#mlqc mc

MC has found her miracle: "A plan that will make Victor regret." Anna questions if it will work - MC herself isn't sure, but is convinced that they should at least give it a try. City News had asked if the production could start on the same day as the call - also providing a contact at the police station in the process. Receiving the memo from Anna, MC reads a name, location, and telephone number. The name, in particular, sounds familiar to her - Gavin. Finally, in a swift response to MC's nervousness, Anna reassures her that "he's a cop, not a criminal."

This "I'm going to be working for someone who was absolutely trying to kill me continues. Once at the police station it all comes back to MC/Youran with the infamous goodbye please meet me date letter. MC/Youran is going in to this meeting with the idea that Gavin is still some sort of criminal who is now secretly furious with her for not answering his letter. Which couldn't be further from the truth.

Soon enough, MC suddenly feels the urge to run away - pinning all of her uneasy feelings in the past few days onto this singular moment - as she recalls his face, "a blood-soaked letter," and the realisation that both of them went to same high school.

Kiro

Starting off with Kiro there's a lot of the fun loving and cheerful attitude. She not only has the celebrity freak out panic of that is the idol Kiro and Kiro is talking to me moment, but it's quickly pushed down in favor of being silly. The hiding from view by both of them practically getting on the floor to sharing a bag of chips and exchanging the limited edition card.

Never one to waste an opportunity MC/Youran is quick to offer Miracle Finder as a place for Kiro to come on as a guest star. Not only bringing back some much needed audience numbers, but also a popularity PR stunt that could have Miracle Finder set. There is so much confidence to meet a famous person and immediately try to sell them on appearing on your (admittedly failing) show.

MC: Anna, I got a plan! You said before there are countless ways to get a show popular. MC: How about... for the last show, we put everything we have into getting one, giant superstar to come on. I looked at that radiant star on the screen. MC: Let's invite Kiro!

MC/Youran even gets Kiro to make a joke about his evol (even if she doesn't know it at the time). By mentioning how Kiro has a superpower that makes everyone fall in love with him. He plays along and asks if he's supposed to go on stage and compel the audience in to loving him. Something we later learn he is very capable as both Kiro and Helios.

"Your fans say you have the superpower to make everyone fall in love with you," she goes on, "an episode like that would definitely attract viewers, right?" Kiro smiles wide, "so wait, now I get to be one of the superhumans on Miracle Finder? But... then what would I do? Stare at the audience and think, 'love me... love me...'?" 

Even though Kiro isn't able to go on the show he makes sure to give it his full enthusiastic support on the internet. Causing the show to trend.

Just going off of MC/Yourans "first" interaction with Kiro you can see there's a playfulness between the two of them. A camaraderie that is almost too perfect for two people who haven't met before. When you remember that this may be MC/Youran's first remembered meeting with him, but it isn't his with her it makes so much more sense.

MC/Youran doesn't see "Kiro the Superstar" or "Loveland Idol Kiro" because that isn't who he is with her. He shows a softness that is probably reserved for his friend her shared green apple candy and teddy bears.

The naturalness to their dynamic is because while MC/Youran may not remember, he does. If he couldn't pay her back then for the comfort and support she gave him at the time when they were children, he will do so now as an adult.

Victor

Let's start with the fact that when Anna tells MC/Youran that Victor is some cutthroat investment mastermind that MC/Youran immediately has a vision of him as some gangster. Which is objectively hilarious when you remember that Victor was essentially the childhood victim of an actual gang/evil organization with MC/Youran.

Anna: Did you meet the CEO of LFG, Victor? MC: No... I couldn't even get past his assistant. MC: All we have now is one last episode of Miracle Finder. Anna: Oh... Still, they probably spared you some heartache. I've heard the CEO is a real terror. Anna: If you'd met him today, I doubt we'd even have a final episode to make. Hearing those words, somehow a gangster boss image popped in my mind, like in The Godfather. MC: ... Really?

I think the primary trait that is seen with MC/Youran and Victor is this burning determination and a lot of foot-in-the-mouth. We've all had moments where we fantasize about telling someone off, making them see our point, and winning the argument. MC/Youran actually does that. She essentially storms the building, baits him in to meeting with her, and then gambles support that - at the time - she has absolutely no way of guaranteeing.

This is after he saves MC/Youran from being run over by a car with nothing more than "stay out of danger".

"Who are you?" she asks again, blushing slightly. "You don't have to know," he answers, "and you better forget what I said just now." How could someone forget such a strange encounter? "I still have to thank you for saving my life," she offered, but he replies with a warning in response. "You should be careful. Someone can't come save you every time." He put her down on the sidewalk, and he was gone before she could thank him again.

Which is funny considering Victor is spending Loveland knows how much money on a PI trying to track down his sandbox park friend who saved his life. Only to save said friend and immediately decide being the biggest idiot in the city by putting distance between MC/Youran and himself is going to keep MC/Youran out of danger.

Victor wants to help MC/Youran and the best way he can think of doing that is keeping her away from everything that could bring back their shared tragic past. In fact, of all the LIs, Lucien is the only one who is actively trying to push MC/Youran towards discerning the truth. Though he does have the whole "Black Swan Agenda" thing going on.

Gavin

Technically Gavin appears before Lucien. Even if he is watching from the sky and MC/Youran doesn't see him at the time. Which makes me think that if Victor didn't step in and freeze time, Gavin likely would have had wind (or himself) save MC/Youran.

"Agent B-7, energy wave detected in Loveland. Sending coordinates. Target locked. Proceeding immediately." From his high vantage point, he watched the girl walking along the street.

Lucien

What an iconic first meeting. To start off we know nothing about him and MC/Youran starts it off by insulting said professor.

"Miracle Finder? Oh, I've heard of that," he replies. "Do you want Mr. Lucien for your show?" She started to tell him that Professor John had recommended Lucien, but the young man cuts her off and tells her that her choice of topics are "problematic." Trying to hide her anger, she retorts, "Thanks for your advice. Perhaps you don't know our show that well."

Lucien absolutely plays MC/Youran for his entertainment. Not only by provoking her but by insulting the show that she is trying to save. The show that is her last remaining connection to her father.

"Hello, professor Lucien!" she greets the researcher standing before MC. Lucien nods to the girl with a smile, and MC can hear a phone ringing in his pocket. Freezing up, MC hangs up the phone and looks up at the brilliant young professor standing in front of her. "Would you like to talk inside my office?" he offers, a mischievous joy in his eyes.

Don't forget that Lucien not only knows who MC/Youran is, he has been specially looking for her given her nature of possessing the Queen evol gene. I've always felt this was more of an Ares-playing-Lucien moment. He's using MC/Youran for his personal entertainment because he has all the information and cards at his disposal.

"I never imagine you'd be so young..." she said, her face flushed. Mentally, she kicked herself for judging him by his appearance. "It's alright," he replied, smiling cryptically. "I didn't introduce myself."

You could make the argument that the entire office meeting is more Ares than Lucien. He's testing MC/Youran. Seeing how much we know and evaluating us based off it. He asks if MC/Youran believe in superpowers - subtly checking our knowledge of evols. Then goes in to the Red Queen Hypothesis. Which comes out to the humans having existed outside of natural selection. There's a hidden implication here that evolvers are the solution to this. At the end of it he tells MC/Youran:

"When you're in danger," he leaned in so close that there was almost no space between them, and he whispered into her ear, "trust your instincts."

This is both a warning and a threat. MC/Youran needs to start becoming more. Stepping in to the Queen evol and using it for more than just precognition.

After the last episode of Miracle Finder ends Lucien tests MC/Youran again. He gives MC/Youran the information she was looking for regarding evolvers, but not by being direct. Instead he decides to reference the (unremembered) traumatic event from MC/Youran's childhood. Likely hoping that it will trigger the memories once MC/Youran starts investigating.

Lucien says that 20 years ago, there were rumors of a British scientist who was able to identify a unique gene by dissecting several people with super powers. The expression of that gene, the ability to use a super power, was called Evol, and those who were able to use Evol were called Evolvers. Eventually, the scientist was sentenced to life imprisonment for his inhuman experiments, and all of his research was deemed classified. Lucien explains that he is also doing research related to the topic of superpowers, and he hopes to one day discover the truth. He jokes that if MC is able to find any real super humans while making Miracle Finder, they are welcome in his research center. When MC pauses cautiously, Lucien laughs and asks, "What are you thinking? My research is all completely legal." MC apologizes and says that letting her imagination run wild is an occupational hazard. 

I'd say that this was a good example of MC/Youran having great instincts. The immediate assumption of Lucein performing human experimentation isn't too far from the truth. Given his own personal background and the position that he holds in Black Swan.

It's also interesting when you consider this is MC/Youran's first meeting with Lucien. She doesn't know he is Black Swan and certainly not one of the Twelve.

It feels like he's trying to gauge how much of her past she actually remembers. By bringing up not just evol in general, but the "research" that she was an active (and unwilling) participant of not once but twice.

Their initial dynamic together isn't one of push-and-pull like with the other 3 main LIs. It's more of a chess master or puppet master guiding MC/Youran. He does care, and shows it more in the anime, but initially Lucien appears to have more of a fascination with MC/Youran over a protective/caring feeling.

I do believe he does start to develop feelings greater than an admiration for her evol and what she can do to benefit Black Swan once fully awakened. But until MC/Youran starts to know more and gets a more even footing with him, it's very uneven. This could by why earlier interactions with him feel more stilted and, at times, sinister.

He is hiding something (several somethings) and while he hints and implies, he doesn't outright say anything that gives MC/Youran the answers she is looking for. They have a very anime isekai relationship title going on. The whole "My Neighbor is part of the Secret Organization that kidnapped me TWICE as a kid is now a professor and working with me while being my LI"

Victor

Going back to Victor, after failing to get Goldman to let MC/Youran speak to him. MC/Youran makes the meeting happen. Nothing is going to stand between MC/Youran and the funding needed to keep the show going.

Victor and Goldman walk by, discussing work, but MC has trouble seeing him through the crowd, though she says his voice is familiar, in some way. Victor stops in his tracks and turns to MC. "Why are you here?" he asks. After a moment, MC glances up from her seat and sees Victor staring straight at her. "Y-y-y-you!" she stammers clumsily, shocked to learn that the CEO of LFG standing before her was also the same mystery man who had saved her from an oncoming taxi, and the man who had first brought Evolvers to her attention.

It's important to note that his voice is familiar. I would go as far as to say not just from him saving MC/Youran's life earlier from the car - possible planned forced awakening of the Queen evol - but maybe from their shared childhood as well. Considering that the pudding holds a special memory even though we don't know why (childhood treats before terribly traumatic life saving).

Mc/Youran in a rage induced confidence tells Victor that he should support Miracle Finder because if he doesn't it will be his biggest regret. This is funny considering that at this point Victor's biggest regret is that he couldn't save his friend (MC/Youran) from sacrificing herself saving his life.

MC recollects herself and presents Victor with a proposition for a development plan, handed in after 2 weeks, that he "would regret passing up" - he simply says nothing, smiles again, and reduces the time limit to 1 week. MC has finally managed to strike a deal with Victor. In a moment of relaxation, MC loses her grip on the door, slamming it onto her hand in the process. Victor holds back his laughter and opens the door again, sarcastically remarking that "to stay alive itself is the biggest challenge" for MC - to which MC retorts against with a defiant "we'll see!" as she leaves.

One of the reasons MC/Youran feels comfortable mouthing off to Victor - and not just in an induced "you will listen to me so help you" rage. Is because there is a familiarity there. Not just from him saving her life from the car, but because of the way he acts with her.

Victor has a coldness that melts away as soon as they're not where others are. He created a restaurant that serves the special pudding they would share, so there's clearly a lot of unresolved everything happening. He also has a fairly large guilt complex going, but that's a separate theory/analysis.

The banter the two of them share is interesting because it's not the playful banter that Kiro has, or the hesitant and nostalgic one Gavin has. Unlike the more taunting and secretive one Lucien takes, Victor has dynamic with MC/Youran that flips between professional and personal so fast the lines blur. One moment they're yelling over quarterly reports and the next he's making a special meal at his secret restaurant.

It's because of that strange relationship that MC/Youran feels comfortable pushing back against him. Standing her ground and being assertive. Of all of them to receive the limited amount of sass, I would say Victor gets the most of it.

Gavin

Aware of the reputation he had at school and the fact that MC/Youran has no poker face to speak of. He can clearly see that MC/Youran is more on the terrified end of the spectrum.

Gavin jokingly remarks that "you probably thought I would be in jail rather than a police station, right?" but the intended lightheartedness in his words fail to reach MC.

Gavin later gives MC/Youran a bracelet that is for protection but also a reminder of a past that they share. A past that involves MC/Youran unknowingly saving his life and what came after that.

Gavin: And take this. A bracelet glimmered in the setting sun, swinging in a beautiful pendulum as it fell into my palm. MC: What is this? I look down at it. It's a silver chain with a delicate golden gingko leaf attached. Memories set to piano music from when I was 16 come flooding back, like an old forgotten melody. The late autumn when the gingko leaves started to fall was always my favorite time of year in high school. That oft-remembered afternoon, and the music sharply rising to a climax... Outside the french window, the gingko leaves suddenly dance to the piano melody and roar up into the sky. That moment takes my breath away. The scene is so deeply engraved in my memory, it's still vivid after 6 years.

He also saves MC/Youran later. Remembering Lucien's words, MC/Youran takes a leap of faith off a building and is saved by Gavin. This is a great parallel to MC/Youran unknowingly saving Gavin from a fall off a building. He gets to repay the favor even if MC/Youran is unaware of it.

Lucien: When you are in danger, trust your instincts.Without hesitation, I ran in the direction the wind was coming from. The man with the blade gave chase. Gavin's Voice: jump!I jumped. The wind got stronger and stronger and lifted me into the air. The scene of the alley below was scattered in the wind. Under the setting sun, the sky is warm and fuzzy.I'm in the arms of Gavin. His arms are strong and warm, calming my throbbing heart instantly. The light of the setting sun made his face appear so handsome that I dared not look at him. This high above the city, it's a bit cool, but his embrace is warm...

Also the sheer determination and faith MC/Youran has to put her faith in someone that she previously thought had a rather sketchy reputation is wild. There's that recklessness again. If she's not in danger, she's throwing herself towards it.

While their relationship does suffer initially from the whole misunderstanding in their school days, they have the most solid relationship. It's one that she can remember clearly - even if MC/Youran doesn't have all the facts.

There's that reminiscent quality to them that makes it easier for them to fall in to a routine once she trusts him. He is the only one she has accurate and conscious memories of. A person doesn't just jump off a building without having trust in the other person. There's not even hesitation there. MC/Youran fully believed that Gavin would catch her or find a way to keep her safe. She trusted her instincts and they led her to trusting him.

Kiro

Just then, my phone buzzed. I received a private message from a friend. Kiro: Found you, Miss Chips.

I love this for so many reasons because Kiro is just one of many who is looking for MC/Youran. He remembers MC/Youran from before even Victor met MC/Youran. Back in the facility with sour green apple candy and only each other for comfort.

Casual Get Togethers

Just a few friends and co-workers for holidays, casual birthdays, and regular cookouts

Victor is normally the cook for this with the help of Gavin

Gavin is such a grill type of man

They’ll cook as friends are coming over with a movie playing

In the summer they have pool parties

Lucien would be in charge of taking photos of Kiro in his swim trunks to post online for later, gotta feed the fans

When they have a get together in the house there will be a few drinking games

Truth or Drink goes crazy because I know for sure none of the housemates except for MC will answer really personal questions

"Body count?" "Craziest drunken experience?" "Have you ever had a wet dream about MC?"

After that truth or drink wasn't allowed to be played anymore in the future

If it's just the housemates sitting around doing games then they'll be slightly more open

At the end when friends leaves, MC falls asleep on the couch with one cuddling her and the others continuing their conversation

“I’m telling you there’s a raccoon going through our trash.”

“We either call animal control or get rid of it ourselves.”

“Hey, you guys leave Chunky King Bob alone!”

“Great he’s named it…”

Formal Events

They have a whole mansion that's big enough to do an actual formal event

Victor and Kiro are normally the host as it’s kinda required for their reputation

Honestly, both wouldn't do them if they didn't feel obligated for work

Victor, Lucien, Kiro, and MC are the planning committee

Sorry Gavin doesn't have the imagination for this and Shaw is lazy

They'll hold meetings in Victor's office or in the dining room

Most of the time it's a black-tie event but a few times it's themed

The entire house goes on a cleaning rampage the days before

Victor punishes anyone who slacks off by making them wash the dirty garbage cans outside

Really Shaw’s punishment most of the time

Also I know Victor is going to be some animal in heat seeing you all dolled out

Just seeing the jewelry set he bought you decorating your neck and ears is doing something to this poor man

As you're getting ready before the guests start showing, he comes in your room to "check on things" but will just watch you get dress

Slow makeout session happens and when someone knocks, he'll leave pretending like he really was checking on things

"MC have you see my blue tie? Huh, Victor what're you doing?"

"Checking to make sure MC did her tasks."

You're just standing there flushed

Be prepared to be starstruck by the number of celebrities you'll see for Kiro's big birthday event

Lucien and Gavin will sneak you out of there to get alone time separately

"It's stuffy in here."

"Let's go get some fresh air."

You'll be out with them for a while having personal conversations that both of you lose track of time

Their eyes staring so lovingly into yours, never breaking eye contact, hands holding yours or rubbing your sides

THE TRIANGLE METHOD (EYES, LIPS, EYES) PLS LET ME OUT OF MY CAGE

More slow makeout sessions and boy do they want to keep going for the rest of the party

Like the Bachelorette when they have the one one-on-one convos

If Kiro or Victor find out they'll be the most grumpy toward you, imagine a pet that's giving you the silent treatment for not feeding them a third time

"While I had to have meaningless conversations with everyone, I wanted to be with you. Seems you didn't care."

Give the pouty idol your undivided attention for the next couple of hours and he'll immediately forgive you but good luck on Victor

To the housemates, it's a genuine mystery on where Shaw goes in the middle of the event

They'll see him but a second later he's gone missing for the next couple of hours

“Where’s Shaw?”

“I thought he was with you…”

“I thought he was with Gavin.”

“You need me? Did everyone leave already?”

“What the-”

“It’s been three hours.”

Clubbing/Partying

Normally all of you won't go partying together, even if someone invites the housemates out, only a few will go

Gavin, Kiro, and Shaw are always out with you having a blast

I don't ever see Victor or Lucien coming out for these

High levels of socializing and drinking just aren't them and they'll barely talk to each other while everyone's gone

Gavin is the DD (designated driver) and sober dad

Think of the meme with the dad having his children on the backpack leashes going in the opposite direction, that's him but with 3 adults

Kiro will be dancing with you, or drunk rants to someone while Shaw is doing beer pong

Shaw loves being by your side and his hand wrapped around rested on your hip

As much as Gavin and Shaw don't get along, Gavin always checks on Shaw and steps in the way if some drunks try to pick a fight

Back to the house, you're drunk along with Kiro, jumping practically off the walls

Victor and Lucien trying to get yall to drink water

You'll sing praises to everyone about Gavin taking care of everyone

When you're lying in bed, Shaw will sneak in to sleep with you

"Feeling lonely?"

"No, knowing you, you'll wake up hungover. Going to need someone to hold back your hair when you're yaking."

He'll never say the real reason to just cuddle

The only times all housemates go out to party and drink is the rare clubbing occasions

Normally high end clubs

Everyone dressed in their clubbing/partying outfits

The boys will wear nice button ups or plain t-shirts with pants that will go along while you wear a backless top and miniskirt

In the club they’ll reserve a table…for the Li family? so they can immediately sit down and start drinking

We all know Lucien says he’s a good drinker but he’s really not as he doesn’t space out his shots

You’re not helping as it’s shot o’clock every 30 minutes with you

“For going out! For finishing the week! For housemates bonding!”

“Okay, I think that’s enough. Also, Lucien you don’t have to keep taking the shots.”

“Haha, I’m fine.”

Takes a lot of pleading from all of you to have Gavin and Victor drink up (sober dads on break)

From there on things ramp up!!!

Everyone loosens up a lot and have the funniest conversations

Talking about inside jokes to personal stories

Later on the dance floor you’ll be grinding on one of them then the next and making out

The types of drunks: Lucien - possessive drunk, Kiro - happy drunk, Shaw - funny drunk, Victor - horny drunk, Gavin - crying drunk

Lucien’s Ares side come out a lot more that he just wants to be in your embrace and no one touches you

Takes a while for you to calm him down and let the others be near you

“Why did you let him kiss you?”

“Lucien, you also did too. It wouldn’t be fair to the others. Let’s all have fun.”

Kiro is the type to legit constantly compliment anyone and give some motivation speech as if they’re about to jump off a cliff

“Youu’re soo handsome and kind b-but I feel you don’t even know it.”

Shaw’s jokes are so perfectly timed with his expressions that everyone’s sides hurt from laughing, funny how he’s so calm when he says it

“I’m one drink closer to getting a tramp stamp.”

Victor isn’t a big fan on PDA but now he wants you to give him a lap dance mid club and says the dirtiest stuff

Even Lucien and Victor are at war while drunk

“You love the feeling of rubbing yourself against me.”

Poor Gavin has so much regret that he starts pouring out normally to Kiro about wishing he did things differently

“When I left I should have had-had more courage to tell her what I felt but I did not-I didn’t.”

“I get what you’re feeling! Trust me ev-everything has been working out. Like you’re here with Miss Chips getting wasted!!”

Ride share dropping all of you back home still drunk but trying to sober up, everyone is seriously tripping over themselves, laughing controllably

Trying to drink water and devour leftovers

After awhile everyone decides except Victor to sleep in his room because he has the biggest and comfiest bed