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Then vs Now

The funniest thing about Shizuke is back when he was dressed like a punk he was still mostly timid and doesn't actually get into fights beyond stopping Fiona from going too far. But then the first day of school where he started dressing as a nerd, he gets into fight and sent to the guidance counselor.

So there was a time when Shizuke went through a punk emo phase trying to be cool like Fiona... Thinking about it, doesn't that leave Keagan as the odd one out for a time? Being the normie with his two emo friends lol

✨ Then VS Now ✨

ft. Shizuke Midorikawa

Just gonna talk about this interesting little phenomenon that goes on with people who know more than one language and how it applies to Shizuke.

How one person can sound different depending on what language they use. Like, they sound more casual and emotive in one language but more chill and polite in another. There are plenty of reasons for this and no, it's not having a split personality. There's finding comfort in the words they use, associations or maybe its just the people they use to communicate with the language that colors how they speak with it. That kind of stuff. I relate to that as a bilingual, people have said I sound different when I speak English compared to Tagalog. I've also observed that in some people I know are also bilingual, especially actors.

Anyway, it's typically people tend to be more expressive in their native tongue and more stiff in their second language. At least, that's what I've observed.

But I think with Shizuke, it'd be the other way around. He's more stiff and formal in Japanese. His English, while still polite, is lighter and more emotive.

It's got a lot to do with having friends his age he's very close to and how casual they are that Shizuke can neglect formalities around them. It's also probably because he was in Helios during his early teens, the age where kids start being more independent, that his English is more used to dealing with people who are not just older than him, but now there are kids who are younger than him - it's kinda significant to him that he's not the youngest who has to defer to everyone. There are kids his age or younger than him who he doesn't have to be formal around.

Back in Japan, he only had Ai as a friend and she's always super formal with the way she spoke. He had a hard time making other friends in class because they were envious of him being acknowledged by her to that extent. At home, most of the kids in his neighborhood are older than him. His paternal grandmother also runs a ryokan/traditional japanese inn, so she's pretty strict with etiquette. Especially when there are guests he may run into. That leaves him surrounded by people older than him that he has to be formal around. There are hardly any kids his age or younger that he can be casual with.

He also doesn't tend to mix up his English and Japanese unless he's with his Grandma, the one who contributed the most in him getting to learn English. It's also why she's "grandma" and not "oba-san". She'd get what he's saying either way and the two language just fuse in his head when he's talking to her. But around others, he's more conscious about his words.

When it comes to voice or sound, if anyone hears him in Japanese, he sounds younger, softer and more unsure. He still uses the pronoun "boku" to refer to himself. He can still be loud, but it's not as screachy, voice-cracking, from the gut kind his English hits. I think his pitch in Japanese is probably lighter too.

His English in contrast would sound as anyone would expect from a teen his age. A little more assertive, he's used to leading as the "responsible one". A little deeper, at least when he's using his indoor voice. Definitely louder by default. The sounds are more firm.

Context, I believe, is what's affecting this the most. Even monolinguals would notice they speak a little differently when talking to their friends or siblings compared to how they talk to their teacher or parents.

Reputation wise, people think Shizubug is just this natural all-loving hero. Even Blaircat believed it, amidst her bottled up envy for people viewing him this way, despite seeing him as an unreasonable hardass she does believe he is also 'a paragon of unattainable virtues.' (according to her narration in Slumber, chap 2). Genuinely, she believed he's got nobler intentions than her and her desire to rise above the shadow Lila cast on her descendents. What does he have to gain from all this? Cause clearly he's suffering physically from all the pressure he put on himself doing needless tasks like helping old ladies cross the streets or rescuing cats from gigantic trees. It can only be a desire to save everyone, right?

Nah Blair. Shizubug's got insecurities and feels the need to make up for them through effort. He gained credibility with the masses through his patrols as he fruitlessly looked for Hawkmoth.

And most of all, he's only this devoted to the cause because it was Keagan who got akumatized first.

If it were any other guy... Well, Shizuke's already expressed what he thought in Scorched Origins. He'd totally victim blame because part of getting the powers is for the victim to agree to Hawkmoth.

He once underestimated how badly Hawkmoth can tune one's emotions, making the already vulnerable even more vulnerable and thus, easier to manipulate. She looks for victims who are at rock bottom, who feel trapped, and offer what looks like the only way out.

But then it turns out Keagan got akumatized. The willful and confident mayor's son who is a force to be reckoned with. He is not a person who's easily shaken yet Hawkmoth still got to him.

Worst of all, Hawkmoth even got him to attack Fiona, someone he knows very well Keagan would never want to hurt on purpose and Keagan wouldn't forgive anyone who does so. Shizuke remembers the first time Keagan pulled the mayor card and it was on Damien who cut Fiona's hair in a fight... Let's just say Damien is lucky Fiona didn't make a big deal out of it and punched him the next day. Keagan would commit overkill over stuff like that.

If even Keagan can get akumatized and forced into doing something he would never want to do, then what hope does the average person have?

If someone else got akumatized in origins, the true gravity of the situation wouldn't hit Shizuke as hard as it did. He could've been as casual about it as Blair was at first. There'd be less anguish, less guilt, less urgency... But that would cost Shizuke a slower development into the kind of hero the city needed. He would've struggled more to gain their trust, especially when he's not as intuned with the Miraculous mythos as the locals.

Instead it was Keagan who was first akumatized. Shizuke gets to understand this sooner and come off like a uniquely empathetic hero who isn't blinded by the grandeur of legends, but rather more down to earth and looking at things at a more present angle rather than a rose tinted historical one.

If it were anyone else he'd be more neutral, even skeptical on how much should akumas be considered victims instead of being completely on their side... He'd think they were just being weak-willed to not fight off Hawkmoth... Just like he was weak-willed to stop Damien from bullying people even when he knew he was doing something wrong. He'd be kinder to children akuma victims and that's it.

This is as far as I go for now with this one. I'll see how I feel about it tomorrow. It's breaking a pattern I set out with the first few I made, so I may end up monochroming this depending on my mood. My art keeps evolving faster than I can actually work on rewriting BTaL Remastered. Granted, this is a Bonus Chapter and I'm considering leaving it as 1st Person Perspective as Bonus Chaps were supposed to be a deeper dive into a character that isn't Shizuke or Blair so keeping it colored on top of that makes it really stand out. I dunno, might make test posts of what I've written before officially posting the update. Anyone wanna chime in on this?

Trying to get back into art on my last hours of freedom. Decided maybe I should just stick with some low commitment pieces for now like portraits of OCs that I haven't drawn in a while.

Introducing, Keagan's older sister, Octavia Eleanor Aurelio-Ashworth. She first officially shows up in Episode 4: Slumber, but before that, she's been mentioned a couple of times as a fencing champion. She is definitely the golden child between herself, Keagan and Leo, having both talent and drive to be the best... Is that all there is to her?

In terms of relationship dynamic with her younger brother Keagan, they do care about each other but there's this awkward distance between them - it's a contrast between Fiona who's always squabbling with her older brother Gav but they're somehow fairly close and know each other fairly well. Part of which may be due to her boyfriend... To the point Keagan got akumatized over it... it's... it's a stupid reason and that's what made Scorch all the more tragic for Keagan... but this awkwardness is also due to Octavia catching most of the pressure as the mayor's first born, and their father being a highly accomplished guy who everyone is needling for a weakness. She opted to excel and shine bright as having her be the focus of the public would mean there's less pressure that would trickle down on Keagan. It didn't work, but Keagan could appreciate the effort (probably figured that out from reading her diary lol Keagan is definitely nosy enough to do that).

She's a lot like her father in that aspect where they're both academically and athletically smart but when it comes to expressing their love for their younger siblings, they're both drawing blanks. It's kinda lucky for her that Keagan isn't the envious sort like Leo that he's open to reconnecting with her to try to understand her better instead of resenting her for being the golden child. Time will tell if she and Keagan can ever fix that bridge but there's hope as neither of them actually want to burn that it down.

Role-wise, she's kind of like Nora to Keagan's Alya if that makes sense. Octavia is primarily reputed as an athlete though her take on it is more feminine. Fiona and Shizuke both have a lot of respect and admire her, but they both would get shy about talking to her about personal stuff and keep a polite distance - which is, again, in contrast to how they're like with Fiona's older brother who they're close enough to mess with his stuff and annoy.

Shizuke is notably an immigrant and was born and originally raised in Johto. Potentially having some roots in Hoenn too. This one's pretty solid.

Ai and Chihiro are both from Kanto.

Fiona, I can see her having roots in the Crown Tundra of Galar, her grandfather likely still lives there. Maybe Sinnoh too, may be where her mom is originally from.

Blake and Blair definitely have roots in Kalos. Can't imagine them being from anywhere else.

Natalia could also have roots in Kalos, but I can also imagine she has roots in Hoenn.

Damien may have roots in either Paldea or Unova.

I feel White Knight might be too loaded with Fiona and Keagan's baggage but it's also a very vulnerable time for Shizuke and he was slipping (enough that Keagan figured him out, he got reckless cause it's Fiona involved and the Fencing sword Lucky Charm is pretty much hinting Keagan should try to stop her but Shizuke would rather not so he de-transformed and tried to...). It's possible it's just a close call with Blair this time and she managed to stop him without learning who he is. But it can also be a time for Blair to break back into his perspective and remind him he is still not alone despite Fiona losing her memories.

He just didn't keep tabs on the accessories Shizuke put on, like, did he actually pierced his ears like Fiona or did he only do clips or cuffs?

Leo didn't care.

Switching bodies with Shizuke to learn he has his ears pierced and no evidence of healing (Grandma Master Hisui ensured that through potions), Leo just shrugged at them. Thinking ah, is Shizuke trying to go back to his emo punk phase again? Is he trying to impress Blair with it? Lol lemme show you how it's done, loser!

... Leo kept the stud earrings on and went out of his way to dress Shizuke up. He's kinda annoyed that Keagan was right, Shizuke does clean up pretty nicely... Then he remembered there was this random anonymous model who replaced him all those months ago after Fiona kicked him in the crotch... The one in the Miraculous Valentine's special, with Blair... So he arranged Shizuke's hair just so and... Ah. It's him isn't it?

Keagan's scoring 100% on all his tests even as he's goofing around while Leo can study all night and only score like, 90%, pretty good but not effortlessly perfect. Their fencing teacher is noticing Keagan's talent and adaptability compared to Leo who takes longer to master stances. Keagan is technically the up and coming candidate mayor's son so most rich kids view Keagan as more worthwhile to get on with.

Back when they got along, Leo didn't like that he feels envious of his baby cousin.

But then his father died and his mother places the blame on Keagan... Why is the kid so needy (he was 5)? He could've asked for a butler for help, why did it have to be your father (cause he thinks of his uncle as a father figure and he wants at least one parent while his dad is too busy campaigning and his mom is never around)?

It wasn't actually hard to turn Leo against Keagan. His mother stoked the worst in him.

It's also got me thinking of Keagan's own trust issues that may be caused by Leo... Who can pull off looking like him and turn almost all of his tentative high society friends against him. After all, they share the same face. It's the real reason why Keagan makes it a point to be good at remembering faces... Remember who turned against him and who didn't. The ratio doesn't look good.

And all that time, the only one Leo has never turned against Keagan was Fiona who never fell for it and Shizuke who was never worth it.

Leo totally got more of a role in S3 compared to the previous seasons. As Keagan started changing (to better support Shizuke now that he knows his secret), Leo starts feeling threatened... Especially when Keagan showed up at Fencing tryouts as a late entree and everyone was way too eager to see the rumored genius in action.

Keagan is normally easily cowed by Leo cause a part of him believed he deserved his cousin's cruelty. He too blames himself for Uncle Augusto's death. But this time, there's someone else on the line he is doing all this for. His guilt from their past isn't as important as supporting Shizubug making it up to Fiona right now. This time, he can protect them.

Step aside, Leo, he is joining the fencing team and he doesn't care if he dethrones you while doing so.

Whether they got together immediately after the reveal or they took a few more episodes cause they're clowns. I don't think I can fully commit until I actually write this part and settle all the context building up to it.

How many people actually know they're dating and which sides. Like, I don't think they'll be revealing the catbug side of the square is dating at the same time as shizublair cause that's like, might as well be telling Hawkmoth Shizuke is Ladybug... Trying to think which side is publicly official. Leaning towards shizublair as like, something of a reference to canon while their ladynoire is platonic to the public but secretly dating.

Potential bonding episodes with each other's friends, though mainly Fiona and Blake as Keagan is stepping away with all their secrets. I've already settled with Fiona and Blair having a club hunting B-plot during the fencing centric episode. Not sure what happens with Shizuke and Blake. Maybe they're the C-plot in the fencing episode, both checking out the fencing club cause Keagan and Natalia are both trying to get in.

How jealousy could be handled. Shizuke probably, but I feel it's gonna be more of a B-plot as Blair may try to confront Leo in a photoshoot and the way they're directed to sell a couple (team miraculous may or may not be catching on to him)... I do think Blair's jealousy is gonna be more tame by S3 because she already had an episode in an earlier season to call her out on it...

I'm wondering if Ai should transfer schools to Helios as the grace period for shizublair to resolve the Hawkmoth case is drawing to a close. As I've said in a previous post somewhere, the order under Marinette is huge and has expanded to operate globally. They could've helped shizublair at any time but Hisui would refuse because she just knows they'll use their "help" as leverage to staking claim on the ladybug and black cat miraculous. Shizublair is given around the same time as Adrienette had to take down their Hawkmoth, which is a little over a year? Or did I put it at three? Maybe half that? Welp, Ai showing up means the Tsurugis are putting in the pressure. This deserves a dedicated arc for this new reoccurring character if I do decide to put her in and as someone who can rile up both Shizuke and Blair.

Speaking of people from Japan flying over into Helios, Shizuke's parents should totally visit though I think this episode is gonna be more family focused, revealing how much Shizuke's mom, Yuriko (or Hanako, I'm still not solid on the name), actually knew of the miraculous... And how she felt about Bianca, Blair's mom who's like, closer to her own mother Hisui than she was. After all, she's the blood daughter Hisui left behind while Bianca is like, found family who's around her daughter's age and her supposed successor. I'm bringing this up in a shizublair post cause I think this connection may affect how Shizuke's mom actually sees Blair and how she feels about their relationship.

Blair's parents showing up in the episode focusing on the day of the dead thanks to a necromancer themed akuma. I know Blair's mom would be thrilled to see where her meddling with getting them to meet could've led to. I'm not sure about Blair's dad. Would he be apprehensive cause Shizuke's also involved with the miraculous? Supportive cause he seems like a decent guy? Mess with him cause Blair totally got her trolling from one of her parents? I do know that I don't want him to fill the overprotective/possessive/territorial dad stereotype. That's just eww. He'd want his daughter to be happy but he'd be a little cautious. Might pull a minor test of character/interview on Shizuke and end up reading him like a billboard.

Should I bother with a dating centric fluff filler episode where these two try to date but kept getting interrupted? I think this kind of episode is better appreciated in a 24 episode season series meant to be watched than in a 13 episode season series that's written like a tight anime season. Pacing issues and all that since the romance will be surrounded by other arcs.

Fiona Kuznetsov:

Right off the bat you see it in her more feminine design. Prime Fiona considers her nightmare scenario is being stuck like that.

Reverse AU Fiona however doesn't think her situation is that much of a nightmare as she had to grow up like this and was not presented an alternative or encouragement to explore other options the way Prime Fiona had, thanks in part to having met Keagan much sooner. Can't really mourn what you never had. Though she starts to get more tomboyish as her story progresses.

She also hates being seen as a weak damsel, but Reverse AU Fiona, who was never seen as anything but a fragile princess-like heiress, uses it to her advantage.

Keagan Gerald Aurelio Ashworth:

Reverse AU Keagan is at his peak when it comes to both tech and fencing... Because he didn't have a choice but to rely only on himself. He's stuck alone in a snake pit made by the Supreme. He always has to be on guard cause who else can he rely on? Prime Keagan hates being alone and doesn't particularly care enough to put 100% into anything he does cause he never had to.

This is also in part because he didn't get to meet people as loyal and as honest as Fiona and Shizuke growing up that he's so cagey. Reverse AU Keagan takes Prime Keagan's hidden distrust and cranks it up a notch.

Reverse AU Keagan also never got a chance to reconcile with his father, who sacrificed himself to protect Keagan (as punishment when he almost got caught) and has since been replaced by a Senti... This is how the Supreme took control of his family.

Blake Crawford:

After losing his parents, he fears losing Blair. That's why for most of the Reverse AU, this Blake's goal is to find his sister.

This search consumed him so badly, he missed out and damaged his relationship with Natalia irrevocably.

He's long associated wielding the miraculous to death, as Prime Blake would put it, danger follows a miraculous wielder wherever they go and it certainly did not spare his parents. It's why he didn't take Blair as Chat Noir well, like, being a Miraculous wielder is bad enough but she just had to get the one with the role infamous for sacrificing themselves for the Ladybug... In this au, he's now the one wielding the unlucky black cat.

Blair Crawford:

She shares that same fear of separation as Blake. It's also why Reverse Blair shares this goal as Blake, to find each other... But with a twist as she's a villain who's been bringing him harm for at least one season.

Blair hates being objectified for her looks. In the Reverse AU, this is acting as her leash. As a beautiful young model, there has been some... Bids for her. The Supreme leverages this, rubbing it in her face how they are the only reason she doesn't have to go through that as long as she produces results as a Miraculous wielder. Because if she doesn't constantly prove her competence, then all she's good for is her looks. This is how the supreme works her to the bone as their pawn. Blair also hates being a pawn.

Vulnerability frustrates Prime Blair. Wherein the prime world it's more about reminding Blair she's still a teen and it's alright to rely on others, in the Reverse AU, she has been punished for letting her guard down around her "partners" in the Supreme. They're actually her competitors. It's why she's so distrustful towards Shizuke at first who claims he didn't want to compete (as he's already dying and still two years away from being 18).

Shizuke Midorikawa:

Prime Shizuke has always had this chip on his shoulder about proving his worth. Here, Reverse AU Shizuke is outright discarded by the Japanese Branch as he no longer has much life force left in him to make it to 18.

They tossed Reverse Shizuke to the French Branch for one last shot by retrieving the ladybug and the black cat miraculous. His life literally depends on the miraculous. He's never seen as anything more than a tool to get more of them. Contrast to Prime Shizuke who, ever since he found out about his grandma being the guardian, is afraid all her affection for him was fake and she only saw him as a potential miraculous wielder rather than loving him as her grandson.

Prime Shizuke is still capable of feeling butt hurt over a rejection and can seek comfort from family and friends who'd support him even if he has to hide how it happened. Reverse AU Shizuke is totally fine with Blair's hostility towards him so long as he can do one last thing for her and make sure she makes it to 18 and survive to find her brother. Sure, he can still talk to Reverse Ai regarding this but he's not seeking reassurance at all and just accepted Blair may never like him back but he'd still die for her anyway.

Kinda like how the dog got passed along to different wielders (and Marinette even considered giving it to Adrien permanently but she just gave up on that smhw idk) even after Sabrina transformed with it once.

So the possibilities here is that extras like Aurore or Ondine get to try it once or twice. Or some wielders get to unify with it, most likely either Marinette or Alya or Adrien.

The reason it never settles on a wielder is because Marinette kept giving it to someone who's too cooperative. Too obedient. Too content staying in the sidelines. It's what she'd prefer for team mates after all... But that's exactly why bee wielders of this era tend to stagnate and eventually lose confidence.

"Look at all the other heroes! You've picked some of them after me, yet they can now do more than one kind of attack. While I'm stuck with only Venom. I'm sorry, maybe I'm just not cut out for this, Ladybug. I hope you find a person that can bring out the Bee's full potential. Until then, maybe it's better if you unify with the bee."

Like, they'd decline being permanent on the grounds of how outclassed they are. They'd feel like dead weight to the team, having only one move and the range is limited.

In this au, to truly grow and develop new powers for their respective miraculous is to develop an understanding with their miraculous' concept. And for the wielder of the Miraculous of Subjugation, it's pretty much required for them to be headstrong and willful to reach its full potential.

Unfortunately for Marinette, Chloe unlocks a wide array of powers for the bee as soon as she got to wield it again as an adult. She's gonna thrive out of spite. And time and time again, Chloe was too much of a powerhouse to not call in ever since Lila formed a cult.