#mlvalentines2k20

[gelljc]

day 3: flowers

[livrever]

Ring Pop

Day One of the Miraculous Ladybug Valentine’s Prompts. (Candy)

See our full set of stories on FF and AO3

Also... an ENORMOUS thank you to the amazing @chimpukampu​ for illustrating the wedding!!

“Marinette? Do you want to get married?”

Marinette dropped the flower crown she had been weaving onto Nino’s head, and grinned at him, admiring her handiwork. “Sure, Nino. But it will have to be tomorrow. I’m not wearing a pretty dress today, and you have to wear a pretty dress when you get married so you look like a princess.”

“Nevermind. I don’t want to look like a princess.” Six-year-old Nino smiled at his friend, showing the gap in his mouth where his two front teeth used to be. He’d been to his uncle’s wedding the week before, and knew Marinette would love the fancy dresses. He’d been captivated by the guy that sat in the corner, playing the music, announcing all the different dances and games that they were going to play. Nino didn’t think that his uncle had worn a fancy dress… just a black suit and a tie, like the one he had been forced to wear. 

He looked over at Marinette her two dark pigtails high on her head, giggling at him. “No, silly. You don’t have to wear a dress. You wear a tie and a suit and you have to give me a ring.”

Oh. Nino thought hard, rubbing his head and shifting his flower crown a little. “I, uh, have a ring pop at home that I was saving. I could give that to you.”

“That’s so nice, Nino!” Marinette jumped up and hugged him, and he remembered why he always liked her so much. The smell of cookies enveloped him, and he grinned. If he married Marinette, he’d never have to eat anything but food from her bakery again. When he told her this, she frowned at him. “Are you sure? Because I still have to eat healthy food, not just sweets.”

Nino grinned at her. “Trust me. My uncle just got married. And besides, I’m six, but you’re only five. When you’re older, you’ll understand more.” He loved to lord his four extra months over her.

Pouting, Marinette informed him that she would be six in two weeks, so she would be the same age as him then. Plus, she was the one who knew all about weddings, because her parents made wedding cakes. They argued goodnaturedly for a few more minutes until their teacher called them to come in from recess. 

That night, when Marinette announced to her parents that she was getting married the next day, they were surprised, but when they heard about the ring pop and the fancy dress, Tom and Sabine just chuckled to themselves, and offered to make wedding cupcakes. 

The next day, Marinette made sure to get up early, so that she could get herself ready. She dressed in her fluffiest pink dress and green leggings, and made flower crowns for both herself and Nino. Her parents had found her a small package of Chocolate Buttons, as a gift for Nino, since he was giving her his ring pop. 

Marinette was very careful as she carried the flower crowns and the chocolate buttons into school, her father following her and carrying a tray of pink and green frosted white cupcakes. She walked proudly down the hallway, leading her father to her classroom. 

Pink was Marinette’s favorite color, but green was Nino’s, so she made sure that both of them were represented. Pink and green on the cupcakes, her clothing, and even the flowers were pink with green stems. She had tried so hard to be fair to both of them. Her parents had always told her that marriage was about being partners and friends, and thinking about the other person’s needs. 

The wedding itself was a simple affair at recess. Rose, who loved all things wedding and princess, lead the ceremony. Marinette and Nino stood together, wearing their flower crowns, while Rose stood in front of them. The other kids in their class crowded around to watch. 

Rose smiled at them and turned to Nino. “Nino Lahiffe, do you promise to always be nice to Marinette and to help her whenever she needs it, like when she knocks stuff on the floor?”

“Um, yeah.”

Then she looks at Marinette, still smiling. “Marinette Dupain-Cheng, do you promise to be nice to Nino, and always give him cookies whenever he wants them?”

“I sure will.”

“OK. You guys are married. Now kiss!” Rose looked thrilled at the prospect, but both Nino and Marinette stared at her in horrified shock.

“You want me to what?”

“No way dude. I want to marry her, not kiss her.”

Rose looked crestfallen. “But you’re supposed to kiss! That’s what they ALWAYS do at weddings. And then you trade candy, and we can go eat cupcakes.”

“Well, if it means I get to eat cupcakes…”

Marinette looked warily at Nino. “I guess.” She shrugged, and stepped up to Nino, kissing his cheek. Nino thrust his ring pop into her hands, and she handed over the chocolate Buttons.

“Cupcake time!” Rose sang out, and everybody turned and dashed towards the classroom where the cupcakes were set out. 

“And that’s the story of Marinette’s first wedding!” Cried Rose, to much laughter and applause. 

After blowing a kiss across the reception hall to Nino, Marinette turned to her new husband, the one she’d promised forever to just a few short hours ago. “I’d forgotten about my first husband, or else I’d have told you about him. Maybe.” Her eyes twinkled with mischief. “He gave me a ring pop. What do you have to offer me?”

He stared lovingly into her sparkling eyes, feeling like the luckiest man on earth, and reached into his pocket, pulling out a pink ring pop. “Rose prepared me.” He said, smiling. “So all I have to offer is this ring pop and my heart.”

“That’s all I could ever need.” She smiled up at him, then pulled him down for a soft kiss, that had the room exploding in cheers once again.

[quickspinner]

MLValentines2k20 9. Cupid

Playing catch-up a little bit; I still have one more of these I want to finish before I call it done.

“Jagged,” Luka sighed, hands on his hips as he surveyed the set before him. “You know I usually trust your judgement, but I think your designer’s lost her mind this time.” He’d never met Jagged’s favorite designer, but Jagged had insisted they bring her in for this album cover. Jagged raved about her, but Luka generally tuned him out after the first few sentences. Jagged really only had two modes: total enthusiasm or absolute distaste. Either way, Luka always took his opinions with a grain of salt.

XY had bitched about her, but Luka had ignored that too, inferring from it only that the designer was attractive and that she’d had enough taste to shoot XY down. Luka hadn’t said anything, though. Speaking badly about the boss’s son was frowned upon even for up and coming rock stars. Unless Jagged decided to go independent and took Luka with him, they both had to put up with both Bob Roth and XY for now.

Jagged unknowingly mimicked Luka’s pose, giving away his uncertainty even though his words were confident. “Just...wait. Have a little faith. Let’s hear her out, I’m sure Marinette has a plan.” 

“Her plan better not involve making my album look like a perfume ad, Jagged.” Luka replied, wrinkling his nose. 

“I have asked you repeatedly to call me Dad,” Jagged said absently. 

“This is a disaster!” wailed a voice from the other side of the room. Luka and Jagged both looked that way to see a young lady in a business suit with her hands buried in her blue-black hair as she stared at the same set they’d been staring at. “This isn’t what I requested at all! This will never work, it’ll look like a perfume ad! How did this happen?”

“But Marinette,” said a saccharine voice that made Luka cringe. He couldn’t see the speaker but that voice made his skin crawl. “This is exactly what you asked for. I followed your directions.” The words that followed were smug. “To the letter.” 

“Oh my—” The young woman sighed, taking her hands out of her hair and straightening her back. She unbuttoned the coat of her suit and slipped it off, tossing it over the back of a chair and began unbuttoning and rolling up the sleeves of her blouse. “Right. Okay. This is not happening. Jagged and Luka will be here any minute and we’re going to do this shoot and it’s going to look amazing, and not like it belongs on the front of a Valentine’s card. When I was talking about Cupid, I meant the mythical Cupid, Lila, you know, the hot young guy with the bow, the literal embodiment of love and desire? NOT the chubby little baby cupid that sits on a cloud. You said you understood. Did you even look at the pictures I sent you?”

“But, Marinette, your notes said—” 

“Forget it,” Marinette said briskly, stepping up to the set under the lights. “I don’t have time for your excuses. I have to fix this.” She started ripping out the clouds. “Do we have any paint? Because there is no way we are photographing Luka Couffaine, the hottest rock star in the country right now, on this.” 

Holy hell, she was gorgeous, bold and determined and in charge, her feet planted as she reached up and pulled another piece of cotton batting down. She waved at the baby blue background. “Someone get me some black paint.” 

A hand waved in front of his face and he became aware of Jagged calling his name. He blinked and looked back at Jagged. “That’s your designer?” Luka asked inexplicably breathless.

“Best in the business,” Jagged said proudly. “Come on, wipe the drool off your face and I’ll introduce you.” 

Luka very much wanted to be introduced. He also wanted her phone number and a personal guided tour of the nearest supply closet. 

“Listen,” Jagged said, grabbing his arm and turning him so that the two men were eye to eye. “You watch how you treat her. I can make another son but I will never find another designer with that kind of talent, and if you piss her off I will put you right back on that boat with your mother where I found you, understand?

“Love you too, Dad,” Luka muttered, and Jagged apparently took that for agreement, hauling Luka forwards with him. 

“Marinette!” he called, and Marinette turned, a pretty smile lighting her face.

“Jagged!” Then she caught sight of Luka and her eyes widened slightly, the smile dropping immediately. “Mr. Couffaine!”

“Luka, this is Marinette, the most rock ‘n roll designer you’ll ever meet.” Jagged looped one arm around Marinette’s shoulders. “Tell us what you’ve got planned for us, Mari.” 

“Actually—well, I—” She only fumbled for a moment before she got her bearings back and straightened, stepping out from Jagged’s arm to turn to Luka with a professional air that didn’t make her one bit less attractive. Luka blinked at the not-quite-fake smile she gave him, absently noting the light smattering of freckles across her nose. “I’m so sorry, Mr. Couffaine, it seems there was a bit of a, er...misunderstanding and the set up is all wrong. I apologize for taking up your time but I’ll have this fixed as quickly as possible. In the meantime, is there anything we could get you while you wait? Would you maybe like a snack?” 

Jagged stepped on his foot before he could answer. It didn’t do much thanks to Luka’s heavy boots but it did remind him of Jagged’s threat. Not that that was necessary. Jagged was the one renowned for losing his shit in public, not Luka. No matter how much he really did want this particular snack, no one would know. Besides, he wasn’t XY. The woman was here to do a job, not entertain Luka’s fantasies, and he needed to get his mind off her very pretty mouth and back on the job.

Before he could come up with a professionally appropriate answer, though, another girl popped up at Marinette’s elbow. “Mr. Couffaine, if you’d like to come with me I’d be happy to make sure we find you something satisfying while Ms. Dupain-Cheng fixes her mistake.”

Luka recoiled slightly; this was the saccharine voice he’d heard before and it was even less pleasant up close. “No, thank you,” he said automatically, barely even glancing at her. “I’m fine.” He looked back at Marinette. “It’s fine, I don’t mind waiting. Honestly I’m relieved, I was a little worried when I saw the set.”

“Of course you would be,” the other girl said sympathetically, and Luka, who hadn’t moved his eyes from Marinette, saw the designer visibly grind her teeth.

Still, her tone was entirely professional as she said, “Lila, please go get us the black couch from the casting room, the one with the silver studs. I’m sure with your persuasive talents you can find some help to get it here.”

“Of course, Mar—Ms. Dupain-Cheng,” Lila said, and Luka doesn’t even have to look at her to know that her bright, helpful tone was completely insincere. She brushed past him, her fingers lingering on his wrist for a moment. He twitched it away without a glance in her direction.

“Well, if you’re sure you don’t need anything, Mr. Couffaine,” Marinette said, turning back to Luka. “Then if you and Jagged wouldn’t mind waiting, I hope I’ll have this cleared up shortly.”

“I have no doubt,” Luka replied, with a slow grin. “And please call me Luka, I hate being Mr. Couffaine.” 

“Of course,” Marinette smiled. “Feel free to call me Marinette. Jagged certainly does.” She made a cheeky face at his father, and Luka missed what Jagged said in response because Marinette laughed, and it was a beautiful sound and that was a real smile on her face and...wow, those eyes. 

His heart was suddenly pounding. Those eyes were familiar. Did...did he know her? He watched her, fascinated for a different reason, as she went over to take the can of paint from the assistant who’d brought it. She went with purpose to the backdrop, standing back for a moment as if to consider. Then she took a wide brush and began painting across the blue background in broad strokes that she left ragged at the edges. 

“I can change the color in post,” she mumbled. “Psyche’s lamp would be shining from...here, so this area stays light.” 

Jagged, easily bored as always, excused himself, leaving Luka there alone as Marinette made quick work of the backdrop. When she was done the smell of paint hung thick in the air but the scene was much better. A few more changes and the perfume ad look was replaced by a much grittier but still fantastical scene. The fluffy carpet was gone from the floor, revealing a hardwood platform. Marinette had taken some of the prop arrows and broken them in half (and watching her snap them like so many twigs had set his blood rushing again). Then she turned to Luka with a wide, much more sincere smile than she’d had before. “All right, I think we’re ready for our Cupid.” 

Oh...right. That was him. Luka sighed, but unbuttoned his shirt and took it off as he’d been instructed and removed his heavy boots, leaving him in his ripped jeans embellished with chains. He’d been through hair and makeup before they came. 

“We’ll start with you on the floor,” Marinette directed. “If Lila actually manages to get us the couch,” her tone seemed to indicate she thought it unlikely, “We can try that later and see what we like best. Vincent, can you show him where please?”

Luka followed the photographer’s directions and waited while they adjusted the lights. “I should warn you,” Luka said, glancing up at Marinette with a hint of trepidation. “I’m not a model or an actor. I’m not actually good at this part.” 

“I’ve seen you perform,” Marinette smiled reassuringly, and why were those eyes so familiar? “I’m not worried. If you can evoke that much emotion on stage I’m sure we can pull some of it out here.” 

Genuinely flattered, Luka smiled up at her. Marinette patted his bare shoulder. “It’s just another kind of performance,” she told him, and then she seemed to grow flustered, snatching her hand back. Luka couldn’t help a smirk. Marinette turned away, cheeks pink. 

Then it was business as usual, trying different poses while trying not to look bored out of his mind. Watching Marinette skitter about was entertaining, at least, but he couldn’t follow her constantly.

“He is so stiff,” Vincent complained, straightening and putting a hand on his hip. “Marinetta, can you not inspire the boy a little more?” Luka winced and sighed. Well, he warned her.

“Let’s take a break,” Marinette said, looking completely unbothered by this turn of events.

Luka sighed, sitting up and propping his elbows on his knees as she approached. “Told you,” he shrugged. Marinette knelt on the floor next to him and pulled out her phone. “Cupid brings love to everyone,” she told him, “but he never finds love himself until he meets Psyche. But he won’t let her see his true self until she comes into his room with a lamp while he’s sleeping. That’s what we’re going for with this shoot.” 

“Right,” Luka answered automatically. This had all been explained in the pitch, though he hadn’t paid all that much attention at the time. He actually didn’t get a whole lot of say in his album covers.

“Obviously we’re taking some liberties here,” Marinette continued. “Instead of being passive and asleep, you, as our Cupid, are finally ready to show your lover your true self, so you’re waiting for her to come in so you can really let her see you, and in doing so, allow yourself fall for her.”

His own music began to play from the speakers on her phone. She turned the volume all the way up, frowning in concentration. “There,” she said, looking up from the phone to meet his eyes. “The way you play the bridge, that’s what we’re looking for. That’s what inspired the shoot.”

Luka pursed his lips. The song was all about being ready to find love again after heartbreak, and the bridge was about that moment when you lock eyes with someone and choose to either look away or let yourself fall. It actually fit very well with the story Marinette had told him. He nodded slowly. “Play it again please.” 

Marinette complied, and Luka closed his eyes for a moment, letting himself sink into the music. Then he opened his eyes and looked at Marinette. Her lips parted in something like surprise, but she didn’t turn her gaze from him as she nodded slowly. “Yes. That’s it. Can you do that for the photos?”

“Can I look at you?” Luka asked. “It’s kind of hard just...staring into the lights.” 

Marinette’s cheeks pinked, but she nodded. “Okay. I’ll get Vincent to tell me where he wants you to look, and I’ll stand there. Don’t worry about the camera, just listen to the music and keep your eyes on me, okay? Vincent will do the rest.”

He felt the corner of his mouth tug into a smile, and had to take a breath to compose himself. “Yeah, okay.” Marinette smiled at him and again he was hit with that wave of familiarity. Luka tilted his head slightly. “Have we met before?” he asked. “You just...you look familiar.”

Marinette’s eyes widened in surprise, and then she looked mildly embarrassed. “I didn’t think you’d remember that.” 

“So we have met?” Luka asked, a little too eagerly. “It’s just—I swear I remember your eyes.”

Marinette blushed again, maybe even a little darker than before. “I went to school with Juleka. We, um, met on your mother’s boat once the year you left with Jagged. The music festival? You played with Juleka’s band and...I was there.”

Luka’s brow creased as he thought back to that day. “Ma-ma-marinette,” he whispered, a broad smile spreading across his face. 

Marinette made a face. “Oh good, you do remember.” 

Oh, he remembered. He absolutely remembered her now, as a skinny little kid with those beautiful eyes huge in her face as she babbled that they were ready for him to rehearse. She’d been so cute then, and he’d chatted her up a bit between the rehearsal and the concert, but then Jagged had come to the boat and everything had come out, and his whole life had been turned upside down, and he hadn’t seen her again. “Wow,” he breathed. “You’ve come a long way.”   

“So have you,” Marinette pointed out, giving him a hint of that cheeky smile she had turned on Jagged. “You’re a big rock star now.” 

“Oh, well I...yeah,” Luka slumped his shoulders a little bit, feeling his own face heat a little. “It’s been...well it’s been a trip, that’s for sure.” 

Marinette smiled. “You’re doing great. Are you ready to try again?” 

“Yeah, let’s do it,” Luka said, relaxing back into the reclining pose he’d been in. “Ready when you are.” 

“Okay.” She got up. “Hey Vincent?” 

Luka watched her, still marvelling that this confident little dynamo was the stuttering, blushing girl he’d met way back then. 

Well. She still blushed, he thought to himself with a smirk. 

“All right, we’re ready, Luka,” Marinette called, walking to a point off to his left. “Just like we talked about.” She played the song again, and Luka closed his eyes, getting into the music. Then he lifted his head and looked at Marinette, and she smiled. “Go, Vincent,” she said. “Just keep your eyes on me, Luka.”

Not a problem at all. The rest of the photo shoot was easier. Occasionally Marinette moved, directing Luka’s gaze to a different spot, while Vincent clicked away. Luka had long since stopped listening to the music she played. For one thing, he had a new song taking shape in his head...and for another, it was getting increasingly easier to look at Marinette like she was the girl of his dreams. 

Marinette was thrilled with the outcome of the photo shoot as she stood over Vincent’s shoulder, watching him click through the proofs. She knew immediately which series she would be using. The pose where Luka was half-reclined, looking off camera with an enraptured, expectant expression. He held one of the broken arrows in his hand, the point against his heart, ready to stab himself with his own arrow if it meant finding love again. She’d add wings made of light in post that would look electric against the dark background. She would darken the pale sky blue on the outside of the dark area she had painted to something that harmonized with Luka’s dyed hair, and then she would add a light source here for Psyche’s lamp…

It would be perfect. Not exactly like her sketch thanks to Lila’s sabotage, but just as good, if not better. She nodded in satisfaction, and went to tell Luka they had what they needed. 

He was hovering nearby, his shirt back on but only half buttoned. 

“You did great,” she told him, smiling. “I think we got everything we need. I’ll have the proofs in by the end of the week, but as long as you’re satisfied then I can say it’s been a pleasure doing business with you.” 

“Thanks,” Luka said, ruffling his hair as she was sure he’d been itching to do since the whole thing started. Most of it fell right back into place, stiff with product. He raised his eyebrows slightly. “So do you actually work for me, or…” 

“I work for Jagged most of the time,” Marinette replied, already checking her schedule on her phone for the next thing she had to do. “I suppose you could say I’m on retainer with him in a way. I work directly for him on his personal looks and concert gear when he needs me, and the rest of the time I run my own business. I’m not affiliated with the label unless Jagged brings me in for a project like this as an independent consultant.” She gestured vaguely, indicating the shoot. “So today, technically I work for Bob Roth,” both of them made a face, “But Jagged calls the shots.” 

Luka nodded slowly, and then ducked his head a bit, hunching his shoulders so he didn’t tower quite so far over her. “Well then. First let me say that Jagged said he’d kick me off the tour if I upset you.” Marinette gasped and Luka chuckled. “He told me that he could make another son but he’d never find another designer like you, and having met you now I completely agree with him.” Marinette sputtered, having no idea how to respond to that, and to her embarrassment Luka chuckled through his nose at her. “Okay now I really believe you’re that Ma-ma-marinette.” Marinette pouted, folding her arms as Luka continued. “I’m just telling you this because I want to make sure you know there’s no pressure on you for what I’m about to ask, and if you say no I won’t breathe a word about it ever again. Okay?”

Marinette blinked. “Okay.”

“So...with that said, I’d really like to take you out sometime. Would you go on a date with me, Marinette?” Luka grinned, and it wasn’t at all like the rock star smirk he wore for his fans. It was sweet and hopeful and more like the boy from the boat than anything Marinette had seen since that day so long ago, when he’d teased her gently and played music just for her. She’d never forgotten that day and his kindness and she’d been happy to see him doing so well as he followed his dreams. 

Marinette found herself smiling back at him. “I’d um...I’d be open to that, if Jagged’s okay with it. You might not be my boss but you’re still the boss’s son, and…” She shrugged helplessly.

“I get it,” Luka smiled. “You’re a professional, I know that.” He raised his chin slightly to look over her head. “Hey, Dad!” he called. Marinette’s eyes widened and she turned around to see Jagged poking his head back into the studio. “Can I date Marinette?” 

“Oh God,” Marinette whispered, anticipating Jagged’s reaction. 

“Just wait until we announce our engagement,” Luka chuckled as Jagged’s whoop carried across the studio, the man himself barreling towards them. 

Marinette looked back at him in surprise. “You’re sure of yourself.” 

Luka’s grin only widened. “I’m sure about you. Pick you up at eight tomorrow?”

Marinette managed a weak “O-okay,” and then Jagged was on them, and nobody else got a word in edgewise for quite some time.

[missmalice202]

Designing Your Melody - Chapter 01: Mine

Chapter 02

*I’m new to the Lukanette fandom (and fanfic writing lol), but I love this pairing. I started late on the whole “Lukanette February prompts” thing, but I’m going to try to catch up and finish this story. Any and all feedback is welcome and I hope you like this fic as much as I enjoyed writing it!*

Rushing through the streets of Paris like an absolute madwoman, Marinette DuPain-Cheng began to wonder what course of events had resulted in her current panicked state. Then again, she had to admit that it was absolutely her own doing. As usual.

A few days ago, she had received a phone call from Jagged Stone’s assistant, Penny Rolling, requesting a special commission for Marinette to design an outfit for the rocker to wear to promote the release of his latest single. Completely over the moon to be asked by THE Jagged Stone to design the clothes that would be featured on TV and magazines all over the country, she hadn’t hesitated for a second to accept the job and had begun drawing design after design after design. But in her excitement – and feeling the pressure of a job of this magnitude – nothing she had come up with seemed good enough.

So after drawing non-stop and pulling one last all nighter before her initial concept meeting, Marinette had finally compiled a portfolio full of designs for Jagged to choose from. Only for her to sleep through her alarm. Again. When she had finally woken up to her phone buzzing incessantly next to her ear where she had laid her head on her desk to “rest her eyes for a minute”, she had shrieked when she realized that she only had fifteen minutes to get to her meeting. All the way across town!

She had reeled back in such a panic that she flipped her computer chair right over, leaving her dazed and confused lying on the floor on her back. She scrambled to her closet and tried to find an outfit appropriate for an up and coming designer to represent herself and her professionalism, because if there was anything that Marinette needed help with, it was trying to be “professional”.

She grabbed a pair of pale pink skinny jeans with a large black bow where the belt buckle would be, a loose pink top with black lace embellishments on the hem, and a sleek studded leather jacket. Shoving her feet into a pair of black lace ballet flats, she quickly grabbed her portfolio and dashed down her stairs, calling out a greeting to her parents on the way out.

 “Bye Maman, bye Papa! Wish me luck!”

She didn’t wait to hear their response as she made a bee-line straight for the nearest metro station.

Oh my god, Marinette, way to drop the ball! Not only am I going to be late for the biggest job I’ve ever had, but Jagged Stone is probably not going to like anything I came up with! He’s going to laugh at my designs and tell me that he’s changed his mind that he wants me to be his designer! Then I’ll never get another job because who would want to hire someone that Jagged Stone laughed at and I’ll have to work at my parents’ bakery for the rest of my life and I’ll never have my own place and I’ll never get to have a hamster named –

Marinette’s mental breakdown was abruptly interrupted when she turned a corner and slammed head-first into another person. She fell backward, landing hard on her butt as her portfolio went flying into the air, papers scattering around her.

“Aah! I am so sorry!” she scrambled to her hands and knees as she began to gather up her fallen designs. “I’m so clumsy. Please pardon me. I wasn’t watching where I was going and I-” Her apologetic ramblings were cut off when a hand covered her own, stilling her frantic movements.

“It’s okay,” a soothing voice calmly murmured above her downcast head. “There’s no harm done. Don’t get so worked up. Your sound is so chaotic right now, try to calm down.”

Marinette looked at the hand covering her own. It was masculine and strong, with black polish painting his nails and when she slowly withdrew her hand from under his, she could feel the subtle scrape of calluses on his fingertips.

Taking a deep breath, Marinette closed her eyes for a moment to gather her thoughts. And immediately began to panic once again when she realized that SHE WAS GOING TO BE LATE!!! “Thank you for your help! Once again, I’m sorry for almost tackling you while you were walking down the sidewalk, minding your own business. I really have to go. Bye!” She gathered up the rest of her drawings and rushed off, not even glancing back at the boy crouched on the sidewalk stunned by the whirlwind that had just about knocked him off his feet.

Standing back up, he adjusted the guitar resting behind his back and was about to continue on his way when he noticed a piece of paper under his boot. Leaning down to pick it up, he gasped when he saw what was on it. It was – in a word – glorious.

He gazed at the drawing with his heartbeat echoing in his ears, creating a deep baseline for the melody he suddenly heard flowing through his soul. The design he stared at was of a punk rock style outfit. It showcased a male wearing studded and ripped black jeans, untied black combat boots, and a white screen printed tee. But the focal point of the entire design was the absolutely beautiful leather jacket that the designer had made separate sketches of to emphasize the details: teal plaid lining, black lace inserts, studded cuffs and chains hanging from the shoulders. It was a work of art that had the guitarist in awe.

Did that girl draw this? He wondered. He clenched the paper in his fist as he quickly turned and tried to run after her. Reaching the end of the block, he looked up and down the street trying to find out where she had run off to. But she was gone without a trace. With a sigh, he once again looked at her design. Narrowing his eyes just a bit, he noticed in the bottom corner, three small letters, the only clue to the mystery designer’s identity. MDC.

Smiling softly to himself, he folded the paper he held and stuck it into the back pocket of his jeans. I have to find that girl. I have to find her and get her permission to make that outfit for me. She doesn’t know it yet, but she made that jacket for me. And if I have to, I’ll just have to convince her that it’s already mine.

Chapter 02

[tsuki-chibi]

The Ace-ing on the Cake Part 1: Candy

Or read it on AO3: The Ace-ing on the Cake

Part of my Aro-Ace Valentine Collection and also part 1 of my 2020 Lovesquare Prompt Months Collection!

————

“I’m telling you, man, it was awesome.” Nino sighed dreamily and rested his chin on his hands. Adrien looked on with quiet amusement, attention torn between Nino’s increasingly loud sighs and the English worksheet that they had only half filled out.

“So you’ve said. Many times,” Adrien said when he realized Nino was waiting for an answer. “But what exactly was so awesome?” He could hazard a guess – that was Nino’s ‘Alya is the woman of my dreams’ face – but sometimes it was easier to just get Nino to talk it out than it was to listen to him privately dwell on whatever had happened when they were supposed to be studying.

Nino glanced around to be sure no one was close enough to overhead, then leaned over to Adrien and whispered, “Alya let me get to third base last night. It was epic.”

Third base. Adrien tried not to let his confusion show too obviously, but, after a beat of silence during which Nino stared at him expectantly, he caved. “I don’t know what that means.”

By way of answer, Nino grinned lewdly and held up a hand. He wiggled his fingers. “I got my hand in her panties,” he said excitedly.

“Oh. Uh, congratulations?” Adrien said awkwardly, uncertain of what else he was supposed to be saying. He didn’t know what that had to do with third base, but quickly jotted down a note on the corner of his worksheet so that he could look it up later.

“And then she put her hand in my pants,” Nino added, smile widening until it stretched from ear to ear.

“Great,” Adrien said, bobbing his head.

“But you wanna know the best part?” Nino said.

“Uh, sure?”

“Alya said she liked it, which means we can do it again!” Nino pumped his fist in the air. “Maybe someday soon, we’ll get to fourth base.”

“Good for you,” Adrien said politely. He didn’t know exactly what fourth base was either, but he could guess. And if his guess was right, the conversation was swiftly moving from awkward to uncomfortable. Not that he wanted Nino to know that, but he’d overhead the things the other boys in their class said in the locker room. He did not want to listen to a play-by-play of Alya and Nino’s sexual activities.

“Yeah…” Nino said, sighing again.

“Sorry Nino, I just remembered I have to talk to Madame Mendeleiev about my science project before class starts. I’ll catch you later.” Adrien gathered his things together and stood. He wasn’t even sure that Nino noticed him leaving.

He really did have to talk to Madame Mendeleiev, but Adrien’s mind was hardly on science. He remained quiet for the rest of the day, and for once was glad that he had to leave immediately after school for his Chinese lessons. Then it was straight home for supper and homework, so it was after eight by the time Adrien was finally alone in his room with nothing to do.

He sat at his computer and did a little research. As expected, fourth base was sex. Specifically, penetration. The site he was on even provided some helpful diagrams and a few… less helpful pictures. Adrien wrinkled his nose, staring critically at the screen. He just didn’t get it. Body parts weren’t sexy. They just weren’t. Looking at that pair of boobs was no more exciting than looking at an elbow or a knee. And it wouldn’t matter whose boobs they were. It just didn’t have an impact on him; it never had.

“Do you think there’s something wrong with me, Plagg?” Adrien asked, shoulders slumping.

“Oh kid, the list of things wrong with you is long and detailed,” Plagg said with a snicker.

Adrien rolled his eyes. Okay, he’d walked into that one. He swung around in his chair and stared at his kwami with narrowed eyes. Plagg merely smirked in return before grabbing a wedge of Camembert and cramming it into his mouth. He chewed loudly and expressively, which made Adrien wrinkle his nose as crumbs of Camembert promptly flew all over his bedspread.

“Could you not be gross for like two seconds? God, Ladybug is so lucky… her kwami likes candy,” Adrien said.

“Tikki’s also a goody-goody. You’re better off with me,” Plagg said, letting out a loud burp.

“Uh huh,” Adrien said dryly. He bet Tikki would’ve been a lot more helpful right now, but he wasn’t about to say as much and provoke Plagg into an argument. So he turned back around and looked at the screen again.

Boobs, butts, thighs, legs… none of it interested Adrien the way he thought it should. Nino could pop a boner if Alya’s skirt rustled in the breeze. He often bemoaned the fact that he was constantly horny. Adrien wasn’t even sure that he understood what horny meant. He knew the definition, of course, but physically? Emotionally? Mentally? Nothing. He’d never gotten excited because of a girl – or because of a boy, for that matter.

He didn’t understand what Nino meant when he said he wanted Alya, or even when he said that Alya was sexy. Sure Alya was pretty, but what did sexy even mean? Adrien let his head drop to the desk as he realized that he didn’t know. Ladybug was beautiful, but the thought of having sex with her hadn’t really crossed his mind. He just didn’t think about her like that. He wanted to take her out on dates, cuddle with her, maybe even kiss her a bit… but sex?

Eww.

“I am a bad person. I’m clearly broken,” Adrien muttered, lightly thumping his forehead against the desk. What was wrong with him? He was sixteen-years-old for crying out loud! Sex should be the only thing he was capable of thinking about! It sure seemed that way for Nino, Kim, and many of his other classmates.

Maybe he just wasn’t trying hard enough? He sat up and went to the Ladyblog, where the most recent post featured plenty of pictures of Paris’s favorite superheroine. The most popular picture was one of Ladybug caught mid-air, one arm held aloft and the other outstretched with her yoyo in hand. Her legs were tensed in preparation for landing, back curved, with that captivating look of utter determination in her eyes. Adrien could admire those blue eyes for a long time.

Yet when he looked at the comments, some of them were very sexual. Alya didn’t allow anything too explicit or sleazy, but she didn’t always delete comments that made note of or complimented Ladybug’s body. Adrien glanced at a couple of them. Most of them talked about Ladybug’s breasts. He looked at the photo again. It was true that the position of her body meant that Ladybug’s chest was thrust forward. But he didn’t see why that was such a big deal. They were her breasts. So what?

“You know, Ladybug wouldn’t be too pleased to know you were ogling her chest,” Plagg said right in Adrien’s ear.

Adrien jumped about a foot in the air. “What?! No! I – I wasn’t – that’s not –” he stammered, mortified and realizing that Plagg was right. Ladybug would be furious if she knew. She regularly complained about the double standard of male versus female superheroes and hated the way the media sometimes commented on her developing body.

Plagg cackled. “Maybe I should let her know next time I –”

“Plagg, claws out!” Adrien yelped. Anything to get his kwami to stop talking.

One flash of green light later and Chat groaned, hastily closing out of the Ladyblog site. That had been a huge bust. It didn’t seem like he was going to come to any conclusions tonight, and he sure didn’t want to keep staring at Ladybug that way. He sat there for a moment and then looked down at his transformed self, deciding that a run might help him to clear his head.

[airi-p4]

Miraculous Valentine’s Prompts

2 - LOVE

[seasonofthegeek]

Miraculous Valentine’s, Day 3: Flowers

This prompt was requested for Marinette and Chat Noir for @liliesiris. The school is doing flower-grams where students can send small bouquets to each other for Valentine’s Day and some of the heroes are helping deliver them through the week. 

Days 1, 2, 3:

“Your friendly neighborhood Chat Noir is here to deliver joy and happiness to students all day,” Chat Noir announced with a bow. He lifted his head enough to shoot a quick wink at Marinette. “Or at least for the next hour while I hand out these flower-grams.”

She laughed and shook her head. “Truly only a job a hero could do. Thanks for filling in again today. Ladybug let me know that you would be taking her place. I hope you don’t mind pulling doing this two days in a row.”

“It’s fun. How could I mind?” He plucked one of the roses from its small vase and twirled the stem between his fingers. “Are any of these flower-grams for you during this week of love, Princess?”

Marinette blushed and kept her eyes on her clipboard as she counted the names to compare to the bouquets. “I don’t think so. That’s okay though. Alya sent me one that I took home while we were organizing and it was beautiful.”

Chat Noir frowned and dropped the rose back into place. “Wait, you really don’t have another one coming to you?” He peered over her shoulder at the clipboard. “Tomorrow’s the last day, right?”

“Yeah, and there’s only a few left on the list for tomorrow so it shouldn’t be too bad. I think Carapace is coming to help. Besides, I’ve gotten my fill of flowers trying to organize this thing. I wasn’t even supposed to be doing it today but Mylene is out sick so I had to take over the shift.”

“Yeah, but you should’ve gotten another bouquet. I know you should’ve. Do you have tomorrow’s list? Maybe I can check for you.”

She blinked in surprise. “How would you know if someone sent me flowers?”

Chat Noir’s eyes widened and he took a step back, replacing his confused look with a flirting smile. “It’s just that I’m shocked you wouldn’t have more admirers, that’s all. Did you send any to anyone?”

At that, Marinette held the clipboard closer to her chest. “That’s not really your business, Kitty. Now, we need to start loading up the first cart to take to Ms. Mendeleiev’s room.”

___

Chat Noir smiled and flirted and preened as he passed out the bouquets among the students. He took selfies and joked and tried his best to make it a good day for everyone he came in contact with.

And all the while, he kept watching Marinette. 

Her good mood had started to fade after their trip to Ms. Bustier’s room and Chat Noir hadn’t missed the vase of flowers that Marinette had moved to the bottom shelf of the cart after looking over the room. He wanted to find out who they were for. Mylene had been the only one out sick but she’d already commented on that and wouldn’t have brought any of her flowers along. Had she brought them for someone and decided not to give them after all?

“I think that’s all for today,” Marinette said as she wheeled the cart back into the empty classroom they’d been using for the flower storage. “Thanks for your help, Chat Noir. It was definitely easier with a partner and everyone really enjoyed getting to see you.”

“I loved getting to help. You and I make a good team, Marinette.” His eyes went to the green and yellow bouquet at the bottom of the cart once more. “I hope you had a good time too.”

“I did,” she nodded but her voice was only half-convincing. “I’m just tired. This has been a lot to put together.”

“You did a great job.”

She gave him a small smile. “Thanks.”

“I couldn’t help but notice that there’s a vase on the cart that we didn’t give out. Was the student not here?”

Marinette pursed her lips. “Uh, no, he wasn’t. It was probably for the best though. I don’t know that I could’ve given them to him anyway.”

His heart began to beat a little quicker. “Why not?”

“I get all goofy around him.” She rolled her eyes with a small self-deprecating laugh. “I was almost relieved he wasn’t here but disappointed too. It’s fine though. It worked out the way it was supposed to, I guess.”

“What’s his name?” Chat Noir asked, trying his hardest to sound casual when he was dying inside of curiosity and hope.

"I don’t think I’m going to tell you.” Her lips pursed in amusement. “I don’t trust you, Chat Noir. You think you’re Cupid.”

“That’s a rude thing to say. I really am Cupid.”

She laughed and set the clipboard on the mostly empty cart. “Well, I need to get to class. Thanks again for all your help. I hope you’ve had a great Valentine’s Day.”

“I have,” he nodded. “I think tomorrow might be even better.”

“Is that so?”

“Just a hunch,” he winked.

She smiled and grabbed her backpack before making her way out of the room. Chat Noir waited a few beats before he turned to check the clipboard. He flipped a few pages and he found the orders to go out the following day. He searched for Marinette’s name until he found a line written in different handwriting with the recipient and gifter both listed as “secret” and a note that only Alya could deliver the flowers. He breathed out a sigh of relief. Then Alya had come through when he’d ordered the flowers in the hopes that Marinette wouldn’t have to bring herself her own flowers.

He hummed under his breath as he reached down to pull out the small vase and find the tag attached to it. He ran his gloved thumb along “Adrien” written in  Marinette’s neat script and he felt warm and happy. He let his transformation fall and took the vase with him to his locker to hide away until he could get it home. He wasn’t sure how he would explain it if Marinette caught him but hopefully when she got her flowers from him tomorrow, it would all be okay. And as for Chat Noir knowing that she would have flowers coming her way, well, maybe that would be a conversation for another day.

Buy me a cherry coke?

[goddesofimortality]

Day 8: Heartbreak

This was a tough one because I couldn’t think of a romantic heartbreak to write about, but that isn’t the the only type of heartbreak in life, so I did something more like a self love and growth kind of thing. I hope you guys enjoy it!!

For MLValentines2k20

It had come as a surprise to everyone when Marinette quit her position as the class representative.

It was an even bigger surprise when she announced that she would be switching schools, to a prestigious academy of arts nonetheless.

“But how did you-” Lila jumped out of her seat in complete shock and angrily stomped the “injured” foot she had been complaining about for days with no signs of pain.

Her classmates were shocked as they took note of her bandaged leg. They had been helping her carry her things for days, a not so easy task with how heavy her bag was. Suddenly, Marinette’s voice rang in their ears as she warned them that she was lying. Oh how blind they had been…

“Jagged,” Marinette began as she pulled up a picture of the rock star wearing his luxurious new outfit for last night’s music award festival. He held up a certificate with Marinette by his side, in a cute dress decorated in her signature flower pattern. “He has decided to hire me as his personal designer and has decided to sponsor me on my journey to become a professional.”

“That’s impossible!” Lila ran up to her in anger, and tried to snatch her phone away.

This time, there was denying Marinette’s past accusations as some of their classmates let out an annoyed breath as they continued to watch the brunette in anger. Lila was using her sprained wrist effortlessly to try and wrestle Marinette’s phone out of her hands, another clear, irrefutable piece of evidence that proved she had been lying.

“Jagged would never!” Lila’s tunnel vision was so strong, she failed to realize how she was ripping away the blindfolds she had elaborately placed on her classmates.

“Oh, but he did.” Marinette didn’t hold back as she slapped Lila’s hand away and stood her ground. “Because, unlike you, I actually know Jagged and he’s a close friend of mine.” Marinette glanced around the classroom and smiled as realization sank into her classmates. Marinette took a deep breath and held her ground, standing tall and proud against the girl who had tried to break her.

“But-!”

“Enough, Lila!” Adrien walked over to Lila and placed a hand on her shoulder before pulling her back a little harder than necessary. “You just gave yourself away and all because you couldn’t stand the idea of Marinette being happy?” Adrien’s voice was calm and collected but his tone gave away how mad he was. “Mari was right,” he began as he pulled his hand back as if he’d touched something disgusting. “There’s no way you were ever going to stop being a manipulative liar and I was a fool for wanting to believe you’d change.”

“Miss Rossi,” Mme Bustier called in a cold voice as Lila went wide-eyed. “It would seem you have some explaining to do.” Lila looked down at her foot before looking back at the rest of the class who now stared at her in anger and complete disgust. It was clear that realization was slowly kicking in, and she still tried to lie her way out of it.

“I-I can explain!” Lila cried as she tried to back away from everyone as they got out of their seats. In her effort to escape, she failed to realize that running up to Marinette earlier had undone her bandage, and fell as she tripped on her way out of the classroom. It was no surprise to them when she howled in pain as they heard her trip down the stairs with a bang. But no one made an effort to follow her, well, except for the teacher. She was still a minor under her authority after all.

“I’m sorry for not being more open about my support sooner. I really did try to help her change, especially with the whole expulsion incident, but I was an idiot to believe in someone like her.” Adrien rubbed the back of his neck as he looked down in embarrassment of his own foolishness. “You’re my friend, and I should’ve backed you up better, and supported you sooner.” He looked up, hoping to find a smiling Marinette who would reassure him that everything would be okay.

Instead, he found a stern-faced Marinette who looked up at him with watery eyes.

“I’m sorry Adrien, but I can’t accept your apology. At least, not now.” She turned to the quiet class who now stood at the bottom steps of the rows. “The same goes for all of you guys. Knowing you, you’ll try to apologize for being so blind and then ask me how you can make it up to me, but I can’t deal with that right now. I can’t forgive you guys right now.” The class lowered their heads or looked away in shame.

“Mari,” Adrien called softly as he reached out to her.

“Don’t-” Marinette began as she took a step back.

Adrien was shocked, hurt even, that she would pull back from him in such a scared way that she held up her books in front of her as a shield. However, the thing that shook him to the core, was seeing her cry. The tears fell silently, without her seeming to notice as he pulled his hand back and back to his sides.

“It hurt, Adrien.” Marinette lowered her books and looked him in the eyes. “She threatened me, Adrien. To hurt me and to make me lose everything and everyone I loved.” Her voice cracked as she thought back to that day when she had been cornered by Lila. “I was so scared, and yet no one believes me. And even though you knew, you told me to let her be, to be the bigger person and I did because I loved you, Adrien.”

Adrien felt his heart stop. His mind couldn’t keep up with anything anymore and he felt himself gasping for air. Lila had threatened Marinette, and though she hadn’t hurt her physically, she had hurt Marinette in a much more deeper, emotional and psychological way that he couldn’t protect her from. Then her confession sank in. She had loved him. Past tense.

“Mari, I really did try to help her be a better person. I know it’s not a good excuse, but I even convinced her to come clean when you were expelled because I didn’t want you to get hurt. I let her do as she wanted with me, so she wouldn’t hurt you and I really thought I was helping her be good. But I never thought she would-” Adrien felt his eyes sting but forced his own tears back, he had no right to that right now. “God, I was so stupid! I promised to have your back and I let you down. I’m so sorry, Marinette.”

“I’m sorry too,” Marinette began as she wiped at her tears with the palm of her hands. “I’m sorry that whatever life you’ve had before, has blinded you so horribly to what defines a good person. And I’m sorry to myself for letting myself be put down like that because I believed that you would help me. I’m sorry for having wasted so much of my time trusting you like I did,” she turned to the class as she tried to fan her face to stop the tears. “Because if you had really cared, if you had really been my friends,” she turned back to Adrien as she allowed one last tear to fall for him. “You wouldn’t have sat in silence as she repeatedly broke my down.”

Adrien’s heart broke as he watched Marinette try to regain her composure with several deep breaths, but something about it, made it hurt more than he had expected it to. Seeing her so vulnerable tore at him, like someone had reached into his chest and gripped his heart with the intent of ripping it out. The embodiment of love had lost her spark, and it was all because of him. He found himself unable to move, despite wanting nothing but to hold her in his arms and tell her that everything would be okay. That they would make it through this together, them against the world, but as she looked up at him with eyes that refused to shed any more tears, he realized it was too late. He had lost something far more precious than he had realized until it was out of his reach.

“This was meant to be a happy good bye, not this heartbreaking farewell.” Marinette placed a hand on her chest as she began to relax, gaining the strength to once again stand tall and confident. “I realized that I need love myself, that I am under no circumstances someone else’s emotional punching bag and that I deserve to be loved. I deserve to be surrounded by real friends who trust and respect me. Why? Because I am a human being. That’s why I agreed to transfer, because I need to do what’s best for me, and what I need,” she looked into Adrien’s eyes with a rueful smile, “It isn’t here. It’s somewhere out there, waiting for me to find it.”

Marinette could feel her heart ache, but this was for the best. She once again pushed aside her feelings, but smiled as she remembered that this time, it was for her own sake. “So,” she began as she turned to look at each of her classmates, “When I am ready, I will accept your apologies.” She adjusted her hold on the books that didn’t fit in her backpack, and looked at Alya and Nino. “Until then, I will be working hard to make my dreams come true.” She turned to Adrien and offered him one last smile. “I am glad that I got to meet you, all of you, I’m just sorry it didn’t work out. Hopefully when we’re all ready, we can give it another go. Until then, I wish you all the best.”

With that, Marinette turned around and walked out of the classroom, leaving everyone in a guilty silence.

It hurt, to cut off her friends like that, but it was for the best. Marinette held her head high, allowing herself to look back one last time, only when she had reached the steps outside of the school. She smiled fondly at the memories she had made with all of her friends and at the memory of the kind boy she had shared an umbrella with. He would always be her first love, but that was all he was ever meant to be. A beautiful memory, a fleeting dream, of what could have been. With one last deep breath, she turned around and walked away.

Since that day, the pain in her heart slowly began to disappear, and as she adjusted to her new school dorms, she began to make new friends and actually enjoyed her classes for the first time in a long time. It was still hard, at times, to get away when Ladybug was needed, but it didn’t take long for new, more permanent heroes to help her and Chat Noir.

Her feline partner had fallen quiet for a while, but eventually regained his spark when she told him that she was now having the time of her life. He knew her heart was still healing from her first heartbreak, but to her surprise, he wasn’t pushing his luck like before. He kept the flirting down to a bare minimum while respecting her space. He had turned to look her in the eyes when he’d said that someone he loved had taught him the importance of boundaries and respect. His eyes seemed to flash with recognition for a moment and he reached out to her, but he caught himself and shook his head before apologizing for how he had tried to pressure her into loving him.

It had taken her by surprise, but she accepted his apology and hugged him tightly. “Thank you, Chaton!” She allowed herself to hold him tightly without having to worry about his flirtatious advances. “You’re my best friend, and I was scared of losing you because I couldn’t return your feelings. It’s always been you and me against the world, and without you, I would be lost.”

Chat Noir was shocked. Not only did he realize that he had been pushing her away with his advances, but he confirmed what he had been suspecting since Marinette left school. Ladybug and Marinette were the same person. Their eyes, though slightly different because of the magic they used, still held her usual strength and kindness to them. It was then that he made a vow to himself. He may have failed her as Adrien Agreste, but he was going to protect her as Chat Noir. With a promise in his heart, and a new resolve, he gave her a gentle squeeze and left her with a smile as his ring began to beep.

And so, the days came and went, and one day, she realized her heart no longer heart. She was happy, even if she did sometimes run late to class. She laughed as she thought of Alya telling her off for being slow and considered replying to her message later.

“Wooops!” Marinette felt her body lurch forward and prepared herself to hit the ground but was surprised when a strong arm caught her.

“Careful,” a boy hissed as he pulled her up. He wore a scowl on his face but it didn’t take long for Marinette to recognize his icy blue eyes and golden blonde hair.

“F-Felix?” Marinette stumbled back in embarrassment, causing her portfolio to slip from her hands. Oh no.

“Oh, it’s you.” Felix adjusted his violin case as he noticed the pieces of paper on the floor. “What brings you to my school?” He asked as he kneeled down to help her pick up the detailed sketches.

“Fashion design,” Marinette laughed awkwardly as she took the sketches he had gathered and carefully placed them in her portfolio. She flipped through the pages to make sure that nothing was missing, “You?” She nodded when nothing seemed to be out of place and was surprised when she found Felix peering over her shoulder.

“Music, design, business, you name it.” Felix took a step back and nodded towards her portfolio. “You’re actually pretty good. I’m surprised my uncle hasn’t hired you in an ironclad contract.”

“Actually, Jagged Stone did.” Marinette laughed as the warning bell rang. “Ack! That’s my cue, I gotta go. See you around Felix!” She cried with a smile as she ran off.

“See you around,” he laughed as he made his way towards the music hall.

_________

I really wanted this to make the class realize they were lied to, but not in a salt kind of way. It was difficult since I haven’t written this much in a long time, but boy was it fun.