#ray kwami

[mymiraclebox]

Maanta the Ray, Kwami of Immersion

Maanta is a very calm and relaxed kwami, and it takes a lot to unease her. She tends to get along with most holders, and often manages to befriends ones who intend to use her powers selfishly. Her powers allow one to interact with matter in a unique way, such as moving through solid objects or swimming through the air.

Maanta's Miracuous is a polished marble ray pendant necklace, and their weapon is a fishing rod. Their favorite food is broth, and their transformation phase is "Maanta, fins flare!".

Maanta currently resides in the Drifting Box, which can be found wandering with its Guardian across the Pacific Islands.

[quindread]

THE COTTAGECORE MARI AU PROMPT THAT NOBODY ASKED FOR

Pairing: Daminette (edit: they’re like 19/20 in this, post high-school)

Rating: It has mature themes, you have been warned. But it’s pretty tame at the same time. Violence + Sexual Themes

________________

Mari is diagnosed with PTSD and anxiety disorder after she quite literally removed her beloved city’s supervillain (and her dear partner’s parent) from the plane of existence. Like she removes the suffering from the minds of all of Paris and has Gabriel written off in a car accident a year after his wife’s disappearance. Only her Court (Adrien, Kagami, Zoe, Alix, Max) and the Order remembers. Mari and Adrien decide not to pursue a relationship. They’re both healing and are decidedly better off friends - siblings in everything but blood.

Lila, who was not punished due to her not really being a miraculous holder and upsetting the balance, continues to slander Mari. Her class isn’t hostile but has no desire to interact with the “new and mean Marinette” Lila was painting her to be. It’s still a huge betrayal given the fact that Mari was supportive and very generous to these people.

So here’s how her new housing arrangement works: have you ever wondered how Gina can afford to travel around the world without a job? Yeah, I think she came from money. Like, old money - real estate old money to be precise. Passive income and such. Hearing about her Fairy’s situation, she offers an unused property at the countryside of Metropolis.

Marinette’s therapist and parents approve of her vacationing there for the summer when they realize that her stressors and triggers where all environmental. So off our girl goes!

Note: She does not have the mother box with her anymore, just Tikki, Plagg, and Kaalki. (She does have unrestricted access to it as the Grand Guardian though - she trains with the Order once a week in Tibet until she doesn’t)

Mari is aware of the Supers and was relieved that the Kwamis don’t show up in x-ray visions and with the fear of them eavesdropping she learns FSL to communicate with them.

The townhouse and the verdure around the property inspires Mari to start a garden. The quiet oddly soothes her and when she feels lonely she goes into town or the nearby farmer’s market where she charms the locals. She meets the Kents - they love her! Martha enjoys baking with her. Lois uncovers her identity as Jagged and Clara Nightingale’s exclusive (and reclusive) designer - they bond over fashion trends and the gossip surrounding the industry. Clark and Jon were another story.

She figures them out having sensed the same soul in Superman and Superboy in this father-and-son duo. They x-ray her as a precaution and finds the mysterious cracks and evidence of past injuries that should have killed her. There’s a very anti-climatic reveal that Martha and Lois are not privy to with respect to Marinette’s wishes.

At least one Kent would be in her home during the day. The Kwamis are free to roam around when it was Clark and/or Jon visiting. She ends up bonding with Jon who also grew up too fast (metaphorically and literally).

She ends up extending her stay in Metropolis indefinitely. Her parents also decided to open a branch of their patisserie there which Mari managed. They visit her as often as they could.

Mari was dismayed to find that no, Metropolis had no schools with both a fashion and business degree - that’s how she ends up in Gotham University.

Jon tells Mari about a Damian - a friend of his.

J: He’s…. uh… he has a big heart.

M: …

J: He’s a bit of an asshole(?)

M: Ah.

Mari meets Damian who reminds her of Kagami - antisocial and proper. They share a few business classes and are both members of the art club.

Mari is still this ball of anxiousness and has only allowed Mia “Maps” Mizoguchi and Katherine Karlo into her life, the former she learned was close to Damian - she didn’t mind when she and the girls met up with Damian, he was quiet, honest, and minded his own business. Through their hangouts Damian finds out about the friendship between Jon and Mari.

He’s hesitant to befriend her at first due to the conflicting rumors about her: due to her timid personality she had a split reputation. One side called her sweet, shy, and kind. While the other calling her arrogant, high-maintenance, and rude. He soon finds out that the latter half were spread by cliques who’s offer of friendship she declined and men she rejected. He was glad that he relented to Maps’ insistent invitations - she was a decent person to hang out with and it didn’t hurt that she was pleasing to the eye. (She also enjoyed sharing her vegetarian salads with him - he starts appreciating it more when he learns that she picks the vegetables straight from the garden she grows.)

As her luck would have it, a robbery unfolds at one of their favorite coffee spots. Mari and Damian - who were both pretending to be civ - try to find a way to protect their friends. The robbers recognizes Damian as a Wayne and takes him and another GU(a school for rich and affluent people’s children) kid - Marinette - who had stood in front of her friends.

They’re gagged, blindfolded, and carted off to who knows where. Damian discreetly activates a distress signal and the bats spur into action. Mari, aware that she was sturdier than Damian, draws the men’s attention to her (she purposely pisses them off and gets beaten up when they start to pester Damian).

M: [removes her gag somehow] Really? A ski mask? And in black? How boring can you get?

*Damian shaking his head furiously in the background*

Kidnapper(KN): Shut up, girlie!

M: You know I always wondered how Kidnappers could have a secret a warehouse as a hideout. It’s not like you can afford the rent—

KN: Are you trying to get yourself killed?

M: You’re backed up by some politician aren’t you?

KN: H-How the fuck did this bitch know?

M: There’s literally a stack of campaign papers behind you.

KN: Wha—

M: That’s some shit graphic design by the way. I’ve seen grade schoolers that can do better.

KN: [points a gun at her] Shut up or I’ll blow your brains out.

M: You wouldn’t.

KN: The fuck do you know—

M: You need me alive to get ransom from my parents.

KN: …Nobody said you had to be in one piece though.

M: Touché—[get slapped hard]

*Damian basically starts convulsing in the background*

M: …Damn. You punch like a cunt—[And the kidnappers basically start to rough her up]

The bats arrive in five minutes and it’s Red Hood that finds them first. He sees these mf’s beating up a woman and goes ballistic(pun intended). Red Robin and Spoiler has to forcibly restrain him when he starts to use his fist instead of his guns.

M: [bleeding and bruised] And that’s how you deck someone, you amateurs.

D: [who was released by Black Bat is confused, mad at himself, and in awe] You blithering idiot! Why the fuck would you aggravate our captors like that?

M: [delirious] It was either you or me Damian. Can’t have your pretty face damaged now, can we?

D: [Is floored and very concerned] And what of yours?

M: … dun worry—my assets are…elsewhere… [passes out from the pain]

D: …

Later, his family would tease him about the flirting when he isn’t all sensitive about the incident.

Winter break comes, most of the Batfam visits the Kents(they have a penthouse/some ridiculous property in Metropolis) as a tradition. The Kents went to visit Gotham and stayed at the manor last year.

(Batfam who went: Bruce, Dick, Jason, Steph, Cass, and Damian)

They visit Mari too. Dick and Steph are absolutely thrilled about her cottagecore lifestyle. So much so that they match her aesthetic and begin helping out in the garden - they send pictures to Alfred who request they bring back fresh produce.

Jon and Jason plot to get Damian and Mari together. Unbeknownst to them that Damian was already resolute on courting Mari like the decorous man that he was - he didn’t know what he was doing but Mari’s flush when he initiates flirting tells him he’s doing okay.

Because of his childhood, Damian was never the type to be touchy but imagine his shock when he finds out that one of his more prominent love languages was physical touch. He realizes he’s touch-starved almost immediately when Mari starts giving him small touches like a hand against his bicep, she had a fondness for touching his hair which never failed to deliver a shiver down his spine, and hugs from her are comforting - she felt like home.

Meanwhile Mari does not have any idea how she survived the early stages of Damian’s advances. He was blunt and did not pull his words with insults but it apparently translated to him being verbally open with his affections.

M: I always wanted to be the Knitting Fairy while growing up.

D: Does it not please you that you became a garden fairy instead?

M: Huh, that doesn’t sound so bad.

D: Well, you certainly look the part.

M: [turns into the same shade as the poppy beside her]

And then when the tension between them became more prominent he wasn’t shy with dropping innuendos too.

M: [open’s the door for Damian, haggard from lifting sacks of garden soil] Oh, I didn’t know you were coming so early. I’m a bit of a mess. Sorry.

D: [Tilts his head] You say that as if I wouldn’t appreciate you sweaty and tousled after a rigorous activity.

M: [self-combusts]

And when the touching began?

M: Damian, what color do you think looks better with this shade of blue?

D: [places a hand on her side while looking over her shoulder] I think the a more neutral cream would do.

M: [stops functioning]

Their first kiss?

Pulled straight out of a book that Marinette only read in the privacy of her bedroom.

They’re teasing each other, it evolves to a game of cat and mouse with Damian skillfully evading her. She corners him by turning on some of her sprinkles. He gets wet, growls in the way he would in Mari’s dreams, and pulls of his shirt. She’s too distracted by the hard planes of his stomach to notice him prowling towards her like a beast moving to claim his prey. He picks her off the ground with ease - he’s a foot taller than her - and takes her to the sprinklers.

(I’m going to write this part out properly, maybe to inspire myself or a potential adopter of this prompt)

“Nononono!” Marinette shrieks as the first round of water splashes her. She writhes but Damian had her arms held down her sides.

“All is fair in love and war, Ya Amar.” She ignores the endearment in favor of closing her eyes as the sprinkles rotate in their direction again. But she knows what it means. Ya Amar. My moon. His moon. The water had nothing on the chill that ran down her spine

The water stars seeping into her intimates and she’s soberly aware that the light fabric of her dress would betray her. It doesn’t take long for Damian to discover that fact, he releases a strangle sound. She opens her eyes, he snaps his eyes from where he was clearly looking at her chest. He scrambles to drop her.

“Shit— I’m sorry. This was not my intention—“ he starts but she’s faster. Her now free arms grasps his shoulders and without a second thought, she drops her lips to meet his. Damian inhales sharply and he tilts his head, temporarily breaking the kiss before raising her higher and pulling her by the back of neck - he kisses her with hunger and passion that has Marinette melting further against his chest.

She wraps her legs around his back and he moves to tightly grasp both the back of her thighs. She would worry about bruises later when she didn’t have Damian’s tongue caressing her own. He drops them to the ground and Marinette does not release her hold over his waist. She whines against his lips when she feels the consequences of their activity.

His hands start wandering as he greedily collects and files the sounds that leaves her lips. He begins to trail kisses down her neck to the neckline of her dress that now clung to her body like a second skin giving him his first peek at the maddening shape of her body. And just when he trails a finger against the underside of her breast a loud noise pulls them apart.

Jason finds them and the sight in Mari’s garden has him dropping the shovel he was asked to bring over.

J: Fuck! No, don’t stop! Hell—I’ll leave—I didn’t see shit!

D: [moving to cover Marinette who covered her face in embarrassment] Fuck off, Todd!

J: I’m sorry! [slams the door shot]

D: Tt.

J: [shouts from inside the house] Use protection!

D: Todd!

They started officially dating that day and Jason had no reservations in sharing that he definitely cockblocked his little brother much to Mari and Damian’s horror.

Both keeps the PDA to minimum in school but it was very clear how amorous they where in “private”. There is a table in the art hall that Mari can’t quite look at without blushing to her roots.

She finds out he’s Robin after her first encounter with his alter-ego. He confesses his past when she confronts him. There’s fear of abandonment in his eyes when he gazes at her after his spiel but she kisses his worries and doubts away. She even goes to show her appreciation for his years of service to Gotham.

Her reveal happens when she unceremoniously drops a vial in Jason’s hand claiming that it would remedy the effects of the Lazarus pits with continuous use - it was completed after a year in the making.

Cardinal joins the Batfam occasionally as part of Batman’s contingency plans. They respect her choice as a retired super-soldier and try to keep her out of the business which she appreciates. She is officially initiated as a member of Justice League Dark as an informant/magic specialist and a wildcard.

Years later, she legally inherits the property from Gina when she and Damian get engaged. Damian moves in with her and she lives her cottage life all while being a reclusive designer that comes out once in a while for fashion week.

FIN

AN:

Maybe there’s a Lila take down somewhere but I don’t have the energy to write her at all. We all know its Damian and Tim that makes sure she never sets a foot in high society ever again.

Ig add some details about learning to healthily cope with her anxiety disorder under the guidance and love of her found family? (I have a similar illness but me and my therapist are still figuring it out so I have little idea how to write this) Her PTSD does not need further discussion (miss ma’am had to kill someone) but her anxiety disorder stems from the fact the she’s a person who’s in charge of world-ending powers - everyone and even yourself can become untrustworthy. She starts to get nervous from misreading body languages and everyone is suddenly out to get her.

[mochinek0]

Daminette December 2023: 25-Plain Clothes

Marinette sat on the hotel bed, easing her nerves.

'This is a simple mission; a test. Best outcome: we find ShadowMoth. Worst: Zero progress.'

Robin knocked on the door, startling her.

"How are you?" He questioned "Are you ready to leave?"

"Nervous." She answered with a sigh.

"Why? It's a simple mission, is it not?" he replied.

"It's my first mission, as myself. No one but Batman and Wonder Woman knows who I am." She called out.

"We can use an alias." Robin declared.

"Can't." Mari groaned, "I know people at the event. I was going to be here, one way or another."

"I take it that you are well known, then." Robin spoke.

"Yes and you?" Mari asked.

"Correct." he answered.

"Okay." Marinette said, before taking a deep breath.

Tikki shook her head a flew through the door, startling Robin. He quickly put his emotions back in order and glared at her. Tikki giggled.

'He reminds me of Plagg.'

"I am Tikki. I am the Kwami or Goddess of Creation." she spoke, "I am what makes the girl behind the door, Ladybug."

He nodded in response and looked back at the door.

"We will have somoene looking out for us in the shadows." he called out.

"Batman is here?" Ladybug asked.

"No, Superboy. Apparently, he saw your tiny companion here through a door once. His X-Ray vision works on her. Superman couldn't see her, at all." Robin declared, "I know his identity and he won't say anything, unless they have proper clearance. So far, that consist of you, me, Superboy, and Batman. We will have earpieces on and he will be able to communicate with us, if he notices anything."

"Meaning if ShadowMoth is in the crowd-" she stated.

"He should sense it." Robin answered, "If he tried to leave, he is capable of following him and giving us directions to his location."

Marinette walked out of the room, full of confidence and hope. Robin couldn't believe his eyes. Ladybug was a leader. She was strict. She reminded him of his parents, at times; dedicated. This girl in front of him didn't look deadly or commanding. She looked small and shy; she looked like an angel.

"You look.....beautiful." he spoke.

Mari smiled and tried to fight off her blush, "Thank you. How did the suit fit?"

"Um, well. Thank you for the suit." Robin replied, "Where did you get it?"

"I made it." she spoke, "I'm a fashion designer."

Damian looked down at his clothes. He hadn't appreciated them until that moment. He thought it had just been another suit. He looked back up before bowing to her.

"Damian Wayne." He announced.

She smiled back and curtsied, "Marinette Dupain-Cheng."

Marinette walked in on Damian's arm.

"I can see you both. I am still able to see Ladybug. I can see your earrings glowing and your little friend in your bag."

Mari gripped Damian's arm after hearing the voice speak

"Thank you, Superboy." Damian whispered, squeezing Marinette slightly, "He's on our side."

She just nodded. Soon, everyone crowded around them.

"I can see two other people with glowing items in attendance, aside from her."

Damian felt Marinette tense up again.

"Where?" Mari asked, "Who?"

"An older gentleman."

"Must be ShadowMoth." Damian inquired.

"The other?" Mari pressed.

"Our age."

Marinette bit her lip confused.

'Could Felix be here? No; Hawkmoth got the peacock miraculous back from him two years ago. That's why I used Kalki to get into the Justice League's headquarters in space.'

"Heads up. Incoming fast!"

"Hey, Marinette!" Adrien cried out, "I didn't expect you to have a date."

"Watch him."

Damian felt the tiny Ladybug grip his arm like her life depended on it, but on her face was plastered a smile.

"F-Felix?" Mari whispered.

"Uh, no." the blonde answered, "It's Adrien, Adrien Agreste. Did you forget about me?" 

"Why wouldn't my girlfriend have a date?" Damian demanded, moving his arm from to her waist to stabilize her better.

Marinette turned to him and smiled.

"His ring is glowing and he has a creature in his right breast pocket."

Marinette glanced at the familiar ring he wore throughout middle school. An image of it painted black with a neon print came to her mind.

'Adrien is Chat Noir!'

"There's something else. There's a....it looks like a feather inside of him. It looks like it branching out, like veins."

Marinette buckled, feeling faint.

"Mari!" Adrien shouted.

"Angel!" Damian cried out, catching her.

Adrien held her hand as Damian checked her over quickly.

"Are you okay?" Adrien asked.

"Do you think we can get some air?" Marinette questioned, "Still not use to these heels."

"Of course." Damian chuckled, "Did you remember to pack the bandages that Selina recommended?"

Marinette nodded, struggling to get to her feet. As she got up, she slipped the ring off of Adrien's finger, using her Guardian powers. Unfortunately for Adrien, Plagg was asleep and unable to warn him.

Once outside, Marinette burst into tears.

"Marinette?" Damian prodded, confused.

"Adrien is...was my partner." Marinette sobbed, showing him the ring.

"Why did you take it?" he questioned.

"The feather he saw." Mari declared.

"What about-"Damian began.

"He's a sentimonster! That's not the real Adrien and if it is.....who is to say he hasn't been helping Hawkmoth since the beginning?" she stated.

Marinette looked at the ring and placed it on her finger.

"Hey, Kid. What-" Plagg demanded, but once he saw Mari he changed his mind, "Where is he?"

"Did you know?" Marinette questioned.

"Know what?" Plagg asked, confused.

Tikki flew out of Marinette's bag, "Adrien is one of Duusu's creations."

Plagg's jaw dropped, "No!"

He floated down onto the Guardian's hand and sat down.

"You couldn't sense it?" Tikki asked.

"No." he answered shaking his head, "How big were the branches?"

"Large." answered Damian, "According to the half-alien who has x-ray vision and can see through people."

"It is possible that Adrien was never real." Tikki spoke, "For small times, it wouldn't be that much."

Tears poured down her cheeks. Adrien not being real opened up so many possibilities. She wiped her tears away.

"Bug?" Plagg questioned.

Marinette took a deep breath and reached into her bag. She quickly fixed her makeup and grabbed Damian's hand. The ring change from its once silver color to a dark metal with a large emerald.

"You are my partner for this mission." Mari declared, "It is only fitting that you now wear Plagg."

"Will he not notice?" Damian questioned.

"No." the Guardian answered, "The magic of the miraculous will keep him for recognizing it."

"Are you coming?" he asked.

"I need a moment." she whispered.

He nodded and walked back into the venue.

"Marinette?" Tikki whispered.

"I may have to kill Adrien." she answered.

"I have eyes on another."

Marinette stood up and walked back into the gala.

"Male, 40's. Maybe 50's. White suit and glasses."

Marinette looked around and spotted Gabriel Agreste.

She took a deep breath and asked, "Where is it?"

"Under his tie. It's red and white."

'Yep. That describes Gabriel Agreste, perfectly.'

Before she could make her way towards him, Adrien jumped out of the crowd, in front of her. From his eyes, she could tell he was panicking.

"Mari, hey, did you see me drop my ring?" He pressed.

"Ring?" Marinette asked.

"The one I always wear. The silver one!" Adrien stated.

"No." she answered, "I'm sorry. I didn't notice it. We can go back to where we were and see if It fell off. Maybe, someone kicked it under a table or something?"

Adrien nodded and followed her towards where they had been. He looked through the crowd.

"Where's your boyfriend?" he asked.

"Talking with other people about his father's business." Mari shrugged.

"Oh." he answered, "So, uh, how long have you guys been a thing?"

"Oooh, maybe he likes you. Robin, you need to step you're game up. Someone is trying to steal Ladybug from you."

'Yeah, right.'

"Be silent. This isn't a commentary show."

'Thank you, Robin.'

"Two years." Marinette answered, quickly.

"Nice save. Using how long you have been coming to the League, I'm assuming."

"Oh, that's nice." Adrien replied.

"Incoming."

"Miss Dupain-Cheng." Gabriel spoke.

"Hello, Mr. Agreste." Marinette smiled back.

"I couldn't help but notice that you came in with young Damian Wayne." he declared.

Mari answered back, "Yes. He is my date for tonight's event. We figured since we were both coming, why not announce our relationship?"

"I see." he spoke, not noticing his son wilt at her answer, "I was hoping you would come work for Gabriel. I understand Audrey still has an invitation open for you, as well."

"Thank you very much, Mr. Agreste, but Damian has offered me my own studio." She announced, "Not an internship. He will be paying for the building and I will take care of the rest. My boyfriend has confidence in my work."

"Well, Miss Dupain-Cheng, good luck to you." Gabriel stated, "Will your studio be here in Paris?"

"No. I'll be leaving Paris at the end of the week to Gotham." Marinette declared.

Adrien quickly turned to her in shock.

"You're leaving?" the model exclaimed, to which she nodded, "Why haven't you said anything?"

"Adrien." Gabriel growled.

"I've been so busy and my apartment can't really contain my designs and equipment." Mari answered, "I've been working out of my place and have been so focused on my commissions."

Damian created a distraction by throwing five silver platters at the giant windows, as if they were shuriken. People began to scream when all the windows shattered at once. Many believed it was the work of an akuma and started to scream. Many began to push people out of the way to get towards a door, faster. Marinette took notice of Gabriel leaving during the middle of the chaos, leaving Adrien behind. Quickly, an akuma appeared out of one of the scared party-goers.

"I have him."

Adrien began to look around the room, after he lost sight of Marinette. He spotted her again, hoping to see her transform into his Lady.

'She had to of taken the ring!'

Adrien noticed bits of the ceiling beginning to crumble above her head. He watched through the chaos as the ceiling began to collapse overhead.

'Transform!'

Damian grabbed her arm and pulled her to his chest, as he dodged the debris. Marinette sobbed into his chest. Damian picked her up and ran out of the building with her. Watching his friend cry in the arms of her lover, he realized it wasn't her. She wasn't Ladybug.

'Shit! Where the fuck is my ring?'

Marinette jumped out of Damian's arms, as he moved them to the side of the building.

"You're positive you have eyes on him?" Marinette questioned, getting into Ladybug mode.

"Yes."

"Spots on." Mari spoke.

"Claws out." Damian whispered.

"Can you creep up on him and knock him out?" Ladybug asked.

Damian smiled, evily, "I was trained in stealth."

"Do it." she replied, "I'll deal with the akuma."

He nodded and followed Signal's directions. There stood Gabriel Agreste in another room of the building, transformed as Shadowmoth. Damian quietly snuck up on him and used one of the techniques his mother had taught him to temporarily paralyze someone. Shadowmoth was caught off guard as he collapsed to the floor.

"My apologies, Shadowmoth," a new cat like figure spoke, taking the brooches off of him, "but the hunt is over. I have acquired them, Ladybug."

Ladybug quickly destroyed the akuma and announced, "Shadowmoth has been defeated. This plan has been in the making for along time."

Paris began to cheer in happiness.

With help from the Batfam, they were able to clear out certain evidence out of Agreste Manor. They placed Emilie and Natalie into a hospital. Gabriel was still paralyzed on his right side; the doctors believed he had a stroke. Adrien was temporarily staying at the Bourgeois hotel. Gabriel lay in the hospital bed upset. At the foot of his bed was Ladybug and Chat Noir's stealthy replacement.

"Your days are over." he growled, "I'll come back!"

"The miraculous will be out of Paris, tonight." Ladybug replied.

"You-" he hissed.

"Do you realize I have to kill your son, Adrien?" She asked, causing him to freeze, "I know he's a sentimonster. The question is was he always a sentimonster or is the real one hidden away like your wife?"

"My wife wanted a child!" Gabriel declared, "We couldn't have one and that was all she wanted. I jus wanted her to watch him grow up."

"Adrien is sucking the life out of her." The Guardian stated, "It's one or the other; not both."

Gabriel paled at the news.

"Will you kill her son, who she did everything for, just to bring her back? Or will you give him the life she wanted for him?" Ladybug questioned, "She will remember everything."

"We will find them again." Gabriel stated.

Ladybug sighed, "No, you won't. I've asked the Justice League to take them off planet and onto another. They could bury it on the center of Pluto or send it to another planet that Earth could never reach. No one will ever find them again."

Hawkmoth sagged in defeat.

"Adrien doesn't know." he spoke, "He had nothing to do with this."

"Then, let him live his own life, like your wife would have wanted." The Guardian whispered, "Spend time with him. The Justice League will be keeping an eye on you and your movements from now on."

Ladybug walked up to Adrien Agreste.

"Ladybug, I had no idea-" he began.

"Chat, I'm sorry." she whispered.

"Huh?" the model stammered, "Did you steal away from Plagg? You replaced me?"

"I had too." She answered.

"When did you find out?" Adrien asked, "Did you-"

"You know we've been getting help from the Justice League." Ladybug spoke, "At one point I had to recharge and someone was able to sense Tkiki. They came along hoping to sense ShadowMoth's kwamis. I had to take him from you; they sensed you were in danger."

"I don't understand!" he cried out.

She sighed, "Your father was Hawkmoth."

"No!" Adrien exclaimed, "We ruled him out!"

"He got smart. He threw us off his trail." Ladybug continued, "He won't go to jail, but he will be under Justice League surveillance. They will know every keystroke on his computer and be able to listen to every phone call. You can still have your father; be thankful you are not losing him too."

Adrien sagged in defeat, "What happened? Did he really have a stoke?"

"The temporary chat snuck up behind him and knocked him out. We think realizing he lost the miraculous caused the stroke." Ladybug declared.

"Why?" Adrien asked, "Why did he-"

"Your mother is very ill." She admitted, "He wanted to heal her."

"That's it?" he shouted, "All these years? All of Paris' pain and suffering, the nightmares.....it was for my mother?"

"I'm sorry." The Guardian apologized.

"Can I know who you are?" Adrien questioned, "You promised."

"I wish I could, but you're too close to him." Ladybug answered, causing him to pale, "Plagg is in good hands for now. I will be giving up my mantle today. I won't even remember you; I don't want to cause you anymore pain. Can you really handle seeing me everyday when I won't be able to remember my own name?"

Adrien's eyes began to water.

"I wish you a good life, Chat." She smiled, "Find love. Be happy. Your father can no longer design. Gabriel will likely fall so you won't have to model anymore."

He smiled through his tears.

"Do what makes you happy." Ladybug declared, before leaving.

"Are you sure that was a wise thing to do?" Damian questioned.

Marinette nodded, "He deserves to be happy. The Justice League will have him under heavy surveillance and if he starts to follow in his father's footsteps, I'll use the Peacock to undo him."

"I thought I was meant for the Kwami of Destruction." Damian smirked.

"Oh, shut up." Mari scoffed.

TAGLIST: @maribat-calendar-events @animeweebgirl@a-star-with-a-human-name@meme991001@vixen-uchiha@abrx2002@alysrose-starchild@fandom-trapped-03@dood-space@moonlightstar64@saltymiraculer@marveldcedits20@09shell-sea09@icerosecrystal@animegirlweeb@insane-fangirl-of-everything@blueblossombliss@nickristus-dreamer@megawhitleycalderonpaganus@missmadwoman@meira-3919@princessdaisysolosyourfaves@blep-23@fangirlingfanatic@darkhinauniverse@ravenr22@im-a-satanic-ritual@ravennm84@bianca-hooks123@a-slytherinish-gryffindor@starling218

[princess-sof-time]

Hi Can I Request Felix, Adrien, Luka, Kyoko and Marinette With A Male S/O Who Has A Miraculous With Magic Concept And Can Cast Spells And Use The Powers.

Of Telepathy, telekinesis, Hypnosis. Intangibility, X-ray vision, and Invisibility In other words, it is practically impossible to have some kind of privacy with the S/O nearby.

How would they handle S/O always using her At-Will powers since it's a Miraculous From Another Box?

How would they deal with the fact that S/O has an extremely possessive Kwami and dislikes them and other Kwami?

─── ･ ｡ﾟ☆: .☽ . :☆ﾟ. ──────

🄵🄴🄻🄸🅇 🄵🄰🅃🄷🄾🄼

• Felix would handle his Male S/O's magical abilities with patience and understanding. Though he might find it difficult to have privacy due to his powers, he would appreciate your uniqueness and respect your need to use the Miraculous.

• To deal with the constant use of the S/O's powers, Felix would establish open communication with them. He would express his feelings about needing some personal space at times and find compromises to find a balance between his presence and privacy. They would work together to create boundaries and guidelines for when and where the S/O can use their powers to avoid misunderstandings.

• Regarding the possessive Kwami, Felix would approach the situation diplomatically. He would understand that Kwami's protection comes from a place of care for his S/O and his Miraculouses. Felix strove to build a positive relationship with the Kwami, showing them respect, kindness and sincerity. With time and patience, he hopes to gain the Kwami's trust and prove that he truly cares for their S/O.

• Felix also tried to include the Kwami in his activities whenever possible, engaging them in conversation and making them feel valued as part of the team. He would show empathy for the Kwami's feelings and try to find common ground to improve their relationship.

• Overall, Felix would embrace the magical aspect of his S/O's life, understanding that he is an integral part of who they are. He would work to build a strong and sympathetic connection with them, appreciating the enchanting qualities that accompany their miraculous powers.

🄰🄳🅁🄸🄴🄽 🄰🄶🅁🄴🅂🅃🄴

• Adrien would handle the male S/O and his magical powers with patience and understanding. Even though it's difficult to have privacy with so many powers around, he would value the S/O's uniqueness and respect the need to use the Miraculous.

• To deal with the constant use of S/O's powers, Adrien would talk openly with him. He would express his feelings about the importance of having moments of privacy and seek solutions to balance the presence of the S/O and the necessary intimacy. Together they would create boundaries and rules for when and where the S/O could use their powers, preventing misunderstandings.

• Regarding the possessive Kwami, Adrien would approach the situation diplomatically. He would understand that Kwami's concern stems from his affection for S/O and the Miraculous. Adrien would make efforts to build a positive relationship with Kwami by showing respect, kindness and sincerity. With patience, he would hope to gain Kwami's trust and prove that he genuinely cares for S/O.

• Adrien would also try to include Kwami in his activities whenever possible, involving him in conversations and making sure he feels appreciated as part of the team. He would empathize with Kwami's feelings and seek common ground to improve their relationship.

• In short, Adrien would embrace the magical aspect of S/O's life, understanding that it's an important part of who he is. He would work to build a strong, supportive connection with the S/O, appreciating the enchanting qualities that accompany its miraculous powers.

🄻🅄🄺🄰 🄲🄾🅄🄵🄵🄰🄸🄽🄴

• With his serene and relaxed demeanor, Luka effortlessly adapted to the uniqueness of the situation, embracing the wonders of his partner's abilities with an open mind. He would take the time to learn more about the extent and nature of these powers, seeking to understand how they can positively impact their lives and the world around them.

• However, as with any significant advantage, Luka would be well aware of the potential challenges that constant use of these miraculous powers can bring, particularly in terms of privacy concerns. Understanding the importance of personal boundaries, he would initiate open and honest communication with his S/O, encouraging them to freely express their feelings and concerns.

• In their discussions, Luka would suggest finding creative ways to strike a balance between using these powers for practical purposes and preserving your privacy. Whether setting specific times to use the skills or creating safe environments for more sensitive conversations, he would be actively committed to supporting his partner's emotional well-being.

• Luka's caring and empathetic nature would extend not only to his S/O, but also to the possessive Kwami that accompanies the Miraculous. Recognizing the significance of this mystical being and his bond with his partner, he would approach the situation with patience and understanding.

• Taking the time to build a relationship with Kwami, Luka would strive to understand his perspective and motivations. By showing genuine interest and treating the Kwami with respect, he would seek to foster a harmonious relationship that considered everyone's needs and wants.

• As their relationship grows, Luka becomes a pillar of support and encouragement, celebrating his S/O's unique abilities while helping them navigate the challenges that come with possessing such extraordinary powers. He would be a constant source of reassurance, reminding his partner that they are not only defined by their abilities but by the person they are, and that their worth lies in their kindness, compassion and strength of character.

🄺🅈🄾🄺🄾 🅃🅂🅄🅁🅄🄶🄸

• Kyoko quickly realized that having a partner with such incredible abilities meant giving up some privacy.

• At first, her partner's constant use of powers could be overwhelming for Kyoko. As a private person, she felt exposed and vulnerable, but she understood that sacrifices were necessary for the good of the relationship. Rather than allow it to drive them apart, she chose to accept his uniqueness and learned to communicate openly about her feelings.

• Their relationship was put to the test further when Kyoko discovered that her S/O miraculous was from a different box, which raised questions about Kwami's origins. Together they rose to this challenge, delving into the mysteries behind their miraculous origins and the consequences of possessing them.

• However, one of the most challenging aspects was dealing with S/O's possessive Kwami, who seemed to dislike them and other Kwamis. Kyoko and her S/O had frank conversations to understand Kwami's perspective and find a solution. With patience and empathy, they gradually gained Kwami's trust, showing him that they had only good intentions.

• Over time, Kyoko and her S/O built a strong bond, acting as a close-knit team, using their unique abilities to protect Paris from any threat that came their way. The trials they went through brought them even closer, strengthening the love and understanding between them.

• Together they proved that love can overcome all challenging situations, even the most magical and possessive ones. With unwavering support for each other, they embraced their extraordinary lives and faced each day with courage, knowing that together they would be unstoppable.

🄼🄰🅁🄸🄽🄴🅃🅃🄴 🄳🅄🄿🄰🄸🄽-🄲🄷🄴🄽🄶

• Marinette realizes that her partner has a wide range of magical powers and understands the importance of establishing rules and talking openly to ensure their privacy. They understand that, even with the constant use of powers, it is essential to set clear boundaries to enjoy intimate moments.

• By openly talking about their feelings and needs, they find a balance between the excitement of being with someone with magical abilities and the desire to have personal moments alone. Mutual trust is supported by frank communication, which further strengthens the bond between them.

• Although Marinette finds her partner's powers fascinating, she also recognizes the importance of exercising caution to avoid accidental and potentially dangerous use of them. Understanding the potential risks and consequences not only contributes to the security of their relationship, but is also critical to protecting the city of Paris.

• The extra challenge comes in the form of the possessive Kwami who accompanies his partner. Dealing with the Kwami's reluctance towards others and his dislike of other Kwamis requires empathy and understanding. Together, Marinette and her partner tackle Kwami's concerns, delving into her past experiences and fears to ease her discomfort with others.

• On this journey, Marinette learns the importance of being patient and welcoming, seeking to understand Kwami's emotions and helping him overcome his insecurities. This kind and empathetic approach strengthens everyone's relationship, creating a more harmonious dynamic between them.

• As they explore life with magical powers and Kwami by their side, Marinette and her partner become an unstoppable team, facing challenges and dangers with confidence and togetherness. Living with the possessive Kwami teaches the importance of mutual respect and appreciation of the peculiarities of each being, making them an unlikely family, but full of love and understanding.

─── ･ ｡ﾟ☆: .☽ . :☆ﾟ. ──────

[flightfoot]

Do you have ML fic rec with supernatural theme? Smt like Spellbound or Bell the Cat thing perhaps?

You're in luck, I love supernatural/fantasy ML fics! I tagged everyone I know the tumblrs for, feel free to tag anyone I missed!

COMPLETE FICS:

---

Dreams of You by @chocoluckchipz

Dreams had long been his only escape. Dreams of Ladybug, the girl who had always been there for him. If only in his dreams. And only while she was also sleeping. Because with the first rays of sunshine gliding over her skin, with the first fluttering of her eyelashes, from the moment she opened her eyes in the morning, memories of Adrien would vanish from her mind. She would go on living her life. He would always be the only one who remembered. At least until they meet in the real world and fall in love all over again, something that would’ve been easier to do if Adrien wasn't a prisoner in his own home.

---

May I Introduce Myself, Your Highness? by @chocoluckchipz

Whether picking up a stray animal off the streets or saving a dying child at the market, Adrien had always strived to be the best version of himself. Truly, he would've been the perfect candidate to be snatched up by a kwami, were he an orphan, dying somewhere remote after a short life full of nothing but suffering and misery. Yet as it stood, the sole heir to the French throne had little to complain about. Apart from, perhaps, a complete absence of a love life. That is until a mysterious girl, wandering around his gardens at night, catches his attention.

---

How Marinette Learned to Stop Worrying And Love The Ball by @rosie-b

Hidden from the crowds thronging around the busy fairy portal in Paris's town square, a fae gate sits at the edge of the forest, locked, rusty, and full of ancient magic. Marinette thinks that this abandoned gate must not work anymore... but one day, a fairy disguised as a black cat steps through it.

---

a winter so warm by @rosekasa

winters were hard for even the best of vampires, but at least adrien had marinette to keep him warm with her cuddles.

december was going to suck without her. so it was only to be expected to get extra cuddles in before she left, right?

(well, not really, considering those heating supplements he was taking, but she didn't need to know about that).

---

Stitched Together by @nedjsmlfavs

Stitch Witch Marinette was just supposed to be having a nice, terrifying outing with her best friends. She never expected to find a magically trapped kitten, but here we are! Whatever happened to this poor little guy?

---

The Mer-Human Race by @rosie-b

Bringing her hand closer to his lips, Adrien tried to plant a kiss on it, but Marinette pulled away before his lips could touch her.

“Save it for your girlfriend,” she said teasingly. “Or do you still not have one yet?”

Adrien smirked and crossed his arms.

“It’s a girl,” he said. “And I know her in real life. That’s all you get. Now, let’s get back to planning, shall we? We have a mermaid to beat.”

---

See This Chance by @19thsentry-blog

Luka died in 2016. Yep. Crushed by the Arc de Triumph when Mayura’s Robustus slammed into it. It was kind of a big deal, but once you’re dead, you’re dead—especially when there’s no Lucky Charm to bring you back.

Luka’s been dealing with it in the typical ways.

Written for FeLuka week 2023.

---

the legend of the firefly by @agnes-writes

“She’s… beautiful.

If he were to describe her, he’d say that they bottled summer in her eyes, and painted the night sky in her hair. Her lips are curved into a wistful smile, eyes trailing the thicket of trees where Adrien stands.

Her gaze sets his heart stuttering in his chest as it softens, and Adrien almost believes that look is meant for him.”

OR: A pair of lovers create a romance that transcends time, and leaves a mark like no other.

---

Anchor by @liiinerle

“Marinette. Please take that sabre out of your neck.”

“Right. Thanks. I forgot it was there.” She grabbed hold of the guard and pulled; the blade slid out like it had only been run through butter. After dropping it on the floor, she picked up one of the teacups and picked up a biscuit from a tin she’d brought in; she placed the biscuit on the saucer plate and handed the whole thing to Kagami, who could only really resign herself to accepting it.

-----

Marinette has raised Kagami from the dead, and also happens to be dead herself. It turns out some bad choices were made in the past. But that doesn't mean they'll lead to bad outcomes for them now.

---

delicate in every way but one by katrinette

When Marinette finds a wanted ad that provokes just enough questions in her mind that she can't help answering it, the reward is sweeter than she could have imagined.

---

whose woods these are (I think i know) by Reiaji

Four years after his future turns to cinders, Adrien is a servant in the house he was meant to inherit. Disowned by his father and abused by his stepmother, his days are filled with drudgery until he meets a masked huntress in the forest behind his father's chateau. As his friendship with Ladybug turns to first love, he dreams of a future spent at her side. Then, on the eve of the Princess's masquerade, he meets his guardian—and is granted a wish. [Ladrien Cinderella AU]

---

don't you worry child by @mexicancat-girl

Marc and Nathaniel have a good life, married and living together in a cottage in the woods. But they consider having children at some point. Marc in particular really wants to start a family with his husband. He knows the fey are real, so he goes searching in the woods to find one to strike a deal. He may get a bit more than he bargained for in the process.

---

hella enchanted by @xiueryn:

Years ago, Marinette's father died and she was left with her awful stepmother. With magic forcing her to obey every command, she lived as a servant and gave up hope. When a man appears, searching for the very fairy that blessed her, Marinette decides to give life one more try. AU.

(a different ella enchanted au.)

---

How Could I Not? by SorryJustAnotherPerson

In fairy tale books, Princesses were saved by nights from ferocious dragons. Those books were not their story, but Rose was happy to flip over a new page with her Juleka every single day.

Many years ago, she was put to this tower by her parents and her kingdom, along with a fire breathing dragon, so she could find her prince charming one day. How foolish for them to not calculate her falling in love with the dragon. I mean seriously.

How could she not?

Once Upon A Time by kao_rei:

"Humans fear wolves. I mean, we're horrible, sickening creatures, aren't we?" Adrien laughed.

"I don't think so," Marinette muttered. "Well, not anymore when I met you."

Marinette's days are all the same—she puts on her red cape, makes deliveries for her parents' bakery, and goes home to rest before another busy day. Adrien is a wolf-boy who watches her from afar, awaiting the day they finally meet to change their stories.

While falling in love may bring about some challenges, they're willing to fight through them together because they'd never settle for a "the end". They want a "happily ever after", too.

(In which Marinette is Little Red Riding Hood, Adrien is the Wolf, and they fall in love somewhere between deliveries, flower fields, and shiny red apples).

---

life's waiting for you by @mexicancat-girl

Marc is the shy and soft-spoken Prince of the Underworld, used to being ignored at best and feared at worst. He greatly admires Nathaniel, the Prince of Nature, who’s much too out of his league. Handsome, kind, charming, and charmingly modest, with hair as red as a rose and talented artists' hands. Yearning for the love of a nature deity when he’s a deity of death is beyond ridiculous, so Marc keeps his hopes low. But an encounter at the border between the Underworld and the surface leads the two to speaking, which leads to Marc showing Nathaniel his writing and Nathaniel his art. And from there blooms a beautiful friendship…Or maybe more.

---

to love beauty is to see light by sagansjagger

Young common-mer Adrien will do anything to please his father, Gabriel Agreste. Adrien will even alter his tail, that hideous thing. But the sea witch he seeks out is not who he expected. A common-mer striking up a friendship with an anglerfish-mer is taboo among mermaid kind, but Marinette Dupain-Cheng is too interesting for Adrien to just leave her alone...

---

Ghost of You by its_just_iori

It finally happened. The akuma attacked at the wrong time. They weren't prepared. For the first time, there was a casualty. Someone was killed. Marinette doesn't care that her identity was exposed to the world; she can't stop blaming herself for what happened. If only she'd been ready... if only she'd done more... There's nothing for Adrien to say. There's nothing he can do other than stay by her side and help her through this pain.

---

The Pink Lady: Marichat May 2018 by seasonofthegeek

In this story, Chat Noir, Carapace, Rena Rouge, Queen B, and Paon are the heroes of Paris. The Ladybug Miraculous has been lost for almost a century and it takes all of their combined power to cleanse akumas sometimes but they’ve found something that works since they don’t have another option. Hawkmoth is one of their villains, but not the only one plaguing Paris. Chat Noir happens upon an old hotel one night on patrol and discovers something and someone he didn't expect.

INCOMPLETE FICS

The Beauty of a Rose by properjitterbug

In the small town of Bellerose, Marinette and Adrien are childhood friends while secretly pining for each other. They lead happy lives until one day a long, forgotten promise is stirred awake; changing their lives in ways they couldn't imagine. With time marching on, Marinette is left to chase after ghosts of her past as a strange creature appears in the depths of the mysterious forest. Arc 1: Chapters 1-11: Complete Arc 2: Chapters 12-?: In Progress -- Werecat!Adrien x Marinette

Note: this one's M-rated for a reason.

---

what worse luck by GuardianKarenTerrier

He doesn't know what happens. One minute he's struggling against the leash spell, the next he's tripping on his own momentum as the magic suddenly snaps, as he tastes freedom for the first time in- in ever, probably. Adrien doesn't stop long enough to think about where he's going or why. He just bolts. (Marinette's spell goes wildly off-target, but it's a stroke of luck for everyone involved that it does).

---

fire lily petals by @fragileizy

“Do you believe in soulmates?” His little witch looks up from her mortar and pestle, setting a heavy book in front of him at the table. The weight of the textbook upsets the flame of their oil lamp enough to scatter and smudge the shadows around them, and he stares down at the page for something to do instead of looking at her glittering eyes. Of course I do, he wants to say. Of course I believe in soulmates. I believe in it every time you look at me, Marinette. It’s as true as the demonic seal that stains my chest at our contract— it’s as true as the demonic seals that burn on your ear lobes that you keep hidden with your hair at our contract. But he’s a coward. He’s nothing more than a coward. The great Chat Noir, the legendary demon who has fought countless demonic wars, who has looked at the concept of death thousands of times, helpless to the way this witch looks at him. “It’s very... fairy-tale-like. Is it not?” Part One: Chapters 1 - 20 Complete Part Two: Chapters 21+ In Progress

---

Living With Dragons by @nomolosk

Stifled at home, Prince Adrien just wants to have an adventure. Accidentally captured instead of her mistress, Marinette Dupain-Cheng just wants to go home. But when you're living with dragons, things are bound to get interesting, and both of them might just end up finding something they like better. Set in the world of the Enchanted Forest Chronicles by Patricia C. Wrede.

[rosie-b]

I Can Hear the Bells (you didn't hear the chimes)

2 chapters, completed (9806 words)

“So, you had a dream about Marinette. Was it a good dream?”

Adrien practically melted. “It was amazing, Plagg,” he said with a wistful sigh. “We were lying on a beach together, and she kissed me and—”

“Ugh, I get it! So, it was a love spell. No real danger, problem solved. Thank cheese.”

“A love spell? Wait, but Plagg, couldn’t that mean that Marinette got affected, too? What if— oh, no,” Adrien gasped. “What if I made her fall in love with me?”

You can read the rest on AO3; chapter one is just below!

Adrien was becoming a rather decent witch.

He wasn’t the best one in the world, but he’d gained a mastery of 23 complex spells and 74 simple ones over the past three months since his eighteenth birthday. That meant he had to be doing well, right?

Even so, the near-constant pressure to study magic he got from Plagg, his familiar and instructor in all things magical, was taking its toll. What Adrien needed, as Plagg had conceded after his pupil had nearly fainted after a simple tea leaves reading, was a solid few days spent off. A break, during which Adrien could relax and recharge by taking advantage of others’ magic abilities, instead of relying on his own.

“What you need,” Plagg had said, lazily floating in front of Adrien with an unbothered expression on his face, “Is a good relaxation spell. And your specialty is destructive magic, so you can’t make one for yourself.”

Adrien had sighed and waved Plagg’s stinky breath away with one hand. “And where would I find one, then? Magic is still new to me, after all; I don’t know any other witches I could ask to give me one.”

“And that’s entirely your parents’ fault,” Plagg had sniffed. “In the old days, no witch worth their salt would have died without leaving a secret book of instructions for their kid. But no, they had to leave the dirty work to your poor, abused familiar!” 

The kwami was fond of lamenting in this way to Adrien, who’d gotten used to it by then.

“Plagg, we’ve been over this. Just get to the point, please!”

Plagg had scowled at Adrien for a moment and then given up the act.

“There are plenty of other witches in Paris. The reason that you haven’t met them is because they only go out without being disguised as normal mortals at night, and then only on certain days of the moon cycle. On those nights, they hold a magic fair, a collection of witches’ shops. And we’re in luck, because there’s a fair tonight!”

Adrien had brightened up immediately. “Really? Where is it?”

Plagg had waved one tiny paw dismissively. “If you go out past sundown and keep yourself open to magic, you’ll be able to sense where to find it; it’s easy. Once you get there, pick up a spelled object; it’ll be a toiletry item, a bath bomb or whatever those creative witches are putting their spells into these days. Whatever it is, it’ll probably have lavender in it, like most relaxation spells do.”

“Lavender bath bomb, Paris witch shop, nighttime. Got it. Thanks, Plagg!”

And so, taking his familiar’s advice, Adrien was going to visit a magic fair. He’d taken Plagg with him, although the little kwami had protested that he was losing quality napping time. But for all his protests and prickly personality, Adrien knew that Plagg cared about him deep down.

Adrien left his apartment fifteen minutes after the last rays of sun had disappeared from the sky. As soon as he stepped outside, he felt a tugging sensation in his chest. 

“To the left,” he muttered, because that’s where the sensation seemed to be leading him.

“To the left, to the left, to the left,” Plagg repeated in a nasal voice. “Now kick, now kick, now kick—”

“Oh come on, Plagg!” Adrien cried in exasperation. 

The kwami only giggled and flew out ahead of Adrien. “You come on,” he smirked.

Adrien rolled his eyes, but stepped forward, slowly following the magic map with only a few wrong turns, eventually ending up at Place des Vosges.

There, lined up around the perimeter of the park, with some shops in the center by the fountain, was a collection of twenty or so little tents made of colorful, embroidered cloth. This is it, the magic seemed to say. This is what you’re looking for.

Around the outside of the park, there was a glowing teal line. Adrien paused before it, deciding whether he should cross it, or if some warning system would be triggered if he did. 

“What is that?” he asked Plagg.

Plagg twitched his tail. “It’s a time spell. Once you enter the park, you can spend as long as you need inside, but once you exit, it will be like only a few minutes passed. That way everyone can get their shopping done and still get enough sleep tonight.”

“Oh,” Adrien hummed. “That’s really smart!”

And he stepped over the line into the park, with Plagg just behind him.

Wooden signs outside the tents announced what was sold in each, from charms to potions. There was even a tent selling ‘illusive’ hats, whatever that meant.

“The tents are a temporary thing,” Plagg continued. “They use a different spell, an illusion, to let the witches set them all up before sundown. That way, the boring normal Parisians don’t suspect a thing, and the ancient tradition of— oh camembert! A cheese tent! Adrien, I have to go. I will meet you when you leave the circle! Good luck and goodbye!”

Before Adrien could get in a single question, his familiar was zipping off to a small tent near the edge of the park. Shrugging, he kept walking along, knowing that Plagg would show up eventually—once he’d eaten half the poor cheese seller’s stock, probably.

There were a lot of witches gathered in the park, most of them with a kwami floating nearby. Some of them were even wearing pointed hats, which Adrien thought was rather strange. He’d assumed, after Plagg had suddenly appeared and announced magic’s existence to him on his eighteenth birthday, that pointy hats were just a made-up stereotype, not a fact of witches’ society!

Adrien passed seven tents that didn’t seem to carry the right kind of spelled items before he found a medium-sized red tent that advertised a variety of healing and creative spells. That sounded a lot like what Plagg had described earlier, so he headed inside the tent, whose sign read “Ladybug’s Boutique.”

There was no chime like he’d expect at a normal store as he stepped inside, but he only had a moment to glance around before the handful of people inside the tent fell quiet, staring at him like they’d never seen a blond boy in Paris before.

“Rena, I’ll call you back,” the witch sitting at the tiny checkout desk said, and pressed the earring in her left ear. “Fly, helcome, er, welcome! What brings a person like you here?”

Adrien blinked at the witch, who didn’t have a kwami near her, but was wearing a red hat with black spots on it. She must be Ladybug. Somehow, she looked familiar, but Adrien was positive he’d never met her before.

“Uh, I’m just here to look around, I guess. I wanted to get a bath bomb, but I haven’t found any so far.”

Ladybug’s smile twitched. “I see. Well, luckily for you, I do sell bath bombs—totally normal bath bombs! So normal, like, you wouldn’t believe.” She gestured vaguely to a basket of bath bombs sitting to the left of the desk, half-hidden by a rack of scarves.

Adrien wasn’t sure why normalcy would be a selling point for a witch’s bath bombs. Maybe she just meant they didn’t work any differently from non-magic bath bombs?

Around Adrien, the other witches turned back to what they’d been doing before. The ones who’d brought their kwamis subtly ushered them into purses or pockets — their hiding spots, in other words. 

Adrien wondered if the other witches thought he wanted to steal their kwamis. Not that a teacher more open with their information than Plagg wouldn’t be nice, but he had no intention of taking one, and besides, he was somehow growing fond of the stinky cat.

Adrien didn’t say anything, because he didn’t want to be rude. Instead, he kept addressing Ladybug, who seemed like the only one to be okay with his presence, even if she was still a bit jumpy.

“Oh, thanks! I guess I’ll just take a look through them, then,” he said. He walked over to the basket and began sorting through.

Just before he reached the basket, he’d caught a mumbled whisper from one of the guests. Adrien wasn’t positive what it had been, but he was pretty sure it was a spell. 

And considering how blank the bath bombs’ wrappers now were, he was pretty sure it had somehow erased the labels from each one of them.

Adrien scowled. Okay, that was just rude!

He shot a frown at the man who’d cast the spell, but there was no sense in starting a fight over it, so he kept sorting through and did his best to guess at what each bath bomb’s spell was. There were a few purple ones, and Plagg had said the spell would be lavender, so it had to be one of those ones. 

Eventually, Adrien grabbed a bath bomb that was light purple on top, with a pale white lower half. Most of the bath bombs seemed to be of that kind, which meant that Ladybug made a surplus of relaxing spells on purpose. She probably cared deeply about helping other witches stay relaxed in their crazy lives! That was so nice of her.

Adrien walked over to the desk to check out. It took him all of two steps, and Ladybug was already ready to scan his purchase when he arrived. 

She stared at the bath bomb for a moment when Adrien handed it to her. 

“This doesn’t have a label,” she said, staring up at him like he’d peeled it off himself.

“None of them do anymore. I’m not really sure why,” Adrien sighed, because he really wasn’t sure why the other witch would be so petty as to ruin all the hard work of whoever had prepared the bath bombs for selling, likely Ladybug herself.

“I see,” Ladybug said, shooting a glare at someone behind Adrien. A chime sounded as whoever it had been stepped out of the tent. “I don’t even know what sp— what type this is anymore. I make so many of these,” she fussed as she lifted the bath bomb and sniffed it. “I don’t know. I mean, I think I know? And it shouldn’t matter anyway, right? But I could be wrong, and if I’m wrong, then! Then!”

Ladybug clutched at her hair, clearly about to fly into a panic.

Adrien smiled reassuringly. “This is the one I want. Don’t worry,” he said, keeping a calming smile on his face. “If you’re wrong, I will only blame myself, I promise.”

“And Claude,” Ladybug muttered under her breath. Then, with a smile, she continued, “I’m so sorry about the mixup. How about you just take it for free as an apology, okay?”

Adrien shook his head. “That’s awfully generous of you, but you don’t need to apologize. I’m sure it wasn’t your fault. Let me give you something to cover it, at least. How much would it usually cost?”

Ladybug tapped her fingers on the desk, which did not, Adrien noticed, have a cash register on it. 

“There’s no label, is there, which means no price, which means you don’t have to pay. I insist,” she said with a blinding smile when Adrien opened his mouth to protest. “Please. Just take it.”

Adrien closed his mouth with a click. “Okay,” he said reluctantly. “I’ll take it. But then you have to take this,” he said.

And slamming down a ten on the desk, Adrien darted out of the shop before Ladybug could catch on to what he’d done and forcibly give the money back. He’d learned from experience that nice people like her did not take kindly to people paying them when they thought they were owed nothing. But Adrien knew that he had to pay something for the bath bomb, though how much, he had no idea. 

He hoped ten euros had been enough. But maybe it was too much? 

Oh, well. If it was, then it was just extra payment for the kerfuffle he’d caused. He knew that there had been fewer witches when he left than when he’d entered, and he hated the thought that he could’ve cost her business with his inexperienced, somehow repulsive witch’s air.

“Plagg!” he called when he reached the edge of the park. “Plagg! Over here!”

A few seconds later, a small black cat, noticeably rotund, slowly flew over to Adrien. 

“Did you have any luck?” Plagg asked with a burp.

Adrien wrinkled his nose. “Yes, actually, though not in making any witchy friends. Come on, we need to leave, I’m like cyanide to businesses here!”

Plagg frowned as they left the park’s protective circle. “Yeesh, I didn’t think you would be that bad at blending in. You’re all witches,” he said, pondering the matter.

“Yeah, but I guess learning about magic eighteen years later than normal marks me as different somehow. I don’t blame them, it seems like a close-knit community and seeing someone new intrude on it must have been weird. Maybe next time will go smoother.”

“Maybe,” Plagg agreed. “I’ll have plenty of time to whip you into shape by then. We’ve got a whole fortnight,” he informed Adrien.

“That’s good,” Adrien said. “As long as your teaching doesn’t involve any camembert, I think we’ll be ready for a second shot by then.”

__*__*__*__*__

Adrien almost turned the key the wrong way in the lock when he got back to his apartment.

He was still getting used to the place. It was smaller than the suite he’d grown up in at Le Grand Paris, but he didn’t mind. He tried not be resentful of the Bourgeois family—they’d been so kind to take him in after his parents died, after all—but they were very different from him. A little too different, perhaps. He’d already been planning on moving out after his eighteenth birthday; Plagg’s sudden arrival in his life, like some small, smelly godfairy, had just sped things up.

Stepping into the bathroom, Adrien shut the door behind him and stood with his hands on his hips, pondering the empty tub. He’d used plenty of bath bombs before (being Chloe’s only friend and pseudo-brother guaranteed that), but he’d never used a magic one, and the label for this one had been conveniently destroyed. He should have asked Ladybug for the instructions while he could; then again, it had been a strange shopping experience, so he didn’t really blame himself for forgetting to.

But hopefully, he knew someone else who could help.

“Plagg?” Adrien called, knowing he could hear him wherever he was in the small apartment.

“I thought you told me that you weren’t comfortable with me being in the bathroom when the door is shut,” Plagg called back.

Adrien groaned. “I’m not naked, Plagg.”

A moment later, the kwami was hovering in front of Adrien’s face.

“So, what is it? I assume you badly need my help with some very big problem, or you wouldn’t have interrupted my nap.”

“Nope, nothing big, sorry. Do you know how to use a magic bath bomb?” Adrien held it out in front of Plagg, who sniffed it once and shrugged.

“Not my area of expertise, kid. I’m a kwami of destruction, remember?”

“But you know about other kinds of magic, too.”

“Eh, little bits here and there, yeah. This particular object smells like creation magic, which theoretically I know the most about, but bath bombs are new to me. The last time I was a familiar was a few centuries ago, and they weren’t really common then.”

So much for that idea, then.

“Well, do you have any guesses, at least?”

Plagg’s ear twitched. “If it’s like the other spelled objects I know, you just use it like you usually would. But first, activate the spell; that’s something you have to do to get rid of the safety lock most witches put on their spelled objects so that pesky regular humans can’t use them for themselves. This object smells like creation magic, so the right words should be ‘spots on.’ And that’s all there is to it, unless bath bombs are special.”

Adrien pinched his nose. “Really, Plagg? You could have led with that instead of saying you couldn’t help.”

“Well, if that’s how you’re going to react to me graciously choosing to share my illustrious wisdom, see if I help you again,” Plagg said with a sniff.

Adrien reached out and cupped the kwami in his free hand. “Sorry, Plagg. I am grateful for your help, you know. It’s just been a rough night.”

“It’s been a rough three months, more like,” Plagg corrected, letting out a reluctant purr when Adrien scratched behind his ears. A moment later, he flew up and over to the door. “Okay, time for you to take that relaxing bath of yours. I’ll be napping, so don’t call again unless you really need me!”

Adrien smiled. “Bye, Plagg,” he said. The kwami phased through the door, and then he was gone.

So, Adrien plugged the tub’s drain, turned on the hot water, and pulled up a playlist Nino had made for him as a graduation present to listen to while the tub filled and he got undressed.

Adrien hummed along to the songs, thinking of how lucky he was to be part of a friend group that hadn’t fallen apart after they moved on to university. Alya, Nino, Marinette, and he still met up almost every week, and Nino and he even went to the same university, though for very different majors. Adrien was studying to be a pediatric nurse; Nino was a film production major. They would never share a class again.

The tub had filled up enough, so Adrien unwrapped the bath bomb and plopped it in the tub, whispering “spots on” as he did. The bath bomb immediately started fizzling, but that was what they all did. It smelled nice, too, but so did most of them. It really seemed like a normal bath bomb, Adrien mused as he slid himself into the tub.

The rest of the bath was relaxing, but not any more relaxing than other baths Adrien had taken in the past. There wasn’t anything to mark this as a magic occurrence, and he was tempted to conclude that Ladybug’s spell simply hadn’t worked, but he decided to hold off on judgment yet. Maybe the effects took a while to kick in, or maybe they would show themselves in more subtle ways. Maybe Adrien would finally wake up feeling refreshed, instead of still tired and dreading the long day ahead.

Besides, Adrien did feel more relaxed now than he had before the bath. And it was finally the weekend, and Plagg had promised to give him a break from constantly testing him on his magic skills for a few days. That was good enough for him, Adrien thought as he dried off and wrapped a fluffy robe around himself.

__*__*__*__*__

That night, Adrien dreamed of Marinette.

It wasn’t that surprising to him; he’d been dreaming of her ever since eighth grade, when he’d fallen in love with her. But although he’d had hundreds of dreams about her, something about this one was different.

For one thing, Marinette was an adult in it. More of an adult, anyway; she was easily in her mid-twenties (and still just as gorgeous as ever). So was Adrien, and they’d been resting on an island together, lying on the beach without a care in the world. It was the most blissful feeling Adrien had ever experienced; and then Marinette had rolled over and kissed him and it had gotten even better.

“I’m so glad you convinced me to come here, mon amour,” she whispered, laying her head on his chest and looking up at him with eyes as dazzlingly blue as the sea.

Adrien’s heart had been close to bursting, but in the dream he’d still managed to stroke her hair and whisper back that he was glad she’d agreed to come.

 “You were right, after all,” Marinette had continued. “This is the perfect place for our honeymoon.”

Adrien could feel his eyes growing wider, but his dream self had gone on like nothing was out of the ordinary. Well, almost.

“Mm-hmm. I told you it would be a dream, milady.”

Marinette had laughed, pushing herself off his chest to hover over him, staring right in his eyes and making Adrien’s heart flutter wildly.

“You and your puns,” she’d laughed. “I hope you’re enjoying this, Adrien.”

“How could I not? You’re finally with me,” he’d purred.

“Now and forever,” she’d agreed, and leaned in for another kiss.

Adrien had woken up in a sweat.

It was still the middle of the night.

“That was so not relaxing,” he’d groaned, and had tossed and turned for the rest of the unrestful night.

At breakfast, he stared at his burnt toast without taking a bite.

Plagg flew in, holding a sock from the bottom of the laundry hamper.

“Hi, Adrien,” he said cheerfully. “Feeling any better?”

Adrien’s eye twitched as he kept staring at the toast.

Plagg cleared his throat. “You have lunch with Nino and the girls at noon, and you asked me to remind you, so I reminded you, and you have to remember now and thank me profusely for my service. A little bonus camembert wouldn’t hurt, either.”

Adrien thought he could make out Marinette’s face in the ridges of the burnt toast, but then his eyes unfocused, and he couldn’t make out anything.

Plagg’s tail twitched. “Hello?”

If Adrien drank twelve cups of coffee, he might feel awake enough to respond.

“Hello?” Plagg was getting impatient. “Adrien, wake up! You’re not supposed to be this relaxed!”

He flew over Adrien’s head and draped the sock he’d been carrying over his hair. Then he dove down to the plate and scarfed the burnt toast down without hesitation.

Finally, Adrien moved.

“Hey, you ate Marinette!” he complained. He crossed his arms, and the sock fell off his head and onto the table.

“Good morning to you, too,” Plagg said. “Listen, Adrien, are you okay? You’re acting weirder than usual.”

Adrien sighed and pushed the chair back from the table. “I don’t think that was a relaxation spell, Plagg,” he said. “If anything, it was a drain-your-energy-overnight-spell. Or maybe it wasn’t magic, at all! Because I do not feel rested, Plagg. And I had a weird dream about Marinette.”

Plagg groaned. “Whatever it was, do not tell me about it. You wax poetic about her around me too much anyways. It’s disgusting! You humans and your lovelorn, sappy sighs and faces. It’s enough to turn me off cheese! Cheddar, anyway. Not camembert. I don’t understand why you won’t just confess to her!”

“You don’t understand, Plagg! We’ve been friends since we were kids. If I confess to her and she doesn’t feel the same way—”

“It could ruin your friendship forever and blah blah blah. I get it,” Plagg said, rubbing his forehead and swishing his tail. “I still think you should tell her. So, the bath bomb didn’t work? Which witch did you buy it from, anyway?”

“I think she was called Ladybug,” Adrien said thoughtfully, staring off in the distance. “She was wearing a polka-dotted hat. I thought those were just in fairy tales.”

“Ladybug? But then why—? Adrien, you activated the spell, right?”

Adrien nodded. “Yep.” He frowned at the spot on his plate where his toast had been, which was currently being occupied by a week-old stinky sock. “Ugh, really?”

Plagg shrugged. “You’re welcome. Anway, did, uh, Ladybug recognize you?”

Adrien tilted his head. “I don’t think so. But nobody there seemed happy to see me. One of the witches in her tent spelled the labels off all the bath bombs.”

“What? Then you made sure to double check which type it was, right?”

“Even Ladybug didn’t know what it was. She sniffed it and said she thought she knew what it was, but maybe she didn’t, and also said it shouldn’t matter, and I told her it’d be my fault if I picked the wrong one to get her to stop worrying. She nearly didn’t let me pay, either,” he huffed.

“What, but why wouldn’t she check first? She could check! What kind of witch is she? I thought Tikki would teach M— would teach her better than this!”

Adrien blinked. “What do you mean, she could check? She tried to check, remember? It’s not her fault,” he sighed, leaning over the table and resting his chin on his hand.

Suddenly, Plagg looked very grim. “Adrien,” he said seriously, which was nearly enough to make Adrien’s heart stop pumping, “You did tell her that you were a witch, right?”

Adrien blinked. “No, why would I? It’s a magic fair, right? The only people there were witches.”

Plagg covered his eyes and wailed. “That’s not a given! People take their families to those shops even if they’re too young to have a familiar! They even take their friends sometimes, boring ones, with no magic at all! And worse, sometimes the illusion spell breaks, and normal humans who aren’t supposed to know about magic wander in, and then the witches have to hide what they’re really doing there! Please tell me, did you at least hear a chime as you walked into Ladybug’s tent?”

Adrien tried to remember. “I don’t think so. Why?”

Plagg looked up at him wearily. “Then she didn’t know you were a witch. Oh, this one’s my fault, kid. I should have warned you, but I couldn’t help it! I can’t resist my gooey camembert!”

Adrien raised an eyebrow. “Plagg, what are you saying?”

“There are two easy ways to identify a witch, kid. One of them is their kwami; you saw a lot of witches at the fair with one on their shoulder, didn’t you? The chime would have gone off if I’d been with you, but you were alone. Second way to identify witches; a magic hat. That’s the more secretive option; they hide your true identity from everyone you meet, even other witches. It’s the perfect option for witches who are uncomfortable with anyone knowing who they are, though us kwamis can see right through the illusion. If you’d had a hat last night, you could’ve gone incognito and the chime would have rung for you. But you didn’t have me, and you weren’t wearing a hat, so the chime didn’t ring and Ladybug thought you were just a regular old human who snuck into the fair!”

“She didn’t check what the bath bomb’s spell was because she thought I wouldn’t be able to activate it,” Adrien gasped. “Plagg! This explains so much!”

“I’m going to go hide in a cave for the next thousand years,” Plagg moaned. “I can’t believe it. I’m failing my job as a familiar! Tikki is never going to let me live this down!”

Adrien was too floored by their discovery to ask who Tikki was or what living in a cave would accomplish.

“The other witches thought I was just a regular human, too! And that rude guy, he was just trying to help by hiding the labels with the spells on them! But I didn’t notice and I just stood there and bought the wrong spell, like an idiot!”

Plagg flew to Adrien and grabbed his nightshirt’s lapels with both paws, shaking them furiously as he spoke. “We have to find out what kind of spell you used, Adrien! Do you hear me? This is very dangerous, and while I normally like that, I don’t want you to get hurt!”

Adrien stopped panicking and blinked down at Plagg as a grin spread across his face. “Aww, Plagg! You do care!”

“Of course I care, I chose you to be my witch! I’m supposed to take care of you and make sure you don’t accidentally blow up the world because you don’t understand your magic! And instead I fell victim to the seductive evils of camembert! I’m a failure!”

Adrien laughed. “Don’t worry, Plagg, I’ll forgive you. But first, you have to help me figure out what kind of spell it actually was that I activated. I think it’s related to the dream I had.”

Plagg groaned and flew over to the sock lying on the table. “Not the dream!” He draped the sock around himself and inhaled deeply. “You’re probably right,” he mused after a moment. “So, you had a dream about Marinette. Was it a good dream?”

Adrien practically melted. “It was amazing, Plagg,” he said with a wistful sigh. “We were lying on a beach together, and she kissed me and—”

“Ugh, I get it! So, it was a love spell. No real danger, problem solved. Thank cheese.”

“A love spell? Wait, but Plagg, couldn’t that mean that Marinette got affected, too? What if— oh, no,” Adrien gasped. “What if I made her fall in love with me?”

Plagg snorted. “Unlikely. But you know what, if you want to check, your chance is coming up soon. You have lunch with her in just over an hour.”

Adrien shot up from the table. “What!? But I told you to remind me earlier than this! What if I’m late?”

“I did warn you earlier than this,” Plagg huffed. “But you were busy making googly eyes at a piece of toast. Which you then called Marinette when you yelled at me for eating it, for some reason.”

Adrien’s face flushed red. “Plagg! Just help me get ready on time, will you?”

Plagg sighed. “My troubles never end,” he whined. “This is the last time I sign up to be a familiar.”

(tumblr link for chapter 2)

[celestiall0tus]

Court of Miracles - Chapter 8 - Old Habits

Beginning || Previous || Next

            Adrien and Duusu stepped off the teleportation pad into the peacock district of the capital metropolis. Duus grabbed Adrien’s wrist and dragged him through the shiny, reflective streets past elegantly shaped buildings made of glass. The passersby stopped to gawk at Duusu and Adrien, who still had his tail feathers materialized. The onlookers in their way jumped out of it and bowed before them.

            Adrien tsked and looked away as Duusu pulled him into the lobby of a spa. The employees rushed around like chickens with their heads cut off as they carried out Duusu’s orders. Adrien huffed as Duusu led him down a hall of smooth, turquoise stone and marble lit with low, cool lights.

            Adrien and Duusu stepped into a large room with various attendants lined up. Duusu released Adrien and approached the staff. Adrien snorted and strutted around the room. He saw the usual that Duusu would order for when he was upset. A relaxing bath to soak in with a massage to follow, his favorite comfort foods paired with an entourage of staff to complain to, and a comfy chaise with soothing music set up for him to unwind in after everything.

            Adrien crossed his arms and turned away. He did appreciate Duusu’s efforts, but it wouldn’t be enough this time. He had Luka, himself, and their relationship disrespected enough to last several months. It would take more than cheap, little fix-its to calm him this time.

            Adrien turned and sauntered over to the chaise. He caught Duusu’s eye as he took a seat and fanned out his feathers. He rested his head on the armrest and stared at Duusu. Duusu’s eye twitched as he let out a loud, audible sigh.

            “For the love of Velze, Adrien. You two! Go find his mate. Now!” Duusu barked.

            The pair of girls flinched, then bowed before they rushed out. Duusu dismissed the others before he approached Adrien.

            “Who insulted him today?” Duusu asked.

            “I don’t want to talk about it,” Adrien hissed.

            “Fine. Don’t talk to me, but I know you’ll talk to your mate. You always do, and I’m always listening. Never forget that.”

            Adrien narrowed his eyes as Duusu vanished and left him alone.

~~

            Juleka stepped off the teleportation pad after Sass. Her breath caught as she looked up at a rainforest canopy that blocked out the worst of the sun’s rays. Despite the shade offered by the canopy, the air was humid and wet from a recent shower. A chill passed through her as she eyed each of the sterile, clean buildings that struck her as various clinics, hospitals, and funeral homes.

            Sass opened his mouth, but Juleka trotted along. People stopped to gawk at her, but she ignored them as she moved from building to building. Her eyes sparked with curiosity at the different shops along this stretch of road. She marveled at the items on display that ranged from medical equipment, medicinal herbs and drugs, incense, oils, and more. She didn’t see any shops that sold things like clothes aside of funerary and medical clothes, food, or other basic essentials.

            “Enjoying your sightseeing?” Sass asked.

            “It’s… something, but where’s all the basic shit? You know, water, food, that kind of stuff.”

            “We get that stuff from the dragons. They’re generous when it comes to us, and they give freely to the snakes. For the others, they have to pay a pretty coin.”

            “Why? What makes snakes so special?”

            “That falls to Longg and I. We have… an interesting sort of relationship. A relationship that has benefited the many families and descendants of those families. You’ll find that other kwamis and their respective people get similar treatment from others like Longg and I.”

            “So… kwamis fuck. Is that what I’m hearing?”

            Sass stopped and turned to Juleka. He opened his mouth but stopped when his eyes darted past her. She tilted her head when she heard her name called. Anger burned through her as she recognized the voice as Luka. She turned towards Luka as he ran towards her, his hair a mess of colors.

            “What the fuck did he do?” Sass hissed.

            “I don’t what to know. C’mon, let’s-,” Juleka started.

            “Juleka, my darling girl! There you are!” Anarka cheered.

            Juleka’s eyes widened as she saw Anarka rush towards her out of the corner of her eye. She ducked away as Anarka and Luka collided into each other. They recovered while she stared them both down.

            “What the fuck are you two doing here?” Juleka roared.

            “Jules, this is-,” Anarka started.

            “Don’t call me that! You have no right to call me by any little pet name. No right!”

            “Jules, please, calm down. Everything is alright. You’re part of the family now. There’s no need to carry on the act.”

            “Act? Act! Is that all that was for my entire fucking life? Just a little act you and Luka put on to isolate me? To make me feel worthless? To make me feel like I was a mistake?”

            “Juleka, please, we had to do what we did. It’s just… just our way. Your way too,” Luka butted in.

            “Can it, golden child! I don’t want to hear jack-fucking-shit from you. From any of you! I was never part of your family. Never! These powers. This… everything! It means nothing! I am not one of you. I will never be one of you!”

            “Jules, please, it’s ok. You are one of us now. You are family,” Anarka said.

            Anarka held out a hand to Juleka. Juleka hissed and swatted it away. She turned away from Anarka and tripped. She hit the ground as the feeling of a myriad of eyes fell on her. She dug her nails into the ground as she noticed the large crowd that had gathered. She gritted her teeth as hot tears rimmed her eyes as rage and humiliation tore through her.

            “Deep breaths, Juleka,” Sass instructed.

            “I’m fucking trying. What do you think-?” Juleka hissed in a low voice.

            “It’s ok, Juleka. I’m here. I’m finally here,” Luka said as he knelt beside Juleka.

            Juleka’s breath caught as her world slowed and crashed down. A shiver passed through her as she felt her bones and muscles shift beneath her skin. She took a breath, then another. She roared as she swung and tore her armor nails across Luka’s face. Sickly green light and hideous shadows trailed along them and left four long, deep slashes across Luka’s face. Screams and gasps tore through the area as she shifted into her naga form.

            Juleka hissed and lunged for Luka. Sass caught her and threw her back onto the teleportation pad. She recovered and started for Luka when the runes beneath lit up. She tilted her head as she vanished as the pair of peacock attendants appeared. She heard Sass hiss a curse before she appeared in the peacock district.

            Juleka’s eyes widened, and jaw dropped at the beauty of the peacock district. The glass buildings that towered over were works of art first, functional second. The streets were made of a pristine, reflective metal that showed a perfect reflection of anything it caught. The sidewalks and streets were decorated with natural glass flowers with petals that looked like blown glass.

            Juleka struggled to stand and move in her naga form. She hissed and spat before she gave up and rolled and dragged herself around. She felt eyes fall on her as she moved about, but she didn’t care about these strangers and their judgements. She explored the many shops that sold beauty products, artisan supplies, art, and clothing. She stopped and admired the many park plazas that were each decorated with a lavish fountain centerpiece and surrounded by hundreds of the same glass flowers. She took a break and pulled herself onto the rim of a fountain. She marveled at the beautiful crystal-clear water with prismatic reflections.

            Juleka sighed and laid out on the fountain. She peered out at the onlookers and their shocked, bewildered looks. The pauses they all shared as they whispered to their companions about her. The same curious thoughts got the better of her as they always had. She watched them as memories overlapped of the countless times she had done this before. The numerous times she had fought with her family, when she’d run away to a place like this, and be in a place where she could just be.

            Juleka turned away from the onlookers to the magic water. Her ruined world was destroyed. The life she fought to just exist in seemed like a distant dream, but the nightmare didn’t end. She was free of her family’s indifference, had their love, but it still doesn’t feel like she’d want it to. The years she suffered didn’t matter to Anarka and Luka. They were ready to forget them like they were nothing and move on, but not her. To them, this changed everything, but it changed nothing.

            Juleka sighed and rolled onto her stomach. She rested her head on her arms as her eyes grew heavy. She shook herself as the sun warmed her and lulled her to sleep.

~~

            Adrien stared at the wall as he tapped his fingers on the chaise. He grumbled and snorted under his breath as the seconds passed by. His eyes darted from the door to the wall until the door opened. He perked up, hoping to see Luka, but it was just the two girls.

            “Where is he?” Adrien demanded.

            The pair of attendants looked at one another with terrified looks. The one on the right pushed the left one forward and ran. Adrien stood and towered over the attendant.

            “Well?”

            The attendant shrank back. “Uh, well, you see, uh, there was an… incident. L-Luka was, uh… injured.”

            Adrien’s eyes widened as he grabbed the attendant. “Where is he?”

            “Snake district, at the main hospital.”

            Adrien tossed aside the attendant and rushed to the teleportation hub. He hopped onto a portal pad and teleported to the Snake District. He ran through the district to the hospital up to Luka’s room. He burst into the room and froze. He paled seeing the four long gashes across the left side of Luka’s face and his eye.

            “What happened? Who did this to you? Was it Lila? I’ll never let her-!” Adrien started.

            “No, no! It was just Juleka,” Luka cut in.

            “Juleka? Why would she do this?”

            “The lassie won’t let go of the past. She won’t accept that she’s part of the family now. And poor Luka. He tried to help her, but she hurt him instead,” Anarka mumbled.

            “Well, what are you waiting for? Heal him,” Adrien demanded.

            “They have been, The wounds, they just, uh, keep reopening,” Luka said.

            “Reopening? How?” Adrien asked.

            “Uh, we think it might be a power of Juleka’s. Right, Mom?”

            “Aye. We have some records of heirs that are able to inflict horrible, everlasting wounds on their foes. We fear she’s done just that with Luka.”

            “What? Where is she? I’m going to give her a piece of my mind!” Adrien screeched.

            “Wait, please, don’t-!” Luka started.

            Sass stepped into the room and shoved a needle into Adrien’s neck. Adrien gasped as Sass injected a potent, fast-acting sedative into Adrien. Adrien’s eyes rolled to the back of his head as he collapsed.

            “Duusu, come collect your heir,” Sass barked.

            Duusu materialized and looked down at Adrien, then at Sass. “You know I don’t approve of this method.”

            “And you should know that I don’t care. Now get him out of here.”

            Duusu tsked, flung Adrien over his shoulder, and left. Sass sighed and approached Luka.

            “You are lucky, fool boy. Juleka is unaware of the full range of her powers, and you should be thankful she doesn’t know yet,” Sass scolded.

            “Can you heal him, please?” Anarka begged.

            Sass hummed. He raised his hand as a bright green light flashed, but Luka’s wounds weren’t healed.

            “What did you do? Why isn’t he healed?” Anarka demanded.

            “Bandage him up and let them heal on their own,” Sass instructed.

            “What? You’re punishing him? Why? He didn’t do anything wrong!” Anarka challenged.

            “If you cannot see why, then let it be a reminder.”

            “Reminder? Reminder of what? That Juleka is as hot-headed and stubborn as she always has been?”

            Sass grabbed Anarka’s chin and squeezed it. “A reminder of this moment. A reminder of what happens when you fuck around with life. We’ve not had to face the consequences of our methods. And seeing her, seeing the everything it just… we must do right by her, not the family. Especially if she’s to be the heir.”

            “What? Never! She is volatile, chaotic, and savage. She’s unworthy of a seat in court. Especially after this little stunt she pulled!”

            “That decision is not for you to make, Anarka. That is for Velze, and I know you will never challenge Velze, would you?”

            “I… no.”

            “Good lass. Now, bandage him up. If I see anyone healed him, I will inflict the wounds again and to the healer responsible. Understood?”

            Silence.

            Sass nodded and vanished. The doctors moved to bandage up Luka’s face. Anarka let out a sigh and gently touched Luka’s right cheek.

            “Don’t worry, lad. Everything will be set right. You’ll keep your heir status and Juleka… well, we’ll see where she fits into this.”

            Luka gave a weak smile to Anarka before she was escorted out. He sighed and stared at the ground. He would make things right with Juleka. He wasn’t sure how, but he would do right by her.

Patreon || Discord || Ko-Fi

[blueberrypancakesworld]

Umbrella - Marieltober 2023

Day 21 : Rain For the Marieltober in 2023 by @irenea666

warning : aged up, marinette is in her early 20s and gabriel is in his early 40s, fluff, mutual feelings, proffesor/student

Info : This is my first time doing such an event I hope I did everything right. Even though it's not the 21 of October anymore but I hope that is all right.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

An actual warm sunny morning had settled over Paris and lured the city dwellers outside. Warm temperatures, a cloudless sky and warm rays of sunshine were perfect. So Marinette had also thrown herself into an airy dress. A creation of her own in red tones and black embellishments, she had designed it herself over several days. Inspired by her Ladybug outfit, of course.

With her bag over her shoulder and Tikki in it, she had made her way to the Paris University of Fashion.

Not only the university, when it comes to clothes and creating, but also her opportunity to become a fashion designer. But that was not the reason why she put her bright lip gloss on her lips and a little mascara on her eyelashes in the bus. She felt so pretty too, but Friday was always her favourite day when she was with a certain someone. Gabrielle Agreste.

The fashion designer Paris. He had been a kind of substitute professor since the building and always had a helping hand over the works of his students. Which is why she at least wanted to dress up a little. What do you think he'll think of my blouse? she murmured to herself and looked out of the bus window to see the colourful university. ,,He must like it," she heard Tikki's voice from her pocket and the little red and black kwami winked at her encouragingly.

,,You're right, I'll do my best," she replied, smiling gratefully at the mystical being before hurrying to the university to avoid being late. The first hours were dry theory, colour teachers and which fabrics harmonised best with each other. Until the time finally came when the professor ended the lesson and she went to her favourite lesson with a joyous heart. 

Like everyone else, Marinette had her own table, her own doll to dress up and her own sewing machine. Her little kingdom from where she could watch Gabriele hidden behind mountains of fabric. She saw with her blue eyes the little smile on his lips as his white hair bounced slightly every time he took a step.

The bright eyes behind the glasses that flew over the students. As handsome as a butterfly, she thought, smiling slightly at the comparison. But as much as she loved to dream and look at the older man, she knew she had to work too. Time flew by as she cut more and more fabric and sewed more and more.

The woman in her early twenties hardly noticed that raindrops were falling on the windows and the sun was disappearing behind rain clouds. ,,I think that's enough for today, students, before you get too wet, have a wonderful day," he announced cheerfully and the students left one by one. All except one. Marinette.

The blue-haired woman was so absorbed in her work that she did not notice how the older man looked at her. His gaze wandered over her work and herself. ,,Little Ladybird…I must say your work is phenomenal, quite enchanting. I'm just afraid you'll have to take the needle off too," he said softly and saw Marinette flinch, she seemed to have only just noticed him.

The student turned around and he saw her cheeks turn a light shade of pink, he saw her lip gloss and her accentuated eyes. He himself felt the warmth coming to his cheeks. ,,Thank you Monsieur Agreste it meant a lot to me that you are pleased with it" she replied and cleared the way to let him have a better look at the blouse.

The purple fabric with the silver ascesoirs and butterfly buttons was perfection. Maybe Marinette liked Hesperia? ,,I hope the other professors see it that way," she murmured, packing her things before swinging her purse over her shoulder.

All of a sudden she felt his hand on hers, a brief touch like the flutter of a butterfly's wings. ,,Hope is the best thing you can do Marinette" he said and the two decided to walk together to the main exit. She knew that the spot on her hand was tingling and he wanted to give her words of hope again.

The two walked together through the corridors, glancing at each other furtively from time to time. They had always understood each other well, what was initially excitement and curiosity had now become respect and love.

The creations of his little ladybug were beautiful and the endless hope and kindness of her handsome butterfly was always during. ,,Rain? Oh no…no umbrella" the younger one stated as she scurried back under the roof of the university and Gabriel stopped, a little taken aback. His eyes went to the dress and he understood what had happened.

He had brought his own large lilac umbrella with him and stepped towards Marinette. ,,Miss Cheng, may I take you to the station…or home?" he asked after a moment's hesitation, not knowing if he had crossed a line. He saw surprise, then consideration and then something like hope in her eyes. Before he handed her the umbrella and took off his coat to put it over her shoulders. ,,Misseur Agr-" she wanted to say, but he took the umbrella from her before he sat down next to her and said, ,,Gabriel please, if I may also call you Marinette" and was pleased to see the hasty nod.

Before she grabbed his arm on impulse and the two of them walked down the street together under the umbrella. The older man felt her press herself closer to him, her hand sliding from his arm to his hand. A smile crept onto his lips as he saw the flush on her cheeks as he squeezed her hand lightly. ,,The rain gives hope for another fine day," he murmured, looking at the drops around him.

He heard her agree with him and the two fell into a small conversation about hope, rain and fashion. It was only when the two arrived in front of the younger woman's flat that they fell silent. ,,I hope you didn't get too wet," he said and saw her wipe a few drops from her bag. ,,No, it's fine," she smiled and saw how the white-haired man seemed to be thinking.

But about what. ,,Marinette, I totally understand if you say no but…would you like to come to dinner and create an outfit together?" He asked, fearing that she would refuse, stay with him or even leave.

His thoughts ran amok, but when he suddenly felt her take him in her arms, he heard her say, ,,Oh, I'd love to, Gabriele, I'd love to". The younger one had embraced him so stormily and they were both standing in the rain again, the umbrella rolled to the ground and she gave him a gentle kiss on the cheek. In the end, the happiness of the Ladybug and the hope of the butterfly won out, because together they found love.

[mlwritersguild]

Between Twilight - Ladrien

The response to this prompt comes to us from @rosie-b! (You can also find it on Ao3)

—

She only ever comes in the evening. The quiet moments just before dusk, when the last rays of the sun are still bidding the city goodbye, that’s when she visits him. It was the time that they'd agreed upon, back in the beginning of their unusual arrangement. Then, Ladybug was free from her daily chores, and there were fewer people outside looking up to spot her. Then, Adrien’s schedule was finally empty, and the short gap left at his bedtime — early, for models need their sleep if they’re going to look pretty — could be filled with a visit from his dearest lady.

“Are you sure that you’re okay with this?” she’d asked him in a hushed, anxious voice that first night. She’d looked beautiful in the low lighting, her blue eyes wide and staring at him, his modeling lipstick already staining her lips.

He had smiled in response, moving closer to caress her flushed cheek before placing a kiss there.

“Of course I’m sure,” he’d whispered close to her ear. “You’re all that I’ve wanted for years. If I complained about how I can finally have you, I’d be lying, because I would die for just a glimpse of your smile, Ladybug. Keeping this secret is a tiny price to pay in comparison, and much more than I’d dared to hope for.

“As long as you’re sure, too,” he’d added, suddenly remembering how nervous he’d been only minutes ago while making his confession.

Ladybug had smirked as he’d leaned back, not wanting to leave but not sure if she wanted him to stay.

She’d pulled him closer, pressed a kiss to his cheek as she placed her hand on his back, and then dipped him down. The blood had rushed to Adrien’s cheeks as he processed what she’d done, and she leaned down close to him.

“Of course I’m sure, Adrien,” she whispered to him, and when her lips finally touched his, he knew he’d found heaven.

But they were fooling themselves, and they both knew it. Their relationship was born of a dying dream, in the face of the dark nighttime which kills hope and love. In the final moments of the day, at the last glow of light, she could visit him. And then at nightfall, he would be left all alone. That was what they both knew when they’d agreed to this, to the clandestine meetings and the kisses stolen from the very hands of fate.

Just like the daylight, the chance for them to be together was dying, and once they’d caught Hawk Moth (together, though Ladybug didn’t know that part yet), there was no guarantee that Adrien would ever see his lady again, as a civilian or a kwami-powered hero. This was what he had chosen, and most of the time, he was all right with his reality.

But sometimes he wished she could visit him during the day, that they could walk down the streets like real— like openly dating couples did. He wished he could wave her goodbye as she left and not wonder if that final kiss had marked the last one of all time for them.

He wanted to be able to give her roses.

That was one unfairness he hadn’t expected, though Ladybug had, in her wisdom.

“My family would notice them,” she’d told him regretfully. “Maybe just one every now and then should be all right. But more than that, and it will be obvious I’m hiding someone from them, though they wouldn’t know who.”

She was right. So, Adrien never gave her more than one rose at a time, and even those came sparingly. Someday, when they’d revealed their identities and promised to still love each other, he could give her a whole bouquet, Adrien told himself. He would make sure it was the most beautiful bouquet anyone in Paris had ever seen.

He dreamed about it on evenings like these, in the moments where the clock’s counted time was late but the sun’s light still kept the sky mostly blue.

He dreamed to pass the time, because he was waiting for her.

As twilight began in earnest, he began to prepare for her, making sure that his room was tidy and checking his face in the mirror one more time. He endured Plagg’s lazy teasing and fed him cheese to shut him up, then sat back on the sofa by the window, waiting for the sound of a yo-yo.

He closed his eyes and listened as his mind lingered on roses and kisses at the beginning of night.

“You look pensive today.”

Ladybug’s voice surprised him, and his eyes flew open.

“Lovebug! You know I’m always happy to hear your voice, but you don’t need to sneak up on me like that!”

She laughed, the sound loud and clear. “I wasn’t sneaking, my prince. I think you were falling asleep, was the problem. Did you get tired of waiting for me?”

Adrien’s brows furrowed as Ladybug sat down next to him. “I wasn’t,” he said. “Wasn’t falling asleep. Could never get tired of waiting for you. You didn’t tell me not to call you Lovebug,” he pointed out, feeling slightly concerned. “Are you feeling okay?”

Ladybug reached over and folded his hand in hers.

“I’m fine, Adrien. You already know my preferences, so why should I have to repeat them all the time?”

Adrien watched her in disbelief. “You just scolded Chat Noir for calling you Buginette this afternoon. Why are my nicknames special?”

“Because you are!” Ladybug said with a smile that dimmed when he didn’t laugh. “Okay. You looked pensive, like I said, and a little sad. I didn’t want to scold you while you were looking like that. And… you still do, kind of, look like that. What were you thinking about before I came?”

Adrien nearly jumped. “Oh! Nothing! No, it was just a long day, and I was waiting for you, which was fine and you weren’t late and I was okay, really.”

“You were okay?”

Ladybug wouldn’t let go of his hand. That was fine, only he really felt like getting up and pacing or maybe hiding himself in his bedsheets and taking the express elevator down to the center of the earth, so it could hide his embarrassment there.

“I am okay, Ladybug. Really.”

She frowned and watched him closely.

“If you say so. But you know you can tell me anything, right?”

Adrien nodded. “I know I can.” But you can’t, he added in his head.

Or maybe out loud, judging from the hurt look on his girlfriend’s face. Perfect.

“I didn’t mean to say that! And I didn’t mean it like that, either! I just meant, well, it’s unfair for you, isn’t it? That I can tell you anything—" Well, not really. “—but you can only tell me so little, even when you want to say more. It’s unfair to you, not me.”

“Yes, it is,” Ladybug said, chewing on her lip. “Yes, it is unfair to you. Is that what you were upset about?”

Adrien spun around to face her fully. “No! It wasn’t that, I was just— I was wishing I could give you roses. Not just one, but a whole bouquet, or maybe one flower every day, or both. It wasn’t anything else.”

Ladybug still looked unsure. “But I’m the reason you can’t give me more than one flower,” she said slowly. “Are you mad at me? Did I do anything?”

This was going much worse than Adrien had wanted it to.

“No! I’m not mad, I swear! You’re also the reason I have someone to give roses to! And I’m really happy about that!”

Ladybug seemed to relax a little. “Okay. Then, what’s bugging you?”

“That it’s not a good time to make use of that pun,” Adrien joked.

Ladybug was not impressed.

“You know what I meant. If you’re comfortable sharing with me, then please do! I want to be here for you, Adrien. Please let me be.”

There wasn’t much he could say to that.

Adrien sighed. “I’m not upset. I really am being honest about that. I guess it just bothers me sometimes, that this is all the time we have together. I’m glad we have it, and it’s more than I ever expected I’d have, but doesn’t it seem a little like we’re cursed, that we’re fighting fate doing this?”

Ladybug shook her head. “What do you mean? I thought it was a blessing that we could have this time at all.”

“Well, yes! But haven’t you thought about it? How we can only meet while day turns into night, in between twilight and dusk and darkness? Is this all we’re allowed to have? When Hawk Moth is gone, when you beat him the way I know you’re going to do, what happens? You told me before that you might need to give up your Miraculous. If that happens, how will I see you again? What if this is all the time I’ll ever have with you, and I can’t even give you enough roses to make it feel as special as it is?”

Ladybug’s face softened. “It always feels special enough to me, with or without the roses. Just being with you means so much to me! And, Adrien, I promise we will have more time than this. When Hawk Moth is gone, I— I might need some time, but then I promise I will tell you who I am, under the mask. And we will be together in the day, go on dates in the park and kiss and not worry about the rest of it. I worry, too, you know, but at the end of the day, you’re always there for me. And I think, that’s enough. We are blessed, Adrien. What we have is a miracle. It could never be a curse.”

Adrien smiled and tried not to cry.

“Thank you,” he choked out. “I’m sorry for worrying. That was silly.”

“It was just your big heart showing how much it cares,” Ladybug said, tapping the spot of his chest where it lay. “I could never complain about that, and you better not apologize for it. I love you, Adrien. Just remember, we’re stuck between twilight now, but after that, after the night that follows, then comes the dawn. And we will have it one day. Together.”

“Together,” Adrien affirmed, snuggling into his girlfriend’s warm arms. And they stayed like that, together, watching the stars emerge, waiting for dawn.

—

Want to participate in this month's event? Check out the rules, and send us a prompt!

[thegreygale]

Okay totally random and REALLY STUPID AU idea that I literally just thought of and probably won’t do anything with so feel free: Danny Phantom Miraculous AU

Miraculous:

The Ring of Rage

Appearance:

Active: Bright green with a green skull with red eyes emblem on a black background

Camouflage: A simple silver band with a tiny ghost shape (IDK this is just a vague idea, change it if you want)

Transformation phrase:

“Cujjo! I’m going ghost!”

Kwami:

Name: Cujjo

Appearance: small green dog with red eyes

Eats: milk bones and rawhide (would prefer real bones AKA human but considers them an acceptable alternative)

Personality:

. Loyal

. Friendly

. Feral when angry

. Protective

. Very possessive of his toys

Concept:

Rage

Phantom:

Appearance:

. White hair

. Green eyes surrounded by a black mask with a silver lining

. Black top with the DP symbol on his chest

. Silver gloves

. Green ring placed on the ring finger of his right hand over the glove

. White Utility belt

. White pants ending in silver boots

Weapon:

Phantom thermos: catches and purifies ghosts by freeing the victims from the ghost’s obsession

Powers:

Ectoplasm manipulation: Green light that can be shot from his hands in the form of rays or formed into objects (Chains, weapons, etc.)

Chill touch: Gives him the ability to create and control ice

Ghost sense: A built in warning system that allows the user of the ring to sense ghosts when they appear

Ghostly Wail: Main one use power that creates a wave of sound that can be used to destroy enemies and obstacles (in classic miraculous fashion once this power has been used Danny has five minutes before he turns back.)

(He also has his other ghost powers, invisibility, intangibility and flight but they are more like side effects of having the ring)

Vague plot idea:

Vlad takes the place of Hawkmoth in his alter ego Plasmius and has a miraculous that turns people with certain negative thoughts into “ghosts” by allowing them to be possessed by lost souls who have an obsession that matches the victim’s current situation. He’s obsessed with getting his hands on the Ring of Rage and Crown of Fire because combining those two miraculous gives the wielder unlimited power. Danny was chosen by the guardian to carry the Ring of Rage in order to protect the city and eventually take down Plasmius and retrieve his stolen miraculous.

So…. That’s that idea do with it what you will 😅

[mymiraclebox]

The Kwamis

Alpha Kwamis: Vitaa the Panda of Life Shii the Crow of Death Tikki the Ladybug of Creation Plagg the Black Cat of Destruction Graay the Wolf of Order Prrysm the Platypus of Chaos Stellar the Firefly of Space Koree the Raccoon of Void

Elemental Kwamis: Swaar the Dinosaur of Gravity Longg the Dragon of Storm Tonna the Feathered Serpent of Earth Zeffyr the Griffin of Air Duskk the Grim of Darkness Nokk the Kelpie of Water Emburr the Phoenix of Fire Matto the Pterosaur of Aether Kirrin the Qilin of Light Kiikaa the Thunderbird of Electricity Uunice the Unicorn of Magic Ziima the Yeti of Glaciation

Timekeeper Kwamis: Antiqq the Aurochs of Reversion Shaash the Bear of Preservation Sass the Cobra of Opportunity Zipp the Dragonfly of Progression Allta the Frog of Change Keena the Lynx of Intuition Frostt the Penguin of Stagnation Fluff the Rabbit of Evolution Apple the Red Panda of Lineage Passtel the Snail of Patience Faae the Spider of Destiny Mataara the Tuatara of History

Delta Kwamis: Harmonee the Ant of Cooperation Sannar the Axolotl of Restoration Fangg the Bat of Fatigue Chaapa the Beaver of Innovation Pollen the Bee of Subjection Maggi the Binturong of Magnetism Yanna the Bison of Victory Blancca the Blackbuck of Inversion Nooroo the Butterfly of Generosity Duune the Camel of Perspective Milli the Chameleon of Emotion Purr the Cheetah of Agility Reef the Coral of Sensitivity Dess the Cougar of Apathy Remmi the Coyote of Despair Snapp the Crab of Adaptation Llucie the Crocodile of Clarity Fawnna the Deer of Wilderness Barkk the Dog of Detection Clikk the Dolphin of Sound Olivv the Dove of Peace Liiri the Eagle of Freedom Tuskk the Elephant of Memories Florra the Elk of Growth Sorren the Falcon of Observation Flowwe the Flamingo of Rhythm Trixx the Fox of Deception Elle the Gecko of Equality Parra the Giraffe of Confusion Ziggy the Goat of Imagination Karrma the Goose of Justice Verr the Gorilla of Sacrifice  Spikke the Hedgehog of Precision Taamus the Hippopotamus of Density Kaalki the Horse of Migration Ravenna the Hyena of Scarcity Gloss the Ibex of Friction Niisha the Jackal of Connections Belaa the Jaguar of Imperception Jellos the Jellyfish of Hatred Kicc the Kangaroo of Avarice Vexx the Komodo Dragon of Corrosion Valoree the Lion of Courage Donna the Llama of Attention Vollee the Locust of Invasion Xuppu the Monkey of Derision Allces the Moose of Evocation Duux the Moth of Hope Baash the Mouflon of Strength Mullo the Mouse of Abundance Currio the Narwhal of Wonder Attlantis the Octopus of Choice Jiicho the Okapi of Perspective Fleet the Ostrich of Guidance Ziibi the Otter of Transformation Tyyto the Owl of Secrets Stompp the Ox of Determination Lynn the Pangolin of Boundary Ecco the Parrot of Language Duusu the Peacock of Psyche Daizzi the Pig of Love Glaace the Polar Bear of Endurance Anjjel the Quail of Mercy Habuu the Rattlesnake of Beauty Ommen the Raven of Probability Mannta the Ray of Immersion Kaanda the Rhinoceros of Augmentation Orikko the Rooster of Vitality Finn the Salmon of Navigation Aynna the Scarab of Reflection Verriti the Scorpion of Truth Daante the Seahorse of Intimidation Misst the Seal of Elusion Flairr the Secretarybird of Passion Poppy the Shark of Joy Yuume the Sheep of Dreams Frijj the Snow Leopard of Silence Tinni the Squirrel of Diminution Twwist the Stoat of Elasticity Prrince the Swan of Loyalty Acce the Thylacine of Isolation Roaar the Tiger of Force Scuut the Tortoise of Knowledge Wayzz the Turtle of Protection Teer the Vulture of Sorrow Sotaa the Wolverine of Conflict Drill the Woodpecker of Dimension Divvi the Zebra of Duality

[lycorogue]

Watched Miraculous: Awakening last night. While I’m not going to take the time to write up a full critique/commentary on the movie, I will shout this:

THEY DID OUR POOR BOY PLAGG SO DIRTY!

The poor kwami had, like, five minutes of screen time (if that) and he was farting during all of it. I get giving him s1 vibes since he hadn’t had the chance to really get to know Adrien yet, but still! No!

(I will admit though, the movie having the kwamis refer to themselves as genies that can’t grant wishes does seem to add validity to my head canon that Plagg was Aladdin’s Lesser Genie of the Ring... so... there’s that...)

I don’t have the time or spoons (or even inspiration... sadly...) to write up a new Plagg appreciation story. But, to help cleanse our pallets, for those in need, I present the Plagg appreciation stories I have already written:

Breaking Monotony Summary: Plagg's days are all starting to feel exactly the same. As he goes through yet another school day with Adrien, he wonders if he can do something to start shaking up the status quo. At the same time, though, he reflects on how great it is that his life is fairly predictable. Word Count: 5,789 Rating: General Audience

Forever in Darkness Summary: Plagg has always been in darkness. It had become all he knew. Then he got a ray of sunshine, and it helped save him. There was a reason he believes Adrien is the best Chat Noir ever. Word Count: 4,701 Rating: Teen (for depictions of emotional torture and mentions of child executions)

The Truest of Friends Summary: It's the second day of the new school year, which also means it's been a year since Stoneheart first attacked Paris. Adrien wonders how he could best celebrate the anniversary of becoming Chat Noir, and how to properly showcase how much he cares for someone very special in his life. Word Count: 3,254 Rating: General Audience

I Need Him Back **SPOILERS: NY Special** (written before Kuro Neko aired) Summary: Marinette has no clue what to do without her Chat Noir. All she wants is for her partner back. Plagg is just as distraught without his holder, but maybe he can find a way to get the ring back to Adrien. The trick is doing so without revealing who Chat Noir was to Marinette. Word Count: 5,689 Rating: General Audience

Cataclysm the Doubt Summary: Barely three hours into becoming a new father, Adrien is not handling the life change very well. It’s a good thing Plagg is right there to get the twenty-something’s head on right. Being able to cataclysm physical things is certainly easier, but sometimes a metaphorical cataclysm is the best option. Word Count: 1,677 Rating: General Audience

The next Friday 13th is in October, so feel free to join me in celebrating Plagg Appreciation Day. ^_^

Also, if anyone else has Plagg-centric/Plagg-appreciation stories, please add them and/or tag me. I’d love to read them!

[sasuhinasno1fan]

Wish come true - Adrien AUGreste Day 5+6

No one had asked, but I thought explaining why Lila hasn't been akumatized might be helpful. As well as Lukadrien being cute. I tried doing a 'umbrella scene' kinda thing and got this. Enjoy Rain

Gabriel watched the rain fall, staring at the statue of Emilie. Lila never seemed to visit it, never seemed bothered by her mother not being there. He wondered if his love would be disappointed at how their daughter was turning out. Since she became a model, she lied and manipulated, but she was an amateur, seemingly unaware that her popularity would have people focus on her. That’s why he never left. He knew the moment he did, all eyes would be on him and he wouldn’t be able to do his job, to get the Miraculous. She’d become worse since a new student arrived in her class, seemingly focused on attacking him. Other than cursing her out, Adrien Rossi hadn’t made any trouble. Well liked by his classmates and teachers, child of two Italian diplomates, one of whom was working on ways to help Scarlet Bug and Catseye and make his life harder. It was tempting to do what he could to stop it, but with each passing attempt, more people wanted Hawkmoth defeated and to support him was a one-way ticket to social suicide. He still had a company to run, something for Emilie to look forward to when he got what he needed.

He felt the rise of emotions coming from Lila’s room again. Self-hate, anger, all emotions that hadn’t cropped up until recently. She would make the perfect akuma, but he couldn’t. Emilie would never forgive him. There had been times his butterflies had been drawn to her negative emotions and he had to pull them away, directing them to the actual target, or making big enough gesture to where Scarlet Bug would see and capture before she could touch it. not to mention Nooroo saying no.

“Not her? Why?”

“She, you can’t control her. You can lock her in her room or demand things, but she’d got a mind of her own. I just know she’ll break from your control and make things worse. She only cares about herself; not what winning could mean. Please Master, you know I’m right.”

He didn’t usually listen to the kwami, but something told him to listen. Nooroo understood emotion better than anyone so he kept her away.

“Sir.” Nathalie appeared behind him silent as always. “She’s refusing to come out again.”

“I can tell. If she was any other person, I’d of created an akuma by now. I can’t be bothered to deal with her, call Vincet and cancel the shoot.”

“Sir, we’ve cancelled 3 times now. Anymore and investors will start keeping to their threats and actually pull out. It’s hard enough to keep the name up with Lila creating a mess every time. Lady Tomoe has offered Kagami.”

He shook his head. The young fencer had come to one shoot and was offered to stand in front of the camera. She was stiff and unbending, unless she had a sword in hand. But then she was too stern and unwilling to smile.

“No. call the Couffaine girl. We’ll push the shoot back if she needs time. And get in contact with the Dupain-Chang girl. I’ve been meaning to talk to her about an internship and I think working with her friend would be perfect.”

“Of course.” Nathalie nodded, turning to her iPad before looking at Gabriel again. “Sir?”

“Get me an umbrella, would you? I know Emilie can’t feel it but it seems wrong she should sit out there in the rain.”

“Absolutely sir, right away. Would her personal one be alright?”

“If you please. And an ibuprofen. This child is determined to take me to an early grave with all her negative emotion.” He ordered, as another round of emotions washed onto him. He felt like he couldn’t remember if Emilie was good at calming Lila as a child. It seemed the spoiled girl had always been the way she was. She must be breaking her poor mother’s heart.

                                        ____________________

“Are you sure?” Marinette asked, even as Adrien pressed the umbrella into her hands.

“Yes. I’ll be ok. I’m sure once I’m done talking with Mml. Bustier the rain will have let up. Besides, it won’t do any good if you have to order your yarn and your dad figures out what you’re doing for his birthday because you didn’t want to get wet.” Adrien said, pulling the strap of his messenger bag over his head, the faint jingling of bells ever-present.

“Alright, if, you’re sure. thanks Adrien, I’ll see you tomorrow!” Marinette said, heading down the stairs and towards the front door.

Adrien looked up at the skylight, the sight distorted because of the rain. It had been raining all day and it was clearly getting to everyone, Juleka the worst who seemed like she was constantly fidgeting and looking uncomfortable. She seemed to bounce up slightly from a call from Nathalie, assistant to Gaberiel Agreste. He guessed another modelling job in the future. He was glad that getting turned into a glitter stone didn’t turn her away from modelling. Juleka was really good and she was so much more confident about her looks.

“Adrien.” Mml. Bustier and the art teacher waved him over from one of the other classrooms. “Thank you so much hearing us out.”

“I hear that you’ve done Student UN at your previous school.”

“Yeah, only as a participant.”

“Well, we had been asked by a student if we’d be willing to run a model UN. They’ve tried for at least 2 years and just when the headmaster agreed, that student had been accepted into an exchange student program.”

Adrien raised an eyebrow. “Did he not see the two very similar names on the paperwork?”

Both teachers sighed. “No.” they answered together.

“Point is, we don’t have anyone experienced in doing this. we’re not asking you to take control, just give us a bit of advice on how to properly run this.”

“Well, I can actually do you better. If you need someone, I can help run this. if anything, it’ll keep me distracted from doing cosplays and running the risk of affecting my allergies. Long story.” He said, noticing the confused looks.

“Are you sure?”

“As long as you guys are willing to help and you have other students signed up to help run it, yeah. Mama’s never done UN debates but I’m sure she could offer extra support if needed.”

“That’s amazing to hear! Ok, let’s go over the paperwork and if you’re still up for it, we can announce it by the end of the week.”

Going over paperwork and discussing his duties took time but at the end, Adrien still wanted to do it. he was excited to tell his mom that he’d forgotten about the rain until he pushed the door open and saw it still pouring. He could make it to the metro, that was fine, it was just the fact that he’d be soak by the time he got there. He looked down at his bag, looking over some of the pins and rosettes. A fair number of them were new and he didn’t want to deal with the risk of them getting wet.

“Great, now what?”

“Adrien!”

He looked over and saw Luka climbing the stairs, under an odd-looking umbrella. It had two tops, merged together and a handle that joined at the bottom.

“What,” he giggled, Luka’s satisfied smile getting to him, “is that?”

“My mom bought it.” like that was enough of an answer. Well, with Anarka it probably was.

“Not that I’m not happy to see you, but what are you doing here?” Adrien asked, stepping back further to let Luka stand under the canopy with him.

“I came to get you.”

“I can see that.”

“You texted and said Mml. Bustier wanted to talk to you and Juleka mentioned when she came home, you were giving Marinette your umbrella, so here I am.”

Adrien smiled up at Luka. “You didn’t have to.”

“I know, I’m amazing.” Luka joked, making the two of them laugh. He pulled Adrien closer so he could pull the umbrella over them without getting sprinkled on. “Ready?”

Adrien nodded, full of happiness and love as he slipped a hand through Luka’s arm, standing close under the protection of the umbrella. It still surprised him how lucky he was right then. He had an amazing guy he was dating, friends he felt would be forever even when he moved and his life felt pretty perfect. There was still Lila to contend with and the note Scarlet Bug and Catseye left him but with nothing cropping up recently, he was going to take the win.

“did you want to do the metro or cut through the park?” Luka asked.

“Deal with crowded public transport or spend time with you? decisions, decisions.”

Luka laughed at him as he led them across the street. as they walked, Adrien told him about the Student UN and Luka mentioned how his online classes had attempted something like it before.

“It could have gone well, had anyone actually been interested. But I guess you could get help from your parents.”

“Yeah, it’s the plan. Kinda wish dad could have stayed longer. I already know he wanted more time to pick your brain. Or embarrass me. I can’t believe you wanted to see more pictures!” Adrien said, remembering what happened when he left his parents alone with Luka for 2 minutes to go refill drinks. Every photo album had been brought out and stories were being passed around quicker than he could stop them.

“You were a very adorable kid, including the one of you sitting in your nonna’s garden eating her vegetables.” Luka teased, laughing at Adrien’s pout.

“I am going to bug your mom so much for your pictures. I bet, you even had a scene kid phase.”

“Do you really want to see me with that much eyeliner?”

“It’ll make me feel better so yes. But the good thing is my dad loved you, so it wasn’t so horrible.”

“I’m glad about that. Did…you tell your parents about what Lila said that day?”

Adrien felt his smile drop remembering Lila screaming that she was a Rossi. He hadn’t told his parents and he hadn’t mentioned to Luka that his dad found a phone in his suit pocket, one that with a bit of waiting, turned out to belong to Lila’s bodyguard, when a text from Nathalie had come through. He had no clue or reasoning for why she was acting like this and as stupid as the idea sounded, it was just easy to ignore.

“No. she hasn’t been to school and it was just easy to ignore. I’ll keep an eye out, but I feel like I’d just be giving her more attention.”

“Fair enough.” Luka tilted the umbrella back to glance at the sky. “You know, I actually love the rain. It does rock Liberty a bit too often but when everything is still and you can just hear the rain dropping on the deck, it’s really calming.”

“My dad’s favourite movie is Singing in the Rain. He once tried to make my mom recreate the song sequence.”

“Oh? Did he ever try with you?”

“Italy is always covered in water since it’s sinking and it always seemed that whenever it rained, timing was bad. Besides, I always enjoyed watching Solitude, with Lila’s mom. Just the opening with her under her umbrella always, hit me for some odd reason.”

“Hmm.” Luka tugged Adrien over to the carousel, walking up the stairs where it was dry. He took Adrien’s bag and put it on the ground near the pole, using the umbrella to block any rain and dragged Adrien back outside.

“What are you doing?”

“We did Solitude, so let’s recreate Singing in the Rain. Come on, dance with me!”

Adrien let out a yelp as Luka tugged him around, spinning him in a circle. He did get soaked like he’d been worried about earlier but as the two span around, Adrien couldn’t help but laugh as they danced in the rain.

Staying under the umbrella after felt silly but Luka reminded him of his rant, he had about not finding a waterproof itabag that would work for school.

“You always remember. I’m starting to feel like I talk too much.”

“Don’t. I love hearing you talk.” Luka said, walking Adrien up to the door of his building. “get warm when you get upstairs.”

“You too. I’d hate to hear from your sister that you got sick because you wanted to take me dancing.”

“Worth it.” Luka started to step closer when Adrien spotted something over his shoulder.

“My mama.”

Adrien felt awkward being affectionate in front of his parents with Luka, mainly because they were so involved. Luka was ok with it, usually making it up when it was just them, but Adrien felt bad. He watched Luka noticed the car and then tilted the umbrella to block them from sight before kissing his check, close to his lips.

“Better?”

If it wasn’t for him hearing his mother approach, he’d take advantage of Luka’s idea and kiss him on the lips for the first time.

He’d remember that for next time.

[xxxcertifiednerdxxx]

Part two for @carpisuns:

but first, as word from our sponsor (me):

Maryssa was one of the first ML tumblr accounts I found and followed. I read your fics and admired your art before I even got a Tumblr. I was there before you made the switch to become carpisuns! (Although only for a little while.)

I was first interested in your fanfiction. I don’t remember which was my first. It was definitely about Marichat. Then I got hooked on Tell Me Something, a masterpiece that I recommend to anyone. Then I fell in love with your art.

I take writing more seriously than drawing, but your openness with your art journey inspired me to actually try to practice and improve my hobby. I can feel just as much passion and love in your stunning pieces worthy of being shown in the Louvre as I can in your goofy doodles.

And your writing! How it inspires me so! Your writing is like having an inside joke with my closest friend and also like the pure and pleasant poetry. It sings to my soul and fills me with bliss and agony and every other emotion under the stars.

You, Maryssa, are a ray of sunshine to the ML community and the world at large. I am blessed to know you.

Happy birthday. May this year treat you wonderfully.

and now, the silly drawings :)

[image description: Kagami has her fencing rapier pointed at Vee. Kagami says, “I could use this sword to kill you 53 different ways.” Vee says, “you’re the coolest person I’ve ever met”]

[image description: Kagami is drawing Vee in her basilisk form on an easel.]

[image description: Marinette is rushing through her trapdoor to her room and yelling, “VEE DON’T EAT THE KWAMIS” while Vee has the Kwamis gathered and is about to eat Tikki. I didn’t want to draw all the Kwamis, so I drew some and then said, “sorry I don’t wanna draw all the Kwamis”]

[flightfoot]

ML Fanfic Recs for 2023: 125K+ Words

So I’ve been going through and adding particularly good fics I’ve read throughout the year. Only Complete fics, of course. Enjoy!

---

Dreams of You by @chocoluckchipz

Dreams had long been his only escape. Dreams of Ladybug, the girl who had always been there for him.

If only in his dreams. And only while she was also sleeping.

Because with the first rays of sunshine gliding over her skin, with the first fluttering of her eyelashes, from the moment she opened her eyes in the morning, memories of Adrien would vanish from her mind.

She would go on living her life.

He would always be the only one who remembered.

At least until they meet in the real world and fall in love all over again, something that would’ve been easier to do if Adrien wasn't a prisoner in his own home.

Chocoluckchipz has some of the most beautifully executed lovesquare fics I’ve read, and this is no exception. Most of the fic is dedicated to Adrien wooing Marinette, spending time with her, with her own dream self acting as his wingman, giving her tips on how to get her to fall for him, all the while frustrated that she can’t share memories with her waking self, and that she and Adrien can’t share as much information as they’d like while asleep, due to limitations of the “curse” that allows Adrien to share dreams with his soulmate. 

It’s not all cute Adrienette fluff though. There’s a threat in the background waiting to erupt, as the weirdness of Gabriel’s ultimatum to Adrien about finding Ladybug or else being forced to marry Lila keeps on gnawing at him - and with good reason. This is a world with magic and kwamis still, and that fact makes itself very relevant in the last third of the story. 

It’s a well-written tale and very much worth a read!

---

one does not love breathing by @wackus-bonkus-maximus

All of Paris watched as Hawkmoth murdered Chat Noir, taking the Black Cat Miraculous for himself. Ladybug swears revenge, but her enemy—and every miraculous in his possession—disappear without a trace.

Six years later, a new team of villains launches an attack for the last remaining Miraculous: Volpina, armed with new powers; Queen Bee, with questionable loyalty; Argos, the new holder of the Peacock Miraculous; and Cat Walker, who Ladybug hates the most.

Takes place after S4 - Strike Back.

This is a simply phenomenal fic. You get to explore a lot of different perspectives, like Felix, Kagami, Marinette, and Adrien’s, just to name a few, and see their different thought processes and plans and priorities, and how it can cause their plans to collide with each other, even when they all ultimately are aiming for a good outcome for everyone. The characters are pretty complex and can mess up at times, even when they’re doing things (or not doing things, looking at you Luka) with the best of intentions. It was a joy to read and a real nail-biter the whole time, I actually wrote a fic for it halfway through just to resolve some of the tension for myself, One Does Not Love Shadows.

It also features the version of Luka I’ve connected best with to date, as he feels like Luka, but also is a lot more fleshed out, and can make some major errors while simply trying to avoid missteps. It’s helped me get a better handle on a character who I’ve generally had a lot of problems with really understanding.

It is an M-rated fic, though I think Wackus is being overly cautious on that front. There’s no sexual content and I wouldn’t put the violence or gore above a T-rating, so I wouldn’t let the rating scare you off.

---

Boomer!Luka: FeLuka Ending series by @19thsentry-blog

In the Shadows (the first fic in the series) summary:

On one side is Luka, 140-year-old Snake Miraculous holder and keeper of the Guardian's secrets, on the other is Marinette Dupain-Cheng, a relatively newly minted hero of Paris and Guardian of the Miracle Box. Each is looking to fulfill their promises to their now gone mentors to reunite the Kwamis and keep them safe. Sounds simple--until you throw in a rocky start, the Atlantic Ocean, Félix Graham de Vanily, and a whole host of secrets…and suddenly simple becomes complicated (story of Marinette's life, right?).

So this is obviously way outside my normal wheelhouse. I don’t typically read Lukanette fics, even ones that turn into FeLuka later on in the series (though boy it becomes apparent quickly that the author’s fascinated with FeLuka’s dynamic.) But this one is really good, with the best Luka-centric fics I’ve ever read, and some of the best Felix-centric content as well. I love how Luka has his own baggage here, with all the pressure of wandering around for over a century, looking after the few Miraculous he found, trying to keep what’s left of the Order alive, unaware of Fu’s survival or of the Miraculous user’s re-emergence in Paris. There’s a lot of focus on Luka’s own feelings and thoughts and problems, not just on helping other people with them. 

The plot works even without the romantic aspect, so even if Lukanette isn’t a pairing that draws you in, I still recommend this fic, so long as you don’t actively dislike the pairing itself. And even though it’s a Lukanette fic, Adrien and Alya are treated fairly and with respect. Adrien may not end up with Marinette and is bummed about it, but the narrative is still kind to him overall, there’s clearly no ill well towards him, or Alya for that matter. (There are later fics in the series that focus more on Adrien just healing and coping and living after finding out that his father’s a villain and his mom’s been in the basement this whole time, and in the multiversal travel fic, Alya gets some standout appearances as Scarabella which are fun).

And FELIX - it’s clear that 19thsentry has this whole conception about Felix’s psychology. He’s wrapped in a ton of self-loathing until it started to consume him, made him lash out. Him being a sentimonster, wanting to get the Peacock Miraculous, actually gave him some direction for that at least. And he’s just in this pit of his own making, until he meets Luka, who can see through him when no one else can, who cares for him even though he doesn’t understand why, who’d been through so much over the years and yet kept himself kind. He’s attracted like a moth to a flame, infuriated that he cares, yet not able to stop himself from caring about this mysterious, infuriating musician. 

Yeah if you can’t tell this is the series that really sold me on FeLuka as a couple.

Oh yeah, one of the fics in here is M-rated, and it does earn the M rating for sexual content, though it’s nothing too major.

---

Accidents Are Also Miracles by @liiinerle

After a few turbulent days where four new people discover her secret identity, Marinette loses faith in her ability to keep the secret hidden. Wracked with doubts and insecurities, she pleads with Alya to take over as Scarabella, but she still can't let those worries go. Especially not once Monarch starts taking a particular, and personal, interest in her.

Along the way, she also starts to date Kagami, and has to deal with changing feelings about herself, Adrien, Alya, Kagami, and the idea of being Ladybug. At the same time, Alya works to uncover Monarch's secret identity, while Kagami struggles against a controlling parent, and a girlfriend who seems bent on destroying herself - with or without Monarch's involvement.

Fantastic Marigami fic here! You’ve got three major POVs in this fic: Marinette, Kagami, and to my delight, Alya. I loved getting to see Alya cope with taking over as Scarabella especially.

But of course, this fic centers more around Marinette and Kagami, with Marinette struggling with Monarch targeting her, and Kagami struggling against her abusive parent, as well as both of them trying to navigate their relationship together when they know that not everyone will approve. 

There’s also some other plots going on in here, like Sabrina breaking away from Chloe and becoming more independent (and closer to Adrien in fact), as well as a Lila takedown plot, though thankfully not one that involves demonizing other characters. While there are conversations about people believing Lila and siding with her, no one’s actually attacked for it except for Lila herself.

Oh yeah, and while this fic may not have much focus on Adrien, he’s still treated fairly and with respect, even when he messes up. He can make mistakes, but people understand where he’s coming from, and are still kind to him and want things to be okay, and to help him escape his abusive circumstances.

---

Awaken by InkyIbis

The previously white butterfly, now oozing black and purple as a conduit of the butterfly miraculous powers, flutters softly within the silvered-gloved hand.

It sits there for a long time.

"Go, my akuma," The soft sigh pushes the butterfly, the akuma, out towards the despair of a love not returned. The same ache within his chest. On a level so great that he's willing to sacrifice the city to mend it.

It's okay if he's the villain for now. He'll force the miraculous of creation and destruction to be revealed, and once he gets his hands on them, none of this pain, none of his loss, will ever happen.

This is essentially a canon rewrite for Miraculous (specifically seasons 1 and 2, with a bunch of the events mixed around) that focuses primarily on Adrien, with his relationship with Nino being the main driving relationship of the fic. (Don’t worry, Marinette’s still treated fine, she’s just not the focus). This is the best “rewrite Miraculous with more of a focus on Adrien” type fic I’ve seen, with it reworking the plots of the episodes so that they’re different enough to be their own distinct thing - it’s not trying to just rewrite the canon episodes but from Adrien’s POV, there’s a lot of lore changes going on as well, and things occur in different orders.

Like lorewise, Chat’s given a more important role in cleaning up the mess the akumas leave, with his power helping to cleanse akuma victims and he and Ladybug needing to use their powers in tandem in order to cast Miraculous Ladybug. There’s also no Miracle Box holding the kwamis. Instead, Chat sometimes surpasses his limits and ends up summoning kwamis, which is dangerous to him, but very useful.

What really makes this fic great though, is its focus on Adrien’s emotions. You really get a feel for Adrien’s insecurities, especially when it comes to not feeling like he’s good enough for Nino, with not wanting to bother him when he absolutely should, with feeling like he’s not a good enough friend to him, and then there’s dealing with all of Gabriel’s usual abuse on top of that.

Speaking of Nino, this is an Adrino fic (though several characters get crushes on Adrien, Nino’s the one who matters most for this), though a slowburn one. Nino’s clearly head-over-heels for Adrien, but Adrien has like, no context for what a romantic crush feels like and is basically viewing Nino the way he viewed Marinette in canon prior to season 5. He clearly cares for him a lot, including romantically, he just... doesn’t get it.

Anyway, if you want an interesting canon rewrite fic from Adrien’s perspective with Adrino as the main pairing, this is a good story to pick up!

---

Kintsugi - The Beauty Of Broken Things by @xaran-alamas

When freed from Mayura's control, and given a chance at a normal life, the Sentimonster clone of Ladybug must learn what it is to be not only a hero, but also a human being, and part of a family.

Meanwhile Marinette needs to figure out what to do with a hyper-energetic Kwami with a broken Miraculous.

Sentibug-centric fic here! The longest one in existence, in fact. Xaran does a great job of developing Centi, having her figure out what she wants and how to belong, and also deal with her feelings towards her creator - which are pretty negative since, you know, Mayura tried to kill her. The way she’s developed is excellent, and I adore her fitting into the Couffaine family after they take her in, with Juleka, Luka, and Anarka taking a shine to her quickly, and her to them. We spend a lot of time with the Couffaines as a result, so it’s also worth reading if you want to see more of that family, especially Juleka.

---

you made me a hero - reverse crush short stories series by @non-fantasy

This series is just plain fun! Like the title says, it’s a reverse crush AU, so Adrien’s head-over-heels for Marinette, while Ladybug’s smitten with Chat Noir. Which means that Adrien’s constantly trying to woo Marinette while Ladybug’s attempting to have normal conversations with Chat Noir (and failing), and both of them are oblivious to each other’s feelings. 

I love the way non-fantasy executes it, with Alya literally carrying around a spray bottle because of how eager Adrien is, and Ladybug being VERY SCARY if you ever lay a finger on Chat Noir (seriously akumas will literally beg for their akumatized object to be broken just to escape her wrath). 

Oh, also, Ladybug regularly stops by Adrien’s room so they can both lament how difficult of a time they’re having wooing their crushes, and just have fun together.

There’s a lot of entries in this series - 29 of them in fact - but most of them are pretty short, making it great if you want to devour some quick, cute, hilarious romcom action! 

Some stuff does actually change over the course of the series, it’s not just slice-of-life. Like identity reveals, dating, and even Hawkmoth’s defeat, so there’s clear progression and changes in circumstances as well.

---

Not a Monster at All by @book-sandwich

Adrien Agreste overhears a conversation he shouldn't, and a revelation sends him falling onto the terrace of the only person he can trust: his good friend (?) Marinette Dupain-Cheng.

Takes place sometime after the first two episodes of season 5!

As you can probably guess from the title, this is a Sentimonster Adrien, Monarch takedown fic. Adrien’s going through a tough time, and Marinette’s just trying to be there for him as his whole world’s collapsing around him. Unfrotunately, they still don’t know what the object is, or how likely Gabriel would be to control Adrien if he hinted that he knew the truth, which leaves Adrien in a precarious position - still not having done an identity reveal doesn’t help matters.

It’s a really solid fic for the genre, though since it started up before the later parts of season 5, there are a few things that don’t match up with the canon information we obtained later on. 

---

Under Oath by @eoscenes

In the aftermath of Hawk Moth's defeat, Ladybug finds her heart torn between her schoolgirl crush and her superhero partner ― who returns, after an unexplained hiatus, more irresistible than ever.

⋆☆⋆

Gabriel Agreste is unmasked, and Paris rises up in the aftermath.

Marinette Dupain-Cheng must weather Paris' anxious protesters, ravenous reporters, a scattered team of judiciary investigators, and her conflicting feelings for two different boys. In the eye of this storm is the elusive Adrien Agreste, the primary witness in his own father's trial, who might just hold the secret to finding the Peacock Miraculous.

(If only she wasn't in love with him.)

Meanwhile, locked away in Le Grand Paris hotel, Adrien grapples with his responsibilities to a city that can't decide if it hates or loves him. Keeping his daytime persona and Chat Noir separate entities becomes even harder when Ladybug, whom he has finally decided to get over, starts visiting him at night, determined to figure his secrets out.

(If only he wasn't in love with her.)

When an unknown figure returns with the Peacock Miraculous, Ladybug and Chat Noir will have to save their city once more — or lose each other trying.

I love how this fic shows Adrien just breaking down over the reveal of Hawk Moth’s identity, he’s in a Very Bad Place for a substantial portion of the fic, and being a suspect and witness in the case does NOT help. It’s got the most detailed “Adrien suffering the consequences of the backlash to his father’s prosecution” plot that I’ve seen.

Still, things get better with time, slowly, gradually. It’s not all at once, or a completely linear road, but he’s got his friends, even after everything.

[rosie-b]

Between Twilight

Figured I'd post the story here too, since that's what I usually do!

This fic was written for ML Writer's Guild, from one of this month's prompts. You can read it on AO3, below, or on the MWG blog! And feel free to send us some more asks to answer <3

She only ever comes in the evening. The quiet moments just before dusk, when the last rays of the sun are still bidding the city goodbye, that’s when she visits him. It was the time that they'd agreed upon, back in the beginning of their unusual arrangement. Then, Ladybug was free from her daily chores, and there were fewer people outside looking up to spot her. Then, Adrien’s schedule was finally empty, and the short gap left at his bedtime — early, for models need their sleep if they’re going to look pretty — could be filled with a visit from his dearest lady.

“Are you sure that you’re okay with this?” she’d asked him in a hushed, anxious voice that first night. She’d looked beautiful in the low lighting, her blue eyes wide and staring at him, his modeling lipstick already staining her lips.

He had smiled in response, moving closer to caress her flushed cheek before placing a kiss there. 

“Of course I’m sure,” he’d whispered close to her ear. “You’re all that I’ve wanted for years. If I complained about how I can finally have you, I’d be lying, because I would die for just a glimpse of your smile, Ladybug. Keeping this secret is a tiny price to pay in comparison, and much more than I’d dared to hope for. 

“As long as you’re sure, too,” he’d added, suddenly remembering how nervous he’d been only minutes ago while making his confession.

Ladybug had smirked as he’d leaned back, not wanting to leave but not sure if she wanted him to stay.

She’d pulled him closer, pressed a kiss to his cheek as she placed her hand on his back, and then dipped him down. The blood had rushed to Adrien’s cheeks as he processed what she’d done, and she leaned down close to him.

“Of course I’m sure, Adrien,” she whispered to him, and when her lips finally touched his, he knew he’d found heaven.

But they were fooling themselves, and they both knew it. Their relationship was born of a dying dream, in the face of the dark nighttime which kills hope and love. In the final moments of the day, at the last glow of light, she could visit him. And then at nightfall, he would be left all alone. That was what they both knew when they’d agreed to this, to the clandestine meetings and the kisses stolen from the very hands of fate.

Just like the daylight, the chance for them to be together was dying, and once they’d caught Hawk Moth (together, though Ladybug didn’t know that part yet), there was no guarantee that Adrien would ever see his lady again, as a civilian or a kwami-powered hero. This was what he had chosen, and most of the time, he was all right with his reality.

But sometimes he wished she could visit him during the day, that they could walk down the streets like real— like openly dating couples did. He wished he could wave her goodbye as she left and not wonder if that final kiss had marked the last one of all time for them.

He wanted to be able to give her roses.

That was one unfairness he hadn’t expected, though Ladybug had, in her wisdom. 

“My family would notice them,” she’d told him regretfully. “Maybe just one every now and then should be all right. But more than that, and it will be obvious I’m hiding someone from them, though they wouldn’t know who.”

She was right. So, Adrien never gave her more than one rose at a time, and even those came sparingly. Someday, when they’d revealed their identities and promised to still love each other, he could give her a whole bouquet, Adrien told himself. He would make sure it was the most beautiful bouquet anyone in Paris had ever seen.

He dreamed about it on evenings like these, in the moments where the clock’s counted time was late but the sun’s light still kept the sky mostly blue.

He dreamed to pass the time, because he was waiting for her.

As twilight began in earnest, he began to prepare for her, making sure that his room was tidy and checking his face in the mirror one more time. He endured Plagg’s lazy teasing and fed him cheese to shut him up, then sat back on the sofa by the window, waiting for the sound of a yo-yo.

He closed his eyes and listened as his mind lingered on roses and kisses at the beginning of night.

“You look pensive today.” 

Ladybug’s voice surprised him, and his eyes flew open.

“Lovebug! You know I’m always happy to hear your voice, but you don’t need to sneak up on me like that!”

She laughed, the sound loud and clear. “I wasn’t sneaking, my prince. I think you were falling asleep, was the problem. Did you get tired of waiting for me?”

Adrien’s brows furrowed as Ladybug sat down next to him. “I wasn’t,” he said. “Wasn’t falling asleep. Could never get tired of waiting for you. You didn’t tell me not to call you Lovebug,” he pointed out, feeling slightly concerned. “Are you feeling okay?”

Ladybug reached over and folded his hand in hers.

“I’m fine, Adrien. You already know my preferences, so why should I have to repeat them all the time?”

Adrien watched her in disbelief. “You just scolded Chat Noir for calling you Buginette this afternoon. Why are my nicknames special?”

“Because you are!” Ladybug said with a smile that dimmed when he didn’t laugh. “Okay. You looked pensive, like I said, and a little sad. I didn’t want to scold you while you were looking like that. And… you still do, kind of, look like that. What were you thinking about before I came?”

Adrien nearly jumped. “Oh! Nothing! No, it was just a long day, and I was waiting for you, which was fine and you weren’t late and I was okay, really.”

“You were okay?”

Ladybug wouldn’t let go of his hand. That was fine, only he really felt like getting up and pacing or maybe hiding himself in his bedsheets and taking the express elevator down to the center of the earth, so it could hide his embarrassment there.

“I am okay, Ladybug. Really.”

She frowned and watched him closely.

“If you say so. But you know you can tell me anything, right?”

Adrien nodded. “I know I can.” But you can’t, he added in his head.

Or maybe out loud, judging from the hurt look on his girlfriend’s face. Perfect.

“I didn’t mean to say that! And I didn’t mean it like that, either! I just meant, well, it’s unfair for you, isn’t it? That I can tell you anything—" Well, not really. “—but you can only tell me so little, even when you want to say more. It’s unfair to you, not me.”

“Yes, it is,” Ladybug said, chewing on her lip. “Yes, it is unfair to you. Is that what you were upset about?”

Adrien spun around to face her fully. “No! It wasn’t that, I was just— I was wishing I could give you roses. Not just one, but a whole bouquet, or maybe one flower every day, or both. It wasn’t anything else.”

Ladybug still looked unsure. “But I’m the reason you can’t give me more than one flower,” she said slowly. “Are you mad at me? Did I do anything?”

This was going much worse than Adrien had wanted it to. 

“No! I’m not mad, I swear! You’re also the reason I have someone to give roses to! And I’m really happy about that!”

Ladybug seemed to relax a little. “Okay. Then, what’s bugging you?”

“That it’s not a good time to make use of that pun,” Adrien joked.

Ladybug was not impressed.

“You know what I meant. If you’re comfortable sharing with me, then please do! I want to be here for you, Adrien. Please let me be.”

There wasn’t much he could say to that.

Adrien sighed. “I’m not upset. I really am being honest about that. I guess it just bothers me sometimes, that this is all the time we have together. I’m glad we have it, and it’s more than I ever expected I’d have, but doesn’t it seem a little like we’re cursed, that we’re fighting fate doing this?”

Ladybug shook her head. “What do you mean? I thought it was a blessing that we could have this time at all.”

“Well, yes! But haven’t you thought about it? How we can only meet while day turns into night, in between twilight and dusk and darkness? Is this all we’re allowed to have? When Hawk Moth is gone, when you beat him the way I know you’re going to do, what happens? You told me before that you might need to give up your Miraculous. If that happens, how will I see you again? What if this is all the time I’ll ever have with you, and I can’t even give you enough roses to make it feel as special as it is?”

Ladybug’s face softened. “It always feels special enough to me, with or without the roses. Just being with you means so much to me! And, Adrien, I promise we will have more time than this. When Hawk Moth is gone, I— I might need some time, but then I promise I will tell you who I am, under the mask. And we will be together in the day, go on dates in the park and kiss and not worry about the rest of it. I worry, too, you know, but at the end of the day, you’re always there for me. And I think, that’s enough. We are blessed, Adrien. What we have is a miracle. It could never be a curse.”

Adrien smiled and tried not to cry.

“Thank you,” he choked out. “I’m sorry for worrying. That was silly.”

“It was just your big heart showing how much it cares,” Ladybug said, tapping the spot of his chest where it lay. “I could never complain about that, and you better not apologize for it. I love you, Adrien. Just remember, we’re stuck between twilight now, but after that, after the night that follows, then comes the dawn. And we will have it one day. Together.”

“Together,” Adrien affirmed, snuggling into his girlfriend’s warm arms. And they stayed like that, together, watching the stars emerge, waiting for dawn.