LADY LUCK!

"Ladybug... don't--" It's an appeal rather than a direct order, uttered by a voice made ragged by pain as his good arm searches for purchase, for anything to grip and catch hold of, if to lessen the strain placed on her shoulders by offering a helping hand. "Just need a minute-- maybe several--" Determined to struggle through the the effects of the damage sustained, what recovery is made is slow acting, his left-side showing signs of more damaged sustained than the right, leading to a reliance on her help.

''am i gonna be safe with you?'' ''always.''

''are you okay with this?''

''i trust you.''

''can i kiss you?''

''kiss me.''

''does that hurt?''

''please, continue.''

''are you okay with me kissing you?''

''can i kiss you?''

''you can always come talk to me.''

''is something bothering you?''

''don't stop.''

''i want you to kiss me.''

''is that okay with you?''

''do you trust me?'' ''always.

''i feel safe with you. i always have.''

''i'm extremely okay with this.''

''you matter so much to me.''

''i like spending time with you.''

''you make me the happiest i've ever been.''

''this thing we've got going on, it's pretty nice.''

''i'm here for you, no matter what.''

''is that okay?''

''are you comfortable?''

''you can always call me.''

''i need you to know that you can always come to me.''

''even if it's in the middle of the night, i'll be there. so don't hesitate. just call me.''

''i love you.''

''you're the best thing that has ever happened to me.''

''take your time. i'll be here when you're ready.''

''you'll wait for me?'' ''for as long as i need to.''

''we don't need to rush things.''

''the last thing i want to do is force you into something you're not ready for.''

''you make me feel safe.''

''hey, it's all right.''

''i'm right here with you.''

''i'll always be there for you. don't you ever doubt that.''

''i like being here with you. it's nice.''

"You reckon?" No translation was needed to parse what she means, the compliment scoring the flash of a measured smile as Miguel adjusts to seeing without a mask in the way. What had scored him points for impressiveness had been the product of readily available technology, emerging at a time when screens could be summoned from thin air and cars flew through the skies. An entire series of advancements that, as she bid him to wait, somehow paled in comparison to what unfolded next.

In response to a single command, the girl behind the half-mask emerges, an explanation along with her own name drifting easily into the air as his own hand meets hers and shakes. "So it materialises in response to your words?" Tone light, it's easy to see that she'll be the envy of at least half the Society's roster, for whom a change of costume meant sticking on one piece at a time. "It's a pleasure, Marinette."

Of course, he's quick to see that she is no longer alone, gaze already moving in Tikki's direction as he is formally introduced. A power source that, without needing to be asked, will fall under his protection, for as long as the pair stayed involved with the Society.

A FIRM HANDSHAKE, at least as much as she could manage. marinette nods in response, “ oui, there's one for transforming, one for detransforming. there's a couple other for smaller things, but i don't use those as frequently. there's one for my lucky charm as well. after each detransformation, i have to make sure tikki eats. it's her magic that makes this happen & without it, i'd just be a normal girl. ” once upon a time she yearned for such a thing. now, months later, marinette finds she is far more comfortable in her current position.

“ trust me, the pleasure is all mine! it's so cool to meet another superhero. i have read about other superheroes online, but they all seemed so far from paris. i never thought i'd ever get the chance to meet any. ” now there were plenty for her to become acquainted with. she follows the other with ease, sapphire hues taking in the sights as they passed. within her head a count has begun of how many different members of the society she can see.

James couldn't help but offer a small smile.

"The feeling may go away as you get more experience, may also come back once you find yourself backed in a corner. It doesn't fully go away, just comes back when it wants to." One hand would reach up to scratch his cheek very lightly before lowering back down to rest upon his hip. "I can't speak for a lot of them myself, but I do know some that believe that their duty as a hero is the most important thing in their life."

A small chuckle would leave him.

get on the stage.

i call her by her first name.

i tried to stay away.

but i always meet you back in this place.

you give me everything.

i feel no pain.

i break down, get up, and do it all again.

it's never enough.

you make me feel loved.

i can come here and scream as loud as i want.

here, i don't have to be quiet. i don't have to be kind.

look at me run myself ragged.

how can i leave you when you're screaming my name?

i will come for you in the evening.

i'll make you sing for me.

i can take up the whole of the sky.

aren't you so glad i came?

protect me from evil.

what has it done to me?

i crawled up from under the earth.

with each bedraggled breath, i knew i came back from the dead.

i'll show you how it's done.

i'll show you what it takes.

to conquer and to crucify, to become one of the greats.

i keep a scream inside of my chest.

i've killed everyone i ever kissed.

each name is a stain upon my lips.

that song is not about you.

got everything i thought i wanted.

did i get it right?

do i win the prize?

do you regret bringing me back to life?

i did my best.

my childhood dream made flesh.

it's so like a woman to profit from her madness.

why did you dig me up for this?

you'll say it's all pretend.

but i've really done it this time.

you could have me if you weren't so afraid of me.

it's funny how men don't find power very sexy.

do i drive you crazy?

i lied down with death.

show me the way this feeling leads.

can i keep all this beauty forever inside?

i tore off my nightgown and ran naked through the town.

i ran to the ancestral plane, but they all showed up drunk and insane.

which way should i go?

child, how would we know?

a stranger came to my door.

i have many, many miles yet to cross.

we've been waiting to meet you.

it's only a matter of time.

i can feel something deeper down.

after all, there's nobody more monstrous than me.

memory fails me.

am i so different?

i do not recognize my face.

i do not find worthiness a virtue.

i no longer try to be good.

it didn't keep me safe like you told me that it would.

come on, i can take it.

give me everything you got.

the seasons change, the world turns.

i'm trying to live, but i feel so damaged.

all shall be well.

miracles are often inconvienent.

a prayer is a spell.

i am changing and becoming something else.

i wanna call you on the telephone.

my resolve is sinking like a stone.

i guess it's just something that never goes away.

i'm stupid and i'm damaged, and you're a disaster.

when you walk into the room, none of it matters.

baby, i just buckle.

i know it won't work.

make it ache, make it hurt.

i'm still hanging off the buckle on your belt.

you closed the door and left me screaming on the floor.

i let you walk all over me, honey.

you make me think my therapy is a waste of money.

oh, god, i thought i was too old for this.

i should be over this.

i'm not better than this.

show me what i'm worth.

sometimes my body seems so alien to me.

i grow restless and hungry.

you're so good looking, it's obscene.

some things, it seems, are catching up with me.

my love, i have to tell you.

i kissed them all and let them drown.

creature from the deep, do i haunt you in your sleep?

you said i would be nothing, but look, i'm really something.

you've seen through the pain.

have you changed?

do i terrify?

it's the old religion humming in your veins.

you wonder why we're hungry for some kind of release.

i'm so tired of being careful.

give me something i can crush, something i can kill.

i'm afraid, don't let it find me.

but you can't outrun yourself, you see.

i'm powerless, don't remind me.

i went to find the hidden folk.

they gave me gowns and riches.

no, i did not sleep.

what i thought was a night was a thousand years.

it was made from me.

all the love that came my way, i found a way to push away.

i don't want to be afraid anymore.

i don't want to run from love like i have before.

you have a bigger ego than you think you do.

let it be us.

i know how to fall in love.

i thought i was kind.

i tried to do something that i thought was real life.

it's so much harder than it looks.

i just got bored.

let there be love, let there be light.

running back to the only love i could ever control.

call in a vision of my daughter.

i used to think i knew what sadness was.

i was wrong.

am i a woman now?

the air smells of fruit and smoke.

i try and control what i can.

you can have it all.

when the wind blows, you can hear it.

love was not what i thought it was.

it crept up on me despite myself.

“ proud? ” ( frankie spat out the word as if it had been soaked in nail polish remover. ) “ how can i be proud when everyone is telling me to hide? ”

#SCIENCEGROWN:⠀⠀AN INDEPENDENT PORTRAYAL OF FRANKIE STEIN FROM MONSTER HIGH, BASED PRIMARILY ON THE 2010 - 2012 NOVELS BY LISI HARRISON. SPARKED TO LIFE BY ANNA-BELLE (25, SHE/HER).

His tone isn’t panicked. It’s calm, firm in a way. He glances briefly at the scene, then back at her, keeping her focus anchored. His stomach is in knots, nausea begins flowing through him. The sight was … something. The metallic smell hung in the air as it was potent.

"It's best not to overcomplicate things because it will leave people confused or call you other names. It's sweet and to the point, something a young hero like you needs."