Marinette Dupain-Cheng
Superhero Name - Ladybug
Differences and Notes
Marinette and Adrien really are "just friends" and she doesn't obsess over him all the time. She actually has a crush on Kagami. Very protective of her fraternal twin brother, Marc. He appreciates it somewhat, but it annoys him at times. Has a better job with her social life mixing with her life as a superhero, since she doesn't have to be the only one to keep a secret. She's happy that her twin brother is fighting alongside her. Instead of fashion, Marinette is training to be a fencer, following in the footsteps of her mother, who was a gold medalist. It's actually how she met Kagami, as they became fencing partners. Anytime Marinette starts acting obsessed or stalker-ish with Kagami, Marc is able to snap her out of it. Over the series, she learns to be more emotionally healthy with her love for people. Marinette is more of an extrovert than her brother. Her and Chloe aren't rivals, rather they're friendly enemies. (Chloe is much different in this AU. More of a Tony Stark than a Regina George) She's not seen as the class's "everyday's Ladybug", rather she's just seen as a nice girl who's worth protecting. In general, the class treats her with more respect. Her and Marc are out of the closet, but they still have anxieties over their crushes reciprocating their love. As Ladybug, Marinette is the one who does the interviews and works with the media. Marc prefers to stay in the shadows, away from the limelight. Ladybug is more of the bruiser of the two, while Marc is the defense and healer. Ladybug's weapon's include her yo-yo, and a sword. As Ladybug, she can be a lot more confident around Kagami, who notices that the superhero has a knack for keeping her out of danger.
Marc Dupain-Cheng
Superhero Name - Paon
Differences and Notes
Feels a little more confident thanks to having Marinette as his sister. Still pretty shy and anxious. Met Nathaniel at daycare and they've been bffs ever since. They're known as "The Comic Bros" since they're always sitting next to each other, and working on projects. Marc has been crushing on Nathan since the beginning of middle school. Nathaniel has a crush on Marc as well, but he also likes Marinette. He's in a state of bisexual panic as he doesn't know which sibling to choose. He's thinking about asking Marc, since Marinette doesn't seem too smitten with men. Marc takes after his father Tom, who is a writer. While Tom has never been famous like his wife, he still keeps on writing for the fun of it. Him and Marc share a deep bond, and he's taught his son everything he knows about writing. Jean Duparc is Marc's romantic rival. They're still good friends, they just decide to have a competition to see who wins Nathaniel's heart. Either one would be fine with the other person winning, and would both agree to stay friends with Nathaniel if he doesn't choose either of them. Their rivalry just consists of cheerful barbs and jokes at the other's expense. Marc spends his time babysitting Kiran Chamack (Manon doesn't exist in this timeline.) Kiran is a scared and nervous 8 year-old boy who is well-behaved, yet suffers from constant nightmares and panic attacks. Marc sees him almost as a little brother and relates to Kiran's pain, trying to help him with his anxiety and mental problems. Nathaniel and Marc are the creators of Clash of Worlds, a webcomic where two heroes from different worlds are sent to Earth and decide to protect it from evil. One is a parody of superheroes from Marvel/DC Comicbooks (Nathaniel's character) and the other is inspired by shounen anime and manga (Marc's character). It isn't famous at all, yet has a loyal and passionate fanbase. They have been working on it since La sixième. As Paon, Marc is a quiter and more mysterious hero than Marinette. He prefers to lurk in the shadows, heal civilians, and protect others from harm. His ring gives him the power of telepathy, which he can use to talk with Marinette during and before/after battles. If he gets close enough, he can also communicate with the akuma's mind, trying to break Hawk Moth's control. Loves to help children and weaker civilians as Paon. Paon's equipment includes a magical feather shield, and the feathers on his fan can turn into daggers. Marc loves the feeling of his costume. The long hooded cloak, the fan, the gloves and skirt over the pants, it all feels like a weighted blanket. Nathaniel sees Paon as a sort of mysterious guardian angel, which flatters Marc.
The De-Akumatization Process
Marc finds a way to get close to the akumatized villain, and begins to communicate telepathically. Sometimes the villain immediately surrenders, willingly becoming de-evilized. If not, the villain is distracted enough for Marinette to use her lucky charm to destroy the object containing the Akuma. Marc uses his feathers to purify the butterfly, allowing it to never be akumatized again.
