#like; if they still included the papillon heart | Explore Tumblr Posts and Blogs

holylulusworld · 8 months

Text

Papillon - Prologue

Summary: You’re more than the new maid.

Pairing: Mobster!Clark Kent x Fem!Reader

Warnings: angst, roughness, language, hand around throat, violence, blood, unwanted kissing, threats, darkish Clark, mafia AU

Papillon Masterlist

Everything went according to plan. You got the position at his household. Bugged the whole place. You even managed to sneak into his office to hide a camera.

Everything went according to plan until the house of cards you built on uncertain ground collapsed.

One lapse. A simple mistake.

Your boss told you to watch your every step. Never let your mask slip. Obey. Clean the rooms. Listen to every snippet of conversation you hear.

He told you to not interfere with anything going on at Clark Kent’s household. Never.

Duck your head. Get the information you need to bring his organization down. Don’t make mistakes.

Easier said than done.

All the other employees seem to be used to watching Clark’s men beat a man to death.

You aren’t.

For four months you were invisible to Clark Kent. The man most people, even cops fear. For four months you did a great job.

You made him believe you are a shy mouse, never even looking his way. Just how he likes his employees. Scared and discreet.

Not a look in his direction. Not a word said.

Until tonight.

Damn, his right-hand man. He wanted you to clean Clark’s office while said man is around. Including the men beating someone into submission.

One of your colleagues. Or rather an officer crossing Clark’s path this morning.

The man minded his business and only tried to do his job. He made the mistake of stopping Clark’s car because the feared mobster drove too fast.

“This is my town,” Clark taunts as the poor officer shrinks even further into the seat. “You don’t stop Clark Kent on his way to a business meeting. Everyone knows the rules in this town. Because I run this fucking town.”

Clark nods at one of his men, smirking as you try not to watch one of them hit the officer square in the jaw. Blood splatters all over the freshly cleaned floor, and a tooth lands right next to your foot.

You don’t look up or try to help the officer. Clark won’t kill him in front of witnesses. And he won’t let him disappear. Too many people saw his men drag the officer inside his home.

No. He will only make sure that the rookie knows the rules after he’s done with him.

You try to blend the noises the officer makes out. Ignore the blood. Ignore his screams. You can’t blow your cover for some rookie. If you do, you are both dead.

He’ll live and learn his lesson the hard way.

“Break two fingers,” Clark orders. Your eyes flit up for the first time since you worked at his house. Mistake. His stormy blue ones meet yours, and you know, he saw right through you.

“Stop.” Your heart starts racing when Clark lifts his hand to stop his men. “Bring him home. Make sure he gets medical help. I think he learned his lesson.”

“You sure, boss?” Jimmy asks. “We barely touched him.”

“Oh, I’m sure,” Clark holds your gaze. He smirks, dismissing his men as he won’t look away. “Leave me alone.”

“What about the maid?”

“She can clean the mess you made, right?” Now you swallow thickly. Clark took two steps toward you, dwarfing you with his sheer presence. “Get out!”

“Okay.” Jimmy and one of the other men help the officer out of his seat. They walk out of the room, leaving you with the big bad wolf.

“So,” he dips his head as you grip the mop a little tighter. Your fight-or-flight instinct kicks in. Can you make it to the door? But what good will it do if you reach the door? You still have to outrun all of his men.

Men with guns.

“I’ll clean the mess up, Sir,” you hastily say. Maybe. Just maybe he didn’t see the disgust and judgment in your eyes.

“Drop the act, papillon,” he dips his head to look you up and down. “I knew something was off with you. I just couldn’t quite put my finger on it. Now I know.” You gasp when his large palm wraps around your throat.

Clark slams your body against the shelf at his office, making you cry out in pain. The air gets punched out of your lungs at the force and you struggle to breathe. “You are not a maid, aren’t you.”

“I-I don’t know what you are talking about, Sir. I came here to clean the house. Jimmy wanted me to clean the office today.”

“Hmmm…” he leans closer, nose brushing over your cheek. Clark can feel your pulse racing. “Why are you so scared then?”

“Y-ou hurt a man and there was blood. I-I’m just a little dizzy. I can’t see blood…I’m sorry,” you try your best to present a believable lie. “Please, I didn’t do anything wrong.”

“Oh, papillon,” he purrs in your ear. “Did you honestly believe I wouldn’t find out that you are a sneaky little rat? You bugged my place and that little camera you tried to hide. Masterfully.”

Clark laughs in your face. You failed. Epically. This is the end. He will kill you now, and no one will ever find your tormented body.

“I…” what can you reply? There is nothing you can do but accept fate.

“Do you know what gave you away?” He roughly grips your chin, forcing you to look him in the eyes. “You’ll learn that I want you to answer me if I ask you a question. So, do you know what gave you away?”

You shake your head.

“Use your voice.” He warns.

“No.”

“Your eyes,” he grips your chin a little tighter. “The way you looked at me,” Clark smirks darkly. “You looked like you were about to attack me.”

His lips press against yours, claiming them as his property without asking.

“They know I’m here,” you try. “They will come for me.”

“No, they won’t papillon,” he nips at your lips. “They sent you to me to get rid of you. I knew from you the moment you applied for the job. I asked for a proof of trust. And they gave me you.”

“I don’t understand,” you press your hand weakly against his firm chest. Clark is like a brick wall pressing you against the shelf behind you.

“I wanted something nice this time. Something I can break,” he nuzzles your cheek. “I'll give you a choice.”

“Choice?” you hiccup. There is no way out. No one will come to your aid. You drop your eyes and whimper. “What choice?”

He drops his hand from your face and steps away, admiring your scared form.

“You can either tell them to get you, and save you or,” Clark smirks darkly as he roams your body, “or you go down on your knees and put that lying tongue to better use.”

Tags in reblog.

#clark kent #clark kent x reader #clark kent x you #mobster!clark kent #angst #mafia au #Papillon - Prologue #dark!clark kent

228 notes · View notes

kukuandkookie · 5 months

Text

wip titles meme

RULES: post the names of all the files in your WIP folder, regardless of how non-descriptive or ridiculous. Let people send you an ask with the title that most intrigues them, and then post a little snippet or tell them something about it! and then tag as many people as you have WIPs.

Tagged by @crimsonrainseekingflower! 💕💕💕

Thank you for the welcome surprise—another one I finally discovered once I looked at my notifications and stuff! Fortunately this time I’m remembering to make my own post haha. 😆

I hope you don’t mind if I also divide by fandom, and these only vaguely include a couple art wips!:

SVSSS:

Grave Matters

Cinderella III: A Twist in Time AU!?

Just a Dream (is this unfortunately a lame-ass title 😔)

Haunting You

Singles’ Day

TLJ/ZZL/LBH/SXY ADDAMS FAMILY AU??????????

Bingqiu White Snake (animated movie) AU

Waiting for the Tree Branches to Bloom Again

Safe from the Storm

I See in Both Your Eyes (Something Indigo)

AU: The Lion King II??

Family Meal Goes “Wrong”

TLJ’s Lament

LBH²

狗哥狗哥，你真了不得 (Gou-ge, Gou-ge…)

Slavic Vampires…

CNY Dumplings Competition

Enchanted (because we’re doing this now, I guess)

Limb Regeneration What If?? 🤔

Of Costumes and Candies (Something Orange)

Something Old, Something New, and… (Something Blue)

SV OTGW AU

I Ship My Rival x Me AU

I Have to be a Great Villain AU

Happiness Just Out of Reach

Lost and Found

Words to Heart

Breathing Smoke Into the Lungs

HORRIBLE NEW IDEA: Maybe title: Just Enough. Just Enough for Me

Love Letters (that’s all I got so far *insert deepfried emote here*)

Daycare AU???

Hmmm. Prince x Princess AU?

Xi Yang Yang AU

Gongzhu

Followers Milestone Celebration

Teacup scene

I Think My Uncle Ships Us Help

Unattainable

I’d Like to Try Staying Awake (for You)

Breaking the System (aka Fuck the System? Literally or—jk jk lmfao)

Bonuses include the latest chapters for I’d Rather Spend My Whole Life Asleep (With You) and To Tame a Beast, except the former doesn’t have a wip title. The latter does in the sense that the chapter title is Pixiu!

Erha:

Putting the Musing in Amusement Park

This Venerable One Will Not Be Outdone

What You Left Behind/Do You Also Miss Me?

[The] Romance of Wolf/Husky and Haitang

Ghost Bride (Corpse Bride but Chinese?? And Reincarnation)

Reconciliation

Fifteen Growing Up Flirty

Out of the Closet (and Into Your Arms)?

The Prince and the Pauper (but based on The Princess and the Pauper because I’m a criminal who hasn’t read the original 😂)

Wo Jia Dashixiong Naozi You Keng but with an Erha Twist

TW WARNING FOR THIS ONE but Passive suicide ideation fic

IDK WHAT TO WRITE FOR CWN’S BDAY… GOD SOMEONE SEND HELP GFGKDFHGKSDFHG (this one has a more polished but still wip version titled CWN Birthday Fic: Past, Present, or Future, I Want to Celebrate With You 😆)

Jiaoren CWN

Priest CWN & demon MR…hehehe (now a Dianran AU?)

More Than Just Puppy Love

Flower Shop…Redemption…Thingy?

From Wanton Wants to Wonton Wonders

A Taste of What Could Have Been

Screwdriver

First Bow to Heaven and Earth

Hidden Love AU

Mo Ran pulls a Bing-ge

Mind(-Reading) Games

Stone Lion

Swallowed Flowers

Confessions (Role-Swap AU)

TXJ Week (help we’re way past that now 😔): De-Aged Fic

A Tear in My Heart aka Read You Like an Open Book aka To Leave a Piece/Page of Me in the Nooks and Crannies of You?

Shi Mei Jiaoren Fic: [I’m] Afraid to Live Without Breathing

I also have a lot of Erha and SVSSS fic ideas that are unfortunately just blurbs in my ideas document right now and not full-on wips so they don’t have any titles I can share. 😔

Misc:

First Times, Second Chances, and Third Time’s the Charm…s (?) (Link Click)

Missing a You of Another Time (Link Click)

Danmei, xianxia-esque story (Link Click)

Suriel/Sariel

Call of the Wolves (specifically chapter 78)

Chuju the Chou

Papillon and Akuma’s Story

Papillon and Akuma Role Reversal AU Story

Circinus and Pyxis

Smoke & Mirrors

Dimension Hoppers

Take Me Back to Hell (All Saints Street)

I’ll Love You Until All the Stars Fall from the Sky (The Legend of Luo Xiaohei?)

Fengxi like Shade in Firewing (The Legend of Luo Xiaohei)

Mafia AU Xuanli x Laojun (The Legend of Luo Xiaohei)

Continuation of Falling for You (White Cat Legend)

How Could I Ever Ask You to Love Me? (White Cat Legend)

My Shadow It Follows Me

The Us of the Present Could Perhaps Be Just as Tender as the Us of the Past (Scissor Seven)

A Conversation With a Dead Man (MDZS)

Magical Girl AU (MDZS)

Xue Yang’s Regrets (MDZS)

Ao Bing and Nezha in a shoujo high school AU… That’s it. That’s the whole idea (Nezha 2019)

Surprising the Un-Surprise-Able (I Have to be a Great Villain)

Xianxia AU (Kiss the Abyss)

Breathing New Life (Kiss the Abyss)

I Will Chase You to the Ends of Time and Space (Kiss the Abyss)

A Family Outing (Beryl and Sapphire)

Just Some Gay Little Dudes (Beryl and Sapphire)

Steven Universe AU (Beryl and Sapphire)

Something as Sweet as You (I Ship My Adversary x Me)

A Present to be Cherished (I Ship My Adversary x Me)

I Ship My Adversary x Me and 严禁造谣 Crossover? AU Swap?

Additional misc wips I haven’t touched in forever are the latest chapters for The World Doesn’t Deserve You (MDZS) and Frostbite (All Saints Street). 😅

And as a bonus, these aren’t at all “official” yet but the more I read for some manhua the more I’m tempted to write fics for them… For example, a fic for Blemishing the Contaminated or My Lovely Troublemaker season 2 would be so cute, even if I don’t exactly have any clear or obvious ideas for them. 🥺

Phew, wow. I had way more wips than I expected AKFJSKFHSJS. Some are honestly just super half-baked documents tucked away in a folder with only a title and outline, but I hope something here was of interest to you guys. 😆💖

As for tagging…

I also don’t think I’m capable of tagging as many people as I have wips otl. So I hope you guys don’t mind if I tag just a few of you!

@ezrathesplit @levia-kun @yumichanhamano @softdekus @rongzhi @azunshi

(Of course, if you would rather not, feel free not to do this!)

13 notes · View notes

antebellumite · 11 months

Text

Antebellum Peeps ( TM ) As Dogs

some people and dogs were not included. include more at your leisure..

Albert Gallatin is a Labrador Retriever. He's smart, resourceful, basic, but he also gives very reasonable person vibes, even if he can feel a little boring at times. Still, that complete uninterestingness is what makes him special.

Samuel Howe is a Schnauzer. He's caring, social, protective of what he cares about for as long as he cares about it, AND I have never seen another dog that looks as much like a misogynist than schnauzers do. I like to think the ears and muzzle hair also fit him.

William Lloyd Garrison is a Doberman. He's proud, looks intimidating at first, and doesn't forget or forgive easily. He's also noble, and is just generally popular and well known. You can always depend on him to do what's right, even if its not exactly what you want him to do. This applis for Garrison as a dog breed, but also for him as a human being.

Floride Calhoun is a Chow Chow. She's high strung, bites strangers, and judges and ranks everyone based on their usefulness and importance to her. Her immediate instinct upon meeting someone in need of help is to first consider prosletization ( TM ) and when that person inevitably dies, she says its great that they converted to Christianity before they passed away ( what the FUCK Floride ). Both of these are very Chow Chow behaviors.

Thomas Benton is a Rottweiler. Like a doberman, but more stocky, Benton is courageous, good-natured ( when he isn't faced with Clay, Calhoun, or Foote ), and confidently self assured. He's a stereotypical police dog, however... so uhhh. He is MANLY though.

Andrew Jackson is a Canary Dog in behavior and a Greyhound in physique. He is large. He engages in dogfights. He looks fast, but is actually fairly chill and doesn't mind being lazy. He could rip someone apart. He WILL rip someone apart. He drools. He contains multitudes.

Benjamin Brown French is a Goldendoodle. Like a goldendoodle, French was created upon this Earth for one purpose. For a goldendoodle, that purpose was to remind mankind of their hubris. For French, it was to be the guiding voice of The Field of Blood. Both of them are lovable and funny unique abominations in the worst/best way.

Charles Sumner is an Akita. A very sleep deprived Akita with heart issues. He is very strong, large, bear-like, and could probably take down a tank if he could. Like an Akita, though, Sumner is long-lasting and has a thick skin! Metaphorically.

Harriet Martineau is a Papillon. She's very intelligent, petite, friendly, and has a much smaller stature than most of the other dogs on here, and despite not being American, is actually much more well-educated about American politics than actual Americans! She is also tiny but gives an air of great dignity and royal elegance as well a cuteness.

Julia Howe is a Wetterhoun. She's a water dog, with a natural talent, and despite being fairly reserved, gets along well with other people. She also has a strong will and won't back down from a challenge and is actually way more tolerant than most other people around her notice or give her credit for.

Daniel Webster is a Mastiff. Like a Mastiff, Daniel Webster is SCARY HUGE, has a reputation as being noble and almightly, and is the perfect fighting dog ( in terms of debate ). They both reportedly have the exact same mouth shape. He's also not easily provoked, similar to the Mastiff, and is pretty docile and domesticated when it really comes down to it.

Harriet Beecher Stowe is a German Shepherd. She's willing to learn, incredibly curious, smart and she's actually competant at what she sets out to do. Stowe, also like a german shepherd, is a very recognizable kind of figure, just like how german shepherds are recognizable dog breeds.

John Calhoun is a Border Collie. He, like a Border Collie, is terrifyingly smart. As in, smart enough to be ranked first in The Intelligence of Dogs. He's also adaptable ( to changes in political climate ) and great at herding ( his colleagues to secessionist ideals ), like a border collie.

Jefferson Davis is a Skye Terrier. He only ever had one person he actually loved ( his first wife ), and never moved on after her death. Like a Skye Terrier, he gives off large amounts of old man energy. He had some pretty funky facial hair too once you stop and think about it. I also think it's funny how I'm assigning Davis a super tiny dog when in real life he was like Abraham Lincoln's hight.

John Quincy Adams is a Shiba Inu. He is BOLD and ridiculously PROUD and incredibly CLEAN and GRUMPY and INDEPENDENT and UNHAPPY and DIGNIFIED and ALOOF and THERE IS LITERALLY NO OTHER DOG THAT FITS JQA MORE.

William Seward is a Siberian Husky. Seward, similar to a Husky, is stubborn, clever, capable, and despite having great intentions, does tend to have some odd ideas at times. They're both also dogs that are instantly recognizable on sight, and have something to do with Alaska.

John Randolph is a Pug. He is a pug. He just is. His health issues are infinite. He looks hideous. He is tiny. He vibrates with rage at any given moment. Every noise that he makes only alienates him more. He is such a pug I genuinely can't imagine him as anything else, even before he contracted tuberculosis.

Rachel Donelson Jackson is a Bichon. She just wants to live her life, and move on, similar to a Bichon's passive nature. Small, chill, going with the flow. I can't explain it any better than just saying that she and Bichons share the same vibes.

Nicholas Biddle is a Pomeranian. He's tiny and extroverted and happy and friendly and lively and playful! He also loves being in the center of attention like any other pomeranian. Both Biddle and Pomeranians have fantastic hair and are always alert about changes in their enviroment, and aren't afraid to challenge others. Often to their own detriment.

Mary Todd Lincoln is a West Highland White Terrier. Like a West Highland White Terrier, Mary Lincoln is tiny, and has a temper that can vary wildly depending on what's going on and who she's with. She hates being roughhandled and is normally assured, stubborn and self-confident. Normally.

Louisa Adams is a Pitbull. She's intelligent, trustworthy, kindhearted, and genuinely a good person even if it might not seem like that at first. She enjoys taking humorous situations literally, or at least with tongue in cheek, and if you wrong her she will not let it go. She's also a pretty medium-sized figure, both in society and as a dog.

Abraham Lincoln is a Great Dane. Because TALL politicians mean TALL dogs. Yet, despite being an imposing figure, he's genuinely firendly and is incredibly loving and devoted towards others, including strangers and especially children! He's just in general laidback, but make no mistake, can definately become dangerous if you provoke him.

Henry Clay is a Collie. His defining feature is that he's sensitive and keenly aware of other's emotions, as well as very goal-oriented and is terrified of any prospect of failure on his part. He can be " single-minded to the point of obsessiveness." And like a certain other collie on this list, Clay is also great at herding people towards desired politics.

Fanny Longfellow is a Golden Retriever. She's gentle, smart, affectionate, adorable, and is incredibly tolerant of outsiders. Her friendliness is the stuff of legfends, and she was incredibly popular and well known ( although not very much today ). She'll gladly pull others into her family, and she just gives really shiny Good Vibes.

Stephen Douglas is a Jack Russel Terrier. He has a bite that's ten times larger than his size and is very, very, fearlessly, active. If left bored or unhappy, Douglas will do great damage, like kickstarting Bloody Kansas. He is literally the Jack Russel Terrorist if left ot his own devices.

Margaret Bayard Smith is a Cardigan Welsh Corgi. She's very loyal, devoted, and surprisingly responsible. She has hidden insecurities and despite what others might see as drawbacks, she has shown her effectiveness, intelligence, and presence time and time again.

Theodore Parker is a Chihuaha. He's a good guy and just wants to make sure that things turn out well for his friends and family. He's smaller than you might think he should be, but what he lacks in physical strength, he can easily make up for in bullets. He also needs serious modern medical intervention.

Martin Van Buren is a Pekingnese. He's ridiculously fancy and small. Like a Pekingnese, he's also recognizably cold and determined, and tends to manipulate those around him, and tends to be stubborn and set in his ways. Yes, he truly does seem to make his own rules on how the world works, but he makes up for it by being a dandy.

Varina Davis is a Cocker Spaniel. She is fancy and her hair is fantastic, and just in general, she gives very prestigious vibes about her. She is independent if needed, but still cares for others. Despite this, she still does have a vicious streak a mile wide.

Anna Maria Calhoun Clemson is an Australian Cattle Dog. She's a very intelligent herding dog, like her father, and closely resembles him. She can actually be pretty affectionate, but knows what she wants and definitely isn't afraid to nip people or bite to get what she wants.

Adele Douglas is a Poodle, But specifically, she's of the medium-large variety. She's larger than Stephen Douglas that's for sure. She's intelligent, fancy, traditionally feminine, and is better than you in every way. She's loyal and greatly sociable and energetic. She's protective of her family, and loves them, even after they're dead.

Anne Royall is a Keeshond. She's relatively unknown, similar to a Keeshond, and can learn very quickly. She's a quick learner, intuitive, empathetic, and very persistant in what she believes in what's right, no matter what anyone else tries to tell her.

Lucretia Clay is a Newfoundland. She's calm, motherly, supportive, and a little larger than life. Her sweet nature is her most defining trait, and has I assume fantastic hair. She also has great athletic ability, which might or might not include swimming.

Hugh Lawson White is an Afghan Hound. They're both dignified and aloof with a clownish streak and have also fantastic hair. White, like the Afghan Hound breed, is very old. Or at least, I always imagine him as being old.

Jessie Benton Fremont is an Alaskan Malamute. She was big, smart, and was often in charge, as well as being very influential. She was prominent in her day, similar to an Alaskan Malamute and both her and the breed are distinguished and recognized today. Both of them also kind of had something to do with a gold rush, one Californian, one Alaskan.

Susan B. Anthony is an Azawakh. She's independent and determined, as well as intuitive and understanding about what's going on around her, similar to an Azawakh. She's typically reserved, and while not aggressive, it does take some time and sensibility to get to know her. Like the Azawakh, they're both fast, and they both organize in groups to take down enemies.

Louisa May Alcott is a Greater Swiss Mountain Dog. She's generally happy, enthused, collected, and satisfied with what she has. She's confident in nature and works well with children and her family members. Despite this, she's also vigilant, and can be outspoken and revolutionary if you pay attention...... There are four Greater Swiss Mountain Dogs, by the way. Each one contains vaguely Alcott-like traits. Make of that what you will.

Emily Tennessee Donelson is a Borzoi. She's calm, reliable, and tends to follow others' instructions, but she's also independent and can be rebellious at times. She doesn't need you or anyone, and quite frankly, she doesn't have many strong feelings about leaving if she doesn't feel respected. I realize I am painting a very weird picture of the Donelson-Jackson family here but just listen to me ok.

Robert Hayne is a Cavelier King Charles Spaniel. He's definately not shy, adaptable, highly affectionate, playful, patient, eager to please, and both of them have a higher mortality than others. Both Hyane and the CKCS breed are both highly adorable and dandy-ish as well.

Margaret Eaton is a Basenji. She's friendly, a bit gossipy, though reserved with strangers. She cannot be trained, doesn't bark, and she and the Basenji both resemble pariahs in their lifetime. She has her own goals and wants and isn't afraid to try and reach them. Eaton also just in general feels like she'd be a sort of square, short-furred kind of dog, and I also think she doesn't like wet spaces.

Henry Longfellow is a Samoyed. He's optimistic and friendly and lovable and unique and I have an instant revulsion against using the same dog breed twice otherwise, he'd be a Golden Retriever. The Samoyed's incredibly long and poofy white coat also resembles the long beard that Longfellow developes later on in life.

Sarah Polk is a Yorkshire Terrier. Fairly humble, but still elegant, important, and an air of prominence if she feels like it. She also isn't often taken seriously, despite her genuine great advice, but that's okay, because- " if no one has my back I know GOD has my back can I GET AN AMEN???"

Elizabeth Cady Stanton is a Schipperke. She's determined, steadfast, sturdy, and like a Schipperke, is great at organizing and 'herding' people into organizing movements and the like. She's also a rarer kind of dog breed because the portraits taken of her look very prim and proper, which I'm pretty sure was all on purpose, but either ways, it still works.

Maud Howe is a Saluki. She is very freelancing, independent, and just feels like a rather creative person to be around, all of which are incredibly similar vibes to a Saluki. She's shy, but despite this is also a socialite and interacts with others, playing a part and serving in various societies to help her community. She seems like a very special person, in the end, and really does deserve to be called a special breed of dog.

Sarah Goodridge is an English Setter. She's a gentlewoman by nature, intensely friendly, and she's very active and adores visitors, as well as being sensitive to criticism. There's nothing else. Promise.

7 notes · View notes

tabbyclaw · 2 years

Text

Beloathed

Ending @mayura-may with a bang.

A little shiver runs through Mayura at the touch of Papillon's hand on her back, but she keeps herself focused on the job, studying the rising chaos of the streets below them. The time is almost right for them to strike, to descend from their rooftop hiding place and dive directly into the fray for once, just as soon as the new iteration of Dark Cupid has turned Ladybug and Chat Noir against each other again. That's the way they're finally going to win, by sowing discontent between the heroes and getting between them as a unified front, and she's grateful that Papillon has finally understood that. They've planned this one for ages, including making sure that the strike point is as far away as possible from the Agreste mansion and the only two people in the world Papillon loves, to keep them safe even if he gets caught in Dark Cupid's crossfire. Mayura will have time to slow and subdue him, and she's already been told to use any means necessary to do so. Any harm she does will heal, and far faster and better than the damage he might do to them.

And if Mayura herself is hit by one of those arrows... well. She's not going to be. That's all there is to it.

She doesn't actually need the nudge to tell her when to move to their next vantage point; no matter what shape she takes she's still the woman trained to recognize his intent more clearly than even he does. When they break cover to follow the action they do so as one, taking the leap to the next rooftop in tandem, landing with silent grace and continuing to run. It's a beautiful moment, or at least it would be if they weren't still a flash of bright and moving color against the sky, and if Dark Cupid didn't turn his head at the worst possible moment. He's on them in an instant, flying faster than Mayura had realized he was capable of, looking at them like they're a terrible inconvenience getting in the way of his actual goal. Mayura loses her footing and stumbles behind a chimney stack as he swoops down on them, and it's only after he's made his pass and lost interest that she realizes that she was pushed. She raises her head to see Papillon standing between her and their attacker, his back to her and his arms just now drawing in from the wide and protective stance he was in. Prioritizing her safety, the way he shouldn't do and the way she secretly revels in every time he does.

"What's the next move?" she asks him, steadying herself on her feet again and scanning the horizon. Papillon doesn't seem hurt and he's not flying across the city in a rage, but he's also too still, as if he's lost track of their quarry as much as she has. "Sir?"

He doesn't turn around immediately, his shoulders rising and falling with a ragged breath. When he finally speaks his voice is low and harsh, a guttural growl. "This is your fault." He spins around in one fluid motion, metal singing as he draws the hidden blade from his cane, his eyes colder with rage than Mayura has ever seen them. His lips are black, and they curl into a snarl. "This is all your fault."

"No." Mayura's heart clenches in her throat, turning the word into a tiny and desperate whisper as she steps back from him. They didn't plan for this. She was supposed to be safe, and she was supposed to be safe so she could be his safeguard. He wasn't supposed to turn on her. He wasn't supposed to care enough about her to turn on her.

He ignores her protestations, advancing on her as she backs away. "You found the Peacock. You brought it to her. You couldn't stop her from using it. And now you're too weak to save her." His sword raised, he dives for her with a roar.

That's enough to snap Mayura free of her shock and her hurt, her instincts and those of the Peacock itself taking over to save her, and she leaps backwards out of his reach. This is a fight now, and if there's one thing she knows it's how to handle herself in a fight. She lands in a crouch, opening her fan with a snap. "You don't want to do this," she says in a low voice, and even if she knows it won't help she needs to remind herself that it's true. She rises to block his next attack, brandishing the fan and deflecting the blows even as he pushes her back towards the edge of the roof. "It won't help."

Papillon continues to advance on her, striking at her wildly and relentlessly, and it's only the blindness of his rage that gives Mayura an edge on him. "What would you know of helping?" he curses at her, tongue sharper than his blade could ever be. "You have failed me at every turn and cost me every victory, all because you can't do your job."

"I have done everything for you." Mayura knows she shouldn't respond, but the words cut as deeply as they're meant to. The pain of them echoes, and she has to draw into herself to turn it into a shield as she usually does. Her fighting style turns colder, more calculated as she lets the pain crystallize and guide her. She lets him dance her all the way to the edge and leaps down to the ground, knowing he'll follow her into a place where they'll be less visible. He's too insensate with magical fury to realize the danger of clashing with each other in the open like this, of being seen with their unity fractured as they had intended to do to Ladybug and Chat Noir. And if she actually has to stop him with all the freedom she's been given, rather than just slowing him down, it's going to be a disaster for his image.

Papillon lands next to her without breaking his stride, with only the barest grunt of effort, and redoubles his attacks, and the irony is that this unstoppable determination is one of the reasons she loves him. "You have become a hindrance," he tells her, the words mirroring the ones that have echoed in her own head for too long, punctuated with sword swings that rain down like hail. "Every plan I make now has to have keeping your illness at bay at its center, because I know you won't look after it yourself." Another ragged and gasping breath. "My path was clear, once," he says, and there's a crack in the rage of his voice. "My heart was confident in its choice before now. You are a distraction. And you're not her."

Mayura's stomach twists, and this is no longer just about keeping herself safe or holding him off until Ladybug can step in and fix this. Now it's about stopping him before he says anything that breaks her heart even more than he already has. And the only way to do so is going to be the end of everything, but it's not the first time she's ruined her life for him. As the sword swings towards her again she snaps her fan up with unnatural speed, not knocking it aside this time but catching the blade between the ribs and twisting. The movement pulls him towards her before wrenching the sword out of his grasp and sending it skittering down the cobblestones, and with her free hand she grabs him by the lapel. "No," she says, her voice as strained and cracked as his, "I'm not."

She kisses him. It's brisk and businesslike, and she forces herself not to feel anything, forces herself not to show anything.

The rage drains from Papillon's eyes as the black drains from his lips. He stares at her in shock, a sort of horrified comprehension dawning as he raises a hand to her like he's not entirely sure she's real. It comes to rest on her face, fingertips curling around her jaw and thumb grazing her cheekbone, and so it's almost not a surprise -- a shock, still, but somehow not a surprise -- when he bends his head low and kisses her again. And again. And again. It's the same relentless onslaught as the sword strikes, and the white hot pain in Mayura's chest tells her that this time he's cut through. Her better judgment entirely lost and overridden she pulls him in even closer, straining upwards to meet him, kissing him with the full force of all the yearning she's been holding back for so long. It's desperate and aching, and wonderful and terrible all at once, and when his other hand comes up to curl around her back she's never felt so lost and yet so found at the same time.

This onslaught is just as punctuated as the last with words. Papillon's voice is the barest whisper at every moment that his lips aren't occupied with hers, a constant and helpless litany. I'm sorry. I'm sorry. I'm sorry. It's not clear to Mayura if he's apologizing for attacking her or for... this. It's even less clear whether the words are meant for her at all.

#miraculous ladybug #fanfiction #mayuramay2022 #mayura #papillon #nathalie sancoeur #gabriel agreste #GabeNath #hawkyura #yes I skipped a bunch more prompts #but this idea hit me in the face and wouldn't let go #and any attempts to follow it would feel anticlimactic

71 notes · View notes

lady-laureline · 9 days

Text

On today's episode: how trauma1 fuels cognitive dissonance, specifically when healing from withdrawal.

The emergency tactics of the human brain are effective methods of self-preservation as well as spectacular exercises in self-sabotage.

Take stress: the ability to enter 'fight or flight' at the blink of an eye is an outdated function, working as intended. Modern threats to our survival are much more tangential than your friendly neighbourhood sabertooth tiger, but the nervous system still responds to due rent as it would to a predator.

Social withdrawal as a trauma response has aged a bit better - creating a buffer between us and the people that hurt us still serves to give us time to lick our wounds without the risk of reopening them - but there are significant downsides to keeping your distance for longer periods of time (including but not limited to: depression, heart problems, existential torment2, a shortened lifespan).

In pervasive situations, the detrimental effects of isolation have to be weighed against whatever drove us there in the first place. Both can be incredibly harmful to our sense of community and sense of self, and if we are repeatedly cycling back and forth between opening up and drawing back, the two sides might feed into each other to create a merciless self-fulfilling prophecy.

Each failed attempt to reintegrate - every time you were a little too bold or let your guard down a little too soon - justifies and perpetuates the (real or imagined) inadequacy that others us from the rest of the group. Trauma knows better, why didn't you listen to it? Why would this time be any different?

If you're wondering if there's a name for this, the answer is yes. Rejection-sensitive dysphoria (or RSD) is characteristic of neurotypes that commonly experience social rejection at a young age, fine-tuning our perception of exactly that to a painfully counterproductive degree.

In previous posts, I've talked about how growing up undiagnosed is permeated by a constant feeling of being in the wrong - RSD kindly provides a "better safe than sorry" approach to the fallout of whatever it is we've said or done this time.3

It should come as no surprise that developing self-compassion (arguably our greatest asset in caring for our mental health) is a rather grueling task for this subgroup of society. After all, compassion isn't that readily offered to us - especially the kind that comes from a place of understanding.

Coming out of isolation signals the end of a metamorphosis that, if we've managed to unlearn a bit of fearful perfectionism, may involve having a few new boundaries in place, perhaps a pinky promise with yourself to do whatever it takes to show up authentically in some way.

This is where the cognitive dissonance comes in, because now that you're going out and talking to people again, there is a raging battle going on in your head. Inside of you there are four wolves:

- one that's determined to find some genuine connection and is ready to meet people halfway;

- one that would rather pretend to be a papillon than risk ever getting hurt again;

- one that is convinced you are entirely undeserving of anyone's time and should go rot in a hole;

- and one that's angry at having to isolate, angry at having to do the work, and very fucking angry at having to wheedle your way back into people's lives for the sake of your stupid mental health.

Overthinking minute interactions is difficult to avoid when you've done nothing but think for the foreseeable past, and now you've got all these built-up feelings grappling with each other while you're trying to remember how socialising works.

Also, people are generally more well-meaning than they are frank, and if you're not tuned into the non-verbal gestures station you are at quite the disadvantage in determining what sort of impression of you people are left with, something that scares me more than I'd like to admit.

Still, what can a girl do but try?

Whether we've given up on it or not, connection is our north star in this whole mess or a journey. We cannot ignore the pull to be seen (even those of us who hate being perceived) for who we are.

×××

1 Terminology side note: when I say "trauma", I'm using the clinical definition.

2 Great read. Turns out that isolating really puts you in touch with your own mortality (and I thought I was just being extra).

3 Some say it's a form of CPTSD.

#ramblepost #trauma and cognitive dissonance #existential torment #social withdrawal #brain tactics #quick mafs #neurodivergent #rejection sensitive dysphoria #rsd #it sounds nicer in polish

1 note · View note

king-of-better · 1 year

Text

GGG.05: Heart, Animus

As the Division Fleet approaches the Galeoria Comet, Swan detects the gates closing, so they have to rush their way in. Entoji returns to the bridge to find everyone else briefly knocked out, as a communication is opened welcoming them, by none other than Papillon Noir, a broadcast coming from what seems to be the Blue Planet.

Volfogg confirms from planetary analysis that aside from pigmentation, images match earth exactly, and the Division Fleet lands at GGG Space Centre.

Papillon greets them, acknowledging that she is a Replijin, as is this whole earth. When Repli-Mamoru assembled the Pas-Q Machine it replicated earth and everything in its orbit in the Trinary Star System, but soon all the Replijin, including Repli-Repli-Mamoru, had their bodies breakdown, aside from Repli-Papillon. With the Repli-Orbit Base drifting out of orbit, she took a craft down to Repli-Earth, only to find it also devoid of people. She survived thanks to GGG Space Centre's facilities, and Sensing Mind tells her they've come from the true earth, and her counterpart is gone, but knows nothing about Mamoru, J, or the Planetary Lords. Renais gives her an intense staredown, before welcoming her back, and everyone is overjoyed to have her, she shares a meaningful look with Entoji.

Kaidou notes this isn't the Trinary Star System as he knew it Pre-Mechanisation. There were 2 burning planets orbiting the sun, now there's only one, but they can use GGG Space Centre to research, and do maintenance. There is some organic life besides plants, but no humans, Papillon can still sense the future coming, and knows she should be dead.

After a reflection of Gai and his battles, including a quick shot of the G-Pressure, we see a little bit of the battle in Hong Kong, with Mikoto and Alouette escaping on GunDober as GaoFighGar attacks. She then reflects on her contact with the Somnium, Lamia right before her death, and what she knows of the Somnium and their abilities, like Nebula, whose Psycho Voice was the inspiration for Liger to create the Solitary Wave, as well as noting Forte and Aqua, and noting the Somnium was spurred to action after the Dive Inspection, and saved the world from Algernon, though many lives were lost, sprouting Animus Flowers. She does not know why Lamia contacted her, but he told her he did not currently have the power to fight there was another they had to trust in, Evoluder GUY, and someone must preserve him. She has already resolved to do as asked, but opts not to discuss it with GGG. She can sense the Planetary Lords are coming.

1 note · View note

chavezerickson9 · 2 years

Text

Classic Louis Vuitton Luggage

This restricted version "Fall in Love" Coeur Heart bag is in mild pink embossed lambskin with golden tone hardware and options an adjustable leather-based strap which can be used for crossbody or shoulder put on and zip top closure. Is Louis Vuitton your favourite model amongst all the opposite designer handbags? And, are you considering of buying a Louis Vuitton purse or handbag? Even if you’re brief on cash, we still got you coated as a result of we also sell pre-owned Louis Vuitton luggage. We purchase pre-owned designer handbags from our seller’s, around the globe and we personal one of the best situation pre-owned branded items. LV was in the first place in the BrandZ's prime 10 most dear luxurious brands in 2019, with a value of $47.2 billion. On 15 January 2020, the corporate acquired the Sewelô diamond, which is the second-largest tough diamond ever found in history, from Lucara Diamond who mined it from their mine in Botswana. Buying a new LV bag will cost you a pretty penny, however it is worth the price. Classics like their monogrammed canvas Papillon, Neverfull, Speedy, and Alma styles all retail for around $1,500. Type in 'Papillon' and voilà, there is your gorgeous, basic LV monogram, rounded shoulder bag. Louis Vuitton is a model so popular that it's a family name, but there are additionally many counterfeits, so it is crucial to know the place to buy. Shopping immediately by way of Louis Vuitton is greatest to be sure to get a real bag. The stock sold out sooner than expected and a quantity of the pop-up retailers needed to close early. As technology and social media have amplified Vuitton’s attain, the traces between art, trend and road tradition have turn out to be blurred. The trunkmaker for European aristocracy now collaborates with the hip skateboard brand Supreme, a mainstay of New York City streetwear and some of the coveted manufacturers on the earth. While a brand-new Louis Vuitton Petite Boite Chapeau bag will set you back a cool $4,600, it was truly impressed by the model's iconic hatbox. A small and compact bag, this one-of-a-kind LV purse made fairly a splash on the street type scene when it was launched in late 2018. Debuting in 1958, the Louis Vuitton Lockit bag was designed as a half of a group of lighter baggage. The commonest trunks of the period have been round, which weren’t ideal for toting and storing. In 1858, Vuitton debuted his lightweight, handcrafted canvas trunks, which were sturdy, rugged and outfitted with handy compartments. When Louis Vuitton died in 1892, management of the luxury house was passed onto his only son, Georges Vuitton. As we all know handbags have turn into an important accessory in the fashion world, and are often used as completion pieces for a woman’s wardrobe. They promote growth in the fashion business, and designers are including purses in their collections more usually to extend income. And as we know, when it comes to style, ladies are always one step ahead from one another. Trust us after we say that you buy shall be 100% genuine 100 percent of the time or your money back. best replica louis vuitton bags Each Louis Vuitton purse is an attestation to Vuitton’s indisputable genius, an iconic piece of high fashion that breathes a legendary historical past. It was resourcefulness and ingenuity that drove him from poverty in rural France to the top of Parisian artisanry, but it was ardour that revolutionized an business and solid a mark synonymous with opulence and luxurious. Whether your LV bag of choice is the basic Speedy, the practical Neverfull, or the daring graffiti-print monogram, no gal's closet is complete with no Louis Vuitton purse. No matter which one you select, all Louis Vuitton baggage age fantastically as they darken by way of their sought-after patina whereas holding their authentic shapes and prime quality. wikipedia handbags Crafted in limited quantities from the best materials and finished in wealthy, deep colors, Louis Vuitton Exotics are not often seen on the public sale market. The Montsouris are popular at auction and can fetch between £300 for a monogram model to over £1,500 for a restricted edition. Came across this weblog because was in search of answers why Lv has all of a sudden turn out to be scarce. To add to it, resellers promoting it for double the costs. I imply for the same quality of monogram you can get it at coach for cheaps. I actually am more impressed with quality of Celine, Saint Laurent. Through our love of trend and our painstaking authentication course of, we let you shop with confidence and enthusiasm. Since their launch almost a century in the past, these luggage have been released in many alternative patterns and variations of the brand’s traditional monogram sample. With the immense recognition of this fashion, it’s onerous to imagine a time where there wasn’t a Neverfull on the arm of girls everywhere. But this iconic style was solely released in 2007, seemingly becoming an prompt basic.

#louis vuitton replica #best replica louis vuitton bags #replica louis vuitton

0 notes

mikauzoran · 2 years

Text

Gigantitan in Retrospect

Hi guys! Are you enjoying these posts about re-watching old episodes? ^.^; I’m having fun doing them. It’s really interesting to think about older episodes again with insight about how the characters grow and change in later episodes. I hope my thoughts are interesting to read. ^.^; Anyway. Today’s episode is Gigantitan.

I got such a kick out of this episode the first time I saw it. XD I still find it deliciously entertaining. It’s probably one of my all-time favourites. A lot of the dialogue in the French version is so fabulous, and I just love the interactions between the girls. Girl Squad is /epic/.

There’s a lot to love about this episode, but, first off, is Marinette thinking her crush on Adrien is a huge secret. I love how Alix just blurts it out, and Rose assures Marinette that guys are completely oblivious to stuff like that. A lot of the back and forth between Alix and Rose is really funny to me. And then there’s Mylène telling Marinette that they can always count on her, so she can count on them. That was really sweet.

Also, I love Rose’s confusion over the codenames. Later, I found it really funny when Rose was like, “Where’s Lotus?!” after the akuma attacked, and everyone else was like “Who dat?” It was a nice reversal of the earlier gag.

One of my favourite things about this episode is while Marinette details the plan to the gang, she does the voice acting for the other characters. I adore Marinette’s portrayal of Officer Raincomprix. It’s spot-on. XD Her Adrien impression is kind of off, though. And she got his expression completely wrong in her mental picture. We all know Adrien gets all soft and heart-eyed around Marinette. Clearly, she hasn’t noticed. The boy in the image below does not look nearly in love enough with Marinette to be the real Adrien. Also, he’s not leaning into her personal space. Completely un-Adrien-like behavior.

I also love how when Rose correctly guesses that “Lotus” is Marinette, Juleka pats Rose on the head. uwu JuleRose, my beloved. I always appreciate JuleRose content in the background.

I think it’s kind of funny how Alix is like, “Isn’t it kind of weird how Marinette knows all of these details about Adrien’s habits?” and Rose is like, “It’s so romantic!!!” Seriously, her eyes are vibrating in excitement in this shot. XD She’s so precious. I adore her enthusiasm. I think the animators did a wonderful job with their expressions below.

Also funny to me is the fact that Théo is the rickshaw driver. That guy has so many part-time jobs. It always amuses me when we see him working in the background.

Also funny, when Mylène helps Juleka carry the fake sign Marinette made, she notes how heavy it is and asks what it’s made of. Marinette responds, of course, that it’s made of metal like a real sign. What else? XD The lengths to which Marinette goes for her plans amazes me. It’s a good thing she’s one of the good guys. I have no doubt she’d be a very chaotic supervillain. Maybe that’s why Papillon is so keen on akumatizing her. She’d be formidable.

So, I happen to notice that August is wearing what looks like a medical alert bracelet. It looks a bit like mine, only mine is silver. Whenever I see characters (like Roger Raincomprix) wearing them, I always think, “Juvenile Diabetes buddies!” because that’s why I wear mine. Obviously, other people wear them for a variety of medical conditions including allergies, but let me have my Juvenile Diabetes headcanons. I just want some rep, guys. XD Anyway. If this isn’t a medical alert bracelet, what else could it be? Is there some custom of wearing these kinds of bracelets that I just don’t know about? ^.^; Are they trendy? What’s up with the bracelets? They’re kind of a specific detail to add.

I appreciate how the Gorilla’s negative emotions disappear as soon as he sees Adrien because Adrien is the living embodiment of sunshine, and how can you be sad when you’re looking at Adrien? XD Honestly, I think that the Gorilla actually cares about Adrien a lot, not just because of his job. I wish we could get some more Adrien and Gorilla content. It’s so wholesome.

Also there’s another tidbit of JuleRose after the akuma appears: Juleka puts an arm around Rose’s shoulders to usher her to safety. uwu I appreciate the JuleRose crumbs.

Papillon’s faces during the whole akumatization are priceless. He’s just so chagrinned and frustrated and trying to work with what he’s got, but the situation isn’t going his way, and he’s quickly losing his temper. XD It’s incredibly amusing to watch Gabe throw a temper tantrum because he can’t control a baby. It makes me wonder what he was like when Adrien was little...if he bothered to contribute to the child-raising process. I’m just imagining Émilie going out for the day and leaving Adrien with Gabriel, and it’s just a complete clown fiesta.

It’s really funny when Papillon shouts, “No! Attack the chat-chat and the ladybug!” Gabriel using baby talk is hilarious. He says it in such a serious way too. Also great is him referring to Ladybug as “the naughty ladybug”.

I also appreciate how August’s mother first thanks Chat Noir (who has just caught her baby as he shrunk back to baby size) and then thanks Ladybug as an afterthought. It’s nice for Chat Noir to get some recognition. Usually when crowds in the show are cheering for the heroes, they’re chanting “Ladybug! Ladybug!” It’s nice for Chat to get some appreciation too.

And then there’s the great Adrienette ending scene. I love how Adrien just rolls with whatever comes out of Marinette’s mouth and accepts and appreciates her even when she doesn’t make much sense. I feel bad that things didn’t work out for Marinette. At least she has her wonderful friends to laugh at with her about it. XD

There’s so much I love about this episode. It’s hard to pick a favourite part, but I really do adore the dialogue and the interactions between the Girl Squad. ^.^

27 notes · View notes

watching-pictures-move · 3 years

Text

Put On Your Raincoats #21 | Double Chinn Double (Double) Feature (with Hyapatia Lee)

By the time the '80s rolled around, Bob Chinn, best known for his collaborations with John Holmes (the inspiration for Boogie Nights), had been directing movies for over a decade. For much of that time, he'd been making them for peanuts (in an interview with the Rialto Report, he recounts being once asked to make a movie for five thousand dollars, which was handed to him in fifties on the spot), but in the early '80s, he was directing for Harry Mohney's Caribbean Films, working with respectable budgets (by porn standards). Some of these films starred Hyapatia Lee, one of the most popular porn stars of the era and one of the first contract girls. Now, I suspect these aren't necessarily the defining works of Chinn's career, and I do intend to get to some of his movies with Holmes. But Vinegar Syndrome had a sale and there were two double features of their collaborations going for dirt cheap, and because I am weak and foolish with money, they ended up in my cart and a few weeks later in my grubby little paws. How did this happen? Through the magic of Canada Post, of course! Anyway, what I found was that these didn't represents any extremes of artistic ambition. They were neither seeking to elevate the genre, nor were they hackwork. Rather, they represent a happy medium, movies that seek to deliver the genre's goods in a polished, diverting package. Slick cinematography, courtesy of Jack Remy. Catchy theme songs that wouldn't sound out of place if you caught them on the radio. Flashy titles. Lee recounted the atmosphere on set as one of professionalism and engagement, where everyone present wanted to do as good a job as possible. Chinn claims to have been losing interest in his work at this point, but the results onscreen are the result of confident execution by somebody who had been doing this kind of thing for years and knew how to put the production's resources to good use.

The first one I watched was The Young Like it Hot, where the operators at a phone company worry about being replaced by computers. To keep their jobs, they scheme to go the extra mile in helping their callers. As this is a porno, most of this help is sexual in nature, as when Rosa Lee Kimball stays on the line while an obscene phone caller played by Bill Margold finishes. (In an interview on the DVD, Margold says after shooting his scene, he was invited to record additional dialogue. Being the method actor that he was, he insisted on whipping it out during the recording session despite the lack of cameras.) Sometimes they are informative, as when Bud Lee (real life husband of Hyapatia at the time) explains why the perineum is referred to as taint ("cuz it taint cunt and it taint ass"). But the highlight of their efforts are Shauna Grant's increasingly life threatening home improvement advice to one poor sap played by Joey Silvera. Hyapatia Lee is ostensibly the star, and has a certain charisma, playing the supervisor, but this is really an ensemble piece, and she's joined by more experienced actors like Kay Parker and Eric Edwards. The latter I've occasionally found bland elsewhere, but he has a nice obnoxious quality that serves him well as the villainous manager whose idea it is the automate the operators' jobs. The movie reflects a very real concern (that's very much still an issue in the modern workplace), but overall this is a breezy, affable comedy.

A bit more serious in tone is Sweet Young Foxes, a coming of age story whose dramatic parts are more sensitively realized than I expected. The screenplay was written by Deborah Sullivan, Bob Chinn's wife at the time, and this is a case where a movie definitely benefited from having been written by a woman, and it seems like an earnest effort to capture the anxieties and yearnings of its young women protagonists. Lee moves closer to a real starring role, and is joined by Cara Lott and Cindy Carver as her friends, who aren't quite as strong actors as her but do have decent chemistry. I can believe they're friends even if their line delivery can be stilted. (That the movie has a good ear for genuine sounding dialogue also helps.) Kay Parker is especially good as Lee's mother, hitting some of the same notes as Taboo, and has a credibly emotional masturbation scene in front of a mirror that did not leave me unmoved. (In what way? That's none of your damn business.) This was shot by Jack Remy, the same cinematographer who worked on The Young Like it Hot. That movie looked nice and slick, but this one is a little more stylish, with the solo sex scenes in particular resembling magazine centerfolds. There's also some nice new-wave-ish music that shows up on the soundtrack, which I certainly didn't mind. I do wish some of the sex scenes didn't run quite as long (the previous movie kept them refreshingly concise) as I'd prefer more of the runtime was dedicated to the dramatic elements, but what's there is still good.

Body Girls goes back firmly to comedy territory, where Hyapatia Lee and the members of her gym are trying to win a bodybuilding contest despite a rival gym's attempts to undermine them. This comes in the form of a pair of schlubs in yellow tank tops who break into the gym after hours to sabotage their equipment, only to be foiled by Hyapatia and her girls who just happened to be having sex in the locker room as people do. Of course, despite Lee's attempts to teach them a lesson (which depending on your proclivities, may have the opposite effect), they don't give up, and during the contest threaten the judge at gunpoint. Not one to take things lying down (okay, poor choice of words here), Lee finds a way to influence the judge back in her favour. (The judge is played by Francois Papillon, bringing a dopey charm to the character as he fumbles through his lines in his French accent.) Her method is pretty ridiculous and certainly in service of genre requirements, but I did laugh.

Now, there's probably a dilemma in audience sympathy here as both Lee and her rivals are cheating, but Lee's methods are more agreeable and directed at the judge instead of her rivals so I guess we ought to root for her. She's also buoyant, charismatic and has a real star quality, and is joined by such fan favourites as Shanna McCullough and Erica Boyer, all of whom sport wildly different hairstyles. As can be expected given the exercise theme, most of the ladies have toned, athletic bodies (and given the decade, voluminous coiffures), with the exception of Tigr, who brings a wiry punkish energy that stood out to me despite her limited screentime, and she also performs the miraculous feat of making a mullet look cute. (I'd previously been moved by her work in Kamikaze Hearts, the great mockumentary about a porn production and her relationship with Sharon Mitchell. She didn't stay in the industry for too long, but I'd be interested in seeing more of her work.) The screenplay was written by Lee with her husband Bud (who plays the judge's assistant with an agreeable presence that's neither too alpha nor too schlubby) and is full of exercise-related dialogue. Most of this is pretty clunky and calling it wordplay might be a bit generous ("sexercise" features at one point), but I did appreciate the effort. Also as is requisite for the premise, the longest set piece in the movie is an orgy in Lee's gym with the various participants snaked around different pieces of equipment. I must note that one of the male actors resembles Barry Gibb and that Francois Papillon is shown to wear a tiger-striped speedo. Did I enjoy the movie? Yes, but not for reasons cited in that sentence.

At the end of Body Girls, Bud Lee suggests to Hyapatia, "Let's get physical", which is the title of the next movie. (Body Girls also features a character looking at dirty magazine with stills from Sweet Young Foxes and ends with a plug for some of these other movies, anticipating the MCU's narrative and marketing strategies by a few decades.) Now, all of these movies have had decent theme songs, but the one in Let's Get Physical has lyrics that are plagiaristically close to those of Olivia Newton-John's 1983 hit. (The delivery however is more shrill but not unpleasing.) This movie is a drama where Lee plays a dance instructor trying to put together a ballet performance despite her strained relationship with her impotent husband played by Paul Thomas. (In the interview I listened to, Lee speaks well of almost everyone she worked with on these films, with the pointed exception of Paul Thomas. If there was bitterness behind the scenes, it arguably helps their performances.)

Lee wrote the screenplay for this one, and unlike Body Girls with its surface level references to bodybuilding and exercise, the dialogue here feels packed with knowledge of the real thing, which is understandable given Lee's real life interest in dance going back to her childhood. (I looked up "Luigi jazz dancing" after finishing the movie and was pleasantly surprised to learn it was a real thing.) This movie goes all in on her star power, and features a number of dance numbers that seem genuinely interested in the form rather than just leering at the performers. (There is one scene where the song Lee dances to sounds suspiciously like "Beat It".) I did appreciate that the sex scenes were kept relatively concise and tied into the dramatic aspects, although in some cases, the choices made could be goofy, like the scene where Lee makes love to her student Shanna McCullough while Thomas, in a dramatically justified but still awkward gesture, watches from another room and jacks off. (I assume he's playing the audience in this scene. Also, McCullough's character remarks "I've never done this before" when going down on Lee, and yeah, okay Shanna.) Other highlights include a car stunt that may or may not have been lifted from elsewhere but still looks decently executed, as well as a dream sequence where Thomas (or his character at least) plays the piano and sings a song. This is held back a bit by the genre's demands, like when it places a completely superfluous sex scene at the end after Lee's reconciliation with Thomas, but on the whole this is probably the best one of the lot.

#film #put on your raincoats #movie review #the young like it hot #sweet young foxes #body girls #let's get physical #bob chinn #hyapatia lee

27 notes · View notes

giuliafc · 3 years

Text

His Biggest Ambition - Snippet July/LadyNoir July day 5 - Ambition/Milk

Ao3 || FFN

His Biggest Ambition

Written by: JuliaFC

Beta: Malauu_Ladynoir, @rose-beagle-bagel

Summary: Trying to build team spirit, Ladybug, Chat Noir, Carapace and Rena Rouge get together for a session of Truth or Drink... with a twist. A few rounds on, one of the questions opens a whole can of worms. Written for the Snippet July/LadyNoir July. Day 5 - Ambition/Milk (story wordcount 999 words)

Disclaimer: This story is based on characters and situations created and owned by (c) Thomas Astruc, TS1 Bouygues, Disney Channel, Zagtoon, Toei Animation. No money is being made and no copyright or trademark infringement is intended.

Written for the "Snippet July" challenge of the Miraculous Fanworks Discord server @miraculousfanworks AND for LadyNoir July @ladynoirjuly. Day 5 — Ambition/Milk. I tried to be original. Let me know what you think!

oOoOoOoOoOo

"CAMEL’S MILK?" shouted Chat Noir.

Rena gave him a smooth look. "Well, nobody picked this option from my poll so..."

"Where did you get it?" asked Chat again. "I tried it once and it was disgusting!"

"Believe me, I know!" Rena grimaced. "Ni—my boyfriend's family brought some from Morocco. It felt like drinking smoke."

"Yeah." Chat groaned. "A friend made me try it once; ugh, I wished I hadn't."

"Soooooo... it's purr-fect!" Rena winked at his glare.

"Hey! That's my line!" Chat pouted, but when everyone laughed, he joined the hilarity.

Ladybug was the first to get serious. "Rena, what's about the milk, and why did you gather us here on a non-patrol night?"

Rena sighed. "A little birdie—" She poked Carapace. "—made me realise that although we've become part of your team on a quasi permanent basis, we know nothing about each other."

"And that's how it should be!" Ladybug groaned. "The less we know the better, to protect our secret identities."

"Come on, Ladybug. You know my identity and Carapace's." Rena looked at her meaningfully and raised an eyebrow. "Some people may feel treated like outcasts."

The quick movement of her chin towards him, as she folded her arms to her chest, went nearly unnoticed by the black clad superhero, but not Ladybug's reaction. She stood up, grabbed Rena and pulled her aside, a bit too far for him to hear their conversation. After a long whispered argument, finally Ladybug returned to her seat.

"Okay, you have a point."

Rena fiddled with her fingers in an excited gesture of victory. "Game's called 'Truth or Drink'." She smirked. "Since we're all minors, we can't drink alcohol. Hence, the camel's milk."

"Ugh." Chat Noir sighed. "What do we need to do?"

"Here, there's a list of carefully selected questions." She slammed a bunch of small papers in between them. "Which we'll answer truthfully. If you don't want to answer," she said, moving a thermos to the centre of the circle, "you drink the milk."

Three sets of disgusted faces stared back. "What?" she inquired.

"No identity revealing questions, I hope?" Ladybug made to grab some papers, but Rena slapped her hand.

"Aha. Don't peek."

"But you know…" protested Ladybug.

"Incorrect." tsked Rena. "My sisters selected the questions, not me."

Chat Noir didn't think it was a good idea initially. But, as the questions rolled on and everyone struggled to find unrevealing but truthful answers, he realised that it was fun. And it did make Rena and Carapace, and even Ladybug herself, become more real.

"Are you with us, Chaton?" Ladybug's question woke him from his réverie.

"Oh, sorry. Is it my turn?"

Carapace nodded. "Yes, dude. What's your ambition?"

"Winning against Papillon isn't an option, obviously," pointed out Rena. "Mine is to become an award winning journalist."

Chat Noir looked at Rena and lifted his eyebrow. That sounded familiar.

"Mine's to become a famous DJ," said Carapace. ‘That sounds familiar too’, thought Chat Noir. His eyes became small slits in his face as he shot a suspicious look at the two heroes. But seconds later, his focus moved to Ladybug, who was busy tapping a finger to her chin.

"I suppose," she mumbled, "my ambition is to be a good leader." She paused for a long time, and then her gaze met his. "And as a leader, I should admit when I'm wrong." She cupped a hand to his cheek, causing him to blush. "I'm sorry I made you feel like an outcast, Chaton. It was never my intention. I promise, I'll include you more."

He squeezed her hand. "Thank you, M'lady. I… know that it's hard for you. I don't blame you. But, to tell the truth..." He glanced at Rena and at the daunting thermos. "It hurt me because I felt useless… and invisible." Chat saw her concerned frown and lowered his gaze. He couldn't believe he was going to say that in front of Rena and Carapace, but, after all, the only person that mattered to him was her and he needed her to know. "My ambition; wh—" His voice cracked, he cursed under his breath. "What I really want is to be seen, for who I am."

"Oh, mon Minou," started Ladybug, stroking his cheek. Chat Noir grabbed her hand and held it.

"I know, LB. We're superheroes, nobody can see the real person behind the suit. That's not what I mean. Every day in my civilian life, I wear masks. I'm used to wearing so many that I don't know anymore where the mask ends and where the person beneath starts. My fath—uh, family only cares about me being perfect and that's what I let people around me see of me. That's why I find being Chat Noir so elating; it's a version of myself that I chose to show. For a long time, I thought Chat Noir was the real me." He hugged his knees. "But recently, somebody made me realise that it's not true. This..." He pointed at himself. "This is me, when I act like a clown. She was right—I'm not a clown. I'm not confident, I'm not brave… I don't know who I am and… my biggest ambition is finding myself and having the courage to let the people I love see the real me."

When he finished saying that, he dared look at her and the tears in Ladybug's eyes warmed his heart. Speechless, she wrapped him in a hug.

"I'm sorry, Chat Noir," she whispered. "I had no idea you felt this way! I should've noticed. I'm so sorry!" She looked him in the eye and placed a soft kiss on his cheek that made his heart flutter. "I promise, Chaton. I'll help you. We can work together and find the real you."

"You and me against the world?" he said with a shy smile.

She nodded and showed her fist to him to bump. "Pound it?"

He smiled and bumped her fist with his. "Pound it, M'lady."

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

Author's Note

Whop, whop, here's day 5! Yes, I know… right on the feels again. And yes, Rena and Carapace are still there, feeling a bit out of place but… well, there you go. I had no words left to spare. I suppose that when identities will be disclosed eventually, he will have an even stronger support network ^^.

I hope you liked the story and will leave me a comment. You know that comments are my bread and butter!

Until (hopefully) tomorrow, bug out!

#miraculous les aventures de ladybug et chat noir #miraculous ladybug #miraculous #chatnoir #miraculous chat noir #adrien agreste #adrien #adrien true self #adrien's ambition #rena rouge #carapace #ladynoir #ladybug x chat noir #ladybug x cat noir #lovesquare #ladynoirjuly2021 #miraculous fanworks #snippet july

26 notes · View notes

ooooooooooop225 · 3 years

Text

Masterlist

Updated: 05.03.22

Total works: 25 + 4

Including fanfics (JJK, BNHA, HQ, etc.) as well as general writing!

Blog started in spring of 2021. (Yay! One year ><~)

If there's no [nsfw], it means it's [sfw]. The "nsfw" tag is only for sexual themes; there may still be things like death, blood, and depression in the "sfw" works.

I am queer, neurodivergent, BIPOC (+ first generation immigrant), disabled, and mentally ill. This is a safe account. If you're discriminatory against anyone at all, please, shut up and don't interact.

This is also for me to practice writing, so if I can help even a single person can feel a bit better, then that's already amazing to me.

Most of these are around 500 words.

Jujutsu Kaisen

(4)

My Light at Night (Yuuji x Megumi)

Headcannons - Gojo Satoru (Gojo x gn!reader)

Headcannons - Ryoumen Sukuna (Sukuna x gn!reader)

For Without You, I Cannot Breathe (Gojo x gn!reader)

BNHA

(4)

Scarlet Flight and Crimson Plight (Hawks x gn!reader)

Pretty Red Bird (Hawks x gn!reader)

Sunset Feast (Bakugou x gn!reader) [nsfw]

Drabbles - LOV (various LOV characters)

Haikyuu!!

(14 + 1)

Cowardice (Bokuto x Akaashi)

Heart's Awl (Atsumu x Hinata)

Sun, Past Tense (Atsumu x Hinata) - coming 06.03.22 at 12:30 a.m. GMT-5

Headcanons - neko! Kozume Kenma (Kenma x gn!reader)

Moonlit Obsidian (Kenma x gn!reader) [nsfw]

The Warm Sun (Hinata x gn!reader)

Gently (Kenma x Hinata) [semi nsfw]

Water of the Sea, Water of Melancholy (Kuroo x gn!reader)

Golden-eyed (Kuroo x gn!reader)

Help Me Breathe (Tendou x gn!reader)

When We Were Children (Yamaguchi x gn!reader)

"I want... you" (Atsumu x gn!reader)

Two Parts (Atsumu x gn!reader)

Quiet Love (Osamu x gn!reader) [nsfw]

A Letter of Love and Regret (Osamu x gn!reader)

King's Maker

(1)

My King [1st place in writing contest!]

All of Us Are Dead (+ 1)

Perspective drabble (hari x mijin) - coming 07.03.22 at 12:30 a.m. GMT-5

Other

(2 + 2)

Drabbles - Garden (inspired by a trip to the botanical garden)

Liebesträume (vent writing)

Vent drabble - coming 08.03.22 at 12:30 a.m. GMT-5

Papillon (french poem) - coming 09.03.22 at 12:30 a.m. GMT-5

#masterlist #writing #fanfiction #fanfic #anime fanfic #haikyu fic #bnha fic #jujutsu kaisen fic #mlist #x gender neutral reader #x gn reader

7 notes · View notes

indecisivedolly · 3 years

Text

Silent Words - Chapter 5

Word count: 1583

Warnings: minor character death (duh), angst, the fluff is building up y’all

Bucky made his way back to the living room and picked up the envelope. He spaced out thinking about how guilty he felt for snapping at her like that, he could’ve told her how he felt in a much more collected way. She looked so shocked and scared. I’m such an asshole. He suddenly looked at the envelope and an idea shot through his head. He picked up his phone and called a friend for more information on this Jackson Frazier.

After talking to his friend, he found out that Jackson Frazier was operating for HYDRA in Leipzig. He looked at the clock; 11:45 PM. It’s a two-hour drive, I could be back before Y/N even wakes up. With his mind made up, he got dressed in his tactical suit and collected some weapons, including a Smith & Wesson model 39 gun and five bullets that belonged to it. Within thirty minutes, he was in the car on his way to Leipzig. He kept seeing her shocked face in front of him, and every time he saw her scared eyes he grew angrier with himself.

Two hours flew by and he found himself at his destination. He has been here before, making it easier for him to find this Jackson guy he was looking for. Leipzig used to be a major HYDRA hotspot, now the city is nothing but an empty HYDRA shell. If you don’t know where to look, you could say that it’s just an ordinary city.

Fortunately, Bucky knows where to look.

It was almost 2:30 AM and all he could think about was Y/N. How he let her down, how she looks even more beautiful. He always thought the first thing would happen but he never imagined that the latter could be possible.

Before he realized it, he found himself in front of the HYDRA meeting place. He looked different than how they remember him, which would give him a little bit more time before the regulars would jump his ass. His eyes roamed around the place to find the man he was looking for.

Before he could walk up to him, he was stopped by a large man. The man eyed Bucky up and down, before stopping at his metal arm. The man frowned. Bucky looked up so that the man could see his face. When realizing that he was standing face to face with the Winter Soldier, the man widened his eyes.

“Der Soldat ist hier! Der Soldat ist hier!” (The soldier is here!) When hearing this, everyone shot up from their seats. Some of them pulled out their guns, some of them grabbed their beer bottles as weapons. Bucky sighed. Man, I really wanted to get this done quickly. The men started attacking Bucky and he took them out one by one as if it was like folding laundry, he hated folding laundry. He didn’t want to leave too many bodies so he just knocked them out.

After knocking out the “innocent” people, he saw Jackson run out of the bar through the back door and he calmly followed him. The man shot all of his bullets at Bucky, but he dodged the bullets easily. Bucky started to grow tired of this stupid game and took a sharp left while Jackson kept running straight forward.

After running for what felt like an eternity, Jackson stopped running to see that the Winter Soldier wasn’t following him anymore. He was gasping for air, thankful that he shook him off. His upper body was bent forwards and he put his hands on his knees, exhausted and still in shock from what happened. The next thing he knows, he’s being pulled into an alley. His shoulder roughly hit the ground. He opened his eyes to see him again.

“You weren’t so stupid to think that you threw me off, were you?” The Winter Soldier said amusingly.

“Wh-what do you want from m-me? Money? I-I can give you money.” A desperate attempt to save himself and he knew it. The soldier started laughing loudly.

“Money? I think it’s a bit too late to use money as a tool to save yourself. But I did hear you owed someone a lot of money.” He said the latter in a singsong voice.

“Who? I-I swear I’ll pay them double the amount I owe them.” The man stammered.

Bucky smiled and crouched to reach the man’s face. “Don’t worry, the man you owe money to is dead.” He saw the man relax a bit. “But unfortunately, now you will be too. Tell Nour Roux his daughter said hi.” Bucky stood back up on his feet.

BANG!

Five times thirty-nine.

He got into the car and looked at the time. 3 AM. Good, he thought. He drove home and quietly entered the house. When he got to his bedroom, he realized he was exhausted. He took off his clothes, leaving him only in his boxers, and fell onto his bed. A soon as his head hit the pillow, he fell asleep.

When he opened his eyes, Bucky was stuck in a pitch-black maze, having only her blood-curdling screams to guide him to her.

“Please don’t do this.” She cried.

He started running faster to where her hoarse voice came from.

“Oh god, pl-please please please.” He heard her recite like a prayer. She started screaming once again.

I’m almost there papillon, please hang on.

There she was, lying in the middle of this godforsaken maze. He didn’t see her chest move. Slowly, he got closer, and what he saw made his legs give in. He fell on his knees, still not processing what he saw. There she lay, as angelic as always. With a bruise circling her neck and her necklaces pulled tight around it. The butterflies lay on her neck as if they were her familiars who failed to save her. He looked at the butterflies.

He was always enchanted by those necklaces as if they took him back to a past life.

He was too late. If he had come for her sooner, she would’ve been safe. She would’ve been his. But now, she’s no more than a free spirit.

Then, he shot up. He heard someone screaming, shortly afterward realizing that it was him. Then, he felt a pair of smaller arms tightly around him. One around his shoulders and one on his hair. He smells a familiar scent and hears a familiar voice. He feels her fingers scratching his scalp and her breath on the side of his face. He closed his eyes and tried to stabilize his breathing. “Hey, it’s okay. You’re okay. You’re James Buchanan Barnes, born in 1917 in Brooklyn. You’re currently in the safehouse in Berlin with me, Y/N Roux.”

Y/N.

He exhales the air he didn’t know he was holding. If he wasn’t in his current state, he would’ve found it adorable that she still remembered how to calm him down. Just like she did in Bucharest. He didn’t have the heart to tell her that it wasn’t another one of his HYDRA dreams, that his dream was about losing her. Then, he let himself go into her embrace.

She was safe. She was safe.

He woke up to an empty bed, still remembering her arms around his body as he fell asleep. Was it a dream? He thought. No, I could never be granted such peaceful dreams. He got up out of bed and took a quick shower. When he left the bathroom, he took in the scent of freshly ground coffee and cooked bacon. He entered the kitchen to find her standing with her back to him, placing the cooked eggs on each plate. He quietly sat down at the kitchen table and stared at her, the sheer domesticity of it all kicking into him just now.

If only I came back for her as soon as I could instead of being a coward.

Then her body went rigid, feeling his presence just now. “Do you really have to be this stealthy around me?” She said, her back still turned towards him.

“No, this was just payback for that scare in my house.” He replied amusingly. Y/N picked up the cups of coffee and placed them on the table. Then she grabbed the plates and put them next to the cups, sitting next to Bucky. They started eating quietly. Y/N hesitantly started talking.

“I found myself frequently wondering if you survived the snap or not.” She said softly. “Even if you did survive, I understood that you couldn’t have come for me.”

Another pause. “You know, saving the world and all.” Unable to look at him. She was fumbling with her necklaces.

“Going soft on me, doll?” He said in a teasing tone. Sensing mock and malice in his voice, her head shot towards him; “Don’t get too used-“.

His eyes. Normally filled with nothing, now filled with soft tenderness.

The kind that you would find in your lover’s eyes after opening yours and finding them admiring you after making love all night.

She forgot what she was saying but quickly regained her posture, clearing her throat and finishing her breakfast with her gaze glued to her plate.

He noticed, he always noticed.

He smiled, keeping his eyes on her a little bit longer before continuing eating breakfast, thankful for being able to spend some time with her now.

If it was up to him, moments like this could last forever.

Taglist (if you wanna be included, send me a message!):

@saiyanprincessswanie @disasterbii @zaynzierulez @kingbuckyx

#sebastian stan #sebastianstan #bucky barnes #seb stan #sebstan #buckybarnes #james buchanan barnes #sebby stan #sebbystan #jamesbuchananbarnes #silent words #bucky barnes fanfiction #bucky barnes x reader #bucky barnes fic #bucky barnes x you #bucky imagine #bucky fic

22 notes · View notes

9hwa9joong · 3 years

Text

My Top Songs [2020]

Hi all!

As 2020 comes to an end (thank whatever higher power there is), I wanted to share a list of my favorite songs! (the following are songs RELEASED this year) (I’ve included a list of songs that I heard this year, but weren’t released in 2020, after it). These are mostly korean/chinese.

Alright, this is in NO particular order, just my favorites. I’ve mostly included one song from a group/solo act and added their other great releases in description. It is mostly music that I listened to, so if your favs are not here, feel free to rec me good music! ENJOY!

(the list ended up becoming quite long, so read under the cut)

Black swan(orchestral version) by BTS

BTS had a great year musically. 2 korean albums, 1 japanese and lots of solo stuff. My most played songs are Dynamite (listen, she did what she had to do), Stay Gold (if gold had a sound, this would be it), Black Swan, Blue and Grey (i live for melancholy), Life Goes On (spring day’s successor), Filter(park jimin is a threat), Friends (my feels!), Louder than bombs (TROYE SIVAN), UGH (murder music), 00:00, Moon (jin solos are beautiful always) and Your Eyes Tell (honestly, show me one bad japanese single, i dare you).

Ghosting by TXT

I got into TXT a lot more this year, as opposed to being a casual listener that I was last year. Many people say they have a no-skip discography and I believe it’s true. My most played songs were Blue Hour (i ADORE this song), We Lost the summer, Wishlist, Can’t you see me (the song that made me a stan), Fairy of Shampoo (ethereal), PUMA (choi yeonjun is a threat), Eternally (an ATTACKK!) and their f2020 cover.

Answer by ATEEZ

Ateez is another group i really got into this year, mesmerized by their performance abilities. My most played : Star 1117 (i’m very soft for this song), To the Beat (a true bop), Inception (holy jongho vocals), One day at a time and Good Lil Boy (does hongjoong ever have a bad rap verse?). Their Black Cat Nero cover also blew me away!! (i’m lowkey obsessed).

God’s menu by Stray Kids

I’ve been keeping an eye on Stray Kids ever since hellevator came out and this is my favourite song by them, so far (yes, i had a heart attack when i first saw Hyunjin). Most Played : Back Door (the beat drop gives me life, the choreo is probably my fav), All in, Easy (do they ever have a bad chorus?), GO LIVE (the beat??!! killer), Another Day (i am a slow jam hoe) and My Universe.

Pacman by eaJ

I didn’t think it was possible to love him more after day6 but Jae’s solo music has proved me wrong. Yes, i love Pillows (with Keshi) to bits but pacman is my first love. Most Played : It just is (Seori and their golden vocals), LA TRAINS (vocals!!!), Pinocchio (the mv is adorable, the beat is so fun), 50 proof (the vibes man, it's the VIBES) and TRUMAN.

Left & Right by Seventeen

Another group with amazing releases this year, I’m slowly getting into Seventeen more these days. Most Played : Fallin’ Flower (so beautiful, the vocals), 24H (the beat change?!!???), 17 (Joshua, DK and Pink Sweats) and HOME;RUN (this is a brand of fun that is entirely their own).

Not by the moon by GOT7

I am no stranger to GOT7, i’ve liked their music for years now but this is one of their more lyrical releases this year and i adore when GOT7 does this type of music. Most Played : Poison (jackson opens it and the vibes are immaculate), Last Piece (the way the vocals flow into the rap) and Thank You, Sorry.

So Beautiful by DPR IAN

This is literally the first song i’ve heard from this artist, please rec me more. I also adore No Blueberries with DPR LIVE and CL.

Eight by IU, Prod. SUGA

IU is an indisputable vocal queen, and her music always comforts me greatly so when i heard she was having a song produced by Yoongi, i promptly lost my shit. It was everything I expected and more and embodies sorrow and pain with great grace. Give you My Heart from the ‘Crash Landing on you OST’ was also a loved song this year.

Cry for me by TWICE

How do i talk about the queens? TWICE is the group i go to when I want fun music with good vibes but this song has such bad b*tch vibes that i am in love. Most played : More & More (a bop), Don’t call me again, I can’t stop me (i love the way it flows), Handle It (the vocals??? How pretty this song is???) and Say Something (seriously, eyes wide open is an amazing album).

Criminal by Teamin

Where do i start with Lee Taemin? I love almost all his solo stuff. He grabbed me by the neck ever since ‘Move’ and hasn't let go. Criminal is SO taemin that i don't think anyone else could have delivered the concept with such grace and grit. Most Played : 2 Kids (the chorus is so good), Clockwork, Idea (i love the vibe) and Pansy (i'm a ballad hoe).

Maria by Hwasa

Listen, i loved Twit when it came out but i love Maria as her sound so much more. Most Played : I’m bad too (feat. DPR LIVE) (i love the beat, the vibe and the flavor), LMM and Orbit from ‘The King: Eternal Monarch OST’ (as soon as her voice comes in, i loved the song).

Breath by DEAN, Rad Museum, Mokyo

I’m not aware of many DEAN releases this year, please feel free to rec me if I missed any.

Dear my friend by Agust D ft. Kim Jong Wan (NELL)

D-2 was everything expected from the second mixtape off Agust D and yet it brought a fresh wave of singing and melodies, once again proving the man’s production genius. This song is so reminiscent in it’s lyrics and still so real, its my favorite off the record.Other songs I loved : People, Deachwita and What do you think? (i DID love the complete mixtape though).

Given - Taken by Enhypen

Yes, I watched I-LAND. Given-Taken was a better debut then I expected at first. 10 months (the chorus and beat) and Flicker off their debut album were also played a lot.

I just want to stay with you by Zion.T

The King: Eternal Monarch was a much awaited drama for a lot of people and it’s OST is one of the best ones this year. Zion.T’s amazing vocals really did an amazing job of expressing the love in the story. Other songs I really liked from this album were Gravity by Kim Jong Wan and the Hydrangea Instrumental by Lee Geon Yeong.

The purge by Jay Park, pH-1, Woodie Gochild, Sik-K, and others.

H1GHER: RED TAPE is my hype album of the year. All artists involved did an amazing job. Seriously, get yourself some bomb ass beats, as a treat. Other loved tracks : Telefono Remix (Woodie Gochild is great at his flavour of delivery), Closed Case and The Arrival.

Soul by Lay (zhang yixing)

Yixing’s album LIT was his best project till date, no arguments. He’s really evolved into such a refined musician, especially with how well he merges traditional chinese instruments into Hip Hop/RnB beats and I adore the vibe of this album. Although the album is great entirely, Soul is my favourite for how softly and prettily it flows. Other loved tracks: Eagle (the BEAT), Fly, Boom (bops on bops on BOPS) and Call My Name.

100 ways by Jackson Wang

It is astounding how well Jackson has formed his own style of music ever since starting off with Papillon. He’s also sort of come into himself as an artist and it has birthed some great music. Other loved tracks : Pretty Please (i love the vibe of the song!) and Should’ve Let Go (ft. JJ Lin).

SUGA’s interlude by Halsey

Idk how else to explain it but Halsey and Yoongi have great music synergy. There’s something about their song/lyric writing that matches very well and needless to say, I adore the song. Blueberry eyes by MAX is also another great Yoongi collab.

In Your Time by Lee Suhyun

It’s Okay to not be Okay had an OST that was dreamy, gritty and very fairytale-esque, much like the drama itself. Among a bunch of great songs, this one is my favourite. Other loved songs: You’re Cold by Heize (always delivers!), Breath by Sam Kim (OST angel), Hallelujah by Kim Feel (chills!), In Silence by Janet Suhh (literally how angelic is her tone??), I’m your Psycho by Janet Suhh (it’s creepy in a dreamy way) and Brother | Her World | Through the dark Tunnel of time | Butterfly - all amazing instrumentals by Nam Hye Seung and Park Sang Hee (seriously, go listen to the album).

By my side by Junny

Another great discovery towards the end of the Year, Junny has vocals for DAYS and admirable delivery. Other loved songs: AURA ft. pH-1, edge (this is so hypnotising in it’s beauty) and I will. Please feel welcome to educate me more about this artist!!

Make a Wish by NCT

NCT always provides bops and NCT U is my favourite sub-unit, for their unique style of music, so when they came out with this song I was ready and they delivered! Most Played : 90’s Love (the old boy band theme was so well done), From Home (i’m a sucker for slow songs), Nectar (yes, i adore WayV’s music), MAD DOG by NCT 127 and Kick It by NCT 127 (this is the flavour of NCT i LOVE).

Zombie by Day6

Day6 has always been in my daily otations and as always, they put out good music after good music. I loved both the original Korean and the English versions of this song (they do rock well, what else is there to say?). Other loved songs : Tick Tock (oh the vocals, the way the beat moves!), Love me or Leave me, Day and Night... actually the whole Album is great, go listen to ‘The Book of us: The Demon’.

Fearless by Ma Di [other chinese songs]

Chinese songs have been a surprisingly pleasant addition to my daily rotation. Fearless from the “Go Ahead” OST takes the top stop because of how well it embodies the struggles of stepping into adulthood, the melody and MaDi’s amazing vocals. Other Chinese songs I loved: Praise for Red Plum Blossoms by Xiao Zhan (the perfect welcoming of spring paired with such expressive vocals), Remaining Years by Xiao Zhan (Joy of Life OST) and his OST for the Oath of Love.

____________________________________________

The following is the list of songs I heard in 2020, but were not released in 2020. Please let me know if you like them, or if you know other similar music! (I know, I know, I’m late to the game) Enjoy!

DEAN - Sometimes I hear Howlin' in my head

Zhang Jie/Zhang Bichen - Simple Wish

Li Ronghao - If I were Young

JJ Lin - What I Miss

Ateez - Mist | Twilight | Wonderland | Say my name | Thank you

Stray Kids - voices

Seventeen - Trauma

Loona - Hi High

Day6 - Shoot me

GOT7 - You calling my Name

RADWIMPS - Is There Still Anything That Love Can Do?

Baekhyun - UN Village

Taemin - Goodbye | want

Aquillo - Silhouette

Talos - To Each His Own

Cigarettes after sex (literally everything)

__________________________________________________

I know this was long, if you read it till the end, I hope you all enjoyed it still.

Have a smooth year in 2021,

-love, c.

9 notes · View notes

captorations · 4 years

Text

Echoes

I suppose this qualifies for @miraculous-events Alyanette Week, Day 2: Baking, but it was specifically prompted by this drawing by @buggachat. I didn’t intend to do Alyanette Week, and probably won’t do any more, but I saw that cute artwork, had a related cute idea, and then turned that cute idea into a hurt/comfort idea. I then entered an unknowable godlike state, and when I exited it some hours later, this fic had manifested. This is known as the writing process.

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

A great deal had been lost in the events surrounding Miracle Queen’s reign. Her mentor. Her allies, save for one. Her burgeoning faith in Chloé Bourgeois. Even her love.

Well, she didn’t lose her crush on Adrien. It just… changed. And was joined by another.

Marinette had woken up that morning believing she was a straight girl who could only ever love and be loved by one person. And while that night was plagued by far worse terrors than the realization that Kagami Tsurugi now held a place in her heart along Adrien Agreste, and that she was okay with that and every implication thereof, it was a part of her new reality all the same.

In the weeks that followed, Papillon all but vanished. Oh, every now and then some minor irritant of an akuma would pop up, but nothing dangerous or that made Ladybug miss her allies for more than emotional reasons. Mayura had gone completely off the grid and had yet to resurface. Marinette questioned whether her snatching victory from the jaws of defeat, more drastically than ever before, had shaken Papillon’s resolve; after all, the Turtle Miraculous had been left unguarded on the wrist of an unconscious old man, and the villain hadn’t bothered to take it. Or make an attempt at the Miracle Box, still held by a teenager throwing a temper tantrum.

Perhaps Papillon simply wasn’t the sharpest knife in the drawer. That was a comforting thought, but not one Marinette could rely on. At any rate, the recent if likely temporary dearth of akuma had allowed Marinette to, at her own pace and leisure, tell the other heroes the bad news. All but one.

Kim and Max, who had only wielded the power of the Miraculous two and three times respectively including the forced transformation, didn’t seem to mind. Kim in particular had been more interested in the chance to arm-wrestle one of the saviours of Paris than the danger he was now possibly in. She’d let him win.

Luka, as ever, took the news calmly. Ladybug cut that meeting short, unable to handle those pale, kind eyes that seemed to look right through her. Only a day previously had the boy told her civilian self that he was glad her heart had begun to sing more clearly, even if it wasn’t for him as he’d hoped. How he’d guessed, she had no clue.

Kagami already knew, somehow or another. Perhaps Chat had told her? Ladybug hadn’t stayed long enough to ask, fearful that her Marinette-like stuttering in the girl’s presence might somehow override magic powerful enough to disguise her identity from her own parents. That would be just her luck. At any rate, Kagami could handle herself. The girl was a warrior, with or without the Dragon.

Nino… poor Nino. It’d hurt him. Of everyone Ladybug knew, Nino Lahiffe was very possibly the most suited to the mask. He had the pure heart of a real hero and the drive to protect others that made for a perfect Turtle. Those same traits, however, had meant that he’d accepted the loss and promised to help however he could regardless. Even if it put him in danger again. Overwhelmed, Ladybug had hugged him.

So that left Alya.

Alya.

Alya, who had inspired Marinette to be Ladybug in the first place. Alya, who was her best friend. Alya, who loved being Rena Rouge more than anything in the world.

How could Marinette have let this happen?

“You have to tell her!” chirped Tikki. The kwami had given her the space she’d requested, but the longer Marinette put it off, the more insistent the reminders grew. True, Papillon hadn’t made any kind of move against her revealed allies, and Marinette wasn’t even sure what she’d do if he did. The fact remained that the now ex-heroes needed to be aware of their vulnerability.

“I know. I just…”

“Marinette.”

The girl looked up from her homework. When Tikki said her name like that, she meant business. Every now and then, Marinette remembered she was dealing with a god millions of times her age. The tiny stature and squeaky voice made it easy to forget. “I… I’ll do it tomorrow.”

Tikki sighed. “Alright. I know it won’t be easy. But I think you’re underestimating her, Marinette.”

“What?”

“Your friend is stronger than you give her credit for. She’ll be okay.”

“That’s not it.” Marinette bit her lip. “What if… what if she hates me? She loves Ladybug so much. She thinks I’m perfect. She says so all the time. What will she do when she finds out I messed up so badly?”

The kwami wouldn’t meet her eyes. “I don’t think that’s what Alya means by perfect.”

“What?”

“Never mind.” Tikki flew in and gave Marinette a reassuring pat on the forehead. “Alya wouldn’t hate you. Not Ladybug, and certainly not Marinette. Trust me.”

“…Okay.”

She could absolutely not do this.

Her best friend had spent the school day chattering away, happy as ever. Max and Kim were unaffected, though it had been some time now since she’d told them. Nino had gotten the news the preceding weekend, and only looked a little withdrawn. Adrien had asked after him, and he’d made up some story about a band he liked breaking up. Oddly, Adrien hadn’t quite seemed to accept that answer, and had insisted on treating Nino to lunch. That left Marinette alone with Alya, who was going over the noted lack of substantial akumas and what it could mean.

Marinette hadn’t said much. When Alya had asked if she was okay, Marinette had shakily parroted the question back at her, and then all but run away. Now, as Ladybug, perched on the roof of Alya’s apartment building, she was too scared to confront her.

Eventually, she gathered the scraps of her courage and slipped down the couple of stories to her best friend’s window. She didn’t even get to knock before the window shot open, Alya having picked up the subtle sounds of her approach as usual. “Hey, Ladybug. Got a scoop for me?”

Her excitement burned. Ladybug shook her head. “No recording this time, Alya.”

Oh no. That just made Alya brighten even further. Ladybug berated herself for being so stupid. That’s what she said when she was giving Alya her miraculous. Already, the girl had dismissed the aura of the Ladyblogger and was assuming that of Rena Rouge. She was looking at Ladybug’s yo-yo expectantly, waiting to see Trixx again.

Ladybug swallowed. There was a lump in her throat.

“Alya, I have some bad news…”

A hero of Paris wasn’t allowed to cry. Not in public. Still, by the time she made it to her rooftop, tears were beading at the corners of her eyes. And as the pink light faded and Tikki rematerialized, Marinette collapsed on her bed, the tears flowing freely.

“It broke her, Tikki,” she blurted out to the concerned kwami in between the sobs wracking her body. “She just… stopped. It hurt so much. I couldn’t even stay, I just ran. I’m such a coward.”

“Marinette?”

“You were wrong. She might not hate me, but she hates Ladybug, and she deserves to. I shouldn’t be her friend, she deserves better than me.”

“Marinette!”

“Tikki, wha-”

The kwami threw her phone at her. Her buzzing phone. A quick glance confirmed her worst fears: a call from Alya. She shrieked and threw it to the other side of the bed. “No, no, I can’t, please don’t…”

The phone eventually stopped, and some minutes later, so did Marinette’s panic attack. As her heartbeat gradually slowed and she began to work her way past the paralysis gripping her mind and body, she heard Tikki’s voice.

“Marinette. Talk to her. You need her too.”

This time, Marinette didn’t argue. The kwami was right. She needed her Alya, and her Alya needed her. Shakily, she reached over and picked up her phone. Her best friend had left a couple messages.

Alya: Hey. Rough night. Mind if I head over? We haven’t had a sleepover in a while. Been missing you.

Alya: You’re not answering, and there’s no akuma, so you aren’t hiding somewhere. That means you probably can’t talk. Must be a rough night for us both, then. Be there in a few.

Marinette took a deep breath in, held it, and exhaled. She could do this.

Mere minutes later, Alya arrived, and Marinette slipped downstairs to let her in.

Her best friend was a little scattered and drained. That much was obvious at a glance. She’d been crying. Then again, so had Marinette, and she admitted as much when Alya accused her of it. “Want to talk about it?”

“No. You?”

“No. Or… not right now. Maybe later,” said Alya.

This was new. It was rare that they didn’t talk about what was bothering them. Marinette in particular only was unwilling to share during particularly bad moments, the ones where she couldn’t speak at all. In the ensuing silence, Marinette’s mind cast around for something for them to do, and settled on a task she’d been putting off. Tikki needed a resupply, and there was only so much of her parents’ baked goods she could steal. “Want to make cookies with me?”

Alya smiled. “Sure.”

Maybe they shouldn’t have done this in the bakery proper. While Marinette was setting up, Alya had to shoo away a couple late night would-be customers, who were confused upon seeing the lights on. One of them didn’t speak French, but at least spoke the universal language of pointing and a dead-eyed glare from a tired, irritated teenage girl. Soon enough, they were left in peace.

Marinette went to fetch Alya an apron. She was about to pick an orange one, then stopped and chose a pink one like hers instead. Alya didn’t need any reminders of Rena Rouge tonight.

They got started, Marinette mostly directing Alya. The bakers’ daughter could do this in her sleep, and very nearly had before. Alya was more used to making proper meals for her younger siblings, not treats. They chatted as they worked, both carefully avoiding any mention of superheroes or akumas or anything even vaguely hinting that they lived in a city where magic ran rampant.

Marinette cut herself off while complaining about the previous week’s math test. “Wait, I’m an idiot. I forgot the flour. Hang on.” She spotted a bag resting on an overhead shelf and went over to it.

“Pretty sure that’s too high for you, girl,” said Alya without turning around. “I was going to get it.”

“No, I can do it, one sec-”

She jumped for it, grabbed it- and promptly tumbled down with it, the bag opening and spilling all over Alya. Letting out a yelp, Marinette scrambled to her feet with her usual levels of grace to find Alya, hair and back fully coated in white, leaning on the counter shaking.

“Oh no, are you-”

Wait, she was laughing. She was absolutely laughing. Giggles burst from her chest, and despite the mess and the horrible day they’d both had, Marinette began to laugh too.

“Smooth, girl,” Alya eventually managed. “Top ten non-Adrien-related fumbles. Wish I’d caught that on video. Been meaning to set up a blog devoted to documenting and rating your ability to turn any ordinary situation into an absolute disaster.”

This was a joke Alya had made before. Marinette stuck her tongue out at her. “Well maybe I’ll make a blog dedicated to the question: when will Alya Césaire have enough blogs?”

“I can answer that for you right now, and it’s never. Anyway, should we clean this up?”

Marinette shook her head. “My parents always say if you try to clean as you go while baking you’ll never get anything done. Finish first, then I’ll get the broom.”

They finished the cookies and returned the kitchen to a reasonably pre-disaster state soon enough, and Alya went to the bathroom to clean up while Marinette went up to her room to fetch spare pajamas.

It wasn’t the first time that Marinette’s missteps had resulted in Alya needing to borrow some clothes. At least this time she didn’t need to repair anything. Fixing a skirt which Marinette had briefly managed to light on fire while Alya was still wearing it (long story) had been a pain.

When she returned, Alya was staring at herself in the mirror, apparently completely transfixed. Her hands were gripping the edge of the sink like a lifeline. Marinette was confused for a moment, then it hit her.

Alya had managed to wash out most of the flour, but there was still a decent bit of white in her hair. Specifically, around the ends. Put an orange and white mask on her face and she’d look just like…

The girl who had been Rena Rouge stared at herself in the mirror, taunted by this echo of the hero who she could never be again, and couldn’t bring herself to look away.

Marinette had never been akumatized. There had been a couple of close calls, but Marinette had always made certain to not let anger overtake her completely. That, or direct it at Papillon. He seemed reluctant to akumatize anyone that would only try to use the power to hunt him down. Here and now, both those mitigating factors applied. What anger there was, on Alya’s behalf, was directed at the man who, in the end, was the cause of all this.

More than that, however, a completely different emotion dominated Marinette. A light, airy, but somehow burning feeling in her chest that threatened to lift her off her feet with its intensity. She wanted nothing but to make sure Alya never felt this kind of pain again, to sweep her away and hide her from anything and anyone that would do her harm. To see her smile again, the way that she had the day she became Rena Rouge, and never lose sight of that joy. To let Alya just be herself, with Marinette at her side.

Oh.

That was love, wasn’t it.

The realization was a calm one. When Kagami had begun sharing space in her heart, it had freaked her out for a whole host of reasons. Alya, however, was already there. She had always been, hadn’t she? Marinette had just never believed it was something she could feel for anyone but Adrien. Much less another girl. From one to two was a giant leap. From two to three… what difference was that, really?

Well, actually, there was a great deal of difference. Doubt riddled her every interaction with Adrien and Kagami. She was friends with them, yes, but she didn’t know them as well as she’d like to. That was the primary cause of her awkwardness around them; she didn’t know how to act or what to do. What to say, what not to say. Who to be.

Alya, however. Marinette knew Alya. Her heart didn’t speed up, looking up at Alya’s face, fully aware that her feelings for the girl were no longer merely platonic (if they ever really had been). It slowed down instead, a warm sense of peace filling her. She loved Alya Césaire, and in no reality would Alya Césaire hate her for it, even if she didn’t feel the same.

She wouldn’t be stuttering around this crush. The words came as easily as they always did, though Marinette chose them carefully. “Enjoying the view?”

Alya jolted out of her reverie. With one last, long look at her reflection, she turned away and smiled thinly at Marinette. “Sorry. Lost in thought. Go ahead upstairs, I’ll be there in a minute.”

Marinette did so, her heart still full to bursting.

Alya hadn’t asked again about whatever was upsetting Marinette. Instead, the two simply ate the cookies they’d made as they chatted, Marinette hoping that Alya wouldn’t notice the occasional extra one going missing. Really, Tikki should know better.

Finally, something shifted in Alya’s tone. “Can… can I tell you something, Marinette?”

There was no question in Marinette’s mind as to what Alya was about to tell her. The strict, professional hero part of her wanted to scold Alya, but the best friend, the teenager, and the girl in love won out. Alya needed this, and what did it matter, really? She couldn’t be blamed for not being perfect, for not wanting to suffer in silence.

Maybe Marinette shouldn’t blame herself for that, either. “Yes, of course, Al.”

“I… I was Rena Rouge. Was. Ladybug came by today and said… during Chloe’s last akumatization, all the other heroes besides her and Chat Noir were mind controlled and Papillon saw their faces. I’ll never be Rena again.”

Both her hands were curled into fists and shaking. The pain was evident in every word. Once again, Marinette was struck with the desire to do something, anything, to relieve the weight on Alya’s shoulders. The urge almost knocked the wind out of her.

Uh oh. She’d forgotten to show any kind of surprise. Her best friend was staring at her now, mental gears clicking into place. Even in despair, the reporter instincts never completely left her.

“You already knew, didn’t you,” whispered Alya.

Marinette couldn’t lie to her face. Even if it meant Alya figuring out her identity, she couldn’t hurt her like that. “Yes.”

A long sigh was her response. “I thought so. It all made sense. You’ve been acting weird around me for weeks. Treating me like I was about to break. I couldn’t figure out why, and then Ladybug… well, you know the story. She must have told you first. I know you were a hero too, at some point. Chat Noir mentioned it once, said he wanted Ladybug to give you another chance.”

He what. “That stupid cat,” she muttered.

Alya caught her words. “Don’t blame him. I think he was mostly talking to himself and forgot I was there. Foxes are pretty sneaky, after all. And if it’s okay… can you tell me about it?”

Tikki shifted in her pocket. Marinette ignored her. “I was called Multimouse. I helped them with Kwamibuster. But Chat Noir saw me detransform, and besides the Mouse isn’t really all that useful most of the time, so…”

“Oh? What does the Mouse do?”

“Duplication, but you shrink as you divide. There were a bunch of little mes running around for a few minutes. It’s kind of a blur. Frankly, Al, I’m relieved I haven’t had to do it again.”

Alya hummed thoughtfully, a smile creeping onto the edge of her face. “What would you call a bunch of Marinettes? A herd? A cluster? Given your affinity for chaos, I’d say a cataclysm, but that’s taken.” She snapped her fingers. “A pandemonium. A pandemonium of Marinettes. Perfect.”

Marinette started to laugh, but suddenly a shadow passed over Alya’s face. “And that means you must have gotten caught in Chloé’s trap just like us. Papillon might be after you too. And since Ladybug’s recruits started with me… that’s means it’s my fault you’re in danger. I’m… I’m so sorry, Marinette, I know you don’t want anything to do with all this-”

“Your fault?” Marinette growled. Alya looked up, clearly astonished at her tone.

“Your fault, that Ladybug trusted you? Your fault, that she believed in you with every bit of her heart? Your fault, that she still does, even if she can’t give you the Fox anymore? Your fault, that she… that she messed up and put you and everyone else in danger? No, Alya. You were wonderful. And if she ever says or implies otherwise, I’ll punch her lights out.”

Alya had started crying, but that last comment dragged a rather wet chuckle out of her. “You really would, wouldn’t you? Please don’t. I’m not mad at her.”

Marinette choked on a sob. “You’re not?”

“Girl, of course not. There’s nothing Ladybug could do that wouldn’t have me still wanting her to pin me to a wall and kiss me senseless.”

This time, Marinette choked for a completely different reason. “What?”

Alya looked at her, puzzled, tears stopping abruptly. “Marinette. I’m been talking about my crush on Ladybug literally since the day we met. Are you telling me that you missed this?”

“Er…”

“Oh my god. Marinette, Nino and I have talked about how he wants to date Chat and I want to date Ladybug in front of you. I’ve called myself a bi disaster and called Ladybug the most perfect girl to ever exist in the same sentence. Please tell me you’re joking.”

“I…”

Alya put her head in her hands. Around them, she mumbled, “You and Mr. ‘Just A Friend’ really are made for each other, aren’t you.”

Suddenly, Marinette found she could speak again. “I don’t know about that…”

That got a reaction out of Alya, and her head snapped back up. “What?”

“Nothing,” Marinette deflected.

“No, hold up, it sounded like-”

“Later, Alya. Please?” She needed more time to figure out what she was going to say. How was she even going to begin to explain any of this? She knew now that Alya (and Nino, who she felt guilty for not immediately thinking of minutes earlier) would be okay with the basic concept, but it was still so much. There was no rush. Not for this.

“Fine,” Alya said with a huff. “But let your wingwoman know if she needs to switch targets, okay?”

Marinette was, for a moment, overwhelmingly tempted to point Alya at the mirror in her room. But she quelled the urge and simply nodded before leaning on her friend’s shoulder. She closed her eyes.

She didn’t open them when Alya spoke some minutes later. “So how did you know I was Rena? I thought the identity magic was pretty strong.”

Yet again, Tikki nudged her. I know, I know, Marinette groaned internally. Even now, she couldn’t just up and reveal herself. But it wouldn’t hurt Alya to hear what she was going to say. “I guess not strong enough, if you know someone as well as I know you.”

She felt Alya nod. “Makes sense.”

“…Why did you think it was your fault? Putting me and the others in danger, I mean.”

“Well, Ladybug chose them because of me, didn’t she? I said as much. She started with the civilian who was most dedicated to her, and started working through her friend group from there. Never had the heart to tell her that it probably wasn’t the best tactical decision. Maybe I should have. What?”

Marinette had opened her eyes and lifted her head in one sudden movement, and was now staring at Alya. “You… know who the others are? Besides Nino, I mean.” Then she blinked and slapped a hand over her mouth. She thought she heard Tikki squeak in alarm.

Thankfully, Alya just glanced at her nonchalantly. “Thought you’d figured him out too. And don’t worry, I won’t tell Ladybug about you spilling. Not that it matters anymore.” She sighed. “I figured out Carapace instantly. And uh, I don’t know if you know, so I don’t want to get too specific, but. I also got Pegasus and Roi Singe. Not Ryuuko or Viperion though. Haven’t seen enough of them, I guess. Anyway, I think it’s partially a Fox thing, if I trust what Trixx said, and partially because… well, again, don’t want to get too specific. It just clicked.”

There would be words with Trixx later. From both her and Tikki. But now, Marinette just felt bad that she couldn’t tell Alya that no, it wasn’t because she was the Ladyblogger that she’d been chosen. It was because she was Alya. She settled for, “You were amazing, as Rena. I felt a lot safer when you were out there.”

“Aww.” Alya pulled her into a hug. “Thanks, girl. I really wish… I wish we could have been heroes together. Even just once. I wanted to share it with everyone special to me, and I thought I’d get the chance. Paris from the rooftops at night… it’s really something.”

“Alya, I have a balcony.”

“You know what I mean.”

That night, as she drifted off next to an already slumbering Alya, Marinette made herself a promise. No matter how long it took, no matter the obstacles between then and now, no matter what changed between them, Ladybug would run the rooftops with Rena Rouge again. More importantly, Marinette would run the rooftops with Alya.

It couldn’t be soon. That fact hurt, but Marinette accepted it and let it go. Papillon had to be dealt with first. This dream was years out. Maybe even decades, if they were unlucky. But it would happen.

Marinette slept, dreamless but at peace, with Alya at her side.

#i wrote edited and uploaded this in one sitting because i am a disaster human #all these things are probably obvious #miraculous ladybug #alyanette week #alyanette #adrigaminette #since that's in there too #if minor

18 notes · View notes

bubbashawn · 4 years

Text

Fine Line || part i

author: here we go, lovies!! Want to give a quick shoutout to my babe @wholesomemendes because Kaleigh has been so supportive and I love her. Also quick thanks to @sauveteen and @shawnjpeg for writing you flower, you feast (I tagged it) because it made me want to do this and @watchmegetobsessed because she reinstated my need to write this story when I read back to you (i tagged it). I hope you fall in love with Maia like I did and enjoy reading this as much as I loved writing it!!

synopsis: she walks the fine line between friends and lovers. he walks the fine line between love and heartbreak. they walk the fine line where everything is blurred.

warnings: 4.2k of oblivious “best friends” obsessing over each other. It’s a little angsty but more fluffy than anything.

Jet-lagged Shawn is simultaneously Maia’s favorite and least favorite version of Shawn. Or maybe her favorite was her drunk Best Friend after her seventeenth birthday when he became affectionate and clingy crying out her name. But the jet-lagged version was definitely up there.

He looked soft, in grey sweatpants and his ‘Youth’ sweatshirt. With hooded eyes, rosy cheeks, and chapped lips, emulating a sigh from the back of his throat. Exhaustion hid messily behind his smiling features. It was clear to her though. Maia could recall this look, and his crushing weight on top of her, since high school before he was selling out stadiums.

She enjoyed this sleepy side because she knew what followed his sweet demeanor. His forehead would crease, his hands would tug at his perfect curls, his voice would drop to a grumble while his muscles flexed. It was the worst.

Maia has seen a lot of jet-lagged Shawn throughout the years. Whether he was in a different country while on tour or flying to Los Angeles from Toronto too much, she’d confidently say she knew her best friend in this state quite well.

The Oceania leg of his headlining world tour was complete. Shawn had rushed from Auckland, New Zealand all the way to his condo, and happily found her curled around the softest blanket he owned, sunk into his white couch.

The second he heard ‘New Girl’ reruns coming from his tv through the door, his heart was light. Finding Maia exactly where he hoped she’d be, just bringing up his heart rate further. And he took a minute just drinking her in. It didn’t matter that her hair was messy with knots littered about, that her, his, sweater was wrinkled, and she softly snored. It didn’t matter that those noises began overpowering the dialogue of the show she’d seen too many times to count.

What mattered to Shawn was seeing his Maia for the first time in months. She didn’t live here, though he had asked her to move in with him on multiple occasions, she had always refused because her life was in Montreal, five hours and eleven minutes away from him. A few hours doesn’t seem terrible, because frankly, it wasn’t, but Shawn missed seeing her the moment he got home. Back when she lived in Toronto, a mere four-minute drive from the famous boy, Maia ended up spending more time frolicking through his halls than her own.

Things did change, though. No matter how hard Shawn denied it. Because she got her dream job, and she moved away. Away from him.

Yet, here she was. His Maia, five hours away from her congested apartment, instead found sleeping soundly in his. Shawn couldn’t be happier seeing her there. He toed the heel of his Chelsea boots off his feet and shuffled over, praying his socks would mute the sounds of movement. Crouched by Maia’s face, hand coming up to cup her cheek, he was undeniably adoring her. He stared from this closer angle before pressing the calloused pad of his thumb across her cheekbone and peacefully roused her from her dreams.

“Papillon?”

She had called him that jokingly in school after a French class they had together. Leaning against her locker as students bustled and shoved their way down the small halls of Pine Ridge Secondary School. One extra aggressive classmate pushed so hard against Shawn’s bag he ended up pressed into Maia.

“You’re so fragile, Papillon.”

“Papillon? What ev-”

“It’s French for butterfly.”

“Really? And why am I a butterfly again?”

She had responded with some stupid excuse about him being delicate and a clutz before shoving him off her chest.

The nickname stuck. It didn’t matter that Shawn’s limbs had filled out or that he could lift her off the ground with ease. He was always Maia’s Papillon.

Her eyes were shut tight, her brows furrowed, and she mewled his name in question over and over.

“Maia,” he smiled when your shifting eased as his voice echoed along the walls, “Flower, I’m right here. Open your eyes, M.”

“Papillon?”

He watched as her eyes opened and nodded, his smile only growing when her arms wrapped around his neck.

Maia had driven, on Ontario-401 East, with every intention of surprising Shawn. She had thought about going all out, but after considering how jetlagged he’d be, Maia simply bought some popcorn preparations and flipped his television on.

“When did you get in?”

“About an hour ago. We took the long route home, Jake said something about a wreck on Gardiner Expressway.”

She nodded, too overwhelmed by her happiness to speak more. Maia’s hands found the small of his back, under the navy fabric of his sweatshirt, and pulled his body over her figure. Shawn’s arms quickly adjusted to brace his weight on his forearms on either side of her pouting face.

“What?” He flicked the hairs framing her face out of her eyes, “don’t give me that look!”

Her hands pressed down harder on his back, trying to effectively press his body down to hers.

“Stop! Your hands are so fucking cold. Jesus Christ, woman.”

Maia’s hands slipped out from under his clothes, holding his shoulders. Pulling down harshly, still wanting his weight on her.

“Honey,” Shawn’s hands slid along her jaw, “hey, I really don’t want to crush you.”

“Just c’ mere.”

“Flower, I love you, but I’ll crush you.”

He wasn’t lying; his 6’2” frame would smother Maia’s shorter figure, by seven inches. She had always been dainty, her hands barely reaching his second knuckles when they compared their hands.

“I know,” she smiled sheepishly, “you’re just far away.”

Shawn agreed, even though their legs were intertwined, her chest was pressed to his, and he felt her familiar heartbeat. He smiled softly when Maia continued pouting until he quickly shifted to flip their position. His body, now resting against the cushions, cradled her as she laid on top of him.

“I’m right here,” his hands made grabby motions at her hips.

She was quick to oblige, her head tucking into the crook of his body. Her lips grazed the crease in his shoulder, her hair brushed along the underside of his jaw. This was her favorite Shawn, the one who seemed happy to just exist with her.

“Bub.”

“Mmm?” He hummed against her skin, Maia felt the goosebumps crawling up her spine from the vibration.

"I have popcorn and hot chocolate makings on your counter.”

He hummed again, softer this time. Shawn knew they'd move from this position before too long because she wasn’t really his to hold, not like this, at least. No matter how many times he called her his Maia. She’d never be his, not really.

“Let me hold you a little longer,” he relished in the feeling of her lips pressed sweetly to his neck, “okay? M, just a little longer.”

“You good?”

His hands squeezed the curve of her side, before letting her pull away just barely. His perfect Maia coming into view.

“More than good,” he smiled as she brushed her finger down the bridge of his nose, “perfect, really.”

Her smile grew, her gaze remained locked on his. Maia leaned down, kissing the scar on his cheek, remembering that day happily. His heart almost hurt from beating so hard, and Shawn had to hold back a whimper when her eyelashes fluttered. She was so perfect, staring down at him. The moment broke off much too fast for either of them as she rose to her feet, hand outstretched for his.

“I love you, Papillon.”

“I love you too,” Shawn’s eyes locked on their intertwined hands, “God, I really fucking missed you.”

She just laughed and pulled him towards the kitchen. Both with gushing smiles and red cheeks, looking like a teenager with a stupid crush.

Maia wasn’t lying when she told Shawn she’d gone shopping for popcorn, but she wasn’t being completely truthful either. She had stocked up all his cabinets with food of all kinds, including a takeout box holding his favorite french toast from Regine Cafe, a local favorite down the block from her Montreal apartment. She had bought the makings of chocolate chip muffins, and he saw what looked like all the parts of a traditional English roast dinner. Shawn’s favorite meal his mom, Karen, makes when she comes by.

“You’re too good to me.”

“Yeah, well, you’re too good to me, we even out,” she chuckled, stepping up behind him, “I know you get homesick, and I just saved your mum the drive down. She always made you food before you get home, and I was already here. It made sense, Shawn.”

He hadn’t even been processing Maia’s voice behind him, all too focused on her small arms looping around his waist, her chin resting between his shoulder blades.

“Either way, thank you.”

“You’d do the same.”

“True,” she could practically hear his eye roll, “but, just let me say thank you.”

“Okay.”

The two just remained in the corner of the kitchen, enjoying the sweet, homey silence of Shawn’s condo. They worked happily making hot chocolate because it was past midnight, neither of them needing caffeine, and Maia had never liked the bitterness of coffee. Before long, they both had steaming mugs being stirred with silver spoons.

“Put your drink down.”

“Why?”

“Just,” he smiled at her confused look, “trust me, okay? Drink down, Flower, please.”

The moment the ceramic touched the marble countertop, his hands found the small of her waist just above her hips. He lifted Maia into the air, chuckling, as she squealed in shock. The hair of her arms stood up, her warm skin made contact with the cold counter she was now sitting on. She nearly gasped when Shawn’s hands found home under her shirt where the fabric met her cotton shorts, kneading the skin gently.

“You’re crazy,” her head fell to his shoulder.

“Yeah, for you. Only for you, M.”

Her heart dropped, freezing up her whole body, but Shawn’s hands continued to massage the tight muscle.

“Jesus, woman, why are you so tense? It’s just me.”

“Would you stop saying ‘woman’?”

“You are one, aren’t you?”

He was being cheeky, Maia’s body remained stiff in his hold.

“Relax,” his lips kissed her forehead, hoping she’d melt into his touch again, he repeated his mumble, “it’s just me.”

Shawn continued to move his hands, reassuring her of his words, until she slumped against him like putty in his hands. She turned her head, letting her lips brush the soft skin above his collarbone. Maia’s eyes fluttered closed, enjoying their closeness, knowing she couldn’t have it for much longer.

“Honey,” she hummed against his skin, sending vibrations down his spine, “what’s wrong?”

“What do you mean?”

“You’ve just been clingy.”

Maia’s eyes snapped open the second he finished his remark, quickly, adjusting her legs, forcing Shawn to move out from between her thighs. She offered him a half-ass, awkward smile before hopping off the counter.

“Whoa, wha-what?” He followed her figure with his eyes, not moving, still in shock from her sudden distance, “what just happened?”

“Nothing, um, I’m heading to bed, it’s late.”

“Flower…”

“See you in the morning?”

“What about,” his eyes searched for an excuse for her to stay, “what about your hot chocolate?”

“You can have it or just dump it in the sink.”

Shawn nodded his head, a frown on that perfect face of his as he watched Maia leave the kitchen, wandering down the hall.

He just stood there, processing the demeanor change, it was completely drastic to your soft persona he adored so much. His hands found his curls tugging on them harshly like she had predicted he would at some point, just not for the same reason. Shawn hated it when she blocked herself off from him, especially when he caused it.

Maia was never one to let her emotions out, she liked to keep them bottled so no one would worry until Shawn would mumble one word and she’d be falling apart in his arms.

His hands absentmindedly found the two lukewarm mugs dumping them into his sink and placing them on the metal drainer, reminding himself to deal with it in the morning. The quiet the two of them shared, now seemed bitter practically nipping at his mind until he walked down his hallway. He found himself staring at his bedroom door.

He let the light from the hall sneak in when he entered the room, not wanting to disturb your quiet and unmoving body with the overhead fixtures. His hands found the neckline of his soft sweatshirt, pulling it from his body. The once comforting warmth was now claustrophobic against his flustered skin. Shawn wanted her cold fingertips to run along the valleys in his back, to lure him to sleep. He lightly padded his way to the bed, feeling around the duvet for the curve of Maia’s figure only to come up empty. The mattress was cold, her perfume only lingering from that morning when she crawled out. Shawn could feel his stomach drop, knowing she was upset enough to not curl into his king-sized bed for comfort.

He flopped back, not bothering to pull any blanket over him, his arm folded behind his head as he considered his choices. Knowing Maia wouldn’t fall asleep laying across the hall from him, Shawn climbed out after only minutes of staring longingly from the ceiling to the crack between his door and the frame.

He stood silently in the hall, peeking into the guest room, sure enough seeing her resting form in a lump under the wool blanket stolen from his bed. His legs had a mind of their own walking towards you until he was kneeling at the foot of the mattress. He felt the fabric sink under the new weight, and Maia’s red eyes were connected with his all too welcoming honey ones. He could barely see her face, but the city lights reflected off her cheeks, tear tracks hitting him in the gut all over again. Shawn walked around the bed until he was kneeling by her face, just like she’d seen him earlier that night.

“Shawn, what ar-” her voice was cracked, and she had sniffled when taking a breath.

“Baby,” he was basically whimpering, reaching to cup her damp cheeks, “I’m so sorry. You don’t have to tell me anything, okay? M, I shouldn’t hav-”

“Shaw-”

“No, I shouldn’t have pushed you to talk to me. I swear, I just wanted to be helpful. And you’re absolutely not clingy, I love it when you let me in, and you are so close to me. Flower, I’m so sorry, so, so sorry.”

Shawn was crying, when Maia’s hands gripped his. Pulling him into her embrace, this time, however, he let his weight crush her dainty figure.

Shawn buried his head deep in her dark hair, his lips moving next to her ear mumbling.

“Sorry, Baby,” he repeated, again and again, mixed with sweet nothings.

“Papillon, hey,” she pulled his head back, so their temples pressed together, his nose against her cheekbone, “hey, I overreacted, please calm down. It kills me to see you like this, Bub.”

He pulled back further to hold her gaze, both their teary eyes making them let out soft chuckles of relief. Shawn rolled them over, letting his Maia bury herself in his chest, breathing in his expensive cologne.

“I love you,” He littered kisses on her eyelids, before letting Maia curl up in her spot in his neck.

“Mmm,” she hummed, the goosebumps down Shawn’s spine were back, “I love you too, Papillon, so much.”

He smiled as her breathing evened out, her grip loosening but still holding his bare chest against her now sleeping body. Shawn let his hand travel across the expanse of her spine under his sweater, adorning her figure. Maia leaned into his touch, her mind not letting her overthink in its restful sleep. It was like all her inhibitions were gone when his calloused thumb stroked the curve between her shoulder blades, enjoying the softness of her tanned skin. This was Shawn’s favorite Maia. His Maia. It was rare, but when he could just hold her silently, it always sent a serene wave over his mind just being with the girl he adored, holding her.

Shawn didn’t mind that he didn’t sleep before the sun peeked through his windows, the rays sending a glow over the skin he could see from the gap between her shorts and the rolled-up knit fabric of his sweater. He didn’t mind staring at her with a soft smile because he couldn’t sleep. His jetlagged head was eight hours ahead of hers. He definitely wouldn’t mind curling up with her later when he did, finally, tire out sometime in the afternoon.

“Shawn?”

His gaze moved from where his hand grazed her skin to her now open eyes, hours after sunrise. Shawn took in the depth and warmth of her brown irises. He smiled when her cheeks crinkled as she giggled at his sheepish expression, after being caught watching her sleep.

“How long have you been up?”

“Not long,” he was lying, Maia could tell when he gazed back down at his hands, not daring to make eye contact, “how did you sleep?”

“Good. What time is it in New Zealand?”

“Like twelve or one I think, why?”

“You haven’t slept?”

“Honey, it’s fine. I’ll go to sleep early tonight, eh?”

She nodded yawning and enjoyed her view of her best friend's home. Maia’s hands found the edge of the covers, pushing them off of her, Shawn's hand slipping out from under her clothes when she adjusted. He quickly grabbed her waist, pulling her back into bed, flush against his chest when she tried to climb out.

“Where do you think you’re going, Flower?”

“Mmm, up.”

He held her tight when she went to stand again, laughing when she huffed, realizing she’d be unable to overpower his strength.

“Shawn, our day is already shortened because you’ll be collapsing in exhaustion by like two.”

“I’ll stay up for you.”

“Yeah,” she frowned from on top of him, his hands holding her down on his stomach, “you and I both know that’s not what I want, Papillon. It’s not healthy.”

“Stop your worrying, woman.”

“Stop calling me ‘woman’”

She groaned, still sitting on him, her legs on either side of his waist. His hands squeezed her legs, showing no signs of letting go at any point. Maia realized a morning cuddled into Shawn wouldn’t hurt, even if both their sleep schedules changed in the result, so she let her chest slump onto his and just enjoyed the feeling of his touch everywhere.

“Shawn?”

“Mmm?”

“How long are you home for?”

He sighed and his movements stopped for a moment before she looked up at him. Shawn smiled down at the girl in his arms before continuing to rub her back and kissed her forehead softly.

“My first show is the twenty-ninth,” he tried to ignore the pull on his heart when Maia frowned, “so, I’ll leave in a couple weeks for rehearsal and publicity.”

She nodded, wanting to say something along the line of ‘I wish you could stay’ or ‘I wish I could go with you’ but, wishes were all they’d be. So, Maia held her tongue not wanting to give Shawn any ideas or hopes that she’ll skip the rest of her school semester. She would skip the rest of the semester, she’d probably skip the rest of the year because no one, in her mindset, could say no to him.

“How long can you stay?”

“Um,” she glanced up at him, trying to see past the little stubble on his chin, resting on his chest to see his eyes, “I’ll stay as long as you’ll have me.”

His eyes looked down to hers in shock, the idea of her staying in Toronto with him for two weeks almost too overwhelming.

“Really?”

“I mean, yeah. I’m taking a couple classes online right now, so I’m in no rush.”

“In that case,” he tickled at her side, getting a sweet laugh in reward, “you’re stuck with me, forever.”

“Forever?”

“Baby, now that I have you, I’m not letting you leave this bed, much less my city. Or Drake’s city, whatever”

Maia giggled and settled back in his arms, smiling at the idea of being his forever, just the two of them holed up in his bed, his apartment, and this perfect little world for both of them. Her heart fell a bit, knowing he’d share that world with a different girl, eventually, that Maia wouldn’t always get the benefits of Shawn’s love once a girlfriend enters the picture. Once he finds the love of his life.

She couldn’t bear the idea, much less a reality like that. She pulled away, just slightly.

tbreak. She’d excuse her love towards the boy on multiple occasions by choosing to believe she just missed him like any best friend should. And maybe a bit more.

Shawn could read Maia like an open book, his concerned eyes watching her, searching for answers in her silence. He watched the shift in her eyes from its warm, chocolate color to a dark, sad muddied color.

“Hey, Honey,” he was still watching her reactions, “we’re taking advantage of this time, yeah? And then it’s only a month apart, and then we’ll be back in Pickering for Christmas. My parents would love to have you again, and then I can stay in Montreal with you for a while. You’re stuck with me, M. You should know that by now.”

She smiled, but that sweet light he loved hadn’t shown up again, so Shawn pulled her down onto his chest, hoping Maia would curl into him again. She’d be happy again, and that’s all he cared about.

“I love you, Flower.”

“I love you, too,” she rested her chin on his chest, the little hairs tickling her skin, to stare at him, “I’m just homesick, I think.”

“Want to go back to Pickering for a couple days, then? I was actually thinking that’d be a good trip. I’d love to see my parents and Aaliyah again.”

“No,” he looked confused with furrowed eyebrows, “I mean, yes, but I’m not homesick for Pickering. I think I’m just missing you more than usual.”

Shawn felt like jumping around and squeezing Maia, so she’d squeal in shock, but he settled for kissing the crown of her head and holding her hip that much tighter.

“I’m right here.”

She hummed, her lips pressed into his chest, feeling the thump of his heart. He was so close, acting like Maia’s favorite Shawn. Just holding her.

“Is that why you were upset? Last night?”

Maia nodded, deciding that was close enough to the feeling of her heartbreak. She’d excuse her love for the boy on multiple occasions by choosing to believe she just missed him, as any best friend should. And maybe a bit more.

“M,” Shawn waited for her eyes to lock on his, “I love you.”

“I love you too, Papillon.”

And for once he actually believed she could be his Maia. Not his best friend. Not the girl he loved since he was seventeen when he admitted his feelings, drunk. Not the Maia he adored from a distance. His Maia.

“C’mon, up we go,” she’s pulling at his hands, “it’s Sunday, so we can head to the farmer’s market. I’ll make that raspberry jam you like to put on the bagels I brought from Montreal. It’s time to explore, eh?”

Shawn’s perfect morning is ruined just like that. It’s a wave that hits him, pulling him underwater the rips too strong. He knew she wasn’t his — his Maia. He sat up letting the covers fall from his stunning physique that Maia tried to not ogle at before turning and sashaying her way into his kitchen.

This was their reality. Walking around the market, pinkies brushing each other, her eyes searching his profile covered by those stupid Tom Ford sunglasses. They couldn’t hold hands and they definitely couldn’t kiss. They just stood side by side, longing for something they feared they’d never get. Reality sucked.

flsm taglist: @oyesmendes @someinsanefangirl

permanent taglist: @wholesomemendes @fallinallincurls @ashwarren32 @mendesficsxbombay @haute-shawn @turtoix @prncsnee @http-isabela

57 notes · View notes

ao3bronte · 4 years

Text

Santa Shuffle🎅🎄

After what has been an admittedly tumultuous December (‘Bronte: Attack of the Anons’ was basically the theme at the beginning of my holiday season), I decided to try something that would lift my spirits. I love games and surprises so rather than bang my head against the wall trying to come up with another story, I decided to create little Christmas drabbles based on the following rules:

Put Spotify on shuffle and start playing Christmas songs.

For each song, write something inspired by the song.

Do 10 songs and post. Make sure to include the song name/artist.

Please sit back and enjoy!🎅🎄

It’s Beginning To Look A Lot Like Christmas - Michael Bublé

The stars are shining from behind the ever-present layer of wintertime clouds, floating like lanterns in the dark. Tonight, Chat Noir feels as if he’s soaring amongst them, gazing up at the brilliant lights that emanate from the canvas of twilight sky. Brightly decorated Christmas trees sit like beacons in the middle of crowded squares that teem with winter markets and roasted chestnuts and Chat simply can’t keep his feelings back any longer, glowing with a wild abandon he has never known.

As always, he’s right where he belongs.

He lets go of his baton and tosses his body into the air, somersaulting over a bevy of twinkling Christmas lights. He banks right and ventures off further onto the familiar rooftops of Paris, healing the gashes in his soul long scabbed over. There’s nothing like the feeling of the holidays, lost within the colourful heights and cheerful carols, never falling. He smiles, his heart bursting with a feeling he can only describe as true, utter bliss.

Christmas in Paris is coming, and for the first time ever, he actually has a home.

Mistletoe - Justin Bieber

There are people everywhere, packed within the vast confines of the main hall of Le Grand Paris. They’re dancing, feasting, laughing, screaming, kissing, drinking, having the time of their lives.

It’s a Christmas party and the Champagne is flowing. Things are going to get a little sloppy.

He spies her from the other side of the hall and they lock eyes, a smirk full of promise playing on her lips. She’s been canoodling and chatting up her network like a true professional while Adrien admires from afar, content to watch her sashay in that gorgeous red handmade gown he loves so very much. The open back, the plunging neckline, the figure hugging silk he just wants to…

...well, he has to be on his best behaviour. They’re in public after all.

But, like most parties this time of year, there are punches and bottles of sparkling wine a plenty, which means that no one is acting with enough propriety to notice the heat emanating between them. He returns her saucy gesture with a raised eyebrow and a smug grin and it’s one of those take it or leave it smirks, the kind that teases and promises so much more.

She pushes through the crowd, her eyes never leaving his, and he stands his ground, limbs tingling with both excitement and slight intoxication. He can feel her lingering on her lips, a memory of something intangibly right, and shifts his body so that he’s standing right where he needs to be in order to make this little game of his all worthwhile.

She notices, of course. She always does.

“Mistletoe?” she questions him, crossing her arms across her chest. The action only accentuates her décolletage and Adrien’s mouth begins to water, “Really?”

He doesn’t even bother trying to answer. Instead, he takes her by the waist and kisses her senseless.

Santa Claus is Comin’ To Town - Bruce Springsteen

Chat Noir grins widely and drops his enormous bag of toys onto the floor just outside of the elevator. He shares a private look with Ladybug, one full of apology for the deluge of children galloping down the hall in their direction, and opens his arms with a laugh.

“HO HO HO!” he hollers with excitement, completely and utterly attacked by children who are so excited to see him that they can hardly contain themselves. Ladybug scoops the toys out of the way just as her partner is thoroughly taken down by the rabid pack and laughs as they tug on his fake beard and Santa hat.

He manages to extricate himself eventually and toddles around the hospital ward with an enthusiastic flock of enamoured children in tow. Santa Noir delivers a personalized gift to each child stuck in the children’s hospital over the holidays and poses for selfies by the thousands while Ladybug follows behind, laughing as he regularly whips out his best impressions of Santa himself.

And then he starts to sing.

“You better watch out,” he wags his finger, much to the children’s delight, “You better not pout! You better not cry, I’m telling you why. Santa Claws is coming to town!”

A hundred voices chime in for the chorus, waving jingle bells and laughing as Chat performs the latest Fortnite dance for them. It’s embarrassing and hilarious and honestly?

Ladybug has never been more in love.

River - Robert Downey Jr.

He’s never told a soul, and so long as he knew, no one had been around when he’d finally lost his composure and cried.

He’d collapsed onto his haunches and wept out loud into his palms, frustrated and upset and drowning in a myriad of emotions he can’t categorize without losing anymore of his precious sanity. Why was he out here again? Why was he wasting his time – again – for someone who couldn't even spend a moment of his Christmas Eve to be with his son?

Oh right.

Because that someone was his father.

He’d cried harder, heaving into the night air without being able to stop himself.

Why did Maman have to go away?

Step Into Christmas - Elton John

Marinette giggles as Adrien grabs her hands and swings her around her parent’s living room, dancing the night away. The Christmas bops playing off of Marinette’s Spotify playlist are just the thing to convince her to get off the couch after way too much turkey and join him in a little Santa Samba around the Christmas tree.

“Stoooop,” she laughs, not really meaning it as he wraps one arm around her body and captures her hand in his, “Maman’s taking videos of us.”

“For the wedding!” Sabine coos as Adrien spins her in a gentle underarm pirouette and Adrien can’t help but grin.

“Come on Marinette,” Adrien pulls back and shimmies to the jazzy jam, “You can’t deny the chemistry between us.”

“We’re engaged, you doofus,” Marinette scolds him fondly, squeaking as he pulls her back into his chest, “Of course we have chemistry.”

“Which is why we need to practice dancing,” Adrien slots his feet between hers and leads her into a dizzying spiral of turns, “And what better time to do it than on Christmas Eve with my favourite people?”

“Flaterer,” Marinette shakes her head as Tom cheers from the kitchen.

“Dip her! Dip her!”

“NONONO!”

Adrien can’t deny his future father-in-law, now can he? With a side splitting laugh, Adrien lunges forwards and gracefully lowers the love of his life in his arms, pausing only to wink at the camera.

Santa Tell Me - Ariana Grande

Marinette holds her favourite picture of Adrien to her chest and sighs as the latest Gabriel holiday commercial plays on repeat in the background. Adrien stares in awe up at the snow that cascades from the sky, surrounded by Christmas decorated in black and white baubles and metallic ornaments. It’s for another perfume line, this one heavy on frankincense and ginger, and Marinette just wants to bury her face in the crook of Adrien’s perfectly popped collar and drink him in.

He’s perfect.

She would do anything to go on a date with him right now. They could go to the Christmas market together, hand in hand, or sip on hot chocolate in front of a crackling fire. They could decorate gingerbread cookies in her bakery and then go to the annual Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony together so they could kiss under the fairy lights!

They would be amazing together.

Marinette checks her calendar and sees that Adrien has a packed schedule of modelling and extracurriculars for the foreseeable future and shrugs, still holding onto hope. Maybe, with just a little bit of luck on her side, she could admit her true feelings and fall in love this Christmas…

All I Want For Christmas Is You - Mariah Carey

Three seconds in the same room with her and he’s practically on the floor, on his knees, head spinning from the sheer emotion of it all. He’d just walked in on her pulling her beautiful, gorgeous black hair out of her ponytails for the mayor’s Christmas Party at Le Grand Paris and thought he’d died and gone to heaven.

Her blue eyes were like the ocean.

Her legs went on for miles.

He pines for her like a puppy. He’d do anything for her.

(He bets she tastes like strawberries.)

“Face it,” Rena Rouge mutters, nudging Ladybug lightly with her elbow. Ladybug glances over in the direction her fellow heroine is pointing and sighs, tugging her bangs in front of her eyes in embarrassment, “He’s got it bad.”

Facing her lovestruck partner, Ladybug takes a weary breath and simply surrenders, “Don’t remind me.”

You’re a Mean One, Mr. Grinch - Thurl Ravenscroft

Ladybug and Chat Noir exchange glances across the battleground, grinning like Cheshire cats in the gloom. She grips her yoyo in her palm, squeezing the unbreakable spotted material with her fingers. Chat fiddles idly with the base of his baton, his confidence boosted tenfold.

“I’m sorry, Bugaboo,” he drawls, his glowing eyes mischievous, “Could you repeat that?”

“Of course, Kitty,” she replies, equally as sardonic, “I was just discussing how fun it would be to go cataclysme Le Papillon’s head off. After ruining Christmas Day for everyone in Paris, don’t you think he deserves it?”

Standing within the ruins of the mansion’s west wing, the villain in question starts stepping backwards slowly, only to be impeded by a gigantic hunk of plaster clipping him in the back of the knees. The butterfly Miraculous wielder falls backwards onto his backside as the murderous duo stand over him, their expressions identical.

“Stop!” Le Papillon cries, raising his palms in surrender, “I’m doing this for her! For Émilie!”

“Don’t bring Maman into this,” Chat Noir hisses, spinning his baton in the light of the fire. A few years ago, Adrien might have surrendered then and there. But now?

Now he had his new family to protect.

“Shall I do the honours?”

Chat smiles and motions with his arm invitingly, eyes grazing his fuming fiancé, “The honours all yours.”

Whisking her yoyo’s string around with a cracking thwack so loud even Chat can’t help but wince, his heavily pregnant partner brings her magical weapon down on Le Papillon’s head with a crunch.

Christmas In New York - Lea Michelle

Marinette Dupain-Cheng squares her shoulders and grins widely, stepping out through the revolving doors of the Four Seasons Hotel in New York City. The thrill of life in the Big Apple fills her heart with excitement as she spins around and waves at the doorman.

“Merry Christmas, Miss Dupain-Cheng!”

“Merci!” she chimes, smiling at him over her shoulder. There’s a limousine waiting for her out front and the chauffeur opens the back door as she approaches, taking her gloved hand in his so she doesn’t trip, “Are we headed to work, Miss Dupain-Cheng?”

Marinette offers him a cheeky grin, “Can we get stuck in traffic for an hour or two? I need to do a little shopping for my friends and family before I fly home.”

“Of course,” her chauffeur dips his head, his own smirk hidden by his impressive mustache, “I suppose the traffic must be terrible near Fifth Avenue at this time of day.”

“I agree,” Marinette settles into the leather seats of the stretch limo and relishes in the butterflies fluttering in her stomach. She’s so excited to return to Paris after two wonderful weeks overseas working with the crème de la crème of the American fashion world, no thanks to her business with Jagged Stone. She’s walked through a festively decorated Central Park and taken selfies from the top of the Rockefeller Centre. She’s even watched the Rockettes perform their high flying kicks at Radio City and visited the Macy’s Christmas window display! The city that never sleeps hasn’t disappointed her in the slightest, especially draped in the red and greens of Christmastime.

She passes by beautiful holiday trees and flickering fairy lights as they weave their way through Manhattan and, although she can’t wait to hug her Maman and Papa at the airport in just a few more days, she’s already planning her next Christmas in New York.

Bring Me Love - John Legend

Sliding across his apartment floor in his Christmas socks, Adrien clutches a banana in his hand and sings into the stem with all the excitement and enthusiasm of a man who’s about to rock his fiancé’s world. He wiggles his hips and kicks his free leg, boogying down to the saxophone and bass and he is feeling fabulous, the tree is looking fabulous and everything is absolutely fabulous. Marinette would be thrilled with his decorating skills, especially since he’s been left to his own devices for the past two weeks while she’s been away on business. She’ll be landing in Charles du Gaulle in just a few short hours and Adrien has cookies baking in the oven (dough courtesy of Tom, of course) and mistletoe hanging over the doorway. All he needs to make his Christmas homecoming a success would be having his beautiful, successful, gorgeous fiancé by his side.

If only Santa would bring her home faster!

He’s put on his Rudolph boxers for the special occasion and bops his shower soggy hair to the beat, letting it fly everywhere. It might be -8℃ outside but it’s toasty warm inside their little flat in Le Marais and Adrien intends to put the love in their lovenest tonight.

He drops it low and snaps, spinning around on the balls of his feet. He feels amazing and there’s adrenaline and an irrepressible joy surging through his veins as he hops onto the cushions of the couch and channels his inner Beyoncé, howling the high notes with all his might. He can’t hold in his love any longer and leaps off the furniture with a karate kick, landing in a crouch only to pop back up again with a pirouette that would have put his alter ego’s talents to shame.

A giggle from the kitchen leaves him skidding in his tracks.

“Who’s there?”

Her face half hidden by her mittens, a thoroughly amused Marinette steps into the colourful glow of the Christmas tree, “Are you wearing Rudolph boxers?”

Adrien, for all intents and purposes, has never been happier to hear the love of his life critique his undergarments, “MARINETTE!”

“Hey Kitt—mmpf!”

Capturing her lips in a bruising kiss, Adrien drops his banana and spins her around in a searing embrace that leaves them both dizzy and breathless. When he finally sets her back down onto the floor, Marinette is thoroughly smitten with her fiancé all over again.

“Miss me?” he asks, peppering every centimetre of exposed skin with kisses, “Because I thought I was going to wither away to nothing if you were gone for another minute.”

“I missed you,” Marinette’s knees quiver as he undoes her winter coat and throws it onto the kitchen counter behind them, “I missed you so much.”

“Oh my god, your voice,” Adrien wraps his arms around her waist and buries his face in her neck, “Your smell, your skin, your hair, your lips. You are never leaving for that long ever again without me.”

Marinette laughs and Adrien soaks in the beautiful sound, “Deal.”

“Good,” Adrien says, still damp and half naked, “How did I do?”

He gestures to the decorations draped all over their studio apartment and Marinette feels her heart stutter beneath the absolute flood of emotion thudding through her chest, “You did amazing, Adrien. It looks beautiful.”

“Thank you,” he kisses her again, “Christmas must have come early because all I wished for was you.”

Pressing their foreheads together, Marinette boops him on the nose, “I love you.”

“I love you too.”

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year everyone!

💋Bronte

#miraculous ladybug #miraculous christmas #adrinette #ladynoir #ml secret santa

163 notes · View notes