That Mouse Girl 🐭

The billionaires let the politicians think they’re the ones in charge because they’re the ones signing their names off on the documents. The reality is that money is the great manipulator and everything the politician does is serving the billionaire.

Another example is this idea of evil becoming a trend. Once a corrupt politician is elected to a higher office and repeatedly breaks ethical codes and laws without consequence from their peers, that sends a signal to certain sections of the populace that they’re also allowed to act freely without consequence.

With a corrupt leader in place who can shield them from punishment, those who want to do evil become emboldened to do so, causing chaos and warping the reality of what it means to have a fair, responsible government. It also normalizes evil in society, numbing even good people to the worst actions committed by others.

I mean... of all the things he's done. Being someone Zoe can actually turn to is the least objectionable thing he's ever done. And what happened to "Being related doesn't make you family."

I guess if you have a biological kid, you're never allowed to adopt, ever. And if you do, you have to favour the biological child.

Despite Zoe not being his biological child, Andre still cared about her and treated her like such. And there’s nothing wrong with that.

But of course, fandom brings Chloe into the conversation for…whatever reason.

Astruc specifically said that he was disappointed that the scene of Andre divorcing Audrey was cut out. Nothing to do with Chloe.

I also don’t understand where this whole “Andre disowned Chloe” take is coming from given that the show has yet to make it clear on where the Bourgeois folk stand, what is going on with Andre and Audrey, if there’s communication or attempted communication to Chloe etc.

All that to say is that Andre…just as much as he cares about Zoe, he too cared about Chloe, and the fact that he’s only with Zoe, is something that I HIGHLY doubt has anything to do with favouritism or abandoning a child cause he messed up.

Thomas was very upfront even in s2 days that her redemption was not guaranteed, that was just an assumption the fandom made. And admittedly, some of the s2 episodes did make it seem like she had potential, but personally, her true colors were shown the moment she got a Miraculous. She caused a problem just so that she could be praised for fixing it (never seen anyone in power do that before *cough*), she immediately announced her identity to the world because she only wanted to be a superhero for the attention and glory, not because she had any interest in doing good. And the moment that Ladybug clocked that and decided that her having a Miraculous was a liability and refused to give it back to her (aka the moment she didn't get her way), Chloe switched up real fast and had a meltdown. Because again, she had no interest in actually doing the right thing and putting in the work to be better. She just wanted to be praised and adored. The question at hand was always will she or won't she become better? And the answer for the last 3 seasons is that she won't. She likes having power. She likes exerting that power over other people.

"bUt sHe wAs aBuSe-" Even if you truly believe that, it's an explanation, not an excuse, and it doesn't erase all of the harm she caused. She still likes hurting people. That is the core of who she is. I don't get why that is hard to comprehend. Having the spoiled rich white girl stay spoiled and rich is more realistic than her having some epiphany and seeing the error of her ways magically and everyone she ever abused just forgiving her.

"bUt tHiNk oF tHe cHiLdReN" You don't see anything wrong with teaching children that if they're just nice to the kids who bully them that eventually the bullies will see the error of their ways and they can all hold hands into the sunset? That if children of color are just nice to the rich white racists who bully them that eventually the rich white racists will eventually see them as people? Or do you maybe think a better lesson is that people like that often don't change because they have no reason to because society props them up and they never face consequences, so distancing yourself from them because you aren't responsible for fixing them and protecting yourself and healing is more important? Because the truth of the matter is people like Chloe in real life grow up to be just like their parents. Rich, entitled, out of touch, and mean. Her characterization is realistic. And the show has plenty of other lessons showing that people deserve forgiveness when they want to change and try to make amends. Sabrina is evidence of that very concept. Chloe's problem is that she has no interest in making amends because she genuinely does not see her own actions as wrong. Or she feels that even if they are wrong, she doesn't care. Because why should she?

Again. Just because you personally like her and created a version of her in your mind that is worth redeeming does not mean that the Chloe in canon is redeemable. Also, just because canon!Chloe wasn't redeemed, doesn't mean you can't write fic or create art or whatever the fuck you want where she is redeemed. I've written many a Chloe redemption arc. I've also left her mean in some fics. I also reserve the right to write her however the fuck I want in the future be it as redeemable or not. But regardless of how I or anyone else choose to portray her in my personal fan works, the reality is that canon!Chloe was not and will not be redeemed. And I fully accept that. Her potentially being abused doesn't magically mean she is capable of being better. Plenty of abused people grow up to be abusers and continue perpetuating that cycle. It's not the argument you think it is, especially given what we have seen of her as of late. And it's not automatically bad writing for them to have arrived at the conclusion that she isn't redeemable after testing the waters. I don't defend every writing decision that this show makes (especially not from earlier seasons), but Chloe not being redeemed isn't an example of bad writing. You just don't personally like it and can't tell the difference.

Again, Chloe is not the unsung tragic hero of this story. SHE NEVER WAS. SHE NEVER WILL BE. Get over it.

Sure she can be civil and caring (if it can be called that)…but the biggest problem with this and why it ultimately fails, is because Chloe was only caring to those who are on her level.

In terms of wealth, influence, power, or all together, Chloe only bothers to listen to them cause that’s who she deems “worthy”. (Ladybug cause she’s a superheroine, Adrien cause he’s rich and famous, Mrs Bustier cause she’s a teacher who tbh, did little to nothing to put limits onto Chloe for a good while.)

Even with Sabrina, whom Chloe supposedly cared about despite not necessarily being on her level, was still treated like garbage and like a servant.

And Chloe at her “best”, she was still refusing to play nice with those who aren’t as privileged as her, she was still acting like she’s better than them. Her elitism, racism and classism is why Chloe is a problem!

Like he was so upset about that he went on a rant about how she's never been abused in her life and deserves everything she gets because everyone including her parents would've had better lives without her. And he said he created Ray, Nelson, and Loïc with "absolutely no redeeming qualities" so "there won't be another Chloé situation". And was bragging on Twitter today about how he insisted on bringing her back for Queen of the Dreadzone specifically to ragebait people and remind them that she sucks. All over a fictional 14 year old girl. Very mature of a grown ass man.

Probably because her stans are insufferable and entitled.

Listen, do I give total weight and observance to everything Thomas says? No. Because as a creator, I do fundamentally understand that once a work is put out into the world, it ceases to be mine, and people will interpret it any number of ways. I do think that Thomas fundamentally misunderstands fandom, and I am not saying that he doesn't act childish at times. However, ML fans (particularly on Twitter) are also kind of a nightmare, and he gets harassed on the daily.

As someone who has been in the fandom a long time, he has always openly disliked Chloe ever since s1. She was always supposed to be an antagonist, and truthfully, I don't think he ever intended to redeem her. I honestly think the only reason they gave her a Miraculous at all in s2 was to sell dolls and because Zag liked her. And after years of people bitching and moaning about a redemption arc that is never going to happen, yeah, I can see him being tired. Because how many times does he have to say it isn't happening before people finally understand that and leave it alone?

The whole "she's a 14 year old girl" argument kind of falls apart when you step back and realize that everyone in the main cast is 14. Both protagonists and all of their friends for the most part are 14. If Chloe was the only 14 year old and he acted that way, then there would be an issue, but she isn't. And the show is giving plenty of spotlight to 14 year olds in abusive situations. Kagami whose only parent limits the amount of social interaction she can have, who on screen has said she only loves Kagami when Kagami makes her proud. Adrien whose father wouldn't let him out of the house, who constantly controlled and neglected him, who tried to force him to break up with the person that he loved, who tried to bribe his girlfriend with fame and fortune to break up with him, and who literally locked him in a padded room in another country to get him away from her. That's actual abuse.

This season has really highlighted the complex situations a lot of the classmates are in that may very well reflect real life children's lives. Nino with his parents who argue all the time and eventually get divorced. Nathaniel's parents who struggle to accept him for who he is. Ivan's dad who is a criminal. Max's single mother doing her best to raise a child with a developmental disorder while still pursuing her passion. Juleka's mother who raised two children by herself because their dad was who the fuck knows where doing who the fuck knows what.

Meanwhile, Chloe was spoiled her whole life and given everything she wanted and never given consequences for her actions. Her daddy bailed her out of every mess she got into. "bUt hEr mOm" Wasn't around. Just like Juleka's dad wasn't around. Just like Max's dad wasn't around. Chloe had servants and money. She could do whatever the fuck she wanted to whoever the fuck she wanted. And the truth of the matter is that she likes being mean for the sake of being mean. It makes her feel good to hurt other people. That's what this episode was pointing out because people just don't get it. Just because the fandom invented a version of Chloe that has the potential to be redeemed doesn't mean that canon!Chloe is that person. Clearly she isn't. And given that they seem to be giving more focus to stories that young children can relate to and characters that they can see themselves in, I don't really think that their target is to make spoiled rich white girls feel seen. Her redemption wasn't botched. It was never intended. There's a difference. It's not "bad writing" to let a mean character stay mean, especially because a lot of the time a person's childhood bully doesn't get redeemed. They don't say sorry and make amends. The best you can hope for is that one day they move on and leave you alone. I'm not saying ML's writing is always air tight, but it has gotten better over the years. People need to learn the difference between "I didn't personally like this decision/would have done something else because that's my taste" and "This is objectively bad." Just because you may not personally agree with it doesn't make it bad writing.

It really rubs me the wrong way, that out of all the teen characters with trauma and shortcomings, there are people who will defend the character who is the most privileged in EVERYTHING in her life like her social status and her looks, despite her being a menace to those other teens lives.

Like just saying, but what Chloe felt about Audrey is more closer to an insecurity, not her life being put in genuine danger like Adrien, Kagami, or hell, even Felix!

If anything, Chloe was the one putting others’ lives in danger, especially to Marinette!

Her not getting a redemption arc does NOT make her the most oppressed character in the show, and it’s genuinely disturbing that people treat her like she’s the most oppressed.

More info from GLAAD:

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They have some good tips about writing a comment and protecting your privacy which, fuck it, I'll just paste here:

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Do not copy/paste a template comment. The FCC values unique perspectives, and an original comment carries significantly more weight in the public record. You can explain why this matters to you without revealing private or sensitive personal information.

Here's what I said:

“Free speech is a fundamental American freedom. I do not need a warning about seeing queer people, much like I do not need a warning about women, veterans, or any other group of people.”

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Sorry for any double tags but

Do you think they're going to stop at transgender people? They're coming for the gays, they're coming for women, they're coming for people of color, they're coming for disabled people. Our existence shouldn't require a fucking warning.

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So fun fact:

Grown up Cereza. She makes a bond with her bae an angel and got her weapon Odette. She’s 28 in this

for context:

But I think the fact that we've seen Marinette suffer multiple panic attacks, breakdowns, and nearly spill the beans to Adrien multiple times... And we've never seen Felix suffer any guilt, and even outright screamed at Adrien over information he's deliberately leaving him in the dark over speaks volumes.

Marinette sees Adrien as his own person. Felix sees Adrien as his cousin and, therefore, one of his possessions.

One of the many instances why the whole “she’s supposed to be the role model” excuse to dehumanise Marinette and downplay her trauma and morale, can go fuck itself.

Conspiracy theory side: Who says she's talking about Kagami?

Me: I'm sorry?

CTS: Well you know how you always said Lila and Felix would make a good couple because they're a dark reflection of Adrienette?

Me: Yeah?

CTS: And isn't Lila spreading this idea that Tomoe is her mother?

Me:

As Hawk Moth, Gabriel takes advantage of people (especially kids and teenagers) when they’re vulnerable, exploiting them emotionally and using them for his plans. Every time he akumatizes someone, he isolates them, forms a false bond, validates their emotions, and makes them feel understood so they’ll trust him. Once he has their trust, he manipulates them into giving him what he wants: Ladybug and Chat Noir’s Miraculouses.

This is especially clear with two of his favorite akumatized victims: Chloé Bourgeois and Lila Rossi.

In Volpina, Gabriel sees Lila completely emotionally destroyed after the humiliation she suffers at the hands of Ladybug, and he takes advantage of her vulnerable state to get something out of her. He even calls her “his perfect prey” before akumatizing her.

The way he convinces Lila is simple:

He gives her back the sense of power she lost after being humiliated. When Lila is defeated, Hawk Moth says it won’t be the last time Ladybug sees her and he’s right. Gabriel keeps exploiting Lila’s resentment toward Ladybug to achieve his goals.

He makes Lila believe that she can trust him because they both “hate” Ladybug. Because of this, helping Hawk Moth and being akumatized becomes something comfortable for her, the result of the false emotional bond Gabriel builds each time he manipulates her. But in reality, he’s only using her. Both as Hawk Moth and as a civilian, he actively encourages her problematic behavior: he hires her to make another teenager’s life miserable (Marinette) and brings her into the Agreste brand… only to discard her without remorse the moment she’s no longer useful.

And now.. let’s continue with Chloe…

A similar pattern happens with Chloé, especially in the season 3 finale. Since the episode Miraculer, Gabriel had been planning for Chloé to betray Ladybug and join his side by exploiting her insecurities: feeling useless without being Queen Bee, and her desperate need for validation from Ladybug and, above all, from her mother.

Gabriel uses all this to isolate Chloé emotionally. He convinces her that he actually sees her “potential,” and that with him she can be Queen Bee as much as she wants because she’s part of his “chessboard.” Eventually, Chloé is fully convinced to switch sides. His manipulation is so strong that, even when she isn’t akumatized, Chloé claims that Hawk Moth isn’t her enemy, he’s Ladybug’s enemy. From that point on, her behavior worsens dramatically, fueled directly by Hawk Moth’s words.

You can also say that Gabriel “groomed” Adrien in an emotional and psychological sense. Adrien (besides being a sentimonster) grew up in an environment where having a cold, absent, controlling father was normal. Isolation, lack of freedom, and pressure to obey were part of his everyday life.

Any attempt to challenge Gabriel’s authority terrified him. Adrien constantly justified his father’s behavior using the excuse of his mother’s death, because that reasoning was likely repeated to him by the adults around him (including his own father). And since children are conditioned to love their parents no matter what, Adrien struggled to question anything that might threaten his father’s control because of that reason.

And let’s talk about how Gabriel manipulated Marinette in the S5 finale.

The final disturbing act of Gabriel’s happens right before his death. In his last moments, he asks Marinette (his son’s girlfriend) not to tell Adrien that he was Hawk Moth and not to let him find out the truth. With that, he dumps an enormous and deeply unfair responsibility onto her.

Then he dies, avoiding all the consequences of his actions, while Marinette is left carrying the weight of a massive lie. Confused, terrified, and emotionally shut down, she doesn’t know what to do, all because Gabriel used his dying breath to manipulate her and leave her holding the burden of his crimes.

In season 4, Hawkmoth, as Shadowmoth, put Alya’s family in danger in order to get her to join his side.

And in throughout season 3 to 5, Hawkmoth was targeting Kagami too many times, with the worst being at season 5. He was fully exploiting her insecurities to self-destruct in “Perfection”. (The fact that Tomoe had tried to attack him for sending the megakuma to her ring but he still continued to be reckless is also an issue in itself. Even if Tomoe’s reasons to be upset weren’t really noble.)

Flushed Away💦

Ryan (9)