β Pardon my intrusion, β the intermingled voices are nothing but polite, their tones a symphony of concern. Palms raise in a show of deference; they mean no harm. They come in peace. β It's justβI sensed your doubt, you see. I know it's probably hard to believe, since we're usually on opposing sides... but I'd like to help, if you'll let me. β
They're careful to maintain their distance; even in her mindspace, ChloΓ© BourgeoisβQueen Beeβwould never allow the comfort Chrysalis would offer their usual targets.
β It's painful that they still don't fully trust you, even after all this time. β Rather than a question, they state it as fact; there is no need to wonder when they feel it, too. β You try and try to prove yourself to them that you're different now, but you're still the last one they call, still the one being given lesser tasks. β
β I can give you the power to make them acknowledge you. Only if you say yes, of course. The choice is yours. β They take a step forward now, cautiously placing a hand on the heroine's arm. Though their head tilts a little, their masked face remains ever passive. β I only want to help. β
Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β πππππΒ πππππππππΒ πππππππ;Β becauseΒ sheΒ hasΒ beenΒ downΒ thisΒ roadΒ beforeΒ (Β againΒ andΒ againΒ andΒ againΒ )Β andΒ sheΒ knowsΒ howΒ itΒ willΒ end.Β SheΒ doesn'tΒ wantΒ toΒ beΒ theΒ badΒ guyΒ anymore,Β aloneΒ withΒ noΒ friendsΒ orΒ supportΒ system.Β Chloé hadΒ beenΒ trying,Β sheΒ hadΒ beenΒ makingΒ anΒ effort.Β HerΒ friendsΒ (Β couldΒ sheΒ evenΒ callΒ themΒ that?Β )Β justΒ neededΒ moreΒ time,Β didn'tΒ they?
Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β SheΒ hatesΒ thatΒ sheΒ doubts.Β HatesΒ evenΒ moreΒ that,Β inΒ someΒ smallΒ way,Β ChrysalisΒ isn'tΒ wrong.Β ButΒ Chloé isΒ soΒ scaredΒ ofΒ failingΒ again,Β ofΒ lettingΒ everyoneΒ downΒ βΒ howΒ couldΒ sheΒ possiblyΒ trustΒ theΒ holderΒ ofΒ theΒ ButterflyΒ Miraculous?
Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β βΒ Ugh,Β youΒ don'tΒ wantΒ toΒ helpΒ me,Β βΒ Chloé snips,Β rearingΒ herΒ headΒ toΒ glareΒ atΒ theΒ emotionlessΒ mask.Β βΒ YouΒ wantΒ meΒ toΒ fail.Β YouΒ wantΒ meΒ toΒ letΒ myΒ friendsΒ downΒ andΒ proveΒ themΒ rightΒ thatΒ IΒ haven'tΒ changed!Β YouΒ ββΒ βΒ YouΒ wantΒ meΒ toΒ beΒ alone.
Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β HerΒ temperΒ rises,Β notΒ justΒ becauseΒ ofΒ whatΒ ChrysalisΒ says,Β butΒ becauseΒ evenΒ theΒ enemyΒ thinksΒ sheΒ can'tΒ change.Β ThatΒ she'llΒ fallΒ rightΒ backΒ intoΒ herΒ oldΒ ways.Β Ridiculous!
        Well, maybe they don't really know Chloé Bourgeois at all.
βΒ Β ββGetΒ out.Β GETΒ OUT!Β IΒ don'tΒ wantΒ orΒ needΒ yourΒ kindΒ ofΒ help.Β I'llΒ earnΒ theirΒ trustΒ backΒ onΒ myΒ own!Β Β βΒ SheΒ shrugsΒ theΒ handΒ awayΒ fromΒ herΒ arm,Β turningΒ awayΒ withΒ aΒ petulantΒ airΒ ofΒ defiance.Β βΒ AndΒ takeΒ yourΒ tacky,Β purpleΒ smokeΒ withΒ you.Β You'reΒ aΒ fashionΒ disasterΒ worseΒ thanΒ Hawkmoth.Β β
