#especially if rapunzel isn’t involved in the exchange at all

[captainfitzherbert]

hc that eugene taught king frederic how to high five and then king frederic taught king edmund.

#eugene fitzherbert #king frederic #king edmund #tangled #tangled: the series #rta #tts #can i get a round of applause for eugene and his two dads #king frederic respecting eugene and letting him teach him new things >>> #especially if rapunzel isn’t involved in the exchange at all

[bestworstcase]

What are your opinions on the whole Rapunzel-Varian drama in S1 post Queen For A Day, especially with the whole "Rapunzel should've checked on Varian after the snowstorm" or whose fault it was for their conflict?

tbh… if i had to pick one single representative example of the tts fandom’s general inability to handle nuance in fictional conflict, it’d be the QFAD discourse™

because! while this isn’t to rag on anyone, if you pick a random person with an opinion on this question, chances are they will fall into one of two camps. either: 1) corona’s treatment of varian was horrifically unjust and everyone involved except him is a terrible person, or 2) rapunzel did what she had to do and varian’s anger is irrational, unfounded, and fundamentally unfair.

people in camp #1 tend to believe that rapunzel was simply being selfish and acting like a sulky child when she failed to check up on varian after the storm. people in camp #2 tend to point out that rapunzel was traumatized by the events of QFAD too, and believe that this justifies her failure to check up on varian.

but the thing is imo the conflict in QFAD + the rest of s1 is just as complex and messy as the argument cassandra and rapunzel have in RATGT, in that there is no One True Right Answer and no person who is one hundred percent “at fault.” the question of blame is… honestly sort of beside the point if you ask me. to break this down:

#1: rapunzel is a sheltered teenager with minimal social skills dealing with a national emergency halfway through her first unsupervised couple days on the job.

the girl has had like eight months tops of training for the monumental task of ruling a country. she grew up in a situation where the only choice available to her was how she would wile away her free time inside her tower; gothel exerted total control over every other facet of her life. and while she has a little more wiggle room now that she’s out of the tower, she is still basically living her life with all the big, consequential choices made for her.

QFAD was intended to be her first taste of true authority, while still being ultimately inconsequential. if all had gone according to plan, corona would have ticked along more or less on autopilot—just as frederic left it—while rapunzel got in a little practice making judgment calls about minor, unimportant things, like mediating small interpersonal disputes between her subjects.

nobody expected, and rapunzel was absolutely not prepared for, a legitimate national crisis to explode in her face out of nowhere. this was supposed to be pedaling by herself for the first time with training wheels and what she got instead is careening down the freeway on a motorbike at 95mph with zero warning. it is a miracle that she held things together as well as she did.

#2: varian is a child with an emotionally distant, unsupportive father who sets him up for failure.

he’s smart but he’s also fourteen. he has little if any formal training in alchemy, he’s figuring stuff out by trial and error, and he has zero adult supervision. his efforts have caused significant levels of destruction twice in only a few months—the exploding boilers in WTH, and his invention going haywire (with a little help from st. croix) in GE—and it’s implied that this is a fairly regular occurrence with him.

and yet quirin does nothing. he shouts at varian, shuts him down, and at several points orders him point blank to stop messing with alchemy… but he makes no effort to connect with his son or understand where he’s coming from; he doesn’t try to impose reasonable restrictions (like “don’t mess with volatile chemicals unless i’m there to help”) that would allow varian to pursue his passion while minimizing the danger; and he doesn’t create an environment where varian feels able to turn to his father for help. and then with the black rocks, he lets varian come along to see the king, but refuses to explain why he “lied” (/spoke in code) to the king, destroying any credibility he had in varian’s eyes and making varian panicky and desperate because it seemed like no one else cared.

so the end result is that varian feels like he has no choice but to sneak around behind quirin’s back. he can’t rely on his dad for help if anything goes wrong, but the situation is so dire that doing nothing also isn’t an option. he tries his best to be careful (before quirin barges in on him, varian is attempting to put just one drop of the amber serum on the rock) but even if quirin hadn’t startled him, a terrible accident was bound to happen sooner or later, and the responsibility for that lays just as much if not more on quirin’s shoulders—the adult in this situation—as on varian’s. the kid is FOURTEEN.

(i think a neat argument could be made for varian as a deconstruction of the teen/YA fantasy trope of the hyper-competent teenager with absentee parents whose absence allows the teen to get on with the important work of the high-stakes fantasy plot; but that’s a whole different post)

#3: rapunzel did the right thing, but lost control over the situation due to lack of experience.

it would have been wrong to abandon everybody in corona to run off into the blizzard with varian, and frankly it wouldn’t have helped quirin anyway. he was already encased in amber by the time varian got back to old corona, and rapunzel couldn’t have done anything in the moment had she been with varian then. the only benefit to her presence would have been to comfort varian—which is not a small thing, obviously, but it’s not in any way a reasonable exchange for the hundreds or thousands of lives that would have been lost if she left corona completely without a leader in the middle of a crisis. so broadly speaking, staying in corona was the right call.

however.

rapunzel was not in control during that scene in the palace. varian bursts in, panicking, explains his situation and begs for her help—and rapunzel just says, basically, “i can’t help you, there’s an emergency.” then nigel comes in and reinforces that, which makes varian freak out; he grabs rapunzel and shakes her, nigel signals for the guards in response, and varian gets dragged out of the palace while rapunzel pleads with the guards not to hurt him.

(sidebar: the hate nigel gets for describing varian as “attacking” rapunzel is unfounded. varian grabs her and shakes her roughly back and forth and that is, in fact, assault. nigel is not wrong to describe it as such.)

anyway, notice two the things that DON’T happen here:

1) rapunzel doesn’t offer up any alternative solutions. a more experienced or better prepared leader could have responded to varian’s plea with a plan of action, like: i need to stay in corona to oversee the evacuation, so we can’t leave right this minute, but cassandra will take you to ask xavier for advice right now and the minute it’s safe to leave we’ll go together to help your father. or whatever—the point is to engage proactively with varian’s problem, make him feel heard, and give him something productive to do so he isn’t just sitting around fretting in the palace or struggling back home by himself in the middle of a blizzard.

2) raps doesn’t challenge nigel’s decision when he summons the guards to throw varian out of the palace, which is something she absolutely could have done. she could have said no, i can’t go to old corona right this minute to help him, but we are not throwing him out into the storm again, he stays here with me. this is, again, a sign of her inexperience; she’s not used to being an authority, she’s never been in a situation like this before, and she’s under a ton of pressure—so when an older adult whom she sees as an authority (he’s her father’s advisor!) makes a judgment call, it probably doesn’t even occur to her that she can challenge it.

this is why i say that rapunzel lost control over the situation—because even though she made the Right Decision, she got a kind of awful outcome, ie varian being tossed out into the blizzard to struggle home by himself to deal with his problem without any support, and rapunzel inadvertently breaking her promise from earlier.

#4: rapunzel doesn’t immediately go to check on varian after the storm because she’s traumatized, busy, and trusts her father.

painter’s block is all about how the trauma rapunzel feels as a direct result of her decisions during the storm destroys her ability to choose anything. she feels so debilitated by the fear that she will make the wrong choice—because she worries that she chose wrong when she allowed varian to be sent away—that she can’t do anything at all, let alone find the emotional strength to go to old corona and confront her mistakes. and while she tries to process and move past this trauma, mrs sugarby exploits it in an attempt to force her to free zhan tiri.

the next episode, not in the mood, involves rapunzel being put under enormous pressure to entertain an irascible ally of corona’s while he and her father negotiate a trade deal with the threat of a war breaking out if they fail. NITM is a silly episode, but it has the highest non-magical stakes of any episode in the entire series. this isn’t an event rapunzel could have reasonably skipped out on for the sake of one person, no matter how much she cares. she’s slammed. she’s still being forced to prioritize just like she was in QFAD.

and in the third episode after QFAD, rapunzel is tormented by nightmares about varian and what happened to his father, so she presses frederic for information about the rocks and varian’s safety. and frederic assures her that everything is fine. he lies to her face about the rocks having been removed, and rapunzel has no reason to doubt him, so she relaxes… until varian contacts her directly, and she immediately jumps to help him.

#5: at the same time, varian has been forced into hiding because frederic is attempting to cover up the rock problem.

what happens to varian after QFAD is plainly unfair and unjust. his father is trapped in amber, the rocks have completely destroyed old corona, most of the villagers have presumably moved to the new land frederic set aside for them, and frederic’s secret police are crawling all over the village trying to suppress information about the rocks (and fred’s role in creating them). the blame for this lies squarely at frederic’s feet, and varian is right to be angry.

i believe that varian interprets rapunzel’s absence as a sign that she’s complicit in what frederic is doing, making his anger at her justified as well. he doesn’t have access to the information we do about why rapunzel doesn’t seek varian out immediately—he doesn’t see how distraught and shattered she is after the storm, or the high-stakes political nonsense she has to deal with, and he certainly doesn’t see her trying to pursue the matter of the rocks and varian’s safety with her father and being flatly lied to to convince her to stay put in corona. all he knows is that rapunzel kicked him out and now she’s ignoring him and her father’s agents keep chasing him away from his home, and he draws the conclusion that makes the most sense to him, ie rapunzel must be okay with all of this because otherwise she would be here.

and once he has that idea in his head, the fact that rapunzel immediately jumps to help him when he contacts her isn’t enough to dislodge it. he’s a scared, lonely fourteen year old boy looking at this situation through a purely interpersonal lens while rapunzel is an overwhelmed eighteen year old doing the best she can while juggling about a million things at once and putting varian low on her priority list because she’s been told by a trusted source that varian is fine.

they both make mistakes, they’re both missing important contextual information, and neither of them handles this situation in the best possible way. but neither of them is “at fault” in the sense of being purely in the wrong, and—imo—frederic and quirin hold the lion’s share of the blame here, because they had all the information, and they refused and refused and refused to deal with the black rock problem until it overwhelmed them both. varian and rapunzel are both just kids scrambling to deal with something that should not be their problem to solve, and both of them fuck up! (and even then—the best fred and quirin could’ve done was just be honest and upfront about what the problem was. neither of them had the means to fix anything, and neither of them was responsible for the very unfortunate timing of the blizzard. so it’s not as clear cut as everything bad in s1 happens because fred and quirin stuck their heads in the sand. a lot of it honestly was just sheer bad luck.)

a n y w a y, i think by s3 and after a lot of introspection, varian has figured a lot of this out, and that’s why he’s so quick to let go of his lingering grudge against rapunzel. he’s realized that at the end of the day, rapunzel was just as unprepared and lost in that situation as he was, that she’s not responsible for (and wasn’t complicit in) her father’s decisions, etc, etc.

#rta #this is a bit of a ramble but yeah #tangled-dreamer-97

[fluffy-boops]

Case Study 1: Once Upon a Tower

Introduction

Once Upon a Tower is a 2D platformer mobile game. However, unlike most platformers where you go from left to right, this one makes you go from top to bottom. Your controls are restricted to only going left and right. To go down you need to find holes in the ground or break the blocks beneath you. You can swing your hammer to break wooden blocks and get rid of hazards. There are also fireflies that you can collect which can then be exchanged for power-ups at the end of each level. To beat the game you need to reach level twelve where you can fight the dragon guarding the tower you are trying to escape.

Meaningful Play

Once Upon a Tower is both discernable and integrated, giving this game a meaningful play. Every interaction whether it is breaking blocks, getting rid of hazards, or collecting fireflies give an audible and visual cue. The game uses fireflies as its currency which you can obtain by either collecting them throughout the levels or by getting rid of hazards. At the end of each level you can use your fireflies to purchase power-ups. By collecting fireflies and purchasing power-ups, I was able to increase my chances of survival. This was especially useful later on as the levels became harder.

Core Loop

The core loop in this game involves moving, swinging, and avoiding hazards. To progress to the next level you need to move and swing your hammer at the blocks around you. Throughout the game there are also many dangerous creatures and traps that can kill you. To get around this I had to either kill the creatures/break the traps or avoid them entirely.

Mechanics + Dynamics

Core Mechanics:

The core mechanics of this game are moving and swinging. You literally will not get anywhere if you don’t move and almost always there will be blocks in your way so you need to swing your hammer to break them. Swinging to get rid of hazards is also very common.

Non-core mechanics:

Space mechanics:

Top-down Platform: You are in an environment where you need to move downwards to reach the next level.

Stone Blocks: These blocks cannot be broken and make up the walls of the tower. They are also be found inside creating a maze-like environment.

Barred Windows: The sides of the tower may be a barred window which allows the dragon to shoot fire through it (more on the dragon below).

Object mechanics:

Fireflies: Found throughout the map and can also be obtained by killing creatures/breaking traps. They are used as in-game currency to purchase power-ups.

Power-ups: These can give you special abilities to increase your chances of survival or help you get rid of hazards.

Wooden Blocks: These can be broken by your hammer and are usually in your way when going downwards. There are also wooden blocks that will automatically break after a couple seconds as soon as you land on them.

Carts: When hit, they will move away from the player, killing enemies in its path, and eventually stop at a dead-end (they can also fall down). Note that a cart moving towards you will also kill you. If you hit a cart and it has nowhere to go then it will break.

Nested Birds: These birds are seen outside of the tower resting on a nest. There is a stone block between them and the inside of the tower. By hitting said stone block, the bird will fly away. As far as I can tell, these birds do not affect the gameplay.

Hazards: There are many different creatures and traps in this game that can kill you, each other, and/or consume fireflies.

The Dragon: The dragon is also a hazard, however I placed it in a different category because it is the only one that cannot be interacted with until the last level. Additionally, every now and then this dragon will come and shoot fire taking up an entire row. I also noticed that this dragon is more likely to appear if you do not move as much (most likely to force you to continue moving downwards).

Photo Credits: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SWwzQbopx94&t=511s

Dynamics:

Timing: Depending on what hazards are around you, you need to time your movement properly. Every creature has their own unique way of moving and interacting with their environment. There are also traps that shoot based on a time interval. When you move (especially going downwards), you need to make sure that you don't get killed along the way and land in a safe location.

Spatial Reasoning: Oftentimes there is more than one way to move downwards. There could be more fireflies or hazards on one side of the map. There are times where if you want to collect fireflies you need to put yourself in more danger. Knowing which blocks to break and which direction to go as you fight your way through the tower can maximize your efficiency in collecting fireflies and/or alter your chances of survival. The hazards above or below you is also vital for survival. There are creatures that can fall on you or traps that shoot downwards. When moving/falling downwards, it is also useful to know what you may encounter along the way and where you end up landing. There are placed where it is relatively safe to land and also places where you can be easily overwhelmed by hazards. Moreover, you cannot jump or move up in this game, so once you make the decision to move downwards, you are stuck with it. Example (picture below): In this case, going to the right side (green arrow) instead of going straight down (red arrow) would give an extra firefly and make it easier to get the middle firefly (blue square).

Photo Credits: https://youtu.be/EqgPW_nrCmA?t=111

Collecting: Collecting in-game currency is helpful because you can buy power-ups with them. The only issue I have with their power-ups is that it isn’t always so obvious when you lose them. There have been many times where I thought I still had a power-up but died because I didn’t have them. The only one that was obvious to me was its “armor” power-up, where you get a shield that prevents you from dying once. The description for this power-up made it clear that it only works once. Also there is a clear golden circle around your character so you know that you still have that power-up. The game places your power-ups at the top of the screen with small icons, so I was constantly looking there to be safe. Personally this took me out of the game, especially since my phone has a relatively small screen.

Watching Ads: The first time you die, you can watch an ad to revive yourself. Occasionally, you can also watch an ad to get a random power-up. While almost everyone would agree that ads are annoying, I think this is a fair compromise between the creators of this free game and its players.

"Pay to win": While I personally did not do this, you can pay to purchase rubies and extra lives. The rubies can be used to purchase power-ups.

Challenges: To complete a challenge you need to finish three tasks. These tasks can be anything such as killing a certain amount of creatures or complete a level without getting any fireflies. While completing challenges won't help you survive or win the game, it will give you more points. Every time you complete a challenge your points multiplier will go up by one (so completing your first challenge will give you a 2x multiplier, completing the next one will increment it to 3x, and so on). This points multiplier is applied at the end of every game.

Are these mechanics and dynamics enough for meaningful play?

I believe these mechanics and dynamics give rise to meaningful play. I had very minor issues with the gameplay’s feedback and overall experience despite primarily being an FPS player. My actions, outcomes, and environment were very recognizable. By collecting in-game currency and purchasing power-ups, I was increasing my chances of survival. This gave me an incentive to plan my route accordingly to obtain as many fireflies as possible. Even when I had a defensive power-up (such as one that protected me from death or spikes), I was still very careful because they were rare. I did not want to waste a power-up over some careless mistake.

Aesthetics

I believe the aesthetics of this game are fantasy, discovery, and challenge. This game places you as a typical “damsel in distress”, but in this scenario you are the one that has to break yourself out. No one is coming to save you and all you have is a hammer to break blocks and get rid of hazards. There are fantastical elements in this game such as dragons and other fictional creatures. Not to mention that this game is based off of a popular fairy tale, Rapunzel. Playing this game also felt like something out of Indiana Jones, trying to make your way through some dangerous mystical temple. As you progress through these levels, you will also discover new creatures with their own unique characteristics and abilities. This game also poses a challenge as you need to strategize your way through different obstacles with each level getting harder.

Video Credits: Indiana Jones: Raiders Of The Lost Ark

Conclusion

In conclusion, I believe that Once Upon a Tower provides meaningful play. The actions I did as a character provided noticeable feedback. I felt the need to collect their in-game currency to purchase power-ups to increase my chances of survival. Every new level became harder with different unique hazards to overcome. I was constantly trying to strategize my way through the map and collect as many fireflies as I could. Furthermore, at the end of every level I felt a great sense of accomplishment as if I just beat a challenging obstacle.

[tangledcassandra]

Your Business

Title: Your Business

Description: When the king tries to confine Rapunzel to the castle, it’s up to her best friend to sneak her out to see the world. They’re not breaking any rules if they don’t get caught.

[Read on AO3]

My piece for @cassunzelweek​ Day 2, theme Love and Loyalty! I am on the west coast so this is absolutely not too late!

"You really think you can sneak me out again?"

The sun had set on another beautiful day in Corona, and made way for the shimmering stars. Rapunzel, stressed from another taxing day of as princess, was looking for an escape. Cassandra, her lady-in-waiting and best friend, had just offered to take her out for a night on the town. Or rather, a night outside the town.

Rapunzel's hesitance did not dissuade Cassandra in the slightest. "Your dad knows you snuck out before, but he still doesn't know how. I've been double-checking the path we took, and it's still all clear. Trust me; I've been using the tunnels under Corona for years, and nobody's caught on yet. The only hiccup is the doubling of the night patrol, but Max can take care of that, easy. We don't even have to go as far as the wall this time. There's plenty to do just beyond the isle. It would still get you out of the city for awhile."

The idea of a short adventure, or really any adventure, was far too tempting for Rapunzel. So, she once again donned a cloak, borrowed from Cass, and they set off for the forests outside Corona proper. They went on foot, hiking past the Dam and the Lost Lagoon, until they'd reached the woods near the Snuggly Duckling.

"I always forget how beautiful it is here at night. I've come through so many times during the day, racing to the wall. But at night, it's like a whole new world."

Cassandra smiled fondly as she watched Rapunzel trying to catch a firefly, one of her favorite activities on the rare occasion they could make it out of Corona.

"Here," Cass presented a jar when Rapunzel scurried over to show her what she'd caught. "Now you can look at them up close."

"Wow, Cass, you think of everything!"

She grinned, always happy when Rapunzel was happy, and especially delighted when she was the reason for that happiness. She even helped catch some of the glowing bugs, until the glass container was full of a dozen humming insects.

Rapunzel had her hands cupped against a tree, but when she peeked inside to see her prize, she paused, long enough for the creature to fly away. "What's this?" she ran her hand over the trunk, where bark had been stripped away to reveal a heart etched into the wood. "Cassandra + Abigail," she read what was carved into the center. She looked to her friend curiously, wondering if she knew anything about the names embedded in the tree.

"Hm, yeah," Cass smiled fondly, looking down at the ground like she was thinking of something nice, "That's old."

"A friend of yours?" Rapunzel grinned back. It was always nice to see Cass smiling. "Isn't this something lovers usually do?"

"Yeah. Sure is."

"Isn't Abigail a girls name?"

"Yes, it is."

Rapunzel frowned, hand brushing over the engraving again, feeling the indents in the worn wood. The wheels in her head were turning, trying to piece together this new information. Girls could...? Without boys? She turned to Cassandra, fingers intertwining as she asked, "So you, and Abigail, were…?" she failed to formulate the rest of the sentence.

"Yeah. Me and Abby had a thing. A romantic thing. But it didn't work out."

"So you and Abby dated?"

"That's usually what it means to be romantically involved with someone, doesn't it?" A bit of Cassandra snark bubbled to the surface at the seemingly obvious question.

"You can do that?"

"What, date?"

"Date girls."

"Is that surprising?"

"Yes, sort of-"

"Is that bad?"

"No! Of course not. Just, being in the tower, there's still so much I have to learn."

Cass sighed, taking Rapunzel by the hand. "Come on," she said, leading her out of the glade. Just beyond the treeline was a large open field, with a perfect view of the sky. Cassandra flopped down on the soft grass, breathing in the night air. "It's no big deal, Raps. Sometimes I forget, you know? I don't like to think about you being trapped. Alone and unhappy."

"I wasn't alone. I had Pascal," the princess settled on the ground close by.

"Right, of course Raps," she decided the topic at hand was best left alone. Cassandra placed her hands behind her head, closing her eyes as she listened to the gentle breeze ruffling the blades of grass and the leaves of the nearby trees. The weather was nice, warm, with the wind balancing out the temperature perfectly. It was a good night to be out, instead of behind castle walls.

"Cass?"

"Yeah Raps?"

"Do you ever think of me as more than a friend?"

Cassandra opened her eyes and turned her head towards Rapunzel, who was looking at her with the sweetest, most innocent, and genuinely curious expression. Cass's mouth immediately felt like it was full of ash, and she swallowed, trying to relieve the sudden dryness. She could lie, but she'd honestly never expected Raps to actually ask anything like this. She kind of thought she already knew, actually, and Cass took her lack of acknowledgement as a silent sign of rejection. Apparently, it was a sign of ignorance, she'd learned this evening.

"I don't know Raps. Maybe, sometimes."

It was a reluctant answer, but seemed to appease Rapunzel for the time being. They both turned to the stars, each mentally recounting the constellations. They were both proficient in star mapping, and this was a rare opportunity to brush up on their skills. Cassandra thought their previous conversation was over, until the princess spoke up.

"I think I do."

"Huh? Do what, Raps?"

"I think I like you."

"Well, I'd hope so."

"As more than a friend."

"Raps, look, you don't have to," she sat up, running her hand through her hair, "feel like you have to."

"Cass, I think I've had the feeling in the back of my mind for awhile. I couldn't quite figure out what it was that made you so special to me. Why I always want to be around you. Why I like having you by my side all the time. Why, whenever I don't want to get out of bed in the morning, I just think about the fact that the sooner I get up, the sooner I can see you, and suddenly I find myself rushing to get ready. I don't feel the same way about my dad or my mom or any of the other maids. Just you," Rapunzel scooted closer, close enough that she could take Cassandra's hand in her own.

"That's uh, yeah, sounds like a bit more than friendship. Yep."

"So you have kissed a girl before?"

"Yes. Yeah," Cassandra found herself at a loss for words, both at the sudden subject change and at the fact that Rapunzel was currently leaning on her shoulder.

"I want to know what it's like."

"Kissing girls?"

"Kissing you."

"Me?"

"Yes!"

Maybe she was drunk on the night air, combined with freedom and happiness and no sleep. Maybe it was some unknown charm of the forest, that made this all feel like she was imagining it. Cassandra couldn't believe what she was hearing. She'd imagined scenarios similar to this so many times. It was so unreal of a concept that it almost felt like she must be back at the castle, fast asleep in her bed, simply having a nice dream.

"What was that thing you said?" Rapunzel's voice cut through her thoughts, "The first time we snuck out to the wall. 'What I do when no one's looking is my business.' Is that right?"

"That is what I said, yeah."

"Then I want you to be my business. If you want to," Rapunzel squeezed her hand.

"I want to," the words tumbled out before she could stop them, "To know what it's like, too."

There was a pause, each considering exchanging more words, but the need for frivolous conversation had passed. Silently, Rapunzel reached out, cupping Cassandra's chin in her hand, drawing her close as she practically dove into the kiss herself.

Their faces met, and Cass moved her free hand to Rapunzel's side, pulling them together. She felt dizzy, head swimming with bliss as she felt soft lips on her own. She had waited for this moment for so long, never in her wildest daydreams expecting it to ever become reality. Yet here she was, alone with Rapunzel, without another soul for miles. She had her all to herself, and she savored every second of their kiss.

They broke apart at long last, Rapunzel all smiles and rosy cheeks illuminated by the moonlight. She turned away bashfully, tucking a stray hair behind her ear that the wind subsequently blew right back in place. Neither of them said anything for awhile, both catching their breath and collecting their thoughts.

Unsurprisingly, Rapunzel was the one to break the silence. "You are a very good kisser."

"Thanks," Cassandra cleared her throat, trying to bring her head back down to Earth, "Thank you."

"You won't tell anyone? It's just, Corona can just be so gossip-y, especially if I'm involved. I don't want you having to deal with that."

"Raps, I'm not the one of us that can't keep a secret. This is your business."

"It's our business."

Cassandra ducked her head, blushing as she picked at some of the longer blades of grass. "I should get you home before sunri-"

She found her lips occupied again, and melted into the touch, hungrily pressing forward as she tried to prolong its end. When at last Rapunzel pulled away, they were both panting, all smiles and flushed faces. Cassandra wished this night could last forever, but her sensible side dragged her back down to reality.

"-rise," she breathed, every bit of assuredness stolen from her.

"Come on then, let's get going, Cass!" Rapunzel was already on her feet.

Cassandra scrambled to follow after, and they began racing back through the trees, across the river, and bound for home. Cassandra's heart was in her throat the whole way, her euphoria urging her to run faster and leap higher. She felt like she could swim around the entire isle of Corona and not get tired. Panting, she grinned at her best friend beside her, and was met with an equally wide smile. Heart heavy and head full of vivid memories of their evening adventure, Cassandra hoped there would be more secret meetings in their future. And maybe, after tonight, though she didn't dare let her heart dream, they could become something more.

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#Tangled the Series #Tangled #Cassunzel #Rapunzel #Cassandra #CassunzelWeek #Cassunzel Week #fanfiction #home brew

[bookishnerdhero]

ROTBTD - OUAT AU Episode 1 (Part 2)

Note:  Since it’s based on Once Upon a Time there are themes and scenes here that I intentionally mimicked from the series, including the first meeting between Jack and Jamie which had dialogue I’d intentionally based off of the one from Ep. 1 of OUAT (between Emma and Henry), and the exchange with Mother Gothel. Just thought y’all should know as a heads up. 

ROTBTD - The Big Four – OUAT AU

Present Day

Jack St. North managed yet another average school day where he was either invisible or everyone pretty much stayed out of his way, just the way he was used to. He made his way out of Dreamwork’s Academy, slinking down the halls and ducking and dodging past students that had just gotten out of classrooms right after the bell rung. Some were probably off to extracurricular activities while some to go hang out with friends—cliques. 

He couldn’t help thinking with a shake of his head how easily the crowd divided into groups, filling the spaces and corners by the locker. Like clockwork. It was as if there were these invisible magnets that ironically attracted like is to like and everyone just sort of fit in together. He couldn’t add up to that because with that logic, Jack didn’t seem to be like anyone else. Not in a good way either, but he couldn’t quite put into words how different he was.

There were the drama kids carrying a huge flat Tower prop, led by a guy who kept swishing his near shoulder length blonde hair about as he whined his orders. “You’re holding it wrong! When will any of you listen to me? I’m practically the King in this production! Do as I say! How are we supposed to outshine Disney High if you don’t pick up the slack?” Jack shimmied by a water fountain to get out of their way, otherwise they’d accidentally hit him with the painted roof. Then there were Kids from, what he’d always assumed but never quite understood was, a flower club…scouts or something, marched down the hall in black and yellow matching uniforms. He sidestepped to avoid them all focused on individual guide books, nearly bumping into four other kids dressed smart casual with matching black ties. Those ignored him too, too absorbed in something their leader—Skipple? Was it?—was saying. He was almost to the exit when a girl, who was a lot taller than him, shoved past excitedly and accidentally stepped on his foot, as she called the attention of that jerk in one of his classes, ‘Derek’.

By the time he was out of the school’s driveway and walking down the sidewalk and into the town he was more than relieved for the space. When you were invisible like he was you wouldn’t be able to help noticing everything. One way or another you’d know everyone, even if you don’t exactly know them by name. He watched them. In a non-stalker-y way. It was unavoidable because no one exactly talked to him, so he’d often felt on the outside looking in, and yet he was always unsure whether he wanted the attention or just wanted to be left alone. Because when he did get attention it’s almost always the wrong kind and people understand him wrong.

That St. North kid. Oh, him? He doesn’t look too approachable.

Where’d he come from anyway?

Adopted.

Came out of nowhere. They say by the edge of town.

Was in a coma.

His whole family died in a car accident just there.

He’s the only survivor.

He can’t remember any of them.

That’s sad.

Tries too hard to fit in.

Attention seeker.

Messing everything up.

Jack ruffled messy brown hair as bits of snow started falling on him. He looked up at the sky with eyes an odd sort of cool, glacial blue. Despite the previous negative thoughts, a mischievous smile like the cracking of ice, played in his lips. Snow? Could tomorrow be a snow day? Just a single snowflake flickered into his view as he faced the direction of Disney High a few blocks away. Now that school had an actual tower. It looked like an actual castle anywhere you look at it in town, compared to DA’s group of buildings, cropped together to make one colorful compound. It had more character in his opinion, though.

His route home always involved passing by the old clock tower that was shut down because it stopped working since who knew when. This he’d often look at and imagine what it would be like to walk around the narrow ledge beneath the great circle; wondered how he could get to it through one of the doors at the back and whether or not there used to be something robotic coming out of it like his dad’s favorite cuckoo clock. But that was the one kind of trouble he promised himself he would never get into because underneath the clock tower was a homey yellow library managed by one of the few people who actually payed attention to him.

“Hm. Sandy isn’t in.” Jack observed the ‘Closed’ sign.  Sandy had once tried to explain to Jack why no one was allowed to go up to the Clock Tower. It was old and city hall didn’t want anyone going up there and barely allowed him to revive the library below. Something about being a town treasure, explained Sandy via sign language which he was happy enough to teach to Jack. He said they had to leave the top of the Clock Tower the way it was and keep people from possibly destroying its interior. Jack would never cause trouble for Sandy, who was also one of Nicholas St. North’s oldest pals, so his imagination would have to make up for the curiosity. Sandy had made a zero with his hand and waved it forward a bit. Nothing. He shrugged.

 His adoptive father wasn’t home yet from his work at the toy company uptown, which meant Jack had the house to himself to play punk rock music as loud as he want. Nicholas would usually laugh it off, pretending to put his fingers in his ear, and say something about choosing a happier song, perhaps? This is happy! He’d left Jack a note taped to the fridge saying there’s frozen pizza in there and for him to use the microwave this time. This joke was courtesy of that one instant that he ate a slice he’d picked up from the table thinking it was leftovers and didn’t even notice how frozen it was. Nicholas saw him, pizza half-way done and Jack seated in the living room, and gave him a quizzical look because he’d just bought that from the supermarket and he didn’t hear the sharp ‘ting’ of the microwave. They’d had a good laugh about that one too.

All things considered, Jack was grateful that he was the one who took him in. He’d been very patient with helping Jack get back up his feet, even without his memories and the bit of depression that came with it. Nicholas and Sandy had found him in that accident and helped bring him to the hospital. They’d felt responsible for keeping tabs on him and were there to greet him when he woke up, looking sadly at him to bring the news of his loss and even more so when he couldn’t even remember what he’d lost. Slowly, they’d had to bring Hope and Joy back into him when he’d felt an Absolute Zero. Empty.

Somehow it’s been a day of reminiscing the sad stuff, huh? He thought. If there was one thing Jack learned by trying to get through all his troubles, it was to find the fun. Pizza in the microwave, he went into the living room. His feet were careful around the new train set Nicholas had been trying to set up for a test run yesterday and had left. Though he tried to start it up and see it work for himself a little while, and then he opened the T.V. to see if the news would say anything about the weather, and then looked for a movie and settled for a cartoon. He went upstairs to find his speakers and cued in “Welcome to the Black Parade” as he fished around for his other drum stick that should been there in the living room somewhere. He didn’t have a drum set but tapped rhythmically around any surface he could find.

It was just supposed to be an average, boring or good-enough-for-fun Friday night. Just the way he liked it. Mundane enough to distract but spontaneous enough to feel like a good time. Especially today, on the anniversary of the day he’d lost his family, had amnesia, and started being the town nobody. That was just it. He had no memory of who he was and didn’t think it mattered anymore at this point.

“I’m good. It’s all good. I’m used to it.” But alone he felt he could be honest and think that, really, it got to him. There was always something missing because he couldn’t really remember it. Sometimes he’d wish there were more family out there than the ones he’d lost so that they could come and tell him who he was and what the missing piece feeling meant. He sighed.

The microwave sounded.

Not a minute later, so did the doorbell.

            Jack frowned. What?

Just as he was about to shrug off that maybe it was the neighbor’s doorbell, there was a knock on the door.

            He opened the door.

            Looked and saw the house across the street.

            Looked down.

It was a grade-schooler, probably 9 or 10.

The kid seemed to study him first, not saying anything. He was dressed in a green shirt, a puffy sleeveless jacket and a white beanie. In his arms was a big brown book with golden lettering.

“Um…Can I help you?”

“Are you Jack?”

“Yeah. Who are you?”

“My name’s Jamie. I’m your son.”

***

The Past

Jack and Elsa had been worried ever since the wedding and Hans announcement of Pitch’s new curse so they went to Corona to talk with Mother Gothel in her prison. They thought she may know what The Dark One’s plans were. Flanked by both Rapunzel and Eugene, the Frost couple walked down the prison halls in silence. Until Eugene broke the silence because it was really too much for the guy and Rapunzel had just given him a ‘say something’ look.

“So, first time in a prison, folks?”

“Er, no. I’ve spent time in our dungeon before. In Arendelle,” Elsa said.

“Why would you–?”

Rapunzel shook her head. Wrong something.

“Obviously I’ve been here before,” Eugene continued babbling. “Lot of fun, when you think about it. Time to think. I once had one of my buddies break me out of here because I was sentenced to death by my own father-in-law. Hah. That could’ve been…messy. But it all worked out. Probably not the time to be talking about death and fathers and the sentencing to death bit considering…and you didn’t need to hear that…how do you two feel about ducklings?”

Rapunzel face was deeply into her palm.

They reached the end of the hall where there was a thick brown door with only the one small window with little bars at the top of it to look through. Mother Gothel was already expecting them, her gray eyes like steel.

“Isn’t this just adorable? I see two queens and two fools looking very desperate indeed.”

“Thanks. I always thought I had that queenly look about me,” Eugene said, trying to break off the tension this villainous woman’s words tended to bring, but his face was grim as well. She did almost succeed in killing him before and kept Rapunzel locked away in a tower since she could remember.

Mother Gothel rolled her eyes at him and then went back to looking at Elsa and Jack, both of whom wore blue cloaks covering their heads.

“Gothel, we came here to ask—“

“Now, now. I know why you’re here, Fool.” She paced back into her cell. “You want to know about that insipid Hans’ threat.”

“Tell us what you know,” Elsa ordered.

“Oh. Tense, aren’t we?” Mother Gothel pressed herself closer to the bars, eyes glinting in enjoyment. “You know there’s just something about seeing a young and lovely royal squirm. Now, I can’t be sure what it is. You’re always so helpless and desperate to save…something.”

“She’s wasting our time,” Jack said, hand on Elsa’s shoulder to keep her still. “Look, we just want to know if you know anything about Pitch’s curse. You were once in league with him. Maybe he ran something by you.”

Mother Gothel scoffed dramatically. “Now what’s in it for me if I told you? Because, yes, I do know something of it. But you’ll have to make it worth my time too. I may be in a cell but I know when I still hold something of value.”

“What do you want?” Elsa was too quick to say, pulling away from Jack.

“No. We’re not buying into this,” Jack said.

“I want out of this prison.”

“No!” Rapunzel, Eugene and Jack all say at once.

“Oh, come on. How much more of a threat am I compared to Pitch and his delusional king-wannabe side kick? I don’t have magic, now do I? And I certainly don’t plan on helping him anymore. I’m no second fiddle.”

“You have crimes against Corona, Gothel,” Rapunzel started.

“Corona wronged me first. The flower was mine.”

“And you stole the princess. How does that make you quits? It’s a flower over an actual baby,” Eugene expressed with matching incredulous hand gestures.

“Then I won’t talk. What would be the point of giving away my leverage?”

“Fine,” Elsa said. “You can live as a free woman in Arendelle. Tell me what you know.”

“Elsa!”

Elsa gave Jack and Rapunzel a pleading look to trust her.

 “We need to know how to stop this. She’s the only one who could’ve manipulated answers from Pitch and Hans.”

They could tell Mother Gothel was smiling and relishing this moment.

“Alright then. As you already know, Pitch’s curse has already been planned and it’s too late to stop it from happening. The curse is designed to bring all of us from this realm, to another realm that’s a prison to all of those who wronged Pitch Black. A prison for you, but worse than the prison I’m currently in. That prison is the loss of memories—“

At this Jack’s face flickered with recognition and worry.

“—and the achievements you’ve gained along the way. He would have it all erased so that you’re all back to nothing. You wouldn’t even know what you’ve lost. I’d like to see you all break your curses with true love’s kiss.” Her laugh was deep and cruel. “So much for happily ever after.”

“Then, why do you still want to break out of this prison then? If it’s all doomed?” Eugene questioned.

“Because I don’t want to end up in an even worse prison in that other world. Who wouldn’t like to spend their last days a free woman?”

“But what can we do? Please, there must be something.”

“Not you. We’re all worthless once the curse breaks in.”

“What about our child?” Elsa said, all the worry pouring out in one go. “What does this curse have anything to do with our child and why does Hans think we’ll have to kill him?”

“Because we won’t.” Jack’s fists were clenched. “There’s no way we will just because Pitch gives us empty threats. I’m done with his games.”

“Well, someone’s bound to consider it sooner or later. It doesn’t matter if it’s you. Pretty soon, you won’t even be able to trust your friends.” At this she gestured at Rapunzel and Eugene with malice in her eyes. “You see, whatever baby you’re having is the one who will start the curse.”

“How?”

Mother Gothel stepped away from the door again, hiding in darkness. “That, I don’t know. But you already said Pitch liked to play games and to mess with people’s dreams. I imagine he wouldn’t allow you to enjoy a life with a child of your own if he can’t have his. To make the game just a little more interesting, he did tell me this. This child is also the one who can find the only ones who could break the curse.”

“There’s hope then!” Rapunzel cut in, stomping a foot forward. “There’s always good. This can still turn around.”

“And there’s always a catch, silly girl. Yes, the child can find who could break the curse, but we already know who it is. You. The Big Four. But without your memories, that’ll be quite a task for just one child, if he’d even believe in himself at all. And it doesn’t mean the child is saved, this challenge will ensure they come to great harm. Once you are saved from the curse, it could still be possible that none of your children are. You see, Pitch’s curse is to keep you away from your children. It’s you or them.”

Her last words rang in the halls of the prison.

Elsa took a huge gulp of air and turned away. Jack took hold of her hands.

“So she’s saying there’s no hope at all. Our child suffers no matter what we do.”

“No. She said The Big Four could break the curse,” Jack said with whatever faith he had with his bonds keeping him confident. “And the Big Four isn’t made to hurt but protect. We’ll be there to protect our child. We know what will happen now, so if the curse comes we’ll find a way to remember. We always find a way to make things right. We always find a way.”

(End of Part 2)

Part 1

Part 3

Part 4

Tag List: @rose-sparks13 @beautifulslimezonkpaper @rosesnvines @jewishicequeen @hiddenwriterspirit 

Those I can’t seem to tag for some reason, I’ll probably message you. If I haven’t, let me know!

#the big four ouat au #the big four #fanfiction #rotbtd #rotbtd fanfiction #the big four fanficiton #jack frost #elsa #frozen #rise of the guardians #dreamworld #disney #jelsa #mericcup #rapunzel and eugene #jamie bennet #once upon a time #once upon a time au #the big four au

[hayleysutton]

hi I don’t have any gifs of crystal reed on this computer so have a gif of rapunzel instead??

I was gonna try to make this sound poetic or whatever but honestly I’m tired of trying to pretty up something that just isn’t pretty. Over the past 5 months I have been going to a new therapist and this one is finally getting me somewhere. And I’m not gonna really expand on that - point is I’ve come to explain a few things, I guess. I know I’m not obligated to, and half of you probably don’t even come on so you’ll never even see this but it’s gonna make me feel better to know it’s here.

So, if you ever wondered “Hey, why does Brittany (or Hayley) seem wishy-washy, contradictory, etc.?” “Why did Brittany say she was gonna do this thing and then not get to it?” or anything to do with “Why did Brittany do (insert said thing here) that doesn’t seem like her?” -- OR “Hey! Why did Brittany just disappear off the face of the Earth while we were roleplaying?” I’m here to answer all of this. If you have your own pressing question about “Why did Brittany (or Hayley) do (this specific thing you have a question about)?” And it doesn’t seem to get answered below feel free to message me over here on my personal.

Let’s get this thing started before my anxiety kicks in and I chicken out LOL.

DISCLAIMER: I don’t want any of you to read this and wonder why the hell I’m posting this so I’m gonna make it super clear right off the bat. This is for me, first - and if it helps you learn, or it makes you feel better in some way, then it is also for you. I’m not trying to toot my own horn and say “Wow, look I’m learning how to be a better person.” It’s not like that -- I have lived with a lot of guilt, sadness, regret, and general yuckyness ever since this roleplay started to close and I don’t want that anymore. I don’t want you guys to think in any way you could have changed anything, or that you caused anything -- this entire “yuck” thing happening was a long time coming in my life and previous events had built up to get me to where I am today. It was never you guys doing anything, or any other roleplay I joined before or after this. But I feel close enough to all of you on here to put this out here, rather than somewhere else.

Okay, according to this blog archive I joined Exchange October 31, 2014. Sooo, almost four years ago - and I can still remember being eighteen and excited to be in another roleplay. And for a while (I think?) it was all good. I don’t know exactly when my anxiety started to leak in, but it did - because it has in every roleplay since this one. I’m not gonna track down the exact posts where things started to get a bit wonky on my end, but I know it’s in there somewhere.

I made a post a while back about being a different person than I was back when I played Hayley, and that much still holds true. I could not possibly play Hayley the way I did back when this was still up and running. I couldn’t embody my worry the way I did back then. Hayley became an outlet for basically all of my good energy, and all of the negative as well. Hayley was inconsistent as a character because I was inconsistent as a writer, Hayley was contradictory in her life because I wanted so badly to pick the “right answer” for everything that I wanted both at once. I spent so long getting to replies because I wanted to get everything “just right” because I had to make sure you guys would like whatever I was writing. And if I’m honest, I have very fond memories of all of you and chatting OOC and making memories -- But I hated playing Hayley. I hated getting on here and fearing screwing up.

So as things gradually dropped down the hill that I was tumbling down I started making promises, that I had every intention of keeping. I still have drafts saved of things that I fully intended to do. But then this little (huge) unhealthy coping mechanism would kick in -- And this is honestly my biggest problem to this day that I’m actively working on as I type this -- I would just shut down. I do this thing where I think about how big and scary everything is that I have to do and I get very overwhelmed and I shut off. And that’s not anything anyone caused, really, but because of previous trauma this is what my brain has been doing to survive. And so, for the past... Basically 10-ish years of my life I have been battling with this.

-- So there’s a huge chunk of the questions answered.

I guess another one that might have come up is “Why do you feel so badly about this in the first place?” There might be a “get over it” tacked on in there somewhere. And to that I say - Yeah, I plan to once I post this and answer any lingering questions that might come in. But to answer the actual question that I posed. I feel bad because I have spent a lot of my time trying to be seen as perfect (or at least as “perfect” as possible). I have never wanted people to see any of my flaws because I thought if they did they wouldn’t like me, or they would think negatively of me. And from there I thought people wouldn’t want to be my friend if they could see something negative. And trying to be “perfect” all the time has turned me into kind of a shitty person. (Some of you are gonna be like “what are you talking about Brittany you’re always so (insert whatever positive thing here)” and yes, thank you for that I have tried to be - but I’ve also just kind of blatantly avoided ever talking about anything wrong I’ve done)

I’ve never been good with confrontation, and it still makes me wildly uncomfortable - especially when I’m involved in it - but I encourage you to message me privately if you have ever had some sort of unresolved issue with me. Because if we ever did -- I’ve probably avoided even paying attention to it and I’m willing to have a civilized conversation. (If you’re like “Brittany, it’s old news I don’t care anymore.” That’s cool, too.)

-- I think that about sums everything up. Like I said I’ll answer questions about whatever you wanna know, really.

If you made it this far thanks for reading. Don’t know how you made it through that essay but I appreciate it if you did.

Signing off,

Brittany // Hayley ;)

#ooc #super long post under the cut #I'm so sorry if you're mobile

[tatemarkhams]

at her wit’s end

AO3 | written for @overworkedunderwhelmed​ as part of the ML Spring Exchange 

“They have to know. I would sooner lock them up in a room and send an akuma right there than let this trip end without them discovering the truth.” Alya stomped her feet, the fire in her eyes downright terrifying.

“You know I’m usually with you,” Nino started, no doubt in his mind that Alya wasn’t making empty threats with what she just said. “But I don’t really think that’s a good idea. Promise me you won’t do that.”

She had gone insane. That was the only explanation.

 Under the strain of their last year in lycée, graduation looming in the distance, university applications, keeping her blog up to date -- her brain had finally started to disassociate from reality and was now beginning to form hallucinations.

 Because there was no other way to explain the fact that the tiny black cat plushie in Marinette’s bag suddenly started talking to her.

 “Hello, Lady? Are you still there?” The floating black cat waved its tail in Alya’s face.

 “Oh my God. Demon.” Alya gasped, petrified in the driver’s seat as she stared at the tiny devil incarnate.

 She couldn’t remember doing anything that would prompt demons to appear out of nowhere – no human sacrifices, or summoning circles. All she was doing was waiting for Marinette and Adrien to drag Nino out of his house while she parked the car. And it was then that she remembered to check Marinette’s bag for anything she might have forgotten – a long standing part of their routine whenever they went away for a trip.

 And the next thing she knew, there was this.

 “Rude!” The talking plushie squawked, flipping its ears at her, which Alya assumed was the equivalent of flipping her off. “I’ll have you know that I am a god of destruction, kwami of Chat Noir. I’m much more stylish than those puny demons.”

 She had so many questions. “Kwami? What’s a – wait a second, you belong to Chat Noir?”

 “Plagg! We’re not supposed to tell her that!” Another voice added – the one red one, the polka-dotted miniature doll that Marinette always carried with her.

 All the while, Alya was contemplating the soonest time she could possibly see a therapist.

 “Don’t you you see, Tikki? This girl could help us end this.” The black thing who was apparently called Plagg said.

 Under her breath, Alya began muttering to herself. “This is it. I’ve officially gone mad.”

 “Alya, you’re not insane.” The red bug thing – Tikki -- said to her gently before turning away to chastise her friend. “And Plagg! You know we’re not supposed to meddle. And we certainly cannot involve Alya in this!”

 “How do you know my name?” Her finger reached out to poke the tiny creatures experimentally. “And what are you exactly? What’s a komi?”

 “Kwami.” Plagg corrected, brushing her finger off of him. “Basically, we’re the reason Ladybug and Chat Noir can do what they do. Their powers come from us.”

 “Plagg, stop telling her things! I still haven’t agreed to this.” Tikki interrupted. “This would cause a lot of complications.”

 “Even more complicated than the situation we’re already in? Tikki, I am so tired of always having to hide because our chosens are both too idiotic to figure things out for themselves.”

 “Still…” Tikki trailed off, sparing a hesitant glance in Alya’s direction.

 “So…” Alya cleared her throat, looking at Plagg with mild shock on her face. “You belong to Chat Noir.” Taking a deep breath, she turned to Tikki. “And I’m guessing you’re supposed to be Ladybug’s?”

 “Bingo! See? Maybe you’re not as stupid as our chosens after all.”

 Alya chose to ignore that comment, focusing on the single fact that still didn’t make sense to her. “But I thought you were Marinette’s?”

 Tikki smiled at her wryly. “I am.”

 It didn’t take much for Alya to connect the dots from there and when she did, she was only thankful that she was safely tucked in the driver’s seat of a parked car. Otherwise, she would have collapsed to the pavement with all her limbs feeling like jelly.

 “Are you saying – there is no way. I would know.” The two kwami before her shared a knowing look. “Oh my god. It’s true. I’m best friends with Ladybug! Holy shit! I can’t believe this.”

 Plagg snickered, voice dropping to a stage-whisper. “If this is how she reacts to it, just wait ‘til my boy finds out. Adrien is gonna lose his mind.”

 “Adrien? What does Adrien have to do with this?”

 “I think I’m gonna let you figure that one out on your own.”

 “Chat Noir’s kwami…” Alya began, trying to process so much information being dumped on her in such a short period of time. “Oh, you have got to be kidding me. Those two oblivious idiots!”

 The facts were slowly coming to Alya one by one, and with that, the full picture of the status quo. Adrien was Chat Noir. And Marinette was Ladybug. And neither of them knew each other behind the masks.

 Oh, and they were totally, unknowingly in love with each other.

 “Exactly! Now you see why we need your help.”

 “Ignore him, Alya.” Tikki chimed in. “You don’t have to get involved in this. We can just forget this ever happened.”

 Five minutes ago Alya would have given anything to be away from talking plushies and their questionable magic. But the initial shock had worn off, and the feeling of insanity had been replaced with frustration and the need to take Adrien and Marinette by the ear and scream the truth at them as loud as she can.

 “And let two of my best friends live out the rest of their lives in this confusing crisis? Nuh-uh.”

 “It won’t be forever. They will reveal themselves… someday.”

 “When, Tikki?” Plag cried out dramatically, holding on to Tikki’s shoulders and shaking her. “With the way things are going, we’d be waiting another century before they work it out on their own.”

 “We’re not allowed to interfere, Plagg. We’re bound by magic.” Tikki defended, although Alya can tell that her resolve was weakening.

 “We are. But this girl isn’t.”

 “Yes, Tikki. Let me help. These are my friends and I can’t just do nothing.” Alya said, giving Tikki her best puppy eyes. “Please.”

 “Did you learn that from Marinette?” Tikki sighed, and both Alya and Plagg knew that they had pretty much won at this point. “Okay. Fine. But there has to be some rules.”

 She pushed up her sleeves, like she was preparing for a brawl as she leaned over the console. “Alright. What do you need me to do?”

  Alya heard the sound of Marinette laughing before she looked up and saw her friends through the rearview mirror. Nino was lugging three bags behind him while glaring at the other two beside him who kept trying to help him only to have their hands slapped away.

 “We’ll leave it you, Alya!” Tikki quickly bid her goodbye before taking Plagg with her and disappearing to Marinette’s bag once again.

 The car door opened just as the kwamis were out of sight, revealing a bright-faced Marinette. “Guess who tried to pack their entire house for a week-long trip?”

 “It’s hard to decide what to bring and what not to bring, okay?” Nino popped up beside her, throwing one bag after another into the backseat.

 “You know I would have thought Adrien would be the one with a dozen bags on a trip but clearly, I’m wrong.” Marinette snickered as a loud clanging sound came when two of Nino’s bags collided.

 Adrien scoffed. “Please. Between years and years of trips in and out of Europe, I’ve already mastered the art of packing light.” He turned to Nino. “I know for a fact that you are not going to need that frying pan you brought.”

 “Tell that to Rapunzel.” Nino threw his hands up in the air in surrender. “Make fun of me all you like but don’t come crying to me when you run out of tampons and I’m the only one left who has them.”

 “Thanks but I think I have Alya for that, right?” Marinette looked at her expectantly. “Alya?”

 This girl was Ladybug. Talking to her. Ladybug was asking her for tampons.

 “Yeah?” Alya croaked.

 “Something wrong? You’ve been awfully quiet.” Adrien asked.

 And now Chat Noir.

 “I’m good. Good.” She said, leaning over to open the door to the passenger seat. “Just get in the car, you three. We have a schedule to follow and a lot of things to do.” Sneaking a look at Marinette and Adrien, she whispered to herself. “Especially with you two.”

 “Okay, next round. Wall clock, rollerblades, shaving cream.” Adrien listed off, looking up after going through the last of Nino’s bags. “Which one did I make up?”

 “This is a tough one,” Marinette gave it a thought, fingers drumming on the dashboard. “I’m going with rollerblades. Who even has rollerblades anymore?”

 “Bzzzt!” Mimicking the sound of a buzzer, Adrien lifted Nino’s pair of rollerblades for everyone to see. “The correct answer is shaving cream. Seriously, Nino, you bring all this and forget to pack shaving cream?”

 “I didn’t forget.” Nino pouted, snatching his shoes out of Adrien’s hands. “I didn’t think it was necessary when you already have shit ton of products with you. Plus there are convenience stores on every corner for that.”

 “But you thought it was necessary to bring a wall clock.”

 “If you guys are planning to harass me all week long, just stop the car so I can start walking back to Paris.” Nino said, zipping up his bag and crossing his arms over his chest.

 “Nope. No stopping until we get to Rouen.” Alya called out without taking her eyes off the road. “You’re welcome to jump out the window anytime though.”

 “So considerate.” Leaning forward between their seats, Nino mockingly cooed as he pinched Alya’s cheeks. “Aren’t you charming?”

 “Hey! No touching, I’m driving!” Alya slapped his hand, taking a second to glare at him.

 Marinette gasped, sitting up straight and rolling the windows down to point at something in the distance. “Oh, look at the trees! They’re gorgeous.” She breathed in awe. “Can we go have a look? Just a quick stop?”

 Alya turned to Marinette with full intention to say no and stick to their schedule. Until she saw her pleading with her eyes were shining so bright that Alya swears she knew just how powerful that look was. “I guess a few minutes wouldn’t hurt.”

                                                           While Marinette did her wiggle and dance in her seat, Nino was staring at Alya in astonishment as Adrien patted his head in consolation. “What?! How come you make stops for her but not for me? I’m sensing favoritism here.”

 “Marinette’s always been my favorite.” Alya grinned, not even looking at Nino as she pulled over. “And maybe I’ll listen to you when you have pretty blue eyes like that.”

  “I think these are Almond Trees.” Adrien said, picking up one of the pink flowers from the ground for closer inspection. “They’re always the first to bloom during springtime.” He added, reminding Alya that Adrien Agreste was an actual walking encyclopedia.

 “Man, I knew almonds tasted good I didn’t know they looked this good too.” Nino said, already snapping a few shots with his camera.

 “To think that you were complaining about making a stop here.” Alya snickered, poking his sides as they watched their friends walk ahead of them, playing with the petals on their feet.

 “I just like messing with you.” Nino elbowed her back, and Alya had pretend she didn’t feel heat flooding her stomach at the simplest of touches. “Turn around, you two. I wanna get some good shots of you looking at the camera.”

 Adrien and Marinette looked over their shoulders, seemingly interrupted in the middle of a conversation they were having. With that perfect model smile on his face, Adrien put both hands on Marinette’s shoulders to show her off to the photographer.

 “Take pictures of Marinette. She looks perfect surrounded by the trees in her dress.” Adrien said, slowly moving out of the frame.

 It reminded Alya of a time three years ago when Adrien calling Marinette perfect would have floored her, but now her best friend only took it in stride, smiling at Adrien as the color in cheeks matched the bloom of the trees.

 “Yeah, Marinette, spin for us!” Alya shouted, making a twirling motion with her fingers.

 Just to indulge them, Marinette twirled once, the wind billowing in her dress as the flowers danced at her feet. And Alya was pretty sure that all of them there were in agreement that her best friend closely resembled a faerie of the forest.

 “Yes, that looks great! Keep doing that.” Nino encouraged, holding up a thumbs up sign with his free hand while the other kept clicking the camera button.

 “Oh, come on. This is no fun alone.” Marinette declared, walking over the clearing to Adrien who was leaning on one of the trees while he watched her. “Get over here Mr. Model and do your thing.”

 Adrien laughed, allowing himself to be dragged back to the view of the lens by Marinette. “Alright, if you guys really find me that irresistible.”

 He shrugged of his jacket, draping it over his over his shoulder as he flexed his arms and gave the camera a look that was way too exaggerated to be sexy. Marinette only snorted, crossing her arms over chest as she tried to look unimpressed. Though Alya could tell by the smile she was trying to suppress that Adrien’s pose was working on her.

 Dorks.

 Chortling behind the camera, Nino kept giving Adrien and Marinette instructions for poses that were becoming more and more ludicrous as they went. “Dude, wait ‘til I send all of this to your father.”

 Alya felt a sudden rush of déjà vu as she watched the scene play out before her. It was something she had seen, something she had experienced first-hand so many times in the past.

 Asking Ladybug and Chat Noir for a photo to put up on her blog, Chat making wild and extravagant stances for the pictures while Ladybug stood by and watched him with a strange combination fondness and exasperation on her face.

 Wait for the opportunity to arise, Tikki had told her.

 She didn’t realize there was a lens pointed at her face until she heard the click of a photo being taken and Nino was giving her a toothy grin. “Nice. Lost in thought. Looking very soulful.”

 Alya glared at him, pushing the camera away from her. “That wasn’t for you to take a picture of. Go back to shooting the idiots.”

 “She’s right. We’re working very hard on our poses. Give us the attention we deserve.” Marinette yelled, and Alya didn’t realize when but at some point Adrien had ended up carrying her on a piggyback ride.

 Here’s my opportunity.

 “Hey, how about you guys do a fist bump?” Alya suggested. “Like Ladybug and Chat Noir do after a fight?”

 Nino nodded enthusiastically, obviously enamored with the idea. “Oh yeah, that’d be so cool. Give me your best Ladybug and Chat Noir impressions.”

 Alya watched Adrien and Marinette go completely still, both of them tense as nervous laughter escaped their lips. She couldn’t understand how these two friends of hers, who were so very transparent and weren’t sure where to look upon the suggestion of impersonating their superhero selves, could have managed to keep their identities secret for as long as they have.

 “Impression…yeah, of course.” Adrien cleared his throat, crouching to help Marinette get off his back. “We can do that.”

 As her feet found the ground again, Marinette held out his fist to Adrien hesitantly. “So…”

 “No, wait,” Alya interrupted, enjoying the power that came with knowing. “Say their catchphrase.”

 She could have sworn she heard Marinette squeak. “I’m not sure I remember…”

 “It’s Bien Jouie, isn’t it?” Nino wondered out loud, looking to Alya for confirmation which she gave with an eager nod.

 “Right. Um, thanks Nino.” Adrien rubbed the back of his neck, extending his fist to Marinette. “Here we go.”

 “Bien Jouie.” They bumped their fists and said at the same time, with voices surprisingly loud and clear, like they were always meant to deliver the words with vigor and the adrenaline that came after a battle. It was a sight to behold, in a way.

 The encounter shocked them both, it seemed, as Adrien and Marinette watched each wordlessly with wide eyes. Several heartbeats passed before Marinette broke the tension by dropping to a bow, much like the way Chat Noir does it. “Amazing job, My Lady.”

 Enthralled by Marinette doing an impression of his feline alter-ego, Adrien chuckled and tapped his finger against her nose. “Not bad yourself, kitty.”

 “Got it. That was incredible, guys. ” Nino said, admiring his shots with a big smile on his face. “You make a good Ladybug and Chat Noir.”

 Of course they do, Alya thought, unwilling to count this as a victory despite the outcome. Of course they do.

  “I hate Adrien.” Alya scowled as they picked their way through the crowd in between ratty tents and the smell of sweat.

 “Come on, it’s not so bad.” Marinette said from in front of her, dragging her along and accidentally knocking over an antique lamp in the process. Alya caught it just in time, her reflexes honed from being around Marinette for years now. “Thanks.” Marinette grinned at Alya apologetically, then at the stall owner who just rolled her eyes at them.

 Taking the lead before they had to pay for anymore damages, Alya grabbed Marinette’s hand and waded through the thick volume of people, wondering just how this girl could be the same heroine who did mid-air flips across Paris regularly.

 In the distance she identified the bright red color of Nino’s cap and caught sight of the boys nodding in awe to whatever the vendor before them was saying. No doubt believing every word of a story made up to advertise whatever knick-knacks were for sale.

 “There they are.” Alya breathed a sigh of relief as she moved towards them. “Could have picked Loire Valley, Cote d’Azur, or even La Croisette if he really wanted to go shopping! Literally anywhere in France and he chooses some flea market in Rouen.”

 “At least he looks happy, doesn’t he?” Marinette said hopefully, seeing Adrien smile excitedly as he held what appeared to be a gold chalice in his hands.

 Alya looked unconvinced “Girl, you would crawl through a rat sewer if Adrien said he thought it might be fun.”

 “No, I wouldn’t.” Marinette was affronted, until Alya gave her a dubious look reminding her that she’d done worse in the past. “I mean, I don’t know, maybe? Let’s not talk about it.”

 “Not talk about what?” Nino asked, replacing the conch shell on the display when he noticed Alya and Marinette approaching.

 “Marinette wants to crawl through a rat sewer.” Alya said dryly.

 Beside Nino, Adrien who was admiring the chalice in hand, looked up at them with slight apprehension. “That doesn’t sound very hygienic. Don’t do it, Marinette.”

 “I wasn’t going to. Oh my god.” Marine pinched the bridge of her nose, wondering why rat sewers were even a part of their discussion. “Did you guys get anything good?”

 Sharing a grin with Nino that meant nothing good, Adrien laughed. “Oh, did we?”

 In answer, Nino raised a green bag with a llama stitching on it, which in Alya’s opinion, was the ugliest thing she’d ever seen – quite a feat to achieve considering the assortment of items she’d seen in the last hour.

 “Marie Antoinette’s hand mirror, Titanic in a bottle, a magic spellbook, and this really cool bag.” Nino said, a self-satisfied smile hanging on his lips as he recited an inventory of their purchases. “What about you?”

 Although she could go on and on about her reservations on the authenticity of any of the items Nino and Adrien had bought, she also doubted they would listen. “We had to pay for a snow globe Marinette dropped.”

 “I already said I’d buy you something to make it up to you.” Marinette slumped her shoulders against Alya, blinking up at her in that way she knew her best friend couldn’t resist. “Choose anything you want.”

 “Yeah, you should really get something before we leave.” Adrien agreed, handing over wads of cash to the vendor and stuffing the chalice in the llama bag.

 “You know it’s too early for souvenir shopping, right?”

 “Come on, Alya. Just pick something. I feel bad about making you deal with that grouchy old salesman.” Marinette insisted, dragging her to the table full of gold plated items in front of them.

 The initial plan was to pick out the closest thing she could get her hands on so she could appease Marinette’s guilt and move on, when something on the far right corner caught her eye. “How about those?” She pointed at a pair of faux-pearl earrings, lips curling into a devilish smirk. “We don’t have friendship bracelets. Let’s get matching earrings instead.”

 Marinette stiffened, hands instinctively flying to her earrings – her miraculous, Alya now knew. “M-matching earrings…” Alya had to admit she found a bit of delight in watching Marinette squirm as she struggled to find an excuse. “But I-I already have earrings.”

 “Well they’re not welded to your ears, aren’t they? You can just take them off. Here.” Alya said, reaching for one of the black stones on Marinette’s ear.

 “No!” Marinette cried, taking a step back defensively and accidentally bumping into someone behind her. After a quick apology over her shoulder, Marinette turned to her friends to find three pairs of eyes sending her identical quizzical looks. “It’s…um…the earrings are an amulet to keep the bad spirits away and brings good luck. Old Chinese heirloom, you know.”

 Yeah, I bet. Although Alya had to admit that was one of Marinette’s more reasonable alibis. Besides, it wasn’t like she knew enough about Chinese traditions to express her suspicion.

 “So it’s like a lucky charm?” Alya asked instead, testing to see just how many superhero references she could drop before her best friend cracked.

 Marinette swallowed, running a hand through her locks to cover her ears from her friends’ curious looks. “Y-yes. I guess you could say that.”

 “Oh, cool. Adrien has one of those too.” Nino jerked his thumb at him innocently.

 Well, this is going better than I expected.

 “Does he really now?” There was no need for Alya to fake the bemused expression she was wearing as she turned to Adrien who was currently looking like a baby deer caught in glaring headlights.

 The startled, slightly panicked look on his face was so much like Marinette’s that it took a great deal of effort for Alya not to burst into laughter right there. “What – oh yeah. My ring. I-it’s was my mother’s. The last thing I have of her.”

 “Never seen him take it off.” Nino said, clapping Adrien’s back.

 “Hmm. Interesting.” Alya nodded curiously, her gaze shifting from Adrien to Marinette looking for any sign of recognition or budding awareness, at the very least. “Isn’t that interesting that you’re both really attached to your jewelry?”

 Adrien shrugged offhandedly. “Yeah I guess. But a lot of people are, you know? Jewelry is valuable after all.”

 “Yeah, it’s totally normal thing.” Marinette said, brushing it off to dismiss the conversation and lead it as far away as she could from her miraculous. “But enough with that, so do you want me to get you the earrings or do you want something else?”

 “Less oblivious friends.” Alya said under her breath, cursing her friends’ inability to put two and two together.

 “What did you say?” Marinette blinked, still not catching wind of any of her thoughts.

 “I said we should get friendship bracelets.”

  “I told you we needed all the help we can get.” Plagg smirked, strangely smug for someone whose plan hadn’t been working so far. “Admit it, Tikki. Say it. Say I’m right.”

 “You were right, Plagg. There.” Tikki rolled her eyes. “They shouldn’t be left to their own devices but we haven’t had much progress either. And all this is doing is stressing Alya out.”

 Alya sat over the toilet seat, watching with glassy eyes as the two kwamis bickered in front of her. Tikki was right, this trip was to be a way of unwinding for the four of them – one last hurrah before graduation – but it was doing the exact opposite to her.

 “How do you two do this?” Alya lamented, massaging her temple as she felt the signs of an oncoming headache. “Sit by and just watch them dance around each other for years. I’ve only known for a day and it’s driving me crazy.”

 “Talking about them behind their back helps.” Plagg quipped. “I’ll start. Those two are so dumb I don’t know how they’ve survived until now.”

 “Plagg, no.”

 Alya couldn’t find it in herself to disagree despite Tikki’s protests. “I’d expect this from Adrien who’s still slow when it comes to picking up social cues even now. But Marinette?” She shook her head in disbelief. “For all the time she spends making heart eyes at Adrien, you would think she’d have an idea by now that he’s the same person she runs around with in spandex.”

 “Well, people see what they want to see.” Tikki defended meekly.

 “No, Tikki. They’re dum-dums.” Plagg flying to Alya’s shoulder, unmistakably pleased to have someone on his side. “Right, Alya?”

 “Alya!” Marinette’s incessant knocking on the bathroom door interrupted them before Alya could answer. “Alya, are you done yet? I really need to pee.”

 “Just a second!” She called out to Marinette, pressing the flush button to mask the sound of her talking to Tikki and Plagg. “I won’t let this trip end without them figuring this out, I swear it on my grave. Even if I have to take drastic measures, I will do it.”

 Later that night, Marinette went on with her almost routinely appreciation of Adrien as she and Alya laid on their beds in a cheap motel room. Alya didn’t know how she missed it so many times before but now all her eyes were drawn to was Tikki, peeking out from Marinette’s leg and giving her an encouraging, albeit a little apologetic, smile.

 It wasn’t that Alya minded listening to Marinette describe in detail how Adrien lights up when he smiles or how his laughter sounds like the music of the angels. In fact, she reveled in it – seeing her best friend happy and glowing and hopelessly in love.

 But tonight, all she wanted to do was smother Marinette with a pillow for not noticing that Chat Noir had been giving her the exact same smile, sharing the exact same laugh with her as Ladybug for as long as she’d known him.

  Alya didn’t have to watch the door to know the precise moment Adrien and Nino entered the diner. She could tell by the way Marinette, who had been languidly arguing the superiority of pancakes over flapjacks, suddenly straightened up in her seat and bloomed.

 “Good morning!” Adrien greeted them as he slid next to Marinette inside the booth, looking way too cheery at 9 o’clock in the morning.

 Nino grunted in greeting, plopping beside Alya and letting out a long groan as he cracked his neck. “Did you get my text?”

 “Yup, we ordered your mountain of pancakes.” Alya answered, watching Nino try to massage his own shoulders. “What’s wrong? Didn’t sleep well?”

 “Oh, I slept just fine,” Nino said, leering at Adrien who was suddenly very interested in the wood pattern of the table. “But then I woke up, and someone had a death grip on me and was almost choking me to death.”

 “I wasn’t trying to kill you.” Adrien pouted, slightly embarrassed and refusing to meet anyone’s eyes. “I’m a cuddly sleeper, okay?”

 “Okay. Word of warning: Adrien’s cuddles will leave you with sore muscles in the morning.” Nino grumbled.

 “Wait a minute –-“ Marinette cut in, her brows slightly furrowed as she looked between Nino and Adrien. “You two slept on the same bed?”

 “Well… Nino’s things were taking up all the space in his bed so he had to sleep in mine.” Adrien shrugged, looking at her like it was the most obvious solution.

 “You know you could have put all of Nino’s nonsense on the floor, right?” Alya asked the boys whose eyes went wide upon the suggestion like the thought hadn’t occurred to them before.

 “Yeah?” Nino wailed regrettably, making Alya felt equal parts pitiful and intrigued at their lack of forethought. “Where were you last night when Adrien was eating my hair and trying to choke all the air out of my lungs?”

 The way that Marinette’s cheeks burned from across the table told Alya that her best friend most probably wouldn’t have minded being subjected to Adrien’s pain-in-the-neck cuddles.

 “I think I’ll take cuddly sleepers over noisy sleep talkers.” Alya said, glancing at Marinette who sunk into her seat.

 “Marinette talks in her sleep?” Adrien asked just as the waiter arrived with their breakfast, putting down plates of pancakes and cups of coffee in front of them. After giving the waiter a quick thanks, Adrien proceeded to douse his pancakes with a  ridiculous amount of syrup, taking advantage of the fact that there was no one around to regulate his sugar intake.

 “Oh yeah, she’s always been like that.” Alya revealed to the table, ignoring the glare Marinette was sending in her direction. “Babbles about the most random things. Last night, she was going on and on about Chat Noir.”

 It was true. She didn’t even have to lie.

 This bit of information seemed to fascinate Adrien, who was now looking at Marinette with the dorkiest smile Alya had ever seen. “Chat Noir, huh?” Adrien probed, stuffing his mouth in pancakes and not even trying to keep the smugness off of his face.

 Marinette was slack-jawed as she stared at Alya. “I was not talking about Chat Noir in my sleep.”

 “Oh, right. Technically, you weren’t talking about him. You were moaning and gasping his name in your sleep, along with some really explicit things that shouldn’t be discussed over breakfast at a family friendly environment.”

 Okay, so that wasn’t true. Marinette had been mumbling something like “Get down here, Chat” or “Not on the rooftops, Chat Noir” and maybe Alya was stretching it a bit but no one else needed to know that.

 “Oooh.” Nino propped his chin on his hands and inclined his head to a red-faced Marinette. “You were having naughty dreams about Chat Noir?”

 Adrien who had been enjoying his pancakes in relative peace, suddenly choked. The succession of loud coughing that followed made Marinette panic ever so slightly, as she patted his back and shoved a glass of water to his face.

 “I was not having naughty dreams about anyone.” Marinette hissed at Alya, although the expression on her face betrayed her hesitation.

 “Oh, I beg to differ.” Alya arched her brow at her. “You were at it all night. Sounded like you and dream Chat Noir both had remarkable stamina. If you want I can play you a recording, I think I’ve got it somewhere…” Alya took out her phone, pretending to look for the non-existent evidence and hoping Marinette wouldn’t call her bluff.

 “Why would you even record that? No one needs to hear that.” Marinette groaned, burying her flushed face in her hands. ” Oh my God, Alya. Just let me die.”

 “Hey, girl. I’m not judging. Besides,” Alya started, cautioning a look at Adrien who had finally regained control of his breathing. “I kinda see where you’re coming from. Chat Noir’s pretty hot.”

 “I didn’t know you were into Chat Noir.” Nino narrowed his eyes at her.

 “I’m not. But you know, objectively speaking. I mean, that suit hardly hides anything.” Alya said, watching the Adrien’s blush go ten shades darker with every word. “That guy’s got a body anyone would want to get on. Plus, that mask only makes him even sexier, don’t you think?”

 Nino stared into the distance as he mulled the thought over. “Huh, okay yeah, I guess I kinda see your point.”

 “Marinette’s does too. He’s exactly her type. You know blond hair, green ey -- ow!” Alya felt something kick her shin under the table and saw Marinette glaring daggers at her.

 “Can we please talk about something other than how hot Chat Noir is?” Adrien muttered, folding onto himself and trying to hide his shame behind a cup of coffee.

 “Yes, anything but that, please.” Marinette seconded, waving her hand in dismissal and diving right back into her plate.

 “Oh ho ho, would you rather discuss how hot Ladybug is?” Nino smirked at Adrien whose eyes went comically wide at the question. Beside him, Marinette had gone silent, her fork clattering against her plate as she tried to appear unfazed.

 “What? Why would think - you know what? Never mind.” Adrien’s voice was coming out in a higher pitch than usual, and his face was very telling of how he would rather be anywhere else than here, having this conversation.

 “Yeah dude, don’t think I haven’t noticed that you have the hots for Ladybug.”

 “Oooh, Adrien’s got it bad for Ladybug?” Alya knew this already, of course. Adrien’s strange fascination with the superhero rivaled her own, although she had attributed it to a mere celebrity crush in the past. It was clear to her now though, that Adrien was actually head over heels in love with Ladybug, who he didn’t know currently sat beside him.

 “Let’s just say Marinette’s not the only who’s had dirty dreams involving superheroes.” Nino winked at Alya as he took a sip of his coffee.

 “Nino!” Adrien shrieked scandalously while Marinette froze and Alya was sure her best friend had stopped breathing at this point. “New idea! Let’s eat breakfast in silence not talk about dreams that may or may not have happened.”

 “Does that mean I can’t tell them about the photos of Ladybug you keep hidden on your phone?”

 “Nino!”

 Taking a bite of her pancakes, Alya shared a satisfied smile with Nino while two of their friends retreated into their respective cages of humiliation. Already, Nino was proving to be valuable ally in this mission even though he knew nothing about its existence.

  It was a well-known fact that Marinette was an animated person. She had a range of facial expressions that would put a French Mime to shame and a variety of wild hand gestures that seemed to be a permanent accompaniment to her spirited voice.

 Fewer people knew that when Marinette felt really passionate or an overwhelming sense of adoration for something, she went still. Alya treasures that look of tranquility on her best friend even though she doesn’t get to see it often. It happens sometimes, when Marinette is watching Adrien, or when she’s working on one of her designs. Or now.

 Marinette stood surrounded by beds of flowers in bloom, completely enamored by the splendor of it all. Occasionally, Alya would catch her mumbling something to her collar and laughing – something she had always thought was a nervous habit but now she knew was just her talking to Tikki.

 “Marinette picked a good place, huh?” She didn’t hear Nino come up beside her, carrying a brown paper bag in his hands.

 “Yeah, it’s really beautiful.” Alya breathed, surveying the hortillonages in Amiens and finding her eyes drawn to the canoes drifting along the water channels. “Where’s Adrien?”

 “Got recognized by a few collėge students while we were getting something to eat. Turned out they were really big fans of his so he’s out there chatting with them, naturally.”

 “Naturally.” Alya chuckled, casting a side glance at Nino who was grinning back at her. “So…what kind of food do they have here?”

 “All really fresh stuff. Very healthy. I don’t think I’ve ever eaten that much plant before.” Nino idly rubbed his belly. “Oh, I got you something.” Nino seemed to remember, taking out a wrap from his paper bag and handing it to Alya.

 “If this is celery or eggplant, I’m gonna lob this at the back of your – oh,” Alya stopped as she tore out the wrap, and suddenly felt tears prickling her eyes at such a simple gesture. Keeping secrets must have been weighing on her more than she realized. “crêpes.”

 “Not how your mom makes them. But I figured you could still use some comfort food.” Nino shrugged like it wasn’t a big deal even though Alya knew how thoughtful it really was.

 “Thanks. This is…this is really nice.” Her lips wrinkle into a gentle smile, thinking about how Nino always managed to know just what she needed.

 “Thought it might make you feel better.” Nino beamed back, and with the sun shining down on him just right, Alya thought he could easily be mistaken for an angel. “You’ve been stressing out since we left Paris. Don’t think I haven’t noticed.”

 “Yeah, it did make me feel better.” Alya said, biting down on the crêpe and feeling a surplus of affection for her friend. “Thank you, Nino.”

 “Nino! Alya!” They turned to see Adrien running towards them, practically bouncing on his feet when he came to a stop in front of them. “I heard we could ride the boats around the canals, do you wanna go? Please say you wanna go.”

“I wouldn’t say no to that.” Alya said through a mouthful of crêpes.

 “Heck yeah, I’m down. Hey, Marinette!” Nino yelled at Marinette on the other side of the gardens. “Canoe race around the canal, you in?”

 “I’m always up for a chance to kick your butts!” Marinette called back, holding up a thumbs-up sign.

 “Great! I’ll go talk to the canoe guy. He made me sweet deal earlier.” Nino said, handing his paper bag over to Adrien before he went to find one of the park guides.

 “So…” Adrien drawled, rocking back and forth on his heels with a goofy expression on his face. “Did I interrupt something between you and Nino earlier?”

 “What could you have been interrupting?” Alya asked, although she knew very well what he was getting at.

 “Oh, I don’t know.” Adrien said with nonchalance. “But if you’re ever in need of something, you know like advice or a wingman, just say the word, okay?”

 “You? Really?” Alya raised her eyebrows at Adrien indignantly. “You are offering to fix my romantic problems when you can’t even sort out you and Marinette?”

 “What about me and Marinette?” Adrien’s gaze automatically went to Marinette who must have sensed him looking at her because she gave him a small wave.

 “Seriously?” Alya blew out a breath and shook her head. “You two are unbelievable.”

  “Jesus, Marinette! Eyes on the road!”

 “Sorry!”

 Gripping the edge of her seat, Alya heaved a sigh as they narrowly avoided getting hit by an eight-wheeler truck all because Marinette was too busy making googly eyes at Adrien in the passenger’s seat.

 “Marinette behind the wheel is like a roller coaster ride at the amusement park. Pawsitively thrilling.” Adrien beamed at Marinette, making her stick her tongue out at him.

 This odd and ironic loop of courtship that Marinette and Adrien seemed to be eternally stuck in was typically Alya’s source of entertainment and frustration alike. But now all it did was grate on her nerves.

 (And maybe that had something to do with the fact that Adrien “Co-captain of the most oblivious clueless ship in France” Agreste had offered to wingman her relationship for her.)

 It wasn’t like it had been the constant thought running through her mind in the last 24 hours. It wasn’t like she spent all of the previous night wondering what could have possibly made Adrien, of all people, think that she needed help resolving any relationships she may or may not be involved in. It wasn’t like that.

 (Okay, maybe it was, a little.)

 Because the way she saw it, she and Nino were friends. Sure, they’ve spent an awful lot of time together since Ladybug had locked them both in a cage at the zoo to keep them safe from the akuma attack. And if Alya was being honest with herself, maybe she had been harboring a little crush on Nino since that fateful day. And sometimes, he looks at her in that way, like she hung the moon or something, and she thinks maybe he might like her, too.

 But that was beside the point. She had her blog. He had his music. They were both too occupied pursuing their field to work on actual relationship even if they did like each other. They had reasons for not being together, right?

 Her eyes focused in front of her, watching as Adrien retrieved the camera and pointed the lens at Marinette, who puffed her cheeks and made faces at him. The sound of Adrien’s laughter filling the car was the equivalent of an ear-splitting scream to Alya.

 “Your turn to pick.” Nino said in her ear, tapping her arm to hand the iPod over to her.

 She couldn’t be sure what prompted it, but it was suddenly like she was having out-of-the-body experience. Alya could see herself sitting there in the backseat with Nino, huddled together as they shared earbuds and took turns picking songs to listen to. And she could see Adrien and Marinette in front of them, mooning at each other and risking their lives with Marinette’s less than stellar driving skills.

 She felt her blood run cold upon a sudden realization.

 “Oh my fucking God. No.” Alya’s breath hitched in her throat, unable to stop the rush of aggravation she felt at herself for not seeing this sooner.

 Nino was staring at her, his mouth slightly open as he hesitantly held out the iPod to her. “What? You don’t want to ---“

 “Marinette, stop the car.” Alya demanded. The need to do something was immediately eating at her.

 All three of her friends were now looking at her with concern and bewilderment on their faces. Through the rearview mirror, Marinette was shooting her worried looks. “What? Alya, why ---“

 “Marinette, for the love of god, just stop the freaking car. I need to get out.”

 The urgency of her tone seemed to do the trick, because Marinette pulled over in an instant and twisted in her seat to see if there was anything wrong with her.

 Alya grabbed Nino’s arm as she got out of the car. “You’re coming with me.” Before either Marinette or Adrien could get out of their seats, Alya shot them an icy glare. “And you two, stay where you are.”

 It was dumb luck that they stopped in the middle of nowhere which meant that she didn’t have to worry about the judgmental stares from bystanders. She kept her iron grip on Nino’s wrist until they were far in the clearing, a reasonable distance from the where their friends sat inside the car.

 “Uh… what’s going on? Are you going to kill me here?” Nino asked, barely concealing the dread in his voice. “Maybe we should stay within Adrien and Marinette’s line of sight, you know. Not for any particular reason…”

 Letting go of her hold on his, Alya glowered at Nino who yelped and made a zipping motion with his mouth. She nearly collapsed when she fell to her knees and let out a deafening scream. She shrieked until her throat was raw and her nails were digging into the fabric of her jeans so hard that it hurt.

 When she finally stopped, Nino’s eyes were wide as saucers as he watched her. He wasted no time dropping to a crouch beside her, undoubtedly trying not to freak out with her as his arms curled around her around her shoulders. “Are you oka ---“

 Alya stopped him, holding on to his arm before he could move any closer. “I can’t do this anymore, Nino.” Alya blew out a tired breath. Seeing a flash of hurt cross Nino’s face, she added immediately, “Go out with me.”

 “What?”

 “We can’t be like them, Nino. I’ve spending the last few days cursing those two for being so stupid and refusing to address their lack of communication only to realize that I’m doing the same thing.” Alya rambled, half to herself and half to Nino. “We’re not gonna be like that.”

 “Alya, slow down,” Nino cut in, trying to calm her down and looking straight into her eyes.  “What are you talking about?”

 Closing her eyes, she drew in a long breath. “I like you. I like you. And I hate that I waited so long to tell you but the point is I’m telling you now. I really really like you. So will you go out with me?”

 The declaration stumped Nino for a about minute as if he didn’t realize what Alya had just said or he didn’t quite believe it. But then he shook his head, blinking hard to clear his thoughts and began nodding ardently. “Yes, of course. Yes.”

 “Yes?”

 “Yeah.” Nino said, his eyes gleaming when he looked at her. “I really really really like you, too.”

 In hindsight, Alya thought Nino might have been moving in to give her a hug but she was already grabbing him by his collar and pulling him down for the kiss. She felt Nino freeze for a second before she felt him smile against her lips and all she could do was sigh into the kiss because finally.

 Finally.

 The years they waited seemed futile in comparison to the way his arms felt around her pulling her closer, and the steady beat of his heart under her palms. But because there was only so far their inexperience could take them, their glasses knocked over each other and they broke apart laughing.

 Nino rested his forehead against hers. “Does this mean we get to do a lot of that now?”

 Grinning at him, Alya raised a hand to his cheek, about to press another kiss to his lips when --

 “Yeah! Go get it, Alya!” Adrien shouted from the car, leaning over Marinette who was also beaming at them.

 Alya stopped short, sharing a look with Nino before she rolled her eyes and yelled back at their friends. “See how easy that was? Maybe you two should try it.”

 Even from a distance, Alya could see how Marinette flushed pink and looked away, rolling the windows down and shrugging at Adrien like they both had no idea what meant.

 Nino groaned in defeat, his head falling to Alya’s shoulder. “They’re never gonna get it.”

 “No, they’re not.” Alya sighed miserably, already thinking of at least two long conversations she was going to be having involving kwamis and new boyfriends.  “Listen, there’s something I have to tell you.”

  “This is a joke, right?” Nino said, taking of his glasses and rubbing the spot between his eyes. “I mean it would be really cool if this was true but please tell me this is a joke.”

 Alya took a sip of her coffee, patting Nino’s hand consolingly as she remembered the head rush she felt upon the discovery. “I wish it was.”

 After a conversation with Tikki and Plagg that took way shorter than she expected, the three of them have finally agreed to let Nino in on the secret. He was a trustworthy friend to both Adrien and Marinette, and at this point, enlisting his help seemed to be a good option seeing as they needed all the help they can get.

 Nino took a deep breath, looking intently at the two kwamis who were sharing a slice of cheesecake Alya bought for them. “Shouldn’t you two be, I don’t know, staying out of sight?”

 “You’d be surprised at how little people actually pay attention to others.” Plagg said, fitting an excessively large portion of cake into his mouth that Alya swears magic was involved there somehow. “We’re practically invisible over here.”

 “On one hand, it’s like I want to jump out of joy and crush them in a hug because this is really awesome but on the other, it’s like I wanna run around and scream for hours because wow.”

 “It’s okay to be freaked out, Nino.” Tikki said soothingly. “Alya did too when she found out.”

 “Okay, run this by me, again.” Nino nodded slowly, reprocessing the information bit by bit. “You’re telling me that the fate of Paris and its citizen’s rests on the hands of that girl.” Nino pointed at Marinette, walking along the edge of a fountain while Adrien stood by and took photos of her, only to fall into the water with a yelp.

 “Yep.”

 “And her partner is that guy over there.” Nino jerked his head at Adrien, who had put the camera aside and scrambled to help Marinette out of the water only to be accidentally pulled in.

 “Also true. Yep.”

 Nino and Alya watched their friends turn their heads frantically in search for them, until Marinette tapped Adrien’s shoulder and pointed in their direction. The two of them gave Nino and Alya a small wave and thumbs up just to let them know they’re okay.

 “How are we not dead yet?” Nino said through his teeth as he waved back.

 Alya shrugged, itching to take a picture of her friends completely drenched in fountain water like a couple of five-year olds. “To be fair, they’re really good at their job as superheroes.”

 “Yeah, they’re really amazing.” Nino agreed, unable to hide the bout of pride he held for them.

 “But really idiotic as civilians.” Plagg burped, peeking out from the side of the cheesecake to watch Adrien and Marinette climb out of the fountain and dry themselves off.

 Tikki sighed, although even she couldn’t disagree. “We should probably go back. They must be looking for us by now.” Tikki bid Alya and Nino goodbye before taking Plagg by the tail and zipping away.

 “Yeah, they --- oh, hell.” Nino gasped, turning to Alya as another realization suddenly struck. “They’re the reason you’ve been stressed out since Paris, aren’t they? That’s why you’ve been bringing up Ladybug and Chat Noir all the time?”

 “Was I really that obvious?”

 “Apparently not obvious enough for those two.”

 “Nothing is obvious enough for them.” Alya threw her hands up in frustration. “All my efforts trying to get them to figure it out have gone to waste. This is why I need your help, Nino.”

 “I didn’t think this is how we’d be spending our first date,” Nino was shaking head although Alya could tell he was also smiling. “Conspiring to get our friends together.”

 “This isn’t our first date.” Alya said automatically, seeing Nino’s puzzlement she continued, “Um…panther cage? Ladybug locked us in? You shared your headphones with me? Any of that ring a bell?”

 Eyes widening in horror, Nino groaned to himself as he pulled his cap down to cover his face. “Oh man, that’s not any better. I’m the worst date ever.”

 “Not at all. It was kind of perfect, in a way.” Alya said as she leaned over to take Nino’s cap and put it over her head. “Hey, if you think about it, the reason we ended up there is because of Ladybug – because of Marinette. So this whole conspiring to get our friends together is our way of returning the favor.”

 Nino cocked his head to the side to regard Alya. “You know… I like the way you think.”

 “There’s a lot to like.” Alya winked at him. “So what do you say, are you with me?”

 For Nino, doing this one thing to make Alya happy would also mean helping out two of his best friends – like hitting all the birds with one stone. It was a no-brainer. “Of course, I am.”

  “Cabernet Franc.” Adrien said after taking a sip of from his glass, looking at his friends with pleased smile on his face.

 “Correct.” Alya read the label on the bottle, a little annoyed but not the least bit surprised to find that Adrien was right again. “That’s six for six. You’re too good at this.”

 “The rich boy is a wine snob. Who’s surprised?” Nino stared flatly at Adrien.

 “You’re the one who wanted to go here.” Marinette pointed out, barely touching her drink and seemingly content in watching the wine swirl around the glass.

 “That’s because I thought there’d be beer in the cellar tour.” Nino sighed regretfully. “I didn’t think we’d be hearing Adrien list off the names of wines I can’t even spell.”

 “I’m not even that good at it.” Adrien shook his head as he emptied his glass. “You just happened to pick the easy ones. Chlolee’s better at this than me.”

 “You mean Chloé.” Alya corrected.

 “Yes, Chlolee. What did I say?” Adrien looked at her with his brows furrowed in thought “It’s a really hard name to get.”

 Nino’s eyes narrowed into slits, leaning across the table to get a better look at his best friend. “Dude, are you drunk?”

 “I’m not drunk, I’ve only had like seven glasses.” Adrien said, holding up four fingers proudly.

 “Oh honey, you are definitely drunk.” Alya chuckled, immediately shooting up and slamming her fist on the table as an idea formed in her head. “Which means, it’s time for us to catch up. This calls for a drinking game!”

 “No. Nononononononono. No.” Marinette shook her head vehemently. “I don’t like your ideas.”

 “You haven’t even heard them yet.” Alya pouted at Marinette.

 “I don’t need to.” Marinette said dismissively. “I already know this would end with at least one of us passed out, naked, or arrested.”

 “Fine.” Alya conceded, resting her chin on Nino’s shoulders to look up at her him. “We’ll let Nino decide what game to play. Nino?”

 Nino observed as an intoxicated Adrien leaned heavily on Marinette, who was trying to the two of them upright by

 “Okay, um…” Nino began, seeing Alya batting her eyelashes and keeping her lips pursed, communicating exactly just what she wanted him to say. Like it was a completely candid and malice-free thought, he said, “Let’s go around sharing our biggest secrets to each other.”

 Alya pecked him on the cheek. “Perfect!”

 “That’s not even a drinking game.” Marinette snorted at the same time, eyeing Nino and Alya warily while she tried to keep an intoxicated Adrien sitting upright.

 “Sure, it is! Just drink before it’s your turn.”

 “Yeah, Mari, drink.” Adrien said, holding up a glass to Marinette’s lips which she accepted because there was no known universe where Marinette could ever say no to Adrien.

 “Who wants to go first? Okay, I’ll go.” Alya drank from her glass and clapped her hands together in excitement. “Don’t tell anyone… but I had the biggest crush on Chloé when I first saw her. Then she opened her mouth and I immediately wanted to smack her.”

 Marinette scoffed, throwing chunk of cheese at Alya’s hair. “That’s not your biggest secret. You told me that within two weeks of meeting me.”

 “I didn’t know that.” Adrien mumbled, looking at Alya with an amused smile.

 “Nino doesn’t either. Marinette’s the only one who does because it’s embarrassing. And I can’t believe she would undermine the value of my secret when it took a lot to share it in the first place.” Alya fake sobbed against Nino’s shoulder, ignoring the cheese Marinette kept hurling in her direction.

 “Cheater.” Marinette glared at Alya, turning to Nino instead.  “What about you, Nino?”

 “Secret huh,” Nino hummed, his fingers tapping a beat as he gave it a thought. “I’ve got Justin Bieber’s full discography in my music library. But in my defense, his music has really improved in his latest album.”

 “So he says but the most played song in his phone is still Baby.” Adrien said as he raised his glass before taking another drink, making Nino groan in his seat. “No shame in that, dude.”

 “Okay, I think we should be cutting you off.” Marinette took the glass out Adrien’s hands and set it on the other side of the table, determined to ignore the wounded puppy look he was giving her.

 “What about you, Marinette?” Adrien drawled sloppily. “We want to know the secrets of Marinette Dupain-Cheng.”

 “M-me? I don’t, uh, I mean --” Marinette stammered, glancing around her helplessly.

 Of course, three out of four people in that table knew two of Marinette’s biggest secrets even if two of them were keeping mum and pretending to be none the wiser. It was the one who was most concerned in said secrets that remained tragically clueless.

 “Adrien,” Alya paused to hiccup. “I think Mari has a secret or two to share with-hic -a secret to share with you, specifically.”

 Tilting his head to Marinette, Adrien focused all his attention on her like he was waiting for her to reveal the nuclear codes.

“N-no, I don’t!” Marinette squeaked, her cheeks the color of crimson as she pushed Adrien’s face away from hers. “Sorry, I don’t have any secrets. Your turn.”

 Adrien squinted his eyes as he racked his brain. “I guess I don’t really have secrets either.”

 Nino and Alya shared a look. What a surprise, the two most secretive people in this group apparently have no secrets to hide.

 “Aside from the astronomical crush on Ladybug?” Nino asked dryly.

 “That’s not a secret anymore since you exposed me.” Adrien grunted. “Betrayed by my own best bud.”

 Alya extracted herself from Nino’s shoulder, resting her chin on her palm to regard Adrien and Marinette. “Oh, come on. That wasn’t a secret to begin with. You were so obvious about it. You and Marinette must have something you haven’t told anyone.”

 “Like, tell us why you both keep ditching class with the worst excuses? Do you guys leave just to hang out without us?” Nino added. “Tell us, we won’t be mad.”

 “I-I uh, um…” Marinette was looking anywhere but them now.

 “Okay, I’ll tell you where I go.” Adrien said, beckoning them closer with his finger as his voice dropped to a whisper. Nino could feel Alya’s knee eagerly bumping his under the table. “I’m always gone because …” Adrien burped and laughed heartily. “Cheese.”

 “Cheese?”

 Adrien gave a single nod before passing out and falling onto Marinette’s lap unceremoniously. Marinette patted his cheek to wake him and called out to him gently, but to no avail. Adrien was completely out of commission.

 “Yep.” Alya commented at the scene as she took a sip from her glass. “That looks about right.”

 Nino sighed in resignation, dropping a kiss on the top of Alya’s head before he stood up and walked to Adrien’s side. “I’ll carry him to our room.”

  “How can they still not realize after this?” Alya growled, glaring at the roll of photographs she was clutching in her hands. “This is Ladybug and Chat Noir I’m looking at, isn’t it?”

 They had found an arcade tucked away in Reims, and despite initial protests from Alya (because she was well aware of how her friends get around video games) they had gone in for an hour to blow their money on claw machines and shooting games. This meant that none of them were in the position to deny Alya’s request to take pictures at one of those retro photobooths where they provided costumes and props for use.

 Upon spotting (hah) the admittedly poorly made Ladybug and Chat Noir costumes and discovering that their popularity outside of Paris, Alya gave a victorious cry and shoved the clothing to Marinette and Adrien respectively.

 There were lips pursed and gazes averted from Adrien and Marinette as they put on their costumes, but no shred of recognition upon seeing each other in a cheap imitation of their supersuits.  Alya didn’t think they could get any more blind as she watched their interaction in that small space.

 Now all she was left with a photograph to serve as proof that her friends were total airheads and she couldn’t decide whether she wanted to crumple it and throw it at their heads or rip it to shreds. Although, the image of Nino as a pirate and herself as a Mad Hatter made her reconsider.

 “Have you considered letting this run its course? Letting them figure it out on their own?” Nino asked, plucking the photo from her hands and tucking it in his pocket, effectively saving it from its demise.

 Alya made a face at him like he just suggested licking the gum stuck on the bottom of his boot. “Let them figure it out themselves, Alya. Have faith in your friends, Alya. God, you sound just like Tikki.”

 “All I’m saying is, maybe the reason why they haven’t figured it out by now is they don’t want to.” Nino offered, looking at Marinette and Adrien who were too preoccupied with a shooting game to pay attention to them. “Besides, what’s so wrong with them not knowing?”

 “That’s is so not the spirit, Nino.” Alya stomped feet, the fire in her eyes downright terrifying. “They have to know. I would sooner lock them up in a room and send an akuma right there than let this trip end without them discovering the truth.”

 “You know I’m usually with you,” Nino started, because there was no doubt in his mind that Alya wasn’t making empty threats with what she just said. “But I don’t really think that’s a good idea. Promise me you won’t do that.”

 Alya considered it for a long moment before giving in. “Fine. We’ll need a new plan, then. Think. What would make them believe that it’s actually Ladybug and Chat Noir in front of them?”

 “I don’t know. What made you believe they were Ladybug and Chat Noir?” Nino asked her.

 She was about to answer when all of the metaphorical light bulbs hovering above her head lit up - a plan was beginning to form in her mind, one that would present irrefutable proof to Adrien and Marinette of each other’s identities.

 “Nino, you’re a genius.” Alya cheered, launching herself at Nino to plant a quick kiss on his lips. “See, this is why I’m dating you.”

 “That’s sweet, babe, but I don’t know what you’re talking about.” Nino smiled at Alya, wrapping her up in a hug.

 “I’ve got an idea. But first, we gotta go get Tikki and Plagg.”

  When Alya came back to their room that night after ditching Marinette for a whole day, she found best friend rummaging through her bag amidst a mess of blankets and pillows strewn all over this floor.

 “Um…what are you doing?” Alya asked as she closed the door behind her. In all likelihood, she knew Marinette was looking for Tikki, who had spent the better part of the day with her and Nino, scheming and wanting to be away from all the obliviousness.

 Marinette who had been too busy to notice hear her arrival before, breathed a sigh of relief when she saw her. “You’re back! Oh, I-I was looking for my towel!”

 Alya eyed the pink towel on the bed embroidered with Marinette’s initials.

 Following the line of her gaze, Marinette’s eyes widened, snatching the towel right off of the bed. “There it is! What would I do without you?”

 “Yeah, I don’t know either.” Alya mumbled to herself. “Hey, listen. Since this is our last night here before we go back to Paris tomorrow, Nino and I thought maybe we’d spend the night together –“ Upon seeing, the wide cheshire grin on Marinette’s face, Alya quickly added, “Nothing like that, Marinette, jeez. We’re just gonna make out until we’re tired and cuddle ourselves to sleep.”

 “Sure you are.” Marinette winked at her, tucking the towel under her arm as she put all the pillows and blankets back on the bed. “But fine, I guess if you really want to be with Nino, I’m okay with –“ Marinette froze.

 Here it comes.

 “Wait a minute.” Marinette slowly turned to Alya. “If you’re gonna be with Nino that means you’re leaving me here with…” Marinette threw a pillow at Alya.

 “Ow! Marinette! What? It’s not like you’re gonna be sharing a bed. Why are you so scared of catching Adrien cooties?”

 “Oh, I’m the opposite of catching Adrien cooties, you know that!” Marinette bellowed, crawling into the and burying her face a pillow to scream. After a few seconds, she looked up at Alya pleadingly. “Alya, I can’t be alone in a room with him all night. There’s only so much I can take before I burst into flames.”

 “You’re a big girl, Marinette. I’m sure you can do it.”

 “If you leave me here with Adrien, I’m gonna die.”

 “Then I’ll take care of your funeral arrangements.” Alya smiled at her just as the sound of knocking came from the door. “Whoops, looks like it’s too late to say no.”

 “Hey, guys!” Adrien greeted them as he entered the room, already in his pajamas. “Nino kicked me out of our room. Said you were gonna be sleeping there, I think. I ran out of the room screaming before he could start getting into the specific details.”

 “Yep, I am.” Alya threw the pillow back at Marinette who was busy mouthing colorful curse words at her. “Guess I should be going now.”

 “Good night, Alya!” Adrien waved at her, flopping on his bed for the night while Marinette bid her goodbye through intelligible grunts.

 When she was at the door, Alya turned back, wiping the conniving smirk off her face before she called out to them, “Oh, right. Almost forgot. Nino and I found your toys.”

 “What toys?” Marinette asked, looking up from her pillow.

 Alya had to suppress the laughter forming at the back of her throat as she retrieved something from inside her jacket. “Here,” she said holding out her hand, where Tikki and Plagg laid still as statues. “We found them at the arcade earlier. They’re yours, right? I saw you guys playing with them before.”

 If Alya could have one wish, she would have used it to record that moment so she could look back on it and replay it for as long as she lived. She wasn’t sure the best part was - the quick dive Marinette made for Tikki or Adrien’s slack-jacked expression, like a fish out of water, as he stared at Plagg.

 She thought she could have made a map of every emotion that crossed Adrien and Marinette’s faces. The relief at finding their kwamis who had been missing for hours, the confusion as they found another unfamiliar yet similar creature next to it, and the horrified realization as they recognized what it meant.

 “Really cute.” Alya commented, deciding to push it a little further. “Are they a set?”

 Adrien gulped as he reached for Plagg, casting glances at Marinette who was now openly gaping at him. “Y-yeah. They are.”

 “Well, there you go. Don’t lose them again.” Alya smiled sweetly at them, turning on her heels. “Have a good night, guys!”

 Alya was practically skipping as she made her way out of the room, barely keeping in her laughter as the door closed behind her.

 3…2…1…

 “Holy shit!”

 The simultaneous exclamation came from the other side of the door, followed by a succession of high pitched screams and screeching voices from Adrien and Marinette. It sounded like music to Alya’s ears.

 With an accomplished smile on her face, Alya leaned against the door and sighed. Yep, she was going to be having a good night’s sleep.

  “I really think we should leave them alone for now.”

 “Hush, Nino. You might wake them up.” Alya whisper-yelled as she tiptoed by the entrance to the room, careful not to make too much noise.

 Upon opening the door, she was met with the sight of their friends sleeping together on the same bed in a tangled heap. Adrien had his arms around Marinette’s waist, his face buried on her stomach while Marinette’s hand ran on Adrien’s hair as she softly mumbled something that sounded awfully like chaton.

 On the bedside table were two kwamis, also curled up in one another, finally getting the peaceful slumber they deserved after so many years.

 “Oh, thank god it worked.” Nino exhaled, next to her. “Happy now?”

 “Yeah, let me just…” Alya said, taking out her phone to snap a few shots of their sleeping friends. This was going to good material for future use, maybe for blackmail or maybe for embarrassing wedding speeches. Alya beamed at Nino, standing on her toes to kiss him on the cheek. “Happy now.”

#alya cesaire #nino lahiffe #marinette dupain-cheng #adrien agreste #miraculousdaily #miraculous ladybug #mlspring2k17 #overworkedunderwhelmed #this was such a joy to write but also so much tears were shed #my stuff #ml #ml fic

[occasionalfics]

Vuelie, part ii

Summary: Anna and Kristoff get married! That’s cute.

Notes: Okay so there are a few important things I want to say before I get to the actual story.

I saw a post the other day that suggested that Rapunzel’s mother and Anna & Elsa’s mother are sisters and I’ve come to accept it as canon, at least for the universe in which my story takes place.

Also, I’m basing a lot of character traits (i.e. names, dates, historical facts) on the late 18th-mid19th centuries

And all of the Disney Princesses are included, even if I haven’t mentioned them all. I’ve definitely included Rapunzel - she’s abundant. You’ll be able to pick up on who else I’m really focusing on. I know that some of them may not happen during the same time period but I’m defying the laws of physics or something for this and I’m rather proud of it.

I tried to include Sven and Olaf in this part because, out of the few Frozen fics I’ve read, Sven is always mentioned but Olaf isn’t, and he’s an integral part of the story as far as I’m concerned.

I think that’s about it. Let’s get this show on the road for real.

Townspeople lined the streets of Arendelle, from the front gates of the palace to the front doors of the church. Slowly they parted as the carriage made its way through the city. They cheered and celebrated before the ceremony had even started; the whole kingdom was out of doors, showering their adoration for the Princess’s wedding.

           Inside the carriage, Anna gazed around one of the neatly drawn curtains that shaded her. She saw all of the bright colors that the townspeople were wearing, all of their smiling faces; she heard the cheering and felt tears come to her eyes. Elsa, from beside her, grasped Anna’s hand lightly and smiled.

           “This is all for you and Kristoff,” she said cheerfully. Her younger sister, so beautiful and radiant, looked as if she might explode with happiness. Elsa wouldn’t blame her if she did; Anna was getting married to a man that loved her completely, heart and soul, and not a living person in the kingdom of Arendelle had a single negative word to say of the occasion.

           Even so, there was a hint of nervousness in the way that Anna clutched Elsa’s hand. Yes, everything was beautiful and all seemed perfect, but Elsa could also understand what would make her sister hold on to her so tightly. She was getting married, after all. In a matter of hours, Anna, the girl that had grown up all alone, stuck in the palace with nothing but an absent sister and portraits of Joan of Arc (among others) as friends, was going to be someone’s wife. And her sister, no longer absent, was going to be the one walking Anna down the aisle.

           Everything seemed to be falling into place; Elsa had to admit it. She’d had her doubts, not of the wedding falling through, but of small details being out of place – napkins missing or dignitaries accidentally not invited (though those from the Southern Isles had been conveniently left off of the list of guests to invite) or a flower in Anna’s bouquet would wilt – but nothing of the sort seemed apparent enough to mind.

           After a short ride between the gates and the church, the carriage came to a halt. Anna’s smile vanished and a look of anticipation spread across her face. She glanced out at the crowd surrounding her and Elsa and her breath caught. Elsa watched for a few seconds as her sister contemplated what was about to happen to her.

           “Are you ready?” she asked quietly. Slowly, Anna drew her attention back to Elsa and began to breathe again. The door next to Elsa was opened and Anna stared out at the doors to the church. She nodded slightly, absently – or rather, in an occupied manner – and Elsa exited the carriage. Her blue dress flowed slightly in the wind as the crowd erupted, louder than they had been during the ride, cheering for their Queen who turned back to the carriage and lifted a hand into the dark for the bride.

           In such a slow movement that it was almost dramatic, Anna grabbed onto Elsa’s hand. She lifted her skirts just enough to see her feet as she stepped out of the carriage and onto the pavement. The crowd, once again, roared, clapped, sang, and shouted their praises for the Royal sisters, especially now that Anna was standing among them.

           Just as Elsa was about to lead her sister to the door, a small girl from the crowd closest to Anna broke free from her mother. She stood between the sisters and looked from Elsa to Anna and back with large eyes and a look of disbelief on her face. The sisters smiled at the girl and kneeled in unison to her.

           “You’re so beautiful,” she said quietly, almost so much that she could barely be heard. Anna looked at Elsa with a large smile, and they shared a nod before both of them wrapped their arms around the young girl. When they stood upright again, the girl squealed and ran back to her mother, her cheeks a deep shade of pink and the smile on her face the widest Elsa thought she’d ever seen.

           Arm-in-arm, Elsa lead Anna towards the large doors of the church. Two guards, one for each of the doors, pulled hard, opening the wooden barriers. The room inside was beautifully lit by the windows with their curtains drawn up; the pews were full from front to back, side to side of the room; even from just outside the doors, Elsa could see Sven sitting as straight as a reindeer could to Kristoff’s right. He was an odd sight indeed, but Kristoff had insisted, and so she and Anna agreed, as long as their friend Olaf aslo stood with Kristoff.

           Sure enough, the small snowman’s flurry could be seen above the heads of dignitaries and distant allies, trade partners and royalty (some of which Elsa and Anna had  yet to meet, but decided showing good graces by inviting them to the wedding was most likely a good idea rather than a wasteful one). But it didn’t matter who was in the audience. Elsa knew all that really mattered to Anna was that she and Kristoff were involved.

           Light music started from across the room, queuing Elsa to take the first step down the aisle. Anna followed the lead, her knuckles turning white around the bouquet in her first, but a huge smile cross her beautiful, freckled face. Once the sisters were inside, over the threshold, the guards began to close the doors. Anna, apparently, didn’t like that idea. She stopped mid-step and turned back slowly, calling after her, “Keep them open, please.” The guards paused briefly, nodded, and pulled the doors open once more for the crowd of townspeople to see into the church.

           When Anna turned forward again, she and Elsa continued their walk. Everyone in the room had come to stand, each row bowing as the Queen and the Princess walked passed. Towards the front of the pews, Elsa picked out their cousin Rapunzel, a small girl in purple, the princess of another kingdom, wither her husband, Eugene. They exchanged small, familiar waves before coming to stand in front of Kristoff.

           He was handsome, and Elsa would admit it. Tall, muscular, blond, clad in a traditional suit and sash, his hair about as kempt as it was ever going to be – but the part about him that made Elsa the happiest was the smile he saved for Anna. Sure, they exchanged informal glances and were on a first-name basis, but there was something in the toothy grin and the watery eyes that Kristoff was showcasing that Elsa knew was reserved for her sister. There was no doubt in anyone’s mind that he loved her, that this was the happiest day of both of their lives.

           Elsa faced her sister and beamed. Of all the days and opportunities she had missed in growing up with Anna across the palace, she was glad that this was not one of those that she’d missed out on. She could tell Anna was, as well, because she grabbed Elsa into a tight, warm hug that would thaw any frozen heart.

           They stood back and held each other’s hands for just a few seconds. Elsa turned and reached out for one of Kristoff’s large hands, calloused and rough from harvesting, but she and Anna would be the only two to know that. She brought the bride and groom together, placing Anna’s dainty hand in Kristoff’s. She smiled at them both, then stood behind Anna as the ceremony commenced.

           Elsa stood graceful and poised throughout the events of the ceremony, glancing away from her sister only in moments of mindlessly drifting. It wasn’t usual for her to do, but there was only so much for her to focus on when all she could see was Olaf’s stick arms waving at her and the backside of Anna’s stunning gown.

           She glanced at Rapunzel again, but her cousin was focused on the interaction between the bride and groom. Elsa supposed that made sense – Eugene was once a thief in the kingdom of Carona, until he’d met Rapunzel and brought her back to the King and Queen. Somewhere along the lines, love happened, and one day, Eugene would be the Queen’s husband. Theirs wasn’t exactly the same story as Anna and Kristoff’s, but it was much closer than Elsa’s apparent lack of a story all together.

           But the wedding wasn’t about her finding love; it was about celebrating her sister’s love. She understood that, accepted it completely, and had no intentions of making any part of the day about herself.

           Still, she looked a little further into the pews. She saw who she thought was a Prince from some part of France with his wife – or was he officially the king, now that they were married and his parents were no longer around? – sitting poised, close together, holding hands the way Anna and Kristoff would in the library when they had nothing else to do but spend time with one another. Elsa couldn’t be sure if the man she was looking at was who she thought he was, but she knew she’d put him on the list of royals to invite.

           Queen Elsa was happy to see the famed Princess Snow White sitting just three pews back, smiling dearly and holding her hands close to her heart. She was everything Elsa had ever heard – pale skin that matched the snow that Elsa could conjure at will, hair as black as night, and lips as red as the most beautiful rose Elsa had ever imagined. Her husband sat, just as poised as the other guests, and was generally outshone by Snow White. He didn’t seem to mind that so much, at least from what Elsa could tell.

           Then there was….a dignitary? a prince? Elsa couldn’t tell. She didn’t recognize the redheaded man behind Snow White’s husband, or the smile was giving directly to her. Her focus completely shifted to him and he seemed to sit up a bit straighter than he had been before. He almost seemed giddy, as if he might wave at her and completely break his composure – but he didn’t. She stared at him for too long because before she knew it, Anna was handing Elsa her bouquet of white and red flowers.

           Elsa tried to cover her staring with a gentle smile, holding onto the bouquet lightly as to not freeze or crush the stems. She took one small step back and watched as the priest congratulated her sister and her new brother-in-law on their marriage, telling Kristoff that he may now kiss his wife, and he did, but only after Anna jumped up and wrapped her arms around her new husband’s shoulders.

           The entire church, as well as the onlookers outside, cheered and roared, standing and clapping as the newlyweds hurried out of the room, back down the aisle, brimming with smiles and tears. Elsa followed them at a slower pace, her hands folded together in front of her as she watched carefully for the train of Anna’s dress. She had the anxiety-inducing feeling that someone was watching her as she walked, and she felt her fingers begin to freeze over slightly. She reminded herself of her sister, of how she owed it to Anna to give her a snow-free day in the middle of June – today, if no other day.

           She followed Anna and Kristoff into the carriage, as much as three became a crowd. Kristoff had offered to let her take Sven back to the palace, but Elsa had politely refused, as she found it hard to believe that even he, in all of his muscle and girth, could ride a reindeer, despite having seen it with her own eyes on more than one occasion. The carriage ride was short, and she was sure she could handle the newlyweds alone for a few minutes.

           But, as said before, three’s a crowd. Kristoff looked a bit confused, as if he didn’t know what to do with himself. Elsa could tell he wanted to be cute and cuddly or something, and she knew Anna did as well, but her presence created a silence and an awkwardness between the three of them that she couldn’t figure out how to disassemble.

           She did, however, come to find something to say without having to try hard: “Congratulations.” Anna looked away from her husband for the first time since getting into the carriage and shone a smile so bright and lovely at Elsa that the Queen almost thought she was staring at the sun. Kristoff seemed to relax a bit and nodded.

           For a few minutes, their ride was completely silent. Kristoff looked at Anna and, from Elsa’s vantage point, it looked as if they had a silent language between them. They chuckled at one another and made crazy faces that Elsa didn’t understand, and she was both confused and a tad lonely. She forced the feelings away as best as she could, though she had to put up a bit of a fight. It was the sound of the townspeople outside the carriage, still cheering merrily, that brought back her wits.

           “Wave at them. They’re happy for you,” she said softly to the couple across the carriage. Almost instantly, Anna had kneeled on her seat, reached over Kristoff, and was waving at the people that they passed. Kristoff soon joined in, and Elsa sat back and watched. For no reason in particular, the image of that redheaded man was stuck behind her eyelids, and the more she thought about him, the more nervous she became. She had no clue who he was or why he’d been looking at her the way he had, and it unnerved her to try and figure out his intention.

           Elsa was good and tense when the carriage pulled through the front gates of the palace again. She didn’t want Anna to notice and worry, not on that day, so she was the first one out of the carriage (as she would have been either way, letting the newlyweds have all of the right moments to shine throughout the day). She barely heard the cheering all around her – it just barely reminded her to grin and bear it – as she headed from the foot of the carriage into the palace.

           The royal reception was to be held in a few hours, and it was open to all citizens of Arendelle and, of course, the audience that had gotten choice seating for the ceremony. In the meantime, Elsa had set up boat tours across the fjord, just to entertain her guests between the ceremony and the party. She’d also instructed the royal orchestra (or rather, a quartet from the orchestra) to set up in the center of the town, by the docks, so that the rest of the kingdom could continue their merry celebration. She wanted every bit of the day to be as happy as it possibly could be, and she had expected to make an appearance at the festivities before but now – now she was a bit shaky, and the frost in her fingers was spreading, albeit slowly.

           She walked quickly into the palace, towards her study, until she was stopped. Anna called, “Elsa, wait!” When she turned, she was hiding her hands beneath her crossed arms. She wasn’t trying to hide a secret anymore, but she also wasn’t so comfortable with the nervousness that was taking her over without her consent.

           “Where’re you going?” Anna asked. She’d left Kristoff at the door, and her eyebrows were bent in a worried expression. Elsa tried to smile to put her sister at ease, but she wasn’t quite sure she was successful.

           “I’ll just be a few minutes. You two should get ready for the reception,” she replied. Without hesitation, Elsa turned and continued to her study and refused to stop until she had closed the giant double doors behind her and she was sitting at her desk.

           She couldn’t quite figure out what was so unnerving about that man, but there he was, in the darkness of her mind as she closed her eyes and held her freezing palms to her eyelids. His smile should have been, at the very least, friendly, but it was rather unsettling, causing random, sharp pains in her stomach. Icicles started to form and fall from her fingers. Elsa had to move her hands from her face in fear of freezing her eyelids closed.

           “Conceal,” she said, “don’t feel.”

           Elsa’s breath caught suddenly. Her eyes flew open and her hands gripped the sides of the desk. Her father’s voice rang in her head now, over and over again, telling her to be the perfect girl that she’d thought she’d left on the North Mountain over a year ago. But the longer she went without breathing, the more frost built up on the desk between her hands.

           “No,” she muttered, finally taking in a large breath. “No. That didn’t get me anywhere before but alone.” She took in another deep breath in an attempt to calm herself. “Calm down. Today is about Kristoff and Anna and their love. Their love.” She chanted the emphasized word in her head a few times, slowly feeling human heat returning to her hands. “Love. Fear gets you nowhere, Elsa.”

           “Are you talking to yourself?” she heard. Elsa jumped nearly out of her chair and turned to the door. The whimsical little Olaf, with his small gray cloud over his head, was standing with the doorknob in one of his stick hands. She didn’t quite understand how he was able to turn the knob and open the door, but she failed to question the ability. “Nice place,” he said nonchalantly, letting himself into the room with a quaint smile on his face.

           “What’re you doing here, Olaf?” Elsa asked softly. The snowman turned to her and shrugged.

           “Anna wanted to make sure you were alright.”

           Elsa should have figured Anna had sent Olaf after her. She knew that, if it were any other day, Anna would have been the likely candidate for checking up on the Queen, but because it was the Princess’s wedding day, she was otherwise occupied. Elsa hardly blamed her for being so, and she actually didn’t mind having Olaf’s company. He reminded her of a simpler time, when she used her magic in the middle of the night to hear the sound of Anna’s laughter, and of when the two of them had originally built Olaf together.

           “I’m alright. Thank you, Olaf,” she said gratefully. The snowman looked at her and smiled a bit, his large front snow-tooth glistening in the warmth of the room. She knew he wouldn’t melt, so she had no reason to worry about the liquefied manner that he shone in. Besides, he perked up just enough to calm her nerves.

           “Hey, Elsa, would you like a warm hug?” he asked her, and she smiled softly, fondly at him. She nodded and he came around the desk and stood right in front of her, his cloud meeting her eye level. Elsa bent forward and wrapped her long arms around him, feeling much more at home than she had since leaving for the ceremony.

           “Come on, Olaf,” she said as she pulled away. “I’ve got a few details to go over with the maids.”

           Olaf led the way out of the study, down the hallways to the main entrance hall, where Dagny was hanging a few decorations for the reception. Vidar was across the room, watching the shorter, stout women reach for a high corner of the wall she was working on. He crossed the space between them, grabbed onto the decoration, and pinned it to the wall with a smile on his face.

           “Oh, thank you dearest,” Elsa heard Dagny say. Vidar shook his head and went back to his own work.

           “Olaf,” Elsa said. The snowman glanced up at her absently. “You know where carrots are, right?” she asked. He nodded.

           “Yeah, why?”

           “I need you to get a few for me. Take some to Sven in the town center, but leave five out for the cook to prepare, alright?”

           “Yup! Some to Sven in the town center and leave five out for the cook. Gotcha!” he responded. He left without another word, and Elsa hoped the rather dopey snowman would remember everything.

           To be honest, she really didn’t know why she’d asked for carrots. They were the first thing she thought of, and for whatever reason, she found herself wanting to be alone. She had to distract Olaf somehow, though she knew that wasn’t exactly a hard task to put into action. She simply didn’t need people questioning her, not when she was having to fight so hard to stay in control and keep calm.

           Love, she thought to herself, Today is all about love. If she reminded herself of that enough, it actually might stick. For now, it kept her fingers warm and her stomach as unknotted as she could manage. With a deep breath, Elsa headed out of the palace to greet her guests.

#frozen #vuelie