#(Anyway stuff like even my things from this time is why I get MAJORLY Peeved when ppl imply Eng side DIDNT Exist as fan base before 2k15)

[izzyizumi]

Taichi Yagami & Koushiro{u} Izumi ~ featuring rp by @izzyizumi as Koushiro{u} + my now-ancient r.p. from 2012 era {I was playing Koushiro from original J.P.N version canon; Clearly the Tai{chi}-mun was using U.S. dub inspirations, but I was fine with that!}

R.P. for Koushiro by @izzyizumi / @koushirouizumi {Do Not Repost or Reproduce without my Permission} {Do Not Remove Caption} (Please Ask to Reference)

Original commentary under the ‘read more’!

The style is one in which starters are the characters talking to their "mun" or players, which is common when "voice-testing" a character to possibly app {apply} into a future {typically pan-fandom, or cross-canon across multiple fan-bases} DWrp {Dreamwidth.org} rp game. Games usually have their own settings, styles and rules and you should carefully consider them before applying to any. (I eventually ended up applying for Koushiro at a DigiAdv{s}-centric game that ended up eventually dying...)

I whited out a few parts to give the former Tai-mun a bit of privacy, but to my knowledge I haven't seen them as active since. Hopefully they won't mind me posting just one old thread between us, because it was really really fun to try back then! Even playing Koushiro was still really fun, despite it being for a very short timeframe of a couple years + even if I never found an active Taichi player {+in a close in age range} to me since.

This was BEFORE Tri had fully aired or before Kokuhaku was even announced, so Koushiro has a small mix of icons I'm using, but sometimes I switch between "canon-points" of early Adventure!Koushiro or late, OWG era or post-02 but pre-epilogue!Koushiro. Tri!Koushiro wasn't even animated more animatedly yet (and much later had very limited appearance in Saikai, etc.), so I was mainly relying on my head-canons for a Koushiro that appears between 2002 and the epilogue, but I often imagined Koushiro of those ages still sticking very close to both 02 and Tri looks. {I did like Tri giving Koushiro back slightly spikier hair, because that was how I imagined Koushiro during in-between years too.} Muns could later go back and update some icons, so some default icons may later change as well. {That's how a Tri!Taichi icon shows here even though it's 2k12}

Also, its very fun because you can personalize your responses even using things like subject headers way better than on this kind of site, and sometimes muns leave you really fun and kind messages that make you want to cry so you try to show them appreciation in turn!!!

[thevindicativevordan]

On Supergirl

Figured I should put up my thoughts about Kara in the wake of her first film appearance being announced, and the final season of her TV show fast approaching. Short version is: Kara is very cool and DC needs to stop messing with her. 

My Introduction to Kara

I was introduced to Kara the way most millennials/Gen Zers were I imagine, via the Loeb Superman/Batman arc which brought the traditional Kara Zor-El Supergirl take into Post-Crisis continuity, after years of DC attempting to have a “Supergirl” without violating the editorial mandate that Kal needed to be the literal “Last Son of Krypton” (an example of one of the dumb ways DC fucked Kara over). Story goes that one day Dan Didio was in line at the Superman ride at Six Flags (I love that ride even though it’s stolen my glasses every time I’ve ridden it, even when I left them in a locker!). The ride had signs that talked about various Superman characters. Didio was reading the entry for Supergirl where it talked about her not being Clark’s cousin but instead some weird merge of alien shapeshifter, angel, and human girl, and he realized how fucking stupid that was, and he went back to the office and told Loeb to bring Kara back. 

Years later I would also be standing in line at the Six Flags Superman ride (probably at a different park location but who knows?) as a youngster and would read the new Supergirl sign that trumpeted that Superman had a cousin who shared all his powers, an update reflecting the new Loeb origin. I thought she sounded pretty cool, made a note to see if my library had any Supergirl stories next time I visited, then got on the Superman ride and promptly lost my glasses like an idiot because I wanted to take them off while I was riding and pretend I was changing from my “disguise” into Superman mid flight. My dad grounded me for this afterwards, but it gave me a funny story to tell at family get togethers and isn’t that what Six Flags is all about?

A month later (and with spiffy new glasses), my mom dropped me off at a new library next to where she worked, and they had one of the best Superman collections I’ve ever seen to this day. I was in heaven and while reading every Superman book I could find (I couldn’t check them out because I didn’t have a card, my mom’s card didn’t cover the area the library was in, and my mom wouldn’t have checked them out anyway since comics were “too violent”), I found the trade collecting Kara’s new origin. I read it and I thought both she and Superman were really cool, and Batman was a  punk who had to beat Darkseid by cheating, the loser. Turner’s art to my young eyes was the best I had ever seen, and the panels got engraved into my brain. 

I still get downright nostalgic whenever I see Turner Superman or Supergirl stuff. I also got my parents to rent the animated movie adaption of the Superman/Batman arc from Blockbuster (remember those?), and that sealed the deal. Seeing Kara hold her own against Darkseid convinced me she was as cool as her cousin. Next time my mom dropped me off at the library next to her workplace, I went looking for Supergirl stuff to read. I found the first volume of her new volume by Joe Kelly taking place after the Loeb arc and dove in.

It was... weird. 5 years later I might have enjoyed it but at the time I was majorly put off. Kara took a secret identity for a day and then ditched it because it was “stupid” and the kids bullied her. She was always getting into fights with Kal, and there was this weird plot that I couldn’t follow about how her dad had sent her to kill Kal, maybe or maybe not? Also she could grow crystals which I thought was dumb, and said she was stronger than her cousin which I couldn’t buy for a second given he looked like he was carved out of marble, and she looked like she relied on sunlight instead of food. I put the volume back on the shelf and kinda gave up on reading the character after that for a while. 

I followed her via the DC wiki updates just like I did Superman, and everything I read seemed dumb and convoluted. She was split in two, moped around a lot, made out with an alternate version of her cousin, and basically just flopped about the same way the rest of the Superfamily did during the 00s. Nothing made me think I had made a mistake dropping Kara until I read the latest update to her wiki page.

I was super into what I was reading about the Busiek/Johns era of Superman online. Lex was back and making a big revenge scheme that involved all the other Rogues! Old Superman Rogues were getting revamped and made cool again! Johns reintroduced Brainiac and made him a big threat, with Kal and Kara teaming up to fight him! Busiek was revamping Prankster and telling big ambitious Superman stories! For the first time in a long while, the consensus on the Internet was that Superman was good again. My “home” library had zero Marvel books and no Superman or Batman books, all their DC stuff was Flash or Green Lantern, mainly written by Johns. Insane to think back on now. My hopes that because Johns was involved with Superman, Superman books would show up at my library were fulfilled. They started bringing in Busiek and Johns collections, and someone there also ordered Sterling Gates’ first volume of Supergirl, and I checked everything out since I was old enough to have my own library card, and my parents were worried more about the violent video games I was playing rather than comics.

I read everything and loved it. I also really liked Gates’ take on Kara. She was still an imperfect teenager but she wasn’t insufferably angsty or constantly fighting with Kal. She was going to give the secret identity another try and Lana had “adopted” her. It’s funny remembering how I enjoyed all that given my current thoughts on how Kara should work, but it was great at the time. I liked Gates introducing new foes for Kara, some classic Superman Rogues adapted for her like Bizzarogirl, others crafted specifically for her like Reactron. Gates’ basically rekindled my enjoyment of Kara the same way Busiek & Johns rekindled my enjoyment of Superman.

Of course it ended terribly like everything Superman-related seems to.

I’ve got a whole post I want to do about New Krypton and what came after. In short that is the most blatant example of “hitting the reset button” that I’ve ever seen. All the potential got wasted, and afterwards everything except Lex’s Action Comics stuff just didn’t appeal to me. Gates got booted off Kara for Nick Spencer who ended up leaving himself later, a promising Teen Titans line-up with Kara on it didn’t happen, and the last proper Pre-Flashpoint Superfamily story was a crappy team-up with Doomsday against Bigger Doomsday (thank God for Cornell’s final Luthor/Superman confrontation at least). When news of the reboot arrived, I was honestly happy. The Superline needed an enema.

Controversial opinion time: I liked New 52 Supergirl. It’s weird because a lot of the stuff I hated about Kelly’s run was here, and a lot of the stuff I loved about the Gates’ run was not. This was angry, moody, emotional Kara again, fighting with Kal and not fond of Earth. But I was in my teens at this point, and I didn’t want happy go-lucky Superman or Supergirl. I wanted my heroes angry, scared of the future, ready to go out there and smash some cars. Morrison’s Action Comics was 100% my jam (still is once I really understood the deeper meaning beneath the work) and this Kara felt like a natural fit for this universe. Plus we got Asrar on art and that guy made it damn pretty to look at, lots of cool science fiction stuff going on, even with the dumb H’el storyline.

I loved all the new Rogues Kara got. I loved her new Fortress under the ocean. I loved how traumatized she was by the loss of Krypton, that she wanted more than anything to go home, that her cousin was like a stranger to her since they had been apart for so long. I found all of that incredibly relatable. A lot of the New 52 Supergirl stories might have been schlock but it was my type of schlock damnit, and I enjoyed it!

I kept with her New 52 series all the way through the Red Daughter Saga (which I loved). As someone who grew up on Johns GL (since that was the only comics my home library had), seeing a Supercharacter join a Lantern Corp was the hypest thing ever. I loved the finale about Kara finally letting go of her anger and losing the ring while smashing her foe into the sun, it was incredibly cathartic for me as an angry teen myself. I finally stopped following her series sometime after since I was no longer enjoying the Superline or really DC as a whole. It wasn’t until I heard that New 52 Superman died and the “old” Superman was back, that I checked back into DC.

DC Rebirth & How I Think Kara Should Work

I did not enjoy Supergirl Rebirth, and I think I’ll talk about my problems with it alongside how I think Kara as a character should work since the two are related. A pet peeve of mine that has formed over the years is this: I don’t like it when Superfamily members get turned into Clark clones. Kon wearing glasses and going to Smallville High. Kara going to high school and being involved in journalism. Jon more or less being written as a copy of his dad personality-wise. I hate that kind of stuff because it’s boring. What’s the point of a Superfamily if everyone is just copying Clark? It also doesn’t fit the characters especially in Kara’s case. Why the hell does she want to be a journalist? Were there journalists on Krypton? I don’t remember ever seeing one! Shouldn’t she want to be, I dunno, a scientist? That seems to have been the El family tradition, wouldn’t she have been groomed for that?

This one-off by Shea is honestly the only acceptable outcome for Kara going into journalism for me. She realizes she’s just copying her cousin and switches to something she wants to do. So Orlando copying the show, which already basically turned Kara into an expy of her cousin, just did not appeal to me at all. What had worked for me under Gates way back when was not clicking for me this time. I wanted to see Kara embody the principles of the S-shield in a different way than her cousin did. So I really enjoyed when Rebirth ended and we moved into the Bendis era with Andrekyo relaunching the title as Kara in space.

Kara in space has always felt like a good fit for me. Unlike Kal I’ve come to believe that Kara really shouldn’t be all that fond of Earth. For him it’s home, but for her it’s just where she ended up after her real home got destroyed. I think Kara works well as a sort of nomad, occasionally making stops back home to Earth to check on her cousin, but otherwise? She’s more comfortable out in space than she could ever be on Earth. Out in space she can be Kryptonian (which is what she should think of herself as in contrast to Clark being torn between his Kryptonian biology and human upbringing, and Jon/Kon identifying as human), be her true self, not have to pretend to be human to fit in. Kara founding a moon refuge was one of the best ideas for her that I’ve seen, I would love if DC made her Future State refugee center on the moon canon. I’m excited for more Kara adventures in space with the upcoming Tom King story.

Also love that her and Krypto are getting tied together, if they don’t want to use Krypto in Superman’s stuff, let her have him! Bring on cosmic adventurer Supergirl!

Personality & Other Traits

Kara to me should be more hot-tempered than her cousin. All the Superfamily members should have a temper in my opinion, I see that as the “Deadly Sin” of Superman and his family. But while Kal is like a simmering pot that will explode if it’s left cooking for too long, Kara is like dynamite. Light her fuse at your own peril because she will go off on you.

I also like the idea of Kara being rash. Kal’s got a maturity that came from over a decade of having to live with Lex Luthor constantly getting away with all his evil schemes. He’s patient because he’s been forced to be. Kara? If you ask for her help she’ll give it, but beware because she doesn’t really care about the long term impacts of her decisions. She’s an invulnerable teenager after all.

Really liked that Venditti Annual where Kara got tutored in history by a reincarnation of Hawkman. Kara having a passion for history is a neat trait, would be nice to see her teach Kal or Jon some Kryptonian lore, or have her lead a Kryptonian holiday celebration for the Superfamily because she’s the only one who remembers how to do it. 

Sexuality wise I know a lot of people ship Kara and Lena on account of the chemistry between the two in the show. I haven’t watched the show myself but I’m fine with making Kara bisexual, the Superfamily could use some LGBT+ rep, and Lena hasn’t done anything of worth as a villain, so undo that and throw the two together. If we’re letting Harley and Ivy get away with murder I think we can let Lena off the hook too, undo the Ultrawoman weirdness and put the two together. Could be fun seeing the two building that moon refuge together.

All in all I think Kara is a great character who is a stronger embodiment of the immigrant experience than even her cousin in some ways. I hope King does a good job with her, she’s treated better than her cousin on the film side, and that overall the 20s are a better decade for Supergirl than the 10s were.

[magnumdays]

Magnum P.I. 2x06 - Lie, Cheat, Steal, Kill thoughts

Spoilers ahead.Obviously.

Overall I liked this episode better than the Halloween one by leaps and bounds, we got one case no one cares about and some weird none-triangle-triangle-drama and Higgins calling TC for a favor instead of Magnum and Kumu being kidnapped!

Let’s start from the beginning... 

So I loved that in the first scene Abby feeds the dogs to distract them because they’re growling. It’s like she’s totally used to the dogs stalking her/them/Magnum. And Magnum is stealing wine. And the fact that he picked the wine cellar for a date spot. In fact, I just loved that whole first scene. The whole setting got nothing to do with Abby/Magnum and everything to do with Juliet. From the place, to the wine, the dogs, the undertone of doom of Abby and Magum being happy. Even without shippy glasses on, you gotta admit, the wine cellar and dog are all just 100% associated with Magnum and Juliet’s relationship. Not Abby and Magnums.

Because of this, this scene made me so sure that Abby was going to get sent packing somehow, if not by the end of this episode then at least within a few episodes(turns out it was this ep.) As a Miggy fan (I do believe we are calling Magnum x Higgins Miggy right?) this should have made me happy and while it kind of did, I also have some other thoughts which we will get to later.

TC making a deal - that’s going to come back - which will be interesting. Possibly crossover?

The case is well... it’s weird and doesn't make total sense, I mean it does but not really. 

Abby hires another PI to prove bad guy she helped get off a murder charge is guilty but it somehow ends up in Magnum’s hands. Why couldn’t she just have asked him directly and that would have made her hanging around helping Magnum + Higgens solve it make a little more sense? This would have let her see them working together and being awesome (which kind of was the point of this episode) just as easily. I did really enjoy the other PI being all “going to get a catheter up my ding-dong so would you help me out” scene though! 

Basically, though this episode was all about Abby/Magnum/Higgins and their different way of interacting (+ to get Abby out of the show somehow). The case itself isn’t actually tricky. The bad guy does exactly what they “want” every time, pretty much so it’s all very ‘meweh’. I’d have love a moment like this 

or a mom and dad reference from Rick/TC in the middle just for fun.

But it’s fine because we don’t really care the bad guy evil or about the poor dead writer girls because there is no real framing for us to feel disturbed or sad about that in this ep. At least that’s my take. Did someone else feel compelled by the story? This episode was all main characters' stuff to me. 

Even when we get to meet one of the victim's mothers it’s only to motivate Kumu to get involved which in turn leads to the kidnapping which leads to “Juliet knows him best, do what she says” line from Abby.

This is where my annoyance with the Abby / Magnum breaking up (because of Juliet) comes in. Because while it’s cute that Abby says...well let’s run through the scene... 

Abby: *spends two hours with Magnum and Higgins* I’m not the girl for you, but if you pay a little attention you’ll see that there is someone right under your nose that is perfect for you. Just OPEN your eyes man!

Magnum: *confused* Huh? What? I can’t think of anyone. Higgy, can you think of anyone perfect for me?

Higgins: No? Why? Aren’t you and Abby still making love-dove eyes at each other? 

Writers: No, we decided to jinx that majorly by having Magnum toast to their happiness at the start of the episode.

Magnum & Higgins: Right. Sorry, Thomas. Well, let’s go have some beers and laughs and then for the rest of the week we’ll spend all our time together solves cases ignoring the fact that we banter because we can’t admit how we really feel.

Writers: Sounds good. Oh and in next week ep, Higgins will randomly show up where Magnum is working...in a bikini. Because.

Magnum & Higgins: Makes perfect sense.

Also this while “falling in love” song plays. Guys! Try to be a little subtle. 

LOL

Well, maybe that’s not a *totally* accurate write up of the conversation. But basically, Abby is us (the viewers) instead of Abby in this episode. We know Juliet and Magnum have a kind of special relationship. They kick ass together and understand each other. But it’s so much more of course. She’s lost a lot, he helped her with that, he’s lost a lot and she’s helped with that. She’s the one who always there when he needs her for a case and genuinely enjoys it. 

His bonds with Rick and TC are strong because they were in the army and the POW camp together, but living, bantering and saving each other lives over the past year and a half has made the one he has with Juliet just as strong. He loves her. He’ll die and kill for her. Probably he would fight and die for Abby to, but due to the nature of their relationship (they don’t go running into hails of bullets for fun) there hasn’t been a chance to show that. 

Juliet is the person he works with, talk to most and risks his life with/ for. They are so similar yet so different. But they are still, at this point, just business partners and friends. Trusted friends. I mean yeah, sure, we (the viewers) have seen the puppy dog eyes and smiles. 

(gifs are not mine but borrowed from people more talented than me)

But what Abby saw in today's episode was mostly that Magnum and Juliet trust and know each other.

That should not have made her break up with him!

I’ll say it again. 

Nothing Magnum/ Juliet did today was grounds for Abby saying “oh we shouldn’t be together because your soulmate is sitting over there”. 

So yeah, now I’m going to rant a little (bit more?). 

I mean maybe I’ll see something on a re-watch but is standing next to one another and making plans (work-related) together cause for concern? I would hope not. Even in previous episodes where Juliet has been like “he’s a good man” to Abby, it shouldn’t be a huge deal.  Magnum is a good man. Higgins and Magnum should be able to be friends without it being an issue for Abby. 

Because Magnum was with Abby. He wasn’t dating Higgins. He’d picked Abby, (at least for the time) and not Higgins. And while it’s fine for her to feel like maybe he’s into Higgins, it’s weird to be so obvious about it right after ending things. IDK, maybe that’s just me.

Still I don’t like Miggy friendship being a factor in A/M’s breakup. It plays too much into the stereotype of men and women can’t be friends, which is what Higgy and Magnum are at this point. And I don’t like that. As much as I want Miggy, I love where they are now, as friends, too.

So yeah. Abby breaking up with Magnum today because she didn’t want to do the long-distance relationship - and that’s it - would have been great. Maybe one sentence of ‘maybe I’m just not the girl for you’ would have been ok. But the whole, her pointing him towards Higgins (without saying her name obviously) is not cool. I don’t like it and I wish Abby would have stuck around for an episode more (or two) before making her exit.

Maybe actually having her talk to Juliet about her and Magnum’s relationship and even making Juliet realize that there is something there. Or not. Maybe just have her be unsure about moving to the mainland. Show that she actually was into Thomas and that it’s a hard choice for her. Or make her mom (on the mainland) sick or some other additional factor to make her seem less like she’s just ditching Magnum. We already had Hannah and that Cat-mom-lady, being all “nope I’m just going to dump Jay Hernandez and his fine behind because I can” and now did Abby did as well. With Rick’s failed relationship I’m beginning to worry the showrunners have something against brunettes!

Anyways, that was my biggest pet peeve with this episode, the breakup reason. Best bit for me was the one with catheter guy at the start, Magnum in his bathrobe and all the snark and banter they managed to cram in there!

[13unknownmind]

The Arrowverse is back!!!

Yesterday and last weeks episodes of The Flash where a thing so let's talk about it.

Ok I just want to say Nora is the most adorable character ever!!!

Ok so if you are reading this (I doubt it lol) you might have seen my thoughts and theories about this season I put up about four months ago (If you haven't just go to the tag #My thought about the arrowverse and you will)

Anyway I said a lot then and I am not sure but I think I mentioned that Nora was probably going to be the speedster from the comics known as XS and I am so happy that she is cause that character is so cool.

Now there is a lot to cover in this little bit of time lol so let's go.

First let's talk about the characters...

Joe my dude a great Dad and Husband I am happy to see that he has not changed, the heart to heart Joe talk is what everyone needs once in a while. Cecile even benefits from the Joe Barry father son talks it's great.

Cecile now that she has had the baby and she is losing her meta ability she was having a hard time but as I mentioned she is now seemingly doing better thanks to Joe and Barry. A lot to come and I know I am looking forward to seeing what happens.

Ralph... This dude is crazy man I don't know what I can say about this guy except he is a loyal friend for real, I am looking forward to seeing what they do with him this season. Oh and really this dude isn't that stupid why with the earth and time stuff... You are better than this Dibny.

Wally it appears is not going to be seen much I guess... I assume he will be returning for the crossover but we shall see.

Iris is doing well with her job and taking care of the team but I think she is kind of peeved about the lack of connection she is making with her daughter (from the future) I hope she holds no resentment for that cause for real Nora's whole life it was her and Iris so she should be cutting some slack. It also seems that Iris has made quite a name and way for herself in the city being able to get the captain to spill the beans so easily.

NORA!!! The adorableness oh my gosh I gushed over her the whole first episode she is just so "cheek squeezing" cute, ok yes there is an actual baby on the show but Nora is cuter. All she wanted was to prove herself and now she is only trying to help. There is nothing wrong with a speedster with ADHD lol I am so looking forward to her for the rest of the season.

Caitlin snow ok so first we all saw that she is clearly touchy about the whole killer frost missing thing, I am glad that is still part of the development of her character and they didn't abandon it, second we can all see she is wanting to confront the dad thing and after the talk with Cisco and a large pastry she is ready to go for it... I still think that her dad is gonna turn out to be cicada cause all the signs are there from my point of view. I am looking forward to seeing the rest of her story.

Cisco my dude I feel you heart break sucks, I still say WWHHHHHYYYYYYYY‽‽‽‽‽... But nothing can be done oh well. With any "luck" we can see gypsy again and hopefully it will be for a time not just an episode. Now having vibed info on Caitlin's dad situation they are one step closer to... Whatever the outcome will be. Just a side thing- ish but I can honestly say that Cisco and I are almost the same person and it freaks me out.

I guess that only leaves The Flash himself Barry, now this dude is such a kind heart and a gentle soul but really letting your daughter stay and risk the timeline getting more messed up than it already has been... I am happy he did cause as I said before you may recall she is adorable. So now we have to watch the timeline go 👈☝️👉👆👈👉👈☝️👈👆👉 that way... Anyway he is really trying to be a dad and that's kinda cool even if his daughter is only a few years younger than him lol I am exited to see what comes as The Flash and XS are teamed and ready to rock.

Now moving on to the other things...

Cicada this dude is clearly angry about something and I can not wait to find out what... I am seeing something along the lines of what happened in the comics but how are they gonna spin it is what I wish to know, maybe he hates and wants to kill meta humans because of Caitlin (if he is her dad) or maybe it's like the comics as in a meta did something or he is a meta and doesn't want to be... I do know one thing if nothing else that dagger is a piece of metal from Star labs I am figuring that it is a piece from where the Dark Matter originated in the particle accelerator right before it exploded and that is where he gets his power because of the amount of dark matter that is embedded into that blade which has seeped into his body ergo his whole thing... I do want to know what is up with the Darth Vader breathing mask make him sound like a cicada thing, we might find out oorrr maybe not I look forward to this story and this character unraveling and seeing what comes from it.

Final thoughts.

Are we gonna see an other hero join the team?

Is Nora going to make the timeline better or majorly worse?

Is the baby a meta and if so is it because Joe has residual dark matter in his system that never turned him into a meta?

Will Ralph be able to understand everything (I doubt it)

The Crossover oh my gosh I can't wait!!!

If you are actually reading this thank you and I hope you enjoyed it, please if you have any thoughts by all means fill me in or tag me in your post of thoughs or what ever you decide. I am so happy it's all back and that I am getting stuff together enough to blog YaY lol as always I hope you are well God bless and I will catch you later ✌️

[thecrazydragonlady]

“Shall We Dance?” Chapter 12

Author’s Note: The snow wasn’t bad. We survived. The state didn’t shut down. But I didn’t leave home so I have like eight unpublished chapters of this story (and we’re still not even at the ball scene yet!). Shall we see how many I can get through? Anyway, enjoy!

Chapter 12

The second Wednesday came and went.

Adrien couldn’t meet with Marinette for practice due to an unscheduled photo shoot but she was happy to report to him on Thursday that she’d managed to not injure Nathaniel again nor any of the other guys she’d been partnered with. In fact, Madame Amelie had praised her for the most improvement since the week before.

She thanked him for his help.

He couldn’t help but feel a little bit jealous. His stomach twisted painfully at the idea of other guys dancing with her but he couldn’t say anything. Technically speaking, he and Marinette were nothing. Whether it was him or Chat Noir. He hadn’t returned to her balcony since Monday; it seemed like his bad luck had finally decided to pay a visit, packing his nights with modeling, projects, and an akuma attack that’d left them so tired, they didn’t even hang around to talk after it was purified. They’d done their usual fist bumped, lacking its usual energy and luster, but then went their separate ways.

He wasn’t happy with the wall that was building between them.

It needed to come crashing down soon.

As he sat in his regular seat on a slightly dark Friday morning, it was a wonder no one could point him out as Chat Noir. Had he been suited, there was no doubt in his mind that his tail would have been swishing back and forth like a real cat’s. Nino and Alya shared a look at his expression. They’d clearly never seen him like this before. Nino started to ask him what was up when Madame Bustier began her lesson. He smiled to his friend and shook his head. He’d talk later.

Marinette came running in the room a couple of minutes later, only stating she’d over slept. Everyone in the room basically rolled their eyes as their class president shuffled to her seat abashedly. Adrien kept his eyes down. He didn’t want the heat in his face to be so obvious.

Nino raised an eyebrow.

When they were dismissed from class, Alya and Nino both grabbed Adrien by the arms and dragged him out of the room. Marinette watched in confusion. Alya paused long enough to shoot her some excuse of needing to speak to Adrien about something majorly important and that she would catch up with the dark haired girl later. Marinette shrugged, collected her stuff, and went off to find a quiet place to work on her historical research project for the ball.

The trio found a secluded bench in the park across the way. The two doing the holding tossed their hostage onto the bench and Adrien landed with an –oomph-. He rubbed his shoulder and started to say something but backed off immediately, seeing the slightly peeved expression on both of their faces. Alya stood with her hands on her hips. Nino’s arms were crossed. Both were looking down at him. He sunk into the bench a bit, scared for the first time ever for his life, and he’d yet to find out why exactly his life was in danger.

“I don’t know what’s happened,” Alya practically hissed, “but you and Marinette have been acting weird since Monday. She won’t tell me what’s going on but one of you is going to spill or so help me, I’ll make both of your lives miserable.”

Adrien flinched. What could he say? This whole thing with Mari was a mess and he didn’t know how to fix it. He opened and closed his mouth several times before releasing a frustrated groan, running his hands through his hair furiously. “Look, I don’t know what to tell you two,” he finally stated. “I know you’re worried about us but I really can’t share anything. Mari and I… well, we’re just going through a rough patch is all.”

“Dude, a rough patch,” Nino snickered, “You call this a rough patch? You’ve been growling and making eyes at any guy that’s been near Mari all week….”

“She hasn’t been sleeping,” Alya added quickly.

“Both of you barely talk to each other….”

“Mari’s been acting like a zombie….”

“You’ve been daydreaming more than usual….”

“So I’ll ask again: What happened?”

Adrien blinked at the both of them. He was amazed. He knew that both of them were loyal and observant but this was a new level. He sighed and wrung his hands together. “Look, I really can’t say anything. There are things going on between me and Mari that… well, we just can’t share. I know you two are worried but please, give me a little more time. I’ll make it work. Promise.” The two of them shared a look. Nino sighed and put a hand on his shoulder. Alya dropped her hands.

“Look dude, we’re here for both of you.”

“Not going to lie, it’s frustrating to be left in the dark but if it means that much to both of you, we’ll wait until you’re ready to talk to us.” Adrien smiled up at the two of them.

“Thanks. Really.” Nino offered him a hand to help him up. Alya paused and caught Nino’s arm before they started heading back.

“Should we tell him,” she whispered.

“What? That we know about him being Chat Noir? Not yet.”

“But….”

“I know,” he patted her hand. “We’re best off waiting babe. Until they come to us. Pushing it’ll only cause more cracks and we don’t want that right now.” His eyes twinkled mischievously. “Especially since I have a bet to win.” She rolled her eyes before placing a peck on his cheek.

“In your dreams. Adrinette is definitely going to beat LadyNoir.”

“But don’t forget about Ladrien or Marichat.” They giggled together over the stupid ship names they’d created for their oblivious friends and caught up with Adrien who’d noticed their absence at the entrance and paused to give them time to catch up. They brushed it off as wanting a brief make-out session. He only rolled his eyes and together, they all headed off to find Marinette in the corner of the library, working very diligently on her project.

****

Marinette was completely nervous. Friday night was cool over Paris but it was only part of the reason why she currently was shivering on top of Notre Dame. Since an akuma attack had taken place yesterday, their normal patrol schedule was cancelled in favor of a Friday route. It was something they agreed on that required no talking which is why she’d been able to basically runaway after the fist bump yesterday. She was early by nearly thirty minutes for their patrol. This gave her plenty of time to panic and worry about how Chat was going to react to her since Monday had been a complete wreck. On top of that, she’d turned to a civilian for emotional support; the same civilian she’d basically hurt Chat over. She wanted to scream in frustration.

Soft footfalls from behind told her that he’d arrived. She gripped the edge that she currently sat on, closed her eyes, and took a deep breath, “Hello Chat.”

She could feel his eyes burrowing into the back of her head and she was pretty sure she could make out the soft swish of his tail and the sound of his baton shrinking to be stored on his back. He approached her slowly.

“My Lady,” he greeted. He kept his voice even and soft to not scare her off.

The last couple of days had been hell for both of them he knew; Alya and Nino had called his attention to it. After they’d returned to school, Adrien watched Marinette. Really watched her. He saw the bags under her eyes and the clear lack of sleep she had. Her head had been bobbing towards the table several times. He felt so guilty because it was obvious that his talk with her late Monday night hadn’t done anything to help ease her worries about hurting his own feelings.

She stood, bringing him out of his thoughts. A quick tug at her yo-yo pulled it off her hip and readied it for throwing. “East or West?”

“Ladybug….”

“East or West Chat. We can talk after.” He paused. He could see her shoulders shaking even though she didn’t turn around to face him. His own slumped as he deflated at the sight of his lady, his princess, his Marinette, standing heroically over the city she loved but shaking from fear because of him.

“Marinette….” She jerked but tossed her yo-yo. It latched onto a nearby gargoyle.

“I’ll go East. See you at the tower.” A quick tug on the string sent her flying towards the East. Chat watched her take off and he sighed, decidedly hurrying to the West, just to make this conversation happen faster. After all, she couldn’t really escape afterwards now could she?

But she already knew that. Ladybug only half paid attention as she patrolled the East part of Paris, nearly missing a robbery in progress, before she ended up at the Tower. They normally met on one of the beams just short of the viewing platform because it was more freeing to be standing on an open beam than caged by the safety barrier. She landed on said beam, panting. Chat was already there, leaning against one of the cross beams, arms crossed, and eyes closed. His ears twitched to hear her land. This prompted him to open them and stare at her. She swallowed painfully. He walked towards her slowly and she began to lose her nerve. With each step he took, she took one back until she was pinned by another cross beam. Her back was pressed flat against it, hands flat, and her face turning as red as her mask. She had to fight hard to keep the tears at bay. Chat smiled at her and ducked his head a bit. “You can’t runaway now Marinette,” he whispered. She kept her eyes adverted from him. Quickly biting her lower lip helped to keep it from quivering. “Ladybug, please look at me.”

“I-I... can’t.”

“Yes you can.”

“No I can’t.” She swallowed again, curling her hands into fists against the metal. “I know you’re upset with me. I know I hurt you. I promised Tikki I wouldn’t and one of the first things I do is hurt you.” He smiled softly, grabbing her chin gently to turn her head to him. She kept her eyes adverted though.

“Does it look like I’m mad at you Marinette?” She blinked but stayed silent. He ducked his head more. This forced her eyes to finally meet his. All she saw was warmth in them. There was no hint of anger with her or even hurt; if any of it had happened, he was good at keeping it hidden from her. She slumped back against the beam. “I promise. I’m not mad at you. I’m not disappointed or upset or any other negative emotion you can think of. I’m none of it. What I am, if anything, is sorry.”

She balked. “Wh-what? Why? You’ve got nothing to be sorry for!” She reached forward, clutching his shoulders. “I’m the one that’s sorry! I tried to rush things and I was stupid and said things I shouldn’t have and I hurt you. Don’t lie to me. I know I did. It was me doing all that. Not you. If anything, you’re innocent of all guilt. I….” Chat placed a finger on her lips to stop her. She fell silent.

“No there is something. I didn’t make sure to clear everything up. I ran away and I left you to panic about hurting me. I didn’t make it clear that what we were doing was alright, that I understood everything, and truly, I trusted everything you said.” He ducked his head lower again. His eyes glowed green in the near darkness his shadow created; she gulped but couldn’t tear her own away. “Can I make-up for it now? Can I show you?”

She nodded slowly and kept going until his lips made contact with hers.

****

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