#ml andre

Cause news flash, this revolting sorry excuse of a father is anything but good. He for years encouraged Chloe's behavior by spoiling her rotten and making sure she never had to be held accountable for any of her actions by throwing money and his power around anytime she had a problem. That's not even mentioning how Chloé herself straight up said that she learned her behavior from watching him on two separate occasions (DarkBlade & Confrontation). The second one even having her quote something HE TOLD HER!

Oh and then there's Collusion, the episode where Andre not only revealed that he secretly hated the FOURTEEN YEAR OLD, he failed to raised, but BLAMES her as one of the two culprits behind all that went wrong in his life!

Of course all of that is small potatoes compared to the fact that HE WILLINGLY ABANDONED THE CHILD HE FAILED TO RAISED TO THE PERSON HE KNOWS TO BE ABUSIVE!!

"B-But he didn't abandon her, she willingly went with Audrey"

No actually, Chloe did NOT go with Audrey of her own free choice. You want to know why? BECAUSE ANDRE TRADED HER TO AUDREY FOR ZOE!

And all while implying that Chloe, unlike Zoe, deserves to be abused by Audrey! wow that certainly screams loving father doesn't it? Truly he deserves to be crowned father of the year!

Also! Legally speaking Andre, as Zoe's ex-stepdad, can't actually award himself custody of Zoe, which means he's extensively kidnapping her right here! Which... now that I think about it, genuinely makes me worried for Zoe's well being and safety. I mean if THIS is what he does to one child he broke under his care, what happens when Zoé stops catering to his ego, or does anything he doesn't like/approve of?

"But that's a deleted scene so it doesn't count!"

See this might have had a point, if it wasn't for Astruc, who not only claimed ignorance of its deletion, but claimed it was important to the story!

Mayor of Paris, Patriarch of the Bourgeois family (while his wife is away), father to Chloe Bourgeois and step father to Zoe Lee. This guy has the reputation of a politician in the fandom, and it’s sure not for his political policies.

As the prime enabler for his daughter throughout most of Mircaculous Ladybug’s run, his character is subject to be not made of the greatest material imaginable. He’s fired many people, threatened funding to the school, and demanded stuff closed down his daughter requested to be. This is not to say he’s all bad or is completely incapable of disciplining his daughter, as in episodes like Kung Food he’s entirely able to punish her for her rotten ways. It’s just spotty and not consistent.

Things don’t change much in season 2, but in Audrey’s introduction and previous foreshadowed appearances we get an idea of what his marriage was like and why he’s so whipped as a person. She’s as fickle and demanding as his daughter, with actual power to back it up unlike Chloe. We know she left him along with her daughter from Despair Bear, and in Frighteningale he’s scared of Chloe calling her in spite of their lack of communication for many years. Her proper introduction in Style Queen paints a sad image of his life more directly than her foreshadowed appearances with her demands and even blasting of him as an Akuma. We see what he wants of her two episodes later in Malediktator, where his second command is to demand Audrey be a loving and doting wife. We don’t get much from him of particular note for a while after this until the season finale in heart hunter where he and his wife are akumatized due to their built up resentment of one another.

In season 4 he gets more character expansion in Sole Crusher, where he talks to Zoe, his stepdaughter, about how he gave up his dreams to please his family and lightly encouraged her to do the same. It’s here his past as a film director is on full display and the groundwork is laid for his epiphany. He still makes minor appearances throughout the season.

In season 5 while he does capitulate to Chloe at times, he’s changed to try and support his stepdaughter in avoiding his daughter’s spoiled attitude in ways that avoid punishing her. In adoration he encourages her to follow her dreams in contrast to what he said when they first met, and has an epiphany in Collusion regarding his lot in life in a call with Gabriel Agreste. He has power, privilege, and a family but none of the fulfillment due to the circumstances of such things. His wife has no respect for him, his daughter turned out heartless and cruel (we’ll get this later), and his position of mayor and career in politics is one he only gunned for to impress Audrey. He calls himself a tyrant in service to his family and friends. By the end of the episode he renounces his role as mayor, and in the next episode sends Chloe off with her mother to London vowing to take responsibility for all he’s done throughout his over 20 years of mayorship. He takes Zoe in as his own and ends the season a happier man than when he started the series.

Now, this all sounds great, right? Andre realized the error of his ways and changed. So why is there such uproar regarding him and especially his parenting?

Firstly, the framing of his character in later seasons as only corrupt because of friends and family doesn’t completely hold up to some viewers as episodes like Megaleech, Reverser, Darkblade, or Confrontation show him acting in a corrupt manner without any direct influence from his family and shows how his own moral corruption is more than a matter of circumstance and well meaning parenting.

Second, many see him calling his daughter heartless and him saying “he’s become a tyrant in service to his family and friends” as blaming his daughter for his suffering while never taking accountability for her turning out the way she did by spoiling her. While this assumption is sort of a leap, it doesn’t come out of nowhere. He’s had her on his own most of her life and yet saw fit not to properly discipline her, time and time again, with no other explanation than assumed misguided parenting.

Thirdly, him taking in Zoe as own can be seen as legally questionable considering she has her other father back in New York we haven’t heard from, and we don’t know whether Andre has the right to claim himself as a suitable guardian.

Lastly, him sending his daughter off with his wife who doesn’t respect him, and has insulted both him and his daughter to their faces multiple times, and tolerates both of them at best, is seen as a naive decision at best, and malicious abandonment at worst. It makes it seem like he’s taking his dissatisfaction with his life out on his daughter on some level.

All of this being said I don’t think any of this would be a problem if the situation was treated as an unfortunate turn of events, rather than the righteous execution of the corrupt empress of Paris, Chloe Bourgeois, and the complete exoneration of Andre for being the executioner. I think even now through this rather dubious set of events Andre can grow as a character and be liked by the audience if they re-examined his lifetime of enabling and gave it its time to sit with him.

A good portion of the potential I see here is leaning on speculation, but I think it has some basis. First speculative conclusion is that he was physically absent from Chloe’s early childhood after Audrey left and substituted him resigning his political positions to raise her for material satisfaction. This is seen in their lack of any sort of meaningful emotional connection and his words about his daughter seeming detached from from his raising of her like he was uninvolved.

My second speculative conclusion is that him staying in politics after Audrey left was out of a slim hope she’ll return and respect him if he kept this job. This is supported by his words of only being a politician to impress Audrey. This also speaks to his moral corruption probably also being in part due to him thinking if he doesn’t keep this job then Audrey will never return. This willful and delusional thinking is what architected his and his daughter’s fate in the show.

These two combined paint the image of a man caught up in a fantasy, just like Gabriel, and ultimately compromising to his own morals, his responsibility to raise his child, and the wellbeing of the people he’s taken responsibility for in his role of mayor as well. The parallel is likely intentional and works quite well. That is until you get to the portion of Andre never facing the full reality of his situation, and not working to mend all that he has broken in favor of still avoiding a part of his responsibility. Chasing his dreams with his convenient second chance step daughter with little of the same baggage his parentage has caused his biological daughter to have. He’s just replaced one fantasy with another.

It’s like how the Gabriel cover up threatens Adrianette’s stability in this regard. It threatens a fantasy that was only stifled due to one of the characters in it being unable to confront certain realities and the difficult path that needs to be taken. Just like how Gabriel’s true actions are inevitably going to resurface, Andre’s legacy as mayor and as a parent will crush the cushy reality he’s now built for himself as a filmmaker, if not, Zoe’s own baggage coming out could do him in.

Thank you for being my first ask!

Unfortunately, this is a stupidly hard question to answer. Audrey is no doubt last place, but Andre and Noe are both caring to the extent it resembles or benefits themselves nine times out of ten.

I’d have to say Andre by a slim margin. His care for Zoe at the very least seems sincere, so he wins out over a character who has only had… Two appearances. Amazing score.

Gabriel says, 'Come on. You have everything to be happy, Andre.' Perhaps part of this is because Andre has his wife, whereas Gabriel lost his. But Gabriel knows what a horror Audrey is - not to mention how difficult Chloe is - which I think is why he wears a little smirk on his face as he says it.

To me, the line feels ironic, like he's talking about Andre, but we need to ask ourselves about Gabriel's happiness, and how he defines 'happy'.

At the end of Re-Creation, he tells Marinette how happy he once was, when Emilie was in the world and Adrien was first born. He describes it as 'perfect' and seems to think happiness depends upon having things/people.

He misses the point that we make our own happiness. The world could be falling apart around us, and we still have the power to choose happiness (except in certain extenuating circumstances). Sure, there are some times when this is harder than others. But I really do believe the sun is always there behind the clouds, no matter how thick and stormy.

Although Gabriel believes he can have happiness again, this is all dependent upon recreating the past he's lost. I think this is part of why the S5 finale was called Re-Creation - not just because he made the world anew, but because he was trying to bring something back.

But it simply could not work. We can never fully replicate days gone by. We can't relive precious moments. We can't read a book for the first time, all over again. We can't meet people again. Things will always be different. The past is just that - it's passed.

And you know, when we see him talk about Emilie sometimes in earlier seasons, he doesn't always say nice things about her. He says she was 'way too overly dramatic' and mentions she had a fiery temper. It wasn't as 'perfect' as he insists it was. Nothing can be. He's holding onto an illusion.

Andre seems to get all of this. Gabriel doesn't. Andre mourns what's gone. Gabriel refuses to mourn, refuses to move forward. He believes he will make his wish and then have everything he needs to be happy.

But if he'd succeeded in bringing Emilie back, and he'd lived, I suspect he still wouldn't have been happy, because he never really knew how. He never understood that he should've been seeking a way to be happy despite what happened to him. Even with Emilie gone, he already had everything he needed to be happy - Adrien and Nathalie. The sun was there, but he chose to focus on the clouds.

Marinette: What are you talking about?

You're just breathing nonsense. You have to be a kid.

*In fear or hesitation* Lila: That may be true but if that's not,

then that sucks for many of you. Marinette: How could you say this like this is a joke?!

*As she's concerned and frustated* Lila: I remember Hawk Moth said he'd teach some kids what a man that has nothing left to lose can really do. Like you, I'm immune to being hurt. I learned to let go. 

Why are you offended? Don’t you feel venerated by me exposing myself?  You're getting what you wanted after all, all along. Marinette: (She's terrifying me. Maybe I did make a huge mistake. 

How would she know of what he said to uh m- um Ladybug and Cat Noir?)

Lila: Reconsideration from the inconsiderate? Too bad it's too late. *As she turns her head*

Marinette: What are you looking at? And she turns her head Marinette immediately jets towards them ADRIEN! ALYA! As she reaches the two in bad shape WHAT HAPPENED?! Alya: I I I... I... ...don't know. It's like... loses consciousness Adrien: I feel like my body... No... Marinette is horrified seeing part of his arm became ash grain Marinette: Did Cat Noir?! Adrien: No, he wasn't even present. 

I don't know... What h- I wish I... protect y- loses consiousness

Marinette: ADRIEN! No this can't be happening! sees Alya's shoes and her left shin fragment with ashes ( Lila: Thanks for The Number One Headband. Marinette: What?! How?! What is that?

And why is this other one on the floor?!

Lila: Ah, that's The Number Two Headband by your feet?

Even if you didn't know what language that said,

I think common sense would tell you the difference between 1 & 2. 

Marinette: I had The Number One Headband? Lila: Technically Monarch did but it seems it was given away to you. I wonder what you did that would make you earn it?

I would expect Ladybug to have it but I guess there’s something really unique about you.

I’ve always been branded with Number Two for reasons based upon you or outsiders.

Unfortunately, it seems I've been branded as Number One now. And this is the fate you are seeing of your friends. 

All thanks to you and your outsiders wanting stuff against me that never needed to exist. 

You and their sharing obsessive ways against me. Stupid challenges and you guys gained stupid prizes. Marinette: Did you make all of this happen? Did you ruin everything?

Lila: The answer is in the mirror. Marinette: I don't have time for your stupid riddles. Lila: The answer is yes and no.

Marinette: Stop playing around! I am so sick of you! Answer me, NOW! Lila shakes her head Lila: Because I existed, this happened. But I did not cause this. It was the outsiders and how they value you, 

or see somethings that triggered them.

That is why your friends faced this fate. Marinette confused and sad Marinette: But why? Why would they do this? Lila: I told you why earlier. Think about it.

And there's plenty more if you didn't catch on. Marinette seeing more of friends distances away around her in similar states

Marinette: No, this isn't real. (This has to be a nightmare.) 

Sulking and then sees Harmonie crying on bed of ashes Marinette begins to cry Lila moves her head down and starts laughing at the revelations Marinette is witnessing Marinette: Devil Incarnate! as she opens her teary eyes in fury at Lila's laughter

She dashes to grab her shoulder, pinching or squeezing it Marinette: HOW CAN YOU BE THIS AWFUL! LAUGHING AT THIS SUFFERING! YOU ONLY CARE ABOUT YOURSELF! Lila: You're assumptions make me laugh stronger and further.

You'll never change. FFFFAHAHAHHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHHAHAHAHA... Marinette fists clench as she's seeing Lila head rotates upwards while still laughing at her sorrow Marinette: What part of not funny do you not understand?! Lila smiles knowing the crying Marinette is going to hit her. 

Punches her face and Lila bounces a few times

After several seconds she starts laughing and gets up Lila: You lost and are so lost. But it's okay because the outsiders see everything you do as a favor to both worlds. So this moment you commit something like this or above, it’s a peak victory. 

She starts giving her applause

continuously remains clapping Marinette: Stop this, you are annoying me. As she’s wiping her tears Lila: Lets give it up to the annoyer that now chooses to be annoyed. Keep giving the outsiders what they want! Marinette: I said Stop Clapping! Lila: Look out, an arrow coming your way.

Marinette: Like I'd bel- dodges while freaked out Marinette: (What was that?!) You knew this? Why would you...? Lila: That's not important. I guess you have not noticed you've been hit or darted. Marinette: What, what do you mean? Lila: Look around yourself. Marinette is disturbed at seeing them darts Shouldn’t I feel this? (Why is this not hurting me?) Lila: Same reason you or mostly they, 

decide to notice me and not anything else around, 

or in your face, or that has been well established. Isn't it funny what you did against me and Chloe with Sabrina's help, but you wanna complain about Chloe sending your former teacher to the office, yet you both caused Juleka to suffer greatly?

Lila: I thought you considered stealing Adrien's phone a crime that would jail you for life. But hey, forging twice is cool as long as you blame shift. Privacy invasion and humiliation is a merciful act of friendship and harmony. Marinette: How do you know of something that specific in my past. (OH NO! SHE MUST KNOW OF MY DIARY!) Squirming Marinette

Lila: You need to chill.

Nah, you never could unless things go as you want. 

Observe what happened due to your failure to chill, control freak.

Both observing Parisians with stuff piercing around their bodies Marinette runs towards one and asks what happened One said these arrows and shape objects spawned out of nowhere and they weren't able to dodge and they aren't able to remove it Lila: Now are you understanding what's going on? Marinette runs towards The Ice Cream Man Andre: Nooooo. My precious desserts for couples has become all ash.

All of my supplies are in ashes. I just wanted to give products of love to the people. Marinette: I'm sorry this is happening to you. Can I- Lila: LOL, why are you sorry?

This person doesn't even care of verifying if his food is safe. Marinette: I and no one here suffered from his products made with love and kindness. Lila: Oh lookie here at what happened to who called him out.

She sees on video billboard some clothes floating on a lake of ashes Dupain Cheng is horrified Lila: I guess the world that was happy with her departure never expected this. Sucks this is the fate the poor thing that used to be a fan of The Bug. I wonder why this happened or why the outsiders would do this.

Certain outsiders are celebrating this.

Though I guess since the clothes didn't perish at all, it must mean there are still enough outsiders there for her in this time of unfortunate circumstances bestowed against her. Actually I already know the answer. Marinette: I didn't mean for this is happen. Lila: Seems you are finally understanding what the outsiders are.

*walking* Marinette: Where are you going?

Lila: Hey Theo. Could you take me out for lunch? *winks twice while smiling* Theo: Umm... Okay. He walks away Marinette: Did you just ask him to go on a date? Lila: I asked if he can take me to somewhere that has good food. Hmmmmmmm And so she begins laughing with her mouth closed Marinette: Oh no... Lila: Do you know how old he is? Marinette: Uh umm? What's with this age question? Why do you keep talking about ages? Where are you going with this?! Lila: I thought he was like some janitor of the school or some teacher assistant. Apparently he's like around 16 to 18. He might be an adult or not. 

He's like how the outsiders now want for me for real to be but got angry he apparently isn't not. 

It's a long story. 

However, like I said, he's around of from earlier for real. 

It’s understandable why but not why they would want the very thing they hated of him to be known; 

to now wish to be instilled in reverse upon me. 

It’s almost like they want to ignore that I was clearly the friend Adrien's age.

Lila: But since they want to seek the opposite now, that means me and Theo could be a cute couple instead of that other girl, below your grade, that he held hands with once with in a digital realm. Marinette: Uugck YUCK You're... I- I CANNOT! YOU! GRITTING HER TEETH Lila: What's wrong with that? Some outsiders pair me up with Mr. Agreste and will gain stronger excuses for me to be with everyone than before. I heard that Ladybug say she was older than a high schooler to for some reason. Don’t be upset at what you hear. Be upset at Old World society. I wonder if the city of love normalizes 15 year olds with 20 to 26 at least year olds in romantic galore too. Marinette: WHAT?! WHO WHY!? Who are these outsiders you speak of?! Lila: People like you on a much higher plain of your toxic ways.

Marinette: You're body. It's-

Lila: Rotting? Of course it is.

It’s not far away because they always want me to rot. It's their will or sole purpose.

However, as you see, for some reason… 

I'm not falling apart like your friends. I am still intact. 

I wonder why you are though? In fact, it's like endless ashes for me. Marinette: But why wasn't Theo attacked like you, me, and the others?

Lila: Outsiders have strange priorities of proxying individuals and ignoring others. Even if they are and do worse. I'm their main charm to chastise. He's ignored. People decide when to brush things off and when to foam like you. Marinette: You don't even sound like Lila. Are you possessed or controlled? Lila: Ah... This what happens when an ultimate gains outsider insight about or from outsiders. Marinette: So you're speaking like an outsider? Lila: Likewise. I'd say, you seem less unstable than usual but there's always something that cracks you it seems. Earlier you were disgusted. Earlier you were aggressive and sad. How you instantly change or glitch. Momentary Marinette. Marinette: What do you want? Why are you making me aware of this? 

What is your goal? Your purpose? Motive?

Lila: Giving you all what you want and showing you all the fallen sanctuaries of your stupidities. 

Showing you all the failure of only seeing things of reform, redeem, lock away, or death. 

Lila: This is just The Bitterness Of Truth that needs to be known.

Other outsiders wish your friends didn’t face penalties that many outsiders unfortunately pinned on them due to me.

Still, they at times help the markers flourish due to them not looking the consequences of how many think against me. Shame there was an end of a woman outsider’s chapter wasn’t enough.

This may be due to how they also accidentally agreed upon me in questions to me being the scapegoat or as so many outsiders kin of original sin. Marinette: What do you mean end their chapter? You mean... as she covers her mouth

Lila: That...is the power of my existence. It causes divine instability amongst the outsiders. Making them lose their minds over me beyond you. They shall pick purposely when see things black and white. Many take eyes for an eye and will or wish of making anything happen, while yearning for destruction to anyone that doesn't fit your mantra or their mantra. But why would you care? They're doing you a favor. Making sure and wanting any way that discredits me completely. Even though I know the real truth and you and Ladybug must know the real truth.

Lila: No matter what is done towards me. It takes next to nothing for me to easily be turned against. Rebounding hurts them.

All else, this is harder. Still, I find it amusing how Ladybug's greatest deception is nothing but a speck of dust compared to me.

Or that it took that long for the gullible outsiders to reconsider that she screwed up royally and had a history of epic screwing of allies or friends.

Oh the denial and masking. Masking? I guess outsiders are quite heroic like Ladybug or you. Only around a few or speck amounts that truly see me in a distinctive way or see it's not like most going out their ironic deceiving ways to portray things as. MARINETTE: KAGAMI! Zooms towards her She sees Kagami tears running of ashes

Kagami: Why, Marinette. Why did you do that to Lila? Marinette: I- She. She was a bad person. I did what I had to do. Kagami: You're lying. Marinette shattered from her words Marinette: I- I was... protecting my friends. And you. 

Kagami: No you weren't. Do you not remember, she was my friend? I thought... You said you would listen to your friends.

I thought you said my words reminded me of what Alya told me. I thought that you would…change. Kagami: Instead, you only thought of yourself. And now she's gone...because of you. Adrien made me put my trust in you.

That you were everything. Everything special and a true friend.

My best friend. I...was... Irrational. *That word gave Dupain Cheng a chill*

Kagami: What about those that meant something to her? 

All because- 

because you refused to accept or ignore her. 

I ignored Chloe. I don’t engage with her. 

What's your excuse with Lila? I... Can't… Is Ladybug why Chloe changed...?

Was this because of me? Because I liked Adrien...?

Marinette: No no. It’s not what you- I um It wasn’t...

Kagami: Lila was right...

I should have never let you… And Adrien...break me apart. Marinette: KAGAMI! KAGAMI! GET UP! PLEASE! She's not breathing just endless watering ashes from her shut eyes

Lila: Poor girl. Sad thing about her is that outsiders found new ways to make it out like she's your betrayer. And that's basically one of the reasons why she...

They did the same to call her Adrien’s betrayer. Though that’s more understandable, but it seems they forgot the both of you made her feel that you are the jewel to everything. Kind of like Ladybug is the only jewel Parisians feel like seeing.

Oh how Cat Noir is still devalued. Well...it do be like that. Another instance of what happens when you don't do exactly as the outsiders want or expect. Even if they see that you and Adrien made her feel like this for you. Is this why Adrien truly accepts you now?

Lila: Still sobbing? Feeling bad at last for many you could have stopped? Oh well. I'll just keep rambling. Truth is...

They see or saw her as the second coming of their divine play they played upon themselves with you as their ringleader.

All because she was the second in your way like me. Heh even when she supports your dreams for some reason and satisfies the many outsiders interests. She does something that they think is so bad, they'll treat her like before. I'm now convinced that if any of your friends deflect from you upon their own will, 

the outsiders would call them the devils like you say I am.

Marinette: Please, Lila! I don't want to see any more of this.

I don't want this experience! This shouldn't be happening.

Why IS THIS HAPPENING TO ME?!

MAKE IT STOP MAKE THIS STOP! Despairing and weeping

Lila: Now you want to quit?

You didn't quit earlier for me over something so ignorable. I guess you do pick what to stomach. Too bad. Accept this agony. 

This is what desperation and their foolishness to want you to be validated 

and me invalidated by any means really means. Lila: They can't even see they do not have to be like this but they won't ever and it shall never end. 

It's not your fault that these outsiders are being like this. 

If it wasn’t me, they probably would do like Sabrina 

and find someone else to blame solely specifically. 

It reminds me of a few games I played or shows I watched. 

However, you unfortunately gave some them direction 

or what it means to be goodie twisted two-shoes. Marinette: I didn't ask for this. I JUST WANTED… Lila: Again, this is what happens when you and many outsiders don't think things through 

or become too invested in things going a specific way and refusal to let me or anyone like me go. 

Try to grow cause outsiders mostly won't. 

You and outsiders need to get better at seeing things from a different angle,

instead of locking or involving yourselves against me and wanting to be inexcusably correct. Cat Noir walking and wobbling

The very last thing Marinette needed to see Cat Noir: I'm sorry I failed you and everyone. I...could not...stop what happened. Her last hope turns into ashes in front of her. She screams in terror and sadness and this environment Gets up In her room Marinette: It Was A Dream!? She's quaking and trembling for a few minutes Marinette: (I need to get some breakfast.)

That dream... As she leaves her room An akuma exitted her room but a headband with one on it is present.

*Somewhere Else But Unknown*

Nooroo: Did you really have to do that? Lila: This is a warning for her and outsiders that don't think things through 

or don’t see how they or others can create damage that they can't undo. And the endless cycle of the collective outsiders madness. Nooroo: It affects more than who they see as the target. Lila: Yep. Nooroo: So you wish she'd change? Lila: Many to change or even reduce the amount of crazy magnets in the outsiders' never ending journey. I think you need to find a way to free yourself and have complete control.

Nooroo: Is this outsider info again?  Lila: Just think of what I said.

I'm going to sleep now. That session was off the hook. Nooroo: (...Whatever you say.) Seeing The No. 2 Headband

Miraculous doesn’t have much understanding of how custody of children works.

Realistically speaking, Andre would have to go to court, contact MR Lee AND Prove that he can be a good guardian PRIOR to getting custody of Zoe. None of which, he had done.

In fact, His treatment of Chloe, just proves that he shouldn’t be a guardian of any child.