#zolila

I really don't know what specifically sent me on this...I don't even know if I could call it a rabbit hole, but it has been taking over my thoughts all day.

So, I ship Lilanette (don't judge me) and Zoenette (they're adorable okay!), do I think either can/should be canon? Nope, the my feelings for the Love Square may have changed since I first picked up the show, but I'm not gonna throw a riot that it's canon after all these years.b Besides, shipping relationships that have no chance of ever being canon? That's the point of fanfiction!

Anyway, since Marinette has two hands, my brain got to thinking if I could make an OT3 out of this, so here we are. So I guess by association I kinda ship Zolila/Zoelila as well?

This is just gonna be me rambling so don't expect me to make a lot of sense here (or for what I say to fully align with canon), I'm just getting all my thoughts out on the potential here.

So consider this my (and probably the very first) Zolilanette Headcanon?

All three of them have habits/self images that are built from expectations and how others see them

Zoe’s natural instinct is to be a people pleaser. Both for better and for worse and usually at the sacrifice of her own self identity. She is a good person, but that can get overshadowed by her desire to be accepted.

Lila’s a chameleon that uses people’s perception of her to make herself seem more interesting than she actually is, leading her to wear lots of masks/faces, with no one ever knowing who she truly is (possibly including maybe herself). Fueled by a need/desire to be someone special, someone important. Yeah it’s selfish, but its really all she has

Marinette doesn’t want to disappoint people, there’s always that need for things to be perfect, leading to her to always put others before herself. Add on top of that that she’s a hero and that just compounds. Doing things for selfish reasons is a foreign subject to her

Each of those behaviors are probably exhausting in several aspects. So that leads me to Zolilanette and what their dynamic could be, relief/sanctuary from those images, expectations, performances and just being able to…just be

Let's break down each side of this love triangle

Zolila - With Zoe and Lila there’s an almost unspoken understanding/respect between the two of them, they’re both performers with complicated relationships with their families so in that sense they know what it’s like for the other. They see through the acts the other puts on, and give each other a break from needing to do it. Like a pair of actors in between takes on a set just vibing.

Lilanette - Lila and Marinette butt heads are at each other’s throats most of the time, but at the same time that dynamic really invigorates them. There’s a passion between them they can’t have with anyone else. It keeps things exciting between them and it's totally not toxic yuri what are you talking about And going deeper that connection also somewhat ‘infects’ each other. Being around Marinette eases Lila to the idea of honestly doing things for others, while being around Lila helps ease Marinette to the idea of being selfish once in a while and doing things purely for herself.

Zoenette - Marinette and Zoe just support each other no questions asked and can just tell when something is up with the other and will reach out to the other to help. Pure acceptance with no chance of disappointment. They have each other, they’re trying their best, and know the other will always have their back is relaxing.

And then when you put them all together

Lila is someone important/special to Zoe and Marinette without a single lie required Zoe can effortlessly please Marinette and Lila by just being herself Marinette will never disappoint Lila and Zoe and being with them is perfect by itself

Alright, ramblings over, if you made it to this point then maybe there's something here? at least enough that you were willing to hear me out? I don't know, maybe I'm trying to shove round pegs into square holes

Damn it I’ve been nerdsniped

@ml-rarepairs polls consolation prize zolila

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