#Ml Armand D’Argencourts

[familyagrestefanblog]

Ml Analysis: Armand D’Argencourts beautiful risk in “Risk” and Gabriel as the core of Adrien being victim blamed in-universe

Disclaimer right of the bat: When I use the word 'victim-blaming' I'm not saying it with the often automatically included association of "ill-intentioned". Victim-blaming and other types of badly treating a person are not, and I mean NOT, exclusive to 'bad people'. Buddy, you can have the purest form of love for someone and mean no real harm in any way and it still wouldn't change the true face of what the displayed behavior/action IS. Intentions are crucial, but they don't decide if something was victim-blaming or not.

Alright? Okay, let's go:

There is one moment in “Risk” that will never not hit me like a whole high-speed train. Its Armand D’Argencourts reaction to Adrien leaving:

While the episode makes the obvious point that Adrien doesnt WANT to leave and that all the positive reactions to his trip and position are misguided support, this one just feels so different.

Because this is the only time we see an adults reaction. A TEACHER! A well-meaning teacher who has since the beginning of the show been put in a direct position of responsibility by Gabriel to be his sons fencing master. M. D’Argencourts spends alot of time with Adrien, knows the pressure he is under, how much is demanded of him and in what kind of mood Adrien is often in. The fencing environment is often used to show Adriens emotional healths state after all.

So this moment of M. D’Argencourts saying this heavy statement really feels incredibly genuine. Because yes, he would know. And that is such a subtle, even hidden in plain sight, massive reveal caused by Froggys influence that actually makes perfect sense to kinda come out of “nowhere” here but still go as hard as it does.

He is one of the adults who are picked by Gabriel to take care of Adrien, just here it is for one of Adriens expected hobbies instead of a buisness or family related matter. So unlike Nathalie or the Gorilla M. D’Argencourts would only really interact with Adrien in a public setting (excluding Party Crasher, that's an interesting case for itself), meaning he would always be stopped by the normal professionalism barrier one expects from a teacher.

The normal professionalism barrier that very much is a real life thing as well and so so many teachers struggle with because of course they often notice that the kid in question needs help, but teachers are so often rendered basically powerless by the very profession they are in. And yet the profession is also the only reason why they are even in said kids life at all.

This moment here really feels like one of those moments where the adult, who needed to maintain a professional distance to the abused kid they care about, ends up taking the huge risk and showing their true feelings for the matter once the professional situation ends. Which here is the case.

The schoolday was as good as over and Adrien about to leave for months and not come to school again for quite a while at least. This was the only “reasonable” situation where M. D’Argencourts would have been free to do this without it being too inappropriate or have his hands still being tied by the employment of being “just” a teacher and not a person/adult who gets to be part of Adriens private life.

And my gosh, M. D’Argencourts really risked taking that chance the moment he was able to huh? Its literally right the moment Adriens last lesson is being ended a bit earlier by Lila and the other kids enthusiasm that M. D’Argencourts steps out of the now-not-so-required-anymore professionalism and scoops Adrien up.

And then from this shot of M. D’Argencourts hugging Adrien we straight up switch to the next scene where Adrien and Lila leave. M. D’Argencourts is right away not among them anymore because the schoolday is over and this is a group of friends saying goodbye. They arent standing there as a class but as friends. So as the adult and teacher that he still is, M. D’Argencourts has no “justification” to be there anymore since this now regards Adriens and his other students private lives. So he isnt there. There also wouldnt be a logical risk for a teacher like him to dare to take in this situation. There is nothing M. D’Argencourts could do even if he wanted to.

So yeah, OOF.

M. D’Argencourts REALLY saw that he had one chance to make his feelings regarding Adriens situation, he had to watch from his more of less powerless teacher position, somehow known to the abused kid he cares about, and man did he TOOK it the moment he could!

This is... such a relieving moment in “Risks” narrative. There is so much victim blaming going on in the finale episodes, because most of the reactions we see are from risk influenced kids who either dont have the means to grasp Adriens situation yet, have their own motives where victim blaming benefits them or other cruical informations of Adriens horrible situations arent known yet in general outside of Adriens family.

In this regard “Risk” is such an awful episode to get through, but it does make you think about how different all this victim blaming is. Quite alot of it isnt even mean-spirited but was meant helpful in intention. Everyone just lacks so much information and crucial perspective that it only could end like this. And that is such a well done and realistic depiction of what actual abuse victims go through. This stuff is so legit, hence why Adrien fans are so upset about it. Because we know and live all of this shit, we can clearly read what is going on here and we SEE how the unfairness isnt stopping and being used against a victim once again.

Cause we KNOW it sounds like an excuse but it actually ISNT when we say that the other characters (but most importantly Adrien HIMSELF) just dont KNOW or understand yet how much Adrien is not the problem here, and that Adrien is caught in a system where even doing excatly what people accuse him of not daring to do is fruitless because he. is. being. abused/oppressed. and. controlled (yes I'm talking about Adrien being a Sentihuman and in my opinion both wedding rings being his amok objects).

Adrien already DID what everyone wanted him to do that day but no one KNOWS it because Gabriel has a whole system in place to cut Adrien down at every turn, including a ring to literally control him.

Most of the people in Adriens life arent even aware they are victim blaming in this episode and yet...thats still simply what they are doing. Thats the reality. Cause to be fair, alot of times it IS a factor of standing up for oneself or take action that can improve one's life greatly. It's not for nothing that this is always peoples first instinct, because it makes sense. But in Adriens life there is simply the unshakable truth that some of the fields in his life are highly negatively influenced by people and systems where him just speaking up is not enough to solve the problem entirely (best case scenario). Sometimes people who complain about being stuck in a miserable circle aren't complaining just to have excuses. Some people are actually stuck in fundamentally inescapable systems/situations, and only completely taking them out of said systems/situations will solve the problem or else all efforts are at risks of having been in vain. This is why sometimes abuse victims NEED to be taken out of their home.

Like in "Multiplication" where suddenly Adrien asking his father to allow him to not having to be a model anymore worked out fine. If he had done that before s5 this wouldn't have worked, hence why it didn't happen in the show before now. It only worked now because GABRIEL, the abuser, was the one who changed and Gabriel of course is in charge of the system.

Adrien having confronted his father did NOT solve the actual core problem that is Gabriel abusing and taking advantage of his son. Gabriels point of view merely changed and now Adrien asking to not be a model anymore suddenly wasn't a problem anymore for him. So Adrien just simply happened to not do something out of the new line. That was such a massive fucking coincidence, it has nothing to do with the needed solution. Cause Adrien confronting his father wasn't able to solve the problem because Gabriel on a whim changed what the problem IS:

Which is why it is so horrible to watch the brutal unfairness on screen in "Risk" when there is literally no way for Adrien to do "right" when he himself doesn't even know what exactly that is yet while everyone keeps saying and demanding something else, contradicting each other too, at the same time as saying either that what's happening to him right now is the best thing ever or the worst.

Right along with saying that Adrien only needs to stand up for himself even though the day literally started with Adrien trying to do that TWICE:

Adriens abuse clashes so hard with the extreme world around him in this episode because at its core it always comes back to what his father/his family background unknown to him puts him through, and how that ends up making others, Adriens friends and Adrien himself hurt and blame him basically for the not so nice looking survival mechanisms to somehow make it through a system completely built against him. And I can only hope that from "Destruction" onwards (now that the new Family Agreste narrative system was officially put in place at the end of “Multiplication”) the show is finally gonna stop making all the victim blaming out to be "just what Adrien needed" through deliberate writing to make it seem that way.

Because in “Risk” it was EXACTLY the confusing, chaotic and sometimes even hypocritical mess of so many character’s various degrees and versions of victim blaming, in ways we never heard them voice before, that ended up leaving Adrien beyond frustrated, confused and vunerable for Felix to manipulate:

Yes, it is true that Adrien also needed to find the courage to stand up for himself in horrible situations, but Adrien doing that isnt going to solve shit because as annoying as it sounds because of Astrucs poor wording years ago that “Adrien is perfect the world is to blame”, Adriens abuse/conflicts simply always includes fundamental and massive core elements of systematically being held in disadvantage or even an outside force being able to literally oppress and control him. Yes, it is questionable to do this with the white rich male pretty boy character, buddy I didnt write the show.

So yeah, M. D’Argencourts happiness for Adrien being able to see the world may be misguided because he doesnt know that Adrien doesnt want to do that, but my GOODNESS. This moment - alongside Marinette later blurring out that she deep down very much understands that the person Adrien needs to get away from is his FATHER (that Adrien doesnt just need to find courage like she adviced him because she fears her powerlessness if Gabriel were to truly be the dangerous problem), and Nino being in general the ally I need in Adriens life just PLEASE with Adrien giving him the needed informations - it gives me so much hope!

They all (and even more, like Alya for example) have the fucking spirit down, we just need to get everyone on the same page regarding the truth of Adriens abuse. But MAN, seeing M. D’Argencourts here really just hits differently.

Because he’s a fucking adult and a teacher Adrien spend alot of time with. And while up til this very moment you may have never even thought about him knowing or grasping whats going on in Adriens life, the moment he just takes the risk and scoops Adrien up and says these words right the instance he ISNT Adriens teacher anymore... it just hits you like a damn brickhouse that one more adult in Adriens life DID notice the entire time how dire Adriens situation is. And how much SENSE it makes that M. D’Argencourts would know. His hands are just tied by his profession and he didnt know how to help this poor kid because of how limited but risky the power and influence of a teacher is once a student of yours has a bad homelife. And as Alya very appropriately said:

ESPECIALLY not when you are an adult and the person you may end up putting at risk through getting yourself involved is a child at the mercy of their parents. This is SUCH a huge fucking complex issue in real life teachers have to deal with. What do you do? How much do you help and in what ways? Do you dare reaching out to the child and trying to help in the first place? Do you wait til the child comes to you or is that choosing to look away until the child had to do all the work of getting this far alone? Do you talk to the parents? And what can you possibly SAY that doesnt risk the outcome of the poor child maybe then having to bare their upset parents wrath YOU set of?

Gosh, shout-out to all teachers who are trying their best to help their abused students. And to the ones desperately wishing you could dare to take a risk but too afraid of the consequences not YOU may face, but your abused student.

So yeah, It just makes me incredibly emotional that we see an ADULT in Adriens life reacting like this “out of nowhere”. Because an adult, a TEACHER, can understands on so many more layers how horrible Adriens father is treating him, and looking at M. D’Argencourts reaction here... Dude, M. D’Argencourts apparently had some opinions on Gabriels parenting this entire time. How fitting that it was the risk-taking influence of Gabriels akuma that brought this to light:

It also makes you wonder how many more adults must be in Adriens buisness-heavy civilian life who DO very much understand that what Gabriel is doing is horribly WRONG, but just dont know if and HOW they can possibly help without risking making it worse. Because thats the reality of these situations. How on earth do you protect a child from their PARENT? Much less such a powerful and abusive one like Gabriel?

[silvia7272]

ML Salt ~ The Cardigan Story

This is based on a true story.

Honestly, I always remembered this story because it constantly made my Sister and Mum laugh when I told them I outed a liar at school by wearing a cardigan, they were so proud of me because what I did wasn’t mean and I wasn’t even doing it out maliciousness so I thought, hey why not put it in the ML universe?

This isn’t canon to my main series so no Rosina since there isn’t any need for her, sorry sweetie.

And since I doubt Mlle Bustier would never out Lila, I’m changing the teacher to someone who actually has a backbone.

Word Count: 2303

Tags: @queenmj10, @fangirl39, @animegirlweeb, @northernbluetongue, @maribat-is-lifeblood, @raisuke06, @indecisive-mess-named-me, @luleck, @themotherofhogwarts, @more-or-less-human-i-guess, if you wish to be tagged all you have to do is say. Also, if you change your name please tell me, I don’t want to leave you out since you’ve asked to be tagged.

I know you may not wish to be tagged for one-shots, but I thought you might enjoy some salt I was able to come up with.

Also, I wrote this in one day so I’m extremely proud of myself.

***

If you told Marinette that Lila’s reign over the school would end over a cardigan, she would tell you you’re as crazy as she was about Adrien.

A lot.

But, she did just that.

She had to thank Adrien really, the ‘advice’ he gave her was what really pushed her.

She wouldn’t outright expose her, no, she had tried that before and look where that got her, near expulsion that’s what. And not one of her friends tried to stick up for her. She always remembered that glare Alix gave her, and since then she had been ignored, turned away by them.

Even after Lila came out with ‘the truth’ she was still seen as an overly jealous girl.

“Lila’s promised she hasn’t lied about anything else she’s said to us, it only acts up around people she doesn’t know as well, maybe next time, instead of being jealous you should give her a chance and stop being a baby. Girl this all could’ve easily been avoided if you weren’t so Adrien crazy”

Really? They actually believed that load of crap?

Whatever, Marinette was done, done with everyone.

If they wanted to show her how wrong she was then she’d let them wait until hell would frost over, because fat chance that would ever happen.

If Marinette was proud of one thing about her then it would have to be her stubbornness to get to the truth.

And she could be extremely patient.

***

It was just an average day at Collège Françoise Dupont. There weren’t any Akuma’s caused by anyone the previous day so Marinette was finally able to have a good night’s rest, something the exhausted teenager really missed.

She felt so re-energised she danced in the kitchen as she made breakfast without a care in the world.

.

Before she fell over that was.

“…Owww”

“Careful dear, you wouldn’t want to be hurt before school hours, now just sit tight and I’ll get you something to eat,” Her Maman said. Marinette felt grateful. After breakfast, she gave her Parents a kiss before leaving.

She had loving parents that supported her every beck and call.

…Well most of the time, but that didn’t matter, she would never let Lila manipulate them ever, her Parents were off-limits.

By the time she arrived at school she was one of the first ones there, Nathaniel in the back drawing his comics, texting Marc as well, it seemed like he was in his own ‘do not disturb’ bubble. Max was talking to Markov about some new type of game, and Rose and Juleka were just cuddling.

She made her way to the back feeling a positive emotion before exhaling.

Because it was about to be ruined.

Lila walked in with Alya, Nino and Adrien by her side.

She was telling a story about her ‘one of a kind cardigan-

Wait-

“My Grandmother made this cardigan especially for me carving her signature on as well, it’s the only one in existence because shortly after she made this, she ended up being in a terrible accident that left her bedridden.” They pandered to her of course. But for once she wasn’t focusing on the lie but the cardigan.

Oh, Lila’s only gone and done it now.

“I’ve always wanted to wear it, but I didn’t want it to end up ruined by someone” Her gaze casually went up to a lone bluenette, but she really wasn’t bothered.

“Don’t worry girl, I’ll keep a watchful eye on your cardigan for you. Ain't nothing gonna come between me and my besties property” They hugged before sitting down in their spaces.

‘Oh my god, I have a plan’ Marinette had that thought circled around her head until break. It was all she thought of.

Mind you, she wasn’t trying to expose everything she’d done, just that one lie. And that would be enough.

As soon as the bell rang, she was ready, she gathered her stuff and rushed home.

And thank god as well, Lila would not shut up about that cardigan, through Literature, Science and PE, it was constantly my Grandmother made it for me this, it’s the only one of its kind that.

Ugh, she wanted to rip her ears out at some point but had to endure it. No one else was bothered since they all believed her, even the teachers!

Yeah, you don’t really need any proof if it was handmade, some of Marinette’s earlier stuff didn’t have her signature on, but still, it was the principle of the matter!

And she could right that wrong.

In her room she was frantically searching for that item as Tikki dodged different articles of clothing, one hit her as she wasn’t looking, and she was down for the count.

“Marinette what are you looking for?” Marinette paused to look back at Tikki before continuing a bit calmer.

“Lila’s been lying about that cardigan and this time I can prove it.” Her eyes lit up as she lifted a cardigan up from her cupboard.

“One of Maman’s friends gave this to me a few years back, it was one of the reasons I got into fashion because of how soft it is and I wanted to replicate that. Don’t you think it looks familiar?” As Tikki looked over it her eyes widened, she knew Lila was lying anyway but she had no idea Marinette had definitive proof of it.

“That’s the same cardigan Lila has!” Marinette nodded before wearing it.

At least it still fit.

“But Marinette I thought we were gonna take the high ground?”

“Tikki it's tiring having to listen to them being lied too. I may not want them to be my friends anymore, but I just want the lying to stop. If I go and tell them that she’s lying with this as evidence they’ll clearly see she’s lying”

“But outing her like that won’t make it better!” Marinette wished she could respond with ‘are you sure’ but didn’t want to piss the mini-god off.

“Fine, what if I just wear it until someone notices, that way I’m not actively looking to publicly shame her? Better?” Tikki gave a reluctant nod, she knew her chosen wouldn’t let up about the situation, besides this whole thing was really just pettiness, nothing too serious. If no one noticed nothing bad would happen.

“Bye Maman, bye Papa” As she began walking back, she grew a bit nervous with her plan.

What if Lila made a whole other lie about her cardigan? What if she lied that Marinette had stolen it out of jealousy and everyone would try to take hers? She’d have to run away and live with a secret identity, all before getting caught and going to prison, and she’d never have her three kids and her hamster named-

“Ahem Marinette, is thou there?” A hand brought her out of her trance

“Ahhh!” She waved her arms before composing herself and seeing D’Argencourt in front of her.

“Ah, yes Monsieur?” How long had he been standing there? How long had she been rambling in her head?

“As I was saying, these new garments of yours, where did they originate from?” It took her a while before realising he was talking about her cardigan, she was so used to wearing her jacket it felt strange she had changed.

“Ohh this, well it was a present from Maman’s friend. They were on sale a few years back, so I thought I’d wear it again” He furrowed his brow before telling her to carry on with whatever she was doing.

“Well, that was weird. Do you think he liked the jacket?” Tikki ponded as her head ever so slightly popped out the small handbag.

“He’s always been weird Tikki. But whatever, let's just get back to the classroom.” All she had to do was wait.

***

‘How the hell hasn’t anyone noticed yet?’ Marinette was secretly fuming in her mind right now. None of her classmates noticed the change in her outfit.

Not one.

Bustier did however, the bluenette was sure because she’d see her teacher quickly glance from Marinette to Lila but never said a word. Probably thinking of that whole, ‘be the bigger person’ crap.

And not even the excuse of maybe Bustier didn’t know, bs. By the time break happened everyone in the school knew about that damn cardigan so don’t get her started.

‘Oh well, looks like that’s it. My petty revenge came flat… At least Lila didn’t pull a Marinette ruined my belongings stunt’ That would’ve been the last thing she needed.

Knock Knock Knock

The door opened before Bustier could reply, a teacher would reprimand a student for this type of rudeness, but it wasn’t a student.

It was a teacher.

And it was Monsieur D’Argencourt.

‘What the-’ Marinette didn’t remember this part of the plan.

“Excuse me Caline, but I need to interrupt the class for an announcement.” Bustier was about to deny but D’Argencourt the stubborn teacher as he was, walked straight on through ignoring whatever Bustier would’ve said.

“Lila Rossi, may you please step in front of the classroom?” Lila looking completely confused let go off Adrien, much to the relief of the boy, and walked in front of her desk.

“Marinette Dupain-Cheng?” He didn’t need to repeat the command.

Yes, command not a request.

“Can I ask you where you got your cardigans from?”

“Armand, I don’t think this is appropriate-” He shot a glare back at the teacher.

“I can assure you this won’t take long if I’m not interrupted”

Lila looked over to Marinette and realised with a sinking feeling what was happening. But she would win this time. Just like all the others.

“My Grandmother made this specifically, you see-”

He held a hand up to silence her.

“Yes, that’s quite alright, and Marinette would you like to repeat what you said before?” As Marinette did just that Lila was seething, he cut her off. How dare that simpleton cut off Lila Rossi!

He would pay.

“Well, it appears one of you is lying, and I expect that person to own up to it now” The class gasped as they all looked expectedly at Marinette, they knew she was petty but to do this was so low.

Lila looked at her smugly, she had tried to play with fire but got burned in the process. How could she even think she’d get away with this?

“I was talking about you, Lila Rossi”

“Eh, what?” The class gasped as they tried to say of course Lila was innocent, Marinette was the one lying. Or that Marinette must’ve tricked him.

He shot a glare towards all the class members as they instantly shut up.

“I don’t remember this being a class discussion, if I want your opinion, I will ask for it. Understood?” They nodded before giving sympathetic glances towards the brunette, D’Argencourt almost had the urge to shout at their incompetence but alas they were kids.

“I can tell you why you are lying Lila, with a photo. But as I’m feeling generous, I will give you one more chance to reveal yourself.” The class was silent as they all looked on in anticipation.

But Lila stood her ground defiantly, as if he actually had proof-

Oh…

Oh no she’s doomed…

“Then I don’t suppose this looks familiar? Hmm?” On his phone was a picture. Lila immediately lowered her head, too ashamed to look him in the eye.

3 guesses of what it is?

No.

.

.

No one?

.

.

Too easy?

.

.

Ok, it was the cardigan.

And at a fairly cheap price. No wonder she had it in brand new condition.

“I first knew you were lying once I saw Marinette wear the exact same one, however, hers was clearly worn out, evidently she has worn it for several amount of years. You had already messed up when you said it was the only one made. So please…” Lila looked up to see D’Argencourt giving one of the most frightening glares of the century.

“Don’t ever lie about anything to my face or anyone ever again, you will be court out and I will be keeping an eye on you. Is that final?” She meekly nodded her head, trying to give a frightened appearance to make him have sympathy but he was immune.

“That will be all. I hope your class has learned a valuable lesson of not taking things at face value” And with that, he left. Leaving Marinette with a different impression of her PE teacher, it seemed he didn’t like liars all that much.

Marinette smiled, her plan worked, and she didn’t even out her herself. Tikki surely can’t be mad at her now.

Bustier tried to get the class to go back to normal but she couldn’t. The class erupted into a screaming fit, asking how Lila could lie about that sort of thing?

It wasn’t until someone unexpected said the next few words she wondered if this was a dream.

“Hey if Lila lied about this what else did she lie about? She even said herself she doesn’t lie to her friends but that was a lie” That made the class tick as they soon realised and soon torn into her about it.

Leaving Lila, a ‘sobbing mess’ on the floor. All before she stopped that fake display and arguing back.

But the one who said that…

Was Adrien.

He was able to slip by the crowd and stand next to Marinette.

No words were said, she knew what he would’ve said even without the noise.

‘I’m sorry’

It was a start, and maybe through time, she could start trusting again.

But for now, she just wanted to enjoy this chaos…

.

.

Before there was an Akuma alert.

***

I want more D’Argencourt I want more D’Argencourt I want more D’Argencourt. I probably screwed his speech but oh well this is salt, doesn’t have to be accurate.

Phew, hope you enjoyed it, sorry its shorter than the others but this happened when I was in Year 5 and I was 9/10 years old. Woo 10 years ago, god that makes me feel old. Also, not everything was exactly this way, the teacher did out the person in front of the whole class, but she admitted it and went back to her class, we had two classes for maths. Anyway, I actually have to give Lila credit compared to the liar we had at our school, this person actually knew I had that cardigan and actually complimented me on it like months earlier and still had the audacity to say that. I think that’s the reason why I think if I was in their world I wouldn’t believe Lila because I already had a Lila at my school who would always say they’ve done the exact same thing as we had (They even said they had the same Aunt as me living on the same street, crazy right). Mind you they never said anything to me, I think they were too embarrassed plus, I was a goody little two-shoes there.

Anyway I really hope you enjoy it and if you like real-life stories so much I can always try to ask my friends for more ideas, I did have like some slightly toxic friends there that I may be able to tell you about but I’ll try to think how later.

Cya next time.

[halcyyonn]

Fashion and Fencing - ML Secret Santa

Merry Christmas @transsboyy, I’m your Secret Santa in the @mlsecretsanta this year. I hope you enjoy the fic!

Summary:

Kagami Tsurugi is the best fencer in the world. She also worked in the sports centre in Paris, employed by Armand D’argencourt to teach fencing lessons. Somehow, she balanced everything and still seemed to have everything put together exactly how she wanted it.

Marinette is also more successful than she had hoped, owning her own fashion empire to rival Gabriel Agreste’s. Hundreds of stores selling her designs had popped up around the globe and her name had quickly wormed inside every household and everyone knew who she was.

They were both famous, and both committed to their passion. So much so, that it left almost no time for anything else. Fortunately, worlds often collide, and fashion and fencing meet.

Click here for the AO3 Link!

[katcadecascade]

ML WIP Fic of Season 1

I got a bit tired of the salt of s2 and s3 and I ended up writing a canon divergent of one of the things that really got on my nerves originally: the adults

Winning is easy. Governing is harder.

“Mayor Bourgeois, any comments on your opposing candidate becoming today’s akuma victim?”

The flashing lights and loud pestering of the news media were brighter than ever in the city council’s hall. All the attention and publicity were magnetized due to the unusual circumstances that have unraveled throughout Paris.

Heroes with unparalleled strength and powers fighting against a villain that can easily manipulate a person into their darkest selves.

With that latter part in mind, Andre Bourgeois shakes his head with shame, “Witnessing Mister D’Argencourt becoming so deranged and agro over our professional careers is such a sad mark on our history. I thought he would be better than to succumb into his failures.”

“By succumb do you believe that all akuma victims are far too emotional and weak to the whims of Le Papillion?”

Ah, leave it to reporters to twist words the moment they enter the air.

“Nonsense!” The mayor said loudly, not shouted mind you, for he is a politician. “This Le Papillion fiend is the cruelest to everyone’s humanity. Thankfully we have our heroes, Ladybug and Chat Noir, ready to save the day.”

At the bold declaration, the cameras glinted at the super duo’s mention. Everyone in the grand hall couldn’t help but belt out more questions about the heroes, either about fears or hopes of the future but one voice prevailed over the others.

“Daddy, don’t forget to say how Ladybug saved my life!”

His dear sweet daughter is truly modest is she not?

Chloe is instantly at his side, despite his bodyguards’ initial protest. Her smile shines like a star, giving the cameras a picture perfect look of the mayor as a good father. He’s even wearing a matching tie for his daughter.

“Ladybug is simply the best,” Chloe stated, “Today she totally stopped that Dark Sword guy all to save me again. She just treats me as the jewel of Paris because that’s exactly what I am.”

The girl flips her hair over her shoulder, turning her head this way and that. Oh, the father thought, she must be modeling. That Agreste boy should give her a few more pointers.

“Oh my dear, darling,” Andre laughs, pressing a kiss on her forehead.

She immediately pushes him lightly, whining angrily, “Daddy, you’re going to mess up my hair!”

“I’m sorry Chloe,” he quickly has a bashful smile for the ever present camera. “Girls and their hair, I’ll understand it one day.”

A few reporters laugh, the men’s more notably than the women’s.

“If something as simple has hair puzzles you, I can’t help but fear the other things that you do not understand today,” a sharp voice enters the hall.

The click of high heels gains all of the cameras’ attention, leaving Andre’s twitching frown unseen for the most part.

“Hello, Amelia,” the mayor greets and makes sure his charming smile is captured as he makes a big gesture to meet her halfway and shakes her hand.

With the massive focus on Armand D’Argencourt akumatized into Le Chevalier Noir, the other mayoral candidate, Amelia Archambeau, had the perfect opportunity to have a dramatic entrance.

Her subtle smile does nothing to blunt the quick scratch from her red painted nails when their hands meet.

“Madame Archambeau,” a flurry of reports call out but one has a question that digs into Andre’s side, “are you implying that Mayor Bourgeois is lacking his duty?”

“Surely she’s not,” Andre answers for her, “that would be quite a childish remark.”

“Au contraire Mayor,” Amelia rebuts with her tone as sharp as her hair cut. There’s a snake in her smile as she continues, taking a step closer to the camera, “He dares say it’s childish on my behalf when in reality, it is unprofessional on his.”

“Excuse me?” He splutters but quickly composing his face. He lets Chloe be the face of his anger as her jaw drops dramatically.

“Le Papillion may have turned Paris upside down and yes, we have our faith in Ladybug and Chat Noir to return everything back to the way it is, our normal day to day lives,” Amelia’s strong voice enraptures the entire hall, everyone silent and patience to hear her.

From a nearby TV screen, Amelia Archambeau is framed in the center. As disrespected and angry Andre feels at this moment, he’s impressed at how her small frown is enough to not be interpreted as unreasonable fury nor uninterested disappointment. It’s her eyes that frighten him, black and confident and utterly ready to speak her truth.

“Yet that’s just it, our day to day lives where we experience emotions both big and small. Le Papillion abuses our vulnerability, forces it down into our weakness and his strength. Our heroes save us each and every time but does our mayor do?”

Having no idea where this is heading, Andre strides to her side, looking down at her, “I give where credit is due, to our heroes. They handle this akuma attacks. What do you expect me to do?” He turns to the cameras with a humorous smile, “Wear spandex and jump around Paris?”

Their audience laughs but when his eyes meet again with Amelia’s, her unimpressed little shake of her head is only a prelude to his downfall.

“I expected you to at least help,” she stresses, her lips pressed into a thin line. “There have been thirty akuma cases and each one woke up confused and disoriented and felt guilty for feeling emotions. No one should ever feel invalidated by that. My department of community service and volunteer programs has been setting up therapist and specialized experts on assuring the public that Le Papillion’s control on us is not inevitable. But we are a small effort compared to the absolute nothing that you, Andre B, have done.”

“I support our heroes through enforcing the police force,” he defended, feeling the easy air in the council hall boil under the tension. “Security perimeters are set to protect the public.”

“If that’s the case then why is there a teenager running into the fray?” Amelia directs her tight lipped frown to the people behind the studio grade cameras, “How is it that only one blog has the closet shots of the fights while the official news channels only cover up the aftermath?”

While the cameras are still steadily meeting the woman’s gaze, the reporters’ eyes shift elsewhere.

That elsewhere is Chloe who scoffs loudly.

“That blogger just doesn’t know when to quit her embarrassing little website,” Chloe claims, mindlessly checking her nails like it’s all boring news.

Amelia only blinks at her, “She’s also your classmate. Her website tells the public that majority of the akuma victims are also in your class,” her cold stare doesn’t waver off Chloe but then that ice targets Andre once more. “Most of these victims are children, Andre, your daughter’s schoolmates. Ladybug and Chat Noir are seen to help out the victims once the akuma is gone but surely there is more than can be done. You could have done more, Andre, you could’ve put more support in the public’s census fear of having one bad day and suddenly lashing out with an unbelievable damage.”

The mayor couldn’t speak a word. His general knowledge and efforts relied solely on the heroes and the police district.

Madame Archambeau faces the cameras, “I’d like to remind you all of my plans if you choose me as your new mayor. There has been an unbalanced of power to the police, the public, and the heroes. Everyone is responsible for their emotions but no one is responsible for a terrorist manipulating an unhappy individual into a bomb. I already have my department in charge of giving back to the public through the means of food drive, blood drives, therapy programs, homeless shelters, and many others that I know and seen Le Papillion lay his butterflies on.”

She closes her eyes, shame and sadness exposure through the tiniest of trembling hands that reminds Andre on how much pressure it is to be responsible for so many people that suffer.

Yet as the mayor, his pressure would weigh the same wouldn’t it?

It takes a few seconds for him to correct himself, now realizing how he effortlessly slides that sense of duty to the red and black heroes.

There were so many things he could have done, he realizes far too late as he watches Amelia open her eyes and straightens her posture.

“However this election ends, I will continue to put in all of my efforts into protecting Paris.” Amelia smiles kindly, so soft and strong, “It’s the least I can do to help out Ladybug and Chat Noir.”

That smile and those words, the ones that speared into his gut and politely shook sense to his brain, Andre Bourgeois can already see the results before any grand announcement is played.

He spends his last day as mayor thinking about the little amount of help he provided for his city.

[mdrartz]

ML RPG AU: Side Characters

Nathaniel owns a small, rustic store in the city. It’s in the less fancier side of town because no one really needs his art supplies [but he sells magic ink and paper for any warlocks, wizards, and etc too].

Max is an apprentice scientist and alchemist [which is slowly on the rise]. Ms. Mendeliev is one of his teachers in the Magi College and is a well-known alchemist. Many have tried to bribe her for poisons - which she is also proficient at but those people have usually fallen ill to mysterious causes.

Sabrina: is a student at the Magi College - she mostly studies in magical artifacts as she doesn’t have much magic herself. She tried to leave with Chloe, but it is revealed that in the story later how Chloe convinced her to stay.

Alix and Kim are two city guards at the first small city Marinette and Adrien meet in. This issue drives the two out of the city. But it is later revealed that they took a bounty contract on the thief. This causes the group to run into them quite frequently, but the two guards never really try to catch them. Saying that this chase gives them a good break from the usual rabble. Also they believe that the lawmaster just wanted them out of there for a while. Almost every encounter is good natured. And there will be a point in time where they travel with the group for a small while. 

Mylene and Ivan own a blacksmith/armor shop together. Mylene is usually hard at work while Ivan tends the shop. It is mostly like this because Mylene is not very good with at sales and because a fair share of nobles mistake her for a halfing or a dwarf [even though she is taller than them]. Ivan’s size also intimidates their customers so they just usually pay asking price. He’s also more steady at holding his original price.

Rose and Juleka own a large, high class, magic gear, trinkets, weapons, potions, and perfume/incense shop. They both divide the work between them. And sometimes Juleka’s brother, Luka, is seen in the shop. He’s a famous bard, however, so he usually covers his head and face.

Lila is a well known and young mage commander of the Fallen Elven King’s army. She’s not really seen as a villain in her eyes. She has a deep dislike for humans, as she’s had bad experiences with them. And she has a venomous tongue when it comes to Marinette. I was thinking to put a past between the two, but I don’t know what. She’s a bit of a trickster.

Just to include them: Aurore and Mirielle are two rival mercenary companies. Kim and Alix end up getting released from the town guard and end up in these companies - separately. Friendly rivalry.

Mr. Damocles is the head mage at the Magi College. Miss Bustier is one of the teachers there.

Jean Duparc is a nobles son. He’s not really involved in the story. But he is usually found at the Magi College and a very high end school.

There is an Arena attached to a school of sorts. They usually train guardsmen, but on the rare occasion [or whoever lines their pockets with enough money] they will take other students. Mr. Armand D’Argencourt taught Adrien how to fight when he was younger. Kagami was also one of his students, and is one of the youngest Lawmasters in the city.

Mylene’s father, Mr. Fred Haprèle, is a bit of entrepreneur. He is with a traveling circus at the moment. He is actually the one who recommends his daughter to the group. The group took a circus contract/quest to send his daughter a letter. [I am only putting a circus cuse of critical rollle <3]

I still need to come up with a map. I want this story to involve two continents - not the whole world. There are other races such as dwarfs and etc but none of the main characters are such and they dont travel into those lands so I don’t need to dive into their culture and such too much. Just elves and humans - the relationship in between.

Marinette and the gang mostly travel between human cities, entering the elven kingdom/continent later in the story. So I probably don’t need to focus too much on elven laws and such. But the story involves the origins of the Elves...BLAH.

Anyways, if there ar emore characters that were added to the ML unviverse [background characters] I will add them to this list :D.

But there are several Magi colleges within the world so not all these people are clustered together. Rose. Juleka, Luka, and Nathaniel live in the capital of the human kingdom for example. While Mylene and Ivan live in one of the little towns the group passes through.