and if he held Aesop's hand until he heard the sounds of people and knew he had to let go, well... Nobody had to know that.

As part of Victor's work routine, he'll check his room for letters in case any had been posted directly to him. There usually weren't, as there was no reason to send him much, but with the last few days in mind it was less of a hopeful dream and more of a very real possibility.

Rounding the corner, bell around his neck ringing out to signal he was here and prepped for delivery, he is startled by a door swinging open behind him as he walked, causing him to stumble back in a flustered panic as it nearly knocks him over with the force.

There's a letter thrown hastily in his direction before the door swings shut again, almost like whoever's inside is in a rush, or a frenzy of some kind. Victor sighs, inspecting the letter to make sure nothing is majorly damaged.

If the wax seal or paint stained corners weren't enough, the plaque on the door that nearly toppled him over like a bowling pin was unmistakeable proof of the sender. He really did worry about that painter sometimes, even if he rarely got close...

He turns the letter over to find where it's supposed to go, but is met with a blank side. That's fine, he's more than used to this conundrum. Slipping into his room and locking the door behind him to ensure safety, he works on prying the wax seal off with a practiced ease to reveal the contents.

It comes as quite the surprise when it's addressed directly to him.

-----

The letter that is poked gingerly through the mailbox has watercolor at the edges, pretty red creating a border on both the envelope and the paper inside. The ink, too, is red, along with the wax seal bearing an envelope. Clearly Victor was going for a theme.

The handwriting is crisp and neat, just like the tone of the letter itself, in stark contrast to what it's replying to.

[Dear Mr. Valden,

Good day to you too! As of writing and sending, it is about 10 am. I am sorry for not being available earlier, I was pulled away from my duties temporarily.] Honestly, he hoped he would be pulled away tonight as well. Maybe he should wait by the mailbox in the middle of the manor and see if either Frederick or Aesop show up... That's for after this conversation, though.

[I promise I will not tell anyone of what I have read. I have locked your letter away as well, in case anyone else should try to read it somehow. It is safe with me.

I wish I could help you, although all I can be is a listening ear, as I have not experienced anything like that myself.] A complete lie, but he doesn't want to tell Edgar that. He shouldn't get close to someone like Edgar, because Edgar doesn't seem like the type to get close to people. It'll just end in him being thrown away, surely.

[I'm sure saying I cared for you would be hollow and worthless, since we've barely interacted and you do not enjoy my presence, but I will say here that I do, at least, worry about you, especially after reading the things in your letter. Please try to take care of yourself if you can, okay?

I do not know the first thing about art, as you've definitely gathered, but from what I can tell of your words you seem to be... Happier? If that is truly the case, and I am not mistaken, I am glad you seem to be enjoying it.] Victor shudders as he deciphers the words scratched through. It's not at all safe to say he's read them, so he decides to pretend he hasn't, and just end the letter here.

[Have a good time with your painting! I am glad you are fine.

Regards,

Postman.]

Frederick is behind this? Surely something must have happened between them, but for lack of a better word, Edgar takes things... pessimistically. He should ask Frederick in some capacity, although keeping the key information out as to not break the promise.

Victor can only hope his oblivious act will bring more answers than questions.

[fcdcdmcmories]

"NO! THAT'S WHERE YOU'RE WRONG! WHAT I THINK IS BASED ON MY OPINION. ON WHAT I KNOW ABOUT HIM. THE MAN WHO TRIED TO STEAL YOU FROM ME. THE MAN WHO STUCK US BOTH IN A ROOM AND TOLD US TO EITHER KILL EACH OTHER OR DIE. YOU MAY BE WILLING TO FORGET THAT? BUT I'M NOT AND SHE UNDERSTANDS THAT. HOW I'M FEELING." yes, it seemed as if she was so damn mad over lynn and yet, she did not see that what was the difference. lynn was not a bad person. kramer? the one whose side she seemed to keep wanting to take over his? he was. he was a monster and he hated him. "it was a mistake. we were drinking and she got confused and moved in and i only had time to push her away before she actually kissed me," he scoffed, shaking his head. was this truly what she thought of him? after so damn long? after he hadn't even looked at another woman during the many, many years that they had been together? "yes. maybe she would have. she certainly made clear that was what she wanted. BUT YOU KNOW WHY THAT'D NEVER HAPPEN? BECAUSE I WOULDN'T LET IT! that's the difference between us, isn't it?" he looked away, not being able to meet her eyes at that. he couldn't lie, but .. he also .. could not tell the truth. "it's nothing you need to worry about. we're handling it." he and edgar and betty and matt -- soon enough, he'd get will on board and they could actually make this happen. actually keep her safe. right? couldn't they? they had to. he watched her drinking and set his eyes on the floor, only thinking about the fact that he could not tell her the truth. he couldn't. she couldn't even know. it'd break her. "NO, I WON'T BE. HE HAD FIVE WHOLE DAYS TO KILL ME. HE DIDN'T THEN AND HE WON'T NOW. YOU DON'T FUCKING SEE IT! I'M NOT THE ONE THAT HE-" he shut himself up right away, shaking his head. fuck, fuck, fuck. he had already said too much and he had been about to say the rest and.. goddamn it. had he wondered why pederson hadn't killed him? yes. yes, he had, but .. then, it had hit him. he wanted him alive so he had something to hold over her and so.. so he could be there to watch when he finally did what he so wanted to do. THAT WAS NOT HAPPENING. EVER. "no way. you're staying right here. where it's safe. edgar and the others will make sure of it and .. SHE AND I ARE GOING TO GET THE KID. SOON." it was decided already in his head and lynn had said that she knew the way in and.. if donna died in the process? oh, well. what a shame. "ARE YOU.. ARE YOU EVEN LISTENING TO YOURSELF RIGHT NOW? YOU SOUND JUST LIKE HIM! CAN'T KILL SOMEONE? THROW MONEY AT THE PROBLEM AND MAKE IT GO AWAY? is that it? all because she made a mistake? if you do this? you're proving that i was wrong all these years. every single time that i defended you to the people who thought you were just like him. the joke's on me, huh?"

@xtinyslip

"I'M NOT TELLING YOU NOT TO TRUST PEOPLE. I'M… I'M FUCKING ASKING YOU TO NOT TRUST SO EASILY? WHAT YOU THINK IS BASED ON HER BIASED OPINION, THAT'S WHY!" parker hadn't had the chance to come to his own conclusion about this because someone else was breathing their own down this throat. yes, there was the highest possibility that his opinion would have been the same regardless but at least it would have been his own. she could accept that. this wasn't right and she didn't care how much she pissed him off by saying it ; she would say it all the same. "you were aware of this all along and you still have the nerve to stand in front of me and defend her OVER me?" what the actual fuck? "and i presume if you had not pushed her away she would have continued to make her advances and fuck you in this bed?" it wasn't alright and sure, perhaps she was a fine one to talk but it had been a mistake and for gods sake ; she had showed just how fucking sorry she was for ever doing that to them. "drinking is only going to worsen your condition." even a terrible doctor knew that much? "what do you want to forget?" cecilia didn't want to push him but there was something he wasn't saying. well, it wasn't just him. was it? edgar had made excuses for days now to get out of spending any time with her, as did betty and cute little blonde friend wouldn't even look her in the eye. had her father shown him the room he punished her in? had he told him everything he'd ever done. WHAT WAS IT? cecilia used her crutch to pull the cabinet closer to her, that way she didn't have to put as much pressure on her knee but could still take the bottle and have a large sip of it herself. him using that as a way to hit her where it hurt had surprised her, she hated that she hadn't even been able to hide that his low blow had gotten to her. the shock on her expression only lasted seconds, in which afterwards she took another big sip of his whiskey before responding. "hm, nicely done." and no, it was clear that wasn't a compliment but what could she even say back to it? "yes." falling quiet on him after he'd decided to use the fucking FRIEND card back in her face when it wasn't the same at all. it was fairly impossible to not notice the panic that taken over him, it even made her step back. "that will be no use in getting the boy back, my father wants us to come for him ; you will be taken and he will kill you. at least, i..." did she think her father wanted her dead? she wanted to say yes but the truth was no, she didn't think he would do that. "you go? i go." and his new friend definitely went ; willingly or cecilia would send her off in a coffin. this woman was going to help him do this? WHAT THE ACTUAL FUCK? had they lost their minds? "if i was acting like my father right now, i would have already demanded she be dragged in here so i could kill her in front of you... to then proceed in telling you that it was all your fault that she was dead. hm? well, i assure you that it's not your fault, p and if you are worried for her? she can leave with a hefty donation from whatever i have remaining in my account but she doesn't stay. she doesn't stay after doing this." @fcdcdmcmories

[toujoursmiraculous]

Thoughts and Reaction to Mr. Pigeon 72!

I knew this was going to be a really good episode, just because the synopsis we got and the trailer seemed pretty bland. Whenever ML does that, a lot of big things happen in that episode. I screamed and choked on my water in the opening scene where Ladybug's with Alya in Marinette's room. I've been looking forward to Alya and Marinette scenes sooo much since Gang of Secrets! Wayzz & Alya: Hey Marinette, you should take a break and rest. Marinette: Nah, I'm good I gotta keep working Alya: YOU'RE LOSING IT, GIRL! Marinette: Don't care, must work Alya: Okay... you know Adrien and Kagami broke up, right? Marinette: Wait what?! Oh no, Kagami needs me! Alya: Not the reaction I was expecting but okay "Let's not wait for the storm to pass, but let's dance in the rain." I really like this quote! Even during bad times, you need to find the good and enjoy it. And Marinette reaaaally needs to do that. But in a literal sense, please don't dance outside during a dangerous storm.

ALYA AND TRIXX ALDJFSLJDS oh I love them, I'm so happy we'll get to see more of them. The way they both reacted to Marinette saying she has to go console Kagami, they weren't expecting that. xD But I was! I find it very amusing how in episodes like Frightningale she was more upset with Chloe being Ladybug than Chloe being in a video with Adrien that Alya's shocked by her decision, and in Frozer where Marinette was putting Adrien's wants before hers. I really don't understand why people think just because she likes Adrien, she'd not want to help make those around her happy even if it wasn't what she wanted for herself. I'm not surprised at all that Marinette would do this for Kagami, but I'm very happy that she is. "Alya, in Paris, Kagami has no other friend except me. Only I can console her." This makes me so happy. The only times in this show I like Kagami, is when she's with Marinette. After watching this episode, I'm more and more thankful she finally told Alya about being Ladybug I don't even want to know the state she'd be in had she not. O.O She almost ran out of her room as Ladybug (whoops), then almost ran out in her pjs (again, oops). Thanks to Alya, she didn't do either. xD That little detail where Marinette runs out and the sun's really intense, letting us know she's been inside a really long time, so everything outside is really bright. I really appreciate the little things like that. Or at least, that's what I take it as. Unless they're hinting at summer coming up soon... Dang Marinette, just jumps on Kagami's back LOL Kind of reminds me how Chat Noir likes to come up on Ladybug. xD "Your so original friend." Marinette is pretty original! I know the tone implies that's not a good thing, but eh. She's letting her go with Marinette and spend time away, so who cares! Marinette trying really hard to convince Kagami to get back with Adrien and how she's going to help her. I think it's really sweet of her, but Kagami of course clearly doesn't want to. Plagg: What's wrong with you, jumping into ice water! YOU'RE LOSING IT! Adrien: *exposes duffle bag full of Camembert* Plagg: I take back everything I said about you Also huh, Alya just told Marinette she's losing it, now Plagg tells Adrien he's losing it...hmmm. Bob Roth is a horrible person and each time we see him, he does something else to show it. Poor Adrien's allergic to pigeons specifically. I guess he's okay with some birds but not others? Idk? But he told Gabriel it'd be doves, so he approved. But it turned out to be pigeons instead. To be fair, at least in the US, Mourning Doves are often mistaken as pigeons, at least where I live, so they'd make a decent substitute... if it wasn't for Adrien's allergy. Adrien in Gorizilla to Wayhem: If you stop following me around screaming, I think we could be good friends! Wayhem with Cardboard Cut-out Adrien in Mr. Pigeon 72: ADRIENNNNNNN! :/ Marinette has a bag full of everything she may need in all kinds of situations. Comes in handy but good grief girl! How do you lug that all around??? What kind of scenarios do you think up to think of

some of that stuff!? Marinette's so adorable in her bathing suit awwww! Dude. Bob Roth. He said he's allergic to pigeons! And you blame Mr. Ramier because Adrien sneezed and it scared the pigeon away? How is this man successful again? He doesn't listen to anything or anybody. Marinette's like hey Kagami, look at Adrien. You'll start liking him again. Do you feel your heart beating fast now? And she's like "I feel especially bad for the trainer (Mr. Ramier)". I mean same though. He's being treated horribly! x.x Next take, Adrien dives and he sees Marinette with Kagami. But I think he only saw Marinette. Because he says he thought he saw a friend from school (Kagami doesn't attend their school, just the fencing class, as far as we're aware) and also he makes no mention of Kagami at all in this episode. Which means...

Why's your jaw dropping at the sight of your "just a friend" in a bathing suit, Adrien? And, you know, Kagami's literally right there in a bathing suit, too. Just saying. But it's like she's not even there to him. Hmmmmm. Poor Kagami's like, this entire thing is embarrassing, I feel embarrassed for me, Adrien, and this situation. Kagami: Marinette, stop! It's getting crazy! Marinette: Love is crazy! Don't think about it! I love how the more Marinette tries to help Kagami, the more things are working out in Marinette's favor. Interesting, isn't it? The more she tries to tell Adrien her feelings and make opportunities for them, the more they fail. The more she tries to help Kagami, or someone else, the more opportunities for her land in her lap. Hahahahaha the way they both fall LOL "Marinette? 😮" *guilty smile* AND THEN THEY TAKE DOWN POOR EDGAR! :( Mr. Ramier's in the background giving the poor bird CPR as he's drowned and Marinette and Adrien are just casually talking not paying attention lolol "What are you doing here?" "I came to surprise you." Kind of, she was hoping to help Kagami get back with Adrien. So that's a kind of surprise! "Uh, well to relax!" True too, actually. Alya did send her off because she needed to get out of the house and relax from her Ladybug and Guardian duties. Marinette, everyone needs to be careful when at a pool. Clumsy people like you especially need to be careful! lol Good thing Adrien's already seen her fall so many times, it's nothing new lol Gabriel: It's a failure Bob Roth: It's not my fault, it's his! Mr. Ramier: You are under arrest! Edgar is my best friend. He's the most intelligent of the pigeons! Gabriel: It's a pigeon Bob Roth: WHAAAT? IT'S A PIGEON? RAMIER, YOU LIED TO ME. Sorry Gabriel, I'll replace this man! I know a shark trainer First off... LOL that whole scene XDD I actually knew Bob Roth was going to say that entire thing before I heard it lolol Second... awww Edgar's okay! c: and third... I'M SORRY, YOU WANT OUR PRECIOUS BOY TO BE AROUND SHARKS?!?!? Who keeps this man employed?!?! Idk why but this whole time I thought that everyone would turn into giant talking pigeons lol ah well "I realized my mistake! We'll recreate the moment where you fell in love!" ohhh? Like I mentioned earlier, whenever she tries to do something to help Kagami (or someone else) that's when her intentions work out best for her. 😉 One of my favorite things from Style Queen was Plagg and Ladybug working together. Now they're working together again and just... ahhhh I gushed so much at that scene! x3 YESSSSSSS what I've been waiting for! Ladybug can just call Alya now and be like hey, I need your help! And Alya can just be like okay cool, and either goes to her room to get the Miraculous herself, or finds her and gets the Miraculous. So cool! Of course, I'll be most excited if she ever gets to just keep it on her, but... baby steps. Rena did a phenomenal job speaking as both Ladybug and Chat Noir lol. She's such a fan of them both, she knows just how they are around each other. Oh, oh no. We're trapped against a wall by a few pigeons. Looks like our only option is to give up and remove our Miraculous and reveal our identities. Are you seriously buying that, Gabriel? Plagg's like HELLO I'll be taking this! Alya did everything from inside Marinette's room. Ladybug was trapped in that room at the pool the entire time. All it took for this akuma to be defeated was Illusion that can be done from anywhere and Plagg getting the object off Mr. Pigeon. That's amazing! Also, this is the first time Ladybug didn't have to actually see things around her to know what to do. She just focused and thought about it. o.o Okay so hold up. Thanks to Alya, Marinette now knows she can create charms to protect past akuma victims and keep them from getting reakumatized, which is wonderful. I love how much of an impact Alya knowing is having! BUT How exactly does Monsier Rat come about then if he has a charm to protect him??? 🤔🤔🤔 I really like how her drive to want to figure things out was

especially because Mr. Ramier's been akumatized so many times, and she wanted to help him from having to continue to go through that. "This girl is truly Miraculous" awww cute how he got to just watch that this time.

I screamed at this moment because I knew. Since Origins, we have not seen this exact sky. Even during rainy scenes like in Chat Blanc or New York, they didn't look like this. YES, Kagami knows that the way Marinette feels about Adrien shows how much she loves him, but she knows she doesn't feel that way about Adrien too. And "You're right, Adrien is perfect... perfect for you." With a smile and everything! Awwwwww! This acceptance, and the Marinette and Kagami friendship in this episode is really, really good! 😭 "Wow, have you kept it [the umbrella] all this time?" She sure wasn't expecting that!! But wow Adrien, you noticed? Then Coup de Foudre happens again. Yeah, this girl is never getting out of her feelings for him.

Of course she's having trouble with her words still, but that's okay. But she's like oh, I'll give it back, and he just pushes it to her and says she'll need it to get home... unless she'd like a ride with him. AND SHE ACTUALLY ACCEPTED AND WRAPPED HER ARM AROUND HIS OMG.

To then only have the umbrella close on BOTH of them!

AND THEN ASKS IF HE WANTS TO WALK INSTEAD BECAUSE THEY HAVE THE UMBRELLA! She's come so far! And the sheer disappointment when he remembers he can't because of his Chinese lesson :/ And then, because he can't not be looking at Marinette, he hits the back of his head on the car, making himself look silly, just like in Origins she made herself look silly. This time she laughs, and he laughs with her. And it's literally Umbrella Scene 2.0 and it's absolutely everything.

DORKS ❤️❤️❤️ "They are made for each other." awwwww instead of Master Fu, this time it's Kagami. And she sounds very okay with that, that's so nice. "Let's not wait for the storm to pass, but let's dance in the rain." Then proceeds to dance in the rain!

Ahhh what a refreshing, good episode after how much she's been struggling and crying! So lovely! Her friendships with Alya and Kagami were really strong in this episode, her doing her best to help her friend with the guy she herself has always liked, and then Kagami was the one that wasn't really into it, and it made both girls realize that Marinette loves Adrien and is the one best for him, not Kagami. And I'm pretty sure this episode helped Adrien to open his eyes to Marinette more too. At least, this is the beginning of that, anyway! Alya's such a tremendous help to Ladybug now, which is everything. I do wonder if more friends will very slowly start to find out her identity and they end up contributing more to bringing down Hawk Moth, so she really, really isn't alone like she once thought. I don't really have any complaints about this episode at all! Just a bit sad we had no actual Chat Noir, but we got Ladybug and Plagg from it, so it's fine with me! x3 I know some may see it as "Chat Noir isn't necessary, how dare they do this to him!" but no, he's very necessary, sometimes he just can't be there and she can't do it alone. You have to remember how much Chat Noir means to Ladybug, and that she wouldn't even BE Ladybug if it weren't for Chat Noir! I'm really curious now about what episode 5 is, since now we've gotten Episodes 1-4, 6, we're getting 7,8, and 13 later, and we've already gotten 11. Filling in the gaps for the first half of the season! This entire week is going to be crazy with the new episodes, and for each one I'll be writing one of these posts for, so be on the look out for them!