#submerb

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[jeanjauthor]

" ...telling myself the stories that I wanted to read that no one else seemed to be writing."

THIS. So very, VERY much THIS.

I got into writing because no one else was writing the stories that I wanted to read...and I realized the only way I'd ever get those stories was if I got off my butt (so to speak) and wrote them myself.

If we look back through history, I think we'll find that a lot of writers got into storytelling because of this one very strong urge, to enjoy a very specific sort of story...and the clash of realizing no one else is going to write it for you.

Yes, technically stories can be commissioned...but for the people who want to see a very specific story...you can't explain exactly what it is to even the best of on-commission writers because we're not telepaths (or if we are, we're hiding it, because dear god nobody wants to be submerbed another person's thoughts, that's the fastest way to drown your sense of self!!), and we cannot write exactly what you are envisioning.

Most people who commission stories understand this.

Alas, there are a few karen-esque types who do not, and who constantly demand revisions and rewrites and don't compensate for these increasingly harsh adequately. (Yes, I ran into one, and finally told her that this is the story that I am writing, the only level of story I promised to deliver was something that I would write based on a limited set of critera for inclusion, and if she wants it that differently written, she needs to do it herself. She Did Not Like Hearing Me Say That, but by that point I was a big enough BNF that she couldn't say a damn thing.)

What got you into writing, especially in the animation field?

Habit. I've always written, since I was very young. I wrote for fun. I wrote my first novel when I was seven or eight, in a school notebook, in colored pencil and crayon. I wrote for fun all through my childhood, and all through my teens, telling myself the stories that I wanted to read that no one else seemed to be writing.

And that said: it didn't occur to me that I might actually be able to write professionally—for money as well as fun—until I was twenty-four. So you might fairly consider me a little slow on the uptake. I've made up for it since, though. :)

The Door Into Fire opened the gates to all kinds of possibilities. It was after that book came out, and was read by someone then working at Hanna-Barbera as a story editor, that the animation started happening. Tom Swale dropped by one day and asked me, "Hey, would you be interested in writing cartoons?" I said yes, because why not? I loved cartoons! (Still do.)

So that's how that started. ...But also: I stlll write for fun. :)

[swampythesweetsketch]

Adrien Sugar Prompt 2.0

Alas, it is time for me to expand on the Adrien Sugar idea I expressed.

BEFORE YOU READ - Be aware this is a idea for a salt fic that redeems Adrien! So some things are a tad ooc cause... honestly- have you ever read any salt fics??? This stuff insane yo.

THE GIST

Adrien at some point has begun to doubt his role as Chat Noir. The Parisians seem to dislike him, it feels like he and Ladybug has disconnected, even hearing his classmates turn on his hero persona is getting to him. Back that with his father again drawing away from him and Lila getting away with anything she wants (INCLUDING getting Adrien in trouble when he doesn't want to do anything she wants); then there's the lack of friendship from Nino being held closer to Alya, and Marinette has never been colder towards him.

But that last point, he can admit, was his own fault. (Fun insert can be a callback to S03 E24 Ladybug and him wondering if it was even worth it to threaten Lila to go back on her lie)

After all this, he feels like he's a failure. All aspects of his life are now being closed up and the freedom of Chat Noir feels empty.

He can't imagine there being a solution to his problems. (This can take place post S3 when Master Fu gives Guardianship to Marinette / or before S3 as Master Fu obviously favored Ladybug because of her guardian training)

After one too many bad akuma fights (returning akumas or brand new ones), Paris is on the warpath on discarding Chat Noir for the umpteenth time. And Adrien can't help but to hear the most brutal brunt of the backlash. He begins loosing his grip on everything.

That means (any of these can apply): his grades slip, he loses his friendships, he loses his patience with Lila and gets dogpiled like Marinette would, and/or he gets grounded.

He then hits rock bottom. It's the middle of the night, and he can't leave his home.

"Kid, we have patrol tonight! Ladybug? Girl of your dreams?" Plagg floated above his kit, as Adrien fiddled with his ring.

It was off, constantly being turned in one palm to the other. His greens eyes read stress at every angle.

"Plagg... I don't think I can do this anymore..."

Adrien gives Plagg the ring and tells him to return with it. He's too ashamed to even reveal his identity to Ladybug. And after a long fight with Plagg- the kwami is given one order by Adrien.

To leave.

And Plagg does, but he keeps returning every night and every time Adrien turns him away. Orders him away. It falls to one night where Adrien crumbles down after everything that's happened. And the guilt of giving up Plagg breaks him.

Adrien has a meltdown and Plagg realizes that Adrien can't go on like this. But he can't convince Adrien to take him back.

Paris has noticed Chat Noir's absence and it's made their backlash worse. Ladybug has only had Plagg for an ally for a while now (maybe a week or a month? Depends) and wonders where her partner went. Lila has been reveling in the chaos and been spreading rumors on Chat's whereabouts. Which doesn't help Adrien's mental state at all.

So what does Plagg do now?

He goes to the current guardian  and tells them why he was given up. That Chat Noir no longer believes himself a worthy hero. (And this is kinda where the importance of whether the Guardian is Master Fu or Marinette)

FU resolve As Fu receives Plagg back in his care, he's mortified to hear from Plagg why Adrien gave up everything. But he's certain that the maybe- just maybe... he messed up with giving Adrien such an important miraculous. But he has to shake that off and remember how long the boy has done his job. And successfully too! But the climb of insults and the turmoil of Adrien's life has finally submerbed him.

So what else is there to do than send Adrien... a new kwami?

Yes it will break Plagg's heart to see his kit become another kwami's ward, but Plagg is determined that if Adrien can continue having any semblance of freedom with a new kwami; Then maybe Chat Noir will return.

MARINETTE resolve When Plagg comes to Marinette, the girl believes that an akuma is running amok (pun not intended) and Chat Noir got pinned before he could transform. Before she can transform, Plagg stops her.

He tells Marinette (revealing Adrien or not) that Chat Noir has given up his role. Marinette is horrified, she starts freaking out. She blames herself. How can her most valued partner given up!? Did she scold him too hard???

Plagg stops her, again, and explains that Chat just- sputtered out. The entirety of Paris seems to be angrier with Chat Noir more and more with each day and every akuma seems to be more and more capable of wiping out the black cat. That and Chat's personal life has strangled him to a point, Chat feels like he's been abusing the cat miraculous for any inkling of freedom.

Marinette is too worried at this point. With the loss of allies (After Miracle Queen post S3 / or Marinette has lost her friends to Lila) she has to think.

And Plagg convinces her... what if Chat Noir had a new kwami to help him break out of his funk?

TIME TO CONVERGE THE TIMELINE AGAIN!

With Tikki or Wayzz, they handpick a new kwami that will be delivered by Plagg. And by the next night, Adrien meets the new kwami.

Adrien picked up the black box with a exasperated sigh.

"Plagg..." Adrien already knew what was inside. "I told you-" he could feel his gut twist, a couple tears collecting in the corner of his eyes.

The shining light from the box blinded him for a second- the color seemed off but then again- Plagg was a God of Chaos.

But as his eyes squeezed shut, he heard the swish-ing of the air in front of him and he was about to cry. "Plagg I told you, I'm not going to be Chat Noir again!"

"I know that!" The voice was different. "That's why they sent me instead."

Adrien's eyes snapped open. Shock. "B-But- what?"

Aaaaannnnnddddd this is where the gist of the prompt ends! You can choose which kwami you feel could work with Adrien, whether he stays as a new hero or returns as Chat Noir, if he gets redeemed (cause this is a Adrien Sugar prompt), and if he ever starts taking control of his life. or even decides to start a new one when he breaks free of his father (and Lila).

That's it! Thanks for reading!