chiseler | Nobody knows what the future holds and it's bad enough just getting old [Monday W11, pre-motive]

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!the cradle project

Nobody knows what the future holds and it's bad enough just getting old [Monday W11, pre-motive]

[Sunday night was a bad night for all of them for a variety of reasons. People had died, people had been injured, people had been heartbroken and it strongly reminds Luke of "war" in the most literal sense. So many conflicting emotions cropped up and the night before left him pretty restless thinking about...well, everything.

It's why he coordinates to leave his room the next morning, heading to the kitchen to pick up a few things. He's delayed there for a while by something unexpected, but eventually he makes his way to the medbay with a small box tucked under his arm. Backbiter's still strapped to him but that's mostly safety precaution by now, and his usual notebook's also with him. He balances the items in his hands and he moves to open the door to the medbay so he can lean against its frame to check on the current state of the furries. If they're both asleep, of course, he'll consider coming back later…or just hide out there for a while, who knows. But if at least one of them is awake he'll notice soon enough.]

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[They're not asleep! Marinette's near Adrien, rummaging around for another that could be used as painkillers, and getting wet clothes to press to his forehead. The wound's been taken care of, thanks to Dorian, and she's used whatever healing gel she'd managed to scrounge up, so she's just doing whatever she can so ease his pain a little]

[She doesn't even notice Luke's there, and she isn't really talking much, either.]

Does that help...?

[To Adrien]

[Yeah, Adrien is awake, but it's obvious it's barely and probably not willingly, either. he's pale and obviously not... fully aware... though he seems to be trying to do his best to tough it out. He blinks slowly at Marinette, wincing a bit at the cloth like he didn't expect it. he attempts a smile at her even though it's obvious nothing is really Helping]

Hmhmm. Thanks. [he's not looking at her when he says it. is he looking through her..?] S'that Luke?

[no, he just noticed Luke standing behind Marinette. his voice is rough from the round of pained screaming he did before passing out (when is space anaesthesia going to be a thing) but hey! at least he's cognisant enough to recognize luke!!!!]

[The aliens sure can go fuck themselves for attacking furry children! He blinks in surprise upon being spotted by Adrien but he settles for an easy sort of grin to try and make this less hard on them. He's busy taking in the scene, eyes lingering on Adrien's stump of an arm and Marinette's expression before he shakes his head.]

Hey guys. [May as well step into the medbay and shut the door then. Space drugs would be super-helpful right now but he'll have to make due. Instead, he holds up the box.] Breakfast for later in case you're hungry. [He wastes no time approaching, setting his stuff down on the side before turning his head to Marinette. Adrien's a little too out of it to ask hard questions, he thinks.] How was he last night? ["And how are you now?" goes unsaid.]

[It sure isn't helping. Marinette's gently smoothing down his hair, and if Adrien hadn't just announced Luke's presence she would have probably taken a moment to panic and slam her head against something, but as soon as Adrien mentions him, she freezes, and turns around.]

Oh, hello, Luke. [She tries for a smile just like her shitty husband, but it falls really , really flat.] Thank you. [She doesn't seem like she has any intention of eating anytime soon, but food means strength for Adrien so she'll take it.]

....Not good. If it weren't for Dorian.... [and she can't believe she owes Dorian, of all people....] But he's strong. He'll... get better.

[He has to.]

He lost an arm, not his hearing. [but it's said without bitterness, just exhaustion. he can't even manage full emotions yet, it looks like. he's leaning into Marinette's touch, at least, so that's... something?] M'okay. Kinda hurts.

[that's obviously got to be an understatement, considering everything, but he's got a more important question on his mind for Luke:]

How's Dave?

[He huffs with vague amusement as he finally stops next to them.] I feel like that "kinda" is an understatement.

[He's not thrilled by this, but Marinette's fake smile also kind of hurts a little and once again Luke's calculating ways to end this project and get these two out of here.] Grell and Dorian did good work sweeping in last-minute to get everything wrapped up and the damage under control.

[But speaking of damage control...] Can't tell ya that part though. Kid booked it out of the trial room almost immediately after he came to. Not sure if anybody's seen him since.

[She winces at Adrien calling her out, but continues petting]

[And not buying the 'kinda'] You know what I mean. [She nods along to what Luke's saying - she never thought she'd have to be grateful to Dorian and Grell of all people, but they'd managed to help Adrien and fend off Dave, not her]

[She glances back to Adrien when Luke mentions his yaoi]

I don't think I'd want to be around people, either, if I were him.

[it looks like he can manage one concrete emotion! and that's a reflexive alarmed noise at the news of his yaoi]

What? No, y'can't... [his words slur together for a second and he struggles to try to sit up] It wasn't his fault, you have to... Mari, it's like the akuma, he's got to know-- [adrien lie the fuck back down you look like shit]

[...he lifts an eyebrow.]

What's an akuma and how is this like what just happened?

I know that, Adrien. I know it wasn't him. [gently supporting him as he struggles, lie the fuck down, husband] I'm just--- talking, in terms of his feelings. He might need some time alone. Don't-- don't hurt yourself.

[And then, to Luke:]

In Paris, Papillon - the one we've been fighting - sends akuma to corrupt people. They take over an item that belongs to someone, and he transforms them into something else. Something superhuman. He manipulates them -- good people-- into doing bad things. I break the item and purify the akuma, and things go back to normal, but whatever they did as akumatized victims... they had no control over it. This is just like that.

[he seems to calm down at her explanation, though he's still halfway sitting because what is Rest]

It wasn't Dave's fault. [okay stop repeating yourself you sad sack] If I'd been faster, he wouldn't have...

You're...fighting a dog? [Just. Throwing that out there. But okay that makes sense. The idea that the kids have been fighting possessed people doesn't exactly sit well with him either but it also puts into perspective just how important Ladybug and Chat Noir are to Paris.] Makes sense. People who're possessed by something greater than themselves usually have no control until they regain their own body and mind back. You can't fault someone for stuff like that.

[His gaze is a little sharper on Adrien.] It's not Dave's fault, but don't even start on the "if I'd done more" crap. There's a lot all of us could've done if we'd known, but we didn't. The most we can do now is try to make things easier now.

No, he's-- a supervillain. He's-- I mean, we've never really seen him up close - but he's butterfly themed. [aka: fucking stupid] But, exactly. [Empathically!!] Papillon is the one responsible, he's the one manipulating them - it isn't them. Besides, the reason he's possessing them is to take our miraculous.... So we have to do everything we can to destroy whatever the akuma's in and get them back to normal.

[Speaking of giving Adrien looks, yeah, your wife is also doing this] Don't, Adrien. It's not your fault. You know the alien's undetectable until they murder.

[he just kind of ... sinks lower into the bed at the reprimands, making a low disagreeing noise, though he doesn't argue out loud. like a bicycle, he is 2 tired for this shit. he will instead add to the papillon discussion:]

Ladybug's the only one who can purify them. S'why... s'alright. [he doesn't explain that part, because it makes perfect sense to him and 0% to anyone else probably]

A butterfly-themed superhero. Way to take something cute and make it a living nightmare. [That is actually the dumbest thing he's ever heard, where the fuck are you two from that this is normal???] If he's trying to take your miraculous then…what, he's using other people to do his dirty work instead? Maybe our aliens are doing the same thing but I can't figure out what it is they want from us.

[He grins slightly.] I know. Creation and destruction. I get it. [No he really doesn't…] …Marinette. Do you think you could use your miraculous to purify the aliens themselves? Like Alice does.

Something like that. [honestly what about a man dressed up as a butterfly is threatening, like, really] He's never faced us himself. He's always akumatizing people... that's his power. [But she nods to his assessment] I think so too. I mean... they may just want to kill us, but I think there's more to it than that.

[It's something she's considered, honestly, but she's never gotten a chance because Alice stepped in]

I could try. But the akuma are small enough to fit into my yo-yo, so I don't know how it would work.....

[squinting vaguely at the ceiling. that's 0% what he meant luke but honestly you are better off not knowing what he really meant]

If they're parasites, maybe they're tiny...? But we'd still have to get 'em out... in the first place. [he is Helping, clearly] Anyway Papillon's an asshole but at least he's bad at it.

[LANGUAGE]

[In retrospect this whole conversation is sad and hilarious. But anyway, Adrien you need to rest and even though Luke should be scolding kids for cursing he can't help but snicker at the fact Adrien called Papillion an asshole.]

So we'll think of something to lure them out. That shouldn't be too hard if we really start thinking on it. [Fitting them into the yo-yo might be a problem though.] If they can't fit inside the yo-yo, maybe there's a way to siphon the power another way. I don't really get how your miraculouses work, but there's always a way around these things. We have time though so don't worry about it too much for now.

[Adrien's fallen so far.... But Marinette kind of tries to stifle a laugh at that.]

If we could get them out of the body somehow.... maybe even a part would be enough. There's a lot I don't know about the miraculous myself, but with this technology..... maybe there's a way. But the akuma's always fit inside.

[She could ask Tikki, but Tikki was known to be kind of cagey about answering]

[he hums a bit, quiet, and ends up pawing at Marinette's arm instead of answering first. Does. Does he want pets. He isn't a real cat, does he know this.]

S'worth a shot? Maybe. It wouldn't hurt.

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Nobody knows what the future holds and it's bad enough just getting old [Monday W11, pre-motive]

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