AN: Howdy-doo my little munchkins. I'm glad you're liking my little fic, your comments are worth their weight in gold! Currently working on this fic a lot between work and working horses (if any of my readers want to talk horses, just hit me up! I could talk about them for hours!) because I have no social life to occupy the third portion of my time. :( Oh well, more chapters for you guys I guess :)
I'd like to talk about Juleka's outburst back in Chapter 3 I think. We've seen how she is when she's upset, in both the Reflekdoll episodes she was akumatised because of a slight to her. She and Luka clearly love each other, we saw that in Reflekdoll that Luka is the one that looks out for Juleka the most, he's her big brother. Now, Anarka (their mother) is clearly a…free spirit. The kids are probably really used to looking out for themselves. Luka's clearly a reasonable person (for example not throwing temper tantrums when his crush is unrequited unlike other people *cough*Adrien/Chat Noir *cough*) so he's been able to guide Juleka as best he can. Juleka's clearly used to Luka being the responsible one, making the decisions and so on. Now, in Juleka's mind, Lila is wonderful. She's been making promises to everyone and making everyone feel loved and special (because she doesn't have any other hobbies and is able to dedicate time to manipulating people). So when she sees her reasonable, responsible older brother tossing all rhyme and reason out the window (or so she thinks) for Marinette (who he obvs has a crush on) she thinks he's lost his marbles when he 'fell in love' or whatever the writers call crushes. None of the class actually take the time to think about anything, but Luka hasn't been saturated with Lila's lies and was able to think back to what he knows of Marinette (which is a lot more than he knows about Lila and he knows Marinette wouldn't hurt a fly before it hurt her first).
All in all, Juleka's world has turned upside down and enough is enough, she had to call out the one who was making the most reliable person in her life (Luka) flake on her. Juleka snapped through a combination of high emotions, lies and the fear that her brother was falling for Chloe 2.0 and she was going to lose him.
Anyway.
Some of my questions, to you guys as readers, shall be posted in Author's Notes from now on! My outline for this fic is pretty neat and tidy but it needs some meat! What would you guys like to see in some of the following scenes?
- A girl's night in
- Team Marinette v Lila scenes
- A girl's day out
- A surprise party
- A snoop into Lila's background (before Francois Dupont)
If there are any extra scenes you would like to see, even if they aren't listed here, don't be afraid to suggest them! I would love to know what you guys think and want to see more of. :)
And now, replies to guest reviews:
Guest, chapter 4: I'm glad you're excited :) Lukanette is probably my favourite ship in the series. If I have an idea for one, I might write a few full length Lukanette stories. I'm not sure if I will or will not fit a ship into this story or not.
A Wonderful Terrible Idea
Saturday morning brought with it a series of furious texts from Chloe, and concerned texts from Luka and Lila both. Marinette forced herself to focus on Luka's texts first, as Chloe could stand to wait until after Marinette had breakfasted, as for Lila…Marinette would ignore those.
Lu: Just checking in to make sure you're ok after yesterday :)
Marinette smiled to herself as she replied, it was refreshing to have someone genuinely concerned about her, rather than by her as Ms Bustier had admitted to her parents at their last check-in which Lila's parents were mysteriously absent for.
M: Much better thanks Luka :)
While she waited for his reply Marinette and Tikki went downstairs for a breakfast of mixed fruits and cookies respectively. Marinette's parents were both downstairs already, as they always were at this time of the day.
Marinette's phone chimed with a new message.
Lu: Are you going to be alright at school on Monday? Marinette hummed to herself and glanced at Tikki sitting on the counter, watching quietly.
M: Im going to have to be
The response to that was almost immediate.
Lu: If you ever want to talk to someone, even if it's about nothing, I'm here for you, ok?
M: Thanks Luka youre the best!
Lu: Anytime Marinette
With newfound courage, Marinette faced Chloe's texts.
C: WhaT the HELL happened Friday DupanCheng?!
C: Rsssi hasn't left me alone all ngit!
C: Keeps raving about u fainting and being a drama queen when she tried to help and being rude to everyone
C: I don't know why she htinks I care!
C: shes a frickin psycho
C: you better have a plan to get rid of her asap!
Marinette cringed at the raging texts before typing out a response.
M: I fainted cos I missed lunch when I was at te couffaines. Lila was there, pretending to be a Snucci designer so she could design Kitty Section's new outfits
Chloe's typing dots appeared almost immediately.
C: ridiculous utterly ridiculous
C: Whats she said to you I know she said something to you
C: we might be able to get dirt on her with it
Marinette wasn't sure what kind of dirt Chloe thought they could get by going through Lila's texts but…
"It's worth a try," Marinette muttered, startling Tikki.
"What is?" Tikki asked.
"Nothing." Marinette shook her head and smiled reassuringly. Tikki didn't look entirely convinced but let the matter lie. Marinette opened Lila's texts and waited for the worst. She scrolled through them to about late yesterday afternoon and read the messages through.
Li: OMG! Marinette! I can't believe you fainted earlier! :O
Li: I wish I could have helped you but I had to help Kitty Section with their costume designs! :( :( :(
Li: I fainted once at a feast after I freed this African prince from terrorists and the king himself taught me this technique to help cure yourself afterwards!
Li: You smear your face with butter then mix it with melted cheese and rest in a freezing bath while holding your breath. I swear it works miracles! Marinette scoffed. Like Lila would ever do something so silly.
Li: I hope it helps
Li: I was SO upset seeing you faint yesterday D: I wish I could have been more helpful yesterday.
Li: The others thought you were faking for attention but I know you'd never be so selfish
Li: Even after how mean you've been to me since I came back from my parents' world tour!
Li: I just know you can't be as awful as they've been saying you are!
Marinette grit her teeth reading through the half dozen or more messages that followed with similar sentiments. With Lila pretending to be some sort of nicety saint, slipping barbs into her offers of help and 'steadfast belief' in Marinette's good character.
"She's such a snake," Marinette hissed, glaring at the messages. "She's just doing this to make everyone think she's on everyone's side and baiting me and being all passive aggressive and holy and…" Marinette trailed off as something occurred to her. A lightbulb clicked on inside her mind, illuminating the beginnings of a plan…an idea. A wonderful terrible idea.
A wicked grin curled across Marinette's face and Tikki watched her type out messages with wide, concerned eyes.
To Lila she sent:
M: I had no idea, thats amazing Lila! Thank you SO much for your concern, and I'm going to try that tip you told me about! :)
M: I can see now that we got off to a bad start but I want to make it up to you! You seem like SUCH a nice girl and I cant wait to get to kno you better :)
To Chloe she sent:
M: I have a plan and it's already in motion. You aren't going to like it one bit
Chloe's response was nearly instantaneous, Marinette was beginning to suspect that Chloe lived on her phone.
C: what aren't I going to like? Tell me dupainchen
C: it betr not be grosss
M: I cant tell you over text. Can we meet somewhere?
C:Fine
C: Come to the hotel, ill let Jean gaff know to let you in
Marinette was ushered into Chloe's suite within the hour and was met with the sight of Chloe reclining on a lounge, flicking through a magazine while Sabrina sat at a nearby table, clearly doing both girls' homework.
Chloe glanced up as Marinette approached and took note of Marinette's notebook tucked under her arm.
"Give your homework to Sabrina, she can finish it while you tell me about this…plan you have."
Marinette drew back slightly before pushing forward. "It's not homework, and even if it was, I wouldn't make Sabrina do it for me. She's not a slave."
Chloe rolled her eyes before flipping about on the couch to sit up. "Plan. Tell me."
Marinette opened up the book she'd brought with her, the page she opened to contained a series of notes and sketches illustrating her points which she gestured to as she spoke.
"You were right." Chloe lifted her nose. "I don't like this plan at all."
Marinette shrugged. "That's too bad, Chloe. Like I said, it's already in motion."
"Why, exactly, did you pick this plan? Couldn't you have come up with something easier, like homicide?" Chloe whined.
"Because it gets both of us back into everyone's good graces, teachers, parents, and classmates. Who knows, maybe everyone will actually start liking you for once." Marinette smirked at the rising colour in Chloe's face.
"They're all just jealous," Chloe denied. "Peasants, the lot of them."
Marinette shrugged airily, glancing at Sabrina still buried in homework. "Whatever you say, Chloe. Regardless, we start Monday." Sabrina jerked where she sat and something about it made Marinette's stomach twist.
Chloe pouted but nodded. "Fine. You better not blow this, Dupain-Cheng. Not the way you did with Ice Queen."
Marinette rolled her eyes. "Maybe you try not to blow it, Chloe." She paused. "Kagami's not so bad, actually, you know."
"Whatever," Chloe muttered. "You've said your piece now get out, Dupain-Cheng. I don't want to hear your little squeaky voice anymore."
"Whatever you say, Chloe. See you Monday. Bye Sabrina!" She waved at the two girls, notebook under her arm once more, before slipping out the door to set the next part of her plan in motion.
Alrighty, Chapter 5 done. Anybody wanna guess what the plan is? ;) And again, suggestions or anything you want to see or see more of, just comment or PM me!