#post desperada

[pisoprano]

If, shortly after Desperada, Marinette had learned of Adrien’s huge crush on Ladybug, she probably would have assumed that sometime in the course of Adrien’s 25,913 time loops, he’d fallen in love with her. And while she’d of course be over the moon to know he loved her back, it would also cause her to spiral over the fact that she has absolutely no idea of what led him to fall for her in the first place. (*cue her ranting about her mess of a love life to Chat Noir*)

[milarqui]

Scarlet Lady: Desperada

Directory | Silencer

Wishing to relax after the absolute mess that was dealing with Bob Roth the previous day, the girls had agreed to join Kitty Section at the Liberty and just enjoy the afternoon, listening to the group practice for their future record.

For Marinette, though...

“Orange juice, Luka?”

“Thanks, Ma–Ma–Marinette.”

… it was just another stressful thing on top of all previous stress.

Because, after Luka's confession, she just didn't know what to do.

“Eheheh!” she tried to laugh, her cheeks burning up at how close Luka was. “You're really hot–” SHUT UP! “uh, tall!–” SHUT UP! “uh talented! How long have you been playing?”

Luka gave a soft laugh.

“Since I was in diapers,” he replied, taking off his guitar and carefully hanging its strip over Marinette's shoulder. “Wanna try?”

“Oh! S–Sure! Heehee!” she stammered, as Luka gently grabbed her left hand.

“Put this hand here...”

“H–Here?”

----

The feeling of being a third wheel was mighty amongst the girls as they saw Luka giving Marinette a too close lesson on guitar playing – and the awkwardness peaked as the last people meant for this encounter entered the room.

“Hey, guys!” Adrien said as he put his bag on the floor.

“Adrien, Kagami!” Mylène exclaimed, part in shock, part in happiness.

“Your parents let you out?” Alix asked, grinning.

For all answer, Adrien turned to his partner, and it was obvious they were both struggling not to break down laughing.

“Wait, you mean this isn't fencing practice?!” Adrien asked, acting shocked at the 'sudden twist'. “Oh no, Kagami, we messed up the address!”

“Dear me, it would seem so!” Kagami replied, holding her face in fake distress.

“Pft,” Alix snorted, rolling her eyes, “okay, guys.”

Then Adrien saw Luka's hands-on lesson to the blushing Marinette, and suddenly the sunshine boy was in the middle of an eclipse.

“What's going on there?” he said in a deceitfully tranquil tone, while Kagami looked at him as if he were a bomb about to explode.

“That's what we wanna know!” Alya exclaimed.

“We're not co-captain anymore, get lost!”

Everyone looked away at the sound of Anarka Couffaine shouting, shocked – mostly because everyone who knew her had barely heard her this angry.

“But we played so perfectly together!” a man said. A voice everyone found very familiar.

“What–?” Kagami said, shocked.

“Up deck!” Juleka pointed out.

“Let's go!” Alix added, and everyone ran for the door.

Well, not everyone – because Marinette collapsed on the closest couch, mentally exhausted, and Adrien stayed behind to make sure his classmate-slash-friend-slash-crush was alright.

“UGHHH~” Marinette groaned, feeling like her face was ready to be used for cooking.

“Marinette? What's wrong?” Adrien asked with worry.

“Oh, Adrien. Luka confessed to me and I... I...”

Adrien felt his eye involuntarily twitching at the idea of someone else confessing to the girl he liked, but held on her knee-jerk reaction as Marinette's face turned devastated.

“I'm trying so hard to be normal and it's! Not! WORKING!”

“Oh, boy,” he mumbled as Marinette began to cry, and he sat next to her as she covered her crying face.

“I'm not trying to date Luka but I'm not trying to ruin things with Luka and I keep overthinking everything and I don't know what to do!”

Now knowing that Marinette was really in a bind, he knew he had to park his feelings aside and be the friend she needed, so he put a hand on her shoulder and gently squeezed.

“Just... talk to Luka,” he suggested.

“Talk?” she asked, rising her face.

“Tell him what you told me. Luka's not the kind of guy to hold it against you.”

“True,” Marinette admitted, a couple of tears still on the corner of her blue eyes.

“More than anything, he'll appreciate your honesty.”

“Yeah...” She sniffed, and gave him a trembling smile. “Thanks, Adrien.”

----

After recovering from her cry spell, the two of them ran outside, where they found Mme. Couffaine in a screaming match with...

“I'm no one's back up plan, skipper!”

“It's not like that! You're the only one I want to play with, Nanarky!”

“Jagged Stone?” Marinette said, a bit shocked.

“'Nanarky'?!” Mylène asked, shocked that their favorite singer was speaking so casually with their host – and that said host was answering in kind.

“You don't fool me, pirate! I bet you threw your guitarist overboard! Again!”

“Nooooooo!” Jagged Stone said, unconvincingly. “I didn't, I swear! She, uh, sailed away!”

“LIE BETTER!” Mme. Couffaine replied, clearly angry.

Jagged looked over the people on the Liberty, and smiled.

“Marinette! My awesome designer!” he cried out. “Do you play guitar?”

“Uh, no–” she timidly replied, and Jagged shook his head.

“Bummer. Do you know one? Like one in a band on a houseboat with blue hair?”

“Uh, yeah! Exactly that!” Marinette replied, turning to Luka with a smile. “Wow, so specific!”

“You rock, Marinette!” Jagged said, pointing at Luka. “So, you up for it little dude–”

“Jagged Stone! I finally found you you hack!”

Of course, there was only one person in the world that could have uttered those words.

“Chloé?!” Adrien said, shocked.

“HACK?!” Jagged Stone fired, annoyed.

“I demand reimbursement for the shoes your stupid lizard ate!”

“Ugh,” he said, but he kinda acknowledged she was right, “send the bill to Bob Roth. Stop hounding me.”

“HEY.” Everyone turned to see someone else had arrived on scene, and was standing at the prow of the Liberty. “Jagged Stone is my target.”

“What?!” Chloé yelled at being ignored, but Adrien was more aware of the situation.

“Akuma!”

“Vivica?” Jagged asked, surprised.

“There ain't no more 'Vivica',” the Akuma said. “There's only Desperada now! You fire me and try to replace me with a school kid?!”

“Vivica, you're only two years older than him,” Jagged said.

Luka and Juleka looked at each other, feeling awkward and hoping no one noticed that Jagged shouldn't have known Luka's age.

“Back off my kids, ship rat!” Anarka furiously shouted at Desperada, who gave a smirk.

“Then I'll get you first!” she said, and strummed her guitar – and Anarka, after being hit by a projectile, disappeared in a cloud of golden smoke, as a sticker with her face appeared on the guitar.

“Ahh!” Mylène screamed in fright.

“Desperada always hits her targets,” the Akuma declared, and she started to pluck her guitar again.

“Ah–!”

“No–!”

Juleka and Rose, despite the former's attempt to push her out of the way, were soon taken out as well, while Marinette angrily glared at the Akuma before ducking away.

And Adrien, who could tell who was the Akuma's target right now, grabbed Luka's hand.

“Quick, let's get outta here!” he said, pulling his friend-slash-romantic rival out of the way.

----

As soon as she found a safe place, Marinette took a breather while Pollen came out of her bag.

“It's that time again, My Queen!” the Bee Kwami declared, while Marinette kept glaring at the Akuma.

“Does Hawkmoth never sleep?!”

----

“C'mon, Chloé, you gotta transform,” Tikki tiredly said.

“This one looks really annoying,” Chloé replied. “But I have to avenge my shoes, so–”

Tikki rolled her eyes. Figures that that would be her goal.

----

“You probably got fired over your stupid hair!” Scarlet Lady shouted, and she began to run to a side as Desperada fired her musical bullets, which all hit the ground right next to her feet.

“GRRR!” the Akuma growled over her failed attack. But then another guitar started to sound, and Desperada turned to the source. “Another guitarist?!”

She started to shoot at him, while he remained in place, making his solo.

“LUKA!”

Before Desperada realized it, a large rope twisted around her waist.

“AH!”

“HYAAAAAAAH!” Marigold mightily yelled, and pulling from the rope she tossed the Akuma far away enough that none of those present could see her. With danger temporarily out of the way, she smiled at the boys and waved them towards what she had found. “Down here, quick!”

“Ew, the sewers?!” Scarlet Lady said with a disgusted tone, but Marigold paid her no mind and pulled the manhole cover before forcing the Ladybug heroine in.

All while Luka turned to Adrien.

“Did Marigold just kill Desperada?” he asked, shocked, and Adrien shrugged, before they followed Marigold inside. As soon as they closed the cover, the two boys started to huff from running.

“That was very reckless, but very brave,” Marigold encouraged them, ignoring Scarlet Lady as she skipped around in disgust. “Thanks.”

“N–No problem,” Luka replied between huffs, as he recovered his breath.

“You guys should hide while we find Chat Noir,” she suggested, immediately grabbing Scarlet Lady by the face before she could do what Marigold knew she would do.

“Nooo!” Scarlet Lady whined as she tried to reach out to them.

“Sure thing, Marigold,” Luka said, and both of them went off, eager to be away from the Ladybug heroine.

----

As soon as he got Luka into a closet, Adrien started to do a run around to find a different passageway that would lead to where Marigold and Scar were waiting.

“Chat got your tongue? Leave a message!” he heard his own voice say.

“Dammit, where are you?” Scar complained; she must have called him to his baton-phone.

Time to hero, he thought.

“Plagg, Claws Out!” Soon, he was once more clad in leather. “I'm here!”

As he turned the corner, Marigold and Scar looked at him.

“Chat Noir!” the former said.

“Why are you sweating?” the latter asked, disgusted.

He laughed. He wasn't going to tell them he had ran all the way around to avoid being tracked.

----

As soon as she recovered from being flung around, Desperada ran back to where she had found that boy, but by then there was no one around, as they had either taken refuge elsewhere or just hid.

“I'll find that brat guitarist sooner or later, you bugs!” Desperada yelled into the empty air.

----

Good thing I'm not claustrophobic, Luka thought from within the locker Adrien had told him to go into. There was literally nothing for him to do right now.

Perhaps he could think of a song to make for Marinette...

----

With no ideas to pull from, Scar used Lucky Charm, which took the form of a bronze dish.

Or, rather...

“A gong?” Marigold realized.

“You know what that means, Goldie!” he said, winking at her.

“You're going to get another Miraculous aren't you?!” Scar said, and Chat Noir looked at her, surprised that she had actually made the connection. “You are going to give whatever-it-is–”

“The Snake, probably,” Chat Noir suggested.

“– to my Adrien!” Scar continued. Chat Noir held the instinct to tell her that he wasn't hers, but instead chose to help avoid the potential problem.

“Wuh – Agreste? I don't think–”

“Actually...” Marigold said, blushing, “I think Adrien would make a good hero.”

Stunned at Marigold's words (and feeling a bit of a flutter in his heart) Chat Noir looked down with burning cheeks.

“... I'll find him while Scar recharges and you fetch the Miraculous,” he conceded.

“YAY!” Marigold cheered.

Splitting up to do their parts, Chat Noir found a place he was certain he wouldn't be seen in and detransformed.

“Claws In.”

“This'll never work,” Plagg warned him as he reappeared.

“You know that, I know that, but do they know that...?” Adrien asked.

“You're just soft because your honeybug recommended you,” Plagg deadpanned.

“Shush. Why're you worried, Plagg? For you it'll be like no time at all,” Adrien replied with a chuckle.

“I guess.” Plagg didn't look excited.

“And this'll get Adrien Agreste off the Hero roster.”

Plagg tilted his head in askance.

“Uh, how?” he asked, and Adrien gave a smirk that wouldn't be out of place in a cat's face.

“By being such a nuisance I never get called on again.”

Plagg felt a sweatdrop at the back of his head. Which was weird, because he didn't sweat...

----

We did all agree on Adrien...

But Luka distracted Desperada...

But Adrien saved Luka...

But Luka –

“Marinette? The Akuma?”

Marinette shook herself off. Oh, right, she was still at Master Fu's parlor.

“R-Right! Thank you, Master!”

----

“It's that it?” Scarlet asked as soon as she arrived with the Miraculous.

“Yeah. Where's Chat Noir and Adrien?”

“Here! I'm here!” Adrien said, and Marigold quickly put her hand exactly where it had to be.

“Mon Prince~” Scarlet said, attempting to grab Adrien in a hug, only for Marigold's hand to hold her in place, well away from the boy.

“Adrien!” the Bee Heroine exclaimed, ignoring the irritant behind her. “Where's Chat Noir?”

“Oh, uh, he had to check on the civilian thing he ditched,” Adrien replied. “But he said you needed me?”

“Yes!” Marigold said, offering the box. “Adrien Agreste, this is the Snake Miraculous, which grants the power of Second Chance. You will use it for the greater good–”

“Let me give it to him, Marimold!” Scarlet yelled.

“Omigod, let me finish!” she replied with irritation as she struggled to keep her away from Adrien, who was now awkwardly waiting.

----

Alright, time to start faking this, he thought, and he opened the box. With a flash of light, the Snake Kwami of Intuition appeared.

“Oh, woooooow,” he said, trying to look like he had never seen something similar.

“Greetings,” the Kwami said, “my name is Sass, and...”

“Are you, like, some kind of genie?” he asked, playing dumb, but Sass' judging look told him that the Kwami wasn't falling for it.

“... I am a Kwami,” Sass replied, unimpressed. As he put on the Ouroboros bracelet, he noticed Plagg hiding at the wall, and he really looked unhappy.

Sorry.

“Sass, the transformation phrase, please,” Marigold kindly asked, and Sass sighed.

“Guess we're doing this. Right. Just say, Sass...”

“Scales Slither!”

He quickly noticed the difference as he transformed: while the feeling of leather was similar, it wasn't the smooth touch of his Chat Noir suit, but slightly rough, much like a snake's scales. The full black was partially replaced by aquamarine. The mask covered more of his face, and his hair felt wilder than normal. As the transformation finished, a name came to mind.

“Call me Aspik,” he told Marigold. “I won't let you down, my Queen!”

“Ha! I know,” Marigold replied, smiling.

“Adrien~ I believed in you first!” Scar said, but he scoffed.

“I don't care.”

Finding the ladder going up, Scar quickly went up first, while Marigold looked back at him.

“If anything goes wrong, Second Chance will let you go back to the time you used it.”

“Got it,” Aspik nodded. “Second Chance.”

As Scar left, she made a sigh.

“Finally out,” she said. “Where is she?”

She quickly got her answer, as a musical projectile hit her in the back.

“Ah–”

“Oh no!” Marigold exclaimed.

“Second Chance!” Aspik said, grinning at the sight of Scar being in distress. And, as he reappeared in a minute before... he realized something.

Every time he had wanted to do something to Scar, he had held back because he knew he would have to deal with the consequences.

But, here and now?

He could do something... and then use Second Chance to undo it.

And he could do it... as many times as he wanted.

It was a bit of a jerk move, but, honestly, after dealing with Scar for months, he felt he had the right be a bit of a jerk.

Time to have some fun!

----

He tripped her.

“Ah–!”

She got hit by Desperada.

“Second Chance!”

----

He shoved her.

“Wuh–!”

She got hit by Desperada.

“Second Chance!”

----

He used her as a shield.

“Ad–!”

She got hit by Desperada.

“Second Chance!”

----

“Aspik...?” Marigold asked, shocked.

Alright, perhaps this one was too hard.

Who cared?

“Don't worry. You won't remember this. Second Chance!”

----

"Hey, Scar, guess what, I'm not just Adrien Agreste, I'm also Chat Noir, your 'sidekick'!"

Scar's face suddenly twisted into horror as the two images clashed against each other.

"YESSS, THAT'S THE FACE I WANTED! SECOND CHANCE!"

----

“If anything goes wrong, Second Chance will–”

“Sass, Scales Rest.”

Marigold gave a gasp of surprise as Adrien detransformed.

“I'm so sorry, Marigold,” Adrien apologized, returning the box with the bracelet. “It didn't work, no matter how hard I try. I just... can't protect you two.”

“No! We can try again!” she said, but he shook his head.

“Um–! N–No, I've been trying! Like, 25,913 times!”

“Oh no!” It must have been tough for Adrien, trying for so long without success! “Adrien, I'm so sorry for putting you through that!”

“I–It's okay.”

“We'll figure things out,” she encouraged. “Don't take it to heart, okay? We chose you for a reason, don't forget that!”

“U-huh,” Adrien replied, but he clearly was feeling guilty over what had happened.

----

“So what do we do now?” Scarlet asked, clearly irritated that she wouldn't get her way.

“Relax. I know just who to go to,” Marigold replied.

“Marigold?”

The Bee heroine turned to the voice.

“Luka! Right on time!”

“I was looking for Adrien, have you seen him?” Luka asked, worried.

“Yeah, he's right–”

And she turned to where Adrien was.

Or where he should have been.

Because now there was a vacuum in the form of her friend.

“Huh?! Where'd he go?!”

“He was right here!” Scarlet wailed.

“Guys!”

And, right on time, Chat Noir returned from whatever thing he had been doing as a civilian.

“Chat Noir!”

“Why are you sweating again?!”

“So–So much running,” he puffed.

As much as she wished to check on Adrien, Marigold knew the Akuma remained the priority, so she turned to Luka, offering him the Miraculous.

“Luka Couffaine, this is the Snake Miraculous, which grants the power of Second Chance. You will use it for the greater good and then you'll return the Miraculous to me. Can I trust you?”

“Absolutely!” Luka replied, and gingerly picked the box and opened it – causing a flash. “Wow!”

“Ah, another one,” Sass said, and Luka was clearly confused.

“Huh–?”

“Greetings. I am Sass and I'll be your Kwami.”

“A 'Kwami'?” Luka asked, pronouncing the unfamiliar concept.

“Alas, we have no time for explanations,” Sass said. “All you need to say is, 'Sass...'”

----

“Scales Slither!”

----

“Looks like Desperada is sniping from the Eiffel Tower,” the newly minted Viperion said after a quick look.

“Let's take away her vantage point with Chat Noir's Cataclysm!” Marigold suggested.

“And how are we supposed to find the Eiffel Tower from here?” Scarlet Lady pointed out, to which Marigold pointed at a sign. “Oh!”

Eiffel Tower zone: Wear a hard hat in case of Akuma MANAGEMENT

“Yeah,” Chat Noir said, slightly embarrassed.

“Hm,” Viperion hummed, giving an amused smirk at Marigold. “You guys destroy the Eiffel Tower so often it's a work hazard zone.”

Marigold grumbled, whistling away her awkwardness.

“I mean, technically the Akuma destroys it, not us...”

And, as if to contradict her...

“Cataclysm!”

----

The heroes jumped into action, ready to stop the Akuma... but they ran into their own problems.

Like Scarlet Lady tripping and smacking Chat Noir, leaving them open to Desperada's attack.

“Second Chance!”

----

Or Scarlet Lady setting herself up for getting hit by Desperada's weapon.

“Second Chance.”

----

Or Scarlet Lady just bantering with the Akuma and getting distracted enough that she got hit. Again.

“Second Chance...”

----

“Could you maybe chill the FUCK out?!” Viperion asked, irritated with Scarlet Lady... who didn't know what was going on.

----

As Desperada tried to recover her wits, she saw Viperion playing his harp, sticking his tongue at her.

“YOU–!”

“You're OPEN~” Marigold declared as she entangled Desperada's left arm with her top.

“AH!”

“You're surrounded~” Chat Noir said, as Viperion grappled her other arm, forcing Desperada to her knees.

“AGH!”

“You're done~” Viperion finished, as Scarlet Lady struck the Akumatized guitar with her yo-yo, breaking it and freeing both everyone that had been trapped and the butterfly.

“AGHHHH!”

----

With Vivica now restored, and the air filled with ladybugs, the heroes split their tasks.

“I'll escort Mlle. to the houseboat while you return the Snake,” Chat Noir said, leaning on his baton while Vivica smiled at him.

“Sure,” Marigold agreed. “Let's go, Viperion!”

“Hey!” Scarlet yelled. “I'm coming too! Show me where you get the Miraculouses, Bumbling Bee!”

Marigold smirked.

“Sure.” And she opened the manhole cover. “You just have to come down here with us.”

“EWWW! Oh, look at that, timer's going off, byeeee!”

And Scarlet ran away as if she had a bird flying to eat her.

Marigold and Viperion had a bit of a laugh before the latter detransformed, and Luka returned the Miraculous.

“You were great, Luka,” Marigold praised him.

“We make a good team,” Luka replied. “Thanks for not actually taking me to the sewers.”

“I agree. Most new sssnakes have to use Sssecond Chance many more times or ssselfishly,” Sass said, flying next to Luka. “You're certainly a bright, caring young man. A perfect snake!”

Luka blushed and looked aside.

“Aw, geez.”

“You're right...” Marigold said, causing Luka to blush even harder.

“Marigold, you too?!”

----

Back at the houseboat, when confronted with the young guitarist, Jagged Stone knew he had to fix his mistake.

“Sorry, Vivica. Eating my cereal and drinking Fang's milk wasn't a good enough reason to fire you,” he apologized. “You can come back if you want, I'd love to play with you.”

“Me too!” Vivica cheered. “I'm in, Jagged!”

The girl left, happily humming a song as Jagged Stone and Anarka Couffaine looked at her fondly... before the latter looked at him with an ominous glare.

“You fired her on purpose to play with our kids, didn't you.”

Just like that. A statement of fact.

“I don't know what you're talking about.”

Just like that. A terrible deflection.

----

“Orange juice?”

Penny looked up from her tablet and saw Juleka holding two glasses of oh-so-inviting juice.

“Oh, thank you, Juleka,” Penny said as she picked one of the glasses, slowly sipping it and letting it help her relax: after the mess with Vivica and the Akumatization, that kind of thing really hit the spot.

“Maman and Papa think they're being slick, huh?” Juleka asked.

“Mhm,” she agreed, still drinking.

“Funny they think me and Luka don't know.”

“Yup, hilarious,” Penny replied, taking another sip.

“Well, at least we get a cool step-manager.”

The resulting spurt covered a good part of the deck in a sticky liquid that took a while to clean up.

----

Marinette took a deep breath and sat next to Luka. She really needed to follow on Adrien's suggestion.

“Luka?”

“Hm?”

“I'm sorry for being so weird lately.”

“Hey, I like Weird Marinette as much as Put-Together Marinette. And Passionate Marinette, Justice Marinette, Designer Marinette–”

“Okay, okay!” Marinette interrupted, struggling (and failing) to keep her cheeks from flushing.

“I'm just glad you didn't become Avoiding-Me Marinette,” Luka replied, smiling. “I didn't tell you how I feel to put pressure on you. I told you so you know how important you are to me.”

Marinette sighed in relief. It was just as Adrien had said.

“You're important to me too, Luka!” she said, smiling. “And I'll never run from being your friend!”

“Good,” he nodded, before his smile became a bit naughtier. “That said, I'm gonna compliment you a lot more to bring out Blushy Marinette.”

Oh.

Oh no.

“NoOOOOOO!” she wailed.

----

Adrien watched from afar as Marinette – completely red in the face – slapped the air next to a laughing Luka, and he sighed in relief.

“Whew. At least they're not dating,” he said out loud.

“This time.”

“Ah, Kagami!” Where did she come from?!

“Marinette can choose whomever she wants to date,” his friend said, “yet you don't make yourself a known option. Why?”

Oh. That. His life second's major irritant.

“There's an obstacle,” he said, crossing his arms. “A big, tall, annoying, dumb obstacle with bad fashion sense and is so selfish!”

Kagami patted his arm.

“I understand. Your father is a difficult person to overcome.”

“Eh?”

I meant Hawkmoth...

----

Ikari Gozen

@zoe-oneesama Adrien better make a move soon, lest he lose his chance with his Princess!

That's 453 pages, 180836 words, 974597 characters!

[ladyofthenoodle]

#OOOFFF#its the way that adrien always misunderstands what ladybug needs/wants#and how he thinks that like everyone else in his life#she expects perfection from him#and that he has to be the perfect partner for her#or else hes disappointing her#but the harder he tries to be perfect#the more and more he fails#and he puts himself and ladybug in danger#and no matter how perfect he acts#no matter how much he distances himself from chat noir#it doesnt work#he still continues to fail#and eventually he comes to realize#that he needs to be chat noir#to be the best thing the best partner for ladybug#and he gains more clarity about how much she needs him#but also she gains more understanding about#how much she needs chat noir#and they learn and grow together as a result#once they learn that they need each other to actually function#and work properly#this take is just#fjakfbsdjkfbadjh to my mind#why did i do this all in tags???#it could have been a text post#oh well#too late to change it#miraculous ladybug

@wield-the-mighty-pen you get it

kuro neko is desperada 2.0

[miraculouslbcnreactions]

About the "kwamis as mentors" angle: Interesting to read and analyse, yet I can't help but feel they were not necessarily meant to be seen as mentors. At least to me, they seemed to be kind of whacky mascot characters who are tied to the lore, who have a personality to crack a joke or point something out or cause a little situation or be cute, but nothing more.

They are rather naive magical entities chained to jewelry (a fact they don't seem to mind that much or think about at all except for Plagg) and all that talk about "being around for 5000 years" and having seen many holders before is just there to make them seem more wise than they actually act like. From what I've seen on the show I would even assume there's a threshold to how much they can even mature emotionally and understand humans. Sometimes Tikki and Plagg even come off as indifferent and egoistical towards their holders (like an example you gave with Tikki, or Plagg's fixation on cheese over Adrien at times).

So...sorry if I missed it, but why do you view them as mentor characters? You made an interesting post about rom-com vs magical girl and the magical girl part is exactly why I always viewed them just as critters to appeal to kids, but nothing more. I can see that the show's writing is so inconsistent that sometimes they are portrayed as wise but more often then not they are just background noise to get a little interaction on screen so that the characters are not talking to themselves about miraculous stuff or to point something out for the audience.

The show's writing is pretty weird, so there are elements that are hard to get a clear read on. The Kwamis are one such element. When they're one-on-one with their chosen, they often feel like mentors to me. When they're all together, they almost always read like "critters to appeal to kids" (mostly because there are too many of them to let them have individual personalities when they're all together). So while I think that they're supposed to be mentors, it's not like that's the only canon-accurate read.

To dig into what I mean by the one-on-one writing, let's look at this exchange from Feast:

Master Fu: See, Wayzz? If Marinette had kept her Miraculous, the sentimonster would have swallowed her right up. Wayzz: Or she would have transformed into Ladybug and fought it. Master Fu: Sometimes fighting is futile, Wayzz.

And then later on we get this:

Wayzz: Master, look! Ladybug and Cat Noir, despite their ridiculous costumes, they haven't let you down! Wang Fu: That's impossible! They don't have their Miraculous! Wayzz: Master, it's obvious it's them—who else would do something so crazy? Cat Noir (Adrien): Hey, have a taste of this! Some exploding banana split from Bananoir! Ladybug (Marinette): Much tastier than any Miraculous! Wayzz: Look, Master, there's no use in running! Your disciples never give up the fight, no matter what! With or without their Miraculous, they are Ladybug and Cat Noir!

That's some pretty active mentoring right there.

Wayzz is probably the character that feels the most like a mentor to me. When he's with Fu, he feels like Fu's partner or adviser, which is why I think that the Kwami's aren't supposed to just be cute critters. They're regular ol' Jimmy Crickets meant to act as a conscience that the characters can talk to since this is visual media and you want a way for the characters to talk through their thoughts instead of having them do it all internally.

I also present this exchange from Desperada as evidence:

Adrien: Plagg, Ladybug needs me. She needs "Adrien"! Plagg: If you asked me, this whole idea is worse than cheese in a can. Adrien: She thinks I'm the perfect guy for this mission. Plagg: You can't be Cat Noir and another superhero at the same time! Which means that you're not the perfect guy for this mission. Adrien: The Lucky Charm told her I am. Plagg: That's not how it works. Why am I bothering? You're not even listening.

We then get Plagg reiterating that this is a bad idea through multiple loops, ending with this:

Plagg: Ah! At last, you've come to your senses. Adrien: I'm not sure Ladybug will have very fond memories of her experience with "Adrien Agreste". Plagg: Then make up for it as Cat Noir.

See? I told you Plagg can be a good mentor when he wants to! Tikki, take notes!

I'd even call this bit from Sapitos some quality subtle mentoring from Trixx:

Alya: Oh please, Ladybug! We'd make a great team! I could help Cat Noir and you every day! Ladybug:(her earrings ring) I'm about to transform back! Hurry! Alya: Please? Ladybug: I have to go! I'm trusting you! (opens a nearby door and goes inside, so she can detransform) Trixx: You're absolutely right, Alya. I'm sure the three of you would make quite the team! You have all the makings of a true superhero. You're strong, brave; but most of all, you're trustworthy.

Way to both build Alya up and reminder her of her duty, Trixx. Gold star. Quality mentorship!

So are the Kwamis supposed to be mentors? Who knows! I just see them fill the role often enough to feel comfortable judging them through that lens.

Miraculous also isn't the only magical girl team show to make the cute critters into mentors. That's a pretty standard path even though it's also common to see the critters used to sell merch/appeal to kids and nothing more. In terms of classic magical girl team shows, I'd say that the Kwamis are written way more like Luna and Artemis from Sailor Moon than Mini Mew from Tokyo Mew Mew.

[belledalle]

some lukanette for my post-desperada broken heart (X)

[wield-the-mighty-pen]

Season 6 of ML is a direct reflection of Season 3: Here's why

Going into season 6, the writers claimed that this would be a new beginning, a reset on everything that has happened so far. And to a large extent it is.

No longer are we expecting serialized episodes, and have thus far been treated to several expositional episodes, where we are introduced to new and old characters and situations.

Some might consider this a "new season 1" a brand new beginning to welcome in arc 2 of the miraculous ladybug story. However, I think that this is a misrepresentation of season 6 as a whole. And I believe from what we've seen so far of this season, and what has been teased to us, that this season relates far more to season 3, than it does to season 1.

For starters, let's talk about the most obvious comparison the call-back to season 1 episode 1's Stormy Weather. While we have yet to see episode 1 of season 6, the weather-themed akuma "Climatiqueen" sounds to be a clear reference to the French name of Stormy Weather "Climatika".

In both these instances, the reference back to the first episode effectively functions as a reset. In season 3, "Stormy Weather 2" serves as an introduction point to the latter half of the season and a way to distance the more "frivolous" early episodes from the more important and high-stakes latter episodes. In season 6, it functions as a transition from what we saw in season 5 to what we are to expect in season 6.

There are a few more episode call-backs in season 6 to season three, but of all of them, this was the most convincing of intentionality on the part of the writers.

Next comparison we see is with Lila, and how she "changes targets". The episode Chameleon in season 3, is when we start to see a major shift in Lila, specifically in her focus from Ladybug to Marinette. While she still targets Ladybug after this episode, this is where we start to see a decline, until we get to season 5, and she's all but forgotten about Ladybug.

In season 6 too, we see her begin to shift again. While in episode 2, we see her obsessively watching Marinette and Adrien's date, this is ultimately in pursuit of Ladybug. The shift has begun. If my analysis is correct, we will see more and more of a preoccupation with Ladybug from Lila (Cerise?) and less of a focus on Marinette in Lila's antagonistic role

(Also wanted to point out this amazing call back to season 3 episode 1 "Chameleon it's very on the nose)

What's also important to note is that while season 3 might have been episodic, the information relayed in each episode was vital, and nearly all of it was brought up in subsequent episodes/seasons (re: new heroes, chat blanc, the statue scene TM). With season 6 so far, this appears to also be the case. The episodes are episodic, but I would hardly call them fluff. We've been told new lore, understood ever-changing relationships, and have been privy to the delicacy in which virtually all characters exist.

This frailty is something that we actually see a lot in season 3, especially in relation to secret keeping. In season 3, we have Kwamibuster, Desperada, Weredad, Chat Blanc, and Ladybug. All episodes that either reference, or center around issues relating to secrets and identities. In season 3, we actually see the most threats to secret keeping. Season 4 by comparison only has 3 (gang of secrets, wishmaker, and ephemeral).

Secrets are winding their way around the plot of season 6 as well, a threat that appears most pointed in the most recent episode "Revelator". The delicate tether of these secrets seem precarious to us viewers, just as they did in season 3. And just like season 3, they're bound to break at some point, in a catastrophic and calamitous way...

Which leads me to the whole reason I made this post and why I think the writers created this reflection...

The episode 22 slot.

Just to be clear on what I mean by that, here is the 22nd episode of season 3:

and here is the 22nd episode of season 6:

The tenterhooks of identities in season 3, eventually came to a head in the episode "Chat Blanc", an episode where we learn what would happen if they knew each others identities. An episode where we say Adrien get akumatized for the first time.

So far, every clue seems to point to Marinette being akumatized this season, right down to the name of this villain "Lady Chaos" seems perfect of a callback to Ladybug for me. And with the way this secret has intertwined with Ladybug's identity, relationships, and reputation, there's no shortage of reasons as to why she might get akumatized.

Right now, in these early season 6 episodes, we are being provided the tools to allow her to finally get akumatized. Alya has a kwagatama and can reference Marinette to defeat Marinette. She also has been named Marinette's successor if necessary (and has a premade suit). Chat Noir has the ability to remove the memory of Ladybug's identity from anyone's mind. And most importantly, we have been provided a motive, over and over again.

After all, let's not forget this call back...

Akumanette is coming... the only question is what will remain in the aftermath

[abandoned-as-mustard]

I loved how Desperada conveyed Aspec Adrien's increasing hopelessness in one simple line 'Oh, by the way, I'm also Chat Noir and I've been in love with you since the day we met' *Ladybug immediately gets zapped by Desperada*

So i wanna see fanfic of more of those 23,913 times, revealing his identity in more and more ridiculous ways.

I also wish there was a convenient plot device that allows erased futures to haunt the subconsciousness of those who don't remember, just out of reach.

Adrien dreaming of being de-akumatised in a post-apocalyptic Paris, waking up terrified of Ladybug leaving him

Adrien giving a rose to Marinette on a date, but she is reminded of the time Aspec distracted her with one mid-fight

Adrien slipping up by saying 'remember that time Rose almost lost her unicorn to a bet?' 'She DID lose her unicorn' 'huh'

Ladybug joking again about secretly being Audrey Bourgeois, Chat Noir joking about being himself

[rainbow-arrow]

Honestly, Gay Adrien is a personal favorite headcanon of mine, and I would love to hear your spin on it. How did he figure out he's gay? Was it while he was dating Marinette? Or after? How did he come to terms with it? I personally think that once he figured it out, it sort of just clicked, and everything made sense.

And of course, Luka is a disaster bi hehe

I'm very much a headcanon-er who can see so many variations of things depending on the Story. His gay awakening is always Luka, but most of the time it's like. Desperada/Captain Hardrock era and he's like 'hm! interesting! let's not worry too much about why the first person I desperately want to kiss is Luka Couffaine! that's a later problem uwu' and it's brought up and he's like 'well everyone is gay for Luka--' and everyone around him is like 'what the fuck are you talking about.'

Him realizing he's gay always is easy and simple but it's the accepting and not internally, but actually telling people, simply bc of his (most of the time) long term relationship with Marinette.

Since in most of my fics Adrinette happens for a typically long period of time (I mostly just wanna write mid-20's disaster stories now), it's always in consideration and Adrien has to face the 'if I was gay this whole time, did my relationship with Marinette mean anything?' and he just needs to talk to anyone as they slap some sense into him.

When in stories he doesn't get with Marinette, it's so much more smooth. He has a gay awakening and time passes where he just Doesn't consider it and then when he does he's like, 'Yeah. Gay.'

below read more i just ramble about fics i'm in the process of writing it just got long and i still have more to say lol

---

I have a mini-fic that takes place at Kagami and Marinette's wedding and she tries to low-key set up Adrien and Luka (they really did not need any help). In that one, post adrinette break up, Adrien dates another woman while still in college but has a gay awakening with Luka, so logically, he runs off and lives in Canada for two years and dates some men and ultimately accepts it. Flash to the wedding and no one had seen Adrien in years, including disaster bi Luka, who has been living in the countryside making his lil stringed instruments just existing quietly.

Adrien's all confident and flirting with Luka and just thriving, and Luka's the one who's like 'wait fuck that crush could really happen?' They do hook up at the wedding, but Adrien moves back to France and they do get to date, my favorite primary school teacher and luthier duo.

---

then there's my Perfection:tm: trilogy that's a whole lotta angst and cheating and poor communication but ultimately Adrien's gay awakening is in his youth with Luka, but his gay acceptance is before (too but mostly after) a suicide attempt but he doesn't break up with Marinette and it's a whole disaster.

Oh but then Marinette suggests a threesome and there's no way that could go wrong now, could it? And Adrien's like 'idk wasn't mY idea' and ofc Luka agrees and having a threesome where two people are obvious Much More interested in each other is always set up for a wild time.

---

I have a fake dating fic I'm writing (skom) (that just reached 40k holy heck i have no control) and Adrien realizes he's gay the moment he allows himself to consider it, which is immediately after he breaks up with Marinette. See, she is always bisexual (to me), so while dating Adrien, she spends time exploring/considering and invites Adrien to, but he's in denial while dating bc how could he consider anyone else! he loves his girlfriend!

(the fake dating comes about bc Luka's falling apart and is seeking Stability and Adrien is, wildly enough, the Most stable person he knows (and single) and bonus, Luka always had a crush on him. Adrien agrees bc post Marinette relationship he comes to terms he's gay and needs a way to come out but doesn't want his first Real relationship to get that level of attention, so agrees to fake date Luka so the tabloids get the 'Adrien Agreste is gAY' out of the way. and double bonus, Adrien always had a crush on him (though didn't always realize it).

But there's a whole layer that he knows he's gay, but comes out as bi, and then he's like 'that's not rIGHT, if I'm gay did my relationship with Marinette mean nothing?' and chaotic bi Luka is just like, 'no. you're fine. also, Marinette and Kagami started dating literal days after you and Marinette broke off your engagement and nearly 8 year long relationship you need to consider yourself for once. Also. do you understand bisexuality isn't like. a lightswitch'

Anywho, I love skom. Silly fake dating gay primary school teacher Adrien Agreste and crumbing to pieces bisexual disaster rock star Luka Couffaine will save me.

---

Also spoiler: Adrien is gay in wato. He does a whole 'I dunno what label fits!' dance but realizes it was never the Same.

Overall, based on my writing habits, I think it's something he doesn't admit/accept/consider until after breaking up with Marinette. Very much a 'hm. interesting. Well. Not my problem rn!'

this boy doesn't know what he wants. until he does. and i love him for it. And I am a strong believer in Luka having a slut era (put that on my fanfic bingo).

[drtwit]

Miraculous Ladybug - Miraculous Menaces AU: The House of Joy

Miraculous Menaces AU

Chapter Summary:

The Gang go clubbing, Chloe's plan doesn't go as planned, and a certain rat-faced prick activates Lila's protective instincts.

https://archiveofourown.org/works/58557754/chapters/163479112

An AU where Chat becomes Hawkmoth's partner in crime. At first, Adrien thought that the day he found out that his father was the supervillain terrorizing the people of Paris was the worst day of his life, but in retrospect, it might have been the one change needed to save his family. Because it was also the day that both of them realized that, when they don't need to be Adrien and Gabriel Agreste, they're both fucking goobers. Follow the adventures of Hawkmoth, Chat Noir, and their reluctant assistant who doesn't get paid enough, Nathalie, as they try to navigate life as a supervillain family. And pray for Ladybug's sanity as she suffers their antics.

Preview:

“What are you even saying right now, Bro?” Nino ducked into a side passage of the club, a finger in his ear doing very little to block out the pounding music. “You’ve totally met Luka before.”

“No!” Adrien’s voice was loud, insistent and vying with the music for dominance. “I’ve never met the guy. He’s not even in our class.”

That didn’t sound right. It couldn’t be right. Luka had been a bro for months now, he was a solidified member of the group and Juleka’s older brother, there’s no way Adrien could have missed him. Nino posted social posts with his fellow musician all the time.

Unless…

Nino’s lips puffed out in a pout. Was Adrien not keeping up with Nino’s feed? After God knows how many cat memes Nino retweeted for Adrien?

“Really?” Nino clicked his tongue. “What about when Desperada crashed our party on the Liberty?”

Jagged Stone’s jilted ex-guitarist was a true menace with a gnarly wardrobe. Almost had Ladybug and Volpina pegged until Luka ended up tricking the akuma into turning Chat Noir into a sticker; Hawkmoth was not happy about that one.

There was a rush of scraping cloth and distant mutterings as Adrien very obviously hid his phone from his father, making some joke about the voices in his head (something about trying to remember a cat’s voice?) before loudly mopping the floor.

After a few seconds, Adrien’s voice was back in a low whisper. “I had to take a raincheck that day, remember?”

“What about the Captain Hardock incid-” Nino stopped himself right out of the gate, snapping his fingers and groaning. “Oh wait, your father kept you back then as well.”

He glanced over to where the rest of the gang were huddled around a table, throwing out a thumbs up to a curious Marinette looking over at him. After his reassurance, she turned back to cuddling up to Luka on the sofa, gushing over his guitar.

“That was a bummer, Luka looked stoked when I told him about how good you would be on a keyboard.” Nino ran his fingers through his hair. “What about-”

Adrien’s voice was an eruption of noise that nearly made Nino drop the phone. “You were literally with me when that happened.”

“Damn, I can’t believe you two have just kept missing each other. It’s wild.” Nino laughed, rubbing the back of his neck. “You two should really meet after you’ve finished with your dad’s lame punishment. Assuming you can pry Marinette off him, of course.”

Adrien was quiet. For some reason, Nino could imagine his eyes twitching. “Bro? You still there?”

“I was just… Laughing… Over how funny your quip was.” Strange, Adrien’s ‘amusement’ sounded more like a bitter growl. “I mean, can you imagine? Marinette. On Luka. Stuck. Why… Why… You should change your career to stand up, Nino.”

[alterworldstudios]

I’m closing the ask box and going on a hiatus with it as well as farmers follies here on tumblr.

My reasoning for it is that the boundaries I made for the series keep getting disrespected, and my ask box isn’t a place to make requests for ship art. (Especially ship art relating to desperada and farmer.)

I will open it again when I feel mentally stable again.

Please respect my boundaries for the series. I don’t mind fan works, but what’s been going on lately has really been messing with me a ton, and I’ve had enough. I need a break. Thank you. Read earlier posts for boundaries. 👍

[fabseg-creator]

Chloenette AU season 3 (Sneek Peak/Spoiler) WIP

The shoots you read are parts of my Chloenette AU Season 3 upcoming post. It's a part of the Miraculer rewritten script.

I have actually completed Chameleon, Animaestro, Reflektdoll, Silencer, Oni-Chan, Miraculer, Oblivio, Desperada, Kwamibuster, Gamer 2.0.

It remains Stormy Weather 2 (still on writing), Star Train (on writing), Timetagger, Party Crasher, Feast (on writing), Cat Blanc Fallen Bee, Felix, Ladybug and The Battle of Miraculous and the New York Special.

[spiceynoodls]

MLB Episodes Chronological

Some of these aren’t released yet (according to the wiki) but there will be links posted as I go

beware. This is a LONG ASS LIST.

Season 1:

Origins 

Stormy Weather

Lady Wifi

The Evillustrator

Princess Fragrance

Dark Cupid

Mr. Pigeon 

Pixelator 

Copycat

The Bubbler

Simon Says

Timebreaker 

Roger cop

Animan

Dark blade

Gamer

The Pharaoh

Horrifactor

The Puppeteer

The Mime

Guitar Villain 

Reflekta 

Antibug

Kung Food

Santa Claws

Volpina 

Season 2

The Collector

Prime Queen

Glaciator

Despair Bear

Troublemaker

Gigantitan

Riposte

Gorizilla

Robostus 

Sapotis 

The Dark Owl

Syren 

Zombizou

Captain Hardrock

Queen’s Battle

Befana

Reverser

Frightningale

Frozer

Anansi

Malediktator

Sandboy 

Heroes’ Day

Season 3

Chameleon

Miraculous World: Shanghai - The Legend of Ladydragon

Animaestro

Bakerix 

Backwarder

Reflekdoll

Weredad 

Silencer

Oni-chan 

Miraculer

Oblivio

Desperada 

Christmaster 

Startrain

Kwamibuster

Feast 

Gamer 2.0

Stormy Weather 2

Ikari Gozen

Timetagger

Party Crasher

The Puppeteer 2

Cat Blanc

Felix

Ladybug

The Battle of the Miraculous 

Miraculous World: New York - United Heroez

Season 4

Truth

Lies

Gang of Secrets

Mr. Pigeon 72

Psycomedian

Furious Fu

Sole Crusher

Queen Banana

Gabriel Agreste

Mega Leech

Guiltrip

Crocoduel

Optigami

Sentibubbler

Glaciator 2

Hack-San

Rocketear

Wishmaker

Simpleman

Qilin 

Dearest Family

Ephemeral

Kuro Neko

Penalteam

Shadow Moth’s Final Attack

Season 5

Evolution 

Multiplication 

Jubilation 

Illusion 

Determination 

Passion

Reunion

Elation  

The Kwamis’ choice

Perfection 

Migration

Derision 

Intuition 

Protection

Adoration

Emotion

Pretension

Revelation 

Confrontation 

Action

Collusion 

Revolution 

Representation 

The Final Day

Miraculous World: London - At The Edge of Time 

[chocoplagg]

My thoughts on the Miraculous Seasons!

Yeah, I'll be talking about the Miraculous seasons, including it's specials and movie.

Maybe I'll do another post talking about my thoughts on the sixth season of the series. With the things we have.

Season 1

It's decent. It has it's good episodes (Stormy Weather, The Evillustrator, Bubbler, etc), and bad episodes (Pharaoh, Origins [specially the second part], Kung Food, etc).

The animation it's pretty good, and the characters are good too.

Season 2

The best season indeed!

Here we have the best episodes (The redemption arc of Chloe, Gorizilla, Sandboy and The Heroes' Day).

The characters have been really good, the plot was amazing at this point, etc.

It's funny because Thomas wasn't really involved in this season, Jeremy Zag was.

Season 3

And here the quality started to decrease.

The plot was trying to be more dramatic and serious (like Amphibia did later), but it was like "this show is family friendly, now it's really dramatic!".

The episodes have been mediocre (Oblivio or Feast), bad (Desperada or Bakerix), or garbage (Animaestro, Chat Blanc, Ladybug and the finale).

And of course, the characters have been really bad, especially Marinette and Fu.

Season 4

This season was amazing... I'm lying, in fact, it's really bad.

There was only three good episodes (Mega Leech, Guiltrip and Crocoduel), the rest were going to be bad, to cringey (Wishmaker), to... Qlin (one of the WORST episodes of the entire animation).

And the characters have been really annoying, like Adrien with his stupid "I feel alone" drama with Ladybug and the heroes. It's really stupid and useless.

And don't make me talk about Zoe Lee. I'm just saying that Aurore Beaureal is a character. She would have been more useful with the Bee Miraculous.

Btw, even the animation was horrible here (watch Simpleman, the most unbeta episode, and you'll understand my point).

Season 5

...

What the fuck?!

-Me watching the season 5.

This is the WORST season of the series (and take my words, maybe season 6 is even worse). It's like the pretentious version of Sonichu, but without the creepy instances that wouldn't be family friendly.

This season was so bad, that only ONE episode was pretty decent (Perfection, and it's thanks to Kagami), the rest was really, REALLY terrible (Derision it's a fairly odd parents retcon but even worse, Revelation it's stupid, Collusion it's the worst political episode, Revolution it's the perfect example of Thomas being Chris Chan with Chloe, Representation it's a really bad pretentious fanfic, and the final episodes of the season have been an insult).

Even the animation was horrible here too. The colors have been disgustingly saturated, and didn't help the episodes.

And don't make me talk about its "dramatic" moments... I CAN'T EVEN REFER IT LIKE "DRAMATIC MOMENTS" BECAUSE IT'S AN INSULT.

Bonus: SPECIALS

Miraculous New York

It's garbage, it's only a longer chapter of the series but barely during an hour.

Only one character was good (Sparrow), and it was eliminated just because of the "feminist subplot"...

I'm really missing Chloe's subplot for this special...

And Ladybug was really annoying, of course.

Miraculous Shangai

The best special, but still is bad.

The only good thing about this thing is Fei and the worldbuilding of the special. But the rest was really bad.

And no Thomas, I'm not going to sympathize with Marinette, literally she stalked Adrien going to Shangai and following him with an app...

Miraculous Paris

Here's where I'm going to be dead...

I think this special is really overated, and for me it's really bad.

At least the animation was pretty decent, but that's the only thing I can say...

But the AU concept was really poor, and it's like "we need to be like the Spiderverse".

And the characters have been poorly executed, especially Gabriel, Adrien and Marinette from the "reverse" AU (I can't define it as a reverse AU when only three characters change to be opposites).

Link to the post in Spanish

[gale-gentlepenguin]

With Season 5 concluded, will you be doing a best and worst akuma designs created by Gabriel Agreste of each season?

Alright everybody it’s time for Gale’s

Akuma fashion show a Go Go

And rules as follows

1. They will be rated only for the season they appeared in, so unless they get a redesign or updated look they don’t count

2. For each season I will be ranking one best and one worst.

3. These are the opinions Based Solely on asthetic, I will not be taking into account their powers or abilities, or even if they are my favorite akuma.

4. Akuma only, so no heroes villains or sentimonsters.

_________________________________________

Season 1 Best and Worst

Best: Stormy weather

What can I say, the look is iconic for a reason, she set the bar high and she always blows away the competition.

The twisting hair, the purple dress and slick akuma shaped mask. Also the choice of weapon.

Worst: Animan

The problem is he has no original form. Vanisher also has the same problem but his just seems lazier considering he gets to be the main akuma in an episode.

Not much to say except do better

Season 2 Best and Worst

Best: Reverser

I love the symmetry of his design. It’s something Death the kid and Thanos would agree with. The asthetic works so well and while I’m grading on looks it’s neat how his power factors in.

Marc knocked it out of the park with this design

Worst: Gigatitan

It’s boring. It’s so standard that it’s not even bad. Some of the designs this season were weird but I can’t say they were awful. But this one is just bland. I will probably forget it after I post this

Season 3 Best and worst

Best: Desperada

I want to specify this is Solely asthetic. She isn’t my favorite akuma and the episode she is in is divisive, but I love her look. The music theme and bad ass rocker make up with touches of Gold. Different instrument weapons. Brilliant aesthetic.

Worst: Loveater

Season 3 had a lot of not that great designs but Loveater is a horrific monster. And is still the UGLIEST akuma to this day. It’s the embodiment of what a toxic relationship looks like.

Season 4 Best and worst

Best: Qilin

Originally I was going to put wishmaker on here, but Damn does this design Slap! And there are some solid designs. I just wish the episode debut was better. Outside of that, it’s just a cool armor and the glowing jade eyes are cool.

Worst: Ephemeral

If Loveater is the visual representation of a toxic relationship, Ephemeral is the visual representation of Child abuse. The design looks so wrong, looking like a neon grape and the sad look on his face sells it. While even the ugliest designs have some charm, this is just a crime to look at.

Season 5 Best and Worst

Best: Safari

It’s the best akuma design. The Hunter/Lara Croft tomb raider asthetic. The shades, then boots. The way her hair looks. The fit got me acting up. Plus while it’s unrelated to the asthetic, the way she tells Monarch to f*** off, and Provides the kwami swap episode we deserved. Easiest pick for me.

Worst: Sans-Culotte

She looks like a glob of toothpaste. I feel like she was in a Aquafresh commercial and while I get what they were going for… I hate the design. It doesn’t look good. It looks like she doesn’t have a nose.