#Chinese legend Butterfly Lovers

[familyagrestefanblog]

ML Meta Theory: Chinese legend “Butterfly Lovers”

I just realized that I never got around to talk about the Chinese legend 梁山伯與祝英臺 (Liang Shanbo and Zhu Yingtai) - or the title its mostly referred to in English: Butterfly Lovers – and that I think its quite possible that this tragic tale is the reason why the Butterfly Miraculous specifically is the villain in Miraculous and Marientte’s and Adrien’s love story, even though Butterflies aren’t exactly that special of animals in Chinese cultures.

(Statue: Liangzhu Culture Park)

Disclaimer: As per usual, I’m of no country of the Asien continent and I also have no family roots there I’m taking this from. I’m one person who is very interested in culture and literature and research is all I can do in this regard at the moment.

So if my post contains false information, misrepresentations or other points, please let me now.

Butterfly Lovers was selected as one of China's Four Great Folktales by the "Folklore Movement" in the 1920s and I’ve gotta be honest, this is such a spot on “civilian Ml-Love-Square” way for a romantic couple to tragically never reach each other and then die in the end, I would find it surprising if it didn’t at least have SOME influence on the show.

Cause the Love Square WOULD

Zhu Yingtai is the ninth child and only daughter of the wealthy Zhu family of Shangyu, Zhejiang. Although women are traditionally discouraged from taking up scholarly pursuits, Zhu manages to convince her father to allow her to attend classes in disguise as a man. During her journey to Hangzhou, she meets Liang Shanbo, a scholar from Kuaiji. They chat and feel a strong affinity for each other at their first meeting. Hence, they gather some soil as incense and take an oath of fraternity in the pavilion of a wooden bridge.

They study together for the next three years in school and Zhu gradually falls in love with Liang. Although Liang equals Zhu in their studies, he is still a bookworm and fails to notice the feminine characteristics exhibited by his classmate.

One day, Zhu receives a letter from her father, asking her to return home as soon as possible. Zhu has no choice but to pack her belongings immediately and bid Liang farewell. However, in her heart, she has already confessed her love for Liang and is determined to be with him for all eternity. Before her departure, she reveals her true identity to the headmaster's wife and asks her to pass a jade pendant to Liang as a betrothal gift.

Liang accompanies his "sworn brother" for 18 miles to see her off. During the journey, Zhu hints to Liang that she is actually a woman. For example, she compares them to a pair of mandarin ducks (a symbol of lovers in Chinese culture), but Liang does not catch her hints and does not even have the slightest suspicion that his companion is a woman in disguise. Zhu finally comes up with an idea and tells Liang that she will act as a matchmaker for him and Zhu's "sister". Before they part, Zhu reminds Liang to visit her residence later so he can propose to marry her "sister". Liang and Zhu reluctantly part ways at the Changting pavilion.

Months later, when Liang visits Zhu, he discovers that she is actually a woman. They are devoted to and passionate about each other and they make a vow to the effect of "till death do us part". The joy of their reunion is short-lived as Zhu's parents have already arranged for her to marry a wealthy merchant, Ma Wencai. Liang is heartbroken when he hears the news and his health gradually deteriorates until he becomes critically ill. He dies in office later as a county magistrate.

On the day of Zhu's marriage to Ma, strong winds prevent the wedding procession from escorting the bride beyond Liang's grave, which lies along the journey. Zhu leaves the procession to pay her respects at Liang's grave. She descends in bitter despair and begs for the grave to open up. Suddenly, the grave opens with a clap of thunder. Without further hesitation, Zhu throws herself into the grave to join Liang. Their spirits emerge in the form of a pair of butterflies and fly away together, never to be separated again.

The Love Square WOULD!

Switch their roles out at several points and you do have a pretty strong Love-square tragic love story and I simply found that way too fitting to be a mere coincidence.

Again, it’s one of China's Four Great Folktales and the Butterfly has always seemed like an odd choice for the villain of this show, which does intergrade a lot of references in the narrative and characters to for example the Chinese numbers and the Zodiac system, their meanings and relations (Post here)

So this doesn’t seem that far-fetched at all, and in my opinion it just FEELS extremely right for Le Papillion’s/ Hawkmoth’s role in the show without making him culturally inappropriate since Gabriel is a white man, terrorist and child abuser. He, as the villain, is the narrative manifestation of “Butterfly Lovers” but without having him as an actual PERSON be its embodiment.

[sombredancer]

Enemies/Rivals to Lovers recipe

(with the mild version aka Pride and Prejudice and the tragic version aka Romeo and Juliet) Step 1: The main heroes are on the opposite sides of any scale (the grumpy one vs a cheerful one, a kind and stupid one vs a cunning and vile one, a demon vs a god, a master vs a servant, people of enemy states or absolutely different cultures etc.).

A cheerful and funny little bird demon-yao Qing Qing and a grumpy and stone-faced deity of Netherworld Xue Qianxun Step 2: They are forced to communicate with each other without a chance to avoid it (e.g. an arranged marriage, being trapped somewhere together, working as a mole in the enemy camp etc.).

Asura King Xuan Ye plays out damsel in distress to get undercover into Heavenly Realm and his future lover Ran Qing is the one who "rescues" him.

Step 3: One party get impressed by unique character features of other (e.g. the person is the only one who isn't terrified by other's scary reputation, the only one who treats other party well etc.).

Even kings and princes are in absolute terror seeing Gwi - an immortal all-powerful vampire, and only Hye Ryung hates him so much that dares to bicker, scold and deny him. Step 4: One of the parties takes the first step towards another and that melts another`s heart.

Even if Hou Ling Changjin hurt Princess Bao Zhu for her miraculous blood, she still cares for him and doesn`t hold a grudge.

"You are injured!"

Step 5: Here come mutual pining, UST and moral sufferings "what is more important: to fulfil the mission / to be accepted by the society / whatsoever or to love?"

Gong Shangjue doubts if he can indulge himself being gentle with the girl he likes if she is an assassin from the enemy clan.

Shangguan Qian adds Shangjue`s favorite flowers into her tea and thinks about her mission of taking him down.

Step 6: It`s time to confess the feelings.

Leader of a diabolic sect Li Chenlan comes to save his beloved who hated him and tried to kill him and promises her to be her sword and shield. So romantic!

Step 7: The parties try to solve the problem that keeps them apart. If the problem is internal (it has something to do with beliefs and prejudice of a person), here it will be solved and «happily ever after» begins.

Despite of his low social status Hao Du ventures to participate in the competition, wins the right to marry the princess (who he is in love with) and dares to be honest explaining that he did it not only in order to save her from a Barbarian prince but because he truly wants to be with her. Step 8: If the problem is external (there is a large-scale conflict and the parties are just some insignificant participants of it), one of the parties sacrifices themselves to solve the problem.

Before saving the world by the cost of his life Demon God Tantai Jin engraves his name on his own tombstone placed next to his beloved wife's one, so in the future she could mourn him in a suitable place.

Step 9: In a satisfying story there is a magical reward of party's brave deed, which is a happy end.

Demon Lord Dongfang Qingcang sacrificed himself in order to save the girl he loved and died but his girlfriend (who happens to be a Goddess with abilities to resurrect the dead) nurtured a piece of his primordial spirit for 500 years and brought him back to life. Side note: If you want to add some chili pepper into your story, you can break this scheme any step from Step 4 on: pining could be one-sided, UST could never ever be resolved, characters could prefer their goals to love or maybe death or other circumstances would do them apart against their will.

The Wolf and Ma Zhaixing finally got together but the cruel world couldn`t allow it to last anytime long.

Bon Appétit! Your Enemies to Lovers story is well-baked!

[dilebe06]

My Favorite Male Characters

[lenglengflames]

god i just remembered that butterflies are symbolic of rebirth, and a pair of butterflies flying together symbolises love. (in chinese culture)

but i also just learnt that butterflies are symbolic of the arrival of your soulmate. and that white butterflies symbolises that someone is watching over you from the heavens. and that sometimes, butterflies were once thought to be lost souls.

hua cheng's sliver butterflies. (sliver is basically shiny white.)

he first appears as a lone butterfly before xie lian during the ghostgroom arc.

his 'rebirth' as a powerful calamity. (are ghost fires lost souls?)

him watching over xie lian as hong-er, wuming, etc, over eight centuries.

in the legend of the butterfly lovers (from which im pretty sure the pair of butterflies flying together symbolising love originated from), liang shanbo and zhu yingtai are reunited due to a wedding procession. (sounds romantic, but i promise you its not. zhu yingtai refuses to be wed to some other guy and as she stops by liang shanbo's grave - long story - to pay respects, the grave suddenly opens and she throws herself in. their spirits then turn into butterflies)

hualian are also reunited through a wedding procession.

[k6ivies]

if i were to write a xingyun fan fic based on the chinese legend, the butterfly lovers, would you all read it

[ruhua-langblr]

The 4 Classic Novels of China— Easy Mode

I’ve mentioned several times how important the classic novels are to learning Chinese, but like classic English novels, they’re not incredibly accessible due to their old-fashioned and highly literary writing. I collected a few options for people who want to read these novels, but aren’t at the level required for the original versions. 

The Journey to the West Series by Jeff Pepper and Xiao Hui Wang

This is the one that I have personally used out of this list. This version of 《西游记》begins at a 600 word requirement, but as the story goes on, grows to 2,000 words. All of the volumes have been published and come in MANY formats. Not only is this available in Simplified and Traditional, it’s available as individual books, collections, and an omnibus edition—all of which are in print, ebook, and include an online audiobook.

The book is formatted as one page is pinyin, one page is Chinese, and an English translation and glossary in the back of the book. I think this is a nice format as everything is there, but there’s also enough control to read it with the least amount of aids. I really hope the other classics get adapted as this really set a solid standard for this style of learning material.

Sinolingua Press

This will contain two series published under Sinolingua Press that contain the same books, but with differences!

Abridged Chinese Classic Series

This is exactly what it says! It is the four classic novels that are abridged. All of these are geared towards an expected HSK 5 (pre-HSK 3.0) 2,500 word level. 

Rainbow Bridge Graded Chinese Reader

This series includes the four classic novels as well as other stories such as Butterfly Lovers, Legend of the White Snake, Hua Mulan, Nüwa, and Romance of the West Chamber. For the classics, 《西游记》and《水浒传》are at 2,500 word level and 《红楼梦》and《三国演义》are at the 1,500 word level. 

Now, I’m not sure what the difference is between 《西游记》and《水浒传》in the first series and this series. Format wise, both use pinyin above the Chinese (a special bookmark is included if you want to block the pinyin). If you’re like me and do judge books by their cover, the Abridged Classic series is a very pretty set! Some of the Graded Chinese Reader books have received updated cover art that looks great, but it’s not across the whole series. From what I can tell, the Abridged Chinese Classic Series is for an older audience as it doesn’t have the cartoon illustrations. All of these novels are in Simplified Chinese.

Comparisons and other options

The Sinolingua versions are HIGHLY abridged. For comparison, the Pepper/Wang version is over 10 times longer than both of the Sinolingua versions. All of the versions of the classics come in around ~300 pages when the originals are multi-volume novels. This isn’t inherently bad, and is common in the last option: Chinese children’s version. There are multiple publishings in this style and these also tend to be around the same length. They have their own benefits and drawbacks. The Chinese editions will not include any English and aren’t tailored to the HSK style, but reading age. 

Final Thoughts

Of the four options, it’s all about personal preference and what you want in a book. I hoped this was of some help! Books mentioned above can be found on Amazon (Pepper/Wang), Purple Culture (Sinolingua), and Aliexpress (Sinolingua/Chinese Published versions).

[tickledpink31]

Continuing off of my first introduction of my LMK/JTTW oc, I realize that I should give her a second introduction expanding on her character as well as a summary of a story concept I had in mind. It still won't leave my head. Forgive me as I tend to ramble a lot.

Inspired by @skittlescripts and @theweepingegg,

(Omg, I just noticed that I forgot to draw her freckles)

I changed her robes because I ended not liking the silhouette of the first one. And I gave her a butterfly brooch too instead of a pendant

She goes by many names depending on who is addressing her. She’s born as Marisol Orozco-Leong, although her obsession with butterflies earned her the affectionate nickname, Mariposa, by her relatives. Historians refer to her as the Butterfly Lady, Queen of Butterflies, or Butterfly Maiden… or just Sun Wukong’s wife.

Guanyin gave her the name Liang Xiaodie after she rescued and revived her. We’ll get to that in a bit.

Her farsightedness being used as an advantage in long ranges was an idea I got from Black Butler who has the gunslinging Mey-Rin, a maid who can see from miles away.

By the end of the journey she was rewarded with a pair of functional butterfly wings to symbolize her growth in character, or more so her metamorphosis.

Her wings are based off of the Asian Swallowtail. During her time as an unwilling host to Lady Bone Demon, her wings closely resemble that of a zebra swallowtail or a tree nymph butterfly

(Yes, you read that right: LBD chose her instead of the little girl. You know, to hit Wukong where it hurts.)

I’ve been researching a lot on butterflies in Chinese culture, and I hope my resources are correct. If not, please correct me:

One thing that often comes up is that butterflies denote romantic love. There’s also the Chinese folktale of Romeo and Juliet, “The Butterfly Lovers” (this loosely alludes to Wukong and Xiaodie’s relationship)

They can even signify longevity, rebirth, and good fortune

There were also a few articles that say there are legends that depict the Bodhisattva Guanyin as a butterfly.

Here are just some illustrations of Mariposa/Xiaodie. The goal was to depict her change throughout the journey, being sent back to her time right after, and her plan to reunite with Wukong going awry when LBD interferes.

Now, for the plot. Watch me ramble even more.

The whole concept is pretty much a time loop that circles back to LMK’s modern era, and Mari experiencing the 14-year journey that was actually condensed within her 2-week coma. That's the most coherent way I could word the situation.

In an ironic twist, Mariposa is not much of a social butterfly and is more of a shrinking violet, a cocooned caterpillar if you will.

Being born and raised in Singapore and her mother having Han Chinese ancestry, Mari and her siblings all grew up on the stories of Journey to the West.

Given the fact that demons roam around freely among humans, I like to think that the events of JTTW are treated like actual historical events in LMK and not just a legend.

Now, here’s where the time loop begins:

What kicks everything off was a college program that Mari joins where students get to spend learning for a semester at sea and travelling the world

By the end of the semester, however, the ship gets caught in the storm and Mari drowns in the event.

I don’t want to explain how she got sent back to the Tang Dynasty. I mostly just want to keep that ambiguous.

While Guanyin and her disciple are out looking for the scripture pilgrim, they came across a girl who was half-dead and washed up on a shore. They revive her and nurse her back to health and find out that she has no memories.

How she got the name Liang Xiaodie, Guanyin found her surname (or one of them), Leong or 梁, stitched into her bag, but to the Bodhisattva, it read to her as Liang. (It's Mari's mother's surname. Leong is the Singaporean transliteration of Liang)

Xiaodie was chosen as her given name for her butterfly brooch and the several butterfly embroideries on her clothes.

Xiaodie slowly begins to regain her memories, mostly for basic things on surviving in the wilderness and gaining muscle memory on how to use her bow and arrows again like a master, but not enough to remember her real name or her life before.

Like with the other Pilgrims, Guanyin suggests that Xiaodie should join the scripture pilgrim. Before Guanyin leaves, she gives Xiaodie's bow the ability to summon arrows of her own will so that she may never run out of ammo.

She ends up meeting Tripitaka and Sun Wukong a little bit before Ao Lie is introduced.

Xiaodie is a bit of an odd addition to the group mostly because of her amnesia. The rest of the disciples were sent on this journey to gain redemption and enlightenment. Xiaodie doesn't have a story about her past sins as far as she knew. She went on this journey because she didn't know what else to do. She's the only other mortal of the pilgrimage and the sole woman to boot.

Xiaodie did not physically age at all during the journey. At first, she believed that it was because of the manfruit from the Ginseng Tree that Wukong fed her, but it was actually because her actual physical body was in her time healing in a hospital. Each year that passed by during the journey, only a day passes by in the modern era.

That isn't to say that the manfruit didn't affect her. Her lifespan was still extended even after waking up

Her memories came back at a snail's pace. She has dreams of being in a hospital bed and people watching over (her parents and the doctors).

In spite of her amnesia though, Xiaodie was seen as the brains of the group. Bits of amnesiac resonance come to her that are often useful when it comes to survival, such as knowing how to filter water of bacteria to drink, making soap or shampoos for hygiene, and even remembering bits of Journey to the West whenever she gets a bad feeling about their environment that they're in.

Another thing about her amnesia is how much her dialect differs from everyone else.

As Marisol/Mariposa, Xiaodie grew up speaking and writing Singaporean Mandarin and Modern Mainland Mandarin while everyone else around her uses Middle Chinese. So, it's a bit of a struggle for Xiaodie to communicate with others properly and vice versa.

On top of that, Xiaodie was not aware that she was sent centuries back for the longest time. She doesn't get why her companions don't know what cars or airplanes are or why they don't understand the slang she uses

It wasn't until near the end of the journey did she regain all of her memories and finally understands her time travel situation. It ended making her more reluctant to stay in the past much to Wukong's dismay.

At the end of the journey, Xiaodie and Wukong planned to get married, but with Xiaodie's reluctance and homesickness lingering, a swarm of butterflies takes her away, and she disappears in front of the pilgrims' eyes.

Wukong, devastated, was quickly informed that Xiaodie did not belong to this century, and had to be sent back to her family. The best thing Wukong could do for now is wait for her correct era to come around, which will roughly be 1400 years give or take.

Back in the modern era, Mari wakes up from her coma thinking everything was just a dream, but something feels off...

Everything she felt—the pain, the joys, and the experiences she went through felt real. She feels as if she actually hadn't spoken to her family in 14 years, and she feels like an older person stuck in a younger body.

Most of all, she feels as if she's lost something, or someone.

It wasn't until the butterfly wings appeared on her back that gave her the confirmation that she really did go on the journey for the scriptures and that her feelings for Wukong were indeed real

So, off we go. Mari makes a plan to go to China and find Wukong herself, and she lands herself in the coastal city of Megapolis. There she finds out that the Monkey King has a successor.

However, life sure loves to throw a wrench in her plans when the Lady Bone Demon escapes her prison and takes Mari's body as a host

She was the perfect host. How could the Monkey King ever want to hurt someone he's waited for so long?

Will Sun Wukong go through with the pain of possibly losing his beloved? Will the Mari find a way to break free of her possession? Find out next time on whatever shit I post next.

[sanvees]

I hope you don't mind this questions but I started Century of Love and there are just some things I'm curious about. Maybe I didn't understand or watch closely enough but... How is San a grandfather? What are the purposes of the shrine family? I really don't understand that! And the play too, that San and Wat watched? How is it related?

Sorry I just don't understand.

no worries! i'm unhinged about col so your ask is safe with me 🩷

what we know (so far) is san is not biologically related to the shrine keeper family. it seems he was close to doctor hong (1st generation keeper) and i guess to make sure the stone and san were protected, hong decided to adopt him into his family, hence why san is considered a great great grandfather/ancestor by later generations lol. we're on gen 4 lol with tao as this generation's keeper (hong -> pao -> wang -> tao).

as for what the shrine keepers do... they seem to be fortune tellers/feng shui consultants/doctors (tcm probably). they're called ซินแส (a teochew loan word) in the show which can mean doctor/teacher/fortune teller.

and the play wad and san watched is called butterfly lovers and is based on a chinese legend which somewhat mirrors wad and san's story--and i'm curious if it'll also parallel san and vee. (tldr of the legend: a pair of lovers are made to part when one is forced into an arranged marriage and the other grows ill. when one dies, the other begs to join them in their grave and the heavens/fate grant this wish. their souls emerge as butterflies, never to part again.)

[shiraishi--kanade]

Not to be one of those people but if you're the type of person who kind of wants to listen to some classical music but you can't focus enough/it's too boring for you/seems too repetitive, you should give The Butterfly Lovers Violin Concerto a chance. Especially if you're into traditional Chinese music. This is the sole piece of classical music I've found the easiest to follow even with my attention span issues, it's not too sophisticated if you know the legend it was based on, and is overall downright gorgeous.

[ourspiritanima]

All About Butterfly Meaning And Symbolism

Butterflies are one of nature’s most beautiful and intriguing creatures, often associated with transformation, freedom, and the ethereal realm. Their metamorphosis from caterpillar to butterfly is symbolic of personal growth and rebirth. Across cultures, butterflies carry unique meanings, often tied to spirituality, love, life, and death. This article will explore butterfly symbolism, butterfly spiritual meanings, what butterflies symbolize in dreams, and delve into the myths and legends surrounding butterflies in various cultures.

Butterfly Spiritual Meaning

Butterflies are often considered a representation of the soul and spiritual transformation. In many traditions and belief systems, butterflies symbolize the journey of the soul, reflecting growth, transformation, and the passage from one stage of life to another.

Transformation And Rebirth

The butterfly’s life cycle, from egg to caterpillar, chrysalis, and then its final form as a butterfly, mirrors personal growth. Spiritually, this process symbolizes inner development, the shedding of old habits, and embracing a renewed self. People who encounter butterflies often interpret it as a signal of positive change on the horizon.

Freedom And Liberation

Because butterflies are free creatures, fluttering effortlessly from flower to flower, they are often connected with freedom and the liberation of the soul. For individuals undergoing personal or emotional changes, the appearance of a butterfly can indicate the freedom found through personal discovery or spiritual awakening.

Connection To The Divine

In many cultures, butterflies are believed to be messengers from the divine. The fragile and delicate wings of a butterfly are often seen as connecting the physical world with the spiritual. Their brief yet beautiful life is also a symbol of life’s fleeting yet profound beauty, encouraging people to cherish every moment.

Butterfly Symbolism (In Different Countries)

Butterflies are a powerful symbol in many cultures around the world. Though the core symbolism often revolves around transformation, each culture adds its unique layer to the butterfly’s meaning.

Japan: A Symbol Of Joy And Marriage

In Japan, butterflies are symbols of happiness and marital bliss. They are often seen as a representation of joy and the fleeting nature of life. Historically, two butterflies together symbolize marital happiness, and their appearance during celebrations like weddings is considered a blessing.

China: Immortality And Love

In Chinese culture, the butterfly is a symbol of immortality and conjugal love. Butterflies often appear in art and literature, symbolizing young lovers and harmonious relationships. When two butterflies are seen together, they represent eternal love. Chinese mythology also sees butterflies as a sign of long life and vitality.

Mexico: A Connection To The Dead

In Mexico, especially during the Day of the Dead (Día de los Muertos) celebrations, butterflies hold a special place. Monarch butterflies migrate to Mexico every year, arriving around the same time as the holiday. Many people believe that these butterflies are the souls of departed loved ones returning to the world of the living.

Native American Culture: Transformation And The Soul

Among Native American tribes, the butterfly is often seen as a messenger from the spirit world. They are symbols of change, transformation, and the soul’s journey after death. For the Blackfoot tribe, butterflies were seen as symbols of sleep and dreams, believed to carry wishes and thoughts to the heavens.

Celtic Symbolism: Rebirth And Immortality

In Celtic mythology, butterflies symbolize rebirth and immortality. The Celts believed that butterflies could carry souls to the afterlife, representing the constant cycle of death and rebirth. They were considered sacred creatures, often tied to the gods and the spiritual realm.

Butterfly Symbolism (With Different Colors)

The color of a butterfly adds another layer to its symbolism. Different colored butterflies represent various emotions, life changes, and spiritual messages.

White Butterflies: Purity And New Beginnings

White butterflies are often associated with purity, innocence, and new beginnings. They are believed to represent the souls of the departed and can signify that a loved one is watching over you. In some cultures, white butterflies are seen as good luck, signaling protection and divine guidance.

Black Butterflies: Mystery And Death

Black butterflies often carry darker connotations and can symbolize mystery, death, and the unknown. However, in some cultures, they represent positive change, symbolizing the end of something old and the beginning of something new. They remind us that death is not the end, but part of the continuous cycle of life.

Yellow Butterflies: Joy And Happiness

Yellow butterflies symbolize joy, hope, and positivity. They are often seen as bearers of good news and optimism. Seeing a yellow butterfly may be a sign that happiness and abundance are on their way into your life.

Blue Butterflies: Healing And Transformation

Blue butterflies are rare and thus symbolize something unique and precious. They are often connected to healing, both physically and emotionally. Blue butterflies can also symbolize spiritual awakening and transformation, pushing individuals toward personal growth and self-realization.

Red Butterflies: Passion And Vitality

Red butterflies are associated with passion, love, and vitality. Their appearance can be a symbol of intense emotions, often related to love or anger. In some cultures, red butterflies are a sign of danger or conflict, urging individuals to be cautious.

Butterflies Symbolize In Dreams

Butterflies are a common symbol in dreams, often reflecting personal growth, freedom, and the subconscious mind. The presence of a butterfly in your dreams can have a variety of meanings depending on the context of the dream.

Personal Transformation

Dreaming of butterflies is often connected to personal change and transformation. The butterfly symbolizes that you are in the process of changing an important aspect of your life, whether it’s related to your career, relationships, or spiritual development.

New Beginnings

Seeing a butterfly in your dreams can also signify new beginnings. Just as a butterfly emerges from a chrysalis, dreaming of a butterfly may suggest that you are about to embark on a new journey or start a new chapter in your life.

Freedom And Independence

Butterflies in dreams can represent a desire for freedom and independence. If the butterfly in your dream is flying freely, it may suggest that you are ready to let go of something or someone holding you back and embrace your independence.

Spiritual Messages

In some cases, butterflies in dreams can be a message from the spiritual realm. If the butterfly in your dream is a particular color or seems to carry a message, it may be a sign that the universe or a loved one from the spiritual world is trying to communicate with you.

The Myths And Legends About Butterflies

Butterflies have been woven into myths and legends throughout history, serving as powerful symbols in folklore and cultural stories.

Psyche And Eros (Greek Mythology)

One of the most well-known butterfly myths comes from Greek mythology, where the butterfly is linked to Psyche, the goddess of the soul. In this myth, Psyche undergoes a series of trials to be reunited with her love, Eros. Psyche’s name, meaning “soul” in Greek, is also the word for butterfly, symbolizing the connection between the soul and transformation. Psyche’s metamorphosis into a butterfly represents the soul’s journey and its quest for love and immortality.

The Aztec Butterfly Goddess Itzpapalotl

In Aztec mythology, Itzpapalotl, meaning “Obsidian Butterfly,” was a fearsome skeletal warrior goddess associated with both death and fertility. She represented the cycle of life and death, much like the butterfly’s life cycle. She was seen as a protector of women who died in childbirth and was believed to reside in the paradise of the afterlife, which was filled with butterflies.

Celtic Myth Of The Butterfly As A Messenger

In Celtic mythology, butterflies were often seen as messengers between the living and the dead. It was believed that they could carry the souls of the departed to the afterlife. Butterflies were viewed as symbols of rebirth, and seeing one was often thought to signify a connection to the spirit world.

Native American Legends

Many Native American tribes have legends involving butterflies. One common legend is that of the Hopi tribe, where it was believed that butterflies could bring rain. In another legend, butterflies were thought to carry the wishes of people to the gods. If a person whispered their deepest desires to a butterfly, it would carry the message to the heavens, ensuring their wish came true.

The Monarch Butterfly And The Souls Of The Dead (Mexico)

In Mexican folklore, especially during Día de los Muertos, monarch butterflies are believed to be the returning souls of the deceased. These butterflies arrive in Mexico during the autumn, coinciding with the Day of the Dead celebrations. The sight of monarch butterflies is seen as a signal that loved ones are visiting from the afterlife.

Conclusion

Butterflies are a deeply symbolic and spiritual creature, representing personal transformation, spiritual growth, and the connection between life and death. Across cultures, butterflies hold unique meanings, often tied to the soul, freedom, and the journey of life. Whether they appear in dreams, art, or in nature, butterflies remind us of the beauty in change and the delicate balance between life’s fleeting moments and its eternal cycles. The myths and legends surrounding butterflies only deepen their rich symbolism, offering a window into the human experience and the mysteries of life and death.

[patricefi]

🌟 Discovering Melaka's Enchanting Destinations 🌍🌴

🇲🇾 Melaka, a UNESCO World Heritage site in Malaysia, invites travelers to uncover its rich history, cultural tapestry, and natural beauty. Here are the top destinations that make Melaka a remarkable place to explore. 🗺️

Baba Nyonya Heritage Museum 🏠🌺

The Baba Nyonya Heritage Museum offers a captivating glimpse into the Peranakan culture that has thrived in Melaka for generations. Explore beautifully preserved heritage homes filled with intricate furniture, porcelain, and artifacts, immersing yourself in the unique Baba Nyonya heritage. 🚪🖼️🍽️

Cheng Hoon Teng Temple 🏯🙏

As one of the oldest Chinese temples in Malaysia, Cheng Hoon Teng Temple is a testament to Melaka's multicultural fabric. Admire the stunning architecture, intricate woodwork, and serene ambiance while discovering the role this temple played in shaping Melaka's history. 🏮🌸🕍

Melaka Straits Mosque 🕌🌅

Rising gracefully from the waters of the Straits of Melaka, the Melaka Straits Mosque is a modern architectural wonder. Visit at sunset to witness the mosque bathed in the warm hues of twilight, creating a breathtaking and spiritual experience. 🌊🌆🌟

Dutch Square (Red Square) 🏰🔴

This vibrant and historic square is home to Christ Church and St. Paul's Hill. Marvel at the imposing red-brick Christ Church, and then explore the surrounding area to discover Dutch colonial buildings and picturesque surroundings that evoke Melaka's colonial past. 📸🔴🏛️

Hang Tuah Centre 🗡️🎭

Delve into the legend of Hang Tuah, a revered Malay warrior, at the Hang Tuah Centre. The center showcases his life, achievements, and the enduring values of loyalty and honor. It's a unique opportunity to connect with Melaka's legendary past. 🛡️👑🏹

Melaka Butterfly and Reptile Sanctuary 🦋🐍

For nature enthusiasts, the Melaka Butterfly and Reptile Sanctuary is a hidden gem. Wander through lush tropical gardens filled with colorful butterflies and encounter a fascinating array of reptiles, making it a delightful outing for families and wildlife lovers. 🌿🦋🐢

Melaka's enchanting destinations offer a diverse tapestry of culture, history, and natural beauty. Whether you're immersing yourself in Peranakan heritage, exploring ancient temples, or admiring modern architectural marvels, Melaka has something to captivate every traveler's heart. It's an invitation to embark on an extraordinary journey through this magical city. 🌈🗺️🌟

[sombredancer]

Asian dramas and Love tropes

There are my favorite characters and their love stories as a list. Enemies to lovers

Drama: Her Royal Highness/长公主在上 Characters: Gu Xuanqing x Li Yunzhen Screentime: Main A boy is sent to be a servant in the unruly princess`s palace in order to find some dirt about her and to help his master to overthrown her, but something goes wrong... The HE is attached.

Drama: The Legends/招摇 Characters: Li Chenlan x Lu Zhaoyao Screentime: Main A leader of a demonic sect died trying to get demonic sword. Her soul returns to the world full of wish to get revenge on the current leader of her sect, who, as she thinks, killed her in the past. Found the way to be close to him, she learns that he wasn't the reason of her death and, moreover, desperately in love with her for many-many years. This is an adaptation of the novel "Ostentatious Zhaoyao", which I love more than a drama, but it's a good story in both variants. The HE is attached (although it`s a little bit obscure in the drama).

Drama: Till the End of the Moon/ 长月烬明 Characters: Tantai Jin x Li Susu Screentime: Main A boy who is destined to become a Demon God and to destroy the World tries to fight his doom. In a process, he falls in love with a transmigrator, who was sent 500 years back in the past to prevent his transformation into a Demon God. The irony is,making him falling in love is the only way to kill him for good... It`s an adaptation of the novel "Black Moonlight Holds the BE Script", which I like way-way-way more than the drama, not the least because the drama has BE and the novel has HE. I just watched it as a visually beautiful fanfic to the novel.

Drama: Love Between Fairy and Devil /苍兰诀 Characters: Dongfang Qingcang x Xiao Lanhua Screentime: Main My favorite drama of all times! Trying to save her love, a girl accidently falls into a secret prison for immortal criminals, revives the most fearsome demon of all times and heals his ability to feel. Later, forced to spend his time together with the girl from the enemy camp, the demon finds out that he actually likes her... The HE is attached. I wrote A LOT about them and made recap of the whole drama from the point of their relationship development in these posts: one, two, three, four, five and six.

Drama: My Journey to You /云之羽 Characters: Gong Shangjue x Shangguan Qian Screentime: Secondary In order to destroy the martial artist's clan, a female assassin was sent in there. While she is trying to seduce one of clan's young masters, he tries to expose her lies, but, eventually, falls in love with her. Unrequited. Maybe. This story has an open ending. My analysis of their relationship is here.

Drama: Butterflied lover /风月变 Characters: Ling Changjin x Bao Zhu Screentime: Secondary A wicked nobleman marries a princess because of her miraculous blood: it`s able to bring his zombie sister back to life. The princess allows him to treat her bad because she has been in love with him for a long time and believes he is a good person. Bit by bit he starts believe in it himself and begins to cherish his wife more... The ending is obscure (in a traditional Chinese way).

Drama: The Blue Whisper /与君初相识 Characters: Li Shu x Xue Sanyue Screentime: Minor A cat demon prince infiltrates the valley of demon hunters in order to set free the great demoness, but falls in love with one of demon hunters. Mutually. The ending is traditionally Chinese - they met again in another life. Т_Т

Drama: Immortal Samsara / 沉香如屑 Characters: Xuan Ye x Ran Qing Screentime: Minor An Asura king infiltrates the Heavenly Realm in order to steal the artifact that can help him conquering the world. The keeper of this artefact is a brave and honest goddess and he can't help but fall in love with her. After, he needs to choose: to be with his lover or to rule the world. He wants all at once, but there is no way to get it all. No HE for this pair. Pride and Prejudice

Drama: Lighter and Princess / 点燃我 Characters: Li Xun x Zhu Yun Screentime: Main A girl from a rich family with an anxious type of attachment falls in love with her classmate from a poor family with an avoidant type of attachment and tries to win his heart. It`s a problematic ship in a full meaning of these words and I like it this way. Yummy! The HE is attached.

Drama: Derailment /脱轨 Characters: Qi Lian x Jiang Xiaoyuan Screentime: Main A boy accidently meets his school sweetheart after many years of radio silence and understands that something is wrong with her. It turns out that her body is occupied by a transmigrator from a parallel world. At first he hates transmigrator for replacing his lover, but bit by bit he learns, that a transmigrator has not only the same appearance but the same habits and way of thinking, and falls in love with this new personality again... The story ends with HE but not in a way that you may think it would.

Drama: The Love by Hypnotic /明月照我心 Characters: Li Qian x Li Mingyue Screentime: Main In order to build relationship between two countries an emperor arranges marriage for his son. His fiancée is from a barbaric tribe: she is good at horse riding and archery, but knows nothing about palace etiquette and ladies stuff. It`s a light and sweet story about finding a path to each other's heart. The HE is attached.

Drama: The Long Ballad /长歌行 Characters: Hao Du x Li Leyan Screentime: Secondary A tsundere of a low background with a poker face does his ruthless job in a court, that's why a young princess thinks he is an awful man and is scared of him. But in reality he is a loyal servant and son and, moreover, secretly in love with the princess, who can't stand him... The HE is attached.

Drama: Miss the Dragon /遇龙 Characters: Xue Qianxun x Qingqing Screentime: Secondary A very naïve bird demon girl accidently meets a tsundere god of netherworld and turns his well ordered life into havoc. He starts liking it, though. The HE is attached. Forbidden love

Drama: A Frozen Flower /쌍화점 Characters: Hong Rim x No Guk Screentime: Main A gay king needs a heir, so he forces his lover to conceive a child with a queen. In a process, a boy, who was groomed as a king's lover from his childhood, finds out that he likes women much more than men. A traditional Korean tragedy. Very beautiful and full of feelings, though. (No GIFs because they all would be erotic ones).

Drama: 100 Days My Prince /백일의 낭군님 Characters: Moo-yeon x Kim So-hye Screentime: Secondary An assassin who is working for a wicked court official is secretly in love with a wife of a crown prince, who happens to be a daughter of the killer of his parents. Forbidden love doubles! But it's mutual, unfortunately for him. It's a very beautiful and full of desperation and feelings story. No HE, we die like Koreans. More detailed story of their relationship is available here, here and here.

Drama: The Yin-Yang Master: Dream of Eternity/晴雅集 Characters: He Shouye x Zhang Ping Screentime: Secondary A woman, who is destined to restrain the undying evil within her body for eternity in solitude, falls in love with Yin-Yang master. Her love is mutual, but her lover can't be with her forever, so he leaves with her his guardian demon to brighten her loneliness. Protecting her for ever starts being the only goal of demon's life... A tragedy, but a beautiful one.

Drama: The Legends/招摇 Characters: Gu Hanguang x Shen Qianjin Screentime: Minor "The Legends" once more! The main doctor of a demonic sect is in love with a leader of a righteous sect. A girl is not allowed to love anyone, otherwise she will suffer from the poison, so he anonymously sends her packages of medicinal herbs. She is curious about anonymous sender, too. But nothing can be kept in secret forever... Unfortunately, no HE for these two. In the novel he is safe and sound, but he has no love plotline at all. So is a price of love Т_Т.

I will talk about my other favorite characters and tropes in the next post.

[chrismbr]

#Playhouse #VictorianOpera The Butterfly Lovers. Gorgeous new opera by Richard Mills, with the composer conducting and the production directed by collaborator Ivan Heng of Singapore’s #WildRice. The 3 central characters were sung by Chinese & Chinese-Australian artists with Cathy-Di Zhang the stand-out. A simple but moving message dedicated the season to the memory of Max Riebl who died aged 30 in April - he was to have sung one of the roles. The traditional tale (perhaps precursor to the Willow Pattern ‘legend’) is told simply but effectively, its cross-gender element not shied away from: the hero falls in love with the heroine when she’s disguised as a man, but the gender is less important than the love. I stayed for the fairly uneventful Q&A session after: they didn’t answer why they omitted the butterflies from the ending, opting for a ‘space agey’ eternity instead (so no butterflies in this version!) (at Art Centre Playhouse) https://www.instagram.com/p/CkCTlG_SySD/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

[thewinedarksea]

mythology moodboards | the butterfly lovers

a chinese legend of a tragic love story of a pair of lovers, liang shanbo and zhu yingtai. after liang’s death, zhu throws herself into his grave; their spirits emerge as a pair of butterflies, and they fly away together, never to be separated.

requested by @eunoiaschaos

[ninjakk]

The symbolic meaning behind A-Yuan's butterfly toys

There is such a beautifully poignant moment during the Yiling date chapter, where A-Yuan is playing with the two grass butterflies that LWJ bought him. The minute I read it, it made me smile at how sweet and innocent it all was. But it also pulled at my heartstrings a little, due to the symbolic meaning of the butterflies and what I felt like it foreshadowed.

Chapter 74

Knocking his bowl, Wei WuXian called a couple of times, but Wen Yuan was still looking down, holding two butterflies and mumbling. At times he pretended to be the one on the left, saying shyly "I… I really like you"; at times he pretended to be the one on the right, saying happily "I really like you too!" Being two butterflies at the same time, he seemed to be having lots of fun.

- ExR translations

To me MXTX uses the butterflies to express the unspoken feelings that WWX and LWJ have for each other. I think this small, yet sweet scene, could also show A-Yuan may have picked up on WWX and LWJs true feelings for each other - perhaps on a subconscious level. Children are incredibly perceptive and can pick up on things adults often miss. He may have only seen them together for a few hours, but he's spent a lot of time with WWX and could possibly see how he acts differently with LWJ. Either way, I don't think it's a coincidence MXTX chose to have A-Yuan play with the butterflies - he also has the clay dolls he could have used for his little directorial debut!

The fact A-Yuan is making the two butterflies confess they 'like' each other, echos how WX truly feel for one another. It's almost like the unspoken words they could have, and should have said so many times before. It is certainly allusive of the opportunity they had to confess their feelings during this particular scene as well.

The fact MXTX (or indeed A-Yuan) has made one shy and the other happy, draws parallels between LWJ and WWX's personalities. Much like the WX bunnies with their quiet and energetic personalities respectively. Personally I think it's quite clear MXTX deliberately made A-Yuan portray the two butterflies in this way. Especially if you take a closer look at the original version of MDZS, where the 'shy' and 'happy' personalities are not mentioned - so it's evident that MXTX later added this to enhance the scene, for a very specific reason.

If we look even deeper into this, there may even be more meaning behind the use of butterflies - as I said earlier, MXTX could have used the clay dolls instead. Butterflies are often used as a symbol of love in Chinese culture. More specifically, it can symbolise an undying bond between lovers. They can also represent death and rebirth. Which all fit with the theme of the novel perfectly.

MXTX likes to use little references and pay homage to poems and Chinese culture within the novel. And personally, I think the use of butterflies could be a nod to a particular classic Chinese love story. According to some, this is one of the reasons butterflies often symbolise love in Chinese culture.

There is a tragic yet romantic, Chinese legend known as The Butterfly Lovers (梁祝). Coincidentally (or perhaps not?), there are a few parallels between MDZS and the story as well. Much like our lovely WX, the two lovers in the legend met while studying together, where they develop an instant chemistry. The two main characters even experience misunderstandings that prevent them from becoming a couple. Eventually one of the star-crossed lovers tragically dies and the other follows soon after - which is where our duo obviously deviate, thankfully! The lovers spirits become butterflies and they fly off together, never to be separated again. Which somewhat echoes WXs own ending, where they elope and pledge to be with each other forever.

Something fell from Wen Yuan’s pocket. He called out, “Butter… Butterfly!” With him in his arm, Wei WuXian had already rushed outside the restaurant. Soon, a white shadow swept by him. Lan WangJi seemed to have followed them out as well, walking beside them. Wei WuXian, “Lan Zhan? Why are you following us?” Lan WangJi put into Wen Yuan’s palm the butterfly that he dropped.

Personally, I don't think the above scene is just a means for LWJ to follow them, because he would have either way! It's also symbolic. The two butterflies are suddenly separated, much like WWX and LWJ are later, for some 13 years. Eventually (or two seconds later in the above scene!) they are reunited, just like the butterflies above. It also represents A-Yuan's loss. He loses one of his butterflies, just like he will soon lose WWX - only to have them both reunited, together with him, eventually. It broke my heart when I noticed this tiny moment.

Just like the two frisky male bunnies used as a metaphor for WWX and LWJs true feelings earlier in the novel. The butterflies are used to foreshadow the path their entwined fate will eventually take as well. MXTX's writing style is just absolute poetry and I can't get enough of it.

🦋❤️🦋

[arty-shadow-morningstar]

Con Man's Daughter

Posting this because there isn't enough biodad! John Constantine content.

[Masterlist]

(Part 2)

-----

I feel like this should be a Damianette story or just platonic relationship after Jon got aged-up to seventeen and Damian wanted a friend his age but doesn’t want to admit it.

So basically there is this big bad in Gotham using magic that Batman was fighting at the time and enlisted John Constantine to help out.

John realizes that the villain is using a Miraculous.

“Oh. I think I know how he gets his powers. And lucky for you, Bats, I know an expert on this special brand of magic.”

And he did the smart thing and called up Marinette who at the time was already Guardian and was looking for other lost Miraculouses like in the Treasure Hunter AU I wrote.

He calls her at a really bad time. She was in the process of being chased by the guardians of the place. Monsters and evil spirits.

“Hello, Dad. What do you need and can you do it quickly?”

“Hey, sweetheart, it’s me. How is my little cupcake up to these days?”

“You called at a bad time.” Gunshots.

“WAS THAT A GUN I HEARD? WHERE THE HELL ARE YOU, YOUNG LADY?!”

“Somewhere in Japan. Getting a Miraculous. And why can’t you call me to check in on me and not ask me to help you with whatever mess you got yourself into.” More gunshots sounds and it was telling that Marinette was using a gun.

“Where did you get a gun? And don’t you have school?”

“It’s summer break. Don’t worry Maman and Papa know. Well, the fact that I am in Japan anyways.” Marinette sounded a little out of breath. Roaring and horrifying sounds at the other end. “Can we do this later?”

“As it happens, there is a villain going around Gotham with what I think is a Miraculous.”

Swears on the other end.

“Oi. Watch your fucking language, young lady.”

“How about a No and move the fuck back, old man. I am coming over right now.”

“Old man? I am not that old-” as a magic blue portal opens up in the Bat Cave.

And a red Chinese dragon comes out with someone riding it.

Its rider was a black-haired girl. She had a trench coat similar to Constantine's. I imagine her with a fedora. Like Carmen Sandiego style but not red. Sometimes red but only when she has to steal it from a museum or high security places and she leaves a name card with the name Carmen Sandiego. A sword strapped to her back and a dagger to her thigh.

She had a gun in her hand which she used to shoot the monsters as it was halfway through the portal and yelled out the spell to close it.

“Brilliant entrance but you are in lots of trouble, little lady. What were you thinking about going to another country unsupervised? And isn’t there still a butterfly problem in Paris?”

“One, I wasn’t unsupervised. I had Tikki, a billion years old being and a sort of god. Two.Well, it got boring trying to track Hawk-bitch down. And I found this legend about a guy with a Miraculous who disappeared in the temple and thought hey, more miraculous could mean another edge to defeating Moth-man.”

More bickering and John grounding Marinette who was acting very nonchalant about it.

Okay, at this point, I should say that Batman and Robin are in the background trying to make some sense.

Batman is surprised to find out that Constantine has a daughter who is also involved in magic like her Father but an apparently more specialised kind called the Miraculous. He is a little miffed that he didn’t know about John having a daughter. He did consider it weird at first that she had a slight french accent unlike her father’s Liverpool accent although she pronounced some words like he does.

He also connected some dots that she is also the Parisian heroine, Lady Rouge who Wonder Woman introduced to the League a while back and had declined to join the Young Justice or Teen Titans until everything in Paris was resolved.

Damian on the other hand was suspicious of the new arrival and came to the same conclusion as his father about the daughter thing.

Batman after a few minutes, clears his throat.

The Constantines stop arguing.

“Bonjour. Batman. Robin. Pleasure to meet you. I am Mari Constantine and yes, I am this homeless looking man’s brilliant daughter.” “Hey”

“Well, Mari. Your father thinks you can help us with this new criminal turning Gotham upside down. Literally in some cases. He said that you might be able to help us.” Batman said as he pulled up zoomed in picture of the Miraculous.

Mari looks through the Miraculous grimoire and tells them all about it and power-ups, basically the most effective thing to defeat the guy is to get the Miraculous off them. Plus a spell that would make the Miraculous ineffective if casted within a certain radius of it.

“Thank you for the information, Mari. Constantine, let’s go.”

Mari made to follow them.

“You young lady are grounded and staying here.”

“I don’t need another supervillain using the Miraculous which are my responsibility as Guardian to retrieve them for their own misuse and wreaking havoc on the city. And what if there is an akuma in Paris? I can’t go there if I am grounded in the Batcave although it is a cool place to hang out.”

“You can portal back to Paris but you are not going to follow me. Understood?”

“yes. crystal”

“Good. After me and Batsy get the Miraculous, you can do your Guardian duties.”

Damian snickers. Until Batman cut his mood short, “You are staying behind too. Robin.”

“But Father, why? I am much more capable than Constantine.”

“Hey!” Both father and daughter.

Damian is staying behind too because of the Miraculous power or other reasons and keeps an eye on Mari.

Damian stays behind and there were some protests about mari mad about having a babysitter and Damian doesn’t want to be a babysitter. Despite the two of them being around the same age.

“I got an eye on you so no funny business.”

“Okay, Dad, I am not going to have sex with Robin.” Mari said with a shit- eating grin. Robin definitely didn’t blush.

“I hate you sometimes.”

“I love you too, Dad. Go save the world. Byee.”

John eyes her suspiciously because she is not one to give up that easily usually.

He casts a spell to watch her as they leave. and which she totally knew about.

“So...I have one question.”

“Tt, ask and don’t bother me anymore.”

“Is Batman Bruce Wayne?”

Damian looks up, totally caught off guard.

“I am going to take that as a yes.”

Puts sword at her neck. “How did you find out?!”

“Opened up Google Maps and saw that we are under Wayne Manor. Connected the dots. Also I already knew when Dad made a bet with me once to find out Batman’s secret identity but he never did confirm it for me. And can you please not tell your father about this? I don’t feel like being interrogated by the Bat in the future yet.”

“Father must know about this.”

“I saw you looking at Scarlet here. An animal lover then? You can give her some belly rubs. She deserves it after helping me outrun those monsters.”

His silence was brought. To pet a dragon.

One thing after another and he ends up bringing out his pets-Jerry the turkey, Goliath the dragon-bat, Titus- and her introducing him to her other pets like a hellhound, griffin and other mythical creatures who mostly roam free but come to her when she calls for them and also the kwamis, at least the ones who came with her.

After 30 mins have passed, “So Robin how do you feel about disobeying our fathers?”

“I am in.”

“Depends. Are we going after the (villain's name) ?”

“Yes.”

Awesome montage of them getting rid of the spell John casted and flying out of the Batcave on their respective giant flying pets to the villain’s base.

Meanwhile, their fathers are not doing so well and are trapped in a death trap. John can’t say the spell because the villain made him unable to talk.

“At least, the kids are staying put.”

Cut to Damian and Mari jumping off their pets and onto the roof. Taking out the guards posted there and going into the building all sneakily and also taking out the guards that come their way.

They dropped into the room where their fathers and the villain is.

“Why am I not surprised?”

Villain starts an evil monologue about his mastermind plan to which Damian cuts it short by trying to cut him down with his katana. Mari goes to deactivate the death trap.

They are evenly matched with Damian’s training and the Miraculous.

Mari steps in as Damian was about to be killed. Taps on the shoulder of the villain and when he turns around, gives an awesome right hook that knocks him out.

Takes away the Miraculous and curses him. Wiped the dude’s memories of it.

“When I said stay in the Batcave, I meant stay behind at the Batcave. What point of being grounded, don’t you understand?”

“You mean, Oh, Mari, light of my life, my wonderful daughter, thank you for saving my ass. You are the best.’ by that, right?”

-----

Mari and Damian exchanged numbers and email addresses.

As she was about to leave the Batcave, “It’s been nice meeting you, Mr. Wayne.” and leaves with a wink.

John ‘ungrounds’ her for the look on Batman’s face.

-----

After this, Marinette and Damian become friends who bitch and vent to each other about their alter egos and various villains of their respective cities. (In codes, just in case) They also share updates about their pets and love of drawings.

They have that type of friendship where they trade favors. Mari calls Damian to Paris sometimes to help out with the akuma of the day and Damian sometimes calls her in when Bruce doesn’t let him go investigate a case so he can sneak out by magical means or as back up for when his brothers were too annoying to deal with.

It’s summer break so no missing school.

John and Bruce are aware of their friendship and some of the shenanigans the pair gets into behind their back.

-----

-----

Right. how this all started...

John and Sabine first met when the latter was still in college somewhere in France. John was tracking down a demonic entity which was targeting Sabine for some reason and she was the next target.

John saved her life and exorcised the demon. There was a heat of the moment thing and they had a one-night stand. There were a few more flings and hook-ups after that night.

And nine months later, Marinette Cheryl Cheng-Constantine was born.

When Sabine first found out, she called John to come over and he thought that it was a call for another hook-up and was very surprised to find out that it was not and that he was going to be a father.

They both like each other but do not want to be in a relationship together so they both remained as friends and John agreed after some strong-arming at the very least to meet his daughter before he goes to do his job. And pay for child support. And help Sabine during her pregnancy.

Pregnant Sabine was someone you don’t want to mess with. And John has never met a demon or anyone scarier than her.

He was at first not into meeting his child and there was a self-pity party he threw himself with how the child was going to live a bad life because he was the dad and how he destroyed every good thing in his life.

That’s why he is going to meet the baby once and leave maybe a letter and the occasional birthday present and stay out of their life. Forever.

The day Marinette was born and it took one look into her eyes for the HellBlazer to fall under the spell and all of his plans to stay out of her life to burn away.

At first, he tried. He really tried but he couldn’t do it.

Lasted 4 months before he came back, wanting to place protection spells on her and sigils around the house to keep away the forces of Heaven and Hell and other entities so they won’t use her against him as a bargaining chip.

Sabine calls him to babysit. He could have refused and Sabine would have easily found a babysitter. He moans and whines about how he is a great mage and not a bloody babysitter. Sabine retorts that it is actually called parenting since he is Marinette’s father. He grumbles but in the end, agrees.

The great John Constantine is wrapped around the little girl’s finger.

He was around for some of Marinette’s firsts. Her first word was “John”.

It made him cry. He wasn’t a good man and he doesn’t deserve someone this precious. His daughter doesn’t deserve someone like him as a father but fate made it that way and what can you do about it.

After an exhausting week of doing the usual and coming back from Hell, he saw that Sabine had sent him a video. It was Marinette taking her first steps.

Chas swears that in all the years that he has known John Constantine he has never seen the man look so happy.

------

When Tom came into the picture, John was there to take care of a toddler Marinette while Tom and Sabine went on dates.

Insert John threatening a much bigger Tom while holding a baby Marinette with wide eyes and hugging a teddy bear with the same coat as John’s. (It was something Sabine brought on a whim and to tease John when he came around.)

Tom is supportive and treats Marinette like his own flesh and blood.

John resolved to leave for good now that Tom would be there to be a father figure for Marinette.

That plan fell into the drain the moment he was going to leave for what was supposed to be the last time before Sabine pulled him back and knocked some sense into him.

His face was a big giveaway. Sabine knows that despite his claims of being a terrible father for Marinette, he was a good one and damnit she was going to make sure that Marinette would get to know her actual father.

Tom later made an awkward talk with John about how he was not going to replace John’s role as Marinette’s father.

Marinette was the flower girl at Tom and Sabine’s wedding. John was there too.

During bedtime, John would read her stories and use his magic to make it come to life. Although he would feel a little drained afterwards, it was worth it to see her smile.

Sometimes he told stories about his tamer adventures. (After cutting out some of the inappropriate bits)

------

When Marinette was about 5 or 6, Sabine was out on an errand and Tom was at home with Mari and helping her with her homework. There was a crash downstairs at the bakery. Tom went down to check it out to find John lying on the ground.

With a weak cough, he said, “Close the door. Close it.” Before losing consciousness

Tom did before a man with pitch black eyes slammed against it.

Thankfully John had installed heavy wards around the bakery when it first opened.

They held against the demon on John’s tail. Tom brought John inside and unsure of what to do, grabbed a rolling pin on the counter.

The man outside started pounding on the glass door and every time his hands touched the door, light glowed outwards, showing the invisible magic barrier around the bakery. Sparks and steams fizzled with every pound.

Despite the reddening and burns of his hands, the not-human didn’t slow down.

“ʝօɦռ....ʏօʊ ӄռօա ȶɦǟȶ ɨȶ'ֆ օռʟʏ ǟ ʍǟȶȶɛʀ օʄ ȶɨʍɛ ɮɛʄօʀɛ ɨ ɮʀɛǟӄ ȶɦʀօʊɢɦ ȶɦɛֆɛ աǟʀɖֆ. օռƈɛ ɨ ɢɛȶ ʏօʊ,” He laughs, the sound sends chills down the large man’s spine, “ȶɦɛʀɛ ǟʀɛ ֆօ ʍǟռʏ ȶɦɨռɢֆ ɨ ɦǟʋɛ քʟǟռռɛɖ ʄօʀ ʏօʊ.”

Tom knew that Marinette’s father was a con man. Come on, Master and Practitioner of the Dark Arts and Occult. But he was a good father nonetheless despite all his flaws and Sabine liked him enough so that was good enough for him.

Before today, magic was just the sleight of hands and use of fancy tools to sell the illusions. Now, with a could-be-a-demon knocking on his door to get to the father of the girl he sees as his daughter, he’s not so sure.

“Tom? Qu'est-ce qui se passe? (What’s going on?)” A little voice came from the stairs, “Dad!” Marinette padded across the floor to the body of her passed out father.

She shook him awake and there were a few soft slaps to the face.

“Dad, what’s happened?”

John mumbles, “Demon…. possessing some rich guy….. Exorcism…. Doesn’t like me very much…Don’t worry...wards going to hold.”

John manages to stand before falling down and Tom catches him before he hits the floor. He has a concussion. Tom turns to Marinette, “Go, Hide and don’t come out until It’s safe.” which she did

Unfortunately, a while later, Sabine returns from her night out and the demon upon seeing Sabine. “ɛӼƈɛʟʟɛռȶ..”

The demon possessed Sabine and the previously possessed dude hit the sidewalk with a thud.

“ɨռȶɛʀɛֆȶɨռɢ....” The voice coming out of Sabine didn’t sound like her mother which scared Marinette a lot. “օքɛռ ȶɦɨֆ ɖօօʀ օʀ,”the demon pulled a knife out of thin air, ,“ȶɦɨֆ ɮօɖʏ ɢɛȶֆ ɨȶ.”

Tom hesitated until the demon put the knife on Sabine’s neck and put enough force for a thin line of blood to be shown.

He opens the door and the demon knocks him out. Stepping over his unconscious body and looking down on it, “ʄօʀ ȶɦǟȶ, ɨ ǟʍ ɢօɨռɢ ȶօ ʟɛȶ ʏօʊ ʟɨʋɛ ʊռȶɨʟ ɨ ǟʍ ɖօռɛ աɨȶɦ ʝօɦռ, օʄ ƈօʊʀֆɛ.” and cackles. The sound was so wrong and unnerving and little Marinette tried very hard for her sobs not to be heard.

Too bad the demon had super hearing. “Come out, my little blossom. Maman is home. Why don’t you come out and give me a hug?”

It sounded so much like her mother and she nearly believed that it was her mother and not some entity in control of her body.

But she knew better from John’s stories of dealing with demons and how they would use the voice of loved ones to lure them out and into a trap. (Definitely not something one should tell as a bedtime story but Marinette was very different and had an unconventional childhood with John Constantine as her father.)

Wait...she got struck with an idea but she wasn’t sure if it would work.

Before she could do anything, the door of the cabinet she was hiding in was opened and she was dragged out.

The demon lifted her a few feet above the ground by the collar of her dress.

It heard Marinette saying something. “աɦǟȶ ǟʀɛ ʏօʊ ֆǟʏɨռɢ ƈɦɨʟɖ, ֆքɛǟӄ ʟօʊɖɛʀ?”

“Exorcizamus te, omnis immundus spiritus, omnis satanica potestas, omnis incursio infernalis adversarii, omnis legio, omnis congregatio et secta diabolica.” Marinette was now screaming the words at the top of her lungs. She repeated the spell over and over again with fierce determination.

John, being his paranoid self, taught her the spell for an exorcism, just in case. Demons spared no one, not even a girl.

It screamed “NO….” as Sabine’s body contorted in strange angles before a dark shadow seemed to be dragged down into the ground. It made a desperate attempt to possess John before it was pulled away and disappeared. There was no sign that there was a demon attack.

After John woke up, he managed to piece together that his 5-years-old (Sorry 5 and a half) daughter sent a demon back to hell.

He was a very proud dad. (He was a tad worried about the consequences from this event and demons hold one hell of a grudge. He wanted his daughter to live a very safe and happy life. The bakery’s wards also need an upgrade.)

He also got the job of explaining what he actually did to Tom. And lots of reassuring.

Sabine, on one hand, was not happy that Marinette knew how to do magic. That is until John told her that he did it just in case so she can protect herself and later it was agreed that Marinette can learn some Magic spells and charms to better protect herself and when she is older, she can decide if she wants to continue or not.

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(Part 2)