#this is how i talk about nino on here too...

[balkanlila]

WE WERE BORN INTO POVERTY, CRIMINALITY... ACCENT ON WE AND BOTH OF THEM IN THE FRAME WITH THEIR DAUGHTER IN BETWEEN... cinema... it's saying, you are from the neighbourhood and we are living flesh that proves this. And we are sitting with you here right now, for everyone to see. Your suit and your words and your manners can't change this. Go fuck yourself. Your crime isn't that you are from the neighbourhood, your crime is that you won't accept that you are.

[mochinek0]

Daminette December: 16-(SUB) Gold Digger

Alya stared into wonder, as Marinette crossed the room of the Wayne Gala.

'What the fuck is she doing here?'

She had tried inviting Lila, but she had said she was too busy.

'Did she know that Mari would be here?'

Alya froze as she watch Marinette talk to Lois Lane and Clark Kent with such familiarity. Even Jon had gone up and hugged her! Alya watched as a guy came up from behind them and put his arm around her waist.

'What is going on?'

Alya ran up to Jon, after watching Marinette walk to the other side of the room with the mysterious guy.

"Hey, Jon." She spoke, trying to keep an eye out.

"Alba?" He questioned.

She winced, "A-Alya."

"Sorry." Jon apologized, "What-Did you have a question?"

"Um, I did actually." Alya answered, "How do you know Marinette?"

"You know Mari, too?" He shouted, excitedly, "We have so much to talk about!"

"Yeah." She smiled, awkwardly, " I didn't realize you knew her."

"Oh, yeah!" He stated, "I met Mari in university, after my best friend, Damian started dating her. Actually, I don't remember seeing you at the wedding."

'Marinette's married?'

"Busy." She replied, quickly, trying to keep the shock off of her face.

"Oh yeah. Ma and Pa are always busy, too." Jon spoke.

"It makes sense that your parents know your best friend, after all." Alya commented.

"Of course!" He smiled, "The Wayne family own the Daily Planet, after all."

'Huh?'

"Pa and Bruce are old friends and Damian had been my best friend for years." Jon continued, "Mari has changed him so much...in a good way."

Jon leaned in and whispered, "If you ask his brothers, off record, they'll say he was much more violent before her. Like Beauty and the Beast."

'Marinette married into the Wayne family and they own the Daily Planet. Marinette is my boss!'

"You wanna go talk to them?" Jon questioned.

"Another time." Alya smiled, "The Waynes are busy and I don't want to hog her attention."

As she walked away, she swallowed a very hard pill. She had been moments away from going to yell at Marinette, but Marinette held the power to fire her. It wasn't worth losing her dream job, especially when she wasn't even a journalist yet.

Alya held a zoom meeting with some of the others in Paris. Others had drifted apart in University and barely spoke to them now. They had been shocked to learn that Mari had gotten married.

"Who did she marry?" asked Nathaniel.

"Yeah, what's he like?" questioned Kim.

"Damian Wayne." Alya spoke.

"Are you sure?" Alix asked, confused.

"Yes." Alya answered.

"Alya are you 100%, no, 1000% sure?" Max pressed.

"Yeah. I talked to my boss' kid. The whole family knows them." She declared, "I was about to march over to Mari and call her a bitch for everything and then I found out the Waynes own my work. Mari is my boss. I can't say anything to her, without risking my job."

"Alya." Alix spoke up, "Lila has been telling us that her new boyfriend is Damian Wayne. She told us they went out last Friday."

"Last Friday?" She questioned, "That was the night of the gala and he was there with Marinette. He barely left her side."

The call fell silent.

"Did we make a mistake?" Nathaniel asked.

"Are you sure that's what she said?" Alya shot back.

"Yeah!" Kim cried out.

After a few moments of silence, Alya spoke, "I'll.....I'll talk to Jon first."

"Babe." Nino called.

"If....If anyone knows something, he would. " she answered, "He's Damian's best friend and he seemed to really like Mari. The whole family does."

"Alya." Nino spoke.

"Bruce was-He got around with woman at this age. Damian didn't give the impression that he would." Alya continued, "Bruce isn't even married."

"Babe." Nino called out again.

"I need some air." She declared and turned off the call.

Alya decided to pour her research abilities into Damian Wayne.

'Jon wasn't kidding when he said he was violent before.'

Damian was introduced as Bruce Wayne's biological child at the age of eleven. Bruce explained how he had been living with his mother, all that time, and he was as shocked as any of them. Many commented how Damian looked exactly like Bruce at that age. He was a vegetarian and an animal activist.

There were a few articles of Damian being suspended for injuring a student or teach. His only statement was he 'disliked being touched'. He even hit a journalist for attempting to ask him questions. Damian had labeled it 'harassment'. He was called Gotham's own Ice Prince.

It was a shock to Gotham when Marinette and Damian announced they were officially dating. The city called them 'Daminette'. Damian was viewed as 'softer', but very protective of Mari. She had been kidnapped for ransom by Scarecrow. When GCPD found him, he was screaming for Damian to get away from him. He was found beaten and bruised. When the young Wayne was questioned about his actions he boldly claimed 'He wasn't afraid of the rouges. If Marinette was hurt again, he was willing to go to jail for the murder of a rouge.' Marinette was quickly listed as 'off limits' and dubbed 'Gotham's Sunshine Princess'.

There were dozens of articles of them at charity events. There were even pictures of Jagged Stone with Damian and Fang.

'I saved Jagged Stone's pet kitten.'

'Why are you lying? Jagged Stone doesn't have a pet kitten, Lila. He hatched a crocodile egg and named him Fang.'

'Maybe he was holding it for a friend? He just seemed so grateful!'

'Marinette, hey, um, can you sign my cd?'

'Gah! Uh, su-sure , Adrien. Go here. I-I mean here ya go, Buddy.'

Actually, now that she thought about it, more, Mari designed his Eiffel Tower glasses, too. Alya took a deep breath and looked up Marinette, instead.

Marinette was a very sought out designer. Jagged Stone had announced her as his designer when she was eighteen. He mentioned how she had been working with him since she was fourteen, but had been under an NDA contract.

There were even pictures of her with Luka and Juleka.

'When did I last talk to Juleka...or Rose?'

Marinette's designs were on runways at fashion week. She traveled a lot: Milan, London, Shanghai, New York, LA. She had her own label, not affiliated with the Wayne family.

It had taken Alya two weeks to process everything.

"Jon, do you mind if I ask you a question?" She asked him, at work.

"Sure." He answered.

"Do you know a Lila Rossi?" She asked.

Jon made a face, "You mean that liar?"

"Huh?" She spoke.

Jon sighed, "You heard about how she was claiming to be dating Damian, too, right?"

Alya simply nodded.

"Damian already served her with a defamation lawsuit." He replied.

"What?" She answered.

"Yeah." He continued, ignoring her shock, "Adrien heard it and told me, so I told Damian. He doesn't like his name being slandered."

"Oh, that's good." Alya smiled, trying to hide her panic, "I....I heard about it from a friend , back home, and it didn't make sense. I told them Damian was married."

"Hey, you did good." Jon replied, putting his arm around her shoulder, "You told them the truth and you had the facts to back it up."

Alya nodded, quickly.

"Oh and don't worry about a story." He spoke, removing his arm.

"St-story?" She questioned.

Jon pulled out his phone and stated, "Damian said 'That gold digger is as pathetic as the rest. Her name does not deserve to make it to the front page'. Adrien told him how she likes the attention. That she use to try to keep getting with him, too, and it took him coming out, as gay, for her to leave him alone."

Jon suddenly started laughing, recalling something, "A-He said she tried to rub on him so he shoved her off, sat of Jagged Stone's son's lap and made out with him. She hasn't bothered him since."

Alya remained silent. She hadn't even known that Adrien was gay.

"I better not see this in a story." He stated, any trace of laughter was gone, "It would be hearsay."

"No! " she answered, quickly.

He continued, "Good. You're learning. You can't take the word of one person and believe it. Someone else may recall something else, differently. Journalism is about finding the truth. Lies don't belong in a story. That's tabloid gossip and for bloggers, even fanfiction writers."

"With this Lila, she will learn the hard way that lying is wrong. She is going to have to explain to a jury: why she lied and what made her claim to be in a relationship with a married man. If she still claims to be his affair partner, she will have to show evidence: dates, hotel names, locations. All of which, Damian can disprove with his own bank statements. If money was taken out, it would show. There are cameras everywhere, especially owned by Wayne Enterprises. They make sure to aid the GCPD with rogue attacks, so they can see every angle." Jon spoke.

"Same with trips out of the states. Damian can disprove he didn't go to visit her and he didn't pay for her to be flown to Gotham or met up in some fantasy place. Not to mention her own passport. " He concluded, "I know Adrien said she likes to lie about celebrities. Hopefully, this is her only lie, out there, because if there's more, celebrities might come out of the woodworks just to sue her. I'm sure you know about limitations and how people can be convicted like ten years later for something they did."

Alya smiled and nodded.

"You should studying law books in your free time. Especially ,what a journalist can and can't do or say." Jon recommended.

"I will." Alya replied, "Thank you."

Alya was in a sour mood, all day after that conversation/information dump. At lunch, she looked up Lila and tried to cross it with her blog. She couldn't find any evidence of past stories to them. There was no dedicated song. Prince Ali worked in children's hospitals, not the environment. Alya looked her up as a model and only saw the Gabriel brand. Lila had been fired at eighteen.

When Alya looked up Adrien Agreste, she saw he had come out as gay, but was in a long distance relationship with his boyfriend, while he finished his studies. He admitted, he planned to leave Paris and move in with him, later. Alya sent a group text for a meeting after work, labeled ASAP. She then spent her lunch inside of her car, bawling.

Alya got home and quickly pulled up the group zoom chat.

"Alya, why-" began Alix.

"Damian Wayne is suing Lila." Alya announced.

"What?" Asked Kim.

"No way!" Exclaimed Nathaniel.

Alya took a deep breath, "His exact comment was 'The pathetic gold digger doesn't deserve her name on the front page."

"Lila isn't like that!" Proposed Mylene.

"Adrien corroborate his story." The journalist declared.

Ivan gasped, "What?"

"But they dated!" Kim shouted.

Alya shook her head, "Adrien's gay and has a boyfriend."

"What about in Bustier's class?" pressed Alix.

"Yeah!" cried out Mylene, "They were always together!"

"Adrien broke up with Kagami during that time." Nino admitted, "She didn't like how Lila clung to him, in the photoshoots, but she also felt like Adrien had a crush on Marinette."

"What?"

"Adrien liked Mari?"

"Did they date?"

"Is that why she called Lila a liar?"

"As far as I know of...no." the DJ answered, "I asked and he said she was more like a little sister to him and he was protective of her."

"He-" began Max.

"He did try to tell me and Alya that Lila was lying, but we thought he was just taking Mari's side." He continued to confess, "It was suspicious since he had just barely started to get closer to her."

He could tell everyone was shocked.

"Marinette knows Jagged Stone." Alya spoke.

"What?" Ivan declared.

"She's been his designer since Bustier's class. She made his Eiffel Tower glasses." Alya sniffled, "She goes with him to charity events. Luka and Juleka call her their 'unofficial cousin'."

"Alya." Alix whispered.

"I looked up a lot when I was at lunch." She sniffled, "I found out from Jon, Damian's best friend. I-I deleted my blog."

"What?" shouted Nino.

"Why would you do that?" Mylene questioned.

"Lila lied about.....everything! I-I couldn't find anything to prove she wasn't lying." Alya sobbed, "Jon said that evidence could be used, even years later. If another person wanted to sue her, they could just use my blog. I'd be a laughing stock! I could lose my job!"

"Alya." Nino spoke, sympathetically.

"We believed a fucking gold digger and lost Mari! I lost my best friend for some cheap imitation!" She started to scream, "Why didn't I listen? Why did I believe Lila so much more than Mari?"

They could see that Alya was taking this information the hardest. One by one, they left the call and texted Lila.

'We know that Damian Wayne suing you.'

'Alya works at the Daily Planet, under his family.'

'His best friend laughed at her and your audacity for going after a married man.'

'Even Adrien is ready to testify, against you, on how much of a liar and gold digger you are.'

'Marinette is married to Damian Wayne, but I guess you didn't know that.'

'I cant believe we believed you.'

'We were idiots.'

'We were kids!'

Lila looked at her phone, as the comments continued to roll in. She had finally been outted as a liar. She had lost Adrien early on and never recovered from his betrayal.

Lila had run away the moment she saw him kissing Luka. He had messed up her plan, all her hard work! It wasn't until later in the year that she realized she had actually fallen for Adrien; he was no longer a ploy to make her famous. Adrien Agreste was who made her happy and who she could be herself around. He had known she was a liar but he tried to make everything better. Now he was forever out of her reach.

Lila had tried to date, but none of them were as good looking. All of them listened to her lies and believed her. None of them were right. In the end, she kept with the same stupid friends, hoping to hear that Adrien had only been going through a phase. Then he had to mess it up again and tell the world he had a boyfriend and was moving in with him soon.

She had cried for days. She told herself that she needed to look like she still had it together so she had made the decision to look up 'wealthy men my age' and chose Damian Wayne. When she found out she was getting sued, Lila had finally realized Adrien hadn't felt threatened by her antics in the slightest. He had never taken her seriously. Lila was slapped with a lawsuit and a restraining order by the Wayne family. If she persisted with false accusations, they recommend a psychological evaluation to be done.

She never expected Alya to turn on her; she had told everyone she was a liar. Adrien had called her a liar. It felt like a slap in the face when they mentioned Marinette. Lila hadn't thought about her in years. Marinette still won the battle, she thought she had victory over years ago.

Pictures started filling her phone of Damian and Marinette announcing their first child. There was even a picture of Adrien smiling wearing a dorky shirt that read "I'm an Uncle!". The next picture was worse. It was an announcement of Adrien moving to Metropolis to be with his boyfriend, Jon Kent; Marinette's look alike.

She dropped her phone and laid on her bed, staring at the ceiling.

'Is it really that hard to find a rich man when some nobodies did it with ease? Guess I better find a job tomorrow. Maybe I'll find a rich guy that way; they did.'

@maribat-calendar-events

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[pallisia]

if you were to go on a date with one of the soulsov characters, who would it be? how do you think it'd pan out?

instead of answering this question for myself, i'm going to make a case for all the characters to help you decide which route to pick. (note: there are no routes.)

loic is sweet, fun to talk to and genuinely engaged in what you have to say. he enjoys pampering people and would happily plan and pay for everything. all in all, he would take you on a first date so nice that it would in itself be a red flag, leaving you thinking "there's 100% something really wrong with this guy." but you would never find out what, because he's not interested in more than a casual relationship. if you don't mind that, he might make you happy.

ysme is also not interested in anything serious. she knows how to turn on the charm to get what she wants out of a first date, but you would not hear from her ever again afterwards. she wouldn't want to plan anything (though she definitely has demands) or pay for anything (though she definitely has the money) because she knows you would have the money, because you would be an easy mark. but she would look very pretty on your arm for a day, if that's what you want.

fel honestly has too much inner turmoil going on to be much fun on a date. she loves looking up cute places to go, but when it comes down to it, she can't decide what she likes or wants to do. she would bring up religion at dinner, but it would feel afterwards like she didn't even really want to mention it, and then the date would get very awkward and end early. bad end.

nino is full of energy, has a great sense of humor, and is a real romantic when given the chance to dote on someone. while she would pick a date spot that might end up being pretty disappointing in itself, she'd make some fun out of it regardless. similarly to fel, she tends to get too intense too quickly and would risk derailing the date over an awkward conversation, but she might bring it back with her natural charm.

langlais is langlais. he's self-absorbed and would ask you about yourself with an air of obligation. he would likely make a misogynistic joke if he got too comfortable at any point, though he would apologize if pressed. he would take you to a really nice restaurant and buy you anything you wanted with the quiet expectation that you would have sex at the end of the night. he wouldn't insist, but a second date would be contingent on it.

tutu...i mean, you could go on a play date with her. it would be fun. actually that might be the best option here.

[tumblingxelian]

Chloe Knows:

Apparently game Chloe knows Marinette is Ladybug, so I wrote this:

Summary: Chloé Bourgeois is perhaps the last person Marinette expected to see on her roof after having lost the Miraculous to Felix.

Chloé Bourgeois is also probably the person Marinette least wants to see on her roof.

Unfortunately, or perhaps fortunately, Chloe knows more than she's ever let on and that complicates things, but it just might end up helping too.

Chloe Knows:

The last thing Marinette expected to deal with right now was Chloe hanging out on her roof, arms folded and tapping her yellow jacket impatiently.

It was also the last thing Marinette wanted to deal with, save maybe finding Hawk Moth waiting for her. & that thought just sent her gut into a tailspin, so Marinette forced open her ceiling hatch and stalked onto the roof.

Chloe zeroed in on her instantly, hissing, "You kept me waiting!"

Marinette barely resisted the urge to grab and shake the blonde, because she had only just finished re-tethering herself after the disaster of losing the Miracle Box.

Still, she had just enough restraint to only force her way into Chloe's space, grounding out, "How did you trick my parents into letting you up here, Chloe?"

The blonde blinked confusedly, "I climbed?" She motioned to a discarded pair of gloves sitting in the rooftop bin. "Why would I talk to your parents about that anyway? This is our business."

Marinette tried very hard to parse that question but she was still trying to process Chloe having scaled her walls!?

"Because they-, I-" No she as not dealing with that right now. "Chloe we don't have business!" Marinette settled on, arms flailing.

"Normally we wouldn't, you made sure of that-"

"Oh I made sure of it?"

"Yes you," Chloe huffed, somehow the one affronted, "When you got me to be terrible for my mother, then made it impossible for me to be good as Queen Bee by taking Pollen. Now you go and lose her & the others? I thought you were at least cunning to pull that scheme off Dupain-Cheng, or are you just lucky!?"

Marinette technically 'heard' what Chloe said, but she didn't have the wherewithal to react to it. Not right now as her whole world felt like it was suddenly unreal and empty and yet crushingly full all at once.

"Hah, haha, what are you t- talking about? Me, take a pollen? I don't know what that is? I don't even like wasps!"

Chloe dragged her hands down her face, screaming into her palms, "You cannot be this thick, no one can, for the- I know you're Ladybug, I've known your Ladybug for ages. Now tell me how you lost the Miraculous!"

"I could never be-"

Chloe stepped forward, counting off on her fingers.

"Rena is Alya, Nino is Carapace, Sabrina the Hound, Max is Pegasus, Kim is monkey guy and Zoe is Vespera, very petty of you, kudos really. Need I list more?"

"I"

"I've seen your Kwami, do I need to grab your damned earrings!?"

Marinette's hands flew to them, and she flung herself back, then started to giggle, maniacally.

"Hahaha, of- of course, this is a nightmare! All a nightmare! I didn't fail, Chloe doesn't know anything, I didn't get tricked by Felix and doom Paris! Hahaha- OW!"

Chloe pulled her hand back and out of pinching distance.

"You're awake Dupain-Cheng & finally answered my question to boot. Felix, ugh!! What, did he pull that stupid 'I'm Adrien' stunt and you just tripped over yourself?"

"Actually-" Tikki cut in gently, drifting out of her bag. "There was no tripping that I recall, & he'd had help this time, as Adrien wished to stay in Paris so it was more believable."

Marinette felt like her throat was closing up as she rasped, "Tikki, why!?"

The Kwami turned to her, big eyes doleful, "I am sorry Marinette, but it was obvious she knew and has evidently known for sometime. I felt you continuing to try and cover this up would only make things worse not better."

"Good thing too, I was about to tackle her and shake you out of that bag-ah!"

Marinette grabbed Chloe, spun her around and trapped her against the nearest wall. Eyes wild and frantic, the command phrase to transform dancing on her lips.

"Where's Hawk Moth? What's your game Chloe!?"

"If this was a game I'd be having fun, also," Chloe brought her hands up, and sharply but lightly 'chopped' her way out of Marinette's grip with the sudden pressure on her elbows and then shot out of grabbing range.

"Uhu, you had your chance to straddle me and passed it up."

Marinette's overtaxed brain wanted to 'scream' at that particular mental image. But Ladybug Brain was taking over and she snapped.

"How long have you known? It can't be that long or Hawk Moth would have found out already. After Penal-Team, no after-"

"Are you kidding? I've known way longer than that," Chloe boasted.

"Then why doesn't Hawk Moth know? Why didn't you just Akumatize and bring him the Miraculous!?" Marinette hissed.

"Because I don't want him to win, obviously!"

"You say you want him to win all the time!"

"I say stupid stuff when I'm angry, sue me!"

"Marinette!" Her parents called, and she could hear them racing up the ladder and nearly tripping over one another in a bid to make it to the rood.

Tikki vanished back into her purse and Marinette stood stock still frozen as her parents clambered out. Her mother hugging her close and her dad stepping between her and Chloe.

"How did you get up here?" Her father groused.

"Marinette, are you OK?" Sabine asked, fretfully.

A million and one excuses flew through Marinette's exhausted brain. Class project, Chat Noir dumped Chloe on her roof, she was Ladybug & Chloe had come to yell at her- No wait, that was the truth!

"What business is it of yours?" Chloe snapped back, evidently not intimidated by her father.

"Because this is our home, and our daughter and you are trespassing." Tom rumbled.

Chloe leaned to the side and looked at Marinette, still in her mothers arms, and then pointedly looked 'past' them.

"That doesn't answer my question, Marinette and I's business is none of yours."

Her mother frowned, "You've never had business with our daughter, just sharp words at best. You have no right to her or anything here."

"Ch- Chloe was just checking up on me, after Monarch's announcement." Marinette rambled, trying to piece the pieces together into something workable that wouldn't send Chloe into a fit.

Both her parents looked stunned and also like they wanted to ask if she was concussed.

Fortunately, Chloe managed to pick up where she'd left off.

"Exactly, we certainly aren't friends, but I felt obliged to check up on someone else I knew Ladybug wouldn't check on."

"What?" Her mothers hug tightened, and her voice actually quivered.

Her father looked between the two sides, seemingly lost for what to do with himself.

The pieces fell into place and Marinette came to the truth, in a sense.

"I was Multi-Mouse, when my science teacher god Akumatized, Ladybug needed someone who was good at multitasking."

"Marinette," Her father rushed forward and pulled her into a hug that knocked the air out of her lungs.

"I... I helped her, I did OK I think."

"You got the Miraculous back so you did your job," Chloe cut in, neither warm nor scathing.

Her mother evidently didn't agree, "It shouldn't have been her job, either of your jobs. You're children!"

"Mum, dad, it's fine, really it's fine!"

Her mother ran a hand through her hair, "I feel like there's something you aren't saying sweetheart."

She glanced at Chloe who was watching the exchange with an inscrutable expression. Some strange mix of confusion and almost starvation like hunger that was honestly painful to perceive.

Marinette licked her lips and pressed on.

"Chloe was right that Ladybug might not check up on me. At least not in a way I could see."

"She's usually such a good hero?" Her father said, sounding despondent.

"It's because I asked her too! I... When I was Multi-Mouse, I used the other Miraculous. A lot. I shouldn't have, but nothing bad happened!" she hastily added, at her parents near frantic looks of worry.

"Ladybug warned me, but I misunderstood and she said even though I was OK this time I shouldn't use magic again for a long time. I was upset, I wanted to help her, I-"

Why was she crying?

"I wanted to be a good hero, but I just screwed up and now," she was sobbing. Gods she was sobbing in her mothers arms.

"There there, my treasure, I am sure you were brilliant, let it out," her mother stroked her hair while her father hovered protectively, one large hand rubbing circles on her back.

Fortunately, Marinette had already cried her heart out once tonight and was too tired for a truly spectacular breakdown.

She managed to half slip her mothers grip, wiping at her eyes. "Thanks, both of you," she glanced at Chloe who was back to not quite staring at them. Her face was a mask of forced, haughty neutrality that looked like it was being kept in place with wires buried beneath her skin.

"Thanks for checking up on me Chloe, and for somehow not telling Hawkmoth our, my, anyone's identities when he had you Akumatized all those times." Because she still needed an answer to that, only the fact Tikki hadn't seemed panicked was keeping her grounded.

Chloe swallowed, hands clenching and unclenching before she spoke.

"Yes, well, I might not be Queen Bee or a hero anymore, but ridiculous circumstances demand ridiculous actions. So for tonight I'm a hero and it's the duty of a hero to look out for people. Even one's they hate."

OK, ow.

Chloe pressed on, "As to identities," She shrugged. "If that idiot Hawkmoth, Shadowmoth or whatever he's calling himself had that kind of control he wouldn't have to wait for people to break before getting them under his thumb. Even when I let him in the last few times, I never let him dig deep and I'd just kick him out if he tried to paw at any of my secrets."

Marinette felt like her heart was going to collapse in on itself because, "Even knowing everything you do, you just- I can't- I don't understand you at all Chloe!"

That actually seemed to draw the blonde up short, "That's a surprise, I thought you knew me better than anyone. You're certainly good at," Chloe looked at her parents ten back to Marinette, "Hitting my weak spots when we come to blows."

It felt like there was a lot to unpack there and for the first time in a long time, Marinette knew she'd actually have to spare no small amount of time and thought on Chloe's inner workings.

For now though.

"Even if you 'can' just kick him out."

"You know I can!" Chloe stomped her foot. "You saw me do it when I was Penal-Team!"

"That's my point! Isn't that like willingly helping him!? Other people have to be tricked!"

Chloe scoffed, "Tricked she says, don't over-sell it, it's being angry or sad, or whatever and taking a deal. Besides, does it look like I'm helping? I played soccer for an hour then quit."

"You had a bunch of people trapped in deadly orbs Chloe!"

"So what!? People try to kill me all the time! Ivan tried to smear me on the pavement! Nathanial tried to chop my legs off! Mommy murdered me and no one cared! No one!"

There was a choked edge in that but Chloe pressed on. "Because it's not a big deal, and anyone trying to make it a big deal is just looking for sympathy points, so there." 

She huffed and unfolded her arms, "Anyway you've clearly got people to tend to and I got what I came for. See you at school, Multi-Mouse."

With that she marched across the rooftop to her sky-box. "I'm not climbing the walls again if I don't have to so I'll just leave out the front and avoid the stray dog."

Before she reached the door, Marinette was surprised to see her mother reach out and gently grasp Chloe's shoulder.

"Chloe," She said firmly, as the blonde practically froze up, looking half ready to bolt, or shout. "Thank you for checking up on our daughter, that was a good thing and for whatever it's worth. People should have cared, I'm sorry those who should don't."

There was a moment where Marinette honestly expected Chloe to start crying, to fling herself at her mother and howl and sob. She was sure she saw something glisten in her eyes before Chloe wiped it away, and swallowed.

Her voice was rough as she said, "It's... Thanks, or whatever, doesn't matter. I don't need anyone's help."

"Everyone needs someone, so if your feelings change, don't be afraid to ask, people can surprise you. Especially if you don't break into their house." Her mother said the last part with a sort of forced, hopeful smile.

Chloe nodded, like taking an instruction, a rasped something escaping her lips before she achingly pulled away and climbed down the ladder.

A million and one feelings, questions and terrors still swirled in Marinette's mind but as her father and mother gently guided her down the ladder, intent on hot coco and comfort talk. She knew they'd have to wait. Could wait, until she was rested and ready.

Even still, a part of her would linger on the question of Chloe. What to think, to feel, to do, certainly. But also on the quieter, more uncomfortable thoughts.

Like who someone who felt they had no one would turn to if they were desperate and at the end of their rope.

'& it's not just Chloe either, who does Chat Noir have besides me?'

It was an uncomfortable thought, but one buoyed by a new revelation. No matter how omnipotent Hawk Moth seemed, no matter how all knowing he claimed to be; he was clearly far less than that.

It wasn't much to build on, but it was something, a foot hold from which she could dig in her heels and drag him down from his perch.

Golden hair flashed in her mind again and another thought echoed in her head.

'One good foot hold may be enough to bring down Hawkmoth. So what could it do for someone else?'

Because no matter what she said or had done, Chloe made a choice tonight, and had been making choices for longer than Marinette realized. Not having fallen down the slope but merely standing on the brink.

'But she took a step back tonight, to somewhere I can reach.'

& maybe all Marinette needed was one good foothold to pull Chloe all the way back, perhaps Farther than she'd ever been, or Marinette even realized was possible. 

It was a tender little hope, strange and unsure, but somehow, in Marinette's mind, it felt like solid gold. 

NOTES:

Wrote this is one sitting, then edited it, I hope it reads well XD

I have no plans to continue this, though if someone else wants to take it and run with it please feel free. I kind of envision Marinette re-inviting Chloe to the class group chat as a sort of olive branch and them slowly working through their respective issues.

Also Chloe turning up at Felix's with a tazer and the same martial arts skills that let her fight Mayura to a stand still and possibly, violently reclaiming Doosoo, cos you can pry Jock!Chloe from my cold dead hands!

[nionom-art]

Hello!

I have started the second chapter, still pretty good! 😁 However, I got a bit confused on the classmates, so I have a few questions ...

Marinette seems to like Alya, but what is her reason to trusts Lila to an extent to give her the Cat Miraculous 🐈‍⬛? I mean, she seems as the lesser choice, but still.considers it, why?

It might be adressed, so than, sorry, but Adrien clearly arrives one day later than school starts... Why? (I would have assumed the akumatization, but just 10 min. after his arrival, comes the supervillain...)

How did he conviced Gabriel?Since the late, I would have assumed he wasn't sure to let Adrien go... In cannon he escaped, but here with Messaging Chloé seems intentional. Did he just escaped, but was captured -therefor wasn't the one helping Fu- and his escape convonced Gabe he should go to school, otherwhise, he will escape to it?

How did Lila know Adrien? Or did she just saw him over Chloé's shoulder?😅 (I assume on first day, Chlo did spoke about him... A lot...😅, so thrir friendship is not a secret😅)

From the quartet, I missed Nino (not a problem, these 4 makes sence, I just like him) which made me realised, Nino, Nathaniel and Rose are missing, or at least I gid not saw them... Is it intentional, or just did not put them there, and will appear in the class, they were just not in view?

Not classroom question, but is this true, or a bit of exateration? (In cannon, Scarlet fate🐞 and Dark Grimalkin🐈‍⬛ have fought, at least) If not, how come Tikki even knows about she can purifie the akuma?

That’s a lot of questions- let’s break it down

1. Marinette just made friends with both Alya and Lila in episode 1. She trusts them about equally because she doesn’t know either of them very well yet. Alya is her first pick though because Alya clearly loves super heroes and would probably be a good match.

2. & 3. So with Adrien, pretty much exactly what happens in canon happens here with his arrival (minus him helping/meeting Master Fu). He would try to go to school in Episode 1, be stopped by Nathalie, and ignores Chloe’s texts because he’s upset and being scolded by his dad (doesn’t want to talk about it). He sneaks out and goes to school anyway in episode 2. We’ll get a brief direct rundown of this in the comic in a later update.

4. Chloe bragged to Lila and Marinette in episode 1 about knowing Adrien and how he was going to be in their class. Lila just put two and two together and lied to get Chloe out of the way in that scene (I go into a bit more depth explaining Lila’s emotional state during that scene here)

5. All of those characters will still be in the class, I just didn’t feel like drawing more people than was necessary in the Ivan scenes (so I drew the people with lines + Max).

6. I could have sworn Tikki said something like that in canon. If not, eh, call it a plot hole I guess. I don’t think Tikki would count Dark Grimalkin as a real enemy in the first place, but idk- she’s technically fought him, but kinda not too? Maybe she knows about the purification from the grimoire or Fu. Purifying akumas seems like a pretty specific power ngl, and probably wouldn’t apply to fighting Dark Grimalkin anyway (I wouldn’t really know though, I haven’t watched most of season 5).

Edit: okay, so I re-watched the appropriate scene from that episode. Tikki doesn’t mention if she’s fought against the butterfly holder before or not, so for all we know in canon she has. This is what happens when I play telephone with myself instead of copying down the actual lines from the show (my apologies lol).

[little-mari-on-a-roof]

Frenglish differences in Miraculous - Episode 7

Lady WiFi

Miss Bustier

En: I'm very pleased with how you all did on your last assignment. Some of you have really stepped up and I do appreciate it. Now it's time to move onto our next assignment.

Fr: "On eût dit un coquillage ; / Dos rose et taché de noir. / Les fauvettes pour nous voir / Se penchaient dans le feuillage. / Sa bouche fraîche était là ; / Je me courbai sur la belle, / Et je pris la coccinelle ; / Mais le baiser s'envola." Alya ! Vous êtes toujours avec nous ?

"It seemed like a seashell; / Its back pink and spotted with black. / The warblers, to see us, / Leaned forward in the foliage. / Her cool mouth was there; / I bent towards the beauty, / And I took the ladybug; / But the kiss flew away." Alya! Are you still with us?

Miss Bustier is here reading a poem called "La Coccinelle" (The Ladybug), written by Victor Hugo.

Nino

En: But I guess you gotta be sly when Mr. Control-Freak is your Daddy-o.

Fr: Mais bon, faut dire aussi que son paternel lui laisse pas beaucoup de temps libre.

But yeah, to be fair, his father doesn't let him have a lot of free time.

Nino's English line gave me psychic damage lol. In French, it's notable that Nino uses the word "paternel", which means "paternal", but can sometimes be used as a noun to mean "father". This use of the word is however quite rare (I've never heard anyone use it that way) and sets Nino's speech apart.

Tikki - Marinette

En: Whoever is behind all of this sure is keeping us on our toes. - But you don't have any toes.

Fr: Le Papillon ne nous laissera donc jamais le temps de faire nos devoirs tranquillement. - Mais toi t'as pas de devoirs.

Hawkmoth sure will never leave us time to do our homework peacefully. - But you don't have any homework.

The meaning of the original quote gets lost in the translation but I can't even be mad because "you don't have any toes" is really funny somehow.

Nino to Alya when she tells her Chloé might be Ladybug

En: You need to have your head examined. If she's a superhero, then I'm the wizard of Oz.

Fr: Ça tient pas debout ton truc, Alya. Si c'est une super héroïne, moi je suis le méchant Papillon.

Your thing doesn't add up, Alya. If she's a superheroine then I'm the wicked Hawkmoth.

Chloé

En: Uh, up too late DJ'ing, Nino? Obviously, you didn't get your beauty sleep.

Fr: Euh, t'as pris quoi au p'tit déj Nino ? Franchement, vas y mollo sur le jus d'orange.

Uh, what did you have for breakfast Nino? Honestly, go easy on the orange juice.

Alya about Chloé

En: She's no superhero. She's super psycho.

Fr: Tu parles d'une super héroïne, c'est plutôt super menteuse, oui.

Talk about a superheroine, it's rather super-liar.

Ladybug talking to Chat Noir about Chloé

En: And besides, who would believe that she's the original Ladybug? She's obviously just a die-hard fan. A copycat.

Fr: Franchement, qui serait assez bête pour croire que cette fille est Ladybug ? C'est sûrement juste une admiratrice. Un peu comme toi quoi.

Honestly, who would be stupid enough to believe that this girl is Ladybug? She's probably just an admirer. *Turning to chat:* A bit like you ;)).

She doesn't actually blink but it's as if.

Lady WiFi after catching Chloé wearing a Ladybug costume

En: Well, well. So, my hunch was correctomundo.

Fr: Voyez-vous ça. On dirait bien que j'ai appelé le bon numéro.

Look at that. It seems like I called the right number.

Adrien to Plagg while looking for his ring

En: I could use a little help!

Fr: Je serais pas contre un petit coup de patte.

I wouldn't be against you giving me a paw (instead of "giving me a hand").

A cat pun that got lost in translation once again.

Lady WiFi to Ladybug

En: If you don't get him out fast, your crush will soon be slush. *She frees her.* Good luck with your cat-popsicle. I have other news to cover.

Fr: Si tu ne libères pas rapidement ton copain il va finir en chat glacé. Bonne chance avec ton amoureux transi, j'ai d'autres chats à fouetter.

If you don't free your (boy)friend fast he's gonna end up as an iced cat. *She frees her.* Good luck with your bashful lover, I've got other fish to fry (lit. "other cats to beat").

It's just a saying, French people don't actually beat cats on a regular basis (I swear!!!), but it makes for a nice cat pun.

Tikki - Marinette

En: Is that true? You're gonna tell him? Is that what your heart's saying? - Sometimes your heart tells you one thing, but a great superhero always listens to her head.

Fr: Je sais que c'est difficile de cacher des choses à sa meilleure amie. Mais personne ne doit savoir que tu es Ladybug. - Tu as raison Tikki, tous ceux que j'aime seront à l'abri tant que mon secret restera caché là dedans.

I know it's not easy to hide things from your best friend (Alya). But no one can know you're Ladybug. - You're right Tikki, everyone I love will be safe as long as my secret stays hidden in here *She points to her head*.

I'm so sorry to everyone who used that scene to show the Adrien thinks with his heart and Marinette with her head thing but it's not as explicit in the original French dub haha. Also, they did a major change by switching from her being sad about hiding things to Alya to instead wanting to tell Chat Noir her identity in the translation.

Marinette - Alya (after the latter said Adrien kind of looks like Chat Noir)

En: He's tons more legit that Cat Noir. - Hey! I happen to think that Cat Noir is pretty slick.

Fr: Il a quand même plus de classe que ce Chat Noir. - Hey ! Je te signale que je le trouve plutôt mignon, moi, Chat Noir.

He is more class than that Chat Noir. - Hey! I'll have you know that I do find Chat Noir pretty cute.

Chat Noir is a slut trying to steal Nino's girl caught in 4k.

[starsfic]

Hollow Wedding

The wedding could've come from a magazine spread, it was so perfect.

Notre Dame was decorated in white, the only pops of color being red here and there and the stained glass window cast shimmering pops of color on the couple. On either side of them were the groomsmen and bridesmaids, three each, all dressed in matching outfits. It was a wedding straight out of a movie.

It was beautiful. Perfect.

Hollow.

Marinette Dupain-Cheng could practically feel the hollowness in the air. Despite what Alya claimed, that she still had deep feelings for Adrien, it wasn't that made her feel hollow. It was just too perfect. The way Adrien held his bride's hand, how he placed the ring on her finger, how they kissed. Each motion was perfectly rehearsed and bare of any real emotion.

The only thing that made it imperfect was that Alya kept glancing at her. Ever since Adrien had announced his engagement, she had pushed Marinette to do something about it. She still didn't seem to understand that Marinette no longer wanted Adrien. Since her break up with Luka, of course she would want to rebound with the guy who made her feel shame for her own emotions.

Of course.

Marinette didn't do anything and Alya finally settled with a sigh. She was almost like Chat Noir, who announced he was engaged out of the blue and kept glancing at her ever since the news, probably hoping she would react more than her congratulations.

She hoped his wedding was more real than this.

The reception carried the hollowness as well. It was all perfectly decorated and such as well, but there was nothing that could hide that feeling. And, as she sat down with Alya and Nino, she could see other guests look around, weirdly unsettled.

"Ugh, that was the creepiest ceremony I've ever sat through," Nino said in a whisper. "Like, I thought the bride was about to drop dead."

Marinette nodded. "I noticed it too." She glanced at the stage before Alya could comment any more on "her true feelings". "Aren't you gonna give a speech?"

Nino shook his head. "Nah, dudette. Gabriel made Adrien make his cousin his best man, so he's giving the speech."

"I didn't even know he had a cousin," Alya said as the cousin in question, Felix or something, started talking. "Who was the other guy?"

"I don't know, some model Adrien knows? From what I heard, the bride doesn't even know the bridesmaids, they're all related to Adrien or Emilie somehow."

"Huh? Seriously?"

Alya's eyes went wide. "Oh boy," she said. "Suddenly, I'm glad you never confessed your feelings, Mari."

"I'm glad you finally realized," she couldn't help but snark. Honestly, she would have rather died than have a wedding like this. She would've wanted to be married at the little temple her parents did, blending Chinese and French customs together and even having her parents make her wedding cake. With how Gabriel and Emilie this all felt, she wouldn't be surprised if Adrien's wedding had always been planned to be a wedding do-over. She pushed that thought aside to focus on the issue. "But, the bride didn't know any of them?"

Nino nodded. "Yeah. I asked if...uh..." He paused, trying to think. "I can't remember her name- Akane? I think that's her name, I asked if something had happened so they had to step in, but Adrien kinda just said that she didn't have any friends."

"She could've," Alya snarked, "If she actually bothered to show up to the hang-outs like you invited her to."

The wedding reception, thankfully, grew more lively after dinner was served after that comment. Marinette couldn't help but dance with Alya as Nino DJed, his music providing a spark of life to the hollowness of everything.

Soon, however, she had to pull away. "Getting some air!" she called so Alya could hear, receiving a nod. Marinette walked away from the huddle, stepping out of the reception entirely. The reception had been held in Chloe's hotel with doors leading to the roof.

And, up on the roof, was the bride.

Marinette, the moment she saw the white gown, was tempted to just turn and head back inside. But something in her paused, made her just look at the woman who married her lycee crush.

She was startlingly pretty, with short dark hair and eyes, even with the frostiness that always seemed to follow her, that had a hint of sweetness. The dress looked lovely, but it seemed washed out against her. If Marinette had designed the wedding dress, she would've chosen a more bold color, like red.

And then she realized that the bride was staring at her.

"Uh, hi, sorry-" Marinette said, stepping back. "I didn't know anyone was up here, I can just-"

"It's fine." Short and to the point.

Marinette nodded, walking up to stand next to the bride. They stood in silence together, just watching the city. No akumas had come today, despite her fears of Adrien's fan club reacting badly to him getting married. (Chloe's akuma in reaction to the news was enough.) It was another perfect moment for the movie that was this wedding.

"Akane, right?"

"Kagami, actually." The moment the correction hit her ears, Marinette wanted to shrivel up. Fuck, hadn't that been the name on the invite? She was so dumb! "Although that might as well be my name for how much Adrien cares about me."

"Huh?"

"It's Marinette, correct?" Kagami said, no explanation for her statement.

"Uh, yeah." Marinette cleared her throat. "I'm glad I could finally meet you. We tried to schedule stuff, but-"

"But you guys had to cancel. I understand."

Huh. Wait. What? "What, no? Adrien and you cancelled. He kept texting Nino that his dad suddenly changed his mind or you guys had a really important event."

"No. We would leave to meet with you and then he would get a text saying that stuff had to be cancelled so I always went home." She expected anger or maybe relief. Instead, Kagami's face seemed to crumple. "I bet he was with her," she said. A tear rolled down her cheek and she reached up, looking startled.

With the whiplash of Adrien supposedly lying to Kagami and maybe, possibly, lying to Nino and them, Marinette could only ask "Who?"

"The girl he's in love with," Kagami admitted, voice thick with tears. More tears rolled down her cheeks and it was heartbreaking. "You know, I should've taken it as a hint that, right after our first date, he admitted he wasn't over this girl. I pushed past it, I thought I could-" A sob welled up and Kagami let it out. Marinette couldn't help it. She wrapped her arms around her, hoping she could provide some comfort. The other woman froze, just for a second, before arms wrapped stiffly around her. "I thought I could change his mind. I thought we were so perfect together."

"Perfection isn't a thing," Marinette admitted. "No matter how hard Gabriel tries to think it is."

"I should've left him after we got engaged and he admitted that I was just a placeholder for this other girl," Kagami said, sending a hot wave of rage through Marinette. "I saw him while we were preparing. He kept checking his phone..."

I'll check my messages if you have any last-minute objections, my lady.

Marinette shook her head. No. Adrien wasn't like that. Except, as it turned out, he was. She pushed away those thoughts to focus on Kagami. A ridiculous thought came up, except in the face of all this, it probably wasn't that ridiculous. "...it's not too late to walk away." Sure, it would probably hurt Adrien to have his wife annul their marriage the day of their wedding, but what about Kagami?

"It is," Kagami sounded so calm about this, even with the tears rolling down her face. "Tsurugis don't back down from anything."

"Tsurugis should also be respected and be in relationships that respect them." It was snarky but true.

There was a moment of silence. Marinette almost pulled away from how still Kagami suddenly seemed.

Then the other woman pulled away, a cold glint freezing her face over, even as her eyes were puffy and pink. Marinette almost apologized when she spoke. "I'll meet you downstairs in ten minutes," she said.

"...Okay."

Kagami smiled and nodded before walking through the door. Marinette, left on the roof, blinked and then pulled out her phone. In an old group chat, she left one message.

PinkFlower: Get the car ready the marriage's getting annulled.

By the time she arrived at the parking lot, Alya and Nino, plus Juleka, Rose, Alix, Mylene and Ivan, were waiting at Nino's van. "What the heck did you do, girl?!" she said. "Adrien's already married one day and you become a homewrecker?"

"Not on that side," Marinette corrected. She turned her head at what sounded like a furious shriek and the music from the back-up DJ screeching to a stop. In the next minute, the doors opened, revealing Kagami.

Marinette's guess was right. She did look good in red, especially in the jumpsuit she had changed into.

"What did you do?" Marinette asked, just a little frightened and a lot swooning. Alya gaped, glancing from her to Kagami. Alix and Juleka, based on the noises, were stifling laughter.

"I did what I should've done a long time ago," Kagami said, holding out her arm. Marinette, still a little bit flustered, took it. "I told my mother about Adrien and his other lady. She's contacting our family lawyer now."

Damn. If her mother was anything like Gabriel...

"I also looked up some restaurants nearby. There's one with very good orange juice, if you would like?" She leaned in close, as if worried that someone would overhear and take offense. "The catering was not my choice."

...the food hadn't been great.

"Yeah," Marinette said as Nino opened the door to his van. "Yeah, I would like that."

Kagami's smile was beautiful, perfect, and full of life.

[miraculouslbcnreactions]

Last post you talked about your ideal version of canon, I was wondering could you share it with us? If not, that's ok

Oh man, I could go on about my dream version of canon for ages! I've talked about various aspects of it on here with stuff like my "sugar" posts on Nino and Alya, but the broad strokes are:

Serialized story where it's basically one large narrative told in chunks

A true teams setup where Adrien, Marinette, Alya, and Nino feel like this amazing, tight friend group who grows into a found family as they get older, giving platonic and romantic love more equal billing

No guardian order, just have it be a single-person role that gets passed on from person to person

Kagami and Luka in supporting roles that have nothing to do with being love interests

Sympathetic Gabriel who feels like a truly tragic figure, but who does NOT get redeemed

Emilie gets an actual character

No sentinonsense

Revised miracle box that is way smaller and that has strong lore

The Agreste's aquiring the miraculous is far more morally complex, makes sense, and was not done for explicitly selfish reasons

Reverse the love square right from the start and never have the crushes flip

I've talked about all of these things on here, but the one thing that I've only briefly touched on is my love of a reverse square setup. I am passionate about that one, so let's take a moment to talk about why since it's probably going to be the most interesting to read.

I don't hate the canon setup for the crushes, but also I don't think that they're the ideal crushes. When it comes to romance stories, you want to design your love interests around each other. You want them to feel special and like they bring something unique to the table. Canon doesn't really give us that. There's nothing all that special about Adrien that makes him feel like the person that Marinette would be drawn to above all others. Same goes for Chat Noir and Ladybug, but we'll get to them in a second.

What is Marinette's biggest struggle? Her role as Ladybug.

Who is her main support in that role for most of the show? Chat Noir.

Who is her main support on the civilian side even before the reveal? Alya.

So why is Marinette's crush on Adrien and not Chat Noir? I don't know. It's the lesser setup by far and that goes beyond just the logic elements of who it makes the most sense for her to fall in love with. A lot of Marinette's worst behavior actually feels justified in a reverse crush setup, allowing you to write her without major changes to her character.

For example, Marinette keeping a chest of gifts for Adrien is kind of pathetic. She's friends with Adrien and she gives her friends gifts all the time, why can't she give him gifts, too? Reverse the crushes and suddenly this behavior makes perfect sense. Marinette isn't storing up gifts because of overblown fears of rejection. She's storing up gifts for legitimate fears about how her partner will explain these random gifts, thereby risking his identity, meaning that she has a sold argument for waiting until the time is right (post reveal) to give them to him.

There's also the legitimate fear that confessing her love could ruin their dynamic and put Paris at risk. Keeping her feelings to herself is now an act of self-sacrifice and not just an act of nerves. Basically everything about Marinette's hesitance just makes so much more sense if it's on the hero side.

But what about Adrien? How does this fix him?

I love the idea of our male romantic lead falling for our female lead because she's bold and brave, but it honestly doesn't fit Adrien's character. He is surrounded by powerful, confrontational women. Nathalie, Chloe, Kagami, Amilie, Audrey, and Tomoe are all no-nonsense women who get what they want. This means that Ladybug doesn't bring something unique to his life. She fits the standard mold. Adrien falling in love with her after she talks down Hawkmoth doesn't feel like the right choice for his character because it doesn't feel like something he'd be wildly impressed by.

Meanwhile, Marinette is shown to be a generally wonderful friend. She cares about others and will do what she can to make them feel welcome and accepted. That's a much more unique thing for Adrien to experience. Think about the umbrella scenes and imagine if it was Marinette apologizing. Marinette owning that she treated him poorly and asking his forgiveness. How often do you think Adrien gets moments like that? Doesn't it make more sense for something like that to make his heart flutter?

We see Marinette doing things like making banners to celebrate her friends (Timebreaker) and making sure everyone feels included (Reflekta). Imagine her giving Adrien that kind of treatment because it's just who Marinette is. She shows up to his fencing matches to cheer him on. Brings him his favorite snacks as a treat just because, surrounding this poor boy in honest, genuine love and support. Add in respect, too, and he'd be a goner because those are the things that he's not getting anywhere else! The things that make Marinette unique.

This brings us to our new civilian dynamic. In canon, it's Marinette failing to confess in ever more spectacular ways as Alya tries and fails to help. In a reverse crush setup where everyone is friends without gender barriers, it's things like Adrien coming up with his canon confessions and then watching Alya and Nino react with genuine horror because, dude, you're going to give her a panic attack! No! Bad kitty! Stop that! No confessions until you come up with a plan that we approve of and read at least five books of dating advice because holy shit did homeschooling do you dirty in this area!

Then, while Adrien is working to learn how dating works, he learns that Marinette is in love with Chat Noir and, oh no! He thinks she's into his public persona, totally unaware that she knows the real Chat Noir and loves his dorky self. So he tries to emulate his sexy alter ego while Nino and Alya suffer and Marinette is just generally confused because she doesn't think of Chat Noir like that, so she doesn't even notice what Adrien is doing.

This also adds a nice mitigating factor to Adrien's unwillingness to give up even though it's pretty clear that Marinette isn't interested in his civilian self. If he knows that she loves him, then his persistence is less concerning and more comedic. It's not that he can't take a no, it's that he honestly knows with 100% certainty that the answer is NOT no because she's told him that to his face. He just needs her to realize that the guy she's in love with is right here, ready and willing!

The potential for comedy is just so much more broad and so much less mean spirited because Marinette has none of Adrien's reserved nature, so her friends would totally know about her massive "celebrity crush". Adrien comes over for school projects and just stares longingly at her Chat Noir posters, wishing he could tell her his secret, but knowing that he can't.

In my world, that is so much more fun than canon's setup where Marinette has no reason to hope. I also wouldn't draw the crushes out anywhere near as long as canon did. I like getting couples together in the mid-game. It's a nice early plot to hook you in, but defeating the villain is the end game, so we don't need to draw the romance out that long. Romance isn't that special. It's not all that different from an arc about two characters becoming friends.

That's far from the only major change I'd make to shape canon into my ideal version, but it is the probably the change that I love the most. It's also the change that requires the least context to explain, so there you go!

[jasmine-the-fox]

Uncle Jagged get's justice

IceWolf92 on AO3 made this request so here we go!!

Jagged Stone was a hard worker in the music industry. While he focuses on his music… he also works hard to take down rumors and fake claims about him as they can affect his music career greatly and possibly his public image too.

He and Penny were taking Fang on a walk when he overheard a conversation “I hate this. Lila and Father are forcing me to obey to make Lila happy… even though her lies are hurting Marinette badly” they turned as they heard Adrien’s voice “I know dude. To be honest I hate the fact that she’s lying not only about Marinette… but about her connections to Jagged Stone and others” Nino said making Penny and Jagged’s eyes go wide “Penny love… I need you to look into this… Lila for me” he said making Penny nod as they walked away.

It didn’t take Penny very long to discover who Lila Rossi was at all. She wrote Lila and found the Ladyblog where it only spoke about Lila now and barely spoke about Ladybug and Cat Noir anymore. She uncovered multiple lies she’s claimed to be true and as a result discovered stories she’s made about knowing famous people.

She shows Jagged who becomes angry “Contact them and let them know about this liar” he said making Penny nod and get to work quickly enough. She contacted everyone Lila lied about knowing and they were all enraged by the whole thing, as a result… they quickly began to lawyer up to sue Lila for her lies and Alya for posting the lies without doing a little research.

It was a huge disappointment to them…

Penny did as much research as she could about Lila, she worked hard to collect evidence against her. Meanwhile… Jagged decided to go visit Marinette, he remembered her talking about her best friend Alya and wondered what she knew about this whole thing. When he got there with Fang, Sabine welcomed them in and called Marinette down before heading back downstairs to the bakery to work the register.

Mari came down a moment later and quickly went to give Fang some well deserved attention and love from her, she then sat down with Jagged on the couch “So… I found about some girl named Lila Rossi saying lies about herself like how she saved my cat and how I dedicated a song to her. Since your friend Alya posts about her lies I was wondering if you knew more?” he asked and was shocked at how sad Mari looked all of a sudden.

 She then told him about Lila’s threats and how the class bullied her since Lila claims she’s bullying her “She paints herself as a saint who only wants to be my friend… while all I do is hurt her in the end” she explained making Jagged look at her with guilt for not knowing about Lila sooner.

He swore to himself to make Lila pay for all of this… so when lawyers lead by his stormed into Mari’s classroom and served Lila and Alya with lawsuits for the lies Lila spoke and that Alya posted… chaos soon erupted in the classroom. Some were pissed that Lila lied while others like Alya denied that Lila lied to them… but with no proof to back them up… it was clear to those who opened their eyes that Lila was a liar in the end.

The judge was a no joke kind of guy. Each time Lila tried to spin a lie, the judge would slam his gavel down and tell her to be silent until spoken to. The lawyers presented the stories Alya posted that Lila spun as evidence that she was a liar, Adrien went to the stand and provided photographic and video evidence of who she truly was.

Mari recounted everything Lila did to her and Jagged went further with paying for plane tickets for Lila’s past victims to come from Italy to reveal what Lila did to them “She made me bawled by putting hair remover in my shampoo! She claimed the product was bad and that my hair was proof! My mom made the product and we got it tested to confirm she messed with it!” a girl said, she had shoulder length hair that had grown with time.

Another was a boy who is rich like Adrien “I’m gay so I didn’t like her already. But she claimed I tried to rape her! At a fake party that never happened! My classmates beated me up and sent my boyfriend to the hospital because of her! He’s traumatized!” he explained in fury. In the end Mari’s classmate who believed Lila were barely listened to as they tried to defend Lila… Lila was declared guilty and so was Alya.

Lila was deported to Italy where her past victims were waiting for her to take her to court to sentence her while Alya was fined, her blog was taken down and she had to do community service for a whole year because of what she did. The rest of the class was warned “Learn from this and research what your told before believing it… maybe next time you do it… you’ll get conned” the judge said after giving his ruling.

In the end… justice was served at long last. Mari felt light and free without Lila ruining her day, she was able to smile and be happy. Alya was yelled at by her parents and grounded in the end. Lila was gone the very day court was adjured, the ones who now knew the truth were working hard to fix what they did to Mari while the others glared at Mari as they believed she did all of this.

They tried spreading a rumor that she falsified the evidence but they were shut down quickly since Jagged threatened to get Damocles and Bustier fired if they didn’t do there jobs correctly from now on. Adrien watched with a smile as Mari entered a grand event with Jagged who brought her since she did design his outfit.

He was happy to have started this whole thing… he just wished he had done it sooner…

[ilikekidsshows]

I think for me at least the difference between Adrien’s problematic behavior (harassing Ladybug even after she’s rejected him several times and even something like telling Marinette to take the high road regarding Lila which I know got him a lot of flack with the fandom) and Marinette’s behavior is that we actually see Adrien growing past said behavior. He does eventually move on from Ladybug and come to be happy being just a good friend and partner to her. (Sure it’s partly because he ‘falls’ for Marinette but we’ll not get into that here). He also realizes he was wrong about the Lila thing and actually threatens her to get her to fix what she did to Marinette in that one episode and tries to tell Alya and Nino the truth about her.

Meanwhile Marinette not only gets worse over time but the show bends over backwards to try and justify said bad behavior nor does she ever receive any real consequences for it.

For me that’s a large part of why I’m okay with Adrien’s bad behavior and not Marinette’s and I don’t think the two can really be fairly compared due to such circumstances and the way the show handled both of them.

---

Yeah, like, the writers also eventually made Cat Noir take responsibility for all of Paris thinking he and Ladybug are a couple and they made Adrien take responsibility for everything done against Lila, be it not confronting her directly or confronting her directly, since he actually makes comments on both approaches that can be taken as apologies. Adrien doesn't just apologize and “clean up his act”, he takes full responsibility over others’ similar actions as well. Even before this, though, Adrien's faults weren't treated the same as Marinette's. Whenever Ladybug told him his flirting was too much, she was presented as the one whose feelings on the matter mattered the most and Cat Noir respected her no and backed down every time. He also valued her friendship even before he stopped loving her. Meanwhile, Marinette stopping her stalking of Adrien wasn't even fully stopping and she was shown as frustrated about it while making excuses over how she was totally justified. Her feelings over the stalking were given focus, but we never learn how Adrien feels about it. She also never valued Adrien’s friendship, calling it the “worst thing ever”. The Lila thing Adrien was right about, actually, I will die on that hill. The writers can’t even remember what Adrien said about Lila, since he makes contradictory statements about her.

As you said, Marinette's behavior keeps getting worse but she keeps getting validated. Even the abuse apologia has already been validated by both Tikki and Bunnix in the London special. They treat it as a morally equal option to not doing what she did and they also shrink what Marinette did (abuse apologia) into just “not telling the truth” (they don't even call it “lying”) to make it seem even more like she hasn't done anything too bad. Alix also frames the whole thing in a way where she's only focused on consequences, saying being truthful would have also have painful consequences. They're downplaying the heck out of what Marinette's done wrong, so, when that's combined with how her other flaws are viewed as 100% okay or nonexistent, I just can't see this as an arc where Marinette learns anything, instead of it ending with Marinette crying about what a terrible person she is again while being instantly forgiven, if she gets confronted with this being a mistake at all.

So, let's compare and contrast:

Adrien makes a mistake: takes full responsibility, doesn't make excuses, focuses on the feelings of the wronged party

Marinette makes a mistake: makes excuses, screams and cries about how bad she's feeling until she gets coddled, talks over the wronged party

The writers are so consistent about ignoring anything Marinette does wrong or having her get instantly validated for her mistakes that I have no faith in her villain arc actually being anything close to one instead of of it just being a way to make Marinette the one who suffers the most from Gabriel's death and her “not telling the truth”.

[yubellia]

OH MY GOSH! Season 6 is here! And Cerise/Lila whoever was super creepy and amazing!

„Nothing. Hah. Nothing. You know nothing about me, about us, about them. I‘m everywhere. I‘m nowhere. I‘m a chameleon. Nowhere. You won‘t get anywhere.“

——~~~——

Not gonna lie, I really don‘t like what they did to Marinette. The girl is struggling…. We get that…. But did they really have to make her act like this? She can‘t even really keep it together als Ladybug anymore. She can be lucky that the miraculous prevents people from noticing the obvious similarities.

But back to Cerise! We don‘t see her face in the entire episode. We only have her voice but that’s enough already. After all, sound is almost more important than visuals. What would Micheal Myers be without the iconic sound. Try it. Mute the movies. It won‘t work.

But anyway. I wonder, when she akumatized that girl, this is how she handles things. She just talks and offers a solution like a good friend. Siding with her victim. She doesn’t even demand anything. No „I’ll give you that power. In return I want Ladybugs and Chat Noirs miraculous!“ No. None of that!

Also, the camera zoomed in, almost like we were going into the victims head. Is this what actually happens to you, when you get akumatized? Bah! Imagine having Gabriel in your head like that! No sir. Thank you!

Could it be, that up until now, we saw the whole process from the outside? That would be so cool. It would also mean that Cerise clearly….. goes deeper that Gabriel could.

Also, we learned something very important. Apparently, they don‘t know better yet, Cerise akumatizes people randomly without the goal to attack. She just lets them cause chaos and the heroes come out. At first.

We also learn that Cerise writes EVERYTHING down!! Like girl, be careful with your hand! That must hurt! Also she technically creates tons of evidence. If she looses ONE of those notebooks, it’s game over. Unless she writes in code….. would not be surprised.

Also the end of the episode, where she is in the café „Nothing. Hah. Nothing. You know nothing about me, about us, about them. I‘m everywhere. I‘m nowhere. I‘m a chameleon. Nowhere. You won‘t get anywhere.“

I am not sure if she completely lost it NOW, if she ALWAYS was crazy like this, or, with her disguises and all, she is completely stating the truth.

But I know one thing.

I LOVE HER FOR IT!! I can‘t wait to actually see her! Also it seems like she upgraded her miraculous, just like Marinette did with all the others. At least that’s what I heard, could be a leak. She got the guardians book too after all from Nathalie in that one episode, together with all of Gabriel’s secrets.

So yeah… the new season started…. A bit meh. I really wish they could have given us the REAL first episode. But it seems like there is something wrong with the continuity anyway. Alya and Nino interviewed Sublime‘s mom, but she didn’t appear yet…. Strange….

But anyway, we might be missing some lore here.

I am still excited for more.

[mochinek0]

Daminette December 2023: 13-Wednesday

Paris couldn't believe what they were seeing: Marinette Dupain-Cheng was in Gotham Academy, in uniform! They hadn't see her in four years! What shocked them even more was seeing her arguing with some guy and she wasn't backing down.

The students in Gotham Academy didn't pay them any attention. Everyone ignored the shouting and yelling; they just kept walking as if they didn't see or hear them.

"Shouldn't you get a teacher?" Nino asked a student passing by.

"For what?" asked the brunette.

The class pointed at the arguing students.

"Wat day is it?" the brunette questioned.

"Wednesday." Max answered, "Does it matter?"

"It's their 'Argue Day'." the Gotham student declared.

"Argue day?" Mylene asked, confused.

"Yeah." the student stated, with a shrug, "Like clockwork. Teachers learned to deal with it. They get competitive, too."

"My boyfriend wouldn't put up with this sort of thing." Lila declared, "He hates violence."

"Oh, who is you boyfriend?" the brunette questioned.

"Damian Wayne." Lila smiled.

The brunette started laughing and pointing at Lila.

"Dude?" the blonde nearby questioned.

"This bitch said Damian Wayne is her boyfriend! She also said he hated violence!" the brunette answered and continued to laugh.

The blonde joined, howling with laughter. The Paris class shifted uncomfortably.

"Listen here, Faker," the blonde spoke, "you're not dating our ice Prince. Not to mention Damian is one of the most violent Waynes to roam these halls."

Lila sniffled, "He just doesn't want the media to know. I'm not lying."

"Well, that's lie number two." the brunette counted, "Damian doesn't care about the media. They gave him the title 'Ice Prince'."

"Do you know how many reporters have broken their arms, hands, or fingers trying to get a scoop from him?" the blonde questioned.

"You the ones lying!" Aly shouted, "Lila said he was kind and helpful Damian Wayne does charity work with her, for the environment!"

"It's not that hard to look up." the blonde scoffed, :About every other weekend, he's in the park casually talking to Poison Ivy, Harley Quinn, and playign with their hyenas as they plan 'How to green up Gotham'."

Lila paled hearing how he associated with rogues. That hadn't been what she expected.

"Supposedly, his mother is just as bad as they are." the brunette declared, "If not worse."

Lila gulped, trying to figure out how to keep her classmates under her control as her lie began to unravel.

"If anything, it sound like you googled 'rich kid+my age in Gotham' and Damian Wayne popped up first." the blonde responded.

"How can you say that about our friend?" Kim demanded.

The boys pointed to Marinette and the boy arguing still.

"That is Damian Wayne." the brunette answered, "By tomorrow, they'll be back to cuddling and kissing, like they have been for the past three years."

"They basically chose one day a week to let their frustrations out on each other." the blonde spoke, "It just happens to be on Wednesday."

The Parisians turned to Lila for an answer.

"I-I'm sure that's not it." Lila declared in a panic.

"Oh, really?" questioned the blonde boy, "Yo, Mari! How many times did Damian drug your coffee and drag you to bed, last week?"

"Four!" she shouted, still glaring at him.

Damian scoffed, "It was three."

"Liar!" Marinette screamed.

The class watched on in confusion.

"Damian, how many times did Mari make you new clothes last month?" the brunette asked.

"Ten!" Damian exclaimed in frustration.

Marinette scoffed, "Like you don't complain about those 'monkey suits' and how uncomfortable they are."

"I didn't ask you to go out of you way, Angel, and make me those things!" Damian rebutted.

"Oh, so now my designs are things?" Mari declared, "I just wanted you to be comfortable!"

"I'm fine!" the young Wayne sighed, "You need to sleep!"

"How long did she stay up?" the blonde questioned.

"She didn't sleep." Damian growled.

Marinette threw her hands up before resting them on her hips, "I slept on the drive over. I drank Tim's coffee. It usually has at least five espressos. Not the most I've had."

"What?" Damian shouted.

"Ah, so that's the reason this time." the brunette spoke.

"Sorry, Liar, but no one in Gotham will believe that you are anything to Gotham's Ice Prince when there are pictures being posted, like this, by his very own brothers." the blonde declared.

He turned his phone around to see Marinette and Damian dressed in pajamas and curled up in bed together.

"Everyone in Gotham Academy knows they live together at Wayne Manor." he continued, "Not to mention, the moment someone tries to touch her or get in her personal space, he threatens to kill them."

"He had five knives taken away this month." the brunette stated.

"Actually, it was eight." the blonde commented.

"Oh, when did I miss those?" the brunette questioned.

"You were sick for a week." the blonde answered.

"Gotha." the brunette spoke, "So, good luck and welcome to Gotham."

"Have a good Wednesday." the blonde spoke as they walked away.

Marinette yawned, "Why am I yawning? I drank Tim's coffee."

"Todd switched his coffee with decaf." Damian smiled, "You just happened to drink it, instead."

"No." she whined, "You did this on purpose!"

"I did not force you to drink Drake's coffee not did I force you to stay up all night." he answered, "If anything, Todd is upset that you ruined his prank."

"But-" Mari yawned again.

Damian smirked and picked her into his arms, "We are going home and you are going to bed."

"School." Marinette replied.

"I already messaged the teachers on the ride over that e would be missing the next two days." the young Wayne answered, "I've also paid Todd $100 for messing up his plan. In exchange, he will bring you lunch and dinner."

Marinette didn't respond and curled up in his arms. Damian just walked out of the school.

"Okay!" someone shouted, "Who had them making up under fifteen minutes?"

"Awww, man!"

"I could have sworn they would argue longer today."

"Didn't expect her to not sleep."

"Or have decaf."

"If she had just had that coffee."

"How much did you lose?"

"$20."

"Lucky; $30."

"50."

Paris watched on as money was exchanged. Marinette and Damian Wayne's couple argument had gotten so common that people were gambling on it. They started to turn to Lila, who obviously had no idea how to explain what had just happened.

"So, you really were a liar." Nathaniel whispered, "Marinette was right, all along."

"I don't think we'll get to apologize to Marinette," Rose sniffled, "But she looks happy."

"Can't say you will be by the end of this trip, Lila." Alix sneered.

Lila was out of her element as Gotham had quickly spread her lie about dating Damian. No one believed her and if she said anything, they would just laugh at her. Not to metion her own classmates were now ignoring her. This hadn't been what she had planned; it was just another Wednesday. Nothing special about it.

TAGLIST: @maribat-calendar-events@animeweebgirl@a-star-with-a-human-name@meme991001@vixen-uchiha@abrx2002@alysrose-starchild@fandom-trapped-03@dood-space@moonlightstar64@saltymiraculer@marveldcedits20@09shell-sea09@icerosecrystal@animegirlweeb@insane-fangirl-of-everything@blueblossombliss@nickristus-dreamer@megawhitleycalderonpaganus@missmadwoman@meira-3919@princessdaisysolosyourfaves@blep-23@fangirlingfanatic@darkhinauniverse@ravenr22@im-a-satanic-ritual@ravennm84@bianca-hooks123@a-slytherinish-gryffindor@starling218

[ct-multifandom]

Do you think Lila knows Nath's identity?

I feel like she might know Marc's aswell after the identity reveal. Like, the way they did it, thats gonna have big consequences.

I’m guessing you’re talking about this scene. That was def my first thought, and it doesn’t help that Nath kept transforming in front of big windows and for improper reasons.

The reveal scene gave me the impression that their actions will have consequences, but then again, what happened with Alya and Nino in s4 was resolved sort of anticlimactically. Like you’d think there’d be big drama over it, and then whoops Nino just used his knowledge of Alya’s identity to try and protect her one time, and everyone acted like this was a bad thing for some reason, but nothing actually came of it. I expect this season to be better about actions having consequences based on how things have been going. I also think more people will have reveals, including most definitely Mylene and Ivan (based on their poses in the intro, but also reminder that Ivan canonically can’t lie to save his life).

I wouldn’t be so hasty as to say she knows both their identities for sure, though. That would imply she’s staring through Nath’s bedroom window and I don’t think anything suggested that. If anything, she’s probably just suspicious of everyone who’s close friends with the heroes who got exposed in s3.

Talking about that screenshotted scene in particular, Lila is asking a question. She wants to investigate something deeper because she doesn’t know the answer.

Her wording is odd. If she was talking about his hero identity, asking, “Nath, what is your true face?” feels off. That means she thinks Caprikid is Nath’s “true self”, and I don’t see why she would. Wouldn’t it make more sense, then, to say, “Caprikid, what is your true face?”

I think there’s a good chance that what she’s talking about isn’t related to hero identities. Maybe she has some crazy dirt on him like whatever’s going on with Ray and Zoe, but I’m seeing some other things going on here (or maybe not going on), so I’d like to propose another possibility.

I think it’s possible she’s referring to his mental state, like the toxic idea that people who have anger issues or low impulse control are “showing their real face” when they do something bad. She might be implying that he’s masking and she wants to see the full extent of whatever issues he has.

To support this, I want to point out something I noticed in this episode: Lila didn’t even try to akumatize Nathaniel. In Daddycop, the problem at hand primarily impacted Sabrina, and Lila tried to akumatize her over it. It was only after Sabrina’s rejection that Lila went after Roger, who was upset about the same thing. In El Toro de Piedra, Lila was stalking Ivan throughout the Louvre scene, but decided to akumatize Raul instead of him. I think this makes sense since Raul is more unstable than Ivan, being more explosive and less mature about the situation, which makes for a better akuma.

But in this episode, Lila only akumatized Shirel when she found out Nath illustrated the script. I’d argue Shirel wasn’t too much angrier in that moment than when she found the script in the first place, but in that scene Nathaniel was completely devastated. He immediately sprinted out of his house crying, ran all the way to school without calming down, and started wrecking his own hard work. Wouldn’t you think that’s the perfect time to send out an akuma?

I suspect Lila may want to try and akumatize Nath another time. She might set up some plan to make him really upset during a time/situation that’s perfect for her. She might also just try to use his strong emotional reactions against him and his friends without magic, like manipulating him into making other people upset or doing something that hurts the team. She was silent for most of this episode, and we didn’t see any shadowy creepy stalker figures this time, but she’s still filling up a notebook. Her main goal may have been observing the situation closer to help form a bigger plan.

We saw that Hawkmoth could sense people’s troubles psychically, so it’s possible for Lila to be observing how people feel in negative situations without physically following them around or watching them closely enough to find out they’re a superhero.

I support the hc that Nath has BPD, but if he actually has a diagnosis behind the problems canon has shown him to have, especially if it’s stigmatized, I could see that as being enough for Lila to act like he’s hiding his “true face”. (If she can meddle with school documents she can prob get into medical records too).

So yeah TLDR I think Lila may be suspicious of most of the superheroes including Marc and Nath, but probably doesn’t have enough info to prove it’s them for sure yet. That could very well change and cause problems later on. Either way, I think whatever she was talking about with Nath and his “true face” might have more to do with him personally rather than his hero identity. Namely, she might be referring to his volatile emotions or some underlying psych problem he has.

Bonus, in honor of pride month have this stupid meme that I made

[little-mari-on-a-roof]

Frenglish differences in Miraculous - Episode 14

Animan

Adrien - Nino

En: FYI, Marinette's never gonna fall in love with a statue. - Shh! You know im no good with the ladies, especially this one all of a sudden. I mean, dude, do I go up to her and crack a joke? Shoot her a compliment? Invite her to the zoo, play it serious?

Fr: Dis moi Nino, je trouve que tu louches un peu trop souvent sur Marinette ces derniers temps. - Chuuut, oui bon bah c'est vrai je la trouve super mignonne. Tu trouves pas, toi ? Oh, comment je pourrais faire pour qu'elle me remarque ? Je dois faire quoi ? Lui sortir une blague ? Lui faire des compliments ? L'inviter au zoo, la jouer façon tombeur ?

Tell me Nino, I think you're squinting a little too often at Marinette these days. - Shhhh, well yeah it's true that I find her super cute. Don't you think so too? Oh, how could I get her to notice me? What do I need to do? Crack a joke? Compliment her? Invite her to the zoo, play it like a stud?

"Marinette's never gonna fall in love with a statue." Sure dude. Very rich coming from the person who tried to get her to like him by, doing what exactly? Ah yes. Masquerading as a wax statue. Anyway. Adrien's line in French might sound a bit like some kind of jealousy when reading it but it's not, he's just teasing Nino.

Nino after Adrien teases him for wanting to invite a girl to the zoo

En: Well, they have this really cool new exhibit there.

Fr: Bah quoi, il paraît qu'ils viennent de recevoir une nouvelle panthère.

Well, I heard they just received a new panther.

Nino - Adrien

En: What if I act like a Moron-a-saurus? Or she disses me, or thinks I'm lame or... - Okay, I got your back.

Fr: Et je fais quoi moi après si elle me jette si elle me met un vent ou qu'elle me traite de gros lourd ?! - Ok, viens, je vais t'aider.

And what do I do after if she rejects me or if she ignores me or calls me a lump. - Ok, come, I'm gonna help you.

The saying Nino uses is "gros lourd", which literally means "big heavy". It is used to refer to guys who are very insistent and annoying.

Marinette (talking about Adrien) - Alya

En: Oh, he's such a... - Smarty, hottie, suavissimo, yummytastic, spellbinder. - All of the above.

Fr: Hhhhha, il est tellement... - Intelligent, gentil, beau comme un dieu, irrésistible, drôle et sensible ? - Tellement plus que ça.

*Very big sigh*, he's so... - Intelligent, kind, handsome as a god, irresistible, funny and tenderhearted? - So much more than that.

French Marinette really is infatuated lmao.

Nino to Adrien

En: If I could be yourself. Myself don't work that way.

Fr: Sauf que pour toi c'est trop facile. Moi avec les filles c'est une galère.

Except that for you it's too easy. For me, with girls, it's a mess.

Here, Nino says it's "une galère", which is the French word for galley. It is used to refer to a tricky and hard to get through situation, just like you need a lot of strength to row a galley.

After Nino said to Marinette that there's no need for Adrien to hang out at the zoo: Alya replies in her earpiece

En: Of course we do, you Dumbo.

Fr: Bien sûr que si grosse nouille.

Of course we do, you big noodle.

Noodle can be used as an insult in French, it makes the whole scene very funny.

Max

En: Typical diet for a feline species requiring the strength to run at speeds in excess of 60 miles per hour.

Fr: C'est l'aliment principale de ce carnivore féliforme capable d'atteindre la vitesse de 65km/h.

It is the main food item of this feliform carnivore capable of reaching the speed of 65km per hour.

Who tf uses the word féliforme like ever. But the main problem is the speed. 65km/h is only about 40mph. 60mph, like the English dub says, is actually closer to 95km/h. And according to science, the English dub is bullshit. Panthers can't run that fast.

Kim

En: What place did your cat come in at the county Athletics tournament?

Fr: Il a fini combien votre chaton au championnat intercollège d'Île-de-France ?

What place did your kitten come in at the inter middle school championship of Île-de-France?

Île-de-France is the French région that Paris belongs to. County would probably rather be used to refer to what we call a département which, in the case of Paris, is the city itself. There are currently 18 French régions, and around a hundred départements.

Kim, comparing himself to the panther

En: No need to, I'm obviously the better-looking one. Hey, kitty-kitty. How about a little race with me, huh? Last ones a rotten egg.

Fr: Ha ! Ça ne risque pas ! C'est clair que je suis le plus canon des deux. Hey, boule de poils. Ça te dirait de faire une course avec moi, hein ? Le dernier arrivé aura un gage.

Ah! There's no risk! It's clear that I am the more gorgeous of the two. Hey, furball. What would you say about having a race with me, huh? The last one there gets a dare/has to pay a forfeit.

I'm not 100% sure about the translation here since it seems there's no direct translation of "avoir un gage", but basically, the loser has to pay a forfeit by completing a dare.

Max

En: Let's see. With a 6-feet-per-second wind behind you, and the sun at a 45 degrees to the northeast, I don't think you'd be a rotten egg, you'd be lunch.

Fr: Voyons voir. En considérant un vent favorable de 2 mètres par seconde et avec le soleil dans le dos, je sens que c'est toi qui aura le gage, et elle, elle te dévorera.

Let's see. Considering a rear wind of 2 meters per second and with the sun in your back, I can feel that you're the one who's gonna have to do the dare (/pay the forfeit) while she will devour you.

2 meters per second corresponds to about 6.5 feet, so this conversion is quite accurate.

Chat Noir - Ladybug

En: I dont think he can "bear" to listen to that noise. - You're almost too much to "bear". Now we wait.

Fr: Il en a plein les oreilles, le bruit le rend chèvre. - C'est toi qui me rends chèvre avec ton humour. Regarde il est épuisé !

He's getting an earful, the noise is driving him nuts (lit. driving him goat). - You're the one driving me goat with your humour. Look, he's exhausted!

In French, to "drive somebody goat" means you're making them enraged/lose their patience or annoying them a lot. It's obviously a hilarious pun coming from Chat Noir and Ladybug teasing him in return.

Chat Noir hugging Ladybug after she got eaten by the dinosaur

En: That was a wild ride.

Fr: J'ai cru que je t'avais perdue.

I thought I'd lost you.

The emotioooon!!

[ririchanva]

Chapter Twenty Two Joint Training / Class A vs. Class B (Part Two) 

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░❇ Buy Me Some Coffee~? ❇░

Chapter Warning: Almost character death, some dark themes that will include violence. Spoilers for Miraculous Season 6 along with a sprinkle of cameos from other Zag Cartoonz. Spoilers of MHA of the manga and possibly Vigilantes and Team Up Missions.

A/n: Can't believe we're back at it again and we're up to the next part of the Joint Training. So far so good, Season 6 of Miraculous is slowly getting there and the added lore in it doesn't affect much of the story (in total fact, I'm so shocked it is syncing a little too well for the plot). But anyways, enjoy this chapter gang~"

   “Your…lives are at stake?” Nino questioned with a frown, “What does that mean?”

    “It’s exactly what it means,” Devil spoke with a scoff, then glanced towards some other people watching them, “It should be the same for them, no? Considering they are the missing children from the United States, correct?”

     Marinette realized that she was talking about Seraph, Miss Mermaid Greenhorn and the new girl named Peni Lane. This got her thinking for a moment but she remained quiet for now

      Seraph was the one that spoke first, having an almost teasing smile despite it looked tight with edge.

     “Are you afraid that those special hunters will be after you lot?”

     “Special hunters?” Marinette questions, already noticing the teachers were secretly listening to the conversation too, especially Eraserhead.

     “Remember how I said that my father has special connections? The same connections that Tomoe Tsurugi has along with Audrey Bourgeois and Gabriel Agreste?” Once Seraph heard verbal yes’s from Nino and Marinette, he continued, “Well, there are plenty of people that hunt Miraculous and other magical items or strange anomalies for many reasons. Some for their own selfish desires….others think of it as a sport.”

      “Interesting. Thus why you said that you are in danger,” Master Fu stroked his goatee with a hum, “But rest assured, children, you are safe here.”

      Marinette didn’t know if Master Fu’s words registered to them, witnessing the Moonlight Hunters looking at each other warily, and it wasn’t just them. It seemed Seraph, Miss Mermaid and Greenhorn looked unsure too. What were they so afraid of?

      Although Marinette noticed that Miss Peni didn’t looks too surprised. Huh…

     “Guys! Don’t sweat it so much~! As long as we stick together and work as a team, there’s no way the bad guys can get to us!” Nino tried to cheer them up, giving a big, confident smile, “Trust~! We’ve got a lot of strong and smart people on here.”

     Eraserhead decided to intervene, “How about we get on with the next match. We shall discuss what happened during the first match laster, hm? Goddaughter of mine?”

    Marinette winced, seeing how he and Amelie were looking at her. Ah, so they knew...

“Looks like the match is about to begin,” Shinso spoke in a low tone with wary eyes, watching the teams for the second match heading to their starting point, then glanced over at Luka feeding Xuppu, “Who do you think will win this round?”

    “That’s sorta a redundant question considering you are somewhat a time-traveler~?” Luka smiled at the other before he quietly transformed, then twirled his bo-staff, “But I’m assuming that you want my opinion anyways, huh?”

     “If I get a different perspective other than what I know, maybe I can feel a bit calmer at the fact that I can’t control everything that happens,” Shinso looked down at his capture weapon, “To not feel this itch of trying to make sure things go right and to not screw up.”

     Howler hummed as he observed the purple haired hero, then glanced over at the teams, “…In my personal opinion, this might be the match that’ll end up in a possible draw.”

     This surprised Shinso. “What makes you think that?”

     “Well…” Howler tapped his chin with the end of his staff, tilting his head, “Nathaniel and Felix will be against each other. And both of them are real good strategists. Then there’s Momo. I heard from Ochako that she and that Kendo girl are rivals even though they were in a work study along with doing a commercial together.”

     “Hmm…”

     The Monkey Hero watched Shinso for a moment, but then jumped when Shinso started to cough, “Woah! Hitoshi! A-are you alright?”

    “I-I’m fine,” Shinso assured the other, placing a hand on the side of his head, groaning, “I-I guess the match took a lot out of me…”

     Howler frowned. He could sense the other’s song wavering. He was lying.

    “SECOND ROUND TEAMS, TO THE FIELD!”

     Momo took a breath as she glanced over to the other team, her eyes trained on Nathaniel in his new costume and persona. She was indeed shocked that he decided to use two Miraculous in the field at the same time, but it’s not like she could voice out her concern. It was none of her business…right?

    ‘He is old enough to make his own decisions. I should worry about myself and my team rather than think of others.’

    "Hey, Yaoyorozu?”

    Momo snapped out of her thoughts and glanced over at the red headed girl smiling at her, and responded in kind, “Er, yes? What is it, Kendo?"

     “Why weren't you in the pageant? I though I'd see you there,” Kendo asked with a curious look, “I’m sure you would have stood a good chance~”

     “Er, f-for some reason, Aizawa-sensei failed to tell us that something like that would be taking place,” She explained then shrugged while looking away, “I also had band practice, so I wouldn't have had time to prepare for it. I suppose he must have decided that a pageant wasn't necessary for my hero progress.”

     That, and she remembered she was a Guardian in training. 

     Although…is it really something she still wants to be?

     ‘I only agreed because Midoriya requested it of me. But is it really a good idea if I become a Guardian of the Miraculous and it’s New Order?’

     As Kendo and Momo kept on chatting, Argent felt eyes on him. He knew that Neim was giving him a look and the dual wielding bird hero glanced over at the snake.

     “Did you have something to say to me?”

     “No. I just want to know if your head is truly in the game, that’s all.”

     This confused Argent for a moment, “What are you talking about?”

     “The fact you’re using two Miraculous at the moment, what made you decide this?” Neim questioned, tweaking his lyre for a moment, “It almost feels like you’re trying to prove a point.”

      ‘Am I?’ 

      Argent paused in his steps, although he felt a nudge at his back and turned his head to look at Pixie Girl, who gave a reassuring smile.

    “Hey, we’ve got your back, okay? So don’t let the enemy get into your head~”

    Although to Argent, it didn’t feel like Neim was getting to his head. Rather, it felt like the snake hero was trying to tell him something without saying it out loud. But what for?

     Neim walked ahead of them, but then noticed Spilornis and Cybear looking at him curiously.

     “…Yes?” The Snake Hero asked, and the Eagle hero hummed.

     “Was there a point to speak to him like that?” 

     Neim shrugged, “You’ve noticed the tension between him and Miss Momo, right? I suppose I just wanted to gauge his reaction.”

     “Do you think they are having, how you call it? A lover’s quarrel?” The Bear heroine questioned, tilting her head, making both Neim and Spilornis chuckle.

     “I don’t think that’s the case for them. I just wanted to know what made Nathaniel want to unify both the Peacock and Swan Miraculous,” Neim explained but then pursed his lips as he turned serious, “I’m surprised the idiot didn’t collapse immediately since, from what I heard, no holder can wield more than one Miraculous. Too dangerous, Master Fu would say.”

     “I guess that is quite the feat then?” The other bird like hero hummed, but then noticed someone looking at him and noticed it was the shadow-y like young man walking next to Argent, “Hm?”

     “Oh wow, he seems gloomy,” Neim noticed as well, then smirked, “I think this match is going to pair us off with people that might have the same wavelength our energies and fighting styles.”

      “And, who do you think will match with you?” Cybear asked this time, pursing her lips, “I do not know who I’d be against.”

      “Nathaniel might target me. As for you, Miss Hill…” The Snake hero observed the group and tilted his head, “Perhaps Pixie Girl? She’s kinda your opposite since you are the more technologically advanced while she depends on nature. It would be your advantage since there is no life of green anywhere for her to use.”

       “Hey, Tokoyami~”

       The three of them looked up when the shadowy hero from the other team spoke, giving a wide grin.

      “If you think about it, we're basically the same type too.”

      “If you say so?” A frown was placed on Spilornis’ face as he observed the other, ‘Shihai Kuroiro. Also known as the Scheming Hero: Vantablack. Your Quirk lets you merge with darkness and move freely within it.’

      Vantablack chuckled, “You and I share a destiny. We are brothers in the shadows.” 

     “Oh?” Spilornis looked amused, Dark Shadow peeking out from his shoulder, “You have also stared into the abyss?”

     The other shadow user shrugged, although smirked playfully, “Long live eternal darkness, friend~”

     Cybear just stared at the two in confusion, but then glanced over when she saw the gloves that belonged to Invisible Girl waving around in anger and even Can't Stop Twinkling was huffing and puffing.

     “Hmph! Those two aren't twinkling at all!”

      Soon, the two teams walked off to their respective areas discuss their game plan for a few more minutes while Vlad King announced the match was about to begin.

      Argent looked down at his weapon before he felt a nudge at his side and glanced over at Kendo, who told him to use her hero name: Battle Fist, the girl giving a wink and a smile.

     “Let’s do our best, Argent!”

     The dual wielding bird hero nodded, “Yes. Let’s do our best, Leader.”

     “If anything I want you to lead with me,” Battle Fist whispered to him, and the other red head blinked in confusion, making her chuckle, “Don’t get me wrong. I know that the plan we’ve already devised is solid. I just think…you being at my side might trip Creati up a bit, ya know?“

      Argent frowned, “…Are you suggesting to emotionally distract her?”

      “While that is below the belt, yeah, however…” Battle Fist hummed as she glanced over to see Momo glancing at them, but then turned back quickly when caught, “Maybe she also needs a bit of a wake up call.”

     He didn’t like what his team mate was pointing out, but he sighed and nodded, “Well, villains don’t play fair.”

     “Hey! We’re the heroes in this scenario~” Battle Fist smacked his back in amusement, “But you’re right. Anything to win, right? Let’s expect the unexpected, like you said before~”

      Argent was quiet for a moment, but then nodded, “Anything to win.”

     “Okay team! Let’s go!” 

     The red haired girl fist bumped her teammates as all seven of them went to their positions, ready to take down Team A. 

       Cellophane stared at the screen for a moment before glancing over at Tetsutetsu beside him.

       “Kendo seems like a really important part of your class dynamic, huh?”

       “YEAH!”

        The tape hero was quick to cover Rayures’ ears as the silver male started yelling, making Cellophane wince in pain since his ears were now ringing.

       “SHE GETS THE JOB DONE NO MATTER WHAT!” 

      “Why are you yelling?!” Cellophane whined, the Tiger heroine he was protecting from the loud screaming blinked in confusion as if not knowing what’s going o. 

     But Tetsutetsu kept on going.

     “THAT'S OUR BRILLIANT CLASS REP FOR YA! SHE'S SMART AND DECISIVE, EVEN UNDER PRESSURE! IT'S SO AWESOME! SHE'S ALSO BRAVE, RISKING HERSELF ON THE FRONT LINES WHEN OTHERS ARE COUNTING ON HER! NOT TO MENTION, HER ATTITUDE ROCKS!" 

      Somehow, Rayures got the gist of what he was saying, and even glanced up at Cellophane in worry since it seemed he was swaying in a dizzy manner while still holding her. 

     “H-Hanta? Are you okay?” She asked in concern, then smiled when the tape hero gave a shaky thumbs up to signal he’s okay for now

     But Tetsutetsu was still enthusiastic with going on speaking. 

“WITHOUT HER, WE WOULD'VE KILLED MONOMA OR BECOME A BUNCHA FOOLS LIKE HIM BY NOW!”

    “Uncalled for~” Phantom Thief spoke up with a sigh, Star Stallion beside him with a weak smile.

     Meanwhile, Shoto looked up at the screen with a frown, and Queen Bee (who returned from the nurse’s office and transformed) glanced up at him with a raised brow.

       “Something wrong, Shoto-Baby?”

       “I wonder if Yaoyorozu's plan will work.” Shoto replied with a serious look, his eyes showing concern.

        “Her plan?” Queen Bee questioned as Ojiro glanced over at them as well.

       “Why? What she upto?”

       Queen Bee saw the look the red and white haired male had, wondering what was going on in his head. 

    "We'll start reconnaissance immediately!" Momo glanced over at Spilornis with a polite smile, "If you please?”

     The Eagle Hero nodded before he looked to Dark Shadow attached to him, “Report back when you find the enemy.”

     “Leave it to me~!”

     The team of Class A watched as the shadowed being began flying off towards the pipes and such, their hearts anticipating anything from the other team and getting ready.

     “Second chance.”

     Neim twisted his bracelet as he activated his power, narrowing his eyes as he looked to Momo with a nod.

     “Well done. Now, it’s their move.”

     “They pretty much know what our Quirks are by now along with how some of your so called Miraculous work. But we've been improving on them and developing new moves. So they have to be ready for anything.”

      Argent glanced over at Battle Fist as the rest of their teammates were hidden in their positions, while the two of them were standing together out in the open. Battle Fist turned to the other and smiled.

     “That's why, first, they'll try for some recon.”

     The two stared up at Dark Shadow towering over them in a huge form, and Argent was already pulling out four feathers.

     ‘May the best team win…’

   Spilornis blinked as he glanced at Creati with a look of surprise, “Dark Shadow's found our opponents. It seems it is Argent and Battle Fist alone. They're located near the chimneys.”

    The girl almost froze in place at that, frowning. ‘Why are those two together?’

    “Focus, Creati,” Neim murmured as he glanced over at her, “The others must be hiding to tackle us into a trap. Don’t fall for it.”

    “R-right…” She nodded before looking to her team while running towards Dark Shadow’s direction, “Quickly then!”

  “…Why are you two just STANDING AROUND!?”

   Dark Shadow roared as he grew bigger, reaching out to attack both Argent and Battle Fist, but the two dodged easily.

   “I'll take care of whoever I can catch first!”

    “I’ll leave it to you, Vantablack!” Kendo shouted, already jumping back along with Argent on higher grounds.

    Pushing off from his hiding place, Vantablack blended into the shadows, then appeared to blend into Dark Shadow instead.

     “Into the abyss~”

     Watching Dark Shadow struggle and immediately flying back to Team A, Myst appeared beside Battle Fist.

     “Go?”

     “Go. Argent?”

     “Time to go, my beautiful Amoks.”

    Argent threw four bells on the ground as the feathers embedded into them, transforming into sapphire looking dogs. Closing his eyes, Argent took a deep breath before his eyes opened once more, showing his irises are now a mercury color. Letting out a puff of air, he let a gust of wind blow around them before it suddenly turned into a tornado, following after the amoks marching forward. 

    “Woah! That’s pretty cool,” Myst whispered, as she glanced at Argent, “Is this part of the Swan’s abilities?”

    “Ah, from what I understand from Detty, the Swan Miraculous has the powers of the wind. Pretty much I can control the air around me. Thus, why it’s called the Wind of Change. If all else fails and my Amoks are taken down, my strong tornado is locked on anyone that’s not us, will capture them in the storm and be brought back automatically to our jail….not to mention I have a secret effect in place.”

    “Oh?” Battle Fist wondered out loud as she looked at her partner once the ghost girl moved forward with the Amoks and tornado, “What sort of effect?”

     Argent looked over at her and gave a quirked smile, “If you think Shinso’s Hypnotic Quirk was bad…”

      “Fumikage….He…HE GOT ME!”

       Cybear was quick to dodge, grabbing Spilornis out of the way in time while Dark Shadow was rampaging out of control. It was then Myst appeared, but she was pushed back by a green blur.

      The ghost girl grinned at her brother, “Wow, Fury~ I didn’t think you’d tackle me first!”

      The green ghost stared her down with a grin in return, kicking her off of him and flew up higher.

     “This was a long time coming, sis~! May the best ghost win!”

      “I intend to~” Myst teased back.

      The two ghost teens then were speeding around each other, almost looking like two buzzing blurs as they fought in the skies.

      Momo pursed her lips before she then spotted the four glowing blue beings coming at them, and she readied herself, “Invisible Girl! Cybear! Be ready! Neim, stand back as a last resort! Spilornis, you and Can’t Stop Twinkling push forward!”

       Suddenly, the four beings stopped where they were, confusing both Momo and Neim.

       “W-why did they stop?”  Invisible Girl asked apprehensively.

      But before anyone could answer, a gust of wind blew around them and suddenly Cybear and Invisible Girl were picked up from the air, screaming out in shock as they were caught inside the tornado. 

       “We better get away!” Momo yelled as she was about to run, but it seems the Amoks were blocking her way, “W-what?!”

       Suddenly,  Spilornis was using his new move Dark Angel Wings (a move that he learned from Hawks) to fly and grab for both Cybear and Invisible Girl, trying to pull them from the storm. But he was pulled in as well and felt his world spinning around. 

       “T-this is madness!” He yelled, suddenly feeling his head becoming lighter as he started laughing weakly, “W-what…what is this…?”

       Cybear and Invisible Girl both were giggling almost as if they were drunk, still being up in the air with dazed looking expressions.

       Neim felt himself sweat-drop as he watched his teammates in the tornado laughing louder and louder and looked to Momo in confusion, “What the…?”

    “The Swan indeed is a terrifying Miraculous to use.”

     Chat Noir tilted his head as he looked to Izuku questionably, “So it…does what exactly?”

     “The Swan holder is able to influence the air around them. The Wind of Change.”

     “The Wind of Change?”

      Izuku nodded.

     “Just as the name states, Argent can change the current flow of wind produced. But he could also pull the air out of the atmosphere. Basically? He is dropping down the level of oxygen by using the tornado. Meaning, anyone within the range gets their brains basically feeling like you’re tripping on drugs. However, the lower the oxygen level gets, the more easily Argent could just knock them out in seconds, ” Izuku explained as he was taking down notes with a hum, “In a way, it’s a god-tier ability. He can even pull your very last breath from you if you’re not careful. ”

     Chat Noir gulped, and looked back at the screen to see Argent’s serious expression on screen.

    ‘He’s not gonna hold back, huh?’

    “Second Chance.”

     “Well done. Now, it’s their move.”

      “Wait!”

      Momo blinked as she felt the hand on her wrist and looked up to Neim in confusion, “Did something happen already?”

     “It seems there’s an ambush waiting for us. Not to mention Argent has a few tricks up his sleeves.” The Snake hero looked to the Eagle hero, “Spilornis, pull Dark Shadow back!”

      While he did look confused, Spilornis just nodded and called for his shadowed partner back. 

      ‘Now that he has combined the Peacock with the Swan, he’s an even more dangerous opponent. I can even admit that is impressive,’ Neim hummed as he looked to Invisible Girl and Can’t Stop Twinkling, “You two. Be ready for a Navel Blast and Wrap Refraction!”

      The two saluted while Neim looked to Momo with a nod. 

      Momo frowned before looking to the side, “Fury. Guard our flank. Neim and I are going to charge ahead instead.”

      Fury peeked from the shadows with a blink, then pouted, “Aw, I was hoping to go toe to toe with my sister,”

      “You’ll get your chance, but for now, just follow our lead.” Neim ordered before he spotted Dark Shadow coming back, but his eyes widened, “MOVE!”

      “Fumikage….He…HE GOT ME!”

       “SAY CHEESE!” 

       A yell from Invisible Girl sounded as a bright light flashed around them, and Can’t Stop Twinkling also shot off the laser from his belt. As Spilornis was calling for Dark Shadow to return to him quickly, a familiar figure jumped out from Dark Shadow and blending into some shadows nearby.

        “So, Kuroiro was inside Dark Shadow!” Invisible Girl huffed for a moment while waving her hands, “So not fair!”

      Neim glanced towards the distance and hummed.

       ‘Myst will be here soon along with Argent’s Amoks and that tornado. I suppose we’ll have to go for the direct approach for now.’

    “Creati.”

    Momo saw the outstretched hand, then grabbed for it with a nod.

    “Ready when you are.”

    The two then pushed forward, Fury flying over them as they left their other teammates to take down Vantablack themselves. Neim knew that with Spilornis facing off with Vantablack, there was a chance that Comicman and Shemage are gonna face Invisible Girl and Can’t Stop Twinkling. 

    ‘This leaves Cybear against Pixie Girl. We really are pairing off with the perfect rivals.’

    Suddenly, a magenta blur rushed above them, Fury disappearing with a yell.

     “Myst got ahead of us…” Momo murmured as she looked towards where the ghosts headed off, frowning, “Does this mean that we’ll be up against Battle Fist and Argent ourselves?”

      “Oh. That’s definitely the case~“

     The two looked up to see Battle Fist flying in the air…but her eyes were glowing bright silver as she grinned down at them. Argent was behind her with both arms up, his eyes narrowed. From the looks of things, Neim figured that Argent was using his Wind of Change by floating Battle Fist with his powers and…did it seem she was bursting with power?

     “You managed to work together and try and divide us. Bold move, and certainly unexpected,” Momo murmured as she stood her ground, Neim ready to twist his bracelet if needed when Momo grinned, “No matter. Because I expect the unexpected.”

     “That’s funny.” Kendo laughed dangerously, “I said the exact same thing~”

     Neim was about to twist his wrist but blinked when his hand suddenly was grabbed, and was lifted up in the air by both arms. He glanced up to see…two sapphire versions of Battle Fist.

     “I figured you are using your Second Chance already. And that you have an hour time limit to use it as many times as you want. A very overpowered move, if I do say so myself,” Argent stepped forward with a tight smile, a waft of blue and silver mist surrounding him, “Then again, my powers are also quite the cheat code themselves. So why don’t we let the ladies fight their fight…and we fight ours~”

  “Why doesn’t Neim use his quirk along with Second Chance?” Bonnie Blanche asked curiously, staring at the screen as it seems both Momo and Kendo were having a moment along with Argent and Neim.

   “That would require him to get real close,” Shinso murmured as he observed their fight, “Although Felix’s newly acquired quirk is similar to Eraserhead’s, Felix has to physically touch someone to shut down their power.”

    “Not to mention there is no way that Nathaniel will let him come close to him or Kendo,” Izuku pointed out as well as he smiled, “Which is why him having both long ranged Miraculous is quite OP…“

    “Long range?” Chat Noir questioned, and Shinso frowned when Izuku continued happily.

    “Nathaniel could easily summon anything with any random object and bring it to life. They could fight his battles for him. And with the Swan Miraculous…”

    “He could keep any opponent at bay with his wind. But with Wind of Change, he could steal people’s lung capacity in seconds or worse…they go flying high with his storms.” Shinso finished and then pursed his lips, “Honestly, I’m sorta surprised that he’s going this far…”

    “Nathaniel has always been the competitive type, event he doesn’t show it.” Izuku chuckled while tapping the end of his pen on his notebook with an intrigued look, “He literally takes people’s breaths away.”

     Chat Noir and Bonnie Blanche shuddered and looked up at the screen, seeing Argent giving a maniac like smile while Neim was grinning back at him at the challenge.

      “Damn. And I thought Izuku was the crazy one,” Chat Noir murmured, hand over heart.

     Shinso looked at him and gave a wry smile, “He’s an artist. He’s gotta be creative.”

     Argent tilted his head as he kept his arms up and released Kendo, who was twirling in the air and smacking Momo with her enlarged hands. He glanced towards Neim, who was just staring him down, as if calculating how to get out of this mess. The red head smirked at this, which caught the Snake hero’s attention. It was almost as if…

    “Whack! Thud! Boom-Boom! Ahh! Bam! Crash!”

    The walls around them started to rise, darkness falling around them. Screams from the other team sounded, and Neim almost had felt himself sweat with a wry smile while Argent just had a calm look, the smile on his face showing that he was in control of this fight.

    ‘They’re trying to box us individually so that one by one, we’d face the very people that are compatible to us in a fight. Kendo must’ve planned that out when Vantablack failed to fully control Dark Shadow.’

     Neim realized that Momo was gone, possibly trapped on the other side of the big walls that appeared around them.

     “As I’ve said before…” The Peacock and Swan holder spoke up as he stepped forward now, his Amoks still holding Neim still, “We fight our battle, while the rest of our dear teammates fight their own~”

    “…You’re still not bitter about me besting you during our training with Sir Nighteye, are you~?” The blond taunted, raising a brow under his mask as Argent laughed.

    “We both know we’re equally intelligent when it comes to battle strategies. Not at the same level as Katsuki, Marinette, Momo or Izuku, but we’re almost the second bests,” Argent was pulling a feather from his pocket, which turned into a dagger, “Nevertheless, I am curious on who’d win between us.“

    With a snap of his fingers, Neim was released by the Amoks and Argent readied his weapon at him.

    “So, with that said…why don’t we find out?”

     Neim narrowed his eyes, before he snapped his head when he heard screaming from his female teammates (other than Momo) from the other side of the walls. 

    “Ah, I assume Shemage has activated her cluster of mushrooms by now,” Argent hummed, as he spun his dagger through his fingers skilfully, “She can release spores from her body and instantly grow mushrooms anywhere she wants. The more humidity in the air, the stronger she is. Which is where Comicman would come in. Other than trapping your teammates with mine for their own fights, he’ll just create a damp environment for the troop of mushrooms to grow and increase…which will give Pixie Girl her own advantage as well~”

    Neim narrowed his eyes as he reached to fiddle with his bracelet, Argent tutting almost mockingly. 

    “You can use Second Chance now, but it would be pointless…”

    “What do you mean?”

    Argent grinned, “You don’t think I haven’t made counter-measures when using your Miraculous? That’s why it’s dangerous that me and Battle Fist are paired together. Because we both know how you and Momo are people that tended to overthink and psychoanalyse all possibilities. So what’s stopping us from doing the same?”

     “…So in short…?” Neim’s smile sharpened, “You two made contingency plans to counter us…?”

    “That’s right.” Argent smirked in return, “We called it the A-Z 100 Plans of Actions.”

    Neim was quiet for a moment, and Argent tilted his head.

    “So go ahead. Use your Second Chance. It will always lead to the many other plans I have to defeat you.”

    “I have no idea where anyone is…I lost sight of Felix and the others are probably on the other side of the walls,” Momo murmured to herself as she looked around, “Their attacks were leading toward this specific outcome….”

    Something came onto mind, and she gasped, jumping back for a moment. 

    ‘Don’t tell me…!’

     “We cut off the right part of the brain~”

     Kendo’s voice sounded and Momo glanced up in time to see the red haired girl jumping out from her hiding and raising her enlarged fists to attack.

     “NOW I JUST HAVE TO DEFEAT YOU WITH BRAWN!!!”

     Momo was quick to create a strong shield to block the attack, but she skidded back roughly when her shield suddenly broke through. This shocked Momo to her core for a split second, eyes wide.

    ‘She crumpled the tungsten shield with one hit!’

    “Nath-kun was right when he said to face you head on first,” Battle Fist’s eyes were still glowing, as she laughed, “He can be scary when planning. But, at least he’s given me an opportunity! I won't give you time to plan anything!”

   Momo’s eyes sharpened as she summoned more shields around her, wincing when Battle Fist’s attack were rapid firing down on her.

    “We can make this an endurance test if you want to~! But you have to use materials from your own body to create things.” Each words were spoken with Kendo keeping her punches up against the shields, smirking, “So there's no way you're gonna outmatch me, Yaoyorozu!”

     Momo felt herself waver for a moment as she closed her eyes, just holding her guard as Kendo kept on attacking her. She was correct, she had no time to think, there was too much going on. If only Neim was at her side and summon Second Chance…but if she was still here and not back at the starting point, that meant…

     Felix was in trouble himself— 

     “Second Chance.”

  Momo blinked when Neim was in front of her with a worried look and she took this as a sign. 

     “…How many times now?”

     The Snake Hero sighed, scratching his head, “I lost count at ninety nine. I’ve been going at it for so long…yet at every turn, Argent is ten steps ahead of me!”

      Momo gulped as she glanced at her teammates waiting for them and felt herself sweat. Did this mean that with the combined minds of both Kendo and Nathaniel…they’ll lose?

     Neim then explained each scenario when he used his Second Chance, which made Momo feel her heart falter. She knew Nathaniel was sharply quick-witted, despite that he would rather draw beautiful things on paper quietly and always had a soft shy smile when doing so. He was quite cunning when he wanted to be, something that surprised Momo. But it made their conversations even more interesting when they had tea together, especially when Nathaniel gave his own opinions during Momo’s guardian training.

      ’So he’s really going all out. Not to mention with Kendo as his partner, they’d be unstoppable.’

     “W-what should we do now, Yaomomo?” Invisible Girl asked tentatively, already sensing how both her class rep and the snake hero looked troubled. 

     “…They think they have the upper hand just because Neim and I plan ahead and expect the unexpected,” Momo murmured as she then purshed her lips, then glanced at Cybear, “…Perhaps it is time we use both yours and Tokoyami’s special abilities.”

     Neim hummed, “Right, I suppose Spilornis using Liberation would be an advantage.”

    “He shall use it on all of us,” Momo stated, “If what you said is true, and that Argent is planning to separate all of us to face off opponents that would match us perfectly, then we’re gonna have to switch things up…”

    “By doing what exactly?” Fury asked as he had his hands on his hips, “If Neim has tried to beat them ninety nine times and failing, what makes this hundredth time different?”

    “It’s because I’m usually the one trying to figure things out. I-I tend to forget that I am on a team,” The Snake hero said honestly, pinching the bridge of his nose, “It’s why Argent could go against me so easily. Because he knows that you will depend on my knowledge and my use of Second Chance.”

    “Then that means we should do the opposite of your plans.” Momo smile as she tapped her chin, “Alright, let’s all sit and talk once more. I want to get everyone’s suggestions this time around~”

  Argent frowned as he looked ahead for s moment, watching his Amoks, his tornado and Myst leaving to go forth with their plans to chase after Dark Shadow. He didn’t know why, but he felt…uneasy.

     “You never did tell me what the secret effect of your Wind of Change was?” Kendo spoke up curiously, peeking over at the serious faced dual wielding bird hero, “Is it something like Shinso’s Quirk?”

     “No, but…” 

     Argent had a small smile before he then lifted his hands up in the air as a soft wind blew around them, closing his eyes for a moment and then opened them with a hum.

     Kendo raised a brow at this gesture, tilting her head, “…So, you can paint with the colors of the wind?”

     “Apparently Team A is strategising with their own ideas instead of just Neim’s and Creati’s. Interesting, I suppose Neim has figured out in his uses Second Chance that I thwart him each time,” Seeing the look of bafflement on the red haired girl’s face, he explained, “Gale Force is the secret effect I use. Basically, the wind blows to the direction I want and collects back conversations it picks up along it’s path.”

     “Ooh! So it’s sorta like a game of telephone in a way!” Kendo clicked her finger with a look of amazement, “So you can pick up on what the other team is planning thanks to your wind blowing around them! Cuz their voices are filled in the air around them.”

      “Exactly. It’s kinda a cool way of spying on them without moving an inch.”

       Kendo stared at him for a moment, then frowned, “…Then why are you looking worried?”

       “They suddenly got quiet. But there is no way Neim figured out my trick.“ Argent tapped his thumb over his lower lip, nibbling at the tip of his fingernail for a second with a contemplative look, “I have a feeling this is going to be a close one this time. But no matter, we’ll be ready.”

       Argent waved his his hand for a moment in caution, tilting his head while listening to the wind blowing around him. Pursing his lips with a troubled look, he sighed and started to walk forward.

       “Eh? W-where are you going?” Kendo questioned with a confused expression, wondering what Argent was up to now.

        “Just…trying something out. Something tells me this time around is gonna be a challenge,” Argent looked back at her and smiled, “Stick with the plan. I’ll be right back~”

     Neim sat himself on the ground as he watched everyone rush to get to their positions for the hundredth time, and closed his eyes with a slow sigh. He had to keep cool and calm. Otherwise, he knew that he will lose his nerve and accidentally trigger his finger to Second Chance once more. It was something that was pointed out to him by Tokoyami in his ninety seventh round. And so, Neim decided to go for another approach.

    “So, what is the plan now?” Can’t Stop Twinkling asked nervously while Momo brought out what seems to be some sort of sack out from her body, “If Monsieur Neim is speaking the truth, then it’s hopeless…They won and we will always be behind.“

    “Like Neim said, if I just use Liberation on all of us, we can actually fight the opponents we can easily take on rather than our formidable ones,” Spilornis stated as he pulled Dark Shadow to him and Liiri appeared instead, “Not to mention, we can witness Cybear’s first time in battle with her Miraculous.”

     “I still think it’s a super cute attack…but will it work?” Invisible Girl asked warily, wringing her fingers together, “I mean what if this time won’t work either.”

     “Then we’ll keep trying until we do!” Momo said confidently, giving a bright smile.

      But then Neim raised his hand up. 

     “What is it?”  The Everything Hero asked cautiously, but blinked when he grabbed her hand and started tracing his finger over her palm.

       — I think it's best if we approach planning silently in this manner. I have a feeling the other team planted something or even assigned someone to listen into our conversations.—

       Momo’s eyes widened as her brain snapped into over-drive. She started signing on his hand in return.

       — I never thought about that. But perhaps that is the reason why Argent is able to thwart your plans each time. But you only just noticed now?—

      — I will admit, I did notice something was up for a while after fifty tries, but I wasn't too sure. The tactics kept on changing for some reason. The last few times it was Myst spying on us or it was Shemege’s mushrooms used by Pixie Girl.— Felix paused with a frown before tracing his finger over her palm once more. — But considering you suggested we do things in a way that is unexpected and to use different ideas at the same time, I figured we do that with either writing it down or use this method to plan without being heard.—

     Momo knew it was a good idea, and she soon turned to the rest of them to tell them what is going on and what is the next moves going forward.

     Neim opened his eyes as he came back to reality.

     ‘Alright. Now the real battle begins.’

   Argent frowned as he kept walking forward, not liking it was too quiet. Maybe it was because he thought his gale force would’ve given something by now. But no. It was almost as if…

    Suddenly his eyes widened at the sight of Cybear running towards him while carrying Can’t Stop Twinkling in her arms. Thinking he was going to be attacked, he readied an object to create an Amok but blinked when they rushed passed him. Confusion spread over its face as he watched them go, but then gasped when he spotted Fury and Invisible Girl were going the opposite way of where Myst, the Amoks and his tornado were coming from. 'Are they deviating from their plans somehow? But they didn't SAY anything--'

  "You look surprised Nath-kun..."

   Argent raised a brow then glanced up to see Creati standing there with a confident smile, and he couldn't help but chuckle in return.

   "Something tells me that you are trying to outplay me somehow. What? You're not going to face your biggest rival, Kendo?" He asked calmly, his eyes shifting to see Spilornis flying away. And no Dark Shadow.

   “I’m afraid that my opponent shall be different. I hope you do not mind,” Momo stated seriously as she felt her quirk activate, pulling out a steel pipe and pointed it at him, “You said we needed to talk. Then let’s talk.”

   “…Ha.” Argent let out a quiet laugh before brushing some of his bangs from his eyes and stared at Momo with a dangerous glint in his eyes, “So, what you’re trying to say is…I’m your target?”

   Momo smiled softly, raising her pipe up in the air, “Expect the unexpected~”

   Argent looked like something in his brain snapped for a moment, as he quickly pulled his twin daggers and jumped in the air, going to attack Momo swiftly. Creating a shield for herself with her other hand, she raised it up to block his hit. It was like fire was burning in between them as Argent kept on swinging his hits over and over against her shield, even trying to make use of his winds to place more pressure into his swings.

   But once he made a powerful hit against her shield, he managed to push her back far enough and he was about to give the final blow, but his facial expression turned from triumphant to bafflement as soon as he saw what Momo suddenly created out of the blue— 

    “IS THAT A CANON?!”

     Everyone in Class A and B looked at the screen in awe, although Class B looked more horrified while Class A looked impressed.

    “IS SHE INSANE?!” Tetsutetsu yelled out with his jaws dropping, and he whined afterwards, “WHO'S SHE TRYING TO KILL WITH THAT?!”

    “Again huh?” A boy named Sen Kaibara spoke up with a whistle, blinking with a look of amazement, “That girl really likes her cannons.”

    Meanwhile, Queen Bee glanced over to Shoto and saw how he had a proud smile on his face, and something in her stomach twisted for a second. Huffing quietly, she turned back to the screen to watch, ignoring that throbbing in her chest.  It’s not anything important…right?

  Argent growled as he jumped back and made a vortex of wind surrounding her, trapping Momo inside as he tried to catch his breath.

   ‘What was she trying to pull with that kind of stunt?! It didn’t look like she was aiming for me though?’ Argent’s mind raced but then it clicked, ‘Was she aiming for the wall or something?’

  “I apologize for threatening you. You were right about before…”

    Argent raised a brow, “…What do you mean?|

    Mom smiled weakly as she had her hand over her throat, knowing she didn’t have much breath left, ”…I am scared. I do think about letting down those around me. Especially when we lost Onez and Bridgette.”

   ‘Is she really going to be talking about this right in the middle of the fight?’ The red headed hero thought with a frown, as his winds wavered for a moment, and Moto caught on.

     “But then thing is, Nathaniel, I was never meant to be a Guardian of the Miraculous. In fact I know someone else that deserves it more. And so…” Momo coughed as the wind was sucking the air around her, but still aimed the canon straight at his direction, despite the wind blocking her way, “When this turned into the kind of fight that you're good at, I could tell my defeat was likely. So, in order for us to win...!”

   "ARGENT!”

   Something rushed by the two bird wielding Miraculous holder, and his heart jumped at the sight of Battle Fist jumping in the air, and Argent took the wall of wind down in time for the red headed heroine to use her Double Jumbo Fist to smack the canon to the side…

    ….but that resulted Momo jumping her surprise attack on Kendo instead of Argent, her intended target.

    Argent rushed over as he looked at the sight before him, “Kendo…”

    Kendo grinned up at him tiredly, groaning as she looked at the sticky webbing that was stuck on her.

   “Heh, better me than you, right? I think she predicted you’d call her bluff and place the wind wall down to attack her yourself, but luckily she got me instead. Good thing I knocked her out, but not before she got me.”

   Momo was hanging off of the other girl, unconscious but still buzzing with her quirk on the sticky substance and the canon glued on her and Kendo. Argent had to admit…that was a close one.

   “So it’s kinda why we’re stuck together. She could have done me solid and let the cannon fall off. It's hard to drag all of this stuff around.” Kendo groaned as she wriggled for a moment.

    “Here, lemme help you out,” Argent was about to reach out to her, but Kendo shook her head, “Wha—?”

    “You don’t get it. There’s no time left,” Kendo warned with a serious look, “Looks like Team A made some sort of secret plan that even your winds couldn’t pick up. All our teammates were knocked out with them.”

    Argent looked confused for a moment before Kendo explained.

   Myst frowned when she looked around the area for a moment, expecting Fury to be flying at her with vigor, but no sign of life was anywhere at all. She even had to pause, making the tornado and Amoks following her also stop in their tracks.

    “Funny…Argent assured us that I’d be seeing Fury by now, and possibly that bird guy and robot girl—“

     It was then she sensed movement behind her and she whirled around him time to see—

     “HEARTS ATTACK!”

     Comicman had a question mark over his head as he looked to the distance for a moment, hearing Myst’s cry and rushed over to the source of the sound. He felt his stomach go into knots as he looked around, but then felt something drip over his shoulder. An exclamation point formed over his head before he slowly looked up, seeing Myst but…it seems she was trapped inside a pink heart shaped bubble. She looked dazed, having a dreamy smile and staring off into space…it confused Comicman for a moment.

   “Woah, this is really creepy—“

    “There you are…”

    Comicman squeaked as a comic bubble appeared over his head to form both a question and exclamation mark in surprise, turning around to see floating gloves forming into fists.

    “Finally! Fury dropped me off to assist Twinkling to take down the others. SO I’LL BE THE ONE TO TAKE YOU DOWN, YOU MANGA JERK!” Invisible Girl yelled at the top of her longs, already throwing hands at him and beating him up.

    Pixie Girl frowned as she was high in the skies, about to call on her teammates when she saw Fury floating before her and raised a brow, “…I thought you’d be aiming for your sister…”

    “That was my plan…” The green ghost sighed before he grinned, “But a wise leader told me, I should probably do the opposite of what I want. And would’cha know it, it’s gonna be taking YOU down. You’d be pretty powerless without your magical partner, huh~?”

    That comment ticked Pixie Girl off for a moment, as she laughed while cracking her knuckles, “Oh I can assure you, I am TWICE as strong as Sorcerer!”

 Phasing out from the shadows, Vantablack appeared shyly towards the mushroom heroine, looking unsure. 

   “H-Hey? Komori?”

   Shemage looked over at the other for a moment in confusion, stopping her spraying around the area of pipes and walls, tilting her head, “Hm? Speak up, silly, I can't hear you!”

   He looked flustered for a moment, before sighing and looking to the side, “U-Um, well I…managed to catch the guy. Twinkles? He's in jail.”

    Shemage smiled brightly, impressed and clapping her hands together. 

     “Really? Nice, Kuroiro! I'm counting on you for the other two toadstools.” She giggled as she then turned back to her spraying and hummed, “Our not-so-fungus opponents don't know where we are, so we can keep attacking them with mushrooms like this!”

    Vantablack nodded, “Y-Yeah…of course…”

    Although he was skeptical at first, he ended up going with the plan because Kendo trusted the new guy. When Dark Shadow didn’t come like they suspected, he was glad that they managed to capture at least one from Class A. But when Kendo left their side, saying that she needs to check on Argent, something in his stomach tightened. Like a bad premonition. 

   “Uh. Hey. Komori?”

   Noticing the nervousness in her teammate’s voice, Shemege looked up, “Yes, shroom?”

    It was then they noticed a chill in the air, and Vantablack felt the gut feeling increasing in a way that was hard to ignore. There was no way…

   “You don't think, um…” He paused, looking away for a moment before he spoke lowly, “Class A knows about this place, do you?”

    The two squinted for a moment before they leaned back in shock, noticing that something dark was flying their direction. And lo-and-behold, Spilornis was seen flying majestically towards them, and he had some special looking specs over his eyes.

   ‘Thermal goggles! Much easier to locate our enemies when I have these.’ Spilornis thought, his red eyes soon flashed of something, “Now when I stare into the abyss, the abyss stares back at me!”

    “It definitely looks like he's heading straight for us.” Vantablack murmured as he was looking around for a moment, “Where are the others…”

    “D-Don’t tell me they took them down already!” Shemage whined, already stepping back.

   “I will not allow you to escape or hide from the storm you have wrought!” The bird hero yelled as he increased his speed, Dark Shadow now cloaking around him, “According to Hawks......speed can easily win against strength.”

    He soon zoomed right passed them, knocking them to the ground.

    “BLACK ABYSS! SABBATH!”

     “S-Shroom-y!" Shemege yelled out in pain, falling with a thud.

     "Komori, no!" Vantablack yelled but then grunted as his mind raced, 'He's too fast. Can't stay. Have to sink into the shadows.'

   “Is it darkness that you're searching for?”

    The shadowy male of Class B blinked but then glanced up as darkness swallowed him up, gasping as he was suddenly trapped in…some sort of clock. He groaned in defeat as Tokoyami de-transformed in front of him, holding the clock down firmly. 

   “Then you can borrow my cloak. If there's nowhere for you to move, then there is no need to fear your abilities.”

    “…N-No fair!” Vantablack huffed, sounding like he was pouting.

    Liiri sighed as she landed on top of her holder’s head, breathing out softly, “Your teammates should’ve taken down their opponents by now, correct? So it should be find that Liberation is off them now?“

   “Indeed. By now, Cybear must’ve captured Myst and Fury with Pixie Girl. All we have to do is now wait until Creati and Neim has defeated both Kendo and Kurtzberg.”

   “Fumikage, I caught the spore girl!” Dark Shadow appeared, having Shemege wrapped around it’s wings.

    Fury soon flew over to them along with Invisible Girl and Cybear, the three of them grinning as they held their knocked opponents. Pixie Girl was tied up with green ecto-like goo while Comicman looked beaten to a pulp.

   “We did it!” Fury cheered as he felt himself power down as well, along with Cybear, “With this, we’re gonna be winners for this round for sure!”

   “Do not celebrate yet, we still need to take them to jail and meet up with both Miss Momo and Felix,” Aeon spoke politely, making sure that Team B were to be tied down together. 

   “Aeon-san is correct. Quick, Dark Shadow. Take these the prisoners to—“

    Suddenly, the bird headed boy stated coughing, alerting his teammates with alarmed faces.

    “Fumikage—“ 

    Aeon wrapped a hand over her neck as she coughed as well, feeling her throat tighten and her eyes blurring. Soon, Andy and Invisible Girl followed, the two coughing and trying to breathe and falling to their knees. Dark Shadow looked confused for a moment, and Liiri was flying around Tokoyami in confusion, asking what was wrong with them. Even Maato, the Bear Kwami that belonged to Aeon, looked concerned.

    “Heh~” An evil giggle came from the mushroom girl as she stuck her tongue out playfully, her eyes sharp, “It's not a cutie. So I made sure to keep it hidden away until now.”

   “W-what…?” Andy groaned as he soon collapsed on the ground first, and Hagakure followed after. 

    Aeon also fell unconscious, her breathing slow and Tokoyami struggled to get air flowing into his lungs once more, but couldn’t. He helplessly looked over at Komori, who was released when Dark Shadow was flickering in and out of existence. 

    “I'd be such a bad 'shroom if I didn't use it when we were about to lose, though~”

    ‘My windpipe…’ Tokoyami thought weakly, sweat poring out from his feathers as he fell on his knees.

     Shemage grinned as she walked over to him, tilting her head, “Lungs feel bad? That's little Schizophyllum commune~”

    Before she could say anymore, she squeaked when suddenly something knocked the back of her head and she fell to the ground with a thud, signalling she was down for the count. The tired looking Tokoyami looked up to see Dark Shadow giving their final salute, before disappearing and Tokoyami losing consciousness. 

  “So that’s what happened…”

   Argent hummed as he tapped his chin, then looked towards Kendo.

   “I did turn back to check on them just in case they needed help. I managed to free Vantablack, who was the only one that was still conscious, and told him to place our teammates in a safe hiding place and our opponents to the prisons.” Kendo finalised as she then sighed, looking at Momo still hanging off of her, “And then, this happened…Everything she created showed that she was looking ahead. Covering her bases. Which is why I said that only you and Neim are the only ones left standing.”

   “…Huh. So it comes down to this.” 

    Kendo raised a brow before she felt him tap her shoulder, then felt herself fluster when he smiled.

   “You know you could’ve just helped Vantablack take the prisons back while I dealt with Momo and Felix. But…I thank you for coming after me anyways,” The red head said kindly, really appreciating his partner.

    Battle Fist rubbed the side of her neck with her good hand, laughing a little, “W-well of course. We’re teammates after all. Gotta have each other’s backs.”

    Argent nodded before he then looked towards the other side then started walking.

    “H-Hey? Are you going to face off Felix-san now?” Kendo asked.

     The Peacock and Swan holder looked back at her, then smiled at her innocently.

     Although she knew it was anything but innocent.

    “You guys paved the way for me to end this grade finale. I might as well do my part, hm?”

     Neim still had his eyes closed as he waited, just taking in slow and deep breaths as if he was meditating. He felt a gust of wind blow around him, but he did not panic. Instead, he opened his eyes slowly and saw Argent standing right in front of him with a fake smile.

    “…So.” The red head started with a chuckle, resting a fist under his own chin as if looking down at him with a thoughtful look, “You thought you had me all figured out, hm? Tell me, how many times have you used Second Chance?”

    “…This is my 100th loop,” Neim answered easily as he stood up, dusting off his pants before sighing, “I almost didn’t figure out how you were ten steps ahead of me each time. But I figured…it must be the Swan Miraculous that’s aiding you somehow,”        

    Argent gave a look for a moment, almost as if urging the Snake Hero to continue his words. But once he saw that Neim wasn’t going to continue, he scoffed.   

   “So? Aren’t you a little curious of what I can do? I mean, how I’m using the Swan Miraculous—?”

    “No. I decided not to care.”

     Argent felt his eye twitch for a moment at that, and Neim gave a grin.

    “Ah,” The red headed hero sighed, as he was already pulling out his daggers, “You’re not fun. So? Are we going to “duke it out” or something?”

    “Actually yes.”

    Neim suddenly de-transformed for a second, but snapped his wrist again to transform once more and activated his Second Chance at this very moment. This shocked Argent for a second before he had to step back when the Snake Hero decided to rush forward to attack.

   “Now that I managed to reset my Second Chance, we can keep on fighting forever until you yield~”

    ‘Blast it all!’ Argent thought as he blocked the attack with his fan, trying to swish his dagger to jab at Neim’s side, but Neim soon blocked that with his leg, ‘He’s not bluffing, I can tell. So even if I manage to get close, he might just end up using his quirk on me and take me down.’

    He soon blew his wind to push Neim away, but his eyes widened when he saw the other twist his bracelet.

    “Second Chance!”

     “Now that I managed to reset my Second Chance, we can keep on fighting forever until you yield~”

     Argent tried to attack this time around instead of blocking, even trying to summon his Amoks to his side.

     “Second Chance!”

     “Now that I managed to reset my Second Chance, we can keep on fighting forever until you yield~”

     Argent made an army of Amoks to hold Neim down, but his eyes widened as he saw the hand reaching for the bracelet— 

    “Second Chance!”

     “Now that I managed to reset my Second Chance, we can keep on fighting forever until you yield~”

      Frustrated, he summoned a whirlwind of tornados towards Neim, hoping to blast him to the sky and let him drop—

       “Second Chance!”

     “Now that I managed to reset my Second Chance, we can keep on fighting forever until you yield~”

      Neim paused as he finally (after ten more loops) managed to have Argent pinned down on the ground, already reaching to pull The Peacock and Swan brooches off of Nathaniel, watching him de-transform back.

     “Looks like I win,” Felix stated as he transformed back and sighed, “I’m assuming Kendo is still conscious and maybe one or two of your teammates are not knocked out by my own. Therefore, I should go and check once I feed Sass and win this match—“

    It was then he felt his world shift and felt himself on his back, staring up at a dead-panned Nathaniel staring down at him. It almost…looked familiar.

   He didn’t have time to think as the Swan Miraculous was snatched out of his hand and heard Nathaniel murmured ‘Detty, Ethereal Winds.’ and suddenly Nathaniel was in a Swan motif. 

   “Shhh~” The red headed Swan Hero whispered as he placed a finger over his lips, then let the finger rest on top of Felix’s.

    Felix looked confused at first, but suddenly felt an intense tightening in the chest for a few seconds, then the discomfort started increasing to his throat. Suddenly, he gasped as a wisp of air was slowly leaving past his lips, almost like a small tempest formed and exiting his being.

    “STOP THE MATCH!”

    Marinette yelled from the stands where the teachers, Nino, the Moonlight Hunters, Seraph, Miss Mermaid, Greenhorn and Peni were standing alongside her, and Marinette couldn’t really believe her eyes. She couldn’t believe Nathaniel was capable of doing something so…so…

   Inhumane.

   But before anyone could move, it seemed The Swan Hero snapped himself out of whatever trance he was in and quickly stopped what he was doing, Felix relaxing but passing out due to lack of oxygen. Amelie was quick to move and ask Star Stallion to take her to the battlefield, and Aizawa stating that the match was over.

   Both Class A and Class B were silent from this, as Vlad King coughed and shakily announced.

   “Er, Second match! C-Class B wins this round…”

    Izuku pursed his lips as he close his notebook and took a breath. ‘It’s scary how Nathaniel could easily kill Felix if he didn’t snap out of it…although…I can already guess what’s going through his head…’

    He watched the screen as Nathaniel de-transformed and moved away when Amelie showed up, her crying over her unconscious son’s body while the recovery bots came to escort them away to Recovery Girl. He even saw how Aizawa had approached Kendo and Kuroiro, explaining the situation to them. Izuku couldn’t help but look in sympathy when Kendo looked frantic and saying something to Aizawa while Kuroiro was looking sorta grey, almost akin to being pale.

   “This is bad…” 

    Izuku glanced over at Hitoshi, who looked sort of put off.

    “…Are you afraid?” He asked the purple haired male as the hypnotist froze.

    Hitoshi frowned, as if insulted, “I’m not afraid of Nathaniel. I’m afraid how everyone else is going to perceive him now.” 

    Izuku didn’t think about that. 

    He dared to look around and saw that even Nathaniel’s own class looked a bit frightened. Tetsutetsu didn’t have anything to say this time around, and even Monoma looked wary enough that he didn’t have it in him to shout his praise in his class’ victory.

    Izuku sighed. ‘Of course Shin-kun would know this feeling better than anyone.’

    “Nathaniel is still Nathaniel. I don’t see why we should think otherwise.”

     Izuku and Hitoshi looked up in surprise when Chat Noir spoke up angrily, fisting his hands together.

     “If people have a problem with him after this, then they are just a bunch of two-faced hypocrites!”

     “That’s right!” Trickster Tails said in a huff, hands on her hips, “As if we don’t have powers that we almost used in fights against bad guys that seemed extreme! Hello! Chat Noir uses his Cataclysm on the daily—Ah! I mean, glad to have you on our side Chat, you know what I meant—“

    “I mean, I use my Clout a lot on bad guys too. It’s just one punch and WHAM! I send people flying,” Rayures also spoke up loudly, as she looked to Cellophane, “S-So, would that make me dangerous?”

    “Wha—?” The Tape Hero looked confused before he looked sheepish, “Oh! Of course not! I mean, it’s your quirk—Power? I guess?”

    “Let’s not forget what I can do…” Dynamight stepped up as he let his explosion pop off in his hands, tilting his head in a bored fashion, “So instead of looking so damn afraid of what that bird can do, worry about yourselves. What he did was just a way to win this match, nothing more.”

    Izuku smiled a bit, knowing that his his childhood friend was aiming this conversation to those that thought badly of Nathaniel, and was relived that the blond was taking Nathaniel’s side and defend him. In his own way, he supposed. 

    He even glanced over at where Marinette was at, his eyes softening as she looked flushed and ashamed at having thought otherwise. Not that he could blame her, but he sure hoped that this was a lesson they all needed to learn. That there will be circumstances that would lead them to choices that might seem immoral…but are the only ways to reach a better future. 

    Nathaniel looked down at his hands, holding both the Peacock and Swan Miraculous that seemed to be mocking him with the way they glinted under the sun’s rays. 

    “Hey…”

    The red head looked up from his place to see Kendo approaching him along with Liv and Holly, who had woken up thanks to Shemege’s quirk of mushrooms that bring people back from slumber.

    “…I didn’t think you guys would want to talk to me after what happened?” Nathaniel spoke quietly, almost scooting away as if expecting something to happen.

    Kendo rubbed the side of her neck as she sighed, “Hey now, don’t look at me as if I’m going to beat the ever living crap out of you…kinda hurts my feelings, partner,”

    Nathaniel blinked as he looked up at her in surprise.

    “You…aren’t afraid of me?”

    “Pfft,” Kendo laughed a little as she shook her head, “I might have been surprised at being told you practically AIR BENDED the life out of Graham de Vanily with that power of yours, but I knew that you weren’t trying to kill him. Because I know you would never.”

    Nathaniel looked away, “I lost my head there. I thought…I wanted to beat him. To win, for us…”

    “And we did win, thanks to you,” Liv said assuringly, sitting by his side and placing a hand on his leg, “If anything, we wanna say sorry we didn’t do much in helping our team win. If only I expected everyone else other than my brother attacking me,”

     “A-and I know I shouldn’t have let my temper get the best of me too,” Holly admitted while scratching her cheek sheepishly, “I let that boy get to me about how I was dependent on Aster a lot, and it tripped me up. It was lucky that Kinoko managed to even the odds, just like you told her…”

   Everyone looked to the side to see the mushroom girl approaching Tokoyami, lifting her quirk up and holding some sort of container to him as he was coughing for air.

    “Sorry about that, Tokoyami. You want a cough drop?” She asked kindly, but Tokoyami was shooing her away.

    “I don't need your pity.” He would state weakly, making her laugh.

     “Fair enough. At least see Recovery Girl and get some medicine for your throat.”

     “Kendo! Remember your surroundings. The same for you, Kurtzberg. Damage should be kept to a minimum. You will also have to tell Fukidashi this when he wakes up!”

    Vlad King’s voice sounded at the monitors, and Kendo apologises, Nathaniel looking down once more.

    ‘What happened to me back there? All because I didn’t want Felix to win?’

    He gripped the Swan Miraculous in his hand…and then, he noticed it.

    The red head gulped when he shakily held the Swan Miraculous up to eye level, and he felt himself pale.

    This Miraculous was damaged.

    Izuku was about to get up to stretch his legs when he heard a female cough, trying to get his attention. He turned his head in surprise to see Marinette walking his way along with Nino, and he had a feeling on what she wants to talk about with him. The green haired male even noticed how Nino went to Eijiro and Kagami, and immediately clocked on what’s going on.

     ‘Ah. I suppose it was about time…’

     “Izuku.”

     The boy smiled at the pig-tailed girl, “Mari-chan.”

     “We need to talk,” She stated, and she pulled him to the side for a moment, then deeply exhaled, “I…I’m sorry about what happened earlier.”

    “No, I should be the one apologising,” Izuku stated as he and Marinette sat down together on the railings while they watched the teachers sort out the next match and even calling for a sort break, “I get that sometimes I tend to do things without consulting you or anyone else, or that I leave you out on information that probably wouldn’t make sense to you. But you have to understand that like you, I have to do it in the moment before it’s too late.”

     Marinette did understand. She did, and she took another breath as she shifted in her seat.

     “…You ever think about how much more responsibility we have now compared to before?”

     Izuku blinked in surprise at the change of subject, then nodded slowly, “All the time. Back then, it felt like we could just wing it. Now, everything feels...heavier, I guess?”

   “Yeah. Like, even the smallest of decisions seem to carry weight. Whether it’s being a Guardian, or just being a hero — it’s all on us.” Marinette stated as she reached up to touch one of her earrings for a moment, her eyes softening with some thoughts that weighed on her mind, "I used to think responsibility was just about doing chores or getting homework done. But now, it’s about doing the next right thing, saving the world and our future. To save everyone.”

    Izuku hummed, closing his eyes, “I completely understand. Sometimes it's not even about what you want to do, but what you need to do…because people are counting on you.”

     Marinette knew they were getting somewhere.

     “Yeah. Responsibility isn't always fun, but it gives life structure. Purpose, even.”

      Izuku opened his eyes now to look at her, “True. And I guess the more we take on, the more we grow. Ready or not.”

      Marinette nodded, “Ready or not. But at least we're not figuring it out alone.”

      She saw the way Izuku froze and her heart grew heavy. Ah, maybe it was good that Nino did talk to her before this. How did she not realise she wasn’t the only one that was agonising about everything, everyday. That there was someone else in her corner suffering alone in the silence. All because they didn’t want to bother anyone with the burden of knowing too much in so little time.

    “Izuku…”

    The green haired hero tilted his head, as if gesturing her to continue, and Marinette felt her eyes water once more.

      “I want to sincerely apologize.”

       “Eh?” This confused Izuku for a moment as he straightened up, and Marinette shook her head while raising a hand up to him for her to talk first without interruption.

    “No, l-let me finish first. I…I know I’ve hurt you, and for that, I am truly sorry. It was never my intention to cause pain or disappointment, and I regret my actions deeply. I understand that words alone can't fix everything…but I hope this apology is a start. If you're open to it, I’d like the chance to make things right and rebuild the trust I may have damaged. Please take whatever time you need—”

    “Marinette, you don’t have to apologise!” Izuku spoke up as he grabbed her hand, “I get why you are mad at me, really! A-and you have ever right to be—“

     He then felt the arms wrapped around him and his eyes widened. He looked down at Marinette staring right back at him with a look of sorrow and regret.

    “It wasn’t too long ago that we fought side by side in New York,” Marinette murmured, squeezing the hand holding hers, “We bonded. And so that means that I should learn to trust you even when things don’t make sense. You and Hitoshi both. This is why I want to apologize. You’ve already proven so many times that you have good intentions and…I know that I have trouble depending on people. That I’m not alone.”

     Izuku pursed his lips, then leaned his forehead to rest against hers as he laughed quietly, “Seriously. I’m not holding any ill feelings of how you think of me. I know I tend to come off as someone that is holding too many secrets. But then again, I get what you’re saying. Because…I am the same as you.”

    “It looks like Izuku and Marinette are talking again,” Kagami murmured as she watched the two talking and smiling, which made her sigh in relief, “It’s good that they made up. This was a long time coming, they should clear the air with one another if we are going to be working together.”

    “Yeah. I mean those two hold in so much, I was afraid either me or Kats would have to talk to them,” Eijiro hummed but then tilted his head when looking at Nino watching them as well, “So? Did you talk with Marinette about what we talked about before?”

    “She actually told me first before I could say anything, believe it or not,” The Turtle holder glanced at the two, “You two were right. But how did you know…?”

    “It was something that I thought about for a while,” Eijiro shrugged as he had his arms folded, “Even if I took on the role as Guardian because Midoriya asked me to, it didn’t feel like I earned that spot. Besides, I feel kinda better if the responsibility goes to someone that might actually be worthy of it.”

    “And you are worthy of being a Guardian,” Kagami argued.

    “I agree with Kagami,” Nino nodded, but then hummed, “But I feel like something else is on your mind?”

    Kirishima looked a little put out for a second, but then looked sheepish “Well I was thinking of maybe stepping down from being Guardian because…because I wanted to have more time to help Gami-chan.”

    Nino looked understanding at this, “Ah I guess it would make sense that you’d want to help her investigate her mother and the rest of those adults?” 

   Kagami turned her head to look at Eijiro with a raised brow, then asked, “You want to help me find out more about my mother?”

   “From what we’ve seen on TV live and online, you want to get to the bottom of what she’s up to, right?” Eijiro asked, looking over at her.

    Kagami nodded.

    “So what better way than to figure out a plan to spy on her and the people with her.” Eijiro stated, “Marinette and them had the right idea, but they went about it the wrong way. Which is why I think that maybe if I step down as Guardian, you and I could—“

     “You don’t have to step down as Guardian for that,” Nino interrupted before placing a hand over his chest, “Look, I’ll talk to Master Fu about me becoming a Guardian…but don’t quit. Who says there has to be a limit to how many Guardians we have? Isn’t the point of having a New Order to lessen the burden?”

    “Nino is right. And we do not have to rush on the plan on spying on Kaa-san,” Kagami added before she tapped her chin, “Not to mention we should inform Adrien as well of what we’re planning.”

    “Yeah, you have a point,” Eijiro hummed, then saw Nathaniel was walking alongside some Bots that were carrying students to Recovery Girl, “Speaking of Guardians…”

    “I should talk to him for this one. Dude looks like he’s got a lot going on,” Nino stated, leaving the two and walking over to Nathaniel, “Hey, man…”

     Nathaniel looked up at Nino for a moment before he sighed, “Hey…”

    “You okay?”

      The red head shrugged, “Not really…I can tell everyone is now pretty scared to approach me now.”

     “Nah, they just surprised you pulled that move at the last second, that’s all,” Nino noticed Nathaniel’s hand in a tight grip, “What’s that?”

    “Nino…” Nathaniel opened his hand to show Nino the Swan Miraculous and frowned, “Apparently this Miraculous is damaged.”

    “What?” Nino took the Miraculous off of his hand and looked closer, “Wait, how did we miss that this was broken like the Peacock?”

    “It’s small, so it makes sense that myself and Momo did not check properly,” Nathaniel sighed, “Which is why I’m going to talk to Momo about it when she wakes up.”

    Nino whistled, tilting his head while adjusting his cap, “Woah, imagine if Momo went ahead and used this Miraculous during the fight. Who knows what could’ve happened—ah!”

    Nino felt himself sweat drop at the sight of Nathaniel looking gloomy, turning his head away in shame. Nino was waving his hands in front of him, trying to explain himself before Nathaniel stopped him.

    “No. Maybe this is why Momo hesitated. It’s because her instincts are sharper than my own. Honestly, I was impatient and wanted to prove a point, it was stupid of me...” The red head moved his bangs from his eyes, smiling wryly, “It’s something that I should apologise to her for when I see her. But honestly, I wonder if she wants to see me after this…”

    “Hey, don’t say that. She’s not gonna hold this against you dude. Like, you guys are pretty tight, close even,” The former DJ stated with a smile, patting Nathaniel’s shoulder, “I’m sure once you two get talking, everything will work out. She won’t be mad at you so easily, since she likes you and all.”

   “What?”

    Nino squeaked before whistling innocently before walking away robotically, Nathaniel blinking when he started running. The artist thought that was weird, but then looked down at the Swan Miraculous, glad that Detty wasn’t summoned at the moment so he could think. 

    But how in the world did he and Momo both miss that this Miraculous was broken? 

[unhinged-domestic-raccoon]

Miraculous Rewatch Where I Overanalyze Everything: Mr. Pigeon

I like that we can see as early as this that Hawkmoth has different strategies for akumatizing people. In The Bubbler, Gabe deliberately takes the opportunity to piss Nino off so he can akumatize him. In Mr. Pigeon though, he is literally just waiting around in his lair to catch a whiff of bad feeling. Someone was going to get akumatized today, where that may not have been the case in The Bubbler. I definitely think any Butterfly user who isn't rich and famously reclusive is gonna have to rely a LOT more on strategy A than strategy B (I have not seen season 6, so IDK if Lila does this or not).

Continued under the cut:

Uuuuuugggghhh, Roger, why are you always the poster child for terrible cop behavior? This is like the first episode you appear in and I already hate you for being so mean to Mr. Ramier. No, he's not supposed to feed the pigeons here, but do you have to be such a *dick* about it?

And here we see the first in a long line of Akumas who drastically switch body types for no real reason. Tell me, do we think Mr. Pigeon is jacked because it's Mr. Ramier's fantasy, or do we think it's Gabriel's fantasy? Considering the general trend in akumas. . . I'll let ya'll make of that what you will.

Remember in the Bubbler when I said that Sabrina is just as much of a willing accomplice to Chloe as Nathalie is to Gabe? Case in point here. Look how proud of herself she looks to be pulling one over on Marinette! She's genuinely enjoying being sneaky and unethical here, and she says to Chloe "We're so awesome," when she's done the deed. I think she really does enjoy the superior feeling that comes with screwing someone over like this. She likes to feel like the smartest person in the room. I also wonder if she doesn't enjoy the sneaking around and breaking the rules aspect because her dad is a cop and she feels stifled by his adherence to following the rules.

Adrien is a sneaky kitty! This is an aspect that I think is actually fairly common with him that is criminally underutilized in fanfic! He does this stealth hello literally all the time! He's good at sneaking around! Let him use that skill!

I have no valuable analysis to add, you just all need to see Adrien being an absolute *dork* and dancing to himself while he's on guard. He literally tells Ladybug "I AM acting natural!" He's such a loser, I love him so much.

Once again, we can see that LB and CN have already settled into their dynamic of "Cat brawn, bug brain," which, while functional, isn't ideal. I don't think this is something they ever conciously worked on, and I definitely don't recall it smoothing over naturally in the show, but we'll see if I'm misremembering. If not, I would love to see this come up in fanfic where they have to work at filling each other's niche to have better synergy in scenarios like this.

Okay, props to this episode, those pigeons are TERRIFYING, I would have peed my pants.

Huh, I didn't realize LB was an in-universe nickname for Ladybug with anybody, but here we see Chat using it (and being adorably charming while he does so). Gonna have to see if that's a one-off fluke or if it comes up again.

Okay, I actually love that Marinette just misses the shot because of the wind. For as competent as she is, Marinette isn't actually a trained superhero, and it shows here! She's not perfectly physically capable in every way. It also goes back to that bug-brain, cat-brawn thing I was talking about. Adrien's a trained fencer and isn't extremely clumsy in his day-to-day life, and so is more physically capable and confident than Marinette, even with the Miraculous enhancing her abilities.

I actually need Juleka's steampunk derby hat in my closet yesterday. Marinette is very talented, and her embroidery especially definitely won her the competition, but *damn* if Juleka isn't insanely talented too.

And here we reach a point of fascination to me. It did not click for me that Adrien and Chloe were supposedly childhood friends the first time I watched season one until I got to origins and it was explicitly stated. Instances like these are a big part of why! Chloe isn't treating Gabe like someone she already knows. She feels the need to formally introduce herself *and* her father in this situation, but I seem to remember her being really informal with him in later episodes. To me, this just says the retcons go back further than we thought. Even as early as this there were major inconsistencies in the writing. If someone has a Watsonian theory as to why this is though, I would love to hear it!

Also, shoutout to @linartblogs who pointed out on my LAST analysis post that the foundation for Marinette's season 6 character flaws are laid as early as The Bubbler! Even way back then, it's clear she considers all adults as inherently loving towards her children and is already lying to Adrien about his father being a good person to spare his feelings. That doesn't come out of left field AT ALL for her.

I'll talk about it again when Audrey shows up, but Marinette absolutely has a bias towards believing that parents always want the best for their kids and that they should be listened to, which comes from HER great parents being her primary frame of reference. It