#and in theo's case there's so much i could extrapolate on but have to stop myself from bc i never want to explicitly go into certain

[mattodore]

new song just dropped for matthias's playlist

[flightfoot]

Why do I keep seeing people judging and salting about what CN did in copycat but not what Mari and cloe did in animaesteo? The later looks more malicious imo.

That always seemed weird to me. Chat shouldn’t have insinuated that he and Ladybug were a couple (though I will note, he did not technically lie; all he said was that he and Ladybug were “a thing”, which is just vague enough that it’s not necessarily romantic. He absolutely was being deceitful there though.) 

But while he shouldn’t have done that, he wasn’t actively causing any harm to Theo. At most, he was subtly tying to ward Theo away from Ladybug. Which uh. With how creepy he was towards her,not even going into to the age controversy, just going into his adoration towards her... it got a little weird, considering he’d never met her personally and wouldn’t know much about her, with how private she is. Plus his reaction afterwards with the whole “You don’t deserve her... I DO!” thing while hitting the bust of Chat Noir clear off the table... I have trouble feeling bad about Chat trying to nip that in the bud, even if his reason seems to have mostly been jealousy.

And yeah, it’s weird how little reaction Animaestro gets. Like, on the one hand I’m glad that Marinette’s not being twisted into a horrific, irredeemable person because of it - considering how little it takes for salters to jump and twist and exaggerate wrongdoings into the most heinous crimes imaginable and use it to justify contorting them into assaulters and abusers, I shudder to think what would be made out of Marinette’s actions in Animaestro, since there’s a lot more to work with there.

Though I still think it should be kept in mind more, especially if you’re gonna salt other characters for actions that are less actively harmful. Trying to break apart two people who’re already friends and hanging out with each other because of jealousy and a fear he’ll pick her over you is really not great, especially when doing so by trying to ruin her clothes badly enough that she leaves the theater entirely, either because of needing to replace clothing and not being able to get back to the theater in time, or because of being too distraught and humiliated. Because this is at a red carpet event, with tons of cameras, media coverage, and famous people, along with it happening in front of a boy she really cared about. That’s some pretty damn bad public humiliation.

To be fair, I don’t think Marinette had thought through the “public humiliation” aspect, or really the impact on Kagami at all. Like, it was there, very obviously as a fundamental component of the plan, but I didn’t get the impression she’d really comprehended what it would be like for Kagami if the plan succeeded. She was pretty focused on the Kagami-and-Adrien-get-together-and-takes-Adrien-away-forever part, she seemed to think of Kagami as more of an obstacle than a person.

Maybe part of the reason it doesn’t come up is people seem to have gotten the impression that Marinette realized what she’d done was bad? Which isn’t the case, when you actually look at the episode. Though she DID protest a few times during the actual plan itself... but still helped with it.

In any case, her major realization was that Chloe’s plans never work so she shouldn’t participate in them because of the risk of them backfiring or otherwise going horribly awry, not that it wasn’t the sort of plan she should’ve helped with in the first place. Seriously, after Kagami manages to avoid sitting on the cake by pure luck, this is Marinette’s reaction to seeing Adrien getting the gum she’d planted on Kagami’s shoe off.

Marinette: The plan is a total disaster! Adrien and Kagami are even closer now than they were before.

I get the feeling a lot of people just like. Blocked this episode out of their minds.

I wouldn’t judge her as a whole from this one episode though. This shows her at one of her worst times, and it’s not something that should be ignored just because of that... but it’s nowhere near the whole story. Especially seeing her reaction in Ikari Gozen, where she acted pretty similarly (though with less potentially harmful consequences)... but also genuinely realized what she was doing, how she was treating Kagami was wrong once she saw her phone. Before that, she seemed to be thinking of Kagami as a threat and an obstacle. But rooting through her phone, she kinda snapped out of it and began thinking of her as a person instead, prompting a “My God, What Have I Done”? moment and driving her to try to fix things as best she could.

It’s something to keep in mind whenever a character does something bad and people start extrapolating that out: both how bad what the character did really was, especially if you start placing it in a real world context of how kids actually behave (if you’re expecting kids to be perfect angels 100% of the time and never to be unfair or selfish or to ever do anything the slightest bit questionable, you’re gonna be disappointed), as well as whether there are aspects to their character that would prevent them from going too far. In Marinette’s case, Animaestro and Ikari Gozen showed how far she would go... but Ikari Gozen also showed her qualities that would stop her from going farther.

In salt, any character traits that would prevent them from going further tend to be ignored, along with any other good qualities the character might have. 

[quintessentiallygifted]

Chapters: 2/? Fandom: The Gifted (TV 2017) Rating: Teen And Up Audiences Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply Relationships: Clarice Fong/John Proudstar Characters: Clarice Fong, John Proudstar, Sonia Simonson, Marcos Diaz Additional Tags: Adventure, OC’S - Freeform, slow-burn, eventual thunderblink Summary:

What happens after Clarice runs into Johns arms (1x03)?

An alternative story from that told by the gifted, so what happens next?

When John passed through the doors of the bank he noticed that it was unusually active. Marcos ran towards him, pausing long enough to blurt out that Sage had discovered the timeline of the prison transfer. John was running before the last word fell from Marcos’ lips, the two men sprinting to Sage’s communication room.

The communication room; the small area Sage had set up to process data, is a hub of activity. Caitlin flitting anxiously as she waits to find out what details they have on her husband. The Strucker kids hover just outside the door and Sonia is talking quietly with Sage.

As he entered, all eyes turned to him. They all looked to him to solve the problem and ensure their safety whilst doing it. John ignoring their looks, moved to the other side of Sage to look at the computer screen.

“What have you got?” He quietly asked Sage. Until he has the facts, there’s no need to give anyone false hope. Especially Marcos who looks ready to go head to head with the nearest Sentinel agent.

“‪Thursday at 6 am‬ there will be a convoy containing a transport bus, three follow cars and an armoured truck. It’s scheduled to deliver two prisoners; one man and one woman, to a military airport.”

‘Okay so that’s good news. A moving target is harder to protect.’ He thought, aloud instead he said “That doesn’t give us much time. We’ve only got one day to plan a rescue. Where are they most vulnerable?” He asked turning to Sage.

Sage scanned the map quickly before replying. “There’s an industrial district. Lots of warehouses-“

“-lots of places to hide.” He finished. “What are your thoughts?”

“Currently 75% chance of success, that will undoubtedly decline substantially.” Not the best odds but definitely not the worst odds they’ve faced. With the immediate facts collected he turned to Marcos and told him to gather everyone in the station.

Within the next fifteen minutes every person in the station is assembled across a variety of couches and chairs that decorate the second floor of the bank. As Marcos sat in a chair at the front of the assembled people whilst John stood behind him, so that he had space to pace. He sees Zingo laying on one of the couches, her head in Clarice’s lap.

When Marcos shifted in his seat the assembly quieted. The ex-marine waited until every person was silent before he spoke. "We know that Lorna is being held in a cell at the Sentinel Services regional headquarters, we believe that Reed Strucker is there with her. They’re being moved in two days to an ultra secure facility and we don’t know much about it, except that the people who go don’t come back. The short timetable and the threat that this new facility possess means that we’ve gotta move now.” John saw Lauren wipe away the tears that his blunt words had produced. “I’m not going to sugarcoat this, we’re talking about attacking Sentinel Services.”

“We lost six people the last time we went up against them directly.” Theodore reminded the station leaders.

“I know that better than anyone” John responded sadly, looking at the ground and remembering their lost ones.

“It won’t be like last time!” Marcos cut in.

“You’re right. Last time we just hit a relocation center with a fence and some gun towers. This time it’s a prison. Their systems have improved extrapolating from other attacks.” The man quipped.

“A prison convoy.” John corrected. “It’s severely more vulnerable. Sage found out the route and time of the transfer. We have a good ambush spot, there’s a real probability of success.”

“And if we do nothing,” Marcos added attempting to sell it, “then there’s a hundred percent chance we never see them again.”

“I know we’re new here but please.” Caitlin Strucker pleaded.

“Lorna’s risked her life for everyone in this room. Harry, your parents would be dead without her.” Harry looked down as Marcos guilt tripped him. “Theo she pulled you out of a gutter and she got you clean. I mean she’s- she needs us.” The Mexican man continued.

“I’m sorry but it doesn’t change the odds Marcos.” Theo apologized.

“I don’t care about the odds, I care about Lorna. Who’s with me?” Marcos asked.

“I’m in.” Sonia whispered. Harry raised his hand briefly. Most shook their heads apologetically. Shatter looked down sadly but didn’t volunteer.

“Yeah I’m in.” Clarice spoke up, petting Zingo for comfort, no doubt remembering her time in the Sentinel Services detention center.

“Great.” Marcos muttered disappointedly.

With the meeting over the small party reconvened, with two new members, in the Communication room. Marcos leaned against Sages station huffing angrily. “Five people?” He muttered. “Unbelievable.”

“Don’t be so hard on them a lot of the lost friends the last time.” John placated.

“Five of us to ambush a convoy.”

“Um, six, technically.” Caitlin Strucker reminded Marcos.

“I’m sorry Caitlin but-” he quickly cut off at the look of disbelief that settled on her face.

“Two people,“ John cut in, capturing the other five’s attention, "are being moved to a military airport ‪Thursday morning at 6‬. The information collected decisively suggests it’s most likely Reed and Lorna. The best ambush spot is an abandoned industrial park off Peachtree.” John looks around, making sure everyone’s on the same page before continuing. “If we do this, it needs to be a rescue not a fight. We go in, get our people then leave.”

“If?“ Marcos interjects. “There’s no if. This may be our only chance. If we let them leave the area we may never find them again.” John shot a glare at Marcos, noticing Caitlin’s hands clutching roughly at the wall.

"Which is why we leave early.” John deadpanned, then he turned to the Korean woman. “Clarice, can you portal us inside the bus?”

“Maybe, if the driver can see out I can see in but if it’s moving, the situation can get a little….dicey.”

“Stop the bus?” He questioned. “That’s harder.”

“I could-” Marcos began.

“Melting their tires isn’t exactly subtle. I know I don’t have abilities but I do have ideas.” She shot at Marcos, who had told her that she didn’t count. “Besides what happens after that? A pitched battle, people die. Our goal isn’t just to get Reed and Lorna it’s to get them alive. We aren’t equipped for a fight with Sentinel Services.” Caitlin stated.

Lauren walked closer so her body was in the doorway, quickly moving from eavesdropping to participating in their war room. “Andy and I could stop it. We’ve been practising, we might be able to pop the tire.”

"Absolutely not.” Caitlin objected. She gave both of her kids a hard look as Lauren opened her mouth to object. "My kids aren’t going to attack a prison convoy.” She protested finality ringing in her tone.

John wanted to object, having seen what her children can do, but they are just that: kids. He respects Caitlin too much to object to her adamant wish. When no one spoke up to protest Andy stepped forward and begun whispering to his mum. John turned away, giving them the illusion of privacy.

After a few moments and whispered words Caitlin turned back to the leaders of the war room. "Can you promise there’s no danger for them if they were to be there?” He watched sympathetically as Caitlin hugged Andy to her.

“No.” He answered honestly. “But I can promise to keep them as far from the danger as possible.” He gave her a minute to think it over.

“That’s as good as it gets I suppose. Thank you.”

He nodded before turning to the group, both the kids fully joining the conversation, and slowly their plan began forming. It was decided the Strucker siblings would stop the bus from a rooftop, there’s a high rise they can be on that’s far enough from the action that the danger is limited. It’s also close enough that they have a birds eye view of what’s happening in case of an emergency.

"Clarice and I will be in this building. Which should have a perfect view of the broken bus. She will create a portal into the bus, I will incapacitate any guards and free Lorna and Reed whilst Clarice waits for a signal before creating a portal to bring us back. Marcos, Harry and Sonia, you three will create a diversion if needed to give us enough time to get away.”

“We could use fireworks.” Harry suggested. “Firecrackers, bottle rockets and firework chains; they practically sound like gunfire. It’d be enough to startle the agents and nobody could get hurt. Marcos could even light them from afar.”

“It would make the agents think and react like they’re under attack.” Marcos responded dubiously.

“It would keep them from going in the bus before our people are out.” Harry corrected.

“Where would we even get fireworks?” Marcos questioned.

“I know a guy.” Trader supplied.

“We could even go as far as to Maltov the street so they can’t pursue the cars.” Sonia suggested. “If the asphalt is boiling their tires will melt. We can get away without being pursued by vehicles.”

“They’ll probably have drones.”

“Drones?” Andy piped up. “I can handle drones.”

“No.” John stated. “You’re leaving as soon as the bus is disabled.”

“But I can help!”

“And you will have helped by that point. Everyone’s got their own roles to play. Trust us.”

They sit/stand there for over an hour, fine tuning the plan and considering alternatives. When it comes down to it these plans are just the framework, everyone knows that there are contingencies and where to run to if the situation changes.