#you either have fathers of heroines who were heroes once and go 'you know i can't judge all god's children i was wildin out in my book'

[mermaidsirennikita]

RUM ON LIPS also has the rare father of the heroine (who was the hero of another book)-hero interaction, during which the hero is like "look, I know you're one of my parents' friends, and I know you were like an uncle to me growing up, but I'm gonna level with you, I for sure deflowered your daughter, SUPER thoroughly, last night and now she is refusing to talk to me OR marry me, and I would love it if you forced BOTH issues"

and her dad just goes "wow, that sounds like a YOU problem" and tells him to fuck off

[sea-owl]

Can you imagine in the yandere Bridgerton's in the isekai AU had their memories of their previous lives back and are all eager now to go toe to toe with their rivals while saving them from their bad endings. Except, the once villainous rivals now appear so tame and sweet, like regency disney heros and heroines. And for a moment they are disappointed and think that all is lost. Only to realize that their previous rivals destructive tendencies have been geared towards good and on the downlow. On the outside, Simon is the gallant duke who swooped in after his childhood sweetheart's father passed and took over the business. In reality, Kate controls everything with Simon as her right hand and, while fair, will hunt down anyone who dares to hurt her family and friends. Basically, she's a regency mafia don, an angel to those in need but a devil to those who hurt her family with the help of the others. They don't want Portia to worry about them and thus present themselves as angelic to the outside world. Of course once the Bridgertons realize this, it just makes them fall harder. "Oh isn't my beloved just amazing in how they tore they person's life apart! And without spilling a drop of blood. Their precious hands must never be sullied. That passion should be reserved only for me. I shall have to marry them so that I can take care of any problems they face."

Oh that would certainly spice things up, I imagine it that they somehow woke their memories of their epilogue selves and were so excited to finally feel that passion once more they had with their villains. Immediately though they, especially Colin, Eloise, and Hyacinth, notice that Penelope and Felicity haven’t been coming over. Where were they? They had been around for years before.

Violet bitterly reveals that the women of the Featherington house moved away a long time ago, she suspects Lord Featherington sent them away. Colin did not like that answer, he was looking forward to banter with Penelope again. Had his mother not gotten to Lord Featherington first he certainly would have. Benedict and Eloise also became irritated after a trip out to the country they found neither Sophie nor Phillip at Pennwood or Romney Hall. Where the hell could they be? The pattern continued for Anthony, Daphne, and Francesca. All their villains were not where they were supposed to be!

Then like the heavens blessed them one day before the start of the 1811 season multiple of their villains all appeared outside the Featherington house! Simon, Gareth, and Lucy were not seen amongst them but it wasn’t long before they were there too. There was something different about them though, something sweet and good. The Bridgertons weren’t sure how they felt about that, yes that new goodness in them made them so much more beautiful but the dreams of reigniting that passion seemed so far away.

No they refused to believe that. They know their villains, they are after all their villains. They know that passion laid dormant in them somewhere. The Bridgertons vowed to bring it out of them.

In the meantime though, Anthony, Benedict, and Daphne have their hands full keeping those undeserving away from their villains. Their other siblings took to stalking their villains as either their villains, themselves, or both were not out in society yet. No one in or out of the ton will ever take them away from them. They will not live without them again.

The more the Bridgerton siblings watched their villains though, the more they believed that passion isn’t as far away as they first believed.

One day while the Bridgertons were spending a lovely day in the park aka their mother was stalking Lady Featherington again, the siblings took noticed of something interesting.

Their villains were having a group lunch together, and at the same time they glanced back at Portia and Mary, both consumed by their conversation. A quick nod to Felicity, who kept her focus on her mother and Mary, then to one another they made their excuses and left in small groups to walk around the park. The Bridgertons were quick to follow after them from a distance.

Benedict and Hyacinth followed Sophie and Gareth walked together. They watched as Sophie and Gareth expertly took items off of lords without their knowledge, many of them are known gamblers to the point where it affected their families. Those items were then placed near the ladies of those houses.

Michael and Penelope helped Phillip gather berries. At one point a lord passed by them, Michael stopped him and the two entered a conversation. Penelope and Phillip still gathered berries, with Penelope quietly observing. When the lord left the three went back to berry gathering. Kate, Simon, and Lucy, who were followed by Anthony, Daphne, and Gregory, stopped by where Penelope and Michael whispered something to them. Phillip handed them the berries they been picking. It was only luck that Colin remembered from his travels that those berries were poisonous and known to cause hallucinations.

Berries in hand Kate, Simon and, Lucy found the lord that Michael stopped, tucked away in a secluded place where no one would see them. It took a moment but Anthony recognized him, he was known to traffic children, but no one had proof. Kate, Simon, and Lucy confronted the lord, revealing proof no one found before. Simon restrained the man, Kate forced the berries down his throat, and Lucy searched his pockets until she found a key. They left him to wander in his halllucination, meeting back at the Featherington tent where the others now sat too.

“Did you enjoy your promenade?” Portia asked them.

“Yes,” Penelope said, “we did happen to run into Lord Lumley during our walk as well.”

Portia and Mary made a face. “I assumed he asked again about going into business together.”

“We denied him,” Kate said. “We just thought he wouldn’t make a good business partner. Too much of a liability.”

Portia nodded, proud. “Yes, you must always consider who you are going into a business deal with. Your partners can make or break a deal.”

Their villains beamed at the praise.

Oh that passion was defiantly still there. Now the Bridgertons had to make sure it was only ever directed at them.

[dualnaturedscientist]

Thea stared at him with widened eyes. She was relieved that he wasn't going to hold any grudges against her for what she had done. Though she couldn't help but feel guilty. Guilty for the chaos she had caused due to her father's blackmailing. Honestly the heroine wasn't expecting him to be so openly warm and friendly with her much less an apology from him. Though Thea still felt as if she needed to make up for her actions. Starting by fighting by their sides to take down her father's twisted organization once and for all. "Thank you...Gene." it felt strange to call her idol by his name but it felt like a new start. One she was gladly going to take. A new start with the mad scientist, with Becky. A new start with her friends as well. They both decided to join the others to hear what Matthew had planned for their attacks. Knowing that the others would fill them in on exactly what they missed during that heartfelt moment. This just made Electric Blur feel all the more determination to give it her all. To be the genuine hero she always wanted to be. To call herself. Instead of this hollow title she used until recently. No longer a tool to be used. She also knew that eventually she will have to have a very difficult conversation with her friends later on but that could wait. It honestly made her happy to know they didn't completely hate her for what she did either. As well as they placed their trust in her. Otherwise they wouldn't be joining everyone involved to battle the ones who worked willingly at the B.E.A.W Labs and free all those who were imprisoned. Sure the first facility they were getting ready to storm was just one of many, Thea was going to make sure not one of them got missed in the end. Meanwhile there was an extremely agitated figure scribbling down things fiercely. Disappointed and angry by the fact that Darius had gone down so easily. Without any fight. If the embarrassingly weak attack against Maddrix could be considered a fight. Moran snarled down at the paper he was scribbling like crazy on. "Foolish man. I've given him what he wanted. Near perfect weapons. Ready for his use. Yet he went and allowed himself to be captured?! Did he not think to cover his ass this time! To be outsmarted by Maddrix. To take the obvious bait and not take any back up. He deserves to be locked up. I won't let this organization die. Like a Phoenix rising from the ashes. I will give it a new life. Come on. Every one of you, try to destroy us. I won't be taken down so easily as that pathetic man. I'll be waiting for you. All of you." Moran growled, gripping his pen so tightly that it broke in his hand. The scientist grumbled as he threw the pen to the ground, wiping off his hand on the dirty lab coat of his. "Those mice. I'm going to squish each and every one of them too." Moran still had quite a grudge against the mice pups. They managed to foil his plans each time. Well he's prepared for them as well. When he gets his hands on them. There won't be much of them left and he'll enjoy every second of it too. Moran placed down the pen and the clipboard he was using. It grated his nerves that this man he had respected had let him down in the worst way. If that man expects him or anyone else to come to his rescue, well Darius would be sorely wrong. He wasn't going to risk his neck for someone like that. Though for this beautiful organization, he would. For these beautiful creations of his, Moran would fight tooth and nail for. They hadn't made such wonderful progress just for anyone to stop. No. This wasn't the end and Moran was going to make sure it wouldn't be. The twisted scientist went from one room and into another. This one had cages within it. “Heh. Hello, my beauties. Are you ready to make me proud?” A sadistic grin now spread across his face. A few creatures moved about within their cages, snarling at the scientist. “Of course you all will. This is exactly what I made you for.” He beamed at him with such pride. “You will make them see exactly what we do. What we were destined to do. I know you'll show them all, my beauties.”

Matthew wasn't sure if he should be so surprised by how resilient his son was. Hugh though wasn't looking very pleased. His expression was one of absolute exhaustion and worry. Gene of course picked up on this, honestly feeling slightly guilty over putting the alien through so much stress in such a short time. Matthew had shared that same worry over the mad scientist, knowing just how little time his son had to recover. Yet he couldn't say no. What would've that done? Make Gene all the more stubborn and make him do something just as rash as he did? No. He knew better than to do so. “As long as you don't overdo it. Of course. I don't think your friend could take much more of our recklessness.” Gene gave him an apologetic expression as he knew what his father said was true. “I know. I'm sorry Hugh. You know I have to do this. I'm not going to just stay in bed while all this goes down. I'll stay in bed rest after this all you want. I promise.” Hugh sighed, crossing his arms. “You wouldn't listen to me anyway. Don't you get yourself hurt during this or I swear I will strap you down and leave you like that while you heal up.” Gene couldn't help but let out a little laugh at that. He knew that the alien would absolutely do that. His eyes went back to the silver falcon in his hand. The mad scientist was still slightly worn out but he's never felt so revitalized like this. Given life anew in a strange way. It didn't take long for the mad scientist to get himself dressed. Alex and Tristan had wanted to intervene and keep him from joining but they knew that would've encouraged him more as well. Though that couldn't stop either of them from helping Gene. He gave them both a look that showed he wasn't going to let them coddle him. He's never let them do so before. Even when he wore himself down to the bone when Becky went missing. That thought had made him stop and looked around for her. Having lost track of the girl during his identity crisis. No one else seemed to have noticed until they heard a whoosh and saw Becky nearly tackled her father over. She hugged onto him, holding something with one hand. “Hey, kiddo. I'm sorry. I didn't mean to worry you again. I'll be fine, I promise. Confused but fine.” Becky looked up at him, still not quite believing him. She quickly then placed another item within his hand. It was the goop ray he had left behind during the chaos. She had gone back to find it to give it back to Gene. He stared down at it. “Aw, thank you for getting this for me.” In another city, they were unaware that there was another gathering. The mayor of Newport had just finished giving the heroes the go ahead to storm the B.E.A.W Labs near their city. They were met with a riled up crowd filled with villains, civilians and other heroes alike. They didn't appreciate that these people were messing with their heroes as well. Ones they've grown to love over the years. They were just as inspired by Maddrixs broadcast. Sure they were a bit more on the bloodthirsty side but they were nowhere near the level of Darius. He had angered them so much they've put aside their differences temporarily. Having a bigger goal to accomplish first before resuming the status quo. It was unsettling just how quiet they went when they had seen the heroes step out. Waiting with bated breath for them to give them instructions on exactly where to go. Hydro had been surprised to see an old friend among the crowd. J.J. the villainous jester. There were a few others they've recognized. The circus themed villains that loved to team up with the jester. A certain doll who was once part of the villain roster of Fair City. They were going to bring every single one of them to the facility. To wait for Maddrix the malicious to take lead and destroy the hellish place. Taking down all those who willingly worked within there. Experimenting on innocent lives. They weren't going to stand for it at all. Even Atomic Steele knew to finally put aside his fury whether he liked it or not. He still despised him but he trusted his friend despite what happened. He still cared.

It still felt weird to Atomic, learning all that he did about his father's biological relationship to Maddrix. From what that woman Margaret told him, it made the hero think back to moments of his childhood before the massacre. How his dad never talked about his grandfather only telling the boy he had one who died. His dad only talking in details about his grandmother. There were times his dad seemed sad and frustrated about something, when a younger version of Max tried asking his dad what was wrong, all his dad would say was that he was just worried about and missing someone. At the time Atomic had no clue his dad was referring to an estranged cousin. The last time Atomic saw his dad alive, before he told the young hero to stay put and safe, was when his dad was watching the television and seeing what was going on. Atomic clearly remembered his dad having a horrified look but also a pained and guilt ridden expression. Although Max still hated Matthew, there was a part of the young hero that took some pity on Matthew and his father's past. A part of him that was strangely glad his grandfather perished by Maddrix's hands. Gene was ready to leave with Matthew and the others to head back to city hall. He had finished assembling his gear and putting on his attire for battle. Hey this was a serious matter but Gene didn't want to look like a bum going into battle. He also was kind of unsure about putting on his old Dr. Two Brains attire, which was just his work clothes. So Gene decided to make a compromise combining his former villain attires with his own spin. With Alex's and Tristan's help, the two aliens gathered a new lab coat for Gene along with a new change of clothes. These clothes were in clean and pristine condition. They also helped him gather a top hat and a silver mask, something similar to his old Professor Terror outfit. He didn't have the original clothing since he burned his outfit after the massacre. There was also no time to add some special sequins or elegant designs to his clothing much to Gene's chagrin. Gene looked into the mirror one last time before he left with Matthew, Alex, and Tristan. Gene's still white hair was pulled back into a ponytail. This earned an odd reaction from Becky as she muttered "no sandwich words" which made Gene recall Becky once telling him about the Chucktopia incident. Becky otherwise reassured her dad that she wasn't bothered by his style. Gene's silver mask was similar to how his old one was. It was an eye mask with embedded designs. The top hat Alex got him was definitely something similar to a Victorian era top hat but with modern designs. Gene had kept his gloves as his hands were still altered. He had gotten rid of his usual goggles as he saw no reason to wear them over his mask. As Gene held his old staff in his hands, the one thing from his Terror days he could never part with, an eerie feeling went down his spine. He recalled memories of his past, when he first joined his dad into the field of villainy, when he lead his own rebellion of villains against his father, and when he took down Atomic Steele. That wasn't Squeaky in action nor was it connected to his old Two Brains gimmick. That was all him. Gene let out a sigh and small smile. He had no idea what he was going to do after everything was over. Gene definitely planned to give Steven back his name and identity since he was going back to his old name that had been established on official, yet forged, documents. Gene wasn't sure if he was going back into the field as a villain or take a break after everything he had been through. One thing that was for sure, Gene was going to determine his own path and no sabotaged experiments or crazy animals and people was going to affect what he wanted to do with his life from now on. Meanwhile back outside the hallways of the medical clinic, Matthew was learning one of the most shocking things in his life. "You were in the mafia!" Matthew exclaimed in a shocked tone. @dualnaturedscientist

[dangermousie]

Mousie’s absolutely subjective, very biased Top 10 web novels list

Please note that this is hardly aiming to be objective, if one can even be properly objective about a work of fiction. It is 110% based on my preferences, which means this list is heavy on the angst and has nothing set in the modern day. It is also heavily danmei-centric, even though I read way more het romance than danmei, because for whatever reason, most of the danmei I’ve read has been insanely good.

10. Return of the Swallow - one of the two non-danmeis on this list. Smart and nuanced and with a large cast of characters. Our heroine is a long-lost daughter of the family that is brought back in and has to cope with familial struggles, crazy royals, court intrigue, invasion et al. It’s SO GOOD! There is romance with the sexy smart enemy general but honestly, it’s the heroine that is the main selling point for me.

9. Transmigrator Meets Reincarnator - the only other non-danmei novel on this list, this was my very first web novel and what drew me into this insanity. This is just a ton of fun, probably the lightest novel on this list, not an ounce of angst to be found. But it’s hilarious and features competent heroine and tsundere hero and I will always love it for opening a new world to me. Anyway, our heroine transmigrates into the novel as the female lead. Unlike the original lead though she doesn’t want to seek adventures and angst - she just wants to comfortably live with the wealthy, nice husband heroine has. Alas, said husband is no longer nice since he has previously lived this story where he was betrayed by FL and then transmigrated/reincarnated into the past. Oh well, the heroine opens up businesses and makes friends. And eventually, her husband realizes his wife is way different this time around. This actually doesn’t have much romance, not until close to the end, but this is so fun I don’t care.

8. Lord Seventh - I am only partway through this so far, but it’s already on the list because it’s smart and somehow intense AND laid-back (not sure how this works, but it does) and is honestly just a really really solid and smart period novel, with the OTP a cherry on top of a narrative sundae. Plus, I love the concept of MC deciding he is not going for his supposedly fated love - he’s tried for six lifetimes, always with disaster, and he’s just plain done and tired. When he opens his life in his seventh reincarnation and sees the person he would have given up the world for, he genuinely feels nothing at all. (Spoiler - his OTP is actually a barbarian shaman this time around, thank you Lord!)

7. Grandmaster of Demonic Cultivation (MDZS) - oh come on, how are you even on this tumblr if you don’t know MDZS/The Untamed? This was my very first danmei and it’s so much fun! I love everything about it - the unreliable narrator, the looping structure, the main OTP, Wei Wuxian’s laidback, traumatized insouciance, everything. Anyway, the plot in the event you somehow transported here from 2005 is that the Grandmaster of Demonic Cultivation, Wei Wuxian, was defeated by the righteous sects over a decade ago and fell of a cliff to his death. Only now that same Wei Wuxian opens his eyes in another body and everything that was supposed to stay in the past starts again.

6. Heaven Official’s Blessing (TGCF) - people either love its meandering narrative, picaresque structure and cast of thousands, or find it a detriment compared to much more compact MDZS. I love it even more than MDZS for those very qualities. It does have a rock-solid, darling OTP, but what really elevates it to me are the MXTX trademark combo of snarky/light tone hiding a ton of trauma underneath, the insanely intricate world-building, and what it has to say about the nature of grace and goodness. Xie Lian is one of my top 5 web novel characters and probably in top 10 from anywhere. Oh, and while MXTX’s stuff is not as angsty for me as Meatbun’s or even Priest’s, there are always exceptions, and there is one chapter in this novel that pretty much broke me and sometimes I still flashback to it and feel unwell.

Anyway, what is it about? There is a commotion in the heavenly realm - Xie Lian, the Crown Prince of a long-destroyed kingdom, has ascended to Godhood. That in itself is not so exciting. However for Xie Lian this is the third time (!!!!) as he’s ascended and lost his godhood twice prior. And now, the biggest joke of the divine realm is back, throwing the heavenly realm into chaos. And elsewhere, Hua Cheng, one of the four most powerful demons of that Universe, sits up and takes notice.

5. Golden Stage - my perfect comfort novel. Probably the least angsty of any danmei novel on this list (which still means plenty angsty :P) It also has a dedicated, smart OTP that is an OTP for the bulk of the book - I think you will notice that in most of the novels in this list, I go for “OTP against the world” trope - I can’t stand love triangles and the same. Anyway, Fu Shen, is a famous general whose fame is making the emperor antsy. When he gets injured and can’t walk any more, the emperor gladly recalls him and marries him off to his most faithful court lackey, the head of sort of secret police, Yan Xiaohan. The emperor intends it both as a check on the general and a general spite move since the two men always clash in court whenever they meet. But not all is at is seems. They used to be friends a long time ago, had a falling out, and one of the loveliest parts of the novel is them finding their way to each other, but there is also finding the middle path between their two very different philosophies and ways of being, not to mention solving a conspiracy or dozen, and putting a new dynasty on the throne, among other things. It always makes me think, a little, of “if Mei Changsu x Jingyan were canon.”

4. Sha Po Lang - if you like a lot of fantasy politics and world-building and steampunk with your novels, this one is for you. This one is VERY plot-heavy with smart, dedicated characters and a deconstruction of many traditional virtues - our protagonist Chang Geng, a long-lost son of the Emperor, is someone who wants to modernize the country but also take down the current emperor his brother for progress’ sake and the person he’s in love with is the general who saved him when he was a kid who is nominally his foster father. Anyway, the romance is mainly a garnish in this one, not even a big side dish, but the relationship between two smart, dedicated, deadly individuals with very different concepts of duty is fascinating long before it turns romantic. And if you like angst, while overall it’s not as angsty as e.g., Meatbun stuff, Chang Geng’s childhood is the stuff of nightmares and probably freaks me out more than anything else in any novel on this list, 2ha included.

3. To Rule In a Turbulent World (LSWW) - gay Minglan. No seriously. This is how I think of it. it’s a slice of life period novel with fascinating characters and setting that happens to have a gay OTP, not a romance in a period setting per se and I always prefer stories where the romance is not the only thing that is going on. It’s meticulously written and smart and deals with character development and somehow makes daily minutia fascinating. Our protagonist, You Miao, is the son of a fabulously wealthy merchant, sent to the capital to make connections and study. As the story starts, he sees his friend’s servants beating someone to death, feels bad, and buys him because, as we discover gradually and organically, You Miao may be wealthy and occasionally immature but he is a genuinely good person. The person he buys is a barbarian from beyond the wall, named Li Zhifeng. It’s touch and go if the man will survive but eventually he does and You Miao, who by then has to return home, gives him his papers and lets him go. However, LZF decides to stick with You Miao instead, both out of sense of debt for YM saving his life and because he genuinely likes him (and yet, there is no instalove on either of their parts, their bodies have fun a lot quicker than their souls.) Anyway, the two take up farming, get involved in the imperial exams and it’s the life of prosperity and peace, until an invasion happens and things go rapidly to hell. This is so nuanced, so smart (smart people in this actually ARE!) and has secondary characters who are just as complex as the mains (for example, I ended up adoring YM’s friend, the one who starts the plot by almost beating LZF to death for no reason) because the novel never forgets that few people are all villain. There is a lovely character arc or two - watching YM grow up and LZF thaw - there is the fact that You Miao is a unicorn in web novels being laid back and calm. This whole thing is a masterpiece.

2. Stains of Filth (Yuwu) - want the emotional hit of 2ha but want to read something half its length? Well, the author of 2ha is here to eviscerate you in a shorter amount of time. This has the beautiful world-building, plot twists that all make sense and, at the center of it all, an intense and all-consuming and gloriously painful relationship between two generals - one aristocratic loner Mo Xi, and the other gregarious former slave general Gu Mang. Once they were best friends and lovers, but when the novel starts, Gu Mang has long turned traitor and went to serve the enemy kingdom and has now been returned and Mo Xi, who now commands the remnants of his slave army, has to cope with the fact that he has never been able to get over the man who stabbed him through the heart. Literally. This novel has a gorgeously looping structure, with flashbacks interwoven into present storyline. There is so much love and longing and sacrifice in this that I am tearing up a bit just thinking of it. If you don’t love Mo Xi and Gu Mang, separately and together, by the end of it, you have no soul.

1. The Dumb Husky and His White Cat Shizun (2ha/erha) - if you’ve been following my tumblr for more than a hot second, you know my obsession with this novel. Honestly, even if I were to make a list of my top 10 novels of any kind, not just webnovels, this would be on the list. It has everything I want - a complicated, intricate plot with an insane amount of plot twists, all of which are both unexpected and make total sense, a rich and large cast of characters, a truly epic OTP that makes me bawl, emotional intensity that sometimes maxes even me out and so much character nuance and growth. Also, Moran is my favorite web novel character ever, hands down.

Anyway, the plot (or at least the way it first appears) is that the evil emperor of the cultivation world, Taxian Jun, kills himself at 32 and wakes up in the body of his 16 year old self, birth name Moran. Excited to get a redo, Moran wants to save his supposed true love Shimei, whose death the last go-around pushed him towards evil. He also wants to avoid entanglement with Chu Wanning, his shizun and sworn enemy in past life. And that’s all you are best off knowing, trust me. The only hint I am going to give is oooh boy the mother of all unreliable narrators has arrived!

The novel starts light and funny on boil the frog principle - if someone told me I would be full bawling multiple times with this novel, I’d have thought they were insane, but i swear my eyes hurt by the end of it. I started out being amused and/or disliking the mains and by the end I would die for either of them.

[h2bakugou]

May I have headcanons for Bakugo, Todoroki and Hawks with an S/O who is or wants to become an heroine yet she faces a lot of backlash because she is the daughter of a -now imprisoned- villain?

a/n: of course! i love this headcanon, thank you for the request love!!

headcanon: them with an s/o who wants to be a hero but faces backlash because of her family.

key: (y/n) - your name / (f/n) - first name / (l/n) - last name / (e/c) - eye color / (h/c) - hair color / (y/q) - your quirk

warnings: fluff, swearing, a bit of angst, mentions of murder/death and violence!

»»————-　★　————-««

katsuki bakugou

»»————-　★　————-««

Before you even start dating, Bakugou is probably really curious about you. It was all over the news, that you’d gotten into U.A.

And despite the school’s claims to keep every student safe, you still felt like an outcast. Turning down a hall caused heads to turn, kids ducked into classrooms.

You wished people could understand that you weren’t your parents. 

Two years ago your parents had been imprisoned for good, in Tartarus. Watching from a cafe tv, you learned that day that your parents were infamous villains that had killed close to hundreds, and injured more. All under your nose.

You were questioned for a while, in fact, the following six months after they got locked up you spent under a police watch. They found it hard to believe that you had absolutely nothing to do with what your parents did. And after several tests, they decided you were innocent.

News broke that you’d gotten into U.A., so much so that your parents even found out, not that you really cared what they thought, they’d lost all your trust.

Bakugou was able to see your determination though. No matter how many times you were called a villain, or some stupid name that the other kids came up with to try and make you leave, you pushed through.

What Bakugou loved the most is how calm you always looked. He knew you were hotheaded underneath it all. But you couldn’t snap at these kids, that would just prove their point.

But he saw you train and work first hand, unlike these kids. Your quirk was strong, it was no surprise you’d gotten into U.A. You were going to be a powerful hero.

When you started dating, a few things changed. Kids still made fun of you and mocked you, but not as much. Bakugou also got to see that what they said really did affect you.

You’d broke down once in front of him.

Bakugou sat on his bed, waiting for you to come join him so you could do homework. You were shuffling through your bag to find your work when you pulled out a note that had some rather nasty words written on it.

You didn’t want to cry in front of Bakugou but it just happened. Tears flooded down your cheeks as you started sobbing. Bakugou heard your cries and jumped up to comfort you.

“Hey, what the fuck is wrong?” Bakugo asked, his harsh sounding tone was more worried than anything.

“Do you think I’m going to be a villain?” You asked, your eyes red and puffy as tears streamed down your cheeks and soaked the neck of your sweater.

“What-no! What makes you think I’d think that about you?” Bakugou’s upset now too, but his eyes find the note that had been in your bag.

“Who wrote that.” Bakugou’s voice was stern, and it didn’t even sound like a question he was asking.

“I don’t know.” You sniffled.

“I’ll find out.”

“They’ll just do it again. I just wish people could understand I’m not like my parents. I want to help people.” You clung to Bakugou as you cried, his arms holding you close to him.

“They’ll see one day. I’ll make them see.” Bakugou kissed the top of your head and let you calm down in his arms.

»»————-　★　————-««

shoto todoroki

»»————-　★　————-««

Before the relationship, Todoroki knows who you are. You were all over tv when your parents were arrested for countless murders.

It was ironic. He was the son of a pro hero, and you were the daughter of two villains. Falling in love with you felt like some sort of twisted comedy.

When you got into U.A., Todoroki was unsure of your motives. You’d been labeled a villain kid, and only destined to follow in your parent’s footsteps.

But you were entirely innocent. You had no hand in what your parents had done, and you vowed to never even speak to them again.

Todoroki got close to you, at first to see if what you were saying was true. He was curious. And wanting to be a hero, he was going to stop any chance of a traitor among his classmates.

But then he got to know you. He found out you were kind, and how much you loved to help people.

You were nothing like your parents

When you started dating, he tried his best to understand what it was like to be you. He’d see kids make fun of you, and even adults when you went ou tin public.

He defended you, and people shut up real quick.

You met his dad once, and though Todoroki said it was probably going to end terribly, you insisted on meeting him.

Endeavor was a bit surprised to see you dating his son. Some of his questions for you made you a bit uncomfortable.

“Your parents are still in jail, correct?” It as so blunt, you felt like crawling under a rock.

“Father-”

“Sho, it’s fine. Uh yes, they’re still in Tartarus.” You answered his question. Endeavor could see the uneasiness on your face and decided the questionnaire could be answered later.

“You really want to be a hero-”

“Yes. I’ve always wanted to help people, helping people makes me happy.” You didn’t even let Endeavor finish his statement. Endeavor nodded and left you two alone.

Word got out that you were dating a pro heroes’ son, and well it sparked a lot of rumors. 

For once, Endeavor backed you up. He’d been a bit worried about you, but his words seemed to ease some of the pressure you’d been feeling.

“If she wishes to be a hero, then that’s what she’s going to do. Suspicion is not a means to invalidate her goals and future plans.”

Todoroki has seen you break down a few times, mostly after school when kids would call you a ‘no good villain’ or some other name.

Todoroki comforts you as best as he can, either holding you close to him, or reassuring you that what they say or think isn’t the truth. Or he’ll do both.

Todoroki hates seeing you upset. He knows how bad reputations can ruin someone, and he knows the influence your parents have on you. He’s usually only recognized as Endeavor’s son, so he knows firsthand what being related to a hero or a villain can do.

He’s going to love you no matter what, and he’s helping right alongside you to make sure people understand that you are not your parents.

»»————-　★　————-««

hawks/keigo takami

»»————-　★　————-««

He’s already a pro, and his interest in you peaks when the news of your parents getting caught spreads.

You’re a newer hero, but the backlash of your parents getting caught drags you down. You feel like you’re drowning.

But in this vision where you’re drowning, a vermillion-winged man pulls you out of the water and smiles at you.

Hawks aims to be your friend at first, he can’t lie, you’re very beautiful, but he wants to get to know you. He’s a bit sketchy himself, so if you are some sort of villain he wants to know.

He doesn’t think his comments affect you. He’s a bit oblivious, he’s not intentionally trying to hurt your feelings, but when he does, he sure as hell regrets it.

“So what’s the masterplan, Miss Devious?” The name he used was what everyone called your mother.

“What the fuck did you just call me?” You turn and look at him, your eyes full of both hurt and anger.

“How are we going to catch the bad guys, or maybe, the good guys?” He wiggles his eyebrows.

“Why would you say that to me? What the fuck is wrong with you?” You shove him away as you storm out of the room.

Hawks cocky grin is replaced by an ‘oh shit’ face. He’s really done it in now, and he’s thinking in his head that you’ll never forgive him for this one. All his other jokes seemed to fly, so why was this one so bad?

“Hey, wait up!” Hawks calls to you. He sends a few of his feathers to pin you against a wall so he can talk to you.

“Why are you so mad?” He asks, trying to examine your expression.

“Why am I mad? You just called me my fucking mom’s name. You’re making it really hard to like you. What part of ‘I don’t associate with my parents’ don’t you fucking understand?” You shout at him. Hawks’ lips form a thin line as he thinks about what he’s said.

“I’m sorry.” Hawks apologizes, figuring it’s best to at least make up for what he’s said until he can figure you out.

“Are you? Or are you just saying that so I don’t lash out?” You glare at him. Hawks looks away and sighs.

“I didn’t realize that-”

“That what? After the countless times I’ve been called a villain, that I wasn’t affected by it? Or that maybe the backlash from dozens of media sources and civilians wasn’t enough and that you feel the need to remind me that I’m the daughter of two awful villains?” You snap, tears pouring from your eyes.

“Hey, that’s not what I meant.” Hawks defended himself, his heart aching as you cried.

“I try so fucking hard. I work my ass off to prove that I’m just as good of a hero as anyone else. I fucking love helping people, it’s my job to save and help whenever I can, but it’s never enough.” You sob. Hawks’ feathers return to his wings as he lets you go.

Hawks hugs you and doesn’t let you go.

“I’ve been an asshole, and sorry won’t cut it for how I’ve acted but I want to make it up to you.” Hawks understood a bit better now. You were trying to fight the corruptness of the media. You were labeled awful things while you were just doing your job.

You’d never done an evil thing in your life, and you couldn’t hurt a fly if you tried.

“Why are you saying this now?” You ask, pushing him away.

“Because I fucking love you.” Hawks blurts out. He quickly covers his mouth, his ears turning bright red.

“Wha-”

In the spur of the moment to keep you from saying anything else, Hawks presses his lips to yours, ceasing the awkward question you were about to ask.

After this, it takes a bit of time for you to fully forgive Hawks, but you fall in love with him. He helps you prove yourself, and the two of you become practically inseparable.

Nothing can erase what your parents have done, but every day, Hawks reminds you that you aren’t your parents, and he’ll do whatever he can to make the public understand that too.

»»————-　★　————-««

masterlist

[unhealthyfanobsession]

How would you compare the ACOTAR ships to TVD ships? Some people say Feysand is like Delena.

This is SUCH A FUN ASK!! Don’t mind if I do! I’m going to compare the general dynamic of the characters as well as archetype/ story parallels.

This is a crossover post so SPOILERS FOR BOTH ACOTAR AND TVD BELOW.

Stefan-Elena-Damon = Tamlin-Feyre-Rhysand

I don’t mean to do Stefan dirty like this, but the parallels are really undeniable. Stefan and Tamlin both were the kind, caring, magical first introduction to this whole new world for Feyre/Elena. They fell in love with them easily and it was a pure, beautiful love but while they were in it there were darker (Damon and Rhys) forces pulling them in another direction. Both women loved these men SO fiercely and sacrificed for that love. Feyre fought the 3 trials with Amarantha where she ended up being helped by Rhys. Elena went looking for Stefan in his ripper days even though Klaus would kill her if he found her and she was helped by Damon. Both of them fought for this love but then once they had it back... either they or the man or both had changed too much from the trauma and their relationship simply couldn’t work anymore.

I totally agree with the Feysand= Delena point because I think they are both relationships that are very “this person over everyone else no matter what” and that is romantic, but at we see, can also be overbearing/toxic at times. They both do awful things that the heroine has to later learn their motives for and forgive them for. Damon “kills” Jeremy and tries to compel Elena to kiss him early on. He feeds Elena his blood against her will when Klaus might kill her but then he ultimately makes it right through self sacrificing hero acts. Rhys does... everything he did under the mountain and he doesn’t tell Feyre she’s his mate, but then he helps her heal after Tamlin and ultimately saves Prythian. Both characters are also haunted by an abusive relationship- Rhysand a sexually abusive relationship with Amarantha that he endured for 49 years and Damon and emotionally abusive/manipulative relationship with Katherine that defined his life for 150 years.

Damon has a quote in season 4 that I think really describes both couples. He says: “if you’re going to be bad, be bad with a purpose. Otherwise you just aren’t worth forgiving.”

Klaroline = Nessian

This one is more based on character interactions and a bit of my own bias. I struggled to find a TRUE nessian parallel couple but I think Klaroline is the closest for a number of reasons. Largely because Caroline and Nesta are very similar characters. Both start off as shallow, superficial mean girls who we get an early glimpse of their heart (Caroline crying and her I’m never the one monologue and Nesta being on Feyre’s side when she returns in ACOTAR) who then get changed into something they never wanted to be and it helps them grow and OWN THEIR P O W E R. Even Caroline’s stint as emotionless mess after her mom’s death parallels Nesta’s destructive actions after losing her father.

Cassian and Klaus both have the whole “I’m a worthless bastard that no one wants and I killed my father but I am STRONGER THAN EVERYONE so you can’t hurt me even though I’m really just a soft boi who needs love” vibe going on.

And the CHASE. That’s the biggest parallel here. These are both couples where this powerful man walked in and said “that one” re the beautiful woman who hated them and then did not give up. But with both of them it’s a gentle chase. Klaus knows that Caroline is constantly trying to trick him but he doesn’t care because he just wants to spend time with her and whenever she is in danger he is there on the DOUBLE and does things he doesn’t want to do for her (ex- graduation, hiding/ protecting Stefan in season 6). Cassian knows that Nesta is going through a hard time after ACOMAF and he flies up to the House of Wind every damn day to see her even when she pushes him away and he instantly goes into fierce general I will kill mode if anyone threatens Nesta. Also both couples are prone to lashing out at each other (Caroline “terrible people” line; Klaus with his biting. Cassian “everyone hates you”; Nesta with her well... being Nesta LOL)

Bonus points for pet names and relentless teasing when they aren’t trying to kill each other.

Quote for them is when Caroline tells Klaus “anyone capable of love, is capable of being saved” I think that also has big Cassian @ Nesta in ACOSF energy.

(PS I did consider Nessian being Steroline but 1. I fucking hate that ship and 2. Stefan was never there for Caroline during the hard times which is the anti Cassian AND I think the for me it’s always you vibe just fits the intensity of Nessian better)

Kennett = Elriel

I’m not tagging this Elriel so don’t COME FOR ME. In my opinion, these are both ships that had some fun ~tension~ and are kinda sexy/enticing. Kol with his love of witches and their little graduation ghost adventure and Azriel with his attraction to Elain and saving her from Hybern. BUT ultimately I think the most interesting thing about these ships was their convenience. I think fans liked to put Bonnie with Kol in fanfics because it was an easy way to make Bonnie understand Elena and Caroline’s choice for a dark boi and it was just convenient. Likewise I think that Elriel is convenient in writing to simply throw Elain with the other bat brother and tie everything up in a neat little ribbon.

Mabekah= Elucien

In this comparison Rebekah is Lucien and Matt is Elain. This was a couple where one person started off with bad motives (Rebekah wanting to kill Matt at the ball; Lucien plotting with Hybern) but they have genuine feelings for the person once they get to know/are mated to them and you see that person is a much more complicated character than we previously saw. Rebekah and Lucien are both lost, lonely, and struggling to find where they fit in while Matt and Elain are both struggling but ultimately the much beloved “sweet” character who everyone is willing to die to protect. At first the sweet character avoids the villain character like the plague, but eventually things turn around and they see past their previous bad actions.

BonEnzo= Gwynriel

Talk about characters who have some trauma to heal together. Enzo was literally kept in a cage by the Whitmore’s for 50 years and abused much like Azriel in his dungeon. Gwyn has had to make unspeakable decisions in order to protect the greater good and suffer the horrible consequences for it- losing her twin to protect those children much like how Bonnie lost her grams to protect Stefan and Elena. Enzo started off interested in Caroline (like Azriel and Elain) and getting over an obsession with Lilly (Azriel and Mor) but was ultimately drawn to Bonnie for her strength, determination, and good heart despite everything she had been through. These are really all just characters that have been through the RINGER and need to find healing in each other’s arms but would never admit that’s what they are doing so it just happens slowly and one day they realize things don’t hurt as much anymore.

AND FINALLY:

Damon and Caroline= Nesta and Tomas

You know why. Damon doesn’t get off that easy just because he “changed”. He abused Caroline and I won’t be pretending in 2021 that he didn’t.

[janiedean]

if you ever wrote that rant about grrm making jon his chosen one deconstruction i'd be very happy to read it 👀

hello anon sorry for the lateness but here we go *deep breath*

sssooo, I had once ranted about it though not mentioning the thing I mentioned in those tags so lemme see if I can find the op and like... cp the main argument and amend it bc it was long, but okay so I found it, original anon asked me: why is Jon considered to be one of the most special characters grrm created? Why is he not the typical hero of fantasy books?, my original answer was here if anyone wants to go there but basically lemme just cp the first part making it shorter and then I'm adding:

first thing, the Typical Post-Tolkien Chosen One With A Shitty Life Before He Finds Out He Is Chosen™ character (I’m saying post-tolkien because every fantasy writer in existence who copies tolkien thinks that lotr went like that and instead it didn’t) usually goes through the following steps: his life sucks up until the beginning of the series, his family generally hates him/her or doesn’t appreciate them or abuses them or anyway doesn’t make their life easier and they’ve never known any different, but *something* never quite worked right and they always knew something was missing in their life, they just didn’t know why. suddenly someone who knows they were Chosen™ shows up and tells them that they’re actually Special because of this this and that and they have a quest to go on to save the world or something. our hero/heroine obviously is finally validated and while their quest is hard and full of hardships and maybe they lose a few friends along the way, finding out that they were Chosen gives their life meaning, they usually find love/friends/everything they didn’t have before until they fulfill the Prophecy™ and live more or less happily ever after, possibly after hooking up with the Person Of Their Dreams with whom they had UST up until the last twenty pages of the book. basically: being Chosen™ in regular fantasy novels is a good thing because suddenly you’re special and all the crap you suffered acquires a new meaning and in the end it made your life better.

jon snow is a complete overhaul of about everything in this sense because

instead of having a family who hates him he has a family who actually mostly loves him, and with ned it’s arguably so much that he risks royal treason by keeping him hidden from his *best friend* - sure, there’s cat and peripherally sansa, but his issues stem from the fact that he feels lesser because he’s a bastard (as far as he knows) and it’s a *class* issue, not a *my family hates me* issue not counting catelyn obv but that's what gives him freudian issues more on that in the emended part later

no one actually knows that he’s Chosen™ - like mel could get there and probably will and someone will put two and two together when his parentage comes out in the open, but he doesn’t have a gandalf or mentor who shows him The Way Towards His Quest

so instead of going from ‘my life sucks but I’m going on a quest which is gonna be a+’ he actively chooses to leave a fairly decent situation (a household he knows, siblings who love him - ned actually hoped he’d become robb’s counselor or right hand man or something from what we can gather) because he feels like he has to prove he’s better than his name and goes to the Crappiest Place In Westeros. like idk if people grasp it, but the wall is basically a prison and at the ripe age of fourteen he decides that it’s totally a good and honorable choice (his only choice actually) to go defend the realm in the freezing cold along with a bunch of criminals/derelicts/rejects of society

at which point he makes friends among said rejects and let’s remember that it’s the point where he actually has to do his first an only privilege when donal noye made him go like hey you were brought up with nobles these ppl are here because they stole bread, and that helps making him more into the person he is rn but like your tyopical fantasy hero who has had a shitty life doesn’t usually have to acknowledge that other people might have had it worse

then he goes on the Quest where he finds his first One True Love, and that’s where it turns even worse because usually the quest is where things start to go right for the Hero™, instead for jon they start to go wronger, because first he has to go undercover which pretty much tests most of his belief/code system, he falls in love with a girl he has to betray, half of his friends and his lord commander die along the way, while he’s off doing his thing winterfell gets taken/burned and robb dies when jon openly stated that he also was going to the wall to defend his family and keep them safe (yeaaah worked out real well), when he goes back to the wall he has to fight the people he lived with for months, the woman he loves dies in his arms and he can’t do anything about it and he’s aware it couldn’t have gone any other way, people put defending the wall on him and then put his loyalty in question, when stannis shows up with a legitimization (which is everything he ever wanted) he refuses because he doesn’t want to accidentally steal his siblings’s inheritance (which was what cat was so worried about hahaha) and actively chooses the crappy defending the realm life all over again. also in all this time his being Chosen™ hasn’t manifested or helped him in any way whatsoever - actually all his honor-moral code related baggage is what  moral dilemmas come from that. like, your usual chosen hero™ would always take the right decision and it all turns out good eventually, jon takes the morally right decision and it all turns SOUR eventually

at this point he finally gets elected LC, thanks to his friends also pitching in, which is about the one fantasy hero™ thing that’s happened for now. should be good, yes?

lol no, because he ends up with THAT hellish responsibility at sixteen, since he thinks that he has absolutely to be even better than that now and he has very specific notions about how you should lead and he knows he has to take unpopular decisions/decisions that he doesn’t necessarily like, he ends up either having to send his friends away forreal (sam) or detaching from them (pyp/grenn/the likes) and when as far as he knows he learns that his sister is married to ramsay he can’t do anything about it

never mind that it’s the same situation as when he had to pick the watch or robb in book one - he went there to defend his family and now being there actually prevents him from helping them in person. ops. meanwhile he’s trying to implement a new vision of things which is modern and smart and actually makes sense because why fighting the wildlings when you have ZOMBIES coming. your usual Chosen One™ would get people to approve just because he’s the Chosen One

instead jon gets stabbed to death - okay, that was also because he wanted to go get arya but it was the last straw, people were pissed over the wildlings plan first and foremost

so basically he’s gone through all the Chosen One™ steps but in reverse - he loses his family which did love him instead of finding another one that makes the first pale in comparison, he does find a new one who loves him but has to alienate most of its members for responsibility reasons as a consequence of what should have been the crowning achievement of his life choices (which eventually is NOT one), he falls in love and they don’t drag the UST forever but they never get a chance to be together without small print in between, he chooses the admittedly most masochistic life he could for his family as well and half of them die and he can’t do a thing for the other half, every other mentor-like figure he runs into after ned dies, instead of finding validation he ends up having to isolate himself and on top of everything HE STILL DOESN’T FUCKING KNOW HE’S THE CHOSEN ONE™

so instead of his life going better the more he learns stuff and matures as a person, he gets murdered. by the people he trusts and who were supposed to be his new family. haha?

never mind that when he finds out he’s the Chosen One™ it won’t bring him closure because all he ever wanted was being full stark like his father/siblings and then bam he’s going to find out his father’s actually targaryen and what does that even mean to him?

on top of that being AA will just be a pain because I don’t believe for a second he’s not going to get leftover ptsd and who the hell is gonna help him deal with it? or how is he ever getting over his *brothers* murdering him? and people are going to ask stuff of him all over again and he’s gonna have to go slay a mythical monster and if I know grrm it’s not gonna be fun, pretty or cathartic FOR HIM

on top of that, Chosen Hero™ fulfills the prophecy and gets a realm to rule and everyone lives happily ever after. money is that if jon does get that realm (and I think he is because he has the best claim if he's legitimate and most likely it'll turn out he was on the targ side but ROBB also legitimized him so he has double the legitimization), he’s going to hate every second of it and he’ll take it because a) duty, b) literally no one else is available, and like this guy didn’t want to rule a realm or be a king or anything he just wanted to be a stark, and instead he’s going to have to after all that shit thanks to Magical And Noble Heritage he hadn’t even known he had and probably didn’t even want up to that point because since when jon wanted to be a targ? yeah since never

obviously I hope he manages to be somewhat happy regardless because the alternative is too miserable, but basically being a Chosen Hero™ is what makes jon’s life worse rather than better and the fact that hew went through all the regular self-discovery journey for the fantasy hero list doesn’t mean he’s not flipping that over in his sl. the fact that he stayed a decent person more or less throughout it and that he hasn’t turned into a bitter asshole also doesn’t change the main point XD

tldr: jon snow is not a typical fantasy hero because he deconstructs that trope into tiny little bits same as robb deconstructed the arthurian flawless king hero trope

now ^^^^^ THAT was what I originally wrote for that meta but adding on to what I said in those tags

okay so... there is a certain tendency to also make the chosen one™ special in the sense that he's kind of goals - good looking, rich or set to inherit, gallant, takes the initiative, he's like.. social or anyway immediately makes friends etc and all that jazz which jon... doesn't really fit

like jon is an introvert who immediately makes friends just with outcasts and his siblings also bc he feels like one but he's hardly a social butterfly and charms everyone wherever he walks by

I mean ffs says all that the only person he charmed in that sense is stannis who is the literal only person in charge in the books who is more introvert than him and has worse communication issues and appreciates ppl going straight to the point

on top of that in the book he looks like ned.... and arya looks like ned and ned isn't described as being particularly handsome that was brandon so he's not even like... I mean kit h. is v. pretty and I think he was a good choice for the role and I'll die on the hill that he was born to play that character and he did it well but book!jon doesn't have that kinda pretty face so the concept that he's the HOT alternative to anyone to me is kind of iffy bc he's not

he's shit at social interactions and at PR which is why robb and him would have been a key winning ticket like he has a better idea of the larger picture but robb would have actually made sure ppl didn't turn against them bc he actually was good at that but like he doesn't go around rallying armies in his name does he

the one time he's been with a girl it was ygritte and like he courted her without realizing it and then she had to pursue him and he barely knew wtf to do on top of the fact that they slept with ghost in the middle of them like a sword which..... is.... I mean sleeping with the sword in the middle was a thing to make sure the maiden stayed a maiden and he's the one who is like i CAN'T HAVE SEX WITH HER EVEN IF I WANT TO BECAUSE I'M TECHNICALLY SPYING ON THEM like... he's not... gallant-knight coded

never mind that the moment they do the do she basically does everything until he decides to try the oral which I mean... isn't exactly alphadominatingmale out of jon which is not a given with the trope he's supposed to represent like he's not smooth he's not suave he's like WHAT THE FUCK when ygritte tells him he has a pretty face bc most likely no one else told him that and he like... doesn't pursue people like that in general which is also not exactly 100% what that trope usually goes for

we can add that he has a lot of passive-aggressive little shit sarcasm in him that they didn't let him go for in the show but like... usually chosen heroes™ don't think what he thinks about selyse in general

we can also add that he's not automatically above being better than his position like... he doesn't take winterfell bc ygritte is dead but he did think he'd have taken the deal sansa or not if stannis had said he could marry her and not val and if she wasn't dead, he basically went off the rails at the dude he was fighting with thinking about robb telling him that he couldn't be lord of wf because he was a bastard and he's absolutely not in the frame of mind of 'well I was born a bastard who cares it doesn't define me'

he's obsessed to the point of unhealthy with actually being defined by it which is why he was better off with the wildlings aka the only idiots in the realm who don't gaf about that

and that's like... I mean usually if chosen ones™ have parental issues it's like 'you were an orphan and raised by asses who weren't your parents but your parents loved you and you'll find out at some point and you'll be happier for it and make your own family', jon is like... he has the mommy freudian issues of the century bc of how cat treated him, on the other side he's obsessed with living up to ned's/his father's name and he hates that it makes him not-belonging or that he feels like he doesn't even if he does with his siblings, and at the same time when the truth about it comes out he's going to get the cold shower of the century bc like - he's spent all that time thinking BUT DID MY MOTHER WANT ME WHO WAS MY MOTHER and he's going to find out of who it was and how he was born and honestly considering that lyanna most likely did regret running with rhaegar the moment he finds that out and that she died birthing him how is he going to feel? - also he spends his life wanting to live up to his 'father's' name aka ned aka someone known to be honorable to a fault and then it turns out his bio father is... the dude who started that entire rebellion not doing a very honorable thing? - also if jon*erys is a thing idt that he'd take 'I fell in love with my aunt' so nonchalantly as he did in the show tldr: he's never gonna get over his parental issues in a short time and when that particular brick hits him in the face it won't be pretty

like the entire point of jon is that he goes through all the chosenone™ cursus honorum as we'd call it in high school when studying latin but each step that means smth good for the usual chosenone™ to him is something bad, being one is not going to make his life better and throughout the entire thing he does not fit that stereotype when it comes to look, personality, basic traits and familial history and like hell he's going to have the happy ending tied up with the bow - like I think he gets a bittersweet one and eventually goes off with the wildlings bc he belongs there after being jon snow first of his name (bc like hell he's not reclaiming his bastard background at the end of this entire mess I'm eating my hat if he doesn't) after splitting the seven realms and fixing things but that's hardly the neat happy ending the chosenone™ usually gets so that's my two cents

... christ this was long *raises hands*

[anothertimdrakestan]

Light Of My Life Jason Todd x Reader

LINK TO PT 2

Words: 2.7k

Requested? Yes! From a lovely anon!

“Hello! May I have a Jason Todd x reader where the reader is a really powerful superhero from the avengers and is well known and she met Jason when she was hopping on rooftops in Gotham (for fun idk haha) and the reader feels lonely and they bond over that with Jason and they start dating and when Jason’s brothers find out they’re dating (a few months later) they freak out and say things like “YOURE DATING THEM?! How did this happen?!” Thank you!”

LINK TO PROMPTS  -> REQUESTS ARE STILL OPEN!

Ok so I took this as a new avenger I hope that’s okay :). It’s mostly selfish that I wanted to write my own badass hero for Jason to simp for... can you blame me? She’s basically a heroin Livewire for those of you that watched Supergirl. Also you really set me up for a long fic so strap in anon, you did this to yourself by giving me an amazing request! Hope you enjoy! xoxo

“You’re kidding right. Gotham? Mr. Seclusive Bat Brat’s turf? Not a chance in hell.” you groaned hearing your newest mission. “Sorry Y/H/N you’re headed to nut-case capital” your comm buzzed back and you rolled your eyes. At least it was a short trip right? Confirm with Dr. Strange exactly the newest magical item you needed to look for, find it, and get out. Maybe zap a couple villains for shits n giggles. Grabbing your motorcycle you headed out, praying for a short trip. 

Arriving at your hotel you began to set up, having powers meant no bulky suit which was nice but Strange had set you up with about a million photos, books, and what looked like scrolls about a stupid helmet. Apparently all the helmet did was let the wearer float and see in the damn dark, half of the avengers could do that shit already. But when THE Dr. Strange makes a request of the Avengers, they comply. 

You’d heard about a drug leader with an eye for shiny objects, and you decided to start there hoping you could really give him a show. Waiting for night to fall you headed out, appreciating the constantly terrible weather in Gotham, lightning cracked in the sky exhilarating you, taking it as a sign from your gods that they liked this mission you felt the electricity run through your veins as you sped towards the ring a friend of yours had tipped you off about. Propping your bike up on the side of the building you felt the electricity dancing through the wires of the building and you zapped into them, travelling in to the main room.

Jason just about pissed his pants. He watched this hot motorcycle chick park her (sexy ass) bike outside the drug ring he was busting that night and right when he was about to put on some Red Hood Charm™ he watched her turn into a giant spart and shoot into the building through the camera system. Realizing she was going to do his job for her he decided to watch from above, trying to figure out who the mystery meta was. As he sat perched on the top of the building he couldn’t help but hope it was Y/H/N, one of the most prominent new Avengers but what was she doing in Gotham? Regardless he sat, ready for the lightshow.

What you saw inside the building was horrific. Disgusting men were throwing cash around to take home young, terrified girls. Disregarding the mission at hand you flashed into the middle of the “show”. Immediately guns were out but that had never stopped you. Dissapaiting into one of the lights you enjoyed how some of the men shrieked at your powers. “Shit dog I think it’s Y/H/N but what’s she doin in Gotham?” never able to pass an opportunity to boast you appeared behind the group smirking “hey boys. Don’t there girls look a little young for you? That said, you should let them go or I’ll get angry. And you’d be shocked with how angry I can get - literally.” you held up a hand letting sparks dance in you palm. What you didn’t expect was to see a blundering idiot in a red mask crash through the ceiling. 

Before you could light him up he called “uh hey! It’s Y/H/N right? Big fan. Red Hood pleasure to meet you. See, this is usually my territory, drugs and all, but I’d be happy to share with a lovely lady like you so-” you scoffed. “Shut up BatBrat I don’t intend on swinging minor league with you tonight, I just want these girls out of here and to talk with you” you gestured to the drug lord, annoyed this Red Batman or whatever his name is was getting in your way. “Minor leagues huh? Princess if you think this is any type of game you’re wrong, we don’t play by the rules here.” and he pulled out two guns and began firing. This shocked you. You thought the bats held the same standards as the majority of the Avengers, no killing. This clearly went down the drain as you watched him blow the brains out of the majority of the drug dealers. 

Deciding this wasn’t the night for you to successfully capture the man you needed, especially because Stark would kill you if you got in a fight with another vigilante on an away mission. While Red Mask went hand to hand with the guards you helped the girls escape, shooing them towards the exit and making them promise to be safer. After securing the public’s safety you took a moment to watch Red Armour fight. He was trained you had to admit, he ducked and punched like he’d been doing in for years, he was refined in skill but reckless and practice, it was fascinating. “You gonna help or is that not in the Avenger’s handbook?” you smirked as he got pinned by a couple guards. As he was preoccupied you zapped to the drug lord, shocking him enough to put him down long enough to move him. Forming an electric rope around his limbs you began dragging him out. “Sorry RedBat I got what I came for, you make a good side kick though” with a wink you walked out, not before hearing him shout “ITS RED HOOD SPARKY” 

In one of the Avenger’s safe houses you’d tied up your captive. “This is super easy buddy, all I need to know is where to find the Helmet of Razadazar” what a stupid fucking name, it doesn’t even sound cool. Knowing he’d feign innocence you prepared yourself for light, pleasure for you, not so much for him...

“You’re. Lying. Todd.” Tim’s fingers flew across the BatComputer. “Y/H/N in Gotham? EPIC!” Jason rolled his eyes. “Drake she definitely wasn’t all that amazing, plus she gave the impression she wasn’t long for Gotham so it’s probably nothing. Newbie training for the A list.” Tim sighed, Jason was probably right, the Avengers left Gotham to Batman, no one wanted a piece of it. “Alright, but you gotta tell me everything, I think she shorted all the camera footage so you better use all the detail.” Jason agreed, secretly excited to recount his experience, maybe fangirl a little. All he knew was that he was going to find you, the only game he wanted to play was chasing you.

After taking a short lecture from Captain A about aggressive torture techniques and why they should be AVOIDED you had gotten your answer. Apparently an underground auction with other-worldly treasures was the place to be. At least Gotham’s wealthy were making everything easy for you tonight. 

Jason adjusted his bowtie as he waited to enter the auction. Attending as Bruce Wayne was easy, he did owe Damian a barn now, but it was a worthy pay off for Damian to endure some father-son time as a cover up while Jason played billionaire. Finding an excuse to go other than finding Y/H/N wasn’t hard either, and now here he was, hoping you’d stand out. Let’s just say fate helped a little.

Sitting at a table with your fake identity as Ms. Stark was equally as easy. Excited to be meeting Mr. Wayne the Gothamite who was seated next to you. As he sat down he looked younger than the paparazzi pictures showed. You stuck out a hand to shake and he took it gently, kissing it, to your surprise. He looked at your smirking, “looking lovely tonight Sparky” you’re jaw dropped. Mr. Wayne I had no idea Red Cap was your speed” you whispered, shocked, but slightly comforted to know you had your sidekick here.”It’s. Red. Hood. And just as you Ms. Stark, this identity is not my own.” it made sense, but it was still impressive. 

Having exchanged pleasantries with the table the auction began. Item after item went, you and Hood slid in low bets to seem interested, but you wondered why he had came. Then the helmet was up. You sucked in a breath knowing the plan was to win the bid then snatch the helmet. You bid politely against someone at table 37 until it was yours. “Going once” “Going twi-” the auctioneer stopped as Mr. Wayne raised his paddle, tripling your bet. The auctioneer looked shocked at the amount, not letting you bid again before he shouted “SOLD to the sir at table 14!” For the second time that night your jaw dropped. “I need that helmet!” you whisper yelled. “That old thing? Sure princess. You just have to get dinner with me tomorrow” you realized he just spent millions and millions of dollars just to win your time. “Deal” you hissed. 

Jason decided not to tell his brothers about his date. Feeling like it was a once in a lifetime opportunity he wasn’t ruining it. After hiding the helmet in the BatCave he was waiting for you at a candle lit table for two. When you walked in he knew it was love at first sight. Sitting down across from him you smirked. “You clean up nice..” he finished for you “Todd. Jason Todd.” taken aback you’d heard about him, the kid that lived, part of the Wayne family. “Well if we’re going real names Mr. Todd what do I have to lose, y/n l/n” you smiled, drinking in his appearance. He was dashing you had to admit, confident and laidback it was alluring. “Beautiful name to fit a gorgeous girl” he winked, to your shock, making you blush. 

The two of you spent the night throwing snide comments, compliments, and flirtation between you. Something about Jason just clicked, it felt right. After hours at the table you and Jason went for a walk around Gotham while he showed you his most memorable spots. Somehow the two of you wound up on the top of a skyscraper staring at the stars. Finally having a person who understood the burden of heroism but wasn’t judging you for being new was refreshing. Only knowing each other for hours it felt like it had been years, confiding in each other about some of your deepest secrets. Jason was amazed with your powers, but you explained that they were hard to control, bottling electricity up in anything was difficult, batteries rotted, lightbulbs broke, and sometimes it felt like you were no different. He watched as you showed him how sparks danced across you skin and though he didn’t tell you, they’d been sizzling around you since dinner, an aura vibrating around you as you laughed, cried, and smiled with him.

“So Lightning McQueen, what do the sparks do when you’re happy?” you grimaced at another of his nicknames and explained how they crackle and pop sometimes taking on certain weather-like patterns. “Huh, well let’s see some lightning then” Jason grabbed your hand pulling you into his chest, using the other hand to lift your eyes to meet his as he leaned in. You sped up the process, hands wrapping around his neck, crashing his lips on yours. He was right, lightning struck across the sky as sparks danced between the two of you. Pulling away he grinned as he breathlessly looked at you. “Beautiful” You pulled him in for more, deciding maybe Gotham wasn’t so bad if he was here. 

“Why does Y/H/N always get the Gotham missions?” Peter Parker groaned. “Well seeing as she practically lives there it’s easy” the rest of the gang retorted as you blushed. “I guess I just really like the weather” you grinned while everyone rolled their eyes knowing the reason Gotham was having more lightning than ever was no coincidence. 

“Honey I’m homeeeeee” you squealed as you zapped into your kitchen. Jason had learned not to be alarmed when you appeared out of thin air and he opened his arms as you fell into his embrace. “Hello to my favorite double A” he grinned when you gave him a zap, he knew you loved all his nicknames. He pulled you out of his embrace looking you dead in the eyes. “Sparky it’s time you meet my family, you know Tim is going to kill me for hiding you” You were so excited, timing never aligned or one of you was injured or not on Earth but finally, it was time to meet the family. 

You’d snuck into the manor before, but everytime it seemed to get bigger. Jason squeezed your hand warning you about how annoying his family was. As you entered you took in everything. The cutest little boy was chasing a grown man with a sword, a teenage boy sat on a kitchen cupboard shotgunning an energy drink, all while a nice elderly man chopped carrots calmly in the kitchen. Breaking the silence you began to name each boy “Uh hi guys! I’m y/n you probably know me as Y/H/N but I’m so excited to be here! I’m guessing Damian, Dick, Tim, and the wonderful Alfred!” all the boys froze. Alfred smiled and continued chopping.  “Oh my god oh my god oh my god” Tim jumped off the cupboard wide eyed staring at you. “Todd how do you know her?” Dick looked at you, shocked to see an Avenger not in costume next to his brother. 

“Actually guys I’ve known Y/N for a while, remember Tim that night? We’ve kept in touch since and I’m lucky enough to be her boyfriend!” Jason kissed you on the cheek and immediately Tim passed out. As Dick poured water on the teen Damian walked up to you and you bent down to look him eye to eye. “Prove you’re Y/H/N because I don’t believe Todd could pull a famous hero like Y/H/N” Jason started “No y/n it’s fine” but you wanted to make a good impression so you zapped into the light fixture, counted to 5, then appeared on the cupboard Tim had been on, only to zap back nex tot Jason. “TT I’m impressed Todd. Y/n let me say I’m impressed with your recent activity with the Avengers. I know what it is like to be surrounded by older, entitled idiots.” Damian stuck out a tiny hand and you shook it, making sure to give him a little shock. 

Having woken up Tim began rapid fire questions. “So Todd lied you’re here? And you like him? Can I just say you’re so cool. Would you let me run some tests on your powers? What’s the biggest lightshow you’ve done? What is spiderman like? I feel like I’m quicker than him but I don’t know. Do you love Jason?” you tried to take in all the questions. “Yes I’m here, yes, thank you, sure I guess, biggest was cracking a small moon in half - don’t asl I was mad, spidey is cool kind of a dweeb but, he’s pretty quick but I haven’t seen you, and yes I do love Jason” you took a deep breath. Jason smiled at you, glad you could keep up with Tim’s q & a. Suddenly Tim grabbed Dick’s arm and started running to the BatCave, “okay y/n I’m gonna go set up some tests come down in a minute. Todd you lucky asshole you bring her down in five okay?” before you could reply he was gone. 

Taking a deep breath Jason wrapped his arms around you. “I’m so glad you can deal with them, but if Drake gets really bad knock him out cold” you chuckled, knowing that dealing with the Wayne’s was more difficult for Jason than it was for you. “Anything for you babe” you grinned. “Always the light of my life y/n” you rolled your eyes knowing the jokes would never stop, one of the many reasons you loved Red Hood with all your heart. 

haha I never do A/N but do y’all get the pun in the title hehehehe wow I need to go to bed. Also check out the pun in my masterlist lolz. Now, dear reader, that you read this post we have an inside joke together hehe... love you! xoxo

[unmaskedagain]

Agent Marinette

Okay I have struggled all week with a massive case of Writers block and today I beat it. This a crossover fic. Guess it by the end.

In retrospect, Marinette should’ve realized eventually other forces outside of Paris would take an interest in the masked heroine. At least they had been polite enough to wait until AFTER Hawkmoth was defeated.  

Marinette was eleven when she became the hero Ladybug. And her world shattered a bit.

Marinette was fourteen when Hawkmoth was finally defeated.

Marinette was fourteen when Ladybug retired. And her world shattered again, this time a bit more.

It had taken nearly every miraculous they had to take the villain down but eventually, Gabriel Agreste was taken down, his memories of the miraculous erased. (Nathalie with him) His son Adrien Agreste surrendered his own miraculous, his position as Chat Noir, and his own memories of being a hero and everything he’d ever learned of magic and Kwami. All to prevent his father from ever learning of them again.

However, erasing his memories of his life as Chat Noir, unavoidably included erasing his memories of his friendship Ladybug, with Marinette. A friendship that had grown stronger, in and outside the mask, over fighting the evil that haunted Paris back together. Keyword: together.

On the same day, Ladybug had lost her best friend, Marinette did too. Both lost the boy she thought she’d marry one day. They could never be together. She’d have to lie to him for the rest of their lives. Marinette would never be able to do that. And she wouldn’t let Adrien’s sacrifice be in vain.

So she distanced herself from him. She couldn’t look at him without seeing Chat Noir. She couldn’t look at him, knowing she knew just about everything about him but he knew nothing about her. To him, Marinette was just some girl in his class; a sort of friend he was never really that close to.

Strangers, really.

It was why Marinette transferred out of Bustier’s class. The best thing for her heart was to stay away.

Still, she thought in a way, it was a happy ending. The best happy ending she could get. Hawkmoth was gone. Paris was safe. Ladybug was retired. Fu had reclaimed all Kwami and had disappeared. The world was good.

Until it wasn’t. Until one rainy Thursday. Her parents had gone out for a date night. They never made it home. There had been an accident. The other driver had been drunk. The funeral was on a Tuesday.

Marinette’s world had shattered once again, more than ever before.

Marinette was an orphan.

Her grandmother Gina sold the bakery, put the money from the sale and the life insurance into an account for Marinette, and moved Marinette into a nearby apartment, and then was gone. Legally, the older woman was Marinette’s guardian. But otherwise, Marinette was on her own. It was fine. Her dad had always warned her that his mom was a free spirit who never liked to be tied down.

She would talk with her grandmother once every other month if she was lucky. They primarily only communicated through email. The reception was spotted in the parts of the world Gina like to frequent.

At only fourteen, Marinette got used to paying bills, buying groceries, and virtually being an adult. She got used to living alone. Just like she got used to not being a hero anymore. Just like she got used to not having any friends after Lila came knocking on the class’s door.

A year later, the young girl was thriving. Her grades were at the top of the school, right after Max. She was class treasurer and on the track team, having missed the feeling of running as fast she could. She started Kuoshu classes; her mother had always wanted her to learn Chinse martial arts for defense. And Marinette missed the adrenaline she used to get after a fight.

It was a good life. A simple life. Marinette had only normal life worries to be concerned about.

…Again, she really should’ve known the other shoe would drop eventually.

Still, no fifteen-year-old girl who was minding her own business, casually walking down the street, wanted to suddenly have a black bag over her and tossed into the back of a van. In fact, it was every girl, woman, and human being’s worst nightmare.

She was tied up. She was gagged. She couldn’t see. She couldn’t hear. Marinette had no idea how much time had passed. Or where they were taking her. Or who had taken her? She fought the tears that burned in her eyes as she struggled with the bonds around her hands. No matter how hard she tried, they wouldn’t break or budge. By the coldness of it, she knew she was either in handcuff or something similar made of metal.

Finally, after what seemed like hours, Marinette felt herself be picked up and carried. She struggled against her assailant. She tried to kick her with her bound legs, hit with her tied fists. Nothing.

Marinette found herself being lower onto something. A chair she quickly realizes as she pressed her back to it.

Suddenly, the metal band around her hands released. Marinette quickly pulled the black bag off her head, undid the tap around her mouth, and took the plugs out of her ears.

She was in a mostly black room that only lights overhead, a vent the size of a phone, the table she sat at, and a large mirror across from her. Marinette figured it was a two-way mirror-like on cop shows, and that she was being watched. However, what concerned her most was that there was no sign of any door. Just walls and that mirror.

There was no escape.

Marinette glared at the mirror, at whoever was behind it.

She didn’t know how long she waited as she plotted her escape. Considering all variables for when they came back to her. Would they have guns? How many people would there be? Could she fight her way out? And just who her kidnappers could be? Child traffickers? Serial killer? Her past enemy, Hawkmoth, comes back for revenge? Who?

When a portion of the wall, next to the mirror opened, Marinette tried not to flinch back in surprise.

In walked a man at least twice her age. He wore a black suit and tie with a serious expression on his face. He was handsome with short dark hair and dark eyes and cheekbones that could cut glass.

The door closed behind him once he stepped through. He said nothing as he sat down in the chair across from her. They started at each other silently.

           Marinette cracked first, “Who are you? What do you want? Where am I?”

           A small smile appeared on the man’s face, “You’re a very hard girl to track down, Marinette Dupain-Cheng. I’d have thought it would’ve been easier considering all you’ve done.” He had an American accent.

“Track? What?” Why would he want to track her down? “I didn’t do anything. Nothing! Okay?!”

           He gave her a curious look, “Really? Well, I wouldn’t call saving all of Paris on a nearly everyday basis for what two years, nothing.” He crossed his arms and leaned back in his chair. “Don’t try to deny it. We have pictures, videos; evidence.”

           It was like someone had thrown ice water over her head. Marinette swallowed the lump that had built in her throat. “Who. Are. You.” She managed to get out.

“Me? I’m a friend,” He answered. “You can call me Black Heart.”

“Black Heart?” Marinette snorted. “You’re serious?”

“Oh because Ladybug is so much better,” He rolled his eyes. “It doesn’t matter. I have questions. You’re going to answer them.”

           He wanted to know about the miraculous, she guessed. Or how she got her powers. Marinette crossed her arms, “I have nothing to say.”

           Black Heart chuckled and stood up. He put his hands on the table, “Listen very carefully, Marinette. Because there are only two ways we can do this.”

           Marinette smirked, “Is one of them the easy way?”

           A look she couldn’t recognize briefly flashed over Black Heart’s face but gone just as quick. “No,” He answered.

“Oh.”

“Who are you?” He asked her.

           She paused before answering, “…My name is Marinette but you know that. I was the hero Ladybug but you know that as well.”

“What happened to HawkMoth?”

           She felt fine answering that. However, she gave the same answer she gave to the press, “Hawkmoth was defeated. He was stripped of his powers and destroyed.”

“You killed him?”

           It wasn’t the first time Ladybug had been asked that question. “…Yes.” She lied though it didn’t feel like much of one. Hawkmoth was dead after all.

           Blackheart nodded. “What happened to Chat Noir? And the other heroes? Dead too?”

           Marinette fought to keep her face blank, her fists clenched. “Yes,” She said. “They were causalities of the final fight with Hawkmoth.” Technically not a lie. Every Parisian hero had given up their miraculous once and for all after Hawkmoth was gone. There was no need for them anymore.

           The man raised an eyebrow, “Gabriel Agreste is still very much alive last I checked.” She reared back as if slapped. “So is Adrien is otherwise known as Chat Noir. Alya Cesaire aka Rena Rouge, her turtle boyfriend. The monkey guy. The tiger. The snake; Luka, I believe. All alive and kicking. So much for that lie…”

“They were retired,” Marinette growled. “Permanently.”

“Truth,” Blackheart nodded. “How did you erase their memories?”

           It had taken the combined power of Fu, Marinette, Tikki, Wayzz, and Plagg to do it. “I didn’t do anything.”

           Black Heart gave her a hard look, “Where do your powers come from?”

           Marinette smiled, “I don’t have any powers.”

“Fine! Where do Ladybug’s powers come from?”

“I am Ladybug,” She told him. “And Ladybug doesn’t have any powers.”

“You mean anymore?”

           Marinette nodded slowly.

           Black Heart sat back in his chair, “You’re telling me that you busted your ass saving Paris for two years, only to have your powers taken from you? You were tossed to the side just like that? Like you were nothing? I’m supposed to believe that.”

“I wasn’t needed anymore.” By anyone.

“You took down one of the biggest threats to this world,” The man said. “You fought. You bled. You sacrificed everything. From what our intelligence has gathered, you even gave up the love of your young life. Only to be cast aside; alone, forgotten, abandoned…”

“That’s not what happened,” Marinette shook her head.”

“You weren’t useful anymore,” Blackheart tutted. “So you were thrown away; left to fend for yourself in a cold, cruel world. No friends, no family,”

“Shut up,” Marinette whispered.

The man leaned forward, “How many internships did you turn down because you were too busy being a hero? Two? Three?”

“Shut up!” She said louder.

“Wait, it was five. That’s right.” He continued on as if she said nothing. “Five internships with some of the biggest names in fashion today. And you gave it up. Now what you have to show for it? Nothing!” He said. “You live this mundane life halfheartedly, struggling to find your place again, trying to get back even a fraction of the feeling you had when you fighting for this world!”

“SHUT UP!” Marinette roared.

           Black Heart shook his head, “I asked you who you are. But I already know who you are. I know who you were. You were a hero, a martyr, a leader, a little princess who believed in fairytales and the goodness of people. You were someone who believed this world could still be saved! So I just want to know three things. I have three questions to ask you and then you never have to see me again! You can go back to pretending to be whatever the hell you want. I don’t care.”

“What?” Marinette asked. “What could you possibly want to know?” Need to know that he didn’t already. “Huh? Just tell me!”

“Do you still believe this world can be saved?”

Silence.

“…What?”

“Answer the question.”

Marinette blinked, “Yes. I do.”

“Are you still willing to fight for it?” Black Heart asked.

“Always.”

           He smiled, and leaned back in his chair, “Last question… What do you know about Shield?”

           Well, that was a twist. Marinette’s eyes went wide. She knew a lot about shield. More than any normal teenage girl should. But a former Ladybug had been an Agent. And Tikki told her everything... It was founded by Peggy Carter and Howard Stark. Shield started the Avengers. They had been protecting the world for decades.

“A lot,” Marinette answered. “What do you want?

           The man gave her a small smile, “World peace.”

           The doors of the room opened again in walked a beautiful young woman with long hair a bright smile on her face, “You done traumatizing the poor girl yet.”

           The man groaned, “Dammit, Skye.”

           Marinette officially joined Shield the next day.

           Skye showed her the ropes and explained until she garnered some trust, most would give her their full name; maybe only even their code name.

           In another life, Skye hadn’t joined Shield until she was well into her twenties. In this life, she was recruited by a woman named Hill as soon as she graduated high school. It had been nearly ten years since. Skye had met Black Heart when she was about three years in, and they had disliked each other.

           Now they mostly tolerated the others’ existence. Only really dealing with each other on missions.

           Skye would be gone the next day. And Marinette would only see her once in a blue moon.

           Marinette would withdraw from school and finish her education taught by some of the greatest minds in the world. She would give up her apartment, and leave Paris. She would call her grandmother one last time for what would be months to let her know she was going to travel the world; her grandmother was pleased as she had done the same when she was not much older than Marinette. Gina disregarded the fact that she had been a legal adult at the time.

           It would be the last call she made from her phone. The line was disconnected and the phone tossed.

           Then she visited the place that had been her parents’ bakery, not their graves; because she would rather remember them alive, happy, and loving, then dead in the ground. And she told them goodbye.

           Before leaving Paris for good, she dropped off a perfectly wrapped green and black present off at the Agreste home. Adrien’s birthday was coming up. Inside the gift box was a black leather jacket with cat-shaped buttons. She handed the gift to Nathalie.

           This time, however, Marinette was quick to tell the older woman that MDC was sewn inside on the jacket; multiple times.

           Then she walked away; not looking back once.

It was the last thing Adrien would ever get from her. The last thing he would unknowingly have of Chat Noir. Ironically, the masked hero the blond had come to idolize in recent times.

The jacket was all she could give him of his as a hero, and not even a fraction of all she had wished to give him.

           One day he would forget her altogether. One day she would just be a random former classmate of his whose name he couldn’t quite remember.

           However, Marinette would never forget Adrien Agreste and Chat Noir. She would remember when Adrien was Chat Noir, one of the greatest heroes Paris would ever know. And she would remember Chat Noir was Adrien, and Adrien proved to be a greater hero than even he ever dared dream Chat Noir would be.

           Marinette would remember because she owed him that much at least.

           The night she left Paris would be the last time she dreamed of a life with Adrien. A life where they got to grow old together; one where wedding bells were heard. And he’d kiss her every time she left. And she’d kiss him every time she came back. A life where they got to see where their love would take them, and maybe one day hear the pitter-patter of little feet on their floor.

           A life where Marinette did actually become a fashion designer. A life where she married Adrien, Alya was still her best friend, her parents were alive, the world was good and kind, and two heroes got the finale they deserved.

           A life where love was enough, and they got their happy ending. The forever they never got would haunt her forever.

           Marinette was fifteen when she went she joined shield and went back to doing what she did best; helping people, saving the world.

Marinette was fifteen when she became an Agent of Shield.

           Marinette was fifteen when she learned how to shoot a gun.

           Marinette was fifteen when she joined Black Hear became her mentor. The training had been a killer. More than once, Marinette had nearly quit.

           Blackheart would just shake his head at her and say, “Life is tough, kid,” He’d give her an easy smile. “But so are you.”

           Marinette smiled.

“You and me?” Grant said. “We’re the same. We’re Kevlar. We do whatever it takes to complete the mission. We get the job done. Keep our feelings and emotions; personal wants and desires in check. For the greater good. Its who we are. Whatever it takes.”

“Whatever it takes,” Marinette repeated back. “But that doesn’t mean we have to shut people out; each other out.”

“Yes, it does,” Grant said firmly. “Yes, I do.” He stopped talking and look Marinette in the eyes, “There are things about me you don’t know. I’ve done things I… Thing you wouldn’t like if you knew.”

“We all have,” Marinette shrugged at her father figure. “It’s a part of the job. I get it.”

           Grant smiled at her, “I know you do. I know you would. We’re the same. We know this world isn’t all happiness and rainbows but we don’t stop trying to save it. We don’t stop believing it can be saved; that what we’re doing has a purpose. But there are things I can’t tell you. Things about me… that you wouldn’t like if you knew. One day, I hope you understand though. I know we will. We’re the same. But You’re good.”

“So are you,” Marinette said. “Grant, you’re like the best guy I know. You’re good.”

“Not always,” Grant looked away. “You need to know, Marinette, I’m not a good man.”

“I believe you are.” She stated, “You can’t convince me otherwise.”

           It would a year later after much trust was built, and they had gone of dozens and dozens of missions that she finally learned his real name.

           Grant.

Over the next few years, Grant became like a father to her. And to him, she was like a daughter. He taught her everything he knew. Marinette did everything she could to make him proud. He made her believe that they could really save the world, change the world for the better.

Where Grant went, she followed; most of the time. Sky would slowly start to show up more and more; until it was clear she wasn’t going anyway.

Whenever she was hurt, and the mission was over, Grant would tell a story about his past.

           Her favorites were the ones about a monster who loved the sky. It was clear that it was about him and Skye. “Do you want to hear a story, princess?” He smiled. “It’s about a man who struggled with his demons his entire life. Who asked for love throughout his entire life. But he never got it. Until she came. She made him feel important. She made him laugh. She made him better. She became his world.”

           Marinette couldn’t understand what was stopping the two from getting together.

           She met Nick Fury when she was seventeen and was sent on the first on her first solo mission.

When she was eighteen, Grant and Skye were approached by a man named Coulson. The same Coulson that had supposedly been killed by a god named Loki. The strangest part was Marinette was tapped to join too.

The team consisted of Coulson, May, Grant, Skye, Fitz, Simmons, and Marinette.

They were a team. They became a family.

However, then John Garrett was revealed to be Hydra; a man Marinette had thought she knew well. (Grant killed him. And she mourned with him the man they thought John was.)

           Then project insight happened. Nick Fury was killed. Captain America exposed all of Shield in an effort to reveal Hydra.

           Shield was labeled a terrorist organization.

           The team was on their own.

But, Marinette thought more than once over the next coming months, at least they had each other.

They ended up at a place called Providence. They were given lie detector tests by Agent Eric Koenig. “Fury designed this himself,” The portly man said. “He wanted a lie detector Romanoff couldn’t beat.”

“Did she?” Grant asked

“Like Fury would tell!”

                       Marinette sat in the machine and tried to relax.

“We’re going to start with some easy question,” Eric told her. “Can I have your full name?”

“Marinette Clarissa Dupain-Cheng.”

“Eye color?”

“Blue,” Marinette stated.

           The agent nodded, “Have you ever been married?”

           Marinette shook her head, “No.”

“Please list your immediate living family.”

“My grandmother Gina,” Marinette answered. “My grandfather. I considered my team my family though.”

“What’s the difference between an egg and a rock?”

           Marinette gave him an “Are you Serious�� look, “One's food, ones a weapon.”

“Have you ever heard of project insight?”

“Never.”

“Have you ever had contact with Alexander Pierce.”

“I have,” She answered honestly. “Once. Just after the New York Invasion. Agent Hill introduced me.”

“You wash up on a desert island, alone. Sitting in the sand is a box. What’s in the box?”

“How big is the box?” Marinette asked curiously. “How did it get there? What island am I on? Am I near freshwater.”

“Just say the first thing that comes to your mind, Marinette,” He told her. “What’s in the box?”

“A pair of earrings.”

           Eric gives her a funny look but notes her age and shrugs it off. Spy teen girls were still teen girls, after all. “Shield no longer exists. The agency has been labeled a terrorist organization. So why are YOU here.”

           Marinette thought about the question. She had thought about it before. Shield had fallen. No one knew who was or wasn’t Hydra. She should’ve been gone in the wind. However, she had never even considered it. “Shield is all I have. Ward, Skye, Coulson, May, Simmons, Fitz, Trip; they’re all I have. They’re my family.” She told him. “And truthfully, I joined Shield because I believe this world is worth saving. I believe it can still be saved. I believe that it is good in this world, and it’s worth fighting for.”

“I love Lord of the Rings,” Agent Eric Koenig grinned. “Let’s get you a Lanyard, Agent Dupain-Cheng.

           While Skye, May, and Grant stayed at Providence, Marinette joined Coulson and the others.

           When Marinette returned to the base after saving the Cellist lady. The bus was gone. May was gone. Grant and Skye were gone.

           What was left of the team had debated long about what had happened; why the three had left.

           When Coulson said, “Worst case…  We've had a wolf in the herd the whole time.”

           Marinette didn’t believe that at first. Not until she heard the scream. Saw Agent Eric Koenig’s body. Saw the word written on the picture.

           Ward is Hydra.

“Not Ward,” Fitz said.

“Not Ward,” Marinette repeated. “Not Ward.” Skye was wrong. She had to be wrong. Ward couldn’t be Hydra. He wouldn’t. He couldn’t.

           Then Simmons gave the analyze of Agent Eric Koenig’s murder.

“Ward did this,” Simmons said.

           In a fury, Fitz smashed a few things.

           Marinette could only stare in space as the words penetrated her mind.

           Ward is Hydra.

           The man she thought she knew the best.

           The man she had sworn her loyalty to, had given all her trust to, had loved like a father.

           The man who had gotten her to swear loyalty to Shield.

           Grant Ward had been her S.O. Her mentor. Her leader. Her captain.

           Grant Ward was Hydra.

           And just like that, Marinette’s world shattered again.

           And just like that, everything she ever thought she believed in was questioned.

           It would be months before she saw him again, and by then it had been confirmed without a doubt Grant Ward was Hydra. He was the enemy.

           He would try to kill the team multiple times.  Grant Ward would do everything he could to get her alone to speak with and or to Skye. Like he could change their minds. He had gone full psycho Hydra and didn’t seem to be stopping any time soon.

           Marinette was captured by Hydra not long before her twenty-first birthday.

           She was tied up and chained to a desk.

           Grant Ward walked in with an easy smile on his face, “Marinette. This brings back memories.”

“Old Blackheart himself,” The bluenette hissed back. “Good to see you again. Oh, Wait! As your lot puts; Hail Hydra, right?”

           He nodded and sat down across from her, “Ladybug.”

“Just kill me,” Marinette shrugged. “I won’t tell you anything. You know I won’t. I won’t Hydra. You and the rest of the freaking Nazi can go to hell.”

           Ward looked shocked, “Kill you? You really think I would… I would never hurt you, Marinette!” He told her. “You have to know that. I would never want to hurt you.”

“Maybe not want to,” Marinette looked him dead in the eye. “But you will. All apart of the job, right.”

“Do you think this was easy for me?” Grant asked. “You of all people understand how hard it was; the impossible decisions that had to be made. You know what it's like to make a choice that breaks you inside. But we make them anyway. I made them anyway. Because that’s what I do. What we do.”

Marinette shuddered. “A Double Agent. Do what needs to be done. Betray everyone who loves you, cares about you. Because we don’t matter, only the mission does. Right? That’s what you tried to train into me; anything for the mission.”

“No!” Ward shouted. “That’s who you were before I ever met you. You don’t get to put that on me. That’s why Shield wanted you. Because you did whatever it took to stop Hawkmoth for good. Whatever it took for the greater good. That’s how I knew we were the same.”

           Silence.

           Ward stood up, “You’re good. I get that. I’ve always known that. But you understand me. You’re a soldier. I’m a soldier.”

“You are a monster,” Marinette said. “You finally convinced. There is no good for you.”

           Coulson, May, Lincoln, and Skye rescued her not long after.

           Grant and Marinette would face off with each other multiple; fighting to the death; fighting for the cause.

           Then one day, Simmons would be gone, Coulson would go after her, and when they came back; Coulson would tell her Grant Ward was dead. He killed him.

           Marinette wouldn’t ever admit it but her world shattered just a bit.

           However, Marinette would see Grant again but he wasn’t Grant. He was hive. And Hive would nearly take Skye from the team. He would take Lincoln.

           After months of fighting the monster for months; doing whatever it took to bring him down; Lincoln, a pretty blond man with light-colored eyes who dared to be a hero, sacrificed himself.

           And for the first time in years, Marinette was reminded of Adrien Agreste. She had thought about him occasionally, sure. But seeing Skye cry over Lincoln had reminded her just deeply of her own loss. And remember that she was the one who erased his memories. He wanted the last thing he saw to be her before he never remembered her again.

           Marinette was twenty-two when she went to the funeral of Grant Ward. It was in Paris. Marinette was the only one who went. There was nobody to bury but still, Marinette had him laid to rest, not too far away from her parents.

           No matter how hard she had tried, Marinette couldn’t find it in her to hate Grant. She had loved him too much. He had been such a big part of who she was.

           And she owed it to him to finally see him laid to rest. It was her duty, she supposed.

           That was why she buried him in the once place she once thought she’d never return. The place where she once dreamed of another life.

           As she stared at his grave, once again she dreamed about another life.

           A life where Hydra had never returned. Shield had never fallen. The Avengers weren’t torn apart in a civil war. The world didn’t seem to always be on fire. Skye was still an Agent. Fitz and Simmons were married. Tripp was alive. Lincoln was alive. And Grant Ward was good.

           It was a nice dream but she’d leave it in Paris with all rest of her childhood’s hopes, wishes, and dreams.

“You were right,” She told Grant, speaking directly to his headstone as if he was there. “We are the same. I do understand. I’ve always understood. In the end, we always do our duty. Its what defines us. Rest in Peace, Ward.”

           Marinette walked out of the cemetery with her head held high. She would stop for ice cream, and cross paths with a tall, handsome, green-eyed, blond man. He’d look right through her.

           And it only bothered her a little.

           Months after she left Paris again, for good she swore, she would hear on the news about the untimely death of Gabriel Agreste.

           She would notify an hour later that Master Fu has surfaced in Paris again. The man had been watched by Shield for years.

           She would be told that Master Fu had been spotted around Agreste home.

           Marinette didn’t blink twice. It wouldn’t matter. Everyone had moved on. Adrien had moved. Marinette had moved on. And as far as the world was concerned Marinette Dupain-Cheng was dead. She had died years ago.

           Seven months later, Coulson would bring her in to help train a new recruit. She would walk into the training room of the bus and see a tall, a tall, handsome, green-eyed, blond man with hope clear on his face, standing next to Coulson, looking at her like he was seeing the sun for the first time in years.

“Kitty?” Marinette whispered.

“My lady.”

           Marinette was twenty-three when her world shattered yet again.

[pixiebuggiewrites]

Sorry Wrong Number!

Masterpost - Previous - Next - Ao3 link

Chapter 2:  Hawkmoth has really bad designs and perhaps even worse timing

Since it was her off night from patrol, Ladybug was the last one onto the scene. She landed down on a building next to Viperion, who was observing the akuma’s skillset as Kuro Neko played distraction down below them.

The villain of tonight's look was... interesting to put it nicely. They were a boy around the same age as the heroes that seemed to be wearing a slightly oversized purple and blue three piece suit with a not-so-subtle lightning pattern running up the arms. His hair was shock white and seemed to be defying gravity while his eyes were protected by bright blue goggles-possibly where the akuma was residing. More importantly, he seemed to be covered in electricity, which was gonna make it difficult to get any hits in. He also had a laptop with him- another contender for the akuma’s hiding place but most likely just a weapon.

Not Hawkmoth’s worst design, but it definitely wasn't his finest work either. Though to be fair she had run around in spotted spandex for two years before she found out she could change her costume, so those in glass houses she supposed.

Viperion, noticing the team leader's arrival began to fill her in on what they knew so far.

“They're calling themselves ‘Elect-Trick’, keeps sending out shockwaves to try and knock us back which is frustrating but our suits seem to take the brunt of it which helps but Neko’s staff is a no go at the moment since there's no way to know if it’ll conduct the electricity.”

It likely would, something they had found out the hard way during the last weather akuma they had to face. While magical it was still metallic in nature sadly, which meant she needed to also be careful with her yoyo. She still isn't really sure what it’s made of besides magic, but this was not the way she wanted to find out.

“Alright, in that case we’ll continue to keep him away from the Eiffel Tower, it’s likely the akuma’s going to try and use it as a large conductor. I’m gonna head down, stay up here and be ready to use your second chance at the signal.” She instructed

Viperion nodded and went back to watching the fight just as Ladybug swooped down to join in. She was just in time as the akuma had begun to corner Neko, who had no choice but to rely on playing defense while her staff was out of the mix. The two heroes nodded their heads in greeting as Ladybug yoyo-d her cat themed friend over putting the duo back on even ground with the villain, who seemed to be ranting about school elections of all things.

Which would be a probable explanation for the first half of his name.

The two continued to fight back against the akuma, neither side quite able to grab the upper hand. Ladybugs yoyo-as it turned out, did not conduct electricity afterall. And, seeing as it's practically indestructible she was able to land hits on the akuma without getting shocked. But the akuma had realized the issue with Neko’s staff and was using that to their advantage, aiming a decent chunk of their attacks at the cat hero which forced them to go back on the defense.

As the fight had been going for over an hour at this point, the spotted heroine decided to bring out the big guns. After doing a silent signal letting Viperion know to start his timer, she got in position to call on her lucky charm.

But she didn't get a chance to. Just as she went to throw her yoyo in the air, Viperion called out a warning that sent a feeling of dread through her.

“LB watch out, There's an amok headed straight for the computer!”  

Sure enough, there was an all too familiar purple feather floating through the air on track for the laptop that she quickly caught and purified it before it could land. Thank the Kwami for the power of second chance, nobody wanted to deal with a sentimonster on top of everything else tonight.

Keeping Kuro Neko on the lookout for anymore feathers, She finally activated her lucky charm. Throwing her yoyo up she manifests… a slingshot! She could work with that, just needed to find ammo. Looking around her eyes land firmly on the window of a small toyshop.

Bingo!

Having Viperion keeping an eye out in case he was needed temporarily as backup, she sneaks over and breaks the window with her yoyo. Typically, the heroine would feel bad about causing this much property damage but tonight she’s tired and wants to get this over with so she can make a plan of action for the whole ‘Mayura seems to be back’ thing with her team and maybe get at least a couple hours of sleep. Anyways her miraculous cure would fix the window and return the bouncy balls she was actively stealing so no harm done? After finishing committing what was technically a misdemeanor, she made her way over to the roof Viperion was on and handed off the slingshot supplies before making her way back down.

Luckily Neko had managed to keep Elect-Trick distracted enough for the team to catch him off guard. On Ladybugs call Viperion began to pelt the Akuma with rubber balls, drawing his sight away for long enough to tie him up and take his glasses. One cataclysm later, the teen had been successfully deakumatized and she was able to cast her cure, fixing the decent chunk of property damage caused that night. After making sure the teen was okay to get home safe and getting his address for the interview she would have to conduct later, she turned to her team.

“Good work today guys, let's meet back at base in 30.” Her eyes communicated the urgency of the meeting despite the neutral tone of voice she tried to maintain.

From there the teens all departed in separate directions to recharge their powers and head to the team's secret base.

----------

Okay so secret base was a bit of an overstatement. It is a secret place that the team uses as a base of operations but it was less of a Batcave and more of a repurposed hotel room in Le Grand Paris.

Chloe had brought up the idea after one too many close calls with Marinette's parents while the girls were investigating Hawkmoth. They needed a place to discuss hero work safely without having to talk in code but the question was where. Obtaining an apartment would be difficult as all of them but Luka were still underage, not to mention the issue of trying to pay rent without any parental suspicion. Luckily for Chloe, it's surprisingly easy to just claim a hotel room without being questioned when your Father owns the hotel.

And while it was no Batcave, it wasn't anything to scoff at either. The four teens had been able to pool together enough money in the beginning for the basics, which meant that now any small snuck away chunks of commission money, music gig payments, competition winnings, and allowances were all able to go to improving things bit by bit.

The room was already quite nice, having a separate bedroom that they used as a gym and a kitchenette that was kept well stocked with kwami snacks. Then there was the  main area, which had been split down the middle. The first side was dedicated to the investigation and housing Marinette's Guardian materials, While the second half was a hangout zone where they could chat or decompress after any particularly rough fights.

The base was also secure, Marinette had put so many spells and protections on the room with the help of the kwami that it might as well be a pocket dimension of sorts. The magical security system of sorts was extremely complicated, being tied to the teams auras in a way so that the only way to even find it without being one of them was to be taken there by Ladybug herself. It had taken weeks to pull off but was well worth it to give her team a place that was safe from the outside world.

Ladybug was the first to arrive this time, having flopped down into a chair at their meeting table as her two friends entered the room and joined her. They all sat there for a moment, processing the fact of Mayura’s return. Of course this would happen when they were down a member, it wasn't a complete surprise that the peacock miraculous would come back into play at some point but it was really bad timing.

“So what exactly is the plan?” Viperion asked, finally breaking the silence.

Ladybug sighed, knowing that their workload was going to increase once again. At least it was close to summer vacation.

“First we need to increase patrols- especially around the typical hot spots, Neko do you think we’ll be able to finish those jars by this time next week?”

The cat hero nodded “They're almost done, we’ll need to test them somehow though.”

The two of them had recently been working on a variation of an object enchantment technique mentioned in the grimoire. The original object was dubious in nature, having been used as a cage of sorts that kwami wouldn't be able to phase through. Marinette was disgusted by the thought, further feeding into some suspicions she had about the old order. As she was ranting about it to Kagami about it, her fencer friend got an idea for a way to repurpose the spell to trap akuma when Ladybug couldn't easily get to a fight. It would also allow them a new way to prevent possessions when Ladybug wasn't actively on patrol.

“That's good. Lastly I need Bee’s new number, I was going to ask you for it tomorrow but I need to give her a heads up to start on a new case file. We also might want to move up our plans to contact the heroes there.”

Kuro Neko quickly jotted down the number on a nearby notecard and handed it to Ladybug. After hammering out a few last details about their new patrol schedules the heroes were all free to head home for the night.

The trip home was uneventful, and she arrived home to see that it was just past midnight. She also noticed that her bath bomb had been fixed! It was sometimes a gamble on if something like that would count as akuma damage so it was a nice victory after the day she’s had.

Marinette quickly put in Chloe's number, eager to get to bed. She sent her blonde friend a summary on what happened and let her know to be on the lookout for an email tomorrow with the information to assemble a case file. And with that, Marinette drifted off to sleep.

She had made a small mistake though. In her tired state the young designer’s finger slipped, putting a 5 where there was meant to be a 4.

Meaning Chloe Bourgeois was not the recipient of her intended message.

Good thing she wrote the message in code?

----------

Across the ocean, Damian Wayne received a strange text message.

--------------------------------------------

Taglist (open!!): 

@queencommonsense

[gale-gentlepenguin]

ML AU: In Another Life: NY Special

(So a few things to note, Since this takes place after the events of this version of the season 3 Finale, there are a few key differences. Fu still being guardian is one of them)

-Gabriel finds himself on the back foot, without a fixed peacock miraculous, he needs something to boost his advantage over the teens. And at the rate Nathalie has been going, he might lose her as well.

-While desperately searching the book, he caught notice of the eagle miraculous, it looked very familiar. (He comes up with his plan to go to New York to get that miraculous), well thats how he realizes his plan that is in canon. But this version is clearly more desperate. He needs to know what it can do and how to use it.

-Marinette’s class kicks but with their sock puppet show and pretty much the set up for how the class is going to America is the same. Including Miss Bustier’s reason for not going.

-Adrien is bummed because there is no way he would be able to go on the trip, not with how strict his father is. Lila tries to cheer him up, saying she couldnt go either (cause in canon reason is the same)

-Marinette states that she will try talking to Adrien’s father, she seems to have a slightly higher opinion of her, its worth a shot. “Afterall, your our sock washington.” She says with a flirty smile.

-Adrien has heart eyes over his cute girlfriend.

-Marinette and company go ready to convince Gabriel to let adrien go.

-Marinette gives a convoluted speech similar to canon, but minus the extra bits of friendship.

-Gabriel complies, saying that she convinced him.

-Marinette is over the moon and immediately texts her boyfriend who is at fencing practice the good news

-Adrien gets his butt kicked by kagami just like in canon.

-Kagami tries cheering him up by saying they could use this time to practice and she can help beat the sad out of him if he wants.

-He checks his phone and is excited. He can go on the trip!

-He tells Kagami the good news, she congratulates him. But comments she will be bored without him here to fence.

_____________________________________________________________________

-Marinette Calls Fu  and tells him about her trip to New york, and that her whole class is going.

-”Your entire class?”

-”Yes, even Adrien. Can you believe it? His father never lets him go.” She is over the moon.

-Fu notes to remember that.

-”Well dont worry about Paris. If anything happens, I will be sure to alert you and Chat noir. You will have the horse miraculous on your person.”

-”I am sure Chat noir will be able to handle things here. I will let him know I am leaving. You could use a break.”

-Fu remembers that Ladybug doesnt know that Adrien, her boyfriend, is actually Chat noir.

-”I will tell Chat noir about the departure. You enjoy your trip.”

-”Alright, if you are sure.”

___________________________________________________________________

-Fu decides to meet with chat noir.

-Fu contacts Adrien to meet him at a rooftop.

-”Ladybug wont be in paris?” Chat noir was shocked. (He was so happy to be leaving for the US with his friends and Girlfriend, he actually forgot that Ladybug is marinette and that means she wont be in Paris. And that HE wont be in paris.”

-”Right, and I have a feeling you wont be in Paris either. Your class is having a trip.”

-Adrien doesnt bother asking how he knows that. He assumes Marinette told him.

-”Wait, If Ladybug or I are not in paris...”

-”Dont worry, i will alert you both should anything happen. Ladybug has the horse miraculous on her. If she is close by, she can give you a ride, if not. Your astro form should be able to fly you back to Paris fast enough to get there.”

-Chat noir nods. He cant say he knows she will be close by. But he does know.

-Ladybug doesnt contact Chat noir about the trip, because there is no need to burden him over it.

______________________________________________________________________

-Marinette isnt late, because Adrien had G come pick her up with him.

- So they have some cute handholding as Marinette excitedly talks about going to new york.

-Once they get on the Plane, Marinette and Adrien sit next to each other. So we get Startrain 2.0. With them sleeping on the other, and being cute. No musical plane tickets.

-Alya and Nino are happy for the two of them, commenting that they are still so innocent. But they have no plans on pushing them

-Marinette and Adrien both end up needing to get up and they catch the sunset together. Cue cute almost kiss. But then Techno pirate ruins it.

-The United heroes step in to handle things just like in canon. Marinette and Adrien both internally relieved that they can relax and let other heroes handle things.

-The two enjoy a nice flight to the states

_______________________________________________________________________

-Fu may have called Marianne to help him keep an eye out in the city. She was happy to have an excuse to see fu. It was like a date for them.

-Meanwhile, Marinette and class arrive at the hotel. Aeon comments that Adrien and Marinette are perfect for eachother. Jess doesnt care.

-Chloé isnt depressed as she was in canon, so she isnt dismissive of Sabrina having fun with an american boy. In fact, she decides that she would be more positive. Trying to be the heroine ladybug said she could be. Though... being nice is hard. Alix comments that she looks constipated

-Sabrina is so happy that Chloé is supportive of her. It was a surprise change.

-Chloé was still not thrilled about rooming with Alya and Marinette. But says its fine. Alya is kind of creeped out by Chloé's more ‘Friendly’ attitude. Marinette says that they should still encourage it.

-The class sneaks out to go to the roof party. Marinette and Adrien end up in Aeon and Jess room.

-”Im marinette and this is Adrien.” “Im her boyfriend”

-Aeon is VERY happy to hear that. Jess is indifferent, but helps them both get to the roof.

-The class has fun and Hotdog dan arrives with his magical dogs of hotness.

-Marinette and Adrien have no trouble sharing the hot dog. Alya still a pro wing woman, totally gets Jess to play the song.

-Marinette is 100% down with dancing. Commenting that she remembers that dance.

-Adrien thanking Marinette for convincing his dad, and that she is so amazing. She is practically melting.

-”You’re the perfect girlfriend.”

-Marinette happy giggling and telling him he is such a cute dork.

-Yes there is a kiss under the moonlight. 

______________________________________________________________________

-Next day, the class is at the museum. Aeon knows Jess ships it too, cause she admits they are adorable. There is no need for an elaborate plan, so they dont have the class do the thing.

-Gabriel sets his plan into motion.

-Fu see’s robustus and texts Marinette. Allowing her to move. Adrien notices her sudden rush and figures there is trouble.

-Ladybug transforms in private and uses unify with the horse miraculous to make a portal to paris. Chat noir calls out to her. Which surprises her.

-”Wait, why are you in new york?”

-”Its cool, I cleared it with Fu before I left.”

-Ladybug sorta does the same thing she did in startrain and just rolls with it, just commenting how lucky he is that they were both near eachother, and that if he is leaving paris, he should tell her. Chat noir agrees.

-They get to Paris and start fighting Robustus, who they realize shouldnt be here, because Markov is in New york.

-Meanwhile, Technolizer, takes the sword and Sparrow and Uncanny Valley hear the commotion. They dont see Ladybug and Chat noir being independent, so they dont try to strike out on their own, they do the responsible thing and call for back up, Then try to fight him.

-Ladybug and Chat noir are in Paris fighting Robustus, and trying to find his weakness. But after a bit, Robustus just vanishes. Confusing the two. ladybug uses her Lucky charm to fix the damage, and then they get a portal to head back. Ladybug and Chat noir head back.  Ladybug is mad suspicious over the sudden monster that seemed like all for nothing.

-Ladybug and Chat noir arrive to see the damage to the museum. Hawkmoth had successfully snatched the Eagle necklace thanks to the distraction from Technolizer. He is able to help the villain escape from the heroes, who were having a tougher time with the beefed up villain (until Majestia got more serious)

-Ladybug telling chat noir that if there is trouble to contact her, and she would do the same. Something is up with Hawkmoth.

-Hawkmoth has the eagle miraculous. He finds out the power of the miraculous is to liberate people. Which doesnt sound as useful to hawkmoth as he would like, but he gets a plan. He reakumatizes Techno Pirate.

-The events left New york damaged, but the heroes were not angry at ladybug and Chat noir since they have NO idea why Techno pirate got an upgrade.

-Marinette and Adrien went to catch up with the class. Where a car arrives for Adrien. Commenting that he clearly made a mistake letting him come.

-Marinette didnt stand by and say nothing (since she wasnt depressed or downtroden) she told Gabriel that she should let him stay. That the heroes would protect him, and that she would be by his side.

-Adrien also sided with Marinette. Gabriel was shocked, and angry that his son would Dare disobey him (which stirs the seeds on why he would use Marinette as a tool for an akuma at a later time). Gabriel gives one more stern command but Adrien is determined to stay. (plus he wasnt bummed about everything either so that helped his confidence)

-Jess and Aeon wanted to go with the heroes to help find technolizer but Civillian Majestia and Knightowl said that they needed them to stay here to protect the tourists. Which made them want to prove themselves.

-Cue the Hawkmoth’s plan using The akuma techno pirate with the eagle miraculous.

-Jess and Aeon notice that things are going wrong. Marinette and Adrien both realize it as well and sneak out to go help.

-Aeon realizes that Chat noir and Ladybug are Adrien and Marinette (because she is tech and is immune to that glamor effect. And is of course is even MORE stoked on them. The four of them meet up and work on the plan thats the same as in canon, (using the door hero’s power)

-The fight pretty much goes the same way as in canon, and Hawkmoth is actually pissed off instead of happy that there are more miraculous. Nathalie is now worse off then before. He is now even More desperate since his plan failed.

-Majestia and Knightowl are proud of their side kicks and Jess/eagle gets to be a hero in her own right. Proving her worth. Uncanny valley is her partner.

-Uncanny valley tells them she knows who they are and that she will clear the memories so that no one will know. Jess gets the eagle miraculous. (Marinette tells Fu about this, Fu says its fine. It isnt from his miraculous box, not his jurisdiction.)

-Marinette and Adrien enjoy the rest of the trip with the class. Marinette commenting to adrien how amazing all these heroes are.

-”I think you are much more amazing Marinette.”

-Cue adrinette cuteness

-Gabriel goes back to america, angry and now so much more desperate then before

[dessarious]

Guilt and Consequences Pt7

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They were about halfway through breakfast and Lila had started to let her guard down. She was still on guard for any repercussions from the incident in the bakery but that left her open to interrogation on other matters.

“So Lila, I’d like you to write down the names of the three therapists you actually saw.” Mme. Cheng’s voice was friendly, cheerful even. Lila glanced at Marinette to see if she would react but there was nothing. It seemed like an innocuous enough request.

“Okay, though I don’t see the point.” The woman didn’t respond and Lila went back to her food, not really thinking about it further. As she finished a paper and pen appeared almost out of nowhere and she wrote the information almost on instinct. Mme. Cheng took the paper as soon as the third name was finished and she honestly would have thought she imagined it if the pen wasn’t still in her hand.

“Now why don’t you girls go up and finish up any homework you have. And I mean homework Mari. I want all of it done before you get distracted.”  Marinette had a sheepish look on her face but Mme. Cheng turned her attention to Lila immediately. “You do have your school things with you?”

“I don’t do homework.” The look on Mme. Cheng’s face said plainly that wasn’t the right answer. Marinette was looking at her like she’d lost her mind.

“And why is that?” The woman’s tone was strange, almost soothing. That was odd.

“It’s an inefficient learning strategy at the best of times for one. I’ve already learned the material previously for another. It also seems rather pointless given that I normally am only in a school for a few weeks at most.” They were both frowning at her now and she still didn’t know why.

“It’s a way for the teacher to measure students' progress in the material.” Lila hadn’t considered that. Given how illogical everything at that school was it sort of made sense though.

“But it doesn’t. For the most part it just shows how well you can find answers in books or how much their friends and family know since a lot of people do homework as a group activity. If that is why they do it, it would be far more efficient and accurate to just have daily or weekly quizzes on the material. It would also be far more beneficial for students since trying to force the recall actually helps with memory far more than simply reviewing the same material over and over.” Now Mme. Cheng looked exasperated more than anything else. Marinette looked thoughtful though. Was that not common knowledge? Maybe she should show them the research she’d found on learning and memory.

“I have to go help Tom. Please just go do your homework.”

------------------------------------------------------

When Lila returned home she found a note from her mother saying she would be out of Paris for a week for work. No details, but that was normal. Under regular circumstances she would use it as an excuse to call herself off from school, but if she did that Marinette would be facing the class alone and she couldn’t allow that. Tomorrow was going to be a nightmare. Lila’s phone let out the notification for an Akuma and she pulled it from her pocket to find over three dozen messages from Alya, each one getting more hysterical. Well, shit.

“Hello Lila.” She spun around to see an Akumatized Alya at the open window. Her outfit was some weird bastardization of the way old time reporters looked in movies but the color scheme was neon green and violet. It honestly made her eyes water. “I am Journalist, and I’ll get the truth no matter the cost.” It took everything in her not to roll her eyes at both the name and what she actually said. This should be entertaining. Journalist pointed a pen at her and Lila tensed up just as the beam hit her. Well she didn’t feel any different.

“And what exactly was that supposed to do?” The least she could do was stall her to give the heroes time to get here so she didn’t go after Marinette.

“Where is your mother?” What kind of question was that?

“On a wine tour in the south of France.” Lila blinked and tried to keep her expression neutral. She had no idea where her mother was; why did she say that?

“What about your father?”

“He’s dead.” She didn’t know that either. What the hell did her powers do?

“How did he die?”

“He ran into a burning building to rescue my sister and me and ended up dying from his injuries.” Sister? Well that made the dream make a lot more sense but… oh no. If Alya’s powers did what she thought she needed to get out of here before the girl realized it.

“And what did Marinette do to you to make you say you were lying?” She felt her rage boil up at the question and completely forgot why she needed to find a way to escape.

“Marinette didn’t make me do anything! I told you I was lying because I was and the only one who made me do that was you and the rest of the morons when you decided that ‘punishing’ Marinette for things she didn’t do was a valid option.” She probably would have kept going but at the moment Ladybug appeared behind Journalist and used her Yo-Yo to heave the Akuma halfway across the city.

“Come on, let’s get you somewhere safe.” Lila didn’t even have time to respond as Ladybug grabbed her and threw her over her shoulders. The were on a rooftop somewhere Lila didn’t recognize before she recovered enough to think properly and Ladybug was about to swing back towards Journalist.

“Wait!” The heroine turned to raise an eyebrow at her and Lila suddenly felt very self conscious. Her interactions with the heroes so far had been… less than optimal, but she had to do this. “Alya’s beam makes you tell the truth.”

“Yeah, I got that.” Her tone was dry and Lila frowned at her.

“No, I really don’t think you do. Even if you don’t actually know the truth it will still come out of your mouth. I don’t think she or Hawkmoth realize that though.” Ladybug was studying her and Lila shifted uncomfortably. Getting combative was instinctive but she really needed to stop doing this.

“If you don’t know the answer then how do you know that what you say is the truth rather than just what Journalist wants to hear?” She blinked at that question. If not for the last thing she’d asked Lila wouldn’t have been certain.

“No, if that was the case I would have told her that Marinette threatened me or some other form of ridiculousness. But like I said, they don’t know that. If Hawkmoth had any idea that her powers were functioning that way he would have made her ask me for your and Chat Noir’s civilian identities. At least I would assume so. You need to be careful.” The heroine just kept staring at her for a moment before nodding and heading back to the fight. Once she was gone, Lila’s legs gave out and she sat there trying to process what had just happened.

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[bevvydraws]

Sweet Justice (cont.)

1, 2, 3

Chapter 4

Chat Noir almost wanted to groan at his current predicament. Tied up by a rope that the knights had managed to scrounge up somewhere, unable to move and a million thoughts racing through his head. 

Ladybug is--was--Marinette. 

Marinette is now akumatized. 

Chat Noir loves Ladybug. 

Adrien loves Marinette.

Adrien didn’t see that Marinette was struggling. He didn’t see that she needed help. He wasn’t there for her as a friend or as a partner. He had failed. She probably got akumatized because she felt she couldn’t trust anyone, even him. Even Chat Noir. 

Chat Noir began panicking slightly, feeling overwhelmed by the new information and not sure where to go from here. This would normally be the part where Ladybug would tell him her plan and he would see it through with her. But Ladybug wasn’t here. And she wouldn’t be showing up any time soon. He looked around at his classmates, all turned into knights ready to follow Princess Justice to the ends of the Earth if she asked. He couldn’t even find it in himself to be upset at them, because he could only imagine the guilt they must have felt before succumbing to her powers. 

He had to figure out how to escape without hurting any of them. Chat Noir sat quietly, gently chewing on his lip as he racked his brain with ideas. His baton was just out of reach, no one taking it since Princess Justice hadn’t told them to. If he could just stretch his leg out far enough to get his baton back, he’d feel a lot more prepared to make another move. Chat Noir tried to subtly stretch his leg out, scooting forward a little bit in order to get the toe of his boot around the baton. He had almost had it back to him when the classroom door opened. 

In walked Ivan and Kim, the two knights who had carried Lila to outside to be publicly humiliated in her stocks. In the back of his mind, Chat Noir was pleased with that knowledge. Behind Ivan and Kim, however, walked a third knight that Chat didn’t recognize. As the knight marched to him, Chat scooted himself backwards as far against the wall as he could, his baton forgotten. Normally, Chat wouldn’t have acted so cowardly in front of a villain. 

But these weren’t villains. These were good people protecting someone dear to him. He wasn’t sure how to feel right now. 

The knight stopped in front of him, extending a hand out to show that they were holding a letter. Chat looked up at them, and trying to sound as normal as possible, said, “Now I can’t very well take that letter with my arms behind my back, now can I?”

While this was meant to be sarcastic, the knights looked at each other pensively. 

“Her Royal Highness told me to deliver this letter to him,” the knight holding the letter said, “and to only let him read it.” 

Nino looked at him, glazed over eyes narrowed in contemplation. Alya spoke up, “If Her Royal Highness wants him to read it, then we have no choice but to untie him long enough to let him do so.” 

“You’re right,” Nino nodded, before forcing Chat Noir to stand up and beginning to untie him, “No funny business, cat.” Chat tried not to think too hard about how the voice coming out of his best friend was Nino’s voice, but at the same time sounded nothing like him. 

“Cat’s honor,” Chat replied smoothly, forcing his usual confident attitude. Once he was untied, he took the letter from the knight and read over the letter as the knights were on guard, expecting him to try and escape. 

“Dear Chat Noir,” the letter started, “You have no obligation to trust me, but I have no intention of giving Hawkmoth what he wants. I have a plan, but I need you to help in order for things to go in our favor. I know where his lair is. I was right before to suspect Gabriel Agreste. I know this will be hard on you… given your identity, but I trust that you will help me on my quest to make things right once and for all.” Chat felt tears well up in his eyes, not sure whether to cry over the fact his father was Hawkmoth afterall, or over the fact that Marinette said she trusted him even now. Wiping his tears away before they could even fall, he continued reading, “I need you to remain a prisoner for now, and trust me.” At the bottom of the letter the name Princess Justice was signed in regal, swooping letters, but it was obvious that she wrote this in a hurry. 

Chat Noir folded the letter up and stuck it in the pocket of his suit before holding his hands out in surrender. “Alright, you can tie me back up now.” 

--------

“It’s odd that Ladybug hasn’t shown up yet,” Princess Justice mused out loud, feigning concern. “Maybe she doesn’t care about her little kitten as much as she previously let on.” She mostly said this out loud for Hawkmoth’s benefit, as she had come to realize that Hawkmoth couldn’t read her thoughts, only hear what she was saying. Even the view he had from her eyes seemed to be limited, as he hadn’t said anything about the note she had written to Chat Noir. 

Now all Princess Justice had to do was act busy as she assembled her army. She could feel her ranks growing, a single thought resonating clearly throughout everyone’s minds: to seek justice. To free Paris of the plague it had been cursed with for so long. It was time to set things right. 

As she moved through the streets, she had a flock of knights surrounding her at all times. She was more than capable of defending herself, and she was confident no one would try and attack her, but she had to save face before Hawkmoth became too suspicious of her. “Set up a throne for me in the school courtyard. I have a few declarations to make. Our army is just about large enough.” 

-------

It didn’t take long for everything to be set up in the gym. A makeshift throne was quickly built by dismantling various furniture around the school. It wasn’t perfect, but Princess Justice found herself fond of it anyways. It was situated on the upper floor of the school overlooking the rest of the courtyard. Princess Justice was already settled into place on her throne, Alya and Nino on either side of her as her most trusted and dearest knights. 

Of course, when she had approached the school she had seen Lila in her stocks, no longer screaming but begging desperately to be released. She whined and complained about her wrists being sore, and her back hurting from her awkward standing position. Princess Justice was barely able to contain her laughter, finding humor in the situation. Because for once, Lila was being honest about her ailments. But despite that, she did not stop to give Lila any attention and simply brushed passed her like she wasn’t there. 

Now that she was away from Lila, however, she allowed her amused smirk to grace her lips as she looked down at the courtyard. Slowly, the area below was being filled by knights. One by one, or sometimes in small groups, they would march in and automatically fall into formation. They stared ahead at nothing, on standby until their Princess addressed them. Princess Justice turned to Alya, “How did our kitten behave?” she asked, keeping things cryptic enough to where Hawkmoth would not understand what she was actually asking. 

“He seemed dejected the entire time, Highness,” Alya responded, “but he did not put up a fight.” 

“Excellent,” Princess Justiced said, with a little too much relief in her tone. She coughed quietly and looked to Nino, “Get someone to bring him out here to me. I want him right at my feet.” In a flash, Nino was gone, and a moment later he and Kim were bringing Chat Noir to her. Chat didn’t struggle even the slightest bit, his gaze fixed to the floor as he was forced to sit on the ground right next to her feet. 

“Oh kitty,” Princess Justice crooned sweetly, her fingers slightly ruffling his hair, “I know how hard it must be for you, not knowing where your spotted heroine is. You must feel so abandoned and alone.” She knew she would have to play up her role as someone on Hawkmoth’s side, but she prayed her kitten would be able to read between the lines. 

“I know my Lady hasn’t abandoned me,” Chat whispered, “She’s never let me down before. I don’t believe she’d start now.” 

Princess Justice was touched, but wouldn’t let it show. Taking advantage of Hawkmoth’s limited sight through her eyes, she gently tilted Chat Noir’s face up to look at her and mouthed a ‘thank you’ to him. Chat’s eyes were watery, and he sniffled the tiniest bit, but he still grinned at her. The same grin he always gave Ladybug. 

But there was something more to it now. The innocence and trust in his eyes, even behind the mask, reminded Princess Justice so much of Adrien. Chat Noir was so naive in most things, despite his obvious intelligence and competence as a hero. He flirted clumsily, as if he were the protagonist in a cheesy rom-com, but it was obviously genuine. He made poorly timed jokes, like someone who hadn’t been taught to read a room, but he never had ill intentions. 

Yes, it was obvious to Princess Justice now, that Adrien and Chat Noir were one and the same, and briefly she wondered why she had never put two and two together before. But she knew the answer. She was afraid of knowing. Afraid that once the secrets were gone she would be forced to open up more of herself to him, something she wasn’t sure she could do. Her fear of showing weakness to one of the most important people in her life, even though he’d never given her reason to fear opening up to him, crippled her to the point where she wasn’t able to see the answer right in front of her. 

Literally, he sat right in front of her. And she never noticed. 

If Hawkmoth knew that the owner of one of the miraculouses he was so desperately hunting was his son, would he stop? Would he feel guilt or remorse? Princess Justice sincerely doubted it, and the thought made her heart break. 

“Ladybug won’t show,” Princess Justice whispered, “Obviously she’s too much of a coward.” 

“You and I must be talking about different Ladybugs,” came Chat’s quick response. 

Princess Justice wanted to argue, but it would do no good. She had a mission to accomplish. Slipping another note to Chat Noir, detailing her plan to take down Hawkmoth, she stood from her throne and made her way to the railing. Instantly all eyes below were on her, their attention focused entirely on the powerful presence before them. 

“My dear knights. Today is a day that will go down in history. Today, you shall protect me on my journey to escort Chat Noir to Hawkmoth personally. Should anyone stand in our way, I trust you will take care of them quickly and with grace. Our aim is not to harm anyone, because violence only breeds more violence,” her voice rang out into the courtyard, her words like a magic spell. Which, technically, was true for the knights. But it was likely that even those untouched by the macarons would have followed her anyways. “There is no time like the present, and since Ladybug is nowhere to be found, we’ll take Chat Noir first and then go bug hunting after!” 

The crowd of knights let out a resounding cheer, ready to serve their Princess. She smiled down at the sea of supporters, and felt a sense of relief. Everything was going to be okay. She would be able to pull this off. No one was going to get in the way of her justice. 

The only warning signs before the attack was the sound of soft footfall on the school roof behind her. Princess Justice barely had time to process as she ungracefully leapt out of the way. A red flash whirred by her before the shape retreated back towards the roof. She would recognize that sound anywhere. 

It was her yoyo. 

Someone had donned her old earrings. 

“Ladybug?”

-----------

taglist:  @fandom-trapped-03 , @justafanwarrior , @ultimatetornshipper , @lunadensmidnightprowl​ , @starpony999​ , @minth0l-illness , @the-bollywood-miraculous-girl​ , @akioshiwarrior​ ,  @queencommonsense ,  @id-dance-with-draco ,  @all-mights-asscheeks , 

Author’s note: so this will probably be the last chapter for a few days (i have exams until the 16th so ~fun~). But! There will hopefully be some artwork and doodles that i can post between now and the next chapter. 

Thank you for the support on this story so far! I’m glad everyone seems to be enjoying it and I’m excited to keep working on it! 

[alynawatchestv]

Alyna watches Xena - 01x02 Chariots of War

Reblogs and comments will make me very happy. :)

 OK, so the story starts with Xena and Gabrielle walking into some tavern. Apparently, it has everything Cyrene’s tavern was lacking which is wine and beautiful women to sleep with, but because Xena is with Gabrielle she only lets herself to drink wine.

Gabrielle is telling Xena a story how Zeus turned two lovers into oak trees while Xena is drinking wine and checking out women.

*old habits die hard*

Gabrielle asks Xena if she knows what happened next and Xena responds in a typical Xena-like fashion “Somebody built the boat out of them?”. This is gold and a reason while I love Xena so much. Unlike spiritual, daydreaming Gabrielle she is more pragmatic and down to earth, just like me.

So Xena slightly irritated asks what the point of the story is and Gabrielle says she believes everyone will find their tree in the forest meaning Gabrielle is unintentionally hitting something our hero doesn’t notice or is really trying not to notice (I mean, “let me be your tree” is a new way of saying wanna go out with me?” I guess). But Xena being a typical drama queen says the strongest trees in the forest are to ones that stand alone. And Gabrielle is trying really hard not to facepalm by saying that Xena doesn’t always have to be strong and can afford to be soft.

Xena is trying to get out of the tavern ASAP and tells Gabrielle she’s gonna check if they can cross some river so they don’t have to lose two days on… Something. And I’m pretty sure it’s not about losing two days. It’s Xena not wanting to talk about her feelings so Gabrielle won’t find out what a big softie she is. After all, a girl doesn’t reveal all of her secrets all at once.

Our Warrior Princess decides they need to find a place for Gabrielle to stay in and when Gabrielle is asking why some drunk dude puts his dirty hands on Gabby’s arms begging to tell him a story. So our little sidekick is all like “Fuuuck. Nuh uh. New place! Now!”

But apparently, Xena couldn’t find a place for Gabrielle to stay in because she leaves her in the middle of the road and rides off on her trusty stallion. I mean… At least you could find some barn or something, Xena. Gods.

Meanwhile, we jump to some village where we can see how child labor looked in ancient Greece. Kids are working hard and one of the boys hits himself with a hammer (not with Draco’s father’s blacksmith’s hammer, mind you). So their father, I presume, teaches the boy how to hold the tool without hurting himself as the build a barn or something like that.

I’m not sure if little kids working in unsafe conditions is ok, but it’s normal, I guess. The kids are afraid they would have to go back to Troy but their dad tells them they won’t, which could be a good decision as we all know what happened to Troy.

The father leaves his sons to keep working while he takes his daughter with him to do something else. When he’s occupied with picking up the most beautiful stick his daughter notices some raiders coming towards them. Being a child of few words she just gives signal to her dad. But when he turns there’s nothing there. The raiders are on the low ground and can’t be seen. But the second time everyone notice them and panic starts.

There is a group of warlords looking like Conan movie rejects closing in on the peasants. The Boss Warlord, with really beautiful eyes, I gotta adit, is riding a chariot and seeing this ”good looking”... I mean, I honestly don’t get it. There’s nothing there but fields and some half-build barn or something like that and a bunch of people doing… There are no houses even. It’s confusing really.

So the Boss Warlord orders the attack and Conan movie warlord rejects run towards the peasants doing “arrrgh, rrra” and other scary and weird noises. The father tell everyone to take cover. So what those peasants do? They fucking start running in all directions. Like look at that! Chickens! Seriously, chickens running everywhere.

*Don’t run towards danger, people! Run away from it, gods damn it!*

The warlords chase after people, make funny noises and even try to destroy the barn or whatever this thing is supposed to be.  But thankfully, Xena is on her horse and seeing what is happening she rushes into the action with her battle cry! The Boss Warlord is watching intrigued while Xena kicks another two guys and then another and then jumps on one end of a table (there are no houses, but there’s a table. Priorities.) and hits the attacker with another and he falls on his end so Xena can flip from her end and... Well, it looks pretty awesome.

So another warlord is still trying to bring down the unfinished building which is weird it takes him so much time, because I’m sure whoever built this… ’building’ needs “Carpentry for Idiots” book. Gods, even me, with minimum knowledge of woodwork can see this building has no right to stand as long as it is. Go back to baking bread and pitch hay peasants!

Xena rushes to save the kid who’s hiding there… In the most visible place… Seriously, these people. So Xena rushes to save the kid and grabs him just in time before the building falls down. The father runs to Xena and thanks her, but the Boss Warlord is giving the order to fire arrows. Xena turns her head, arrows are flying and she catches two! That’s how badass she is! This scene is gold, I tell you.

But! A third arrow was shot and this one wounds our heroine… ok, this sounds really stupid… Our warrior princess! Xena falls down from the horse unconscious.

*And scene. In the times of ancient gods… Blah, blah, blah.*

So the father takes Xena to his house to help her. And here’s my question. Where did the evil warlords go? Did they vanish? Did they decided this joke of a place wasn’t worth of their time? They decided to wait till Xena gets better? Where are they and why didn’t they kill everyone?!

So the father takes Xena to his house to help her. And here’s my question. Where did the evil warlords go? Did they vanish? Did they decided this joke of a place wasn’t worth of their time? They decided to wait till Xena gets better? Where are they and why didn’t they kill everyone?!

So the father puts Xena on bed to take out the arrow, but seeing the wound he slightly panics, but Xena being badass says she’s done it a few times. She tells the father what to do and when he leaves the room his kids show up to look at the guest. And it’s understandable, kids are kids, curiosity is natural. But when the father comes back and tells them to GTFO the oldest son turns out to be a fucking savage!

Father: Everyone. Out.

Savage Son: Do we have to?

Father: Yes.

Savage Son: We always miss everything good.

He’s awesome.

Xena asks if he knows who the warlords was and it turns out they were the men of Sycnus… The men of Sycnes… The men of Sickness… Crap, just a sec, gotta check IMDB. They’re the men of Cycnus.

So the father says Cycnus wants to claim right to the lands while taking Xena’s armor. She instantly checks if her boobs look good in the light, while stating it’s something more than that. When it turns out the arrow didn’t go through the body she makes the father push it.

Xena tells him what to do step by step. He’s a little bit panicked but being a big boy, fortunately he doesn’t faint but Xena does.

Meanwhile we can see Cycnus’ camp and the Boss Warlord is fighting some random dude just like Xena and Draco where fighting in episode 1. But it’s not really that awesome and enthralling to be honest. But the Boss Warlord wins and his father, who’s Cycnus decides to spar with him. The Boss Warlord tells Cycnus he’s ready to take his place, but Cycnus says the Boss Warlord is missing a desire to kill unlike his brother, Stentor killed in Korinth. And frankly, how can you be a warlord without burning villages, enslaving people, killing people, conquering people and all that?

But the Boss Warlord say he killed a warrior woman but doesn’t know the name and the father laughs at him saying killing a woman is not gonna impress Ares. Bitch, if you only knew.

He makes fun of his son telling him Ares won’t even pay attention to him and that he can’t conquer a valley with simple peasants who just wanna live peacefully. And frankly, he’s right. I mean, these are warriors vs peasants. How hard can it be? This dude thinks he killed a warrior and then what? Let go and backed out? This part is really messed up and it’s just a lazy writing.

Oh, and we learned the dead brother’s name, but not the Boss Warlord’s.

We’re back to the house and Xena is sleeping. The two boys come in to check out on her and are wondering if she’s gonna die. The older one being savage himself says if Xena dies he’s taking the horse. He’s super compassionate. Xena wakes up tells the boys one arrow is not enough to kill her and… goes back to sleep I guess. Awesome scene. Really there for a reason.

Meanwhile, Gabrielle is back in the tavern. I think it’s because it got dark and the road isn’t a good place to spend the night. So she’s hopelessly looking at the tavern entrance hoping Xena will walk in so she could jump in her arms and kiss her and… Oh wait, we’re not there yet.

Gabrielle talks to the barkeep just to feel a little bit less nervous and the barkeep says she’s either ordering or GTFO so she takes some water and the barkeep is kinda pissed off, because apparently, the water is free but she’s a client and he can’t kick her out.

And when Gabrielle is there, all alone, scared, wondering if Xena’s ok, if she’s coming back, our warrior princess is chilling out in bed, telling kids a story about a giant and how she jammed her fist in… OK, let’s not dwell on that. And the dad doesn’t want Xena to go graphic too so she says she used a feather and the Savage Kid is all like “what? You used a feather?” and Xena is like “Oh no, I used the whole goose because giants have big feet”.

*Fear me giants for I am your doom!*

The kids laugh, the dad laughs, everything is peaceful and then the little kid asks if Xena travels with her family, but she responds she has no family.

WHAT? Who the fuck wrote this script? One already stupid thing is the Boss Warlord wounding Xena and deciding to bail, because why kill everyone and take the land to yourself? And now Xena, who reconciled with her mom, says she has no family? Instead of saying she has a family and a friend traveling with her whom she left in some village and needs to get back as soon as possible, Xena says she has no family and chills like nothing happens?

*fuck you lazy writers*

Oh, one more thing, we’re almost 14 minutes into the episode and the dad still hasn’t told Xena his name! I hate this episode.

But Xena tells the kids about how hard life on the road is, she smiles at the dad, he smiles at her and we’re supposedly are to believe there is a chance there’ll be something between them. Xena changes the subject, because she, as the viewers, knows how stupid that is. She asks the girl what her name was and she learns she doesn’t talk since their mom died (I’ll bet you, she’ll be talking by the end of this episode).

Suddenly, there’s a knocking on the door and a neighbor comes in asking when will Xena GTFO and… it’s 14:04 minutes and we finally learn the Dad’s name! It’s Darius! Oh, praise Hestia for this reveal! Again, fuck you writers.

Darius tells the neighbor he ain’t gonna tell a wounded person to GTFO, but the neighbor says he gets Darius has been without a woman for a long time, but maybe this isn’t the best way to get another. Because he respects women and doesn’t want Darius to take advantage of a wounded person.

So they talk about Xena for a while and Darius promises that wen Xena gets better, she’ll GTFO. But Xena makes the decision for him and is found in a barn preparing Argo saying she needs to get her friend she left in some other village. So Darius, being a clingy dude says Xena’s friend will take care of herself for a few days. I mean, sure, I guess he knows better. Because apparently he knows Gabrielle. Burn in Tartarus, Darius… And you too writers for giving the characters such stupid lines.

I do get he wants Xena to rest and get really better, but this is another moment of bad writing, imo, and I’m waiting for the Boss Warlord and some fights, because I, frankly, can’t stand Darius and his clinginess. So he’s pining over Xena when, out of fucking nowhere, a whole bunch of warlords show up, burn the food silo… And leave. There are five people in this team. Five warlords against a wounded warrior and a farmer. And they burn a silo? Come on, this is another example of lazy writing you guys!

Don’t get me wrong, it’s not a terrible episode, but it’s bad. Like Draco was straight up ruthless. He came to Amphipolis, said he’s gonna kill everyone and had he won, we know he’d have stuck to his promise (I’m pretty sure I messed up this conditional pretty bad). But Cycnus and his warlords are just a bunch of amateurs.  They’re doing this in the name of Ares? Ares stopped paying attention, because I’m sure burning silos made him question if he should still be a god of war having such believers.

So the warlords leave, Darius is trying to put down the flames and Xena is like “fuck it, it’s gonna burn anyway. Let’s look at the dark, empty road instead.”

The next morning Gabrielle, who apparently did sleep in some barn or under a tree, walks into the tavern and orders water… Damn, this girl is cheap. Moment later some pirate is hitting on her and she puts him down using lots of words the pirate doesn’t understand. But the pirate is stupid enough not to get when a girl says no, and when Gabrielle says she’s looking for a friend he says he could be her friend smiling disgustingly. And the dude is dumber than a sack of potatoes, because when Gabrielle tells him Xena is her friend he offers to be friend to both. So when this doesn’t work Gabrielle uses fake boyfriend excuse pointing at… Yes, you guessed it right. The Boss Warlord. He’s there drinking wine, brooding, thinking how lame of a warlord he is by not killing everyone when he got a chance and burning only a food silo and not the whole house.

But the pirate isn’t maybe as stupid as he looks, because he immediately knows Gabrielle is lying so the girl walks over to the Boss Warlord and kisses him telling him to pretend he knows her. Seeing a beautiful, young woman kissing him out of nowhere the Boss Warlord is totally cool with that. Because who wouldn’t be cool with that. I know I wouldn’t complain.

Meanwhile, Xena is looking for her weapons when Darius comes in telling her he doesn’t need to fight as the neighbor is gonna go with a peace offer. Xena says that people like Cycnus don’t deal with peace and he’s the thing I actually liked in Darius. He’s a lot like Gabrielle. He tells Xena that she’s changed for better so maybe those guys can be convinced too. I mean, this is actually cool. I’m still all for killing all those warlords, but I like the parallel here.

In the meantime, Gabrielle is talking to the Boss Warlord. He’s totally into her laughing at that little stunt she pulled, but his mood shifts the moment Gabrielle tells him she’s looking for her friend, Xena. Suddenly, he’s like “oh fuuuuuck”, but he lies saying he hadn’t seen her. And then we get this scene.

*How did the writers put so much subtext without knowing it’s subtext is beyond me.*

So they keep talking and it turns out the Boss Warlord isn’t really a bad guy. He works for his dad, because his bro died and he took his place. But we can see this isn’t something he wants to do. Aww, he’s a big softie. I mean, a softie who will shoot and arrow to a chest but still. Gabrielle understands him perfectly, because her mother also expected her to follow certain path the young girl didn’t want to go. So the Boss Warlord is kinda panicking and decided to leave hoping they’d meet again. He leaves and Gabrielle is sort of swooning over him? Yeah, let’s pretend she does.

Oh, we still have no idea what the Boss Warlord’s name is. Facepalm.

So Darius and Xena are preparing to go and talk peacefully to the warlords, but when Xena comes out in her armor Darius says she can’t go negotiate in this and is trying to give her a dress after her dead wife. Xena doesn’t want to but Darius is pushing and pushing and she finally gives up and when she puts on the dress she realizes she actually looks smoking hot in it. If only Gabrielle could see her now.

Meanwhile the Boss Warlord comes into a tent and here after, 23 minutes, we learn the Boss Warlord’s name. 23 minutes, because someone forgot to introduce characters properly. The Boss Warlord spoke to his dad, no name given. He spoke to Gabrielle no name given, although she gave him hers. Those lazy writers. So Sphaerus, because that’s his name, but I'm gonna stick to Boss Warlord, walks into a tent and his father informs him he will go to this peaceful meeting and kill all the villagers.

And the Boss Warlord is keeping poker face but inside is all like: Fuuuuuck.

So we move back to Darius’ house and in this scene the Savage Kid is winning again. So Darius is preparing kids to go and the younger son asks if the meeting means they’re gonna be friends with the warlords now and Darius says that not really, but maybe they will come up with some sort of relationship. And the Savage Kid is all like

Savage Kid: It might require a sacrifice, so we’ve decided to give them Lykus.

Lykus: What? O_o

Darius: Argolis!  Don’t taunt your brother.

Savage Kid: But, it’s so much fun.

This kid is going places. Some serious psycho ones, but still.

Also, 24 minutes in and we finally learn kids’ names… Except for the Quiet One, because, who cares about her anyway.

Xena comes in wearing that blue dress and the Quiet One grabs her hand smiling, because I bet Xena reminds her of her mom. Darius smiles  also and they all leave for the meeting.

Meanwhile the Boss Warlord is waiting for the villagers to arrive visibly nervous. He starts talking when Xena comes in and he’s like “Fuuuuck, she’s alive”. Darius seeing his neighbors are still alive is “You see? I told you we could trust them” and Xena looks at him like he’s a naive fool that he actually is. So the neighbor, the one that revealed Darius’ name to the viewer, comes to Darius and he says Xena can’t be here and she was supposed to GTFO. Xena says she’ll wait in the back and while The Boss Warlord explains there’s an idea for peace between two groups Xena is observing the surroundings for any sign of danger. She notices someone is trying to open the from the inside so she… jumps out of the window… Yeah, OK, it’s Xena, we all know she’s a show off sometimes and I love her for that.

So she starts beating the…. No wait. She shows attackers to wait for a moment so she can be even more sexy when fighting and she tears off her dress so we all can see those beautiful legs of hers and starts fighting the men.

She kicks them, punches them, hits them with clay pots that are lying all around and tells the villagers to run while she’s waiting for another bunch of attackers. So the Boss Warlord’s father’s lackey (Saxon Genitive strikes again) wants to attack but is stopped by the Boss Warlord who doesn’t really wanna kill those peasants so he lets them escape.

After the escape Darius is packing some old rags and two wine cups into a bag, because he wants to take his kids to safety, which is of course understandable but why pack rags and wine cups? Anyway, Xena comes in and Darius starts blaming her for the fight and that the peace offering didn’t pan out. Xena tells him those men she fought would have killed them all, but he’s still acting like it’s all Xena’s fault. Some men, I tell you. Smh.

Xena tells Darius that he should fight and that those warlords can’t be negotiated with, but Darius tells her he’d been to enough wars to know what it’s like and he’s not going to pick up a sword again.

Personally, I can respect that and I get Darius. He’s got three little kids he needs to take care of and fighting anyone is the simplest way to make those kids orphans. Now Xena is all pissed off at Darius not understanding why would Darius run away instead of fight although he gave her the reason. It’s a scene where we can see Xena is always in battle mode no matter what, and no matter who’s life she risks, because fight is all she knows and it’s the only way she knows how to deal with problems.

At the same time, Cycnus shows up angry and awaiting explanation. First, he accuses his lackey, but the Boss Warlord say it was his fault those peasants are alive, because he didn’t have guts to kill them. So Cycnus is all like “Dishonor! Dishonor on your whole family! Dishonor on you! Dishonor on your cow!” and leaves pissed off.

In the village, Xena is preparing her horse when two little kids come in wondering if Xens is gonna fight Cycnus and his merry band, she says maybe, the little kid hugs her, Darius comes in and tells her she can always change her mind, but she says she wish she could and leaves. And of course the tender music and the way Darius looks at Xena and the way she looks at him is supposed to indicate there might have been something between them if times were different. And Xena decided to live a boring life. And stop being a warrior. And… You get the point.

But while Xena is finally coming back to Gabrielle the leader of villagers is meeting with Cycnus and tells him the person responsible for the whole fight was Xena. Cycnus immediately knows who he’s talking about and tells him to go back to the village and await slaughter. While preparing to go to fight, the Boss Warlord comes in and learns his father is planning to find and kill Xena because she killed the Boss Warlord’s brother. Shocking! So the Boss Warlord gets angry and tells his father he’s going to avenge his brother.

So Xena is slowly riding her horse and stops seeing Gabrielle running her way. How did these two met in the middle of nowhere is a mystery, because I have problems with finding my friends in my town. And it’s a really small town. But anyway, Xena is notably happy to Gabrielle is well and good.

*blink and you’ll miss it*

Xena apologizes to her for leaving her alone for so long, Gabrielle is surprised, because apparently, Xena never apologizes. Anyway, Xena tells her friend to wait for her in a farmhouse down the road because she has something to do. When Gabrielle asks what she gives her the “I’m about to murder people” look and Gabrielle say she’s not gonna wait again while Xena has all the fun and they leave together.

While they walk Gabrielle tells Xena she might have found her “tree in the forest” mentioning the Boss Warlord she met in a tavern. She wonder if she’s ever gonna find him and what if she’s supposed to be his and have kids and… Oh, first season is so cute and naïve this way. And it’s funny how after a few minutes of conversation Gabrielle starts thinking on having family and kids while just an episode earlier she was talking how it’s not a life for her. That she was born to become someone greater.

But at least we have this

*oops*

Xena isn’t listening to Gabrielle noticing warlords in the chariots coming their way. She tells Gabrielle to get on the horse and distract them.

Gabrielle is riding a horse trying not to fall from it while the warlords are chasing her while Xena climbs the tree, ties the rope jumps on a second chariot, ties the two guys who are there and when they fall out of the chariot she takes over and starts chasing the first chariot. Awesome scene.

So they chase for a while and the camera operator did a great job creating such a dynamic scene. Warlords chase Gabrielle while Xena takes a short cut and manages to catch on with her friend telling her to jump from a horse to a chariot. Gabrielle jumps and they Xena give her reigns so she could fight the Boss Warlord and his dad. She quickly realizes she has no chakram, because if you recall, when she was packing to leave, her weapon was covered by the dress and Xena forgot about it.

Cycnus takes out his sword and Xena takes out hers and they start fighting, and at the same time, Gabrielle realizes the Boss Warlord is the dude she met in the tavern and who was supposed to be her future husband or something. Xena manages to cut the reigns and both warlords fall off. Unfortunately, moments later the women hit some grass and fall out too. Xena is surprised to learn the Boss Warlord is the guy Gabrielle wanna have kids with, but this conversation has to wait as both men attack.

The Father Warlord decides to attack Xena and the Boss Warlord attacks Gabrielle. I mean, they don’t really attack, Cycnus tells Xena he’s going to kill her for what she did and she’s like:

Cynus explains Xena killed his son Stentor in Korinth and Xena explains he wanted all Korynthian prostitutes for himself and she wouldn’t let that happen and… nuh, just kidding. I’m sure when Xena was in Korinth all the ladies belonged to her.

Xena explains Stentor came to her with an offer of peace and it was his own men that killed him. Cycnus, of course, doesn’t believe her and orders his son to kill Gabrielle. But Gabrielle tries to convince the Boss Warlord not to do this. Cycnus, apparently bored, attacks Xena. She fights back and this goes on for a while when suddenly the Boss Warlord stops his father. He explains there’s no need for fight and the father is so angry he attacks his own son calling him coward for not wanting war. The Boss Warlord throws away his sword pledging he will never fight again.

Meanwhile, Darius shows up and gives Xena her chakram she forgot and she manages to throw it at Cycnus stopping him from killing his own son. These two continue the fight, but it’s a really short fight as Xena cuts his belly and he falls down bleeding. The Boss Warlord runs to him only to hear his father mocking him one last time. What an asshole.

The Boss Warlord tells Darius to call his people to make real peace this time so the next scene when we’re in the village we can see the Boss Warlord kept his word and everyone is happy.

Gabrielle walks over to him to talk and they have a lovely chat where she tells him he did a good job by saving lives and he tells her he misses his father although he has no regrets things ended up the way they did. Gabrielle says goodbye and leaves while the Boss Warlord longingly watches her.

The villager who was in charge comes over to Xena to apologize for his behavior and the boys tell her she can’t leave. Xena is obviously sad, because these are really cool kids, but she says she has to. So the little girl comes in and says the first word in a long time “Stay” and everyone is like :O

The kids can’t understand why Xena would leave, it’s not like they’ve known her for two days maybe, but ok, I get it, they’re kids, they need mom. Darius takes Xena to the side trying to convince her to stay, but she says she can’t and maybe one day but not today.

So she leaves and Gabrielle is there, waiting. Xena asks if she ever misses her family and Gabrielle says sure, but not as much when she’s with Xena. Awwww, it’s a really sweet moment, because Gabrielle sees Xena as a part of her family and I’m sure Xena thinks the same about Gabrielle, but, unlike Gabrielle, she still isn’t in a place where she can talk about it so easily. They both leave making fun of Gabrielle horse riding.

So… This wasn’t a terrible episode. But it wasn’t good either. The main plot was ok, I mean, I would change warlords to slavers who wanted peasants to work for them, because why kill people who know how to farm land? It’s more efficient to make them work for you, but ok, I guess some people just want to see the world burn.

What I didn’t like was the lazy writing, plot holes and establishing the supporting characters. I can’t really get attached to a person without knowing their names. The Boss Warlord was pretty cool and he and Gabrielle had a chemistry together. Darius was an ok character, a bit boring, but he’s a single father with three kids living in a small village so he’s life isn’t exactly exciting. Overall, it’s a pretty standard filler episode with some good moments like the chariot chase and the fights, but honestly, this is the episode I usually skip as, to me, it doesn’t establish much. But the Savage Kid was awesome. He’s my favorite in this episode.

P.S. I’m sure the Quiet One didn’t say another word after Xena left. Also, IMDB shows her name’s Sarita, but of course, this isn’t something we’ve learned in an episode at all. Go to Tartarus lazy writers.

5/10

[dast218]

Dark Side? Never- pt 3

Pt1 Previous 

Adrien wasn’t sure how to feel. The same thought kept racing through his mind: Ladybug just relieved her civilian identity! But there was a lurking sense of uneasiness. His lady was essentially captured by their arch enemy, doing things without her consent and was FORCED into telling him one of her most treasured secrets. The reveal wasn’t supposed to go this way. 

And now Hawkmoth knows! Or at least he thought so. It made the most logical sense, right? But Ladybug did regain control so would that mean that the butterfly villain lost his outlet to her thoughts and vision? His partner wouldn’t reveal any information that would put her loved ones in danger but at the same time would do anything to keep Paris safe, even sacrificing herself in the process. The thought made the running hero shiver. 

Looking back he saw no trace of the once spotted heroine but wasn’t about to take any risk. Her new capabilities weren’t yet relieved and he wasn’t about to go in blind. Making random turns and hiding in the shadows he aimed to lose Silentblow from his track. 

--- 

Slamming the phone Adrien let out a whine of irrigation, “Those idiots don’t even pick up!”  

Plagg looked up to see his holder pacing around the abandoned apartment throwing his hands and making random remarks mocking the League. “We have more important problems. Don’t prank call kid. One more time and you will face a lawsuit. BLA BLA BLA!” 

“Whoever the guy is behind the phone cuts me off in the first second. In the first damn second Plagg! He stopped picking up and I have been calling from different phone numbers!”

Falling back onto the makeshift bed with a “Ugh what do I do now” he started pulling his hair. In a small whisper he continued “I won’t defeat Silentblow alone. I don’t even know where the rest of the miraculous are.”

Plagg felt guilty for how the situation turned out. If only he took Adrien concerns more seriously and actually tried to confront the problem at hand. The thing is that he really didn’t feel anything shift in the air.  I am getting old. 

“Plagg” 

The gentle voice pulled the god of destruction out of his thoughts. “Don’t start playing around with the what ifs. I was there, a few steps away from Ladybug and yet couldn’t stop the butterfly. We didn’t know, so no more blaming ourselves.” 

A small smile greeted the kwami’s face as he was scooped up by the teenager. His kitten really grew as a person and it was mainly thanks to Marinette’s influence both in and out of the mask, even if he didn’t know that yet.  

Looking out of the window both slumped as they were once again met with the visible destruction of Silentblow roaming the city freely. Darkness dominated the city of love. Fallen structures, missing people, shadows and the utter quietness had now became a norm. The city was empty, no one daring to leave their homes.   

Adrien was forced to find a hideout in the slums of the city. Hiding in big visible buildings like the Agreste manor was a big no and “moving out” wasn’t a problem. For the past week his father was out of the country on a business trip with Natalie, not even bothering to call and check up on him. Adrien was so used to his father’s disappearances that he doesn’t even bat an eye anymore.  Escaping Gorilla wasn’t hard either, a few white lies and he was secure. 

Other than that Adrien felt useless. He went out a few times, trying to help the city as much as possible but each time he barely escaped the akuma alive. Looking down he could already see dark purple bruises forming on his legs. Today’s encounter with Ladybug … no Silentblow was once again a close call. What he saw in her eyes, desperation and the willingness to fully submerge to Hawkmoth, broke him. But deep inside he knew she was still fighting, if her small distractions to let him escape didn’t tell him that much. And he will continue fighting as well, not for Paris but for her. For the person that helped him grow and find himself. For the person that stayed even when he made mistakes. For the person that filled in the gap his father neglected. For the person that he couldn’t imagine life without. For Marianne al Ghul.

With a small smile Adrien turned to face the tired kwami, “You ready for another run? We don’t have time to waste on the League anymore. Every minute counts.”

Calling out,“Wait Adrien” stopped the blond-haired teen in his tracks. “Magic keeps me silent but there is a way to bypass it.” Plagg noticed how Adrien’s small small dropped, changing into a serious “hero attitude” expression.   

“What do you mean?”

“So you know that the previous Guardian disappeared right?” A nod. “And you know that magic prevents me from outing out who the current Guardian is and any locations related with them.”  

That grabbed Adrien’s undivided attention. Plagg wasn’t the type to spill facts and rules on him. From what he observed, that was more of Tikki’s role in the dynamic duo of creation and destruction. “Yes but where are you taking this?”   

Flying up closer Plagg continued, “You are a true holder of my miraculous, some might even say a true destruction soul. That technically means that you aren’t susceptible to all the traps of the miraculous stones as “normal” users are.”

“In the years past I had only two true holders, both times they figured out loopholes to help them fight the problems of their time. A century ago Lev realized that concentration and deeply desiring a change allowed him to activate my miraculous’ power-ups, that for many of my past cats took their whole careers to develop.” Till this day, Plagg remembers Lev’s anguish and desperation when his counterpart fell in battle. He was new, barely a year into the hero business when chaos unleashed itself in his small town of southern Russia. Calling on power ups saved his life that day. However, his partner, Nayda didn’t make it. 

“In ancient times my other true kitten, Hehet, was able to transfer some of her miraculous magic into a different one and then use the modified one. She was pregnant at that time and couldn’t wear two of the jewelries at the same time without harming her child. Egypt was under an ambush and Hehet wasn’t about to back down from saving her people.” Hehet was always the one to put others before herself. She ended up finding a way to keep her baby protected and at the same time strengthen the miraculous.  

“What I am trying to say is that you can’t make a miraculous appear but instead might be able to call on its power” Plagg really hoped that Marinette was keeping the location of the miraculous away from Hawkmoth. But the world wasn’t yet in ruins, so she still must have some time of control over herself. Or maybe Hawkmoth is keeping that information hidden, nope you are not going down that path of thinking Plagg. Tikki and Marinette are a force to be reckoned with, they won’t go down without a fight. 

Stupid rules and magic. 

“You need another miraculous if you want to win this battle. If you choose wisely magic could aid us in getting into direct contact with the league.” 

“So what I am hearing is that I can call on any power.” Adrien excitedly thought out loud. Finally some positive information in the mist of all this darkness. 

“Don’t get ahead of yourself Adrien. It won’t be an easy progress and might not even work. It took out of lot from both Lev and Hehet, and they weren’t even trying to call on a different miraculous. We are taking a big risk by even thinking about doing such a thing.”

The hero straighten up, took a deep breath and looked straight at Plagg with such determination that could rattle any world on its path. 

“I am ready to try” For you bug I will always be.  

——- 

This seems like a good place to end this chapter. The Bat- family is coming next :) 

Tag list: @ash-amg @throneoffirebreathingbitchqueen @angelic-anissa @cutechip @lozzybowe @schrodingers25 @dramatic-squirrel @moonlightstar64  @maribat-is-lifeblood @toodaloo-kangaroo 

[joannalannister]

Anonymous asked:

My problem with lyanna is not that she didn't want to marry Robert but her having feelings for rhaegar she talk to ned about wanting a faithful husband but doesn't seem to care about elia the fact that lyanna had a crush on him when he given her the flowers she saw how all the smiles died and am sure her father also had a talk with her after it happened its wrong for Robert but her rhaegar her been young still does not change anything so she would be happy been a mistress

Hey me again so about her being with rhaegar did she accept him to only sleep and be with him as she doesn't like sharing so she would leave elia to share a bed by herself how is alone 24 of course rhaegar is the problem but I am focusing on lyanna because I can't understand her and would she settle being a mistress and her child be a bastard or second best either way I can see her been that stupid not to know and when even she or rhaegar said about elia can't make either of them look good

Aegon the unworthy marriage his mistress even when he was still married but the marriage was illegal and no one saw as a real marriage so why when as saying if he did marry lyanna why would their marriage be valid I think if there was ever a marriage between them I feel lyanna would be the one to ask but rhaegar had to know that their marriage was not valid and in the end she was at best a mistress I feel like he might of lied to her to get her to sleep with her your thoughts

It is not my intent to offend. However, you asked for my thoughts, and I think there are a lot of assumptions being made here that are so completely at odds with my own that I cannot even address your concerns, because they are all so far away from everything I imagine. 

Without another book, we are all working off assumptions, of course, but my own assumptions run as follows: 

1) Lyanna was unhappy with the idea of an arranged marriage. Her objection was marriage. Any marriage. Something kind of like Eowyn:

“What do you fear, lady?" [Aragorn] asked. "A cage," [Éowyn] said. "To stay behind bars, until use and old age accept them, and all chance of doing great deeds is gone beyond recall or desire.”

But I personally do not think Rhaegar was Lyanna’s Faramir. (I do not think Lyanna has a Faramir-character in her story, just as Cersei largely lacks a Lord MacBeth.) 

For this passage:

Ned let him prattle on. After a time, he quieted and they rode in silence. The streets of King's Landing were dark and deserted. The rain had driven everyone under their roofs. It beat down on Ned's head, warm as blood and relentless as old guilts. Fat drops of water ran down his face.

"Robert will never keep to one bed," Lyanna had told him at Winterfell, on the night long ago when their father had promised her hand to the young Lord of Storm's End. "I hear he has gotten a child on some girl in the Vale." Ned had held the babe in his arms; he could scarcely deny her, nor would he lie to his sister, but he had assured her that what Robert did before their betrothal was of no matter, that he was a good man and true who would love her with all his heart. Lyanna had only smiled. "Love is sweet, dearest Ned, but it cannot change a man's nature."

I do not think this passage is about Lyanna or her desires. 

I think this passage is about Lyanna attempting to disillusion Young Ned, to try to explain to him that there isn’t going to be some wonderful happy Stark-Baratheon family after she is forced to wed Robert. 

Remember, Robert and Ned loved each other as brothers. Look at the passage up above; it’s about Ned’s “old guilts” and about how he “had assured [Lyanna] that what Robert did before their betrothal was of no matter, that he was a good man and true who would love her with all his heart.” Young!Ned was into it!! He was into the idea of this marriage! Robert, his brother, at last, in truth! 

Ned was blinded by his love for Robert. 

Don’t you see that double-meaning to that last line, hanging there at the end?  “Love is sweet, dearest Ned, but it cannot change a man’s nature.” It’s the line that haunts Ned’s memory, as well as our own. Love couldn’t change Robert’s nature. Love could not change Ned’s nature either. 

It was Ned’s nature to defend Robert so loyally, because Ned loved him. Ned could have said something to his father Rickard, could have said that Robert would shame Lyanna after they wed, could have maybe stopped this marriage that Lyanna objected to. 

But he didn’t. He didn’t speak out. Hence his “old guilts” beating down on him relentlessly. 

Would Lyanna find it nice to have a husband who doesn’t cheat on her? Probably, I don’t think that’s a stretch.

Would Lyanna find it even nicer not to have any husband at all? To “be a king's councillor and build castles and become the High Septon?” To do those great deeds Eowyn and Arya long for? To not be locked in a cage, until use and old age accept it? 

Fuck yeah. 

"Ah, Arya. You have a wildness in you, child. 'The wolf blood,' my father used to call it. Lyanna had a touch of it”

2) I have not read a passage in the books that speaks definitively to me about Lyanna’s feelings for or about Rhaegar. Until I do so, I will continue to assume that Lyanna viewed Rhaegar as an escape rather than as a potential suitor. I believe Lyanna went with Rhaegar willingly, but I do not believe that she stayed with Rhaegar willingly. 

3) Personally, when I read “all the smiles died” -- well, I take “all” to mean “all,” and “all” includes Lyanna, so I assume that Lyanna was not happy with the way Rhaegar chose to honor her at the tourney, when he shamed his wife Elia. 

When Lyanna presumably ran away with Rhaegar, I do not think she was thinking about how her actions would affect Elia, because I don’t think Lyanna believed she was doing something that would negatively impact Elia. I think Lyanna believed the Crown Prince was using his position to simply help her escape her marriage to Robert. Perhaps he would let her be one of his knights! He had honored her for her bravery regarding Howland Reed, hadn’t he? She could ride with him and all the other young knights in the charming prince’s retinue! How exciting! Is this naive? Yes. But Lyanna was a child; children are naive by definition. If we are apportioning blame, I think Rhaegar takes the lion’s share for this whole situation.

4) With the return of winter after the False Spring, I believe Rhaegar believed that the apocalypse was imminent, and that he was doing What Must Be Done to save the world. I think that, most of the time, Rhaegar was not a terrible person, but I think that Rhaegar was going to do Whatever It Took to save the world, and I think Rhaegar’s definition of “Whatever It Took” included even things like rape. (Note that Westeros probably wouldn’t define it as rape, because a medieval woman’s consent, once given, is given forever (which is fuuuucked up). But we’re readers in the 21st century, so I’m going to call it rape when we have this relationship of dubious consent between a minor and an adult with infinite power over her.) 

5) I personally do not believe that Rhaegar and Lyanna got married in the books. I believe that Jon is a bastard, just not Ned’s bastard, and part of Jon’s story arc is coming to terms with his illegitimacy and realizing that it is not a stain or a sin or whatever, and that he is still capable of great heroism. GRRM has set up so many preconceived Westerosi notions about the horror of bastardy in the books that I think he is itching to undercut them with one of his major protagonists being both a bastard and a great hero. 

Furthermore, I do not believe that GRRM would undercut his heroine Daenerys like that. I believe that Daenerys must choose to relinquish the throne, not have it ripped out from under her by a cheap technicality of the patriarchy. 

(I am asking nicely: please do not comment or speak to me if you do not believe that Daenerys is a hero in the books. I simply do not have time for that in my life. So, I am asking nicely: please cut me out of your life and do not read my blog if you do not think of Daenerys as a hero in the books. )

I also don’t believe that Rhaegar thought he had time for a marriage. Again, impending apocalypse. 

And what faith were they married in, if it happened? Did they say the words at the God’s Eye, before a heart tree? Did Rhaegar convert? Did Rhaegar hire a septon? Why would Lyanna put any stock in a marriage by a septon? Did she convert? Why would a septon condone polygamy without fire breathing monsters to back it up? Was Rhaegar the kind of person to hold a knife to a septon’s throat and demand a marriage or else? I don’t think so! But how would this marriage even come about?? Where did Rhaegar even find time to fuss over these details? And if he couldn’t fuss over the details, what kind of wedding planner did he hire? What do you think Westerosi wedding planning agencies are like, and do you think the Lannisters used the same one, considering their targ aspirations???

I think Rhaegar was running to Dorne for all he was worth, to set up a fortress / base camp where he could allow Lyanna’s child (and Elia’s children when he could fetch them) to grow up to become the saviors of the world. 

Rhaegar just had to deal with a tiny rebellion and a slightly, every-so-slightly unhinged father and then everything would go according to plan! /sarcasm 

I don’t think Rhaegar was *deliberately* doing terrible things like abandoning his wife and children, I don’t think Rhaegar ever *meant* to hold Lyanna against her will in a tower in a land far from her home, but the road to hell is paved with good intentions. 

I think there is a lesson in Rhaegar’s story, that Rhaegar was doing everything for the wrong reasons. Which is very Tragic. He was saving the world because a book told him he had to, and he was going to sacrifice various people to do it. (Which is wrong. Wrong. The only person you get to sacrifice is yourself.) 

Whereas Rhaegar’s son Jon ... I think Jon chooses to save the world because it’s something Jon feels in his soul as right and noble and honorable, something worthy of a son -- even an adopted son!! -- of Ned Stark. I think Jon chooses to save the world because he has lived in the world and is a part of it, in a way that Rhaegar never was, Rhaegar with his sad songs at ghostly Summerhall. 

I believe that agency is an important theme throughout the books, whether it’s Daenerys finding herself on the Dothraki Sea or Cersei taking back control of her own body or Tyrion saying fuck you to his father or Jon eventually choosing to save the world ... and I think Lyanna’s story is in keeping with this theme, that her story is about her trying to find her agency. 

The tragedy of her story is that she -- unwittingly, imo -- traded Robert’s cage for Rhaegar’s, and she died there. She became entangled in Rhaegar’s story, a story in which he chooses to jettison his frankly massive amount of agency -- the books and scrolls told him This All Must Happen! And It All Must Happen Right Now, With Utmost Urgency! -- and it’s terribly, terribly sad, and I feel sad for everyone involved. 

Now, I could be very wrong and you could be very right, anon, depending on what direction GRRM chooses to take his characters. But I cannot speculate on your specific concerns without new textual evidence indicating to me that your concerns are something to concern me. 

Again, it is truly not my desire to offend with this post. These are just my opinions, and I am very fond of both Rhaegar and Lyanna as characters, I find them both fascinating and I hope we learn more about them. I actually like the ship in a chivalric, Capital-R-Romantic way that’s basically divorced from my understanding of ASOIAF. (I really like Rhaegar x Elia too!)

If you would like to read more of my thoughts, I recommend you go through my lyanna stark tag, because there’s lots and lots of meta posts in there giving my thoughts in great detail, there’s fics I wrote explaining my ideas in fic rather than essay format, everything. So please go there.