#chloe is a visionary | Explore Tumblr Posts and Blogs

wordsofrowan · 8 months

Text

Finding Home in the Shadows

Chapter 2 - Casting the Shadow of Promise

The Graham De Vanily family intentionally arrived in Gotham City several weeks before the start of the semester, allowing them ample time to acclimate to their new surroundings, explore the city, and make the necessary preparations for their enrollment at Gotham Academy.

Marinette, Felix, and Chloe eagerly embraced their new environment, each immersing themselves in their individual areas of interest. Chloe, driven by her passion for business, spent her days wandering through the city's bustling business districts, observing the diverse range of buildings and companies. When she wasn't exploring, Chloe dedicated her time to her internship alongside Amelie, gaining valuable experience and expanding her knowledge in the corporate world.

Felix, with his astute intellect and love for literature, sought out the city's libraries and bookshops. Lost in the pages of timeless novels and captivated by the literary heritage of Gotham, he allowed himself to be transported to different worlds and absorbed the wisdom of brilliant authors. Each story he encountered nurtured his imagination and fueled his insatiable thirst for knowledge.

Meanwhile, Marinette, the visionary fashionista and aspiring designer, dove headfirst into Gotham's vibrant fashion scene. Attending glamorous fashion shows, exploring high-end boutiques, and networking with local designers, she became an active participant in the city's sartorial landscape. Gotham's distinctive aesthetic merged with Marinette's innate sense of style, igniting a creative spark within her and inspiring new ideas for her future fashion endeavors.

As the three friends delved into their respective interests, Amelie had her own responsibilities to attend to. With her position in the Graham De Vanily Enterprise, she began establishing connections and ensuring a smooth transition for the family's business operations in Gotham. She met with business partners, attended meetings, and familiarized herself with the local market.

Simultaneously, Amelie worked closely with the administration of Gotham Academy to ensure a seamless enrollment process for Marinette, Felix, and Chloe. She diligently provided all the necessary documentation, communicated their academic backgrounds, and coordinated meetings with school staff.

The morning arrived for their scheduled meeting with the Headmistress of Gotham Academy, and anticipation filled the air. Dressed in their finest attire, they made their way through the ornate halls of the school, marveling at the Gothic architecture that surrounded them. The towering arches, stained glass windows, and intricate carvings seemed to tell stories of their own.

Upon reaching the Headmistress's office, they were greeted by a kind-faced, dark-skinned woman with salt-and-pepper hair and an air of authority. Her nameplate on the desk read "Headmistress Theodora Lovell."

"Welcome, Graham De Vanily family," Headmistress Worthington greeted them warmly, gesturing for them to take a seat. "I am delighted to meet you all. Please make yourselves comfortable."

Amelie, wearing her signature grace and poise, extended her hand and spoke with genuine warmth. "Thank you, Headmistress Lovell. We are thrilled to be a part of the Gotham Academy community. This is my son Felix, and these are Marinette and Chlo, my daughters."

Headmistress Lovell smiled, her eyes crinkling with warmth. "It's a pleasure to have you all here. Gotham Academy prides itself on providing a nurturing and stimulating environment for our students. We believe in fostering both academic excellence and personal growth."

Marinette, feeling a mix of excitement and nerves, spoke up. "We've heard wonderful things about Gotham Academy, Headmistress Lovell. We're eager to immerse ourselves in the academic and creative opportunities this school has to offer."

Headmistress Lovell nodded, her gaze thoughtful, her words resonating with a deep sense of purpose.

"Here at Gotham Academy, we believe in the power of nurturing and cultivating each student's natural abilities, allowing them to flourish and become the best versions of themselves."

She leaned forward, her voice filled with unwavering conviction. "We strive to create an environment that not only fosters academic excellence but also encourages self-discovery, creativity, and personal growth. Every student at Gotham Academy is unique, and it is our mission to unlock their full potential, guiding them on a transformative journey of exploration and self-realization."

Marinette, Felix, and Chloe exchanged glances, their excitement building with each word spoken by the impassioned Headmistress. The promise of a school that valued their individuality and celebrated their strengths was exactly what they had hoped for in their new educational home.

Headmistress Lovell continued, her voice imbued with unwavering belief. "We believe that every student has a special gift waiting to be unveiled, a talent that sets them apart and contributes to the vibrant tapestry of our academy. It is our duty as educators to recognize and foster those talents, providing the necessary support and resources to help our students thrive."

Her words filled the room with a sense of possibility, inspiring the Graham De Vanily family with a renewed sense of purpose. They knew that Gotham Academy would not only provide them with a world-class education but also create an environment where their unique abilities would be acknowledged, valued, and nurtured.

Marinette's eyes sparkled with anticipation as she leaned forward, unable to contain her excitement. "Headmistress Lovell, this is exactly what we've been searching for! A place that recognizes and encourages individuality, where our talents can truly shine. We're ready to embrace this transformative journey and make the most of the opportunities Gotham Academy has to offer."

Felix nodded in agreement, his intellectual curiosity ignited by the Headmistress's words. "To think that within these walls, our passions will be nurtured and our potential unlocked. It's a dream come true."

Chloe, her gaze focused and determined, spoke up. "I've always had a keen interest in the world of business and entrepreneurship. Gotham Academy's commitment to fostering personal growth aligns perfectly with my aspirations. I can't wait to explore the business programs, engage in entrepreneurial endeavors, and leave my mark on the corporate landscape."

Amelie smiled, her heart swelling with pride and gratitude. "Thank you, Headmistress Lovell, for creating a place where our children can thrive and grow. We do not doubt that Gotham Academy will be the catalyst for their remarkable futures."

Headmistress Lovell's eyes softened, touched by their enthusiasm. "The pleasure is mine, Graham De Vanily family. Your presence at Gotham Academy will enrich our community, and we are honored to have you join us. Together, we will forge a path of excellence and discovery, empowering each student to embrace their true potential."

The conversation continued as Headmistress Worthington shared more about the school's curriculum, extracurricular activities, and the supportive community that awaited them. She answered their questions, putting any lingering doubts or worries at ease.

By the end of the meeting, Marinette, Felix, Chloe, and Amelie felt a sense of belonging, as if Gotham Academy was the perfect place for their new beginnings. They thanked Headmistress Lovell for her time and guidance, expressing their gratitude for the opportunity to join the school. As they walked out of the Headmistress's office, the grandeur of the Gothic corridors enveloped them once again. Excitement filled their hearts as they contemplated the adventures that awaited them at Gotham Academy. With newfound determination and eagerness, the Graham De Vanily family embarked on their journey through the halls of Gotham Academy, ready to embrace the challenges, forge new friendships, and unlock their full potential in this extraordinary school.

XoXo Rowan

#writing #spilled ink #miraculous au #miraculous fandom #batman au #gotham #chloe redemption #Felix redemption #found family

3 notes · View notes

vwritesawholelothm · 11 months

Note

Dreams!

Sabrina has a rather vivid one about being a jewlery marker that lives a lowkey life with her music store owning husband and not a Chloe or an Akuma in sight

Only for it to be ruined by her alarm -_-

Fandom: Miraculous Ladybug Rating: General Audiences Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply Relationships: Luka Couffaine/Sabrina Raincomprix Characters: Luka Couffaine, Sabrina Raincomprix Additional Tags: Dreams, Sabrina Raincomprix-centric, Recurring Dreams, Plans For The Future, Fluff Summary: Sabrina has a recurring dream about her future.

2 notes · View notes

cosmojjong · 2 years

Note

1, 10, 19 ^^

hi thanks for asking :]

i replied to two in a previous ask so i'll copy and paste if that's okay.

1. favorite artist(s) outside of kpop? oof, that's hard. i'm a HUUUUGE normani fan. i'm also a big fan of tinashe, i think the k-pop industry should thank her. victoria monet, bree runway, chloe bailey, keke palmer, lauren jauregui, beyoncé, kehlani, pvris. i listen to many tbh, but definitely can call myself a full on fan of normani and tinashe, as in i definitely know their entire discography! i also listen to some non k-pop bands here and there.

10. if you got to work with any idol (producing, performing, choreographing, etc) one time, who would you pick? this is hard because i got two in mind. so i'll say both! performing wise i would say kibum, i feel like we have similar visions when it comes to the stage, to styling and to presence. he is just a huge visionary, everytime i see him i feel like my creative vision doubles up, like he brings out the best in me. i bet i'd learn doing my job too. and for producing, i'd definitely pick pentagon's hui. he's rightfully acclaimed as one of the best k-pop producers to this day and he has a great musical knowledge, i'd like to see what kind of song we'd be able to work on. just like kibum, he also inspires me to pursue my goals of getting better at composing. hope it was an okay answer;;

19. last song you listened to? i was listening to pentagon's shinwon's radio show, he played 'the weekend' by bibi and 88rising! i love this song.

send me asks!!

#ask #homosexawol

1 note · View note

djhamaradio · 5 months

Text

Interesting conversation about a subject that has shaped my life quite a bit coming from an African perspective where ethnic and ethno linguistic identities abound and often clash.

#tribes #tribalism #race #equiano project #podcasts #duppy echoes #djhamaradio

0 notes

blondrichclosetwitch · 1 year

Text

Anything you ever did was strictly by design.

Everything got ugly; well how do we get so mean?

Dolls Kill. And a dream like this must die.

Chloe don’t know better. She’s always been given, but those lessons never learned.

Step into the Light.

I'll meet you up high in your anger of all that is hoping and waiting for you.

“You can die today, I swear I still won't break my promise.”

As long as I am in the game, you'll never win. I just took your whole life and redesigned it.

“Oh, I thought that I was calm in the clear. Now it's getting harder.”

All the words you said still vibrating in the air, for what seems years.

“I still believe she was my twin, but I lost the ring.”

You could go on if you wanted to.

But still, I am trying to break your heart.

I’m not above doing anything to restore your faith if I can, but I’m not willing to lay down and die.

I'm their savior, that's what they call me. They need their escape, and so do I.

Time to question the mountain: I praise to you.

Where ever we are together, that’s my home.

You think the way you live is okay. You think posin’ will save the day. It’s too damn late to apologize. We ain’t gonna take it no more since it’s almost over now.

We’ll know the minute we hear it.

You’re a dirty girl.

You better know I’m at your door.

Maybe the riddle of this accident goes back to your ferocious strategy. But I think that you forgot my days of teenage hustling.

I’ve been working it since I was 14.

“I was just writing about it. Feel sick and dirty.”

Everyone’s pinned you….but nobody cares.

These decisions hurt us.

And the city don’t know that the city is getting a show with everything but yul brynner.

“Thank god I’m only watching the game. Controlling it.”

You said “I’ll never leave you alone.”

Your bicycle is chained to the fence outside.

“I don’t want to be another cocaine story. Will I find my sanity?”

Someday this will be over. I die; it will change you. I watch over a family but only as an Angel. So don’t tell me you don’t know what you see.

Please don’t weep.

Another snow reference.

“I can’t do this anymore and I know it’s going to cost your love.”

“I just want to tape all night. I just want to see cum…and at the same time I can see. It's just my fantasy.”

I fell off the chair and cracked open my head: “ I keep it upstairs for the grand finale.”

(I had never gotten this before, out of all the times it had played. They were trying to warn me.~~t.)

Breaking up is hard, but keeping dark is hateful.

Though I'll admit some degree of resentment, there are some visionaries among us developing some products to aid us in our struggle to survive.

So we’re gonna go do our own thing now for the rest of the night, good night.

#today is a 17/8 #:17 stuff that she says

0 notes

fyeahdruigandmakkari · 2 years

Text

Do you ever think about how Barry didn't want to wear the now iconic leather jacket in Eternals but Chloé insisted on it because she knew people would love him in it, and lo and behold she was right because people fell head over heels for him? Because I do

#eternals #marvel eternals #druig #barry keoghan #chloe zhao #chloe is a visionary #barry #texts

54 notes · View notes

chloebennetsource · 6 years

Photo

Chloe Bennet + 2017 red carpet events (part 1)

#aoscastedit #chloebennetedit #chloe bennet #dailywomenedit #dailymarvelqueens #event #tcas #wondercon #gotg 2 premiere #visionary awards #not the white house correspondents' dinner #variety's power of young hollywood event #nyfw #ours

255 notes · View notes

mylifeincinema · 2 years

Photo

My Best of 2021: Director

My Best of 2021 is a series of annual lists in which I pick the best of the best from 2021, all leading up to my official picks for My Top 10 Films of 2021.

I don’t think I can fully convey how much I love both Steven Spielberg’s work on West Side Story and Jane Campion’s on The Power of the Dog. They’re both so different yet so overwhelmingly perfect for their respective films. There’s a lot of technical greatness going on in this list, though. I think each and every one of them worked just right for their films. From Guillermo del Toro’s unforgiving adaptation of Nightmare Alley to the fever-dream of a fairy tale nightmare that is Pablo Larraín’s Spencer to the mainline shot of nostalgia that is PTA’s coming-of-age anecdotal first-love story, Licorice Pizza, and everything beyond, these are the most visionary directorial efforts of 2021.

My Top 10 Directors of 2021!

1. Steven Spielberg for West Side Story

2. Jane Campion for The Power of the Dog

3. Guillermo del Toro for Nightmare Alley

4. Pablo Larraín for Spencer

5. Paul Thomas Anderson for Licorice Pizza

6. Wes Anderson for The French Dispatch

7. Denis Villeneuve for Dune

8. Joel Coen for The Tragedy of Macbeth

9. David Lowery for The Green Knight

10. Julia Ducournau for Titane

Honorable Mentions: Ridley Scott for The Last Duel; Florian Zeller for The Father; Kenneth Branagh for Belfast; Chloe Zhao for Nomadland; Paul Schrader for The Card Counter.

Enjoy!

-Timothy Patrick Boyer.

Next Up: Lead Actress; Lead Actor

More of My Best of 2021...

26 notes · View notes

sheyshocked · 2 years

Text

I Would Love You In Any Form You Would Take

Summary: With a simple tweak of the preconstruction software, androids should be able to get glimpses of "alternate realities". At least that's what Kamski said when he barged unnanounced into Markus' home. While Markus is intrigued by the prospect, Simon is definitively not. Sixth day of Simarkus Week 2022, prompt In any universe.

Ship: Simon/Markus (Detroit: Become Human)

Warnings: None

Tags: Crack Treated Seriously, Fluff, Alternate Realities, Protective Simon (Detroit: Become Human), Markus Loves Simon (Detroit: Become Human), Established Relationship, Secret Relationship, Elijah Kamski Being Elijah Kamski, Markus Gets To See Some Of The Alternate Universes, Alternate Universe

Wordcount: 3,161

A/N: Title inspired by the lyrics of the song Ugly by Nicole Dollanganger. Thanks for reading! Let me know whether you noticed the shameless promo of one of my AUs ;P

You can also read it on ao3!

It went without saying that Markus had a lot of respect for Elijah Kamski. He was his creator, a visionary, and Carl’s old and dearest friend. But what he had proposed right now was just batshit crazy, no matter how he put it.

“So, let me be clear,” Markus leaned down on his knees as he tried to sort his thoughts. It wasn’t every day that someone came to their door, proposing something so... loony, yet fascinating at the same time. If any of it was true, that is. But knowing Elijah Kamski, nothing was quite impossible if he could help it. “You claim that there are some ‘alternate realities’, and that I can see them for a short period of time.”

Like this, it sounded even more preposterous. Who in their right mind would believe in alternate realities, right? Well, apparently, Kamski did. And maybe he was too curious for his own good, but Markus has always prided himself for his open-mindedness. He wanted to at least give it a chance, before writing it off as complete nonsense.

Simon, on the other hand, eyed Kamski warily from his side of the couch. Unlike Markus, he had never met the man in person before. He knew him only as the elusive father of all androidhood. So it was natural he was much more suspicious of him. And Markus couldn’t blame him. This wasn’t the best showcase to convince him that Kamski was perfectly sane.

“With a trivial tweak to your preconstruction software, yes. You got that right. It’s simple, really. So much so I can’t believe I haven’t thought of it sooner,” Kamski replied with that unsettling grin of his, and Simon, despite being cautious even about semi-public displays of affection, went to grab Markus’ hand and squeezed it tightly, as if to warn him.

It took Markus exactly three beats of his galloping heart to tear his gaze away from where their skin brushed against one another to focus back at Kamski. In his defense, this was the first time since they got together that Simon had dared to hold his hand in front of anyone other than Carl. At this point, he almost came to miss the “good old days of revolution” when the quiet, stoic man wasn’t afraid in the slightest to casually touch his shoulders, arms, or, when he felt particularly daring, hands.

But now that the easy part was over and diplomatic meetings became their daily routine, Simon argued it was too “risky” for him as their leader to be seen around being cozy with another android, and an obsolete model on top of that. A complete nonsense, if you ask Markus, but for the sake of making his beloved feel safe, he agreed to take it easy in the public. At least until their fight for rights is over and they are seen as sentient beings.

Markus squeezed Simon’s hand back as he finally found his voice again: “And why not ask Connor to help you test it out? His software is much more up-to-date than mine.”

Kamski’s face fell. “Oh, I did. But he refused to trust me again after that rather embarrassing experience with Kamski’s test.” Yeah, they heard about that. A nasty business. No wonder Connor didn’t want to play any more of his cruel games. It was a miracle Chloe hasn’t left him by now in the first place. Had to be love. “And all things considered, you might turn out to be a better test subject than he would be. You and your programming were designed by me personally. I know everything about what makes you tick, it will be much easier to make the necessary changes.”

Well, if that wasn’t one of the most terrifying sentences... Both androids exchanged doubtful, in Simon’s case even slightly disturbed, glances.

“Do you trust him with this?” he asked via their wireless connection. He was nervous, his fidgeting getting nearly constant during this conversation, and Markus tried to comfort him by caressing his wrist. Always seemed to work wonders on him.

“I don’t know,” he replied in all honesty. “But I’m curious whether there’s something more to his theory. Don’t worry, Si. I will be fine, I swear.”

Simon sighed, seemingly resigned to their fate at first, but then he turned towards Kamski again. “Can you guarantee that it is safe? Markus still plays a crucial role in our organization, we can’t risk his life for some wild speculation.”

Markus has never seen so much fire in his gaze before, and that shouldn’t be as sexy as it was. But in his defense, Simon rarely spoke out his mind unprompted, and with so much passion too! Even now, after they won their place under the sun. And those words he whispered for his ears only via their private link...

“I can’t lose you like this.”

How could Markus possibly not cradle his cheek in hand upon hearing this? Their skin immediately faded away to bring them even closer together, souls intermingling in the most delightful ways. Simon lifted his eyes to meet his gaze, and there was so much adoration in those crystal blue pools, so much worry... Markus leaned in to capture his lips in a kiss.

Before their lips could meet, they heard someone faking a cough nearby. Right. They were not alone here. What a rude return to reality. It forced them away from each other, flustered and irritated more than anything else. Well, so much for taking it easy.

When they both looked up at Kamski, they found out he was watching them with something close to a scientific fascination. Like an ornithologist observing a rare species of bird in its natural habitat. Markus couldn’t say he liked the feeling, but it was a small price to pay for seeing Simon glare at their guest, his eyes saying: “Come and try hurt him, I dare you!” Suddenly not afraid at all and fiercely protective too. Oh, how Markus loved this fool of a man.

“I see your life is in very good hands, Markus. Good for you.” Something in Kamski’s tone, in the way he smirked like a cat that got a cream, threw Markus off balance. Did he know all along? Were they that obvious before?

“Wait. So you knew about us,” he made a wild gesture with his hand between Simon and himself, “before you came here? Or –”

Kamski shrugged. He seemed very nonchalant about this entire situation. Which was good, of course, but it still took them by surprise. “No, I did not. But it wasn’t that hard to figure out. You two are head over heels with each other, even when trying to keep your distance. Not to mention you insisted on having Simon here for this talk when I asked only for you. One doesn’t have to be a genius to see what’s going on.”

“...Point taken,” Markus slumped deeper into the couch. On one hand, it felt liberating, not having to play pretend. On the other hand, he felt terrified of what Simon was thinking about this. He tried to search his expression for an answer, his beloved always worn his heart on the sleeve, but not now. Dang it.

“See, Si?” he tried contacting him over their private link, only to be met with overwhelming silence. Simon was trying to keep his emotions away from him, which was never a good sign. “There’s no point in pretending. It’s fine. Kamski accepted it, and so will the others. And if they don’t? Well, there’s a reason we have bodyguards.”

The silence of his partner frightened him. But then Simon sighed and went to hold his hands, weaving their fingers together, this time not letting go. “...I suppose so.”

Kamski smiled. “With that out of the way, let me reassure you that I wouldn’t bring it up if I wasn’t sure it couldn’t do any damage. You can trust me. Besides, why don’t you see for yourself?” he handed them a tablet. “There’s all documentation for the planned change. It wouldn’t be anything permanent, of course, but it still should give you a lot to think about.”

Smelling something foul, they went through the schematics together, Simon in particular nitpicking every single detail in an attempt to find something fishy that could be used to hurt or compromise their leadership. But they found nothing. The proposed alternation, which could be reverted or even overridden at any time by the user himself, wasn’t anything striking.

“Fine... seems safe enough,” Markus breathed out after a while, suddenly not so sure about this. If he were a human, his palms would be all sweaty. But he wasn’t, so he only carded his fingers together to stop them from fidgeting. Kamski or Simon mustn’t know he’s anxious about this. “Anything else I need to know before I agree to become your testing guinea pig?”

Kamski flashed him a grin, which was meant to be reassuring. It was not. “Just one more thing – this change will take a lot of your processing power, so you should disable the program after a minute.”

“And what happens if I don’t?”

He got a shrug in response. “Nothing severe. You may overheat a little bit, but not to the point of self-destruction. Nothing a bathtub full of cold water couldn’t fix.”

Kamski was acting terribly casual, and well. This was all just a game for him, wasn’t it? Something to feed his god complex. While the result might be interesting or even useful, was it worth the risk?

Of course it was, Markus answered his own question. He couldn’t deny he was curious in nature and this was something that piqued his interest. Even though it most likely wouldn’t work. But what if it did? What if they could expand beyond what was seen as possible? Think of all the options it would give them!

“All right. Let’s do this. Where’s the file?”

Before he knew it, he had an external disk in his hand and Simon was leading him and Kamski, who was supposed to oversee the whole thing (and be held as a hostage if something went amiss, as Markus suspected from the tense way Simon carried himself. The picture of his always calm and composed better half being so upset he would kidnap a millionaire on his behalf brought a smile on his lips – he wouldn’t go so far though, right? ...right?), upstairs, so he could prepare the bath. You know, “just in case”. As he leaned over the spacy bathtub to test the water temperature with his hand, Markus couldn’t help pressing a soft kiss onto the nape of his neck.

“I’ll be careful, Si. You don’t need to worry so much.”

Simon shot him a doubtful glance and only shook his head. Of course he had to worry. With Markus being... himself, there were always things to look out for. People wanting to kill them, politicians with silver tongues ready to stab them in the back. Markus knew he didn’t always make it easy either. But that made him appreciate Simon even more, for sticking up with him up until now.

With a sigh, he deactivated the skin on the back of his neck and stuck the external disk into one of the ports there. A few moments as he waited for the program to install. Then, the world around him faded. He was struck with hundreds of images per second of worlds that could be, as well as those that looked like a result of an imagination running wild.

One image after another, he grew so mesmerized he forgot all about time. It wasn’t until pop-ups filled his vision, warning him of his body reaching a critical level of heat. Then, all went black.

He woke up with a start. Everything was far too bright, and he felt water splashing around his body. Did he just fall into the tub? How did that happen?

To clear his gaze of all the entrancing visions still blocking his sight and attacking his senses, he had to disable the preconstruction program with a few blinks. There, much better. But where was he now?

It took him embarrassingly long to recognize his surroundings, his processor still a bit laggy from the soft reboot. Ah, back home again. 8941 Lafayette Avenue, Detroit, Michigan. It was 5.30 pm. He was sitting in a bathtub full of now not-so-icy cold water with his clothes still on, which made him believe Simon in panic just pushed him over the edge of the bathtub when he started overheating. Such a sweetheart. He should thank him later.

Someone was shouting nearby, though he couldn’t make out the words. His sense of hearing hasn’t quite come back yet, but he thought he heard something like: “Fix him, or I swear to rA9 –”

Simon. It was Simon. And he wasn’t happy.

Markus looked to the side to see Kamski being cornered by Simon, who held him by the lapels of his jacket, shaking him as the creator of all androidkind screamed: “Look! He had just woken up, there’s nothing wrong with him! Now let go of me!”

Attention shifted back towards Markus as Simon instantly lost interest in shaking the soul out of their poor maker and rushed over to his lover’s side, grabbing his wet hand and holding it tight in both of his palms as if it was his only lifeline. “Markus! Are you all right?”

At first, all he could do was to give him a shaky nod, his throat too sore and voicebox wonky to speak just yet. When he finally managed to croak out pathetic: “Yeah, it’s fine. I’m fine.” it felt like such a huge victory.

Wide, glassy eyes the color of cloudless sky bore into him, and Markus knew his partner long enough to know he was scanning him for any hidden issues he might be experiencing and choosing not to talk about. Apparently, he found none (thank goodness, otherwise Kamski’s life would be put on the line) because his expression soon softened with genuine relief and he sagged where he was sitting next to the bathtub, ignoring the huge puddle of water there altogether. He lowered his head towards Markus’ hand and pressed his forehead against the back of his wrist as if he were praying.

“Don’t scare me like this ever again.”

“I won’t, Si,” he reassured him, meaning every word.

They were given as much privacy they could get from Kamski who was looking the other way while they had their moment, but as soon as they drew away from each other, he pushed his way past Simon and asked Markus: “So? Tell me, did it work?”

Markus gulped. “Yes. Oh my god, it worked. I swear I will fill you a report later, but right now, I would like a moment alone with Simon, please.”

He was met with a sour face and it made him worry that this might be it. He angered the fickle inventor. But then he got a shrug and a pat on the shoulder. “As you wish. Be sure to send me every detail. I need to know everything.”

Everything? Well, maybe not every single thing. That might get awkward fast. Still, he nodded, thirium rising to his cheeks.

True to his word, Kamski left them there. After the door shut behind him, Simon leaned against the edge of the bathtub, one hand lazily rippling the water as he smiled. The gesture was still laced with his previous bout of anxiety, but it was warm nonetheless and Markus found himself mirroring him. “Well, was it worth it? What did you see? Nothing bad, I hope.”

Oh, where should he even start? “Simon, it was amazing. I saw so many universes, so many possibilities! In one of them, we owned a small coffee shop in a quiet part of the city. North and Josh were there too, helping us while we were all lovey-dovey, making coffee for our customers.”

“That sounds very nice,” Simon hummed with a dreamy smile on his face. “I would love to open a coffee shop one day when things calm down a bit.”

“Yeah, me too. But wait, that’s not all! In another universe, we lived in a fantasy world with magic and all sorts of creatures. We were married there, but then I got bitten by a werewolf and you had to find a way to break the curse.”

Simon’s eyebrows rose in surprise. “Oh. And did I break it?”

“I don’t know, to be honest. I didn’t get so far. But I sure hope so.” Markus suddenly went to hold his hand, the one still half-submerged in the now lukewarm water, and rubbed at his finger where a ring would be. Simon’s breath hitched as he shot him a glance, face already warming up with thirium. Markus, being a tease, chose it as the perfect moment to continue.

“Became distracted with another scenario, though. We were humans in that one, living together as roommates and I was trying to confess my feelings for you, only to be interrupted every single time.” His grin grew mischievous and he gave his lover a wink. “You had these cute glasses, which were always a little askew, and the hottest chest hair I’ve ever seen.”

To his amusement, Simon’s eyes immediately shot down towards his smooth and very much hairless chest. For a second, he looked almost distraught, like he was contemplating his chances of somehow growing a bush of hair. Unless Kamski came up with some sort of an upgrade, they were dreadfully slim. “Well, I could always get the glasses at least.”

Markus shook his head with a chuckle. “Don’t be silly, Si. You don’t have to change anything about yourself to make me love you – I’m already smitten.”

“Flatterer,” Simon murmured, face now completely blue with embarrassment. “But... wait. In all those universes you’ve seen, we have been together as a couple, right?”

Now that was the big question. Markus hasn’t seen all there was to it. Maybe there were even more alternate realities where they didn't end up together. Hell, perhaps ones where they haven’t even met each other. But Markus didn’t care about those. A world without Simon would be a dreary one.

“That’s right. Because I would love you, no matter in what universe we would find ourselves in. I would always love you.”

His low purr was interrupted by Simon, who leaned over the edge of the tub and dragged him into a long, messy kiss. The sudden motion sent the water splashing all over the floor, but who cared at that moment? Certainly not them. Two lovesick fools, having eyes only for each other.

He would have to write that report for Kamski sooner or later. But not right now. Now, they could indulge themselves, basking in their love and happiness.

#detroit become human #simarkus #simarkusweek2022 #dbh #dbh fanfiction #dbh markus #dbh simon #shey scribbles #in any universe #dbh fanfic #dbh elijah kamski

15 notes · View notes

chronicallylatetotheparty · 3 years

Text

Float Like A Butterfly... Ch.6 ...Sting Like A Bee

Summary: An unexpected ally appears before Marinette. The only problem is, he's stumbled onto something he shouldn't have. And she needs it back.

---------------------------------

Marinette was having a terrible day.

First she shows up late with the principal accessory of the Gabriel line's Fashion Week showing. Fashion Week! Marinette was looking forward to it all month!

Next Audrey Bourgeois, Style Queen herself, treats the hat Marinette worked so hard on like gum on the bottom of her shoe. Sure Adrien had been super encouraging but he hadn't seen the look of utter contempt on Audrey Bourgeois face. No one could look that disgusted all the time!

Speaking of Adrien, he didn't make getting over him any easier by being so kind.

And if that wasn't enough Marinette's brain insisted on using Chat Noir's Miraculous to fight the akumatized villain. Again! She didn't want to think about Chat Noir right now because... Because... Marinette blinked rapidly. Deep breath... Because thinking about Chat Noir was painful.

But that wasn't even the worst part.

"Don't worry, Tikki. We'll get the box right after the show," Marinette stage whispered so as to not alert her parents. Who walked not even a meter away.

Tikki let out a concerned whine. Oh, this was a bad idea. She could feel it. Marinette was right that they couldn't get away from her parents beforehand. But that only made Tikki even more anxious to get searching. And Marinette really didn't need something else to worry about on top of... everything else.

She hoped no one found it.

----------------

Chloe's day was ridiculous. Utterly, ridiculous!

She sat next to her mother as Adrien walked down the runway. Lingering dread squashed and thrown into the very back of her mental walk-in closet where she kept unimportant things. Like shoes she never wore anymore, problematic outfits and lingering guilt that totally wasn't her's. Adrien wasn't slowly disintegrating anymore so why dwell on the past?

Adrien's performance was flawless and Chloe was absolutely certain she appreciated his efforts more than anyone else... Even if Alya Cesaire was livestreaming.

The show went off without a hitch. Adrien seemed fine but then he was almost as good at pretending as she was. Chloe eyed him as Gabriel's lackey, um, assistant pulled him along. Not physically, of course. It was more of a metaphorical pulling.

Ugh, Gabriel Agreste started talking with Chloe's mother through his assistant's tablet. Like, yeah, apologizing to the Queen of Style was a no brainer. But he could have at least come in person! Not like Gabriel was doing anything important besides being the world's richest hermit.

... And Dupain-Cheng was there too. Of course she was. At least her mother would put Dupain-Cheng in her place. Chloe felt herself smirk at the thought.

Adrien raised an eyebrow. As though reading her mind.

Chloe pretended not to notice. No petty satisfactions here! No, sir! But it wasn't like the Queen of Style was going to say anything about Dupain-Cheng's hat except-

"It's the most exceptional thing I've ever seen!" Audrey Bourgeois announced.

Exact- Wait, what!?

"You're a visionary, Marinette! Glitter's had its day..."

Chloe's ears rang, drowning out her mother's voice. Exceptional? Her? Over a- a- a hat!? A vice squeezed Chloe's chest with cruel precision. When her own present was rejected without even unwrapping it!? Chloe's fists shook as she bit her tongue.

"Isn't that nice for your friend, Chloe dearest?" Andre Bourgeois asked.

"It's ridiculous! Utterly ridiculous!" Chloe whirled on her mother. "I've never been to New York with you and you're taking Marinette Dupain-Cheng!?" She spat.

"I'm afraid I have a last minute meeting to attend, my dear Audrey," Gabriel announced from the tablet. "Nathalie, bring Adrien home immediately."

Adrien's attention snapped from Chloe to Gabriel. "But, Father, I-"

"Do not embarrass me in front of the Bourgeois," Gabriel snapped, ending the call.

Jaw clenching shut, Adrien stared at nothing with stormy eyes as Nathalie led him away.

"I'm taking her because she's exceptional, Claudette. Uh- Chloe," Audrey stated matter-of-factly, the Agrestes already forgotten.

"I'm exceptional too!" Chloe shot back.

Audrey inspected her white gloves, bored of this exchange. "The only exceptional thing about you, my dear-" Audrey deigned to glance at her daughter. "-is your mother."

Chloe's blood boiled as she shook off Andre's hands on her shoulders, standing straighter. "I'll show you how exceptional I can be!" she promised.

Just as an akuma entered Chloe's present.

---------------

Alya was having an amazing day!

Her livestreams hadn't gotten this many new views since she almost got sacrificed by Pharaoh. The Ladyblog's activity was up. And Ladybug chose her as the Black Cat!

Sure it was weird that Ladybug didn't want to talk about it. But still! Black Cat! Alya tried to contain her grin as she thought about being Ladybug's partner for a day...

Her pace on the sidewalk slowed, enthusiasm dampening a little... Setting her face in determination Alya skipped into gear. All the more reason to piece together what happened! And she'd start with-

A burst of yellow light shot forth from the Grand Palais. Jolting Alya out of her thoughts as the newest akuma victim gave their villain speech from the roof.

"I am Queen Glitter! And from now on the only exceptional person in Paris will be me!"

Alya ran... straight for the villain who was obviously Chloe as she summoned a cloud of glitter and shapped it into a collection of accessories. The constructs restricting the movement of whoever they landed on. Scarves wrapping people's legs together or tying them to lampposts. Hats covering people's eyes as they tried to yank them off. There was even someone with his hands stuck in high heels. Queen Glitter made a giant floating scarf to stand on and took off in a random direction; leaving a trail of gaudy accessories in her wake.

Great. It was going to take forever to catch up to her now! Taking cover in an alleyway so Queen Glitter's sparkly formal wear wouldn't notice her, Alya scanned the street. Mentally kicking herself for not having recorded the villain speech for the Ladyblog.

"Looks like you're raring to go," Ladybug observed as she landed next to Alya. A familiar box in her hand.

"Ladybug! Didn't think I'd be helping out again so soon!" Alya held out her palm and Ladybug placed the Black Cat Miraculous in her hands again.

"Y'know the drill, right?" Ladybug's eyes wandered to the people in various states of running-for-their-lives.

"Give it back when we're done and don't take it personally," Alya paraphrased as Plagg emerged in a ball of light when she placed the ring on her finger.

"Ladyblog girl again?” Plagg gave her a once over. Ears flat against his head but swishing tail betraying his apprehension. "Well, at least Alya's not blue boy."

“He wasn’t that-“ Ladybug shook her head. “Y’know what, never mind.”

Glancing between them Alya filed that tidbit away for later. "C'mon, Plagg. We did great together!"

"You were okay," Plagg acknowledged. "Could've used more cat puns."

Alya chuckled. Of course he'd like those. With a -slightly forced- encouraging smile from Ladybug, Alya called out: “Plagg, transforme-moi!”

Green lightning traveled from Chat Noir’s ring across both arms and down her torso. A green sash wrapping around her waist and trailing into a tail. Running her clawed gloves through her hair as cat ears materialized. Said hair puffing up into an afro. Armor padding her shoulders and torso. Alya flexed her fingers to get used to the feeling. Chat Ombre's suit still felt strange on her skin compared to Rena Rouge.

Ladybug leapt onto the rooftops and Chat Ombre followed her lead. Racing towards the villain while avoiding her glitter. "So what's the plan?"

"Queen Glitter is basically a reskin of Style Queen," Ladybug thought aloud.

"But without that annoying habit of turning into a cloud!" Chat Ombre supplied.

Ladybug launched her yo-yo at a pedestrian and yanked him away from Queen Glitter's constructs as they passed by. "But she can spread her power over a wider area."

"Don't worry, Ladybug. We'll be- Look out!" Alya tackled Ladybug out of the way as a trio of glittery top hats zoomed past.

"Your reign is over Ladybug and wannabe Chat Noir!" Queen Glitter announced as she floated over them. Her appearance was similar to Style Queen except her crown was even bigger and gaudier. A foux glitter scarf around her shoulders. "I don't even care if you don't give me your Miraculous! I'll simply immobilize you and take them by force!"

They evaded a flurry of coats by jumping down to the street. "Really?" Chat Ombre called out. "That all you can throw at us? A tacky outfit?"

"Wouldn't be the first time!" Ladybug agreed.

"No one ever appreciates my gifts!" Queen Glitter stomped her foot. "Fine then. Why don't we try something more expensive!" Raising her hands she lifted two cars wrapped with giant bows into the air.

Alya's eyes widened. "Oh, shi-" Chat Ombre evaded Chloe's attacks as the villain played wack-a-chat. Glitter accessories flying in and attempting to restrict their movements as well.

Ladybug wrapped one of the vehicles with her yo-yo and spun it back at Queen Glitter.

The bright red sports car hurled towards her and- She stopped it with the palm of her hand. "You'll have to do better than that if- Where'd you go!?" Queen Glitter scanned the empty street, rising higher for a better vantage point.

Chat Ombre locked eyes with her for a second before a chimney obscured her line of sight. "Somehow I don't think that bought us much time." Alya voiced as a wave of clothing rose over the city.

Ladybug spotted a strip of blue between the rooftops. Thinking quickly, Marinette grabbed Alya's hand and turned them towards the Seine. Diving into its waters with a torrent of glitter in their wake.

Queen Glitter's constructs crashed into the river and washed away with the current.

Chat Ombre made for the surface once it was clear but Ladybug pulled her back. Chat's staff in her hand and yo-yo on her face. Pointing towards the magic tool Ladybug offered it to Alya.

Nodding, Alya quickly pressed it to her lips and took a deep breath, sweet oxygen filling her lungs. Giving Ladybug a thumbs up once she didn't feel like her chest was on fire.

Grabbing her hand Ladybug led Alya further upstream until they found a boat.

Gasping the (relatively) fresh air Alya examined Chat's staff. "I didn't know it could do that."

"Yeah, the Miraculous are full of surprises. And we'll need one of our own to beat Queen Glitter. Lucky Charm!"

A spotted snorkel fell into Ladybug's hands.

"Don't we already have one of those?" Chat Ombre asked.

Ladybug's brow furrowed as she stared at it. "Yeah... Wait, Queen Glitter's powers don't work underwater!"

"So, all we need to do is get her there!"

Ladybug glanced at a pair of recycling bins. "And I know just how to sneak up on her."

Chat Ombre grinned. She liked this plan.

---------------

Chat Ombre hated this plan!

It had all gone smoothly. The glitter constructs ignoring the recycling bins they used as disguises. Snake style. Chloe was dumbfounded when she saw them. Enough to let them take the elevator up to the Grand Paris' rooftop where Queen Glitter set up her makeshift throne. Giving them the opportunity to tackle her towards the Seine.

Unfortunately, Queen Glitter could make constructs of any size. Like, for example, a wide brimmed hat big enough to stretch from either bank of the Seine.

"You were going to make me wear this?" Queen Glitter held up the Lucky Charm- "No thanks!" -and struck it across her knee.

Alya winced as the villain broke Ladybug's insta-win button in half. "Please, tell me you have a plan?" Chat Ombre glanced at the spotted hero currently wrapped up in an extra long scarf just like she was. The floating constructs squeezing just a little bit more as Ladybug struggled against them. Alya tried bending her wrist to Cataclysm her restraints but her right hand was held away from the rest of her body.

"No planning! Not that it'll do you any good. I've already won! Me! Queen Glitter! MWAHAHAHAH- Do you mind? I'm trying to savour the moment!" Chloe snapped as Papillon's emblem glowed over her face.

Alya's head turned from an increasingly frantic Ladybug to the annoyed villain.

"Of course I'm going to take their Miraculous! Why wouldn't I take their Miraculous?"

"An excellent question, your Highness!"

Three pairs of eyes snapped towards the source of the unexpected voice.

"... Who the heck are you supposed to be?" Queen Glitter demanded.

"Aristos! At your service!" He bowed with a flourish, giving Alya a good look at the bee shaped comb at the base of his ponytail. Blond hair highlighted with black stripes. Goggles obscuring his face, making his green eyes hard to read despite the grin on his lips. Suit mostly yellow with black, V-shaped stripes on his torso, forearms and lower legs. Three hexagons on his chest giving the impression of honeycombs.

"No no no no no no." Ladybug stared at Aristos, not realizing that she was speaking aloud.

...Well, that can't be good, Alya thought.

"Ha! Did you really think more insects would help, Ladybug?" The villain mocked. Her constructs closing in on the interloper.

Aristos' smile took on a darker edge. "I'm not with her, your Majesty. I'm here to pledge myself to the most exceptional Queen I've ever seen! Really, where does Papillon get off talking to such a glittery figure as your Highness like that?"

Alya blinked. Really? Even Chloe wouldn't fall for-

Raising her hand the villain halted her constructs' advance. "Hmm, well at least you know how to treat royalty." Queen Glitter offered her bejeweled fingers. "I guess you can be my underling."

Ah. Right. Never underestimate the power of Chloe's ego.

The Bee, Alya was ninety-nine percent sure he was the Bee, took Chloe's offered hand and leaned down. Lips hovering over the back of her hand. "Oh! That reminds me your Highness, I have a gift for you."

Queen Glitter's eyes shone. "A present? For me? It better be the latest- Ow! I'm getting to that!" She snapped at Papillon, looking away from the Bee to glare at the absent supervillain.

Aristos removed the striped top Alya recognized as his Miraculous tool from around his waist.

"You didn't beat them! I did!"

Casually, carefully, Aristos placed his top on Queen Glitter's hand. Point against her glittering skin.

"You couldn't do it yourself so you sent me!"

"Venom," the Bee breathed.

"What was-"

Queen Glitter froze as Aristos' top glowed; his power paralyzing her. The constructs bursting into clouds of glitter. Chat Ombre landed in a crouch as her restraints vanished.

"It worked." Aristos sounded as surprised as Alya felt. "It worked! Yes! Nailed it!" He pumped his fist as relief overflowed and- Was he crying?. "Independent hero debut successful!"

"What?" Ladybug was staring at the Bee apprehensively and that didn't help Alya's nerves.

Aristos' mood instantly became more subdued. Blinking rapidly to get the water out of his eyes. "Oh, right. You're still here."

Chat Ombre tried not to take that personally. He did just save them, after all.

Ladybug stepped forward. Voice even, diplomatic. Never mind that she seemed this close to freaking out. "Listen, Aristos was it? I don't know how you found that Miraculous but you have to give it back."

His face was disturbingly neutral. "...Don't I get a 'thank you' for saving the day?"

The tension in Ladybug's shoulders wouldn't budge. "Thank you, but I really need that Miraculous back." She held out her hand.

Aristos stared at Ladybug's hand like it was something alien. Cracks appearing in his facade. "Yeah, pass." Walking backwards, away from Ladybug and Chat Ombre, he kept them in his field of vision.

"Wh- The- Y-you can't just decide that!" Ladybug sputtered, stepping forward.

"Just did! How do I even know this Miraculous is even yours?" Aristos asked, increasing the distance between them.

Alya got the distinct impression that he was bullshitting them.

"I'm the one who lost it!"

Alya's eyes widened. "You lost a Miraculous?"

"Not helping, Chat!"

Aristos' features twitched, eyes narrowing. "Sure you say it's yours but how do I know that?"

Chat Ombre bristled at the implication. "Ladybug is the Hero of Paris!"

Aristos gave her a once-over, his expression inscrutable, but said nothing.

Wow. Rude.

"That Miraculous belongs to the G- to me."

"That's interesting because I say it belongs to me." Aristos laid a hand on his chest. "Looks like it's your word against mine. Guess which one I'm choosing?"

Ladybug's yo-yo was suddenly spinning in her hand. "I swear, I'm not gonna lose another-"

An insistent beeping from Ladybug's earrings interrupted her.

"Welp! Love to stay and dance but it looks like you two need to buzz off before your precious identities are exposed to little old me."

Why did he sound bitter? Everything about him made Alya's head spin with questions. Not least of which being how the heck someone holding the Bee Miraculous showed up in the first place.

Taking his top, Aristos hopped onto the edge of the Grand Paris' roof. "Might want to deal with her before that happens."

Alya looked to where he was pointing to see Queen Glitter still paralyzed. When she glanced back at the Bee he was gone.

---------------

Adrien's day sucked.

Paris Fashion Week was always a chore but this year was even worse. Despite having friends around he felt lonelier than ever. Getting to talk to Marinette only helped so much. Adrien was still expected to plaster on a smile and represent 'the brand'.

And that was before he got turned into a freaking statue!

At least it's better than mind control.

Shut up!

He did not want to see Ladybug or her new partner up close and personal! Thank you, very much! But like always what Adrien wanted didn't matter.

Imagine his surprise when a Miraculous practically falls into his lap. A familiar glow blooming in his chest against all reason as Adrien opens the box.

"Hello, my King," the unknown, bee-like kwami greets formally.

There's a turning in his stomach that Adrien tries his best to calm it. "H-hi! I'm Adrien. What's your name?"

"I am Pollen," she bowed. "Kwami of Subjection. An honor to meet you. It has been a long time since I've had a king."

"Just Adrien is fine." Taking the Miraculous, a comb of all things, out of it's box Adrien stares at it. It's disguise all black and only vaguely shaped like a bee compared to the details he glimpsed before Pollen came out.

"Of course, my King."

Adrien sighed. Pollen was nothing like Plagg. Then again, Adrien wasn't sure the world could survive two of him. The lazy little jerk was enough to drive any Guardian mad all by himself... God, he missed Plagg.

"Um, anyway, how does your power work?"

Pollen clapped her small appendages together. "It's very straightforward, my King. You simply call out 'Venom' and your top will activate. Then strike your opponent with the point and they'll be paralyzed for however long you desire." She whooshed toward him for emphasis.

"Paralyze..." That was certainly more straightforward than using Cataclysm.

'Cause you sucked at that, didn't you?

Shut up. This was... What was he doing? When Adrien held the Bee in his hands he felt... Alive. Like a promise that things could be better this time around.

Adrien jumped as insistent knocking on his changing room door startled him out of his thoughts.

"M. Agreste? Mme. Sancoeur says we're back on in five."

"Be right out!" Brushing the Miraculous with his thumb to make sure it was really there Adrien placed it in his pocket. Hesitating for a moment he offered his jacket to Pollen.

Nodding, she zoomed into Plagg's old hiding place.

Taking a deep breath, Adrien opened the door. "Let's get this over with."

---------------

Adrien ran off as soon as Papillon's mark appeared on Chloe's face. Catching Marinette doing the same from the corner of his eye. Glass raining down as Queen Glitter broke through the Grand Palais' roof.

Pollen zipping out as he tied his hair into a makeshift ponytail. Holding it in place with the Bee Miraculous.

"Quickly, my King! Say 'Pollen, transforme-moi'!"

Adrien stared at her. He could hear screaming as people ran.

"My King!"

His oldest friend just got akumatized for the second time.

"My King!"

All he had to do was speak!

"Adrien!"

His knees shook as his back hit the wall behind him for support. "But... I wasn't chosen."

Pollen floated higher as her eyes widened in surprise. "Weren't you given my Miraculous?"

Adrien shook his head. "I f-found it... After giving up the Black Cat."

This time Pollen dipped as she nearly fell out of the air. "Chat Noir."

Adrien shook his head even more emphatically. Hands going up to cover his face. "N-no! Not him! Can't be him!" he choked.

Pollen laid her hand on his and Adrien tensed at the touch. "My King."

Something in her voice made Adrien look at her.

"You wish to help, do you not?"

"... Yes."

Pollen's eyes softened. "Then help."

Adrien stared at her. So sure that she'd want nothing to do with him once she knew what a failure he was... But that wasn't the case.

Rising shakily to his feet Adrien gave Pollen a grateful smile. "Pollen, transforme-moi'."

----------------

Aristos panted as he glanced up from the alleyway. Spotting no pursuers. "Pollen, detransforme-moi."

Landing on Adrien's outstretched palms, Pollen beamed tiredly at him. "Excellent work, my King."

Adrien smiled back. "Oh! What do you eat? Plagg loves Camembert but..."

"That would be fine. However, I prefer something sweeter."

"Yeah..." A weight settled on his chest. "Let's see what we can find..."

Pollen frowned. "Is something wrong, my King?"

Adrien avoided her gaze. What was he supposed to say? That disobeying Ladybug felt wrong? That he almost let his guilt and resentment make him say cruel things to his replacement? That his heart wouldn't stop pounding? "It's just... Do you want to go back?"

Pollen blinked.

"You're supposed to listen to the Guardian, right?" Adrien bit his lip as his heart tried jumping up his throat. "It's not fair of me to keep you if you want to go back."

Pollen sat up on his palms. "I have been in the Miracle Box for a long time, my King. I can think of worse things than spending what time I have outside it with you."

Adrien's eyes burned as he wiped away tears. "Thanks, Pollen."

Ladybugs swirled in the sky as they repaired the city.

"Of course, my King," Pollen smiled.

"Call me Adrien."

"Yes, my King."

Adrien sighed. A smile coming to his lips. Looks like Aristos was sticking around for a while.

-----------------------------

Retroactively giving Black Cat Alya an afro.

#bee!adrien #bee miraculous #adrien agreste #canon divergence #canon divergent au #ml au #ml fanfic #queen wasp #kinda #ml #miraculous ladybug #marinette dupain cheng #chloe bourgeois #alya cesaire

34 notes · View notes

hunterartemisanime · 3 years

Text

KnB Commentary: Midorima Shintarou--The Paradox of a Character: An Astro-psychological Analysis

Midorima is perhaps the most compatible character to be discussed with astrology, but I will bring some psychological angles to his analysis as well. Being the favorite character of Fujimaki sensei “to draw” he must have gone through some trials and errors when he was made. But on the surface, he seems like a stereotypical cool megane guy who thinks everyone is beneath him. So why is Midorima the way he is? let’s dive in with Oha-Asa style

Let’s talk his name first. Midorima’s surname is written with two kanjis: “Midori” (緑) and “Ma” (間). The first one obviously hints at his hair colour and overall color scheme: green, a colour associated with intelligence, fertility, wealth and youth. The latter character means “space” which hints at his playing style: the high arching 3 pointers. So overall, his name indicates an overachiever, perfectionist to the teeth and serious person. If his name was to indicate “Green Space”, then should he not be a visionary and imaginative person, close to Akashi or Kuroko--but he is much controlled than others. Is it a conscious character design choice, a psychological aftermath or something supernatural involved in it?

Both Midorima’s name and playing style are very Jovian in the Astrological sense. Jupiter in Eastern Astrology is the Advisor of the Gods and he signifies Space and expansion of everything good on the physical plane. Thus, he is often called “giver of great wealth, family, children and intelligence”. Jovian people are also big-hearted, generous, affectionate people. Coincidentally, Midorima is a Cancer, a house where Jupiter is exalted. However, Midorima is not a Cancer Jupiter, but Cancer Sun and his sun is placed in Pusya constellation (the Constellation of Nourishment) a constellation ruled by Saturn: the exact opposite of Jupiter in nature. While Jupiter expands everything from wealth to imagination, Saturn limits. Saturn signifies death, discipline, hard work, limitations and coldness. The juxtaposition of expansive style of play with a very controlled character kind of symbolises the conditions of Jupiter’s exaltation in Cancer. Jupiter is not only exalted in Cancer, it is exalted only when it is placed in Pusya, the constellation of Saturn. Space itself has no shape, it is unfathomable and infinite and to make it usable in the terrestrial level, limitation is required. Midorima’s counteracting character and playing style describe exactly that: in fact his controlled demeanor is the reason behind his excellence.

There is a surface dispassion and control on Midorima’s character. He tries to control everything around him: his chances through lucky items, disruptive behaviours of others and other normal things which are really common for teenagers. It’s typical Saturnian quality to restrict and control but why in such an extensive way? I think, deep down Midorima is easily afraid and fear is something he struggles with all the time. Saturn is also the lord of fear, which further feeds into the restriction side of the character. In a type A character like Midorima, who wants everything to be perfect all the time, the fear actually stems from his lack of confidence for not being good enough. He may appear that he is cool and confident, but he is not: he does have an abhorrence towards confrontations and taking things head on and face to face, which also translates well to his playing side: shooting from far. He is always afraid of something being wrong, which also makes him cling to the “lucky items”.

The child-like hoarding habit of lucky item is an adorable quirk in Midorima’a character, whose interpretation can get considerably dark. This sort of “possessiveness” are the result of dysfunctional childhood. In K-project: Return of the The Kings, Saruhiko Fushimi is a character that had dysfunctional childhood which developed into a twisted possessiveness towards his ex-best friend Yata Misaki. Midorima is not nearly as dysfunctional as Fushimi, but things are somewhat apparent. Midorima appears to have a very sheltered childhood, too lavish and sheltered that overlooked his inner insecurities with his outward brilliance. He had doting, perhaps overprotective parents who incubated their brainy child to a sanctuary of order and discipline, thus discouraging and curtailing the caprices of a natural child. This developed a chronic dependency on “lucky items” that are supposed to make the day better, like the toy teddy is supposed to protect from the monster under the bed. It is both comic and pathetic to see Midorima from such an angle: the parenting he has been under must have been overcontrolling disguised as affection. Inshort, Midorima is the less comical version of Handa Seishuu, the young calligrapher from the anime “Barakamon” [both voiced by Daisuke Ono]

This also hints that Midorima must also be most emotional of all his peers. Japan is very conformist nation and boys are raised in a very specific ways, showing emotions is considered feminine and therefor is frowned upon on men. Kise may appear emotional on the surface because firstly he is very expressive and extroverted, secondly he is heavily impacted by his elder sisters and has healthy feminine impression on his psyche. Midorima on the other hand is a first born boy in a upper-middle class Japanese family and his emotions were in check frequently so that he could be a stalwart guardian for his decade younger sister. While Kise is shown crying in public after losing match to Touou, Midorima cries in private for more than twice. He is either shameful of his outburst of emotions, or he wishes not to show his vulnerable side. The repression of his abundant emotions creates even tougher outer shell that portrays Midorima with a “Higher than thou” outlook. Aside from feminine, he also has very delicate tendancies like “to file” nails instead of “clipping it” which could have been faster and easier, taping nails with slow pace instead of slapping them hurriedly. Although Kise is the model and works in a domain of Art, it is Midorima’s sense of delicacy that comes out in subtle manner.