EDIT: this chapter's layout is a bit unpredictable, I hope the site will display the different fonts. If it doesn't, please excuse me, I'm doing everything I can to make it work!
EDIT 2: Happy MEW year, dear Miraculers! And thank you Clove for your comment!
The following passage takes its inspiration in a real cosplay performance, which took place in September 2017 at the Kumoricon convention. It was led by the cosplayers Momma Sammyu and Uptown Cosplay as Ladybug and Chat Noir, masters of ceremonies and guests of honour of the Lip Sync competition finale (read: a "play-back" competition, where cosplayers dance, act and dance to a music of their choice).
For more than one hour, the two heroes delighted the audience with their announcements and shared complicity, before closing the event with a very true, funny and moving interpretation of the "Love Medley" from Moulin Rouge.
You can find the performance on youtube (YT) with followings key-words:
"Love Medley Uptown cosplay Kumoricon 2017"
"Inception" effect guaranteed: Chat Noir remains true to himself as Christian the bashful lover, and Ladybug plays along as Satine, the Moulin Rouge star, a courtesan supposedly closed to the idea of free and sincere love.
Apart from the obvious homage to our heroes, Uptown and Momma Sammu are obviously having fun – still managing to turn an amateur Lip Sync into a quasi-professional scenic performance.
This being said, the following text is going to merrily spoil the performance and its climax. So don't say I didn't warn you...let's carry on!
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(Paris. A roof, a moonlit night.)
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CHAT NOIR/CHRISTIAN the bashful lover, cheerful, bright-eyed, arms opened as though to embrace all of Paris:
Love is a many splendored thing ! Love lifts us up where we belong ! All you need is love !
LADYBUG/SATINE the Courtesan, sighing tiredly: Please, don't start that again...
CHAT NOIR, elated: All you need is love…!
LADYBUG, disillusioned: A girl has got to eat!
CHAT NOIR, teasing: All you need is love!
LADYBUG, stepping forward, more insistent: …or she'll end up on the street !
CHAT NOIR, silencing her with a finger on her lips: All you need is love!
LADYBUG, walking away frowning: Uuuh!
(He stays dazed. she crosses her arms and mumbles, provoking)
LADYBUG: …Love is just a game.
CHAT NOIR, walks to her, proud, daunting, a wide smile on his face: I was made for loving you, baby, (he strokes her cheek) and you were made for loving me!
LADYBUG, pushes him away, puts a hand on his chest and makes him step back: The only way of loving me, baby, is to pay a lovely fee! (she turns her back and walks away, smiling, her hand outstretched)
CHAT NOIR, running after her, begging: Just one night, just one night!
LADYBUG, bopping him on the nose: There's no way, 'cause you can't pay!
CHAT NOIR, swirling, grandiloquent: In the name of Love! (he kneels, hands clasped together as if to pray) One night in the name of Love!
LADYBUG, pushes him away once more: You crazy fool! I won't give in to you.
(He looses his grin, comes back to her, suddenly very serious)
CHAT NOIR, grabbing her hand: Don't! …leave me this way. (he tries to kiss her hand, she lets him do it, inexpressive) I can't survive without your sweet love…(he strokes her cheek, whispering, and closes his eyes) Oh baby, don't leave me this way.
(she pulls away from his embrace, walks away, head low. His eyes follow her, but he doesn't dare to move)
LADYBUG, with a sigh: You think that people would have enough of silly love songs…
CHAT NOIR, pensive: I look around me and I see it isn't so. (he chuckles) Oh, no …!
LADYBUG, crossing her arms, approaching slowly: Some people wanna fill the world with silly love songs…
CHAT NOIR, raises his hands, innocent-looking: Well, what's wrong with that? (he slides behind her, whispers in her ear) I'd like to know…(starts again more playfully, turning around her) 'Cause here I go, again!
(He walks to the edge of the roof, does an entrechat gracefully)
CHAT NOIR, smiling, elated, towering Paris with his clear voice: Love lifts us up where we belong! Where the eagles fly, on a mountain high…!
(Ladybug sighs, shrugs, then hurries back to him)
LADYBUG, grabbing his ear and pulling him away from the roof as he grimaces: Love makes us act like we are fools! (lets him go) Throw our lives away, for one happy day!
(He stamps his feet, hesitates, then puts his hands on her cheeks. She quiets)
CHAT NOIR, exalted, desperate: WE COULD BE HEROES! (gentler) …Just for one day...?
LADYBUG, steps back and points at him, annoyed: You!…You will be mean.
CHAT NOIR, smiling, sincere: No, I won't!
LADYBUG, with a deep sigh: And I… I'll drink all the time. (walks to the end of the stage)
(He hesitates, seems to ponder, then gives up)
CHAT NOIR, hopeful: We should be lovers…!
LADYBUG, sad, disillusioned: We can't do that…
CHAT NOIR, walking gently to her, almost tiptoeing: We should be lovers! And that's a fact.
(she walks away a bit more, then stops, hesitant. Turning his back to him, she takes off her mask, then faces him, nervous. Startled, he steps back, dumbfounded)
LADYBUG, smiles tentatively: Though nothing will keep us together…
CHAT NOIR, astonished, then pensive, looking at his own ring: …We could steal time…
TOGETHER, their eyes locking together: …Just for one day?
TOGETHER, walking slowly toward each other, their voice, gesture slowly becoming more assertive: We could be heroes, forever and ever…
(They took their hands, hesitant)
TOGETHER: We could be heroes, forever and ever!
(Chat Noir invites her to put his hand on her shoulder, and grabs her waist respectfully. Their voices are strong, passionate)
TOGETHER: We could be heroes, just because...
(Together, they waltz tentatively)
CHAT NOIR: …I, and I will always love you!
(He stops and makes her swirl. She follows, graceful and smiling)
LADYBUG: I, and I…
(They both stop)
TOGETHER: …Can't help loving...!
(In each other's arms, their voices are but a whisper)
CHAT NOIR: …You.
(He strokes her cheek. She whispers)
LADYBUG: How wonderful life is…
(He smiles as she strokes her chin. They resume the song, looking in each other's eyes)
TOGETHER: …now you're in the world.
(She kisses him)
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"That was AWESOME! I can't wait to upload this video! Oh, Marinette is going to regret so much not to have come! She's a Moulin Rouge AND Ladybug fan, this performance was made for her!"
I blush and try to hide my lukewarm enthusiasm. The two cosplayers' performance – with the Love Medley from Moulin Rouge, if you please! – was of very high quality indeed, but it left me really ill-at-ease. Maybe because Ladybug – Momma Sammu – took off her mask without the slightest hesitation? Though I keep telling myself it's just fiction, pure fanservice as Alya put it, it troubled me.
Just like the cosplayer's recoil – Uptown, of course – playing Chat Noir. If it happened in real life, what would Chat Noir do, faced with the real me? Faced with Marinette?
Would he step back too? Out of surprise, of disappointment? Or would he give in to the magic of the moment, just like Uptown did?
And this finale...
My cheeks are burning. Why do I get all worked up about it? And what about this "magic of the moment?"
I knew I shouldn't have watched this number! Not as Ladybug! If she notices my uneasiness, Rena Rouge will tease me for weeks on end – and even tell Marinette all about it. And let's not talk about Chat Noir...
By the way, where is he? Such a number probably motivated him to play lady-killer!
I look around and find him in deep conversation with Carapace. Ever since he saw Chat Noir with a Teemo hat, Nino presses him of questions about the online game. Turns out they're both seasoned players, and since this morning, they talk about strategies, "lanes" and "pentakill" again and again. They're talking breathlessly, between two now-instinctive poses for the fans admiring their "cosplay".
Yet, since we left the main stage and the cosplay competition, Chat Noir is strangely silent, only answering in monosyllables to his partner's affirmations.
"Well, anyway, it was flattering, don't you think?" Rena Rouge carries on. "The awesome Uptown Cosplay did it again! And this dress, Ladybug! Have you seen your alter ego's dress?"
She grabs me by my shoulders and invites me to watch again the best parts on her camera. I wince: Rena Rouge still has trouble controlling her strength, and the excitement due to the competition doesn't help.
"A mix of Satine's costume and your own suit! I'm sure it would inspire Marinette for her next creation! What material did she use, for this shiny effect, do you think? And for it to float like this when Uptown made her swirl? What was it, velvet?"
I chuckle: as Alya or Rena Rouge, her high spirits are contagious, as always. I look at the video and chose my words carefully.
"Hum...I'm not an expert, I'm sorry..."
I think velvet would be to heavy to allow such a flowing effect. Ideally, I should see the dress up close, but I don't think it would be easy to approach Momma Sammu. Her version of Ladybug troubles me: it's a very popular version of myself, but it has nothing to do with who I really am. I understand now Chat Noir's problem with Uptodwn before the semi-finales.
Nino went to get drinks, and Chat Noir, next to us, keeps silent. I watch him out of the corner of my eye, surprised to see him so pensive. He looks as unsettled than me by the two cosplayers' charm. Who would have thought?
A forty-something woman timidly approaches Chat Noir to ask for a picture with her two sons waiting behind her. She has to repeat her question several times before my partner stops zoning out and nods.
"Are you sure you don't mind? You must be bothered a lot, your costume is so well-made!"
To my relief, Chat Noir's grin reappears.
"No trouble! If I didn't want to be photographed, I would have come in civilian clothes!"
He even bows deeply, and the mother steps back, pleasantly surprised.
"Oh, thank you! Since Chat Noir saved us from Gigantitan's attack, my children are all about him! Boys, come on!"
After looking for my silent approbation, Chat Noir leaves me his bag and his hat, then kneels to be at level with the boys.
"Hello, lads! So you're my future replacements? I'm lucky!"
The two kids' eyes – they're twins – shine as if Christmas had come early. One is Chat Noir, the other Chat Blanc, this antagonized version of my partner that keeps spreading on the web.
"Akumatized Chat Noir". The fans can have some morbid ideas...but in this context, I have to admit that they're rather cute.
Comforted by Chat Noir's cheerful and considerate attitude – really, he knows his way around kids – I come back to Alya's video. My friend is still analysing the scene word by word, and I end up joining her, amused. Last time I saw her like this, that was when she discovered never-seen-before pictures of my fight against Dark Cupid on the web – well, mostly my "kiss" with Chat Noir. The mere thought of it makes me blush again.
A rescue. It was only a rescue.
"And have you seen Uptown? Such class, such presence! Such restraint, such maturity! I know someone who should take notes, huh?"
She elbows me gently, chuckling. She shudders suddenly, then glances at the clock in the corner of her screen.
"Wait, what time is it? Uptown's conference on the art of playing a character is in ten minutes! And that's on the other end of the hangar! If we're lucky, we might have some seats! Come one, Marinette!"
She grabs me by the arm and runs through the crowd. After a few steps, I freeze. Panicking.
What did she call me…?
No?!
I pull away from her, and Rena Rouge turns to me, surprised.
"Huh...are you alright, Ladybug? Something's wrong?"
I jump, back from my surprise. Alya walks to me. As I avoid her gaze, she gently grabs my shoulder.
"Ladybug? You're very pale all of a sudden. What's going on? Akuma alert?"
Her ruby eyes watch me with a sincere concern. I comfort her as I can.
"No. Erm...I'm alright. I think I'm going to get some fresh air. I'll meet you there, Rena Rouge."
"Alright..."
She has a contrite smile.
"Sorry I got carried away, we love this artist so much, my friend Marinette and I! I promised her to bring tons of videos and details, maybe even an autograph. And Uptown playing Chat Noir on a Moulin Rouge Lip Sync, that was brilliant! Oh, I regret so much not having been able to convince her to come!"
She bursts out laughing.
"That's dumb, isn't it? But since I joined you, it's as if I've become an even more passionate fan! Sorry, even before I was Rena Rouge, I'm a lost cause when it comes to the Miraculous…!"
She waves at me, her ears twitching happily despite of herself. Thankfully, the crowd is very dense and among all the cosplayers, no one pays attention to us.
"I'll rush in! We'll meet there? Nino, come here!"
I try to answer, but she's already gone, followed by Nino back from the refreshment stall. I stay dazed for a few seconds, before sighing with relief. My legs feel like jelly.
"Come on, Marinette!"
It was only a slip. A slip, maybe because I was enthusiastic just like Marinette would be next to Alya. She didn't even notice it. And she hasn't noticed my brief panic attack.
Pfew.
I strengthen my grip on Chat Noir's bag and turn away. I can't wait for him to finish his photos with the twins, so we can step out of this hangar. The atmosphere in the crowded aisles is becoming unbearable, and having to stop and pose every other step makes matters worse...
I cross my partner's astonished gaze. I freeze again, surprised.
He's carrying the Chat Noir twin on his hips – the kid is over the moon – while at his feet the Blanc twin swirls enthusiastically the fake staff. After one last picture, their mother approaches, repeating her thanks. Looking absent, Chat Noir puts the kid down and takes his staff back, greets the two children and their parents with a wave. When, finally, the family walks away, his green eyes come back to me, and I'm scared to find them so wide. As though...unbelieving.
After one long silence, Chat Noir smiles. A very hesitant, yet bright smile. A smile that I'm sure I've seen somewhere else, but I can't say where for sure.
He mouths a word in silence, and my heart misses a heartbeat.
"...Marinette?"
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It's been fun but now I've got to go
Life it way too short to take it slow
But before I go and hit the road
I gotta know, 'til then…
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When can we do this again?
Oh oh oh oh
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When can I see you again…?
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To be Continued...?
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Thanks to my dear friend Vanamonde for translating SYCD.
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I hope you liked it?
There's a sequel (the equivalent of a double episode of Miraculous, actually), but writing it is not among my top priorities...unless there's demand for it?
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A word to the wise. Thank you, and see you soon!
Elenthya – Writer
Vanamonde – Translator