#also nathaniel makes me so angry

[bhalspawn]

i finished origins again :(

[metalomagnetic]

Hei, I love your IRITB and Canis major so much. I keep going back to it.

Since V seemed to be okay with lending Sirius to have a child, how did he feel when Sirius give him the letter about Albus and Gellert and openly admired Grindelwald? And when the Vampire drunk from Sirius? Really I just want to see possessive Voldemort ;)

Also by the end, Voldemort got angry simply when Sirius wasn't home. How would he actually react if he had let Sirius marry and Sirius had a child? (Let's pretend he didn't murder Harry)

Here's a small part that didn't make it into the last chapter of Canis Major (I had to cut about 10k words):

This wasn't one of my brightest ideas, Voldemort considers, when all the vampires in the room stare at Sirius.

It's not just the usual admiration Sirius gets; there's something predatory in their eyes that sets Voldemort on edge. It makes his fingers reach for his wand.

He has to remind himself nothing will happen to Sirius; in fact, he's quite certain Sirius will enjoy it greatly. It's why he volunteered him for it, after all.

Yet even that bothers him. As the woman stalks closer to Sirius, and Sirius' pupils dilate when facing her, Voldemort is bothered, tendrils of anger licking at his brain.

Apparently, it's one thing to know Sirius is whoring around, and quite another to witness it.

He can't stand the way he looks at her, with arousal, the same way he looks at Voldemort, when they're in private.

It infuriates him. The amusement from before, when Sirius was all offended to be offered as a 'snack', withers and dies. He wants to murder the woman.

Rodolphus coughs, and Voldemort snaps out of it, only to realise he'd taken a step forward, and that he's holding his wand.

Get it together, he tells himself, just as Rodolphus sends him a pointed look.

The next few moments are uncomfortable bordering on unbearable. When she bites into Sirius, his Sirius, Voldemort envisions several ways to obliterate her.

He doesn't need vampires on his side that much, does he?

You do, a more rational side of his informs him.

No, I really don't.

"Enough," he orders, after just a few seconds.

She doesn't stop, and he raises his wand-

Nathaniel orders her to stop, and she does.

Voldemort is seething, something ugly and raw twisting inside him when he sees the fang marks on Sirius' throat- a throat that belongs to Voldemort.

And then he has to endure seeing Sirius feeding from the pest, a blissful look in his eyes, between lazy blinks.

It's especially infuriating, because Voldemort cannot feed him this way. This is not something he can offer to Sirius, and he feels lesser because of it. It's all illogical, mad, and it only serves to stoke his anger further.

Finally, it stops.

"How do vampires get erections?"

It's such a Sirius thing to ask, curious, reckless, lustful thing that he is. It would have made Voldemort laugh, but the tension in the room is high, all the vampires are aroused, and Voldemort wants to kill them all.

Nathaniel glides closer to Sirius. "I would be happy to explain."

Voldemort places himself between them. "The deal is sealed," he says, pointing to the door. "You will hear from me soon."

"You'll be able to find me for the next hours," the woman whispers to Sirius. "My blood will lead you to me-"

"Out," Voldemort orders, at the end of his patience.

Horrible images assault him, of Sirius and her naked, in some bed, bodies interwind.

It has never happened before- even when he knew Sirius was out with a woman or another, Voldemort did not think of it, did not care too much, because those women are nothing compared to him, insignificant entertainments that can only hold Sirius' attention for a moment.

But now he imagines it, and it makes him want to destroy something; preferably the vampire woman.

He calms, slightly, once he's alone with Sirius, back home. He's still irritated, because Sirius is hard, and it wasn't caused by Voldemort, but he can keep his anger in check.

And then he makes sure to redirect Sirius' lust, to make it about Voldemort.

As they fuck, Voldemort plans ways to kill the vampire.

When Sirius leaves, close to dawn, Voldemort goes on the hunt.

He brings back a bracelet the woman wore, an ancient thing, now splattered with blood and ashes.

He puts it away in a box, with a smile.

Only then he can sleep in peace.

------

As for your last question, Voldemort *thinks* he will be alright with a marriage, but he won't be. Deep down, even he knows he won't be able to share Sirius, but he doesn't think about it too much, in typical Voldemort fashion. In his delusion, he pretended that Sirius would only have a wife for a night or two, get her pregnant and then she'll just disappear; that the baby wouldn't change Sirius. It's beyond delusional, of course. Marriages don't work quite like that, and neither do children.

[boatshoesdude]

A collection of the sunshine court quotes I highlighted for some reason or another

Jean is going to be a sassy fucker for sure

I don’t know why out of all things but this hurt. This really really hurt

A common Neil occurrence

THE SWITCH OVER TO NEIL FROM NATHANIEL HES MAKING PROGRESS

Oh babe…

This man is trying so desperately to find comfort in anything. I’m rooting for him.

AARON MENTION LETS GO

The family which the foxes have built :,) I’m so proud of them

DO UOU HEAR THAT???? ANDREW AND NEIL ARE CAUGHT IN EACH OTHER’S GRAVITY

ALABAUISBSAHAK WYMACK HAS HAS ENOYGH OF NEIL FOR A LIFETIME AND THEN SOME

Jeremy. I can tell he going to take good d care of this boy. I like him.

This entre page made me just viscerally angry. Oh boy this wasn’t even the beginning of it.

He is looking out for him 07 good man

This is another page that hurt. He’s trying. He’s trying so hard and he’s so tired.

PROGRESS!!!!

Jean Moreau. You deserve the world but the world does not deserve you.

He… he had a sister. He had a sister and he took good care of her. I’m okay. I’m so okay.

JEAN BABE THOSE ARE HIS TOP SURGERY SCARS YOU CANT JUST SAY TAHT TO PEOPLE.

also it’s the the scars themselves that are the problem, Jean, it’s how you got them, Jean. TRANS REP LETS GOOOOOOOO

Yes babes let’s go

I love that feeling

OH THEY WERE KEVINS

Kevin once again being jeans lifeline is something that can be very personal actually

HES ADDING MORE THINGS!!!!!

Canonically a drown rat 😭😭😭

Mother Hen TM Jeremy is a favourite of mine

This describes everything you need to know about our boy Neil Josten

DOES ANDREW KNOW YOURE DOING THIS??? IS HE PROUD???

He knows how to sew. He sewed up her dress. I’m going to cry, he’s so caring and loving and sweet and the world had been nothing but cruel to him

HA

I’ll take care of you; it’s rotten work; not to me, not if it’s you

overall 8/10 book I love Jean and Jeremy and Cat and Laila and can’t wait to see them in the next book as Jean continues to heal but I hope to cry less next time

[nathaniel-underwood-is-an-intj]

Looong rant about chapter 16 Ptolemy's Gate and how being passive can add to the cycle of ab*se.

oof so I just read when Nat goes to see Ms Lutyens and I can't help but be absolutely furious at her??

I know that's maybe a little bit unfair given she's frightened of him as a magician and is obviously angry when she finds out the department he's responsible for, but honestly it kinda brings up the problem with inadvertent bystanders to child ab*se in my mind.

And I'm definitely not blaming her solely for who Nat becomes but it makes me think of all those people in huge child ab*se cases who give interviews to press about all the things they noticed that were wrong but they just...never do anything?

She stood up for him against Lovelace, and when Nat thanked her- "I wanted to say that I know you were trying to save me, and-"

''Yes, and I'm sorry I didn't" Like girl be for real did you really think that alone would undo the years of indoctrination and abuse he's already suffered and prevent years worth of the same in the years to come? And she won't take responsibility - "My job is with children, not the adults they become" and again while it seems harsh to blame her for who Nat becomes, it's so much easier to pass the blame to people who are more directly responsible rather than acknowledging you also play a part.

I think it hurts so much more because it's her specifically- Nat goes to her in sheer desperation, it almost seems like a goodbye- he wants to thank her, tries to set her up in a job that will pay well and struggles to communicate he's trying to help. At this point he thinks Bartimaeus has been summoned by another magician and his birth name will be revealed. He's sure he's about to die and if not he'll be stood on trial and lose everything.

He goes to her because she represents the peaceful moments from his childhood when he got away from his master. He's scared and feeling lost and really it's call for help; but he doesn't ask for anything he just wants to make her feel proud of him- he's looking for that validation that he's been chasing since childhood.

And that shows he still does have that little bit of childhood innocence in him; he thinks she will be proud, thinks she'll see him as the same little boy in the garden gazing up at his teacher in adoration. He can't quite grasp why she's separated the man stood before her from that little boy. Because in that moment the child inside Nathaniel is seeking comfort AND THAT'S WHY it makes me so angry. She's completely given up on him when he's at his lowest ebb, because she doesn't want to be associated with the magician he's become. As if it isn't a massive step in the right direction that he saught her out in the first place- what other magican would bother? I wonder if that's why she reacted so strongly to seeing him again? Before that moment she could go about her life wondering if /pretending her attempt to protect him was enough, and now she realises it wasn't, of course it wasn't, and the image she had of Nathaniel's childhood innocence is completely ruined in her mind.

Or was her contempt for him even grater than Nat realised? She was naturally disgusted by the rhetoric he'd started to repeat from a young age, and gently tried to correct him although she was clearly angry- was she just resigned to the fact that there is little else she could do to change his future? I always thought- couldn't she have looked for him? The Underwood house fire was in the papers and they mentioned the apprentice was being searched for. Did she ever worry about him? Surely something must have been in the papers since- an announcement of new ministers, ANYTHING! Look at how much research Kitty did to find out about Bartimaeus and Ptolemy. I just don't think Rosanna Lutyens cared enough, realistically Nathaniel wasn't hard to find- but he was no longer her responsibility so she could turn a blind eye.

And sadly it's not just her- I know everyone loves Martha Underwood including Nat; but I think her submissiveness to her husband has a negative effect on Nathaniel as well. In AOS when Nat is locked in his room for ages after setting the mites loose, and is forbidden to have any contact with anyone and she won't talk with him. I know she's been told by Mr. Underwood she can't, but it still boils my blood. She's an adult and going along with ignoring Nathaniel because her husband told her to...I can't even begin to imagine the psychological damage that would do to a 10 year old child. (It could be argued she's frightened of the consequences if her husband finds out she's disobeyed him which is fair, he could always be watching through magic- but this is Arthur Underwood we're talking about. He's lazy, oblivious and weak I doubt he'd expend all that energy each day to check up on her.)

And It's even more painful that Nathaniel is often described as fiercely loyal to her and I think to Ms Lutyens as well- he doesn't expect to be treated well by Arthur Underwood but he loved Mrs Underwood and Ms Lutyens so much he started to view them through a rose-coloured lense. He never feels betrayed by either of them, even though they absolutely let him down, because the pedestal he's put them on is too high AND THAT ABSOLUTELY DESTROYS ME.

Would things with Nathaniel have been any different if Mrs Underwood hadn't died? I don't really think so. Do you think she'd see Nathaniel's temper at 14 years old and be reminded of Arthur Underwood? He was awful, absolutely awful to Nat and to her; but he was under so much stress in an underfunded departement, where pressure was being put on him by superiors to accomplish far more than they knew him to be capable of, and he took it out on the easiest target. Nathaniel ends up in exactly the same place and he starts to take it out on the only person around him- Bartimaeus. Would he snap at Mrs Underwood all the time if she were still there? Because he's learnt that behaviour from his father figure, and subconsciously learnt from his mother figure that she'll put up with it. He learnt from the woman he loved so deeply, that if you don't resist, people will walk all over you. So you have to maintain control even if it ends up hurting people you care about because no one will step in to stop the suffering no matter how much you love them, no matter how much you want them too.

It's easy to blame Arthur Underwood and Simon Lovelace and the magicians that actively hurt Nathaniel but I just feel like it's a bit disingenuous not to acknowledge the role of those doing passive harm. It's really mean to say it but even Bartimaeus plays a role- he knows Nat is clinging on to him because he can't 'bring himself to break this last connection' (to his childhood) but instead of bringing it up properly he 'taunts' Nathaniel- a boy who has been taunted for his weakness by his master for years. And even in AOS when Nathaniel tells Bartimaeus he was beaten for the mites incident Bart just kinda shrugs it off. Like I get it, why should Bartimaeus do anything, he's suffered way worse due to the system so he doesn't owe Nat anything right? But from Nat's point of view this is the first and only time he's mentioned to anyone what has happened to him and nothing changes. It's like another lesson learnt: telling someone about it doesn't help. Another nail in the coffin.

And I like all these characters, I feel bad for them. They're all victims of the system, I think the chapter with Ms Lutyens is just the straw that broke the camel's back for me. All of those little opportunities that are insignificant to the narrative over all; the commoners have it worse, Nathaniel is in a privileged position in society, exerting control over others. He's very morally grey, crossing over into objectively bad person territory but I love him with my whole heart and all of those insignificant moments would have been massive to him whether he was conscious of it or not.

And it goes all the way back to the beginning with Nat's parents giving him up to the magicians at 5 years old. I can't get the image of that little boy sat crying all alone in the government building. And he's not going somewhere safer, or somewhere he'll be happier and more loved. Giving your child over to a total stranger, oh he'll be totally fine won't he? He'll grow up to be a magician and far richer than you'll ever be, he'll be happy and comfortable and be grateful he got to grow up in luxury. There's no way a stranger you've never met, who the majority of society is terrified of would ever hurt a vulnerable little kid right? And if they do? Well you aren't responsible anymore, how could you know? What could you possibly do against the magician taking care of him?

Every little thing is another grain of sand tipping the scale. Did anyone else have to analyse An Inspector Calls in school? It feels like that to me- those BIG moments and all the little moments in between that add onto the pile.

And it goes on to cause problems in wider society too- ab*se is so normalised to the magicians, they casually ask Underwood if he hits Nathaniel like it's nothing. Because to them it is nothing, they've all grown up in the same circumstances and are repeating what they've learnt as children. I can't help but feel a little sorry for them all, especially when they aren't looked at through the black and white lense of 'argh these people are the evil arseholes look at how they treat everyone around them, screw these guys.' When we see those little glimpses of humanity like Simon's anxiety with the amulet; looking to his master and father figure Schyler for reassurance, and what's sad is that Nat is "reminded...of his own master's cold impatience" It's clear Simon looks up to his master, wants to make him proud and loves him. But it seems like Schyler has just trained Simon up so he can get power through him later on. I love the little hints of similarities between Simon and Nathaniel; the anxious mannerisms like fiddling with his hair that Nathaniel starts to develop, the way their master's talk to them. Even though they're actively working against each other in AOS and Simon is placed firmly in the baddies category and Nat in the goodies category at this point in the series; these things always hinted to me they had similar childhoods, how was Simon treated? When he had the imp beat Nat into unconsciousness, was it because he'd had the same punishment used against him? Did he know the magicians in the room would do nothing to stop him because no one stopped it from happening to him? Did he ever have a teacher stand up for him only for it to change nothing in the end because all the negative influences were so much stronger? Is the reason he loves Schyler like a dad because he's almost developed Stockholm syndrome? It looks like love because he's never known anything else.

And Arthur Underwood- who doesn't think his upbringing, and being taken away from his family ever did him any harm- doesn't realise the harm done is that he doesn't even know another way of raising Nathaniel, because he was never shown another way. His childhood may also have been filled with people who hurt him and the people that didn't do enough to intervene.

There are so many psychology studies that show children copy everything they see the adults in their life doing. Nathaniel copies the magicians behaviour towards spirits and on a subconscious level I think he copies all the submissive people in his life. How many times does he end up upset and frustrated with the fact he seems to be going nowhere and how many times does he just hope things will be different rather than taking postive action.

I dislike the actions the magicians end up taking but I also find them fascinating to analyse. I tend to prefer villains in media because they're usually slightly more complex individuals and I love to think about how they ended up that way. They can all be seen as victims of their circumstances in a way, despite all the power and privilege they have had terrible and traumatic childhoods, and if the commoners had no valuable worldy possessions at least they had a sense of togetherness; of love and understanding and selflessness. I wonder if the magicians hated them at least partly because of that. Because out in the sea of faces of the commoners talking about nothing important, doing nothing great and noble- could be the parents that abandoned them. And when your life is on the line daily because of working with spirits, and your colleagues want to stab you in the back, sometimes not being responsible for anything important looks good. But you can't leave your life as a magician, it would be too difficult; you have nowhere to go, no real friends, no one who really loves you. So it's better to stay and be a submissive bystander in your own life because it's so much easier.

Doing nothing is doing something- being passive can be just as harmful.

[artzychic27]

Part 2

Ondine: MARC! Where are you?!

Marc: *Appears behind her in a puff of black smoke* Ondine! Did you come all this way to visit me? Oh, I’m touched.

Ondine: No, I came for Adrien.

Marc: Well, if you’re gonna be all rude about it.

Ondine: Just remember what I told you.

Marc: Yeah, yeah, stay away from baby sunshine or I will feel your wrath, I got it. But can ya blame me? He just so easy!

Ondine: *Sternly* Marc…

Marc: Okay, fine! I won’t steal his Pegasus plushie again.

Ondine: And?

Marc: And suspend him over a pool of lava.

Ondine: Or?

Marc: Or make him hide the money I stole?

Ondine: Also?

Marc: *Groans* Also, I won’t keep goading Nathaniel into getting angry so that he hulks out and crushes me with his freakishly strong hands.

Ondine: Huh? I couldn’t care less about that. Just stay away from Adrien.

Marc: Oh, that’s it? Sure, whatever! *Spots Nathaniel sketching* Now, if you’ll excuse me. Oh, Nath! *Runs after him*

@msweebyness @imsparky2002

[sketch-guardian]

Is it okay to ask if you would ever make a post about your obey me ocs personalities and what they like, they look so cool!!

Hi! I'm sorry for the late reply😖also please don't worry, it's perfectly okay to ask questions and I'm glad that you like my OCs☺that makes me very happy💕especially considering that only a few people are interested in them🙈so feel free to send asks about my OCs, I don't mind and would try to respond as soon as possible✨

In any case, I also read the second ask, so considering that I haven't written anything yet about the personality and likes of my angel OCs, this post will be about them😇I hope that's okay🙈:

"NEW EXCHANGE STUDENTS FROM THE CELESTIAL REALM'S PERSONALITIES AND LIKES"

REMIEL

Remiel is an angel of death, and her true form is as the Archangel of Hope. She's the daughter of Death and Azrael, so she is half angel-half nephilim. Remiel always seems somber, gloomy, quiet, but very caring and cautious, especially with the souls she helps reach the afterlife. She has a very soft voice and rarely gets angry, at most she can get disappointed and she's the type to offer second chances, because she believes in redemption if repentance is genuine. Remiel doesn't know human customs well and is rather dense when it comes to feelings or jokes. She's very literal-minded and straightforward, although gentle, so she often needs help to fill her knowledge gaps and satisfy her curiosity. Remiel likes to learn new things, both through books and experiences, the sky, nature and observing the world she isn't used to, since she deals with the dead

NATHANIEL

Nathaniel is a quite high rank angel, like a seraph, and embodies the virtue of Patience. He has a rather serious, ethereal and calm aura, it seems like nothing can shake his stoic attitude, however he's chiller than he seems and willing to lend a hand and offer important lessons/advice to those who need it. One of Nathaniel's traits is that he almost never speaks, he expresses himself mostly with gestures or nods, however he's able to communicate eloquently. To compare Nathaniel to a character, he might resemble Kris from Deltarune, although more graceful. Nathaniel appreciates quiet places, helping others, butterflies, comfortable clothes and exploring

URIEL

Uriel is a warrior angel and embodies courage and justice, she lives to fight and defend and takes her duty very seriously, she rarely breaks rules and under that armor, there is a soul unsure of her own value. Uriel cares about discipline and is quite serious, stubborn, too proud (tsundere-) to let herself go, even if she can be persuaded. Uriel's a very protective angel and unfortunately she still has prejudices towards demons due to the celestial war, so she needs help to overcome her resentment. Uriel enjoys training with her sword of holy light, feeling useful and appreciated, exercising, and flying. She doesn't have much free time, so she may be pushed to actually find new hobbies

[celestiall0tus]

Tales of Bloody Bug and Chat Noir - Chapter 29 - Christmas Party

Beginning || Previous || Next

            Alix finished wrapping her present for Chloe’s Christmas party, then checked the time. She would need to head out soon. She sighed and got ready when she heard Tikki make gagging noises. She turned as Tikki spat up a small red stone that looked like half of the yin-yang symbol.

            “Ew, Tikki, what is that?” Alix demanded.

            “A kwagatama. It’s a symbol of great friendship between a holder and a kwami.”

            Alix’s eyes widened as she picked up the kwagatama. “For real? You mean it?”

            “Yup. And it’s more than just a mere symbol. With it, you can speak with other ladybug holders. And, well, I spoke to Plagg and there’s someone I want you to meet. She was also a ladybug, but not for as long as the others. I hope that, maybe, she may be a new guiding light for you.”

            Alix’s face softened as she scooped up Tikki and nuzzled her. “Thank you, Tikki. So, when do I meet with them?”

            “Give me a week to retrieve her with Plagg.”

            “Retrieve her?”

            “Yes. See, this ladybug holder doesn’t exist anymore. Technically speaking that is. Plagg and I need to pull her out of the void and restore her. Just be warned. When we restore her, a certain… condition will be unmet and need to be fulfilled once again by other means.”

            “What’ll happen?”

            “I don’t know, but I trust in you. I know whatever may come, you and I will be able to face it together as one with Adrien and Plagg.”

            “You can count on it.”

            Tikki beamed. “Thank you. Now, let’s go! You don’t want to be late.”

            Alix nodded. She got ready, grabbed her present, and headed over to Le Grand Paris. She stepped into the main lobby to see it decked out with party decorations, tables filled with catered sweets and drinks, and a swarm of guests. She glanced around for her secret Santa when Adrien tackled her in a hug.

            “Alix! You made it,” Adrien cheered.

            “Adrien! Of course, I did. Why wouldn’t I?”

            “He’s just worried since Lila and Marinette are lurking around here,” Kagami said.

            “What? Why are they here?”

            “Lila likely stole an invitation, and Marinette’s family is one of the caterers.”

            “Have they given you any trouble?”

            “None more than usual.”

            “Well, why don’t we enjoy the festivities, yeah? Oh, but first I need to drop off my secret Santa gift.”

            “Oh, that table over there with all the gifts on it,” Adrien pointed out.

            Alix nodded and dropped off her present before she joined Adrien and Kagami in the festivities. Alix basked in their companionship as they were later joined by Mylene, Rose, and Ivan. They all enjoyed each other’s company when Juleka, Luka, and Nathaniel joined them. Juleka and Nathaniel approached Alix, looking away, then up at her.

            “Alix, I’m sorry for what I did as Evillustrator. I… I wasn’t myself, you know that, right?” Nathaniel asked.

            “I do. I also don’t blame you for anything,” Alix said.

            “What? Why? I almost-.”

            “Nathaniel, I chose to die that day. All you did was give me an easy way out without realizing it. Besides, you shouldn’t be apologizing to me, but that guy.”

            Nathaniel looked away. “I… I should. And I admit that I acted like an ass to him. I was just angry because I look up to Bloody Bug. She’s so strong, bold, and fearless. There’s nothing that she won’t do. I mean, she faced a dragon head-to-head without a hint of fear in her eyes. So, when I was given that diary, I thought it was actually hers and that I’d get to meet her again.”

            “But when you saw that guy, all that hope was crushed,” Alix finished.

            Nathaniel nodded.

            “Well, tell you what. I’ll find that guy again and we’ll work something out. If he was able to write something that convinced you that it was Bloody Bug’s, then he’s one hell of a writer. One that you might be able to work with to create an amazing comic book.”

            “Yeah. Yeah! I’ll do my part too. If I see him, I’ll try to make amends.”

            “Good. That’s what I want to hear, Tomato. Now, Juleka, what do you want?”

            “I want to apologize for how I’ve been to you. Or, well, how I was that one time after Marinette was first akumatized.”

            Alix raised a brow and crossed her arms. “Go on.”

            “I’m ashamed to say that I let myself be fooled. I believed Marinette and Alya’s word about your character over what I’ve grown to known. If not for Rose… and Luka… I just might still.”

            “Wait. Rose I believe, but Luka? What has Luka said about me?”

            “It’s not what he’s said, but what he hasn’t. He’s not exactly subtle, yet no one else seems to notice. Quite a paradox, don’t you think?”

            Alix furrowed her brow. She glanced back at Luka, who stood beside Rose. His eyes widened when they locked eyes before he turned away. She pursed her lips and looked at Nathaniel.

            “Hey, see if you can’t find that guy here. Maybe you mend the bridge,” Alix suggested.

            “But-!”

            “Now!” Alix hissed.

            Nathaniel raised his hands and ran away. Alix sighed and pulled Juleka away from the group.

            “Juleka, Luka doesn’t have a crush on me, does he?”

            Juleka looked away.

            “Balls. I’m ending this.”

            Juleka panicked and pulled Alix back. “Don’t. Please.”

            “Juleka, I’m not about to let this fester.”

            “But he’s changed so much. Don’t ruin this for him, please.”

            “Juleka, it’s cute and all, but I have no interest in romance. If your brother was interested in the more, uh, physical side of a relationship while keeping things platonic, I wouldn’t mind so much. But he doesn’t seem the type.”

            Juleka knotted her brows in thought as her eyes darted back and forth. “Alix, are you… would you happen to be… aromantic?”

            “Aromantic? What’s that?”

            “It’s when you don’t experience romantic attraction, but still experience other types of attraction. Most aros that I’ve heard about hate romance with a passion, but Rose told me that some aros do crave companionship, even without the romance piece. Something about it being a queer platonic relationship.”

            “Queer platonic? What is that?”

            Juleka held up a finger. She dipped into the group and spoke with Rose. Rose’s eyes widened as she ran up to Alix.

            “I heard you have questions about the LGBT. Ask away.”

            “Uh, right. What’s this about queer platonic relationships Juleka had mentioned?”

            Rose gasped. “Are you aromantic, asexual, or both?”

            “Juleka said aromantic, but not asexual, so just aromantic I think.”

            Rose bounced excitedly. “That’s amazing! Ok, see, this is usually more common in aros, but not unheard of for the other two. Basically, a queer platonic relationship is where you have a relationship that is between friendship and romance. Most people would refer to it as friends with benefits, but it’s not. I’ve never experienced it myself, but it seems, how do you say, intimate in its own special way.”

            Alix furrowed her brow. “That… that honestly sounds nice. Like, really nice. But I doubt people would be interested in that.”

            Rose smiled and took Alix’s hands. “Well, no, but you’ll find those people that do. It’ll be disheartening as you go through people you’re attracted to for them to turn you down, but in time, you’ll find the ones that’ll accept that part of you. Just like how Juleka found me. You’ll find your someones too. I know you will.”

            “Thank you, Rose, but also do me a favor.”

            “What’s that?”

            “I know Luka has a crush on me. If he ever brings it up to you, let it drop that I’m aromantic and what that entails. Would you do that?”

            “Absolutely. Better to not let that one fester. Luka is a wonderful boy, but he has a gentle heart that is easily broken.”

            “I’m glad you at least see reason. Unlike Juleka.”

            “Oh, Juleka tries. She just… she wants the best for Luka. However, what she thinks is the best isn’t always the best, but there’s also no convincing her otherwise until she makes up her own mind. It can be frustrating, but once you know, it’s easier to handle.”

            Alix hummed. She glanced at the group when Chloe’s voice boomed in the lobby.

            “Good evening, everyone! I hope you’re all enjoying this little get together. It’s almost time for the secret Santa exchange, but before that, a little game and a personal gift from me to all of you.”

            Alix watched as Chloe moved to a wall lined with stockings stuffed with assorted goodies. She tilted her head, her curiosity peaked.

            “Sabrina and I put together a parting gift and a game. Each person may take one stocking and will find a random assortment of treats and prizes. But there’s a little something special in fifteen of these stockings. Those lucky to pick one of these stockings will find themselves in possession of an all exclusive, front-row, VIP, backstage ticket to Jagged Stone’s concert to kick off his Miraculous tour! And, not only do you get to meet rock hero, Jagged Stone, but also the heroes that safeguard our great city!”

            Everyone erupted into gasps and excited chatter. Alix tilted her head and tapped Adrien on the shoulder.

            “Is money bags being serious right now?”

            “Yeah. She got those tickets as part of the you-know-what. We all technically did, but we just gave her ours and told her to figure out who to give them to,” Adrien whispered.

            “Wait, they gave you guys those tickets? For what? To give to our friends?”

            “Yeah, exactly. I didn’t like that, so I told Chlo to find a way to pass them out without drawing too much suspicion. I suppose this works, right?”

            “I’d say so. Good job.”

            “Now, before you take your parting gift, exchange your gifts, and check in with Sabrina. Once you have, you may take a stocking. And thank you again for coming to the one and only Bourgeois Christmas Extravaganza!” Chloe exclaimed.

            Everyone rushed over to the present table to retrieve their gifts. Alix glanced over and saw Luka grab Juleka and rush over to the table as well. She was taken off guard by the sheer excitement and hope in his face. She hummed and maneuvered through the crowd to Sabrina.

            “Oh, hi, Alix. Did you get your present already?”

            “Uh, no. You know which of those stockings have the tickets, right?”

            “I mean, yes, but-.”

            “Could you make sure the Couffaines each get one? I just saw Luka drag Juleka away with such hope in his eyes. I think he wants one of those tickets.”

            Sabrina’s eyes misted over as she placed a hand over her heart. “I’ll make sure. You can count on it.”

            Alix smiled and gave Sabrina a quick hug before she headed over to the table and grabbed her secret Santa present for Adrien. She smiled and returned to the group and handed it to him.

            “What’s this? Was I your secret Santa?” Adrien asked.

            “Yeah. I know you’re coming over for Christmas anyway, but you know, a secret Santa is a secret Santa. So, here you go.”

            Adrien opened the gift and gasped. He carefully took out a picture frame with a collage of photos with him with the Kubdels. In the bottom right of the collage was “The Kubdel Family” written on it. Tears fell from Adrien’s eyes as he hugged the frame.

            “Thank you, sis. Thank you so much.”

            “Anytime, bro. Now let’s find my secret Santa, get our parting gift, and blow this joint.”

            “Could we get ice cream?”

            Alix snorted and laughed. “Alright, we’ll get ice cream. Let’s go.”

            Alix turned towards the table but stopped when she saw Mylene in her path. Mylene smiled and held up a wrapped present.

            “Merry Christmas, Alix.”

            Alix’s eyes widened. She opened the present to find a silver bracelet with assorted charms.

            “What do you think? I made sure to get different charms for all of us, to remind you of us. See? I’m the leaf because I’m a nature warrior. Oh, and Ivan is the skull and cross bones because of you both liking that heavy metal music. Rose is the unicorn because it’s Rose. Nathaniel is the painter’s palette, Chloe is the diamond, Sabrina is the dog, and Adrien is the cat. Lastly, there’s the roller blades for you. Oh! And the little heart. Take a look.”

            Alix looked at the heart charm and saw “You’re not alone” engraved on it. Her breath caught as she turned it over and saw “We’re with you” engraved on the back. She smiled, put on the bracelet, and hugged Mylene.

            “Thank you. I love it.”

            Mylene smiled and returned the hug. “I’m glad. Merry Christmas, Alix.”

            “And Merry Christmas to you too, Mylene.”

            Alix and Mylene waved good-bye as Alix and Adrien headed over to the line to Sabrina. Alix watched as other partygoers got their stockings. Most didn’t get a ticket while a few lucky ones did. She watched as Luka and Juleka moved up to the wall with certainty and took down a stocking. She watched as the twins searched their stockings and each found a ticket to Jagged Stone’s concert. She felt joy swell within her seeing Luka’s pure, unfiltered excitement as he and Juleka danced and celebrated at both of them getting a ticket.

            “I don’t think I’ve ever seen Luka this anything,” Adrien commented.

            “Me either, but I like it. You?”

            Adrien sighed and smiled. “It looks amazing on him.”

            Alix smirked. “My, Adrien, do you like Luka?

            “Huh? Of course, I do. I’ve wanted to be friends with him since I met him. So, seeing him like this makes me happy. Maybe, someday, we can be friends.”

            Alix smiled and patted Adrien on the back. “I’m sure you will. Just give him a little more time. He’s only just begun to come out of his shell. Don’t rush him.”

            “Don’t worry. I learned my lesson.”

            Alix chuckled. She and Adrien approached Sabrina, showed her their presents, and headed up to the wall. They each grabbed a stocking and checked them. They both got an abundance of sweets and beauty products, but no ticket. She sighed in relief and headed for the door with Adrien. They stepped out into the cold air and walked down the sidewalk for a bit before they disappeared into an alley. They transformed into Bloody Bug and Chat Noir. Bloody Bug took her yo-yo out, opened it, and put Adrien’s present inside for safekeeping.

            “Alright, ready?”

            “Always.”

Patreon || Discord || Ko-Fi

[mcheang]

Chloe has got to go

Nino calls the resistance together for their next mission. Chloe has to leave Paris. It’s one thing to be unwillingly akumatized, but Chloe smiled and happily stood to abuse the akuma’s power to make them miserable.

Nino looked to Adrien and Lila. “I’m sorry. I know you two are friends with her but Chloe is a liability.”

Adrien: no, you’re right. At this point, Chloe is unremorseful and makes everyone else miserable enough to invite an akuma again. She needs to leave

Lila knows when to pick her fights, and with everyone but her intent on sending Chloe away, it would be a waste of breath. “I agree. I did think Chloe could change slowly over time but that isn’t what Ladybug needs.”

Marinette eyes Lila suspiciously.

Mylene: and how are we supposed to get rid of Chloe? Her dad’s the mayor. And even if we could convince Chloe to move to New York, he would get akumatized because he actually wants the bully around

Marinette: we have to convince the mayor it’s for Chloe’s own good to leave Paris.

Zoe: we have another obstacle, my mother. She doesn’t care that Chloe’s a bully. In fact, she’s proud of her.

Marinette: but knowing her, I am very certain she would care if Chloe makes her look ridiculous.

Nathaniel: as in all her total defeats?

Marinette: precisely.

Lila does warn Chloe that the class will try to talk to her parents about sending her away

Chloe: what a ridiculous idea, utterly ridiculous! Nobody can just walk up to my parents, not even Adrikins. And I always make sure that loser Zoe never even breathes in the same air as us

What Chloe refuses to acknowledge is that her father does like Zoe and does in fact visit his stepdaughter so she isn’t totally alone in the hotel

Andre wasn’t happy with Zoe’s suggestion that Chloe leave Paris even if he admits he empathises with her on how they can both relax when Chloe isn’t around. As a result of their conversation, he tries to invite Zoe to join them for dinner but Chloe shuts him down. Audrey doesn’t bother to raise her head.

Andre feels more sympathetic to Zoe’s suggestion.

Also, Chloe has underestimated her classmates’ again.

While Nino audibly plans to stalk Audrey and make her listen to their idea, Marinette tells Alya in secret that they can just make all the videos of Chloe’s scandals and defeat viral with Max and Markov’s help. She didn’t want to mention this in front of Lila because of how close she is to Chloe.

Skeptical, Alya has to admit Marinette has a point there. Markov and Max easily hack the internet.

Said videos interest Style Queen’s PR team and suddenly she is furious at her daughter for being such a loser. This is hurting both of her parents’ careers.

Chloe: you can’t believe the Internet mother! Those losers just want to kick me out of Paris! Don’t let them win!

Audrey: and let you stay and continue to humiliate the Bourgeois name? Don’t be ridiculous Claudette!

Chloe is angry to invite an akuma. Except Ladybug happened to be around as if she expected one.

Audrey drags Chloe to New York to teach her how to be a winner!

Andre was sad at their departure but Zoe comforts him.

Lila still keeps in touch with Chloe. Her influence over the mayor is still be useful.

[imsparky2002]

Reverser - Rewriting Fountain Scene

(Nathaniel walks to the fountain, and when he sees Marc, he’s more confused instead of angry. He also thinks that Marinette is simply a huge fan of Ladybug, instead of believing it to be Marinette’s diary.)

Nathaniel: Marc? What are you doing here?

Marc: Huh?

(Nathaniel’s eyes widen as he realizes what’s going on.)

Nathaniel: Wait... is this yours?

Marc: Y-yes, it’s mine, didn’t Marinette tell you?

Nathaniel: What are you talking abou-

(He turns to see Marinette filming him. Instead of getting angry, he groans and just rolls his eyes before turning back to Marc.)

Nathaniel: Please tell me what’s going on here.

Marc: N-nothing! I just... just wanted to make a comic with you, that’s all.

(Nathaniel can tell he’s not lying, and just sighs again.)

Nathaniel: Well based on what’s in this diary, that’s not what’s going on. Marc, are you in love with me?

(Marc blushes and can’t even make out a response. Marinette decides to enter the conversation.)

Marinette: I was just trying to help you guys get together. Marc was too nervous to say anything, so I-

Nathaniel: Decided to play with my feelings by letting me think you actually loved me? Yeah, what a wingman.

Marc: It’s not her fault, I should’ve-

Nathaniel: It is, Marc! I’m not mad at you, ok? I’m mad that Marinette toyed with my feelings, knowing that I loved her. Or at least, I used to love her.

(Marinette can hardly speak, as Nathaniel hands back the notebook to Marc.)

Nathaniel: Look, I think you’re a cute guy, and I’d like to go out with you sometime, but you gotta be honest with me. When you said my art was great, was it genuine, or did you only think it was good because you loved me?

(As Marc hesitates, Nathaniel gives a sad sigh and gets up.)

Nathaniel: I need some time alone, Marc. I’m sorry

(He quietly walks away, as Marc begins to sob. Marinette can only look on in shame. Then the Akuma comes and we all know what happens next...)

So what do you think? I decided to make Nath less of an asshole, so that you root for him and Marc to get together in the end. I was inspired by some of the Rainbow fics by @artzychic27

[little-peril-stories]

The Queen of Lies: Retribution and Regret

Story Intro | Contents [Warnings] | Mood Board | Vibey Song Lyrics | Ao3

Contents: abusive relationship, gaslighting-adjacent emotional manipulation, trapped in a locked room, lady whump

Thanks @clairelsonao3 for inspiring me to turn to Breanna's literary society book for this chapter following your use of Yeats' "When You Are Old" in GSNBTR. 💕

Of course, I'd also be remiss not to also mention Nathaniel Hawthorne and thank him for the lovely prose in The Scarlet Letter. Thanks, Nate.

Previous | Masterlist | Next

Word count: 2300 || Approx reading time: 10 mins

Retribution and Regret

Teaser: Baden’s voice, too, haunted her every thought. Her every breath. What were you thinking? Sneaking around like that? For him? For a bastard thief? For one of those Iustitia aecum crooks? Are you trying to humiliate me? Make me the laughingstock of the entire constabulary?

Breanna stared at the ceiling.

Breanna stared at the ceiling and watched nothing happen.

Breanna stared at the ceiling and watched nothing happen, even as the empty, frigid cavern of her bedroom wobbled and spun.

Don’t, Curtis, for the love of god, please don’t let him—

I’m sorry I lied, I really did just want to do something kind—something good—

Please, he’s going to be so angry no matter what, don’t let him kill that boy, he didn’t do anything—

A tear welled in her eye, burning her skin when it grew too heavy and slid down her cheek.

It was my fault, please, I swear—

Rife with hurt and fury, Curt’s voice rang in her head. Do you have any idea what you’ve done?

Baden’s voice, too, haunted her every thought. Her every breath. What were you thinking? Sneaking around like that? Deceiving Lenton? Telling ridiculous lies? For him? For a bastard thief? For one of those Iustitia aecum crooks? Are you trying to humiliate me? Make me the laughingstock of the entire constabulary?

I’m sorry, she’d gasped, again and again and again.

I never expected this from you, Baden had said. Have you taken complete leave of your senses?

I’m sorry.

You’re sorry? You have no idea how sorry you are. But you will.

She had expected what came first, had held her breath and closed her eyes and pushed herself through until it was done.

The soft words of her mother often came to her in such moments—the gentle but fragmented counsel that had helped Cecilia Cooper through her own marriage to Silas Cooper, a bitter man prone to temper and partial to drink. Stay with me, my love, she had whispered so often, and I will keep you safe. A mostly empty promise, untrue but well-meant; Breanna had known even then that her mother had tried her best.

Let’s practice some sums, she would sometimes say, smoothing away her daughter’s tear-damp locks, watching the door with a frantic eye in case the handle began to turn.

Twice two is four. Twice four is eight. Twice eight is sixteen. Twice sixteen…

Or perhaps, Sing me a song. Sometimes, Shall we read together? Or, We’ll play a recitation game. Can you tell me a poem? Quietest one wins.

Some of the poems, Breanna still clung to. O Rose! who dares to name thee? No longer roseate now, nor soft, nor sweet, but pale, and hard, and dry, as stubble-wheat. Kept seven years in a drawer —thy titles shame thee…

She had not expected what came after Baden’s furious tirade—had not expected his rage to be yet unspent, or that he should become a jailer not only to criminals, but to her as well.

You will stay in there, he had said, and she’d been too slow, too stupid to realize what was happening until the bedroom door slammed and the key scraped in the lock. Until you learn your lesson. Until you’ve had some time to remember who you’re married to. Who you belong to.

She had screamed then, hurling herself against the door despite the way her body screeched in pain, despite the rawness of her throat, despite how her weak, pathetic limbs could not budge the heavy wood.

Did you kill him?

She had choked out the words, still sobbing, on the floor now. She’d told herself it was her conscience that wanted to know so desperately.

Silence had answered her question, and she’d tried again. What did you do to him?

More empty air, devoid of sound and of pity.

Please, Baden. He didn’t hurt me. He didn’t.

A long, hissing breath from the other side of the door.

If I ever hear you mention the thief again, Breanna Hatchett—ever again—you will regret it until the end of your days. Do I make myself clear?

It had been her turn to respond with silence, until a fist smashing against the wall made her cry out.

Answer me.

Yes.

Now Breanna stared at the ceiling.

Wishing she had made different choices.

Wishing she had been wise enough to see this coming.

Mrs. Dennison had obviously been instructed not to open the door. Breanna had considered, for a while, setting fire to the room, just to see if the housekeeper would let her out then. To see if she was more loyal to her or to Baden. Fear had stayed her hand in case it was the latter—in case she ended up burning to death on her own self-built pyre.

How many hours had passed since the door had been locked, Breanna could no longer tell. She suspected it felt longer than it truly was, and she reprimanded herself for not paying more attention to how the light had changed. But when she tried to recall the path of the sun across the sky, to ascertain whether one night or two or five had passed, she found she could not remember.

The scrape of a key in the lock woke her from a hazy, dream-filled sleep.

“Breanna.”

He was back.

It was too late to turn around, to turn her back on him now. She was already facing the door. His grey eyes bored into hers, and her courage failed her. She looked away.

Baden closed the door behind him, the key already hidden away in his pocket, and approached.

“You are angry,” he said.

Was she? It was impossible to tell what she was feeling anymore.

“You made a terrible decision and a foolish mistake.” He sat down next to her, his arm scraping against hers.

“I know.”

“You made a complete mockery of me. My position. My authority.”

“I know.”

She kept her eyes downcast, counting specks of dust between the floorboards. He took her chin in his hand and directed her gaze toward him. “You could have been seriously hurt. Killed.”

“I didn’t think—”

“No,” Baden said. “You didn’t. That much is obvious.”

Although Breanna had not wept in hours now, a sob burst out of her again.

“Stop that,” he said. His grip tightened. “Enough tears.”

“I’m sorry,” she whispered.

Was she sorry? Again, it was difficult to discern exactly what she felt. All she knew was that it twisted her insides and filled her mind with fog.

“Perhaps you are,” Baden said. “Perhaps I believe you. But I confess…I cannot even begin to fathom what you thought to accomplish with your folly.”

“I…” His eyes were so cold and so grey, and he was so angry, and he was still holding her chin.

“I ask again. Why were you in there? What in god’s name were you doing?”

So tight. “I thought I’d… I just wanted to…” Too tight. “I don’t know.”

“Hmm.” Finally, Baden let go. He passed a hand over his face, sighing—a motion that might have been boyish were it performed by someone else. “I cannot have a wife who doesn’t think before she acts, Breanna. Who does impetuous things and cannot explain why.”

“I know,” she said. “I’m sorry. It won’t—”

He cut her off, gesturing around the room. “You understand, then, why this is needed. It’s for your own good. You may remain here and reflect on your choices. What you’ve learned. How you will conduct yourself in the future.”

“No,” she said, reaching for his hands. “I—I’m really—Baden, truly, you don’t have to leave me in here, I’ll—”

He took her hands in his, but the grip was like iron. “Do not argue with me, Breanna.”

She slid to the floor when the lock clicked, too exhausted to cry.

Voices floated through the walls. “When will the punishment be ended, Mr. Hatchett?”

Baden’s voice was almost too low to hear. Breanna inched closer to the door, straining. “When I say it is.”

“If it’s not too bold to ask, sir…”

Their footsteps faded, and Breanna curled into herself. How stupid she had been to believe that she could do something new—something good and exciting. Brave and bold. What nonsense—what madness. It had always been this way. It always would.

***

It was a shock when Mrs. Dennison entered.

“I’m not to let you out,” she said quickly. “Before you ask.”

“I know,” Breanna said. She lay on the bed, a dent long carved into her pillow. She could not bring herself to care that she was only half-dressed. So what if the housekeeper saw her wrinkled underclothes, the bare skin of her shoulder, the unkept bird’s nest of her hair? What did it matter?

Mrs. Dennison laid a tray of food next to her. The dull thud of wood against wood seemed far too loud for the gentle action that caused it. Wincing, Breanna closed her eyes tight.

“I asked him.”

Breanna did not raise her head but opened her eyes, directing her gaze upwards. “Asked him what?”

“What happened,” said Mrs. Dennison. “To that man you were help—the man you were visiting.” There was a snick of disapproval to her voice—unspoken and buried, but there. “You wanted to know.”

Breanna sat up. “You did? Why? What—” Her voice splintered. “What did he say?”

“He’s alive,” Mrs. Dennison said. “All the constable would say, though, is that he was punished. For hurting you.”

“He didn’t hurt me,” Breanna whispered. The room blurred before her, turning her housekeeper’s face into naught but watercolour swirls and brushstrokes. “He—he didn’t hurt me.”

No, it was not the thief who had hurt her.

Ice crystallized in Breanna’s veins as this realization sank in fully. That boy had been punished, but he’d done nothing except lash out in confusion and anger, and he had done her no harm, nor had he left a single mark on her skin.

She watched the housekeeper make her way toward the door. “Thank you, Mrs. Dennison.”

“You’re welcome, Mrs. Hatchett. I hope you feel better soon.”

The ice in Breanna’s veins melted and turned to flame.

The solitude of her chamber became a blessing. Breanna, tears dried, made her preparations, trembling and yet fuelled with a fire she had not known could burn inside her so brightly.

Alice’s book was now finished, read beginning to end, many times wept over. Breanna combed through it, placing slices of silk ribbon amongst the pages and marking passages with lightly drawn lines. She could no longer borrow from the future to ease her present grief. Would Alice understand? Perhaps not. In fact, Breanna thought, few would.

But she wrapped it tidily when it was done, the brown-paper corners folded tightly over the beautiful leather binding, the string pulled taut and cut to just the right length, ending in a tight, charming bow.

“Please send this back to Mrs. Wright,” she said when Mrs. Dennison delivered breakfast, holding out the parcel. The housekeeper eyed it nervously. Breanna smiled, relaxed her limbs. “It’s merely the book she lent me. I’ve finished it now.”

Mrs. Dennison nodded, then lifted the book from Breanna’s outstretched hands. “Was it any good?”

“Enthralling,” said Breanna. “Eye-opening. Although I suppose there are some who wouldn’t like it.”

“What’s it about?”

“Sin,” Breanna said. “Hypocrisy. Judgment. Guilt.” She paused. “Such things as no one truly wishes to face.”

Mrs. Dennison’s eyes locked with Breanna’s, fluttering slowly, as if she meant to parse every word, searching for some hidden meaning.

There can be no power to disclose the secrets that may be buried with a human heart.

Breanna smiled wider.

“Perhaps we all could learn a thing or two,” said Mrs. Dennison.

“Oh, yes,” said Breanna. “I know I did.”

The housekeeper cleared her throat. “You’re…well, then? Feeling better?”

She had not known the weight until she felt the freedom.

“It’s been nice to have something to occupy my mind.” Breanna gestured vaguely to the book, hoping Mrs. Dennison wouldn’t look too closely at the pile of sewing behind her.

“You’re looking rather tired, though, if I may say so, Mrs. Hatchett. Haven’t you been sleeping?”

Shrugging her shoulders, Breanna said, “If I wasn’t, would it be a surprise?”

“No,” said Mrs. Dennison. “I suppose it wouldn’t. After what you’ve been through.” She peered around the room again, eyes roving from the book to Breanna’s face to the bed to the hearth. “Would you like me to sit with you awhile? Keep you company?”

Breanna shook her head. “I’m quite fine, Mrs. Dennison. But…” A lump grew in her throat. “Thank you.”

“Not at all, Mrs. Hatchett.” The housekeeper backed away from her, heading toward the door. “I think…”

“Yes?”

Mrs. Dennison cleared her throat again. “I think the constable will release you soon, dear.”

When an uninstructed multitude attempts to see with its eyes, it is exceedingly apt to be deceived.

Letting a forgery of a smile cross her face, Breanna said quietly, “How kind of him.”

When the door was closed and locked, when Mrs. Dennison had gone away, cleaning or conducting the cooking duties that were not usually hers, Breanna allowed herself a few moments of breathless quiet to ponder the choices she had made, and the ones she would make—the life she’d had, and the one she now chose. She suspected, after everything, after the tears she had shed that seemed so infantile now, she would never see a meeting of Mrs. Gage’s literary society. True, she had wanted so desperately to join, but it was a loss she was willing to bear. Did it matter anymore?

Perhaps not—perhaps it never had.

The last of the words she had marked for Alice swirled in her mind, etched in her memory as if they had always waited there for her to read. Scriptures of truth, prophecies of deliverance, and a call to action:

Do anything, save to lie down and die!

Previous | Masterlist | Next

Taglist (please let me know if you’d like to be added/removed!)

@starlit-hopes-and-dreams

@gala1981

@pleasestaywithmedarling

[three-milkz]

Having so many heroes permanently seems like a horrible and very bad idea to me.

Why? Several reasons.

First, just imagine sixteen heroes going to fight an akuma when only the Ladynoir would be needed to do it. Maybe Ladybug has some idea to contact the hero they need for his power during a battle, but if not, then prepare for a 1 vs 16 fight.

Second, I don't trust more than half of the heroes.

They are literally not to be trusted, it's very clear with Lila. When Lila lies and Mari tries to expose her, Lila manages to put Marinette in a bad light and almost everyone turns against her.

How can you entrust magical jewels to people who didn't support you when a girl who just arrived tells everyone lies that they believe her and not a friend of YEARS (in the case of some).

I don't like Nino, he literally yelled at the cafeteria the identities of Alya and him. He create a plan to akumatize the father of his supposed BEST FRIEND. He spied on his girlfriend and because he believed she was cheating on him with Chat Noir. (In Chameleon he told Marinette that peeping was wrong.)

Kim is an idiot. Ondine, break up with him and come with me.

I don't like Ivan as a character, he is Mylene's boyfriend and that's it.

Mylene has a bit more backstory, but she still strikes me as a boring character.

Max, to be supposedly one of the most intelligent characters, he believed Lila that a napkin was going to gouge out his eye. Bro, how do you trust that?

Rose is too naive, anyone would manipulate her in two seconds. Sorry.

Sadly, Marc, Nathaniel, and Sabrina don't have a chapter of their own to explore more than they are capable of and whether or not, to me, they deserve to have a Miraculous permanently.

Literally almost everyone makes me mad.

Of all the permanent holders, the only one who deserved to keep his miraculous was Luka.

I love Alix from the future, so little Alix will become the same and she is a big consolation.

I like Kagami, but she did NOT have the right to tell Felix about Marinette's identity.

Alya proved to be trustworthy, but she does things that make me angry when it comes to Nino, at least she keep the secret that was Scarabella and I think it's more or less enough to keep her miraculous.

There's no way Felix will drop the peacock miraculous, but it's a comfort to know that he didn't use it for anything bad, since it's a way to protect his safety, Adrien and Kagami's, but I'll wait for a conversation between him and Marinette in the next season apologizing for what he did (they never will, I know).

Zoe and Juleka are fine.

I know that the miraculous were given to their wearers permanently so that no one would steal them again, but I don't think it's right that they give magic jewels to people who used a miraculous once against a filler villain, who are unreliable and that they could betray Marinette with and without the mask.

There were different ways to protect the miraculous, maybe giving some to Adrien, others to Luka and others that Marinette keeps or I don't know, any other better idea.

Also, you have to remember that Cerise, Lila or whatever her name is, has the identities of various holders and even if Marinette doesn't know it, she will find out at some point.

Someone is going to betray Marinette, we all know it.

So no, I hate most of the characters and I don't think they permanently deserve Miraculous.

Oh, and we won't be able to see more unifications either...

[azurechicken]

It always gets me how Justice did not change at all, like, he is not corrupted at all. It makes everything more tragic than it already is. The only thing that changed was his perception, which of course, naturally came due to the change of hosts. I'm mostly taking Awakening Justice into account and how he acts because that is where we can carefully observe him by himself, without Anders' influence on the matter. And his influence is everything on the point I am trying to make.

When we first meet Justice, he is fulfilling his nature of bringing justice to the people he thinks that need it. He is very outspoken about it, and is already ready to take action with or without Warden's help. For a supposedly peaceful spirit that Anders claims to have ruined with his anger, Justice is acting pretty angry here himself (This is not the only time either). This is one of the first things I want to point out that did not change much about the spirit. Justice was always fierce about his cause. However, what stands out to me in these scenes is when the witch calls him out on his idea of justice.

Justice, is that what you are calling it? What of their punishment, burning my house to the ground and with me in it?

Well, in this case, the witch is a demon and mocking Justice for funsies. But what she says actually gives a bit more insight about what kind of a spirit Justice is. The actions do not speak louder than intent to him, as long as it is within the lines he set for himself. In a way, he was always okay with a few… casualties in the name of justice. Even though it is as simple as burning down a house this time. Isn't violence for violence vengeance after all?

While we are on the topic of vengeance, let's not forget the way he is eager on avenging Kristoff, vowing to kill every darkspawn for his cause (I mean the way he literally calls it avenging is enough debate for some people but I want to continue). So how come wanting to take revenge on the offenders that wronged not only his host but many other people, is any different? How did this route did not take him to the road of vengeance but attacking the templars, who are also offenders that wronged his host and other people, is corrupting him?

The answer is of course, that it is not, it did not. There is no difference between those two for Justice, there is no difference between vengeance and justice. Punishing the ones who deserve it is all there is. There is no gray area for spirits the way there is in the mortal world, and we see this clearly in the way he judges Velanna and Nathaniel for their crimes. Despite what I said about him seeing intent before action, now he cannot see beyond their wrongs. This simply shows that if the intent is as clear as violence for violence, he understands. But he does not understand the gray area of Velanna mistaking the innocents as guilty, or Nathaniel taking back what used to be already his.

 

There might be none for Justice, but there is a difference between darkspawn and templars for mortals. For one, darkspawn are generally mindless, and has no moral compass for us to judge. Whereas templars are just people with different ideals about life, to put it kindly at least. (Which is worse, being a mindless cruel monster, or having the mind and morals to choose to be something else but going for being one anyway? Lol another discussion for another time). Templars are the gray area that Justice lacks the understanding of. When he vows to kill every templar like he did with the darkspawn, he does not suddenly turn into a demon, he is simply punishing the ones that were doing wrong, as he does.

From here we can say that spirits' judgments and mortal's don't exactly match up. Though, there is one idea that seems to match better than others, and that is corruption. As far as we learn from Justice, spirits do not know about corruption any better than we do. Spirit do bad, spirit go bad, right? So, when Justice starts to feel things that are associated with demons, such as envy, he starts to fear corruption. He says he does not want to learn how a demon feels, but he also states that he does see the wishful thinking of a demon wanting to cross the Veil for this world. He is conflicted at best about the whole thing. Still, he does not consider himself corrupted regardless. I think that the reason behind that is simply the fact that generally, the Warden can ease his worries when Justice confides in them. And that is another thing that says a bit about him. He seems to accept the lack of understanding he has in the world, and chooses to listen to someone who does. Though, not just a random anybody, someone he deemed just.

So, let's see. A fade spirit with identity issues and an anxious spirit healer walks into a bar…

When they merged and Justice accepted Anders' cause for himself, and when they went all crazy on the Templars, Anders was scared. He feared the worst immediately because he is taught the worst about possession. He knew that Justice was angry because of him and his ideals about mages. So he blamed himself, called it a corruption he caused. And as I mentioned, Justice is accepting of the fact that he has a lack of understanding of some things. Plus, he was already scared of corruption. So, when Anders, who is an educated mage about possessions and corruption claims that he is slowly corrupting the spirit, they held onto it.

Everyone in their life from this point on, do nothing but egg them on about it, on top of it all. They might not corrupt each other, but everyone else does by pushing them the idea that they are now an abomination. Anders starts to fear the nonexistent corruption more, and Justice is confusing the inability to just wipe all the bad out with sloth. We are talking about a being who comes from the Fade, which can be bent at will and a place of immediate action. This works well in Awakening because we are already fighting darkspawn nonstop, and we are in the middle of a war. But in Kirkwall? Everything requires planning and suspended ideals. Templars bring injustice everywhere they go, yet there is not much they can do. After many years of being held back, it is no wonder Justice is surfacing more and more, itching to fulfill his purpose. Because he was always outspoken, angry at the injustice in the world and eager to bring justice. He did not change, but Anders' morals and his' just did not align the way they thought it would. They forgot that in Justice, there was always a part that was vengeance.

At the end, Justice was one of the most stable parts of Anders' story. He couldn't count his vow in Awakening complete without reaching the root of the problem, which was the broodmother. And he could not do so in Kirkwall without getting rid of the Chantry. Because chantry is the root of the Templars, and being a bystander while you can help solve everything easily is unjust all the same.

Anders and Justice had the same cause, different morality and they were just confused because they didn't know any better.

[synergysilhouette]

Remaking Miraculous Ladybug (Season 1)

Oh, boy! Here I go again. Hello, all! I'm a Miraculous Ladybug fan, though my interest in the show has waned over the years due to it's writing. The film adaptation renewed interest for me, and it made me want to rewrite the series--similar to how I rewrote X-Men: Evolution (which I recommend you check out the posts for). Originally I was just gonna make a broad overview of the changes I'd make, but I decided to make it like XME and remake every episode...Yeah, I've got my work cut out for me. Some of these changes are influenced by fans' (not just me) opinions of the show while others are influenced by my own personal thoughts and opinions. As such, in this season, there's a lot of filler, so I'm actually removing some episodes that I don't feel add much to the overall show, possibly taking anything worthwhile and adding to it a different episode. I was gonna make this more PG-13, but I decided not to in the end. I hope you still enjoy it! Please forgive me if I forget/omit any important details due to a lapse in memory of translation changes, as I usually watch the English dub. Sorry in advance!

Ladybug & Cat Noir (Origins-Part 1)--In my remake, the way Marinette and Adrien get their Miraculous is similar to the film version instead of how the show does it, along with Adrien already being a student at the school. While Chat Noir isn't as reckless, he still keeps his light-heartedness and quips, often using his many skills as Adrien to help Ladybug with battling villains. I'd also want more equality for the cat and ladybug miraculous; in this case, if only the ladybug miraculous can purify an akuma, than only the cat miraculous can destroy the akumatized object. Sounds fair, right? Otherwise everything plays out the same. Along with this, I'd like to think their outfits are a bit more detailed; Chat Noir's black outfit is complimented with green designs, and his hair is the same color as Cat Walker's (to avoid suspicion), and Ladybug's hair has red streaks, with it later being joked about by Gabriel that she copied Nathalie.

2. Stoneheart (Origins-Part 2)--Gabriel is shown to be more sympathetic towards Adrien, explaining that he stopped Adrien's homeschooling as a result of Gabriel becoming emotionally detached following Emelie's death. The Ladyblog is more investigative, with Alya wanting to unmask Ladybug. It's revealed that Chloe bullied Ivan because he was nice to Sabrina, and Chloe fears Sabrina leaving her for "utterly ridiculous losers." It's also revealed that Sabrina is an Agreste fan herself (both of Gabriel and Adrien), and Chloe assumes she's brownnosing, but encourages it this time.

3. Stormy Weather--Abandons all stalkerish elements, and Chat Noir is the one to break the parasol with his cataclysm instead of using it on the billboard. I'd also probably put more depth on akumatizations from here on out so that only people with truly angry/sad/envious etc. emotions can be akumatized rather than simply saying to ignore/get rid of negative feelings. Perhaps Aurore had wanted to be a weather girl for a long time and the poll results were closer, causing her to be even more upset that she lost. Otherwise everything plays out the same.

4. The Evillustrator--Lady Wifi being in Marinette's dream is discarded, since production-wise, her episode occurs after this one. When Nathaniel is sent to the principal's office, Marinette realizes that despite sharing classes together for some time, she's just now noticing him. Sabrina, trying to emulate Chloe, jokes at how ironic it is, given that Nathaniel has a crush on her similar to Marinette's crush on Adrien. This makes Marinette feel guilty about not paying attention to Nathaniel, as well as losing hope that Adrien would see her as more than a friend. It's revealed by Sabrina that Chloe is actually good at schoolwork when she was younger, but when her mother left, so did her interests in academics, resulting in relying on Sabrina. Chloe begins to tell off Marinette and threatens to disown Sabrina if she doesn't do what Chloe tells her to, but Adrien overhears and gives Chloe a similar ultimatum of being nicer or he'd stop being friends with her. Sabrina later begs him not to do that, and he feels guilty that he phrased it like he was trying to control her like she controls Sabrina. The Sabrina and Chloe argument doesn't happen here, with Marinette and Chloe arguing instead while Sabrina does all the work, making Marinette feel guilty about putting her own feelings before the group's. It's also revealed that part of the reason Chloe made fun of Nathaniel was because she was worried Nathaniel would be seen as Ladybug's #1 fan instead of her if she saw his work. Chat Noir doesn't flirt with Marinette, acting like Adrien. The Evillustrator more compassionate with Marinette. As the Evillustrator and Chat Noir battle, Marinette wonders if she could be akumatized from unrequited love. When he deakumatizes, Marinette decides that combined with their shared artistic talents and inspired by his passion, asks Nathaniel if he wants to go out sometime, to which he accepts. When Adrien tries to ask Marinette about her time with Chat Noir, she states that he was polite, but when she tells him the reason she's going on a date with Nathaniel, Adrien decides that he needs to be more passionate to win Ladybug's heart.

5. Lady Wifi--Alya doesn't really believe that Chloe is Ladybug, instead suspecting Nathalie (or surmising that she's Nathalie's daughter), but believes that Chloe may be the link to finding out who Ladybug is, given that Chloe upsets enough people that they become akumatized and want to find her, resulting in protection from Ladybug and Chat Noir. While stalking Chloe for any signs of akuma-inducing events, she gets caught and is still suspended. Chloe, once again threatened by another "Ladybug superfan," manipulates Alya into converting her curiosity of Ladybug into frustration, blaming her for getting suspended, making Alya want to expose her. Once akumatized, she goes after Chloe anyway, stating that she pretty much has the heroes on speedial at this point (as well as Lady WiFi's), and embarasses her and Sabrina dressing up as Ladybug and Chat Noir. Most of the episode plays out the same, though Chat Noir narrowly prevents Alya from finding out Ladybug's identity, telling her that Ladybug is someone who doesn't go to the school. Deciding to trust him, Alya decides to turn her attention away from school suspects, and Marinette vows to tell her someday. Everything else is the same.

6. Princess Fragrance--Marinette has to turn down a date with Nathaniel for Tikki instead of Adrien in this version. Sabrina reads Rose's note, stating that she has a crush of her own and wants to know how to tell them, then destroys it. Chloe doesn't try to flirt with Ali, being more interested in Adrien, but tries to steer Sabrina his way, reasoning that anyone she crushed on wouldn't be good enough for her (Chloe), and Ali was a good way to trade up. Nathaniel tries to reason with Princess Fragrance, saying that what she's doing was the wrong way to get someone to want to be with her, but she ignores him, saying that it worked out for him in the end. Due to Chat Noir's cat sensitivity when it comes to smell, he grows irritated by the fragrance rather than brainwashed by it, helping Ladybug defeat Princess Fragrance. Ali is rattled by Rose's akumatization, and she apologizes for trying to make him love her, and he says that they can just be friends for now.

7. Dark Cupid--Includes the flashback from "Derision," and any Adrien-related romance subplot is removed since Marinette is with Nathaniel. Kim tells Chloe that he's had a crush on her since their bonded over "pranking" Marinette, which inspires Chloe to have him prank Alya, still not over the events of "Lady WiFi." Chloe inquires about who Sabrina's crush is, but she states that Chloe wouldn't be able to guess. Kim becomes akumatized after Alya avoids his prank and Chloe rejects him, giving him a vendetta against Alya. Pretty much everything else is the same.

8. Pixelator--Luka is formally introduced, and it's shown that he and Juleka (who ARE twins) are Jagged Stone's children. Pixelator instead vows to use them to get revenge on Jagged Stone. The sunglasses subplot and the hat designing contest from "Mr. Pigeon" are conflated here, given that I'm not a fan of MP, with Marinette giving Jagged Stone a whole new look, which takes inspiration from Pixelator. Luka and Adrien bond as he distracts Chloe long enough to let him transform (which Luka sees). At the concert, Kitty Section makes their debut appearance, though the costumes are more professional and Rose and Ivan are not part of the group. It's also noted that Nathaniel was asked to do the concept art for Jagged Stone's next album.

9. The Bubbler--Nathaniel and Marinette team up to make a poster of Adrien and his friends (signed by all of them), along with Marinette's scarf. While Chloe forgets a gift for Adrien, Sabrina gives one to him from both of them. Nino and Chloe are permitted to go to Adrien's mansion, but after being rudely treated by Chloe and Adrien lashing out at him (following an upsetting conversation with Gabriel) and causing him to be akumatized. More emphasis is put on Adrien's few friends, especially since Nino is realizing how severe Adrien's situation is. Gabriel also doesn't take credit for the sweater, instead tailoring a custom outfit that happens to go with it. Elements of "Simon Says" also occur here to focus on Adrien and Gabriel's dynamic.

10. Rogercop--It plays out essentially the same, except giving more focus to Sabrina as she becomes angry with Chloe for trying to get her fired, though Chloe lies and claims the bracelet she was missing was one that Sabrina gave her and that it meant a lot to her. More hints to Sabrina's mystery crush is dropped, though not explicitly stated. Some of Roger's akumatization is also due to Alya being critical of the officers being unable to defend the city against akumatized villains, thus creating a more stressful environment that could lead to more akumatizations.

11. Gamer--Almost identical, though Chloe is the cause of Max's akumatization rather than Marinette, given that Marinette is with Nathaniel, and Nino reveals his crush on Alya, Luka is also revealed to be a good gamer, taking Chloe's place.

12. The Puppeteer--plays out the same.

13. Reflekta--plays out mostly the same, but puts more emphasis on Luka and Juleka's sibling relationship and hints at a romance between Juleka and Rose.

14. Antibug--It's revealed that Sabrina had a crush on Adrien as well, and Chloe angrily humiliates her in front of the whole school, as well as denouncing their friendship making her wish she was invisible. Most of this plays out the same, with possibly some references to self-harm, making Chloe regret her cruelty towards Sabrina, and Adrien secretly gives her a kiss on the cheek, telling her that he hopes she doesn't disappear (though stating that he didn't see her as anything more than a friend).

15. Kung Food--It's explained that Marinette knows conversational Mandarin, but Adrien helps her with any complexities, and more emphasis is put on her Chinese heritage and history rather than it being done so quickly. Chloe is genuinely ignorant of Asian cultures, something Adrien corrects her on and she implements, as she does personal insults, not broad, racially insensitive ones. Here, Nathaniel and Marinette share the soup with her uncle, with Nathaniel happy to learn more about his girlfriend's ancestors' culture. Everything else is the same.

16. Volpina--It's revealed that the fox miraculous Lila has is the real deal, albeit stolen, and she uses these powers to make her lies and disguises legitimate. Adrien also suspects his father of being a superhero fan and investigates the Miraculous book. Ladybug flies off the handle at Lila, this time for making unflattering lies about Ladybug. She also uses her powers to make it seem as though Adrien and Marinette have been dating behind Nathaniel's back, causing them to break up (as Marinette can't disprove Lila's illusion), resulting in them having to defeat the Illustrator as well. In the end, Lila despises Ladybug and Nathaniel despises Marinette. Lila also learns of Adrien's warning to Chloe in "Evillustrator," and since she hasn't adhered to it, makes an illusion of Adrien that severs his friendship with Chloe.

Lemme know what you thoughts! I may revise this before I do season 2.

[nathaniel-underwood-is-an-intj]

Post Ptolemy's Gate ramble

So I just finished Ptolemy's Gate, thoughts are a bit all over the place and aside from mentioning the obvious I thought I'd dump some thoughts here.

Piper's apathy certainly shocked me. I know she's stressed running the council and she's got loads of organisation to do but oof she sure did come across as cold in her conversation with Kitty. Kitty has that kind of apathetic resignation of grief but it really felt like Piper had already put it behind her despite it only being two days before. Her boss that she worked for died horribly to save them all and she didn't even seem to share a quiet moment of grief with Kitty idk it just felt a little brutal 😅 I had an impression of her being really sweet so I was a bit taken aback.

One thing that really stood out to me was Nathaniel's apathy to the situation, I found it really interesting. I guess something could be said about it being the magician in him.

Nathaniel really has this duality to him, the obvious being Nat vs John Mandrake and of course Nat + Bartimaeus but in chapter 36 part ii something that caught my attention

'it was the feeling of consummate superiority, the delight of power weilded without peril. He danced beneath the night sky, smiting down his enemies.'

It already seems as if he's being elevated to something other- a martyr perhaps, except martyrs have causes and ideals, they do something because they have a strong belief in their justness. And Nathaniel:

'He felt aloof disconnected and alone. If his hatred for demons he had killed was dull and almost matter-of-fact, so was his sympathy for the people whose lives he saved.'

So he seems almost like an avenging angel, I love the religious imagery, especially because it seems to call back to Bartimaeus comparing his body to a holy mosque. But also divine rage is the driving force for an avenging angel and he's no longer even angry at the destruction caused.

'Pride spurred him on.' this almost makes him seem God-like?? His sole motivator is the pride of a deity, and I love that. But it's also just very true to him as a boy, pride spurred him on against Lovelace and against Duval and Whitwell.

When he's alone with Bartimaeus he's taken on this air of not being entirely human. He feels alone and solitary from everything including humaity. But when he rejoins Kitty, Piper and the rest of the magicians waiting for him he's reinvigorated - 'he felt a surge of joyful impatience - 'he would detroy Nouda, rescue the commoners and return to Kitty.' it seems as though he has to be surrounded by people to remind himself he's one of them. It could be seen as an effect of sharing a mind with Bartimaeus, but of course it could be Nathaniel's own human pride and his memories of being othered even as a child. Just gives the impression of this human / higher entity duality.

But also I partly got the impression that this hints to depression- I'm sure it's hardly out of the realm of possibility for Nat to have it. Though it's never stated I think several moments in the books make a good argument for it, including the above- just the numbness to everything. And I guess the sudden change in demeanor at 'surge of joyful impatience' can be read as hopefulness, but it reminded me of the saying that when people have decided to follow through on their s*icidal ideation they come across as happy and like a weight has been lifted from them. Nathaniel is impressively calm for someone who realises he's gravely injured. And while he can be seen as a martyr or hero for his final actions, the hollowness he felt at that moment gives it a more bitter edge.

I think it's made even more sad when compared to Anthony Lockwood, who has that same sense of pride - because he's trying to make his dead parents proud and because he's trying to hide the fact that he doesn't like himself very much. Nathaniel gives this same impression. And Lockwood at the end had reason to be proud, he uncovered a huge conspiracy, his agency became the most famous in London. And Nathaniel had reason to be proud; he's managing to wield the staff of his childhood hero, something he had dreamed of doing, he's had the bravery to unite with a spirit and he's going to take down the biggest threat to London.

But Lockwood gets something Nathaniel doesn't-

There's this subtle idea seen through Lucy's eyes that Lockwood's biggest achievement was fighting through his s*icidal ideation and discovering he has something to live for, even just seeing his friends again.

And Nathaniel just doesn't get that moment.

He sort of acknowledges that he doesn't have to be a powerful leader, that he doesn't need his colleagues approval, that he doesn't need to erase the fear the commoners have of him and other magicians, but without these things he doesn't know what to do with himself. He has no plan for the future, because even before he's injured the idea of a future doesn't seem to have much appeal to him. He already appears to have given up on trying to uncover who Nathaniel is, depite finally having the opportunity to. Like after everything- being beaten, the fear of his colleagues trying to harm him and burying himself in the John Mandrake persona to protect his sensitive side- he doesn't want to uncover the remnants of that boy because he's worried it'll be too difficult to put himself back together.

Or maybe he feels that he already has discovered who Nathaniel is, a deeply unhappy, hollow shell of a person, whose personality has been pulled in so many directions he no longer has a sense of self. He's been stripped back to the barest version of himself and found he doesn't even have the foundations upon which to rebuild himsef. Like discovering dry rot in your walls and you keep pulling and pulling bits of rotting wood away from the home until you've finally got it all, only to realise the house has come down around you- there's nothing left.

He doesn't get this moment where he works through his trauma, where he realises he has a support system, where he realises he's loved. I don't know if Nathaniel ever really knew what it felt like to be loved. I don't think he did. Ptolemy's death was awful and heartbreaking but his short life was filled with affection. And Lockwood realises people do care about him, depite being told that no one does. It hurts so much that Nat felt isolated and alone his whole life, right up to the last minute. Potential love confessions aside, Nathaniel never got a chance to sit and bathe in the warmness of affection. Like Bartimaeus tells him, it's about 'being not doing.' Nathaniel never got to understand the importance of just being, of simply existing as himself or of being happy. He constantly had to be working on the next goal, the next plan, because if he stops working he'll be forced to sit with his thoughts and realise how unhappy he is. And the thought of that is just too much to bear, it's so much easier to give in.

The ending gave the impression of being very romantic, while sad. Nathaniel gets to be remembered as a hero and never has to confront the consequences of his actions with wars in Europe and America that he had a direct role in. Acknowledging his role and dealing with fallout are two very different mountains to climb. And I think that idea of dying like a hero perfectly appeals to Nathaniel's prideful tendencies, and maybe he views it that way to hide the fact it's a convenient way out of his unhappiness and confronting what he's done. It's quite interesting to see that after he's been stripped back to nothing and can't figure out who or what he wants to be if he gets the chance, he still has that vanity and arrogance to him- despite not really being good character traits, they're so authentically Nathaniel, he's been that way right from the start and it's nice little peak of the real him at the end, being so humanly flawed.

[ikeromantic]

can there be a sequel with belle who is getting married soon and the princes are jealous because they thought they really would have a chance to marry belle one day ?

Thanks for the ask! I meant this one to be a bit funny when I started writing, but I think it's also a bit sad. Heartbreak, loneliness, and jealousy are fast friends. Approx. 2400 words

The day was perfect. Blue skies, a warm golden sun, bird song and flowers in bloom. The former Belle could not have asked for a better wedding day. Her dress was simple but fine, the fabric a pink so light it was almost white, the edges embroidered in gold thread. She wore a crown of flowers instead of gems, and her slippers were not satin, but she was happy.

Happy to be marrying a writer. His name was Nathaniel. She’d met him after leaving the palace when he brought a few copies of his book to the shop. He let her have a copy, and she’d fallen in love - first with his prose, and then with him.

Today, she would make it official. It was the best day of her -

“Emma.” 

That sharp, calculating voice interrupted her thoughts and pulled her eyes to the entrance. Sariel stood there, his expression one of intense disapproval. 

“Lord Noir.” She dropped into a practiced curtsy, his lessons flooding back. “Welcome. I - I didn’t expect to see you today.”

“I expect you didn’t, considering not a single invitation to this event made it to the castle.” His lips curved into a disapproving frown. 

Emma sighed and straightened. “You told me no contact. Clause 99.”

Sariel tsked. He was about to say more when Yves pushed past him and came into the room. For a moment the prince’s eyes went wide, his mouth open in a small ‘oh’ but he quashed the expression, replacing it with haughtily raised brows and a sharp smile.

“I don’t know what I expected from a commoner wedding. But surely our Belle could do better than this.” Yves stalked across the room, moving more like an angry cat than a graceful prince. “Who did your hair? And - this make-up?”

Emma winced. “I did?”

“This is why you should have sent me something. Now I’m going to have to spend time undoing this mess before I can fix it.” Yves pulled out the little stool from the vanity table. “Sit.”

Emma sat. “I really would have, Prince Yves. But Sariel made it quite clear that I-”

“A writer! You turned me down for a writer!?” Nokto sauntered into the room. “This must be some sort of joke. Did Clavis rope you into this?”

“N-no?” Emma tried to turn her head to look at the newcomer, but Yves wouldn’t let her. 

“While I do believe our former Belle could have done better than a scribbler, she could do better than you. With all due respect, Prince Nokto.” Sariel’s smile was worse than his frown.

“Nearly anyone would be better than you, Nokto,” Yves added. “Like me. Not - not that I would ever marry a commoner. But if I were interested. That’s all.” He cleared his throat.

Nokto sniffed. “There isn’t anyone better. I’m an experienced lover, good with a blade, better with words. Impeccable fashion -”

“You must be joking,” Yves interrupted.

“He is.” Licht’s voice came from somewhere behind Nokto. “He’s just jealous. But it’s ok Emma. I know why you didn’t choose me. I’m bad luck. So I’m not jealous. I’m . . . happy . . . for you.”

Nokto turned to raise an eyebrow at Licht. “That was practically a speech, brother. Did you practice it? Because you need to. Even I didn’t buy the last line.”

“I umm, I hate to interrupt? It’s really nice that you all came to wish me well but I really need to finish getting ready. The ceremony starts soon and I am not going to be late to my own wedding.” Emma tried to sound commanding but it didn’t have the desired effect. 

“Late, hm? I wonder what your groom would do if you simply did not arrive?” Sariel sounded contemplative. Terrifyingly so.

“Lord Noir, do not follow that line of thinking. If anything happens to Nathaniel, I will be very angry with all of you.” The former Belle gave them the look she wore when moments from slapping.

Nokto was quite familiar with it. He winced a little and took a step back.

“We should probably leave,” Licht sighed. 

“Yes, you should all go so I can repair her makeup.” Yves made a shooing gesture. 

Sariel nodded. “I will see you at the ceremony then.” He led the others out, leaving Emma alone with Yves.

“You know,” Yves spoke softly, close to her ear. “Clause 99 isn’t absolute. And it only applies to the king, really.”

“Prince Yves,” Emma struggled to find the words he needed to hear. She liked the arrogant but kind prince. He was like a hedgehog, prickly on the outside by such a softie underneath. And she realized her leaving had hurt him. “You know that you and your brothers are very important to me. But I’m not a noble.”

“A situation easily remedied.” Leon’s voice came from the hall outside. “Sorry. I didn’t mean to eavesdrop.” He came into the room, his easy smile absent for once. “I hope that isn’t the real reason you left, Emma.”

The former Belle began to rise so that she could curtsy but Leon waved her back into her seat.

“No need for that. We’re friends, aren’t we?”

“But you’re king. I can’t just sit here, Your Highness.”

Yves tsked. “I need you to hold still, Emma. And shut your eyes.”

“Go ahead,” Leon chuckled. “We can talk while Yves finishes up.”

“Okay.” Emma gave him a nervous smile and then shut her eyes. She hadn’t imagined the King of Rhodolite would crash her wedding. Nathaniel and his family would be beside themselves. 

“Did you leave because you lacked a title? I would have granted you one, if it meant you might stay.” Leon pulled up a seat nearby. His voice sounded very close.

Emma sighed. “No. It’s not just that. I knew Sariel was right. If I stayed, I would end up hurt. It might even affect you and your brothers negatively. It wouldn’t have been right.” 

Leon took her hand between his. His rough palms held her gently. “I know you would never reflect badly on the royal family. Not anymore than we already do to ourselves. I mean, have you met Clavis?” They both laughed a little at that, then Leon went on in a more serious voice. “We miss you. I hope you know that.”

“I miss you all too.”

The king cleared his throat. “If - if you could, would you come back? To the palace, I mean?”

Emma squeezed his fingers. “To visit, yes. But I wouldn’t want to live there again. I have a good life in the city. And today, I’m marrying the man I love.”

Leon was silent for a moment. He let go of her hand.

Yves let out a long sigh. “You’re perfect now. You can open your eyes.” He held out a mirror for her to see what he’d changed. 

She didn’t really need the mirror. Emma could see the pride in Yves gaze as he looked at her, and Leon’s parted lips. But she checked anyhow. The small changes to her makeup and the style he’d chosen for her hair were more than perfect. She didn’t think she ever looked so beautiful. 

“You really are,” Leon stopped, swallowing. “You really are beautiful. That Nathaniel is a lucky man.”

“Too lucky,” Yves muttered. Then crossed his arms. “Well, that’s done. Don’t touch your face and if your hair starts to fall, I’ll be around. Come and get me to fix it. I know if you try to do it yourself, you’ll just mess it up.” Despite his haughty words, his lashes were damp and he wouldn’t meet her gaze. 

“Thank you.” Emma patted Yves arm. “You are both such precious friends. If it really is alright to contact you, after this maybe I could visit?”

“Or we could visit you.” Leon smiled. He took Yves by the arm. “We’ll give you some time to yourself. I think the ceremony starts soon.”

Meanwhile . . .

“So you’re the guy.” Jin leaned lazily against a doorframe, a lollipop jammed in his mouth. His garnet gaze focused intently on the young man standing on the other side of the small room. 

“I’m Nathaniel. Are you one of Emma’s friends?” He eyed the stranger with a little nervousness. This guy didn’t look like the bookish sort and as far as he knew, Emma’s only guests were her assistant Rio and the owner of the bookshop. 

“You could say that.” Jin crunched the candy and pulled the bare stick from between his lips. “My name is Jin.”

“Or you could say we were lovers.” Another man sauntered past Jin, ignoring him completely. 

Jin grinned. “In your dreams, Clavis. Stop messing with the guy. Look at him. He’s confused already.”

“He really is.” Clavis pouted. “It seems our Emma didn’t tell him about us at all.” He closed the distance, until he stood too close to Nathaniel for comfort. “Did she really never mention us? Not even me? The most handsome gentleman of all?”

That was when it hit Nathaniel. These were the princes. Royalty. In his dressing room right now. He swallowed. “Actually, uhm, she did. I’m . . . pleased to meet you.” 

“Oh good,” Clavis clapped his hands together. “I was beginning to worry.” He leaned close, examining Nathaniel as one might a strange bug crawling on the wall. “About how much would you say you weigh, hm?”

“Weigh?”

Jin held up a hand. “Don’t answer him. You’ll just encourage whatever trap or prank he has planned.”

Nathaniel glanced between them. “I’m very confused right now, if I’m being honest with you. Emma didn’t mention that any nobility would be attending and I - I’m not sure what the proper etiquette is here.”

“No proper etiquette,” Clavis grinned. “All you have to do is answer our questions. 

Jin straightened. “You can start by telling us how you seduced Emma. Because I can tell you, she’s a tough cookie. She doesn’t fall for the typical methods.” He pulled another candy from his pocket. “So. What’s your secret?”

“I . . . I don’t know? She liked my book?” Nathaniel was beginning to feel a bit threatened by these two. He didn’t want to admit it to himself, but it sounded like the princes might be in love with his fiancée. 

A voice as cold as a deep winter storm interrupted whatever response Jin and Clavis might make. “I doubt that. The book was an amateurish effort at best. A play on tired tropes, the characters dull, the ending predictable.” 

All three of them turned to face the newcomer. He was terrifying. Tall and blonde with wide shoulders, a face carved from marble and set with pale blue eyes. Everything about him spoke strength and violence. 

Nathaniel didn’t need introduction to this one. He knew without asking that this was the Brutal Beast. The terror of Bloodstained Rose Day. He bowed. 

“Get up.” Chevalier walked into the room, his gaze evaluating and dismissing what he saw in the same moment. “Clavis, go dismantle the trap you set in the chapel. Now.”

Clavis smiled. “What trap is that, big brother? I have no idea-”

Chevalier’s sword flashed, the tip stopping just short of Clavis’ neck.

The younger prince smiled more widely. “I see. Then I best go check and make sure the chapel is safe. I’d hate to get blamed for someone else’s prank.” He sauntered out as if he hadn’t nearly been stabbed a heartbeat before.

Jin watched him go, hands in his pockets. The lollipop stick bobbed between his lips. “I should go too. I have some people to talk to in Grey Cliff.”

“Grey Cliff? That’s where Emma and I are going for our honeymoon.”

“You’re very simple.” Chevalier’s sword hovered in the air between him and Nathaniel. 

Jin just smiled and left, crunching his candy. 

Nathaniel wasn’t sure how to respond. This was a prince, and ingrained politeness told him he should agree with what the noble said. But his pride warred against being called simple. He ended up saying nothing.

The two men stood there, staring at each other. Chevalier’s ice cold gaze pushing back against Nathaniel’s warm brown eyes. 

“I could pay you to leave Rhodolite.”

“What? Why?” Nathaniel drew back in surprise. 

“Killing you would upset her.” Despite saying this, Chevalier didn’t lower his blade. 

Nathaniel took a steadying breath. Apparently there were more palace stories Emma needed to share. Because this was not something he expected. Getting death threats from a prince! “It - it would, yes. For whatever reason, Emma loves me very much.”

Chevalier’s eyes narrowed. “And you love her.”

“More than anything.”

The sword moved so fast that Nathaniel didn’t have time to be frightened. One moment, it hung in the air between them and the next, it pressed against the side of his neck. Cold and sharp and final in a way he couldn’t have imagined. 

“She is worth more than every writer in Rhodolite. More than every book you might ever pen.”

Nathaniel squeaked out a yes. 

Chevalier’s grim expression did not change. “If you hurt her. If she is hurt in your care. If she is unhappy. If I think she might be unhappy . . .” The sword pressed painfully into the skin of Nathaniel’s neck leaving a thin line of beaded blood. 

“I . . . I understand.” 

The sword drew back. Chevalier wiped the blade and sheathed it carefully. With a last haughty look at the trembling bridegroom, he turned and left.

Later . . .

Rio walked Emma down the aisle. Though his cheeks were damp with tears, he smiled broadly as he handed her off to Nathaniel. 

Emma made no comment at the hastily rearranged chapel flowers. She’d caught sight of Clavis carrying out some suspiciously heavy vases and had a good idea what might have happened. The scratch on Nathaniel’s neck worried her more, but he didn’t seem too concerned. 

His eyes lit up when he saw her, and her heart sped when he took her hands. 

The only royal that didn’t have his eyes fixed on her radiant expression was Luke. He’d passed out drinking mead before the ceremony started, and now he lay between the pews in a dead sleep. And even he dreamt lonely dreams of chasing sweet Emmas through long corridors, where she was always in sight and never in reach.

Each prince watched with varying degrees of envy. It seemed the Belle made her choice, and while she wasn’t selecting a king this time, the decision felt just as momentous. Every one of them wished, in that moment, to trade places with Nathaniel. What good was position and power without love? But they’d missed their chance and they knew it.

[superdummymags]

I'm gonna hit you with that 31, 21, 12, and 11.

31) thaaat's a tough oneee. i'm gonna say mt terajuma though? i love the vibes.

21) honestly! either Nimpossible Predicament or A Teila Fire and Ice. new terajuma is just really good i like it a lot

12) matthew changes the way his beard looks every once in a while just to make an 'inconsistency' joke to eizen

11) ( more under the cut because you just opened the floodgates sparkie )

so let's give a quick overview of all of them! let's start with the classic

Hephae Canestus! She's a mechanic at Xen with unhealthy loyalty issues. She likes to stare at people a lot, and she's got a fairly thick southern accent. She comes from Unova and got her love for automechanics from her father.

King Caliburn! He's a grunt in Bladestar who has a hyperfixation on crustaceans. His entire team is crustacean Pokemon, and he aspires to become a veterinarian for aquatic Pokemon- but he also can't stand the way GDC is run, so he's going to help put a stop to that first.

Lusca! King's best friend and boss. A Bladestar Admin who uses mollusk Pokemon, they were the reason King got into Bladestar in the first place. He's also studying to become a veterinarian.

Queen Caliburn! King's sister. A teacher at Axis High, she has no clue what's happened to her brother. She knows he's in Bladestar, but him telling her that went worse than poorly, so now they're out of contact- after the events at the ball, she's worried he died.

Eleanor! She's a "Destroyer of Aevium" - aka the people under Vitus who use wield eleki and drago. She's the owner of Regidrago! She's a very violent and angry person, having been raised to be an aggressive weapon by Vitus since she was a baby. She has a crush on Hazuki which unfortunately leads to her death in the Sanctuary.

Raiden! The other "Destroyer of Aevium", he wields Regieleki. He's the strong, silent type, and usually lets Eleanor speak for him. He's also Eleanor's impulse control- otherwise, these two would just be getting into constant fights. He can and will beat the shit out of you, though. He manages to live into the modern day, but he's no longer a Destroyer. He's busy traveling.

Nathaniel Goode! Not much to go over with him; he's basically Zeight's antivirus system while also being a virus himself. He also coincidentally looks like a Garufan programmer also named Nathan Goode. Why he does is unknown because trying to communicate with him is impossible ( he's too busy fixing the rendering engine )

whew okay breather time.

alright breather time over back to it-

Gale Suite! She's a part of a family of travelers that extend over the rebornverse for the fun of it- she lives in Aevium and helps one of her family members hunt down Zygarde Cells. We'll only go over one of the other Suites to keep things as brief as humanly possible...

Kim Suite! She's the eldest of the Suites and the scariest. She's got a perpetual smile and a shade always over her face- this is hiding the fact she's actually a 25% Zygarde. She's the one who gathers Cells- mostly Just In Case Something Happens. She tends to go between Reborn and Aevium.

Apho! Xen Mage who has a grudge against Hephae, for some reason. Regardless they're a very quiet person who also happens to be one of the creepiest people ever, constantly muttering about doing very violent things to people they don't like.

Ray and Yra! ( Yra's the one with the hat. ) Interceptor OCs based on the concept of making one different decision. Ray's paragon while Yra's renegade-- the turning point is the aftermath of Mt. Valor, where Yra decides to close herself off from everyone while Ray decides to help everyone get through it. Both are heavily committed to the Bit and tend to fail upwards in most battles.

aaand i think that's it! there might be a few i'm missing but theyyy probably dont have enough characterization for me to discuss or put here. sorry for the too long i aint reading all that post lmao