#my mini love letter to the loveybug au

[wield-the-mighty-pen]

What I love so much about the loveybug au, is that it showcases the dichotomy to Marinette's character that we often seen ignored or overlooked by the more obvious example of Adrien's.

The truth is that Adrien and Chat Noir simultaneously exist as attributes within the complexity that is Adrien's character and psyche. While they are different, they are not opposites, they are compliments of each other, and the show does a great job of highlighting that.

Marinette on the other hand, is never really questioned for her alter-ego, she is Ladybug, plain and simple. Except, it's not so simple, Marinette's personality is actually close to being, if not as much, as complex as Adrien's.

Adrien often uses Chat Noir as an escape from the personality repression he faces as himself. Marinette on the other hand, is more repressed as Ladybug. She is focused on goals and on the safety of others and she cannot act on her emotions. She does not find it to be the time and place to let free, to truly be herself. But at least she lets herself be free as Marinette, right?

Well, it's actually not that simple.

Marinette has quite a bit that is keeping her from feeling free as herself. The claims that Marinette was the more free, the more open personality of the two never really made much sense, as Marinette is still pretty tightly wound, she is constantly reacting to and experiencing a level of anxiety that keeps her grounded and pulled together.

What I find so admirable about the Loveybug au, is that Loveybug is a direct response to what Adrien does as Chat Noir. Even Catwalker is not a complete reflection of Ladybug, for it isn't a true repression in the way Ladybug is, it's more of an imitation of his Adrien mask.

What Loveybug does is introduce a new method to analyze Marinette, in acting as a foil to the "Chat Noir persona", this alter-ego actually and explicitly exemplifies what Marinette would be if she really let loose.

The Loveybug au accomplishes the task of showing how deeply misunderstood Marinette is by so many people. In showing her at her most open, we can see what she is actually holding back as herself. She is not simply an optimist, she is not naturally brave. She, like Adrien with his persona, have to fight and struggle to keep their heads high and a smile on my face. The fact that this au can display this is part of the reason I love it so much.