The Reason You Suck Speech / Fan Works: Miraculous Ladybug

"The Reason You Suck" Speech in Miraculous Ladybug Fan Works.

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• In Audacity, Adrien betrayed Marinette. He took the earrings and wished for his family to be whole no matter the cost. His other wish is for Marinette to love him. Marinette doesn't remember the previous timeline and lost her mother because of an accident as a result; she is also unable to leave Adrien despite him being a horrible boyfriend. Shortly after meeting Damian, she regains her memory and she is pissed when she sees Adrien.
  Marinette: You bastard! I lost a year of my life because of you!
  (Adrien recoils, alarm and awareness flashing in his eyes.)
  Marinette: You took the earrings and you wished to not be alone, knowing the cost! You wanted your mother back so badly you wished for her to never slip into a coma. Did you think about the price of that wish? Someone else's mother in return, did you think about that before making the wish? Clearly you didn't, because now that I remember that night, I know that my mother was the cost. Your mother is still alive because you were selfish and wanted to keep your family together at the cost of someone else's. Not to mention your other wish; for me to love you. You were so selfish as to wish away my free will? You turned me into your puppet, stringing me along, cancelling plans knowing that the wish was still intact, and I couldn't leave you. You're a monster, Adrien Agreste.
  Adrien: I love you milady—
  Marinette: Well, that's a shame because I don't love you. That's just a lie you made up. You took a page right from Lila's book, well here is the ending: it's over.
  (Adrien backs away from the rage in her eyes while Damien marvels at it. Marinette starts to leave, then stops and turns back.)
  Marinette: The earrings, Adrien, give them back. Actually, you know what, give me the ring as well. I can't leave them with you, as you can't be trusted to be a hero, and I don't want to give you a chance to re-do the wish.
  Adrien: Sorry, princess; no can do. I won't lose you over a little mistake.
  Marinette: A little mistake? You actively chose to make those wishes, hell, it wasn't a little mistake, you manipulated me before you even made the wishes. By god, it wasn't a little wish either: you traded a life for your mother's. You have to live with the guilt and shame of that, Adrien, and of course you'd view it as a small mistake as well. You're a self-centered coward with no regards for anyone else. You cost me my mother and my free will. (slugs him in the stomach)
• Back To Us has one delivered by all of the heroes directed at a hate group calling themselves the Anti-Akuma Taskforce, created by Chat Noir's newly ruthless attitude towards akumatized victims, which he had since renounced before rejoining Ladybug. After the group march on the scene of a recent attack and declare Chat a traitor to the cause and Ladybug a hypocrite and a Karma Houdini for the death of Hawk Moth seven years earlier, Ladybug steps forward and gives their leader a Death Glare:
  Ladybug: ...You know, I once pitied you. All of you. I thought your mistaken convictions were my partner’s fault — my fault. I thought I had failed you, that I somehow fell short of your expectations of what a hero should be. But now I see you. You’re nothing but scared children, lashing out at something you don’t understand in exactly the wrong way, making the situation worse than it actually is. So in the name of your ‘justice’, you terrorize the city I love in your own way — with fearmongering and ignorance. And then you accuse me of ‘throwing my weight around’, acting like I’m a hypocrite, when you know damn well that the difference between what you want to do to the akumatized victims and what I did to Hawk Moth is intent. I didn’t mean to kill Hawk Moth. I was responsible, but I never wanted him dead. But you threw bombs into another citizen’s house for something he had no control over! If you think the akumatized victims are monsters, then what does that make you?
  Bomb-flinging woman: We’re not the ones tearing up the city and threatening innocent folks every other night!
  Emerald Shell: Yes you are! You’re persecuting victims, damn it!
  Another AAT member: Those people are inherently evil if they allow themselves to let a madman possess them! Chat Noir taught us that!
  Chat Noir: I was wrong! Some of you have even been akumatized, for fuck’s sake! How are you not choking on your own hypocrisy by standing here and claiming that akumatized victims are inherently evil?! At least I realized that there’s something wrong with this mindset!
• In Burning Bridges, Building Confidence: Chat Noir is sitting on the sidelines during Akuma attacks because "Ladybug has to admit we're meant for each other first" before he'll lift a finger to help. Due to her disgust with him, Cole, Marinette's cousin, assisted Ladybug as a civilian in an Akuma attack which led her to become the new Fox miraculous holder (permanently).
  • Chat subsequently attempts to lecture Ladybug about bringing Vexxin onto the team, only for Ladybug and Vexxin to give him a proper example:
    Chat Noir: My Lady, you didn't need to borrow the Fox from the Guardian; all you had to do was admit we were made for each other and I would have helped you.
    Ladybug: (scowling at his condensation) Chat, it's your job to help no matter what. Paris should come first. I've told you multiple times I don't feel the same way. And Vexxin isn't temporary. She's permanent. Fu gave her the Miraculous yesterday.
    Chat Noir: But why?! We were doing just fine. (folds arms) Until you kept denying our love.
    Vexxin: For someone who proclaims you were doing just fine, you sure don't contribute to the work. Especially considering I had to jump in yesterday. As a civilian with no powers. Even just now, you sat back while Ladybug and I executed a plan that we made specifically because you can't be counted on to fight.
    Chat Noir: Yeah but—
    Vexxin: But nothing! Your inaction has caused the Guardian to take the risk of making a Miraculous permanently active! If we follow the logic, the next step he'd take would be taking your Miraculous. So either sort out your priorities or be prepared to be permanently benched.
  • Ladybug confronts Alya after her outrage over being replaced as the Fox leads to her making wild, baseless accusations on her blog, getting akumatized into Rena Rage, and outing herself as the former heroine:
    Ladybug: Alya, you are in very big trouble.
    Alya: I kno—
    Ladybug: No, you are going to listen and listen only. You have shown me time and time again that you are no longer trustworthy with a Miraculous. Today's events only confirmed this. You have betrayed me both in and out of my mask. Your blog has become nothing but gossip and unsubstantiated stories. Your pride has gotten in the way and has made you into someone untrustworthy. Vexxin wasn't chosen by me because I can only loan out Miraculous. Vexxin was chosen by the same person who chose me and Chat Noir, she's permanent. She's staying. Before today, I wasn't sure if I could trust you with a Miraculous again, but today you not only proclaimed a Miraculous was stolen, you revealed you were Rena Rouge and claimed that the Fox belonged to you. You put not only yourself but your entire family in danger. I wish I could say I'm sorry, Alya, but I'm not. You brought this upon yourself.
    Alya: Ladybug, please. I'll do anything, I'm begging you.
    Ladybug: No Alya. From now on, Rena Rouge and Carapace are permanently retired.
    Alya: But Ladybug, I—
    Ladybug: Get back to school, Alya. We've wasted enough time here as is.
    (Ladybug and Chat leave; as Vexxin follows, Alya spits at her.)
    Alya: You, you did this.
    Vexxin: No, this is on you, traitor.
  • Cole gives a brief one to Kim and several other classmates when they attempt to intimidate her into 'apologizing' for things she never actually did:
    Cole: I don't think so. I owe nothing to any of you. My respect is something to be earned, and you lot will never earn it. Once you stop thinking like a mob, then maybe I'll consider any of you worth my time. Now leave. Us. Alone. I'd rather not have my IQ lowered any more than it already has.
• BURN THE WITCH!:
  • Prince Ali gives Rose a short but potent one after learning that she got him to donate to a false charity. When he informs her of this, she insists that the charity must be legitimate, because it's run by his dear friend Lila Rossi:
    Ali: I don't know a 'Lila Rossi'. You are either a liar or a fool, and I cannot abide either. This will have to be our last discussion. Goodbye, Rose.
  • Marinette rips Lila a new one after she gloats about how Hawkmoth will surely protect her from Witch Hunter, as she's too valuable an asset for him to lose... all because she shares his hatred of Ladybug.
    Marinette: You really hate her that much over one incident? Are you really that petty that you would actively try to help the guy terrorizing Paris?
    Lila: She humiliated me!
    Marinette: GET OVER IT! Get. The hell. OVER it already! So Ladybug was mean when she called you out for lying about her and trying to make her look bad to prop yourself as a false hero to a boy you barely knew! CRY ME A RIVER!
    Lila: (gapes at her for a bit before blurting out) But she made me look bad in front of Adrien!
    Marinette: Which wouldn't have happened if you hadn't lied about her in the first place! You lied about her to him. You lied about being a hero. You lied about being her friend. And you used that claimed position to then insult her to try and make her look bad just to make yourself look better in comparison based off a made-up story! It's no wonder she was mad at you!
    Lila: She was just wanting Adrien for herself-
    Marinette: She called you out for lying about her and pretending to be a superhero! Which by the way, was not only stupid and rude, but DANGEROUS!
    Lila: I was fine until she showed up!
    Marinette: You gave an interview on the Ladyblog claiming to be Ladybug's best friend! Did it not occur to you in the slightest how horribly dangerous that was? How BAD that could have gone? If any run-of-the-mill criminal had believed it? If Hawkmoth believed it?
    Lila: But he didn't.
    Marinette: Because Ladybug called you out! Which was the reason you got akumatized in the first place! And yet all this time, you've been holding a grudge over it! Ladybug APOLOGIZED to you for it! TWICE! And even offered to actually be your friend and thus make ONE of your lies true! And you threw it away out of spite! You gave up a legitimate opportunity that would have only worked to your benefit in favor of working with a supervillain because you can't let go of a petty grudge!
    Lila: I-
    Marinette: And for WHAT? A bunch of lies that didn't even matter to you!
    Lila: How do you-
    Marinette: I mean, they clearly must not have been that important, since you've been telling so many that you couldn't even keep them straight! And you're willing to damn Paris and everyone in it just because ONE of them was revealed!? WHAT THE HECK IS WRONG WITH YOU?!
    (Lila silently glares at her)
    Marinette: Are you even angry because Ladybug was rude in how she outed you? Or are you angry that she realized you were lying at all?
    Lila: I was hurt!
    Marinette: You were stupid! You never needed to lie about anyone! It would have been less trouble for you if you hadn't! None of this would have even been an issue if not for you starting it all in the first place! AND FOR WHAT? A free lunch and to get to sit next to a guy who you made uncomfortable enough that he chose to switch seats twice just to get away from you?
  • Hawkmoth delivers one by proxy through Witch Hunter that doubles as a Breaking Speech when Lila believes that he's going to transform the lynching into a Deliberately Distressed Damsel gambit.
    Witch Hunter: Ah, yes. Hawkmoth has a message for you. Hawkmoth thanks you for your assistance. (leans in) But your services are no longer necessary.
    Lila: (freezes against the pole) What?
    Witch Hunter: (tsks) You have a talent for manipulation, sure. But you waste it on big gambles that ultimately have little payoff, even if they do work out in your favor. You lack subtlety and you try to reach too far. All too soon, you've overreached... and now look at you. Your true nature has been revealed. The heroes have already long since known not to trust you, and now that the entirety of Paris is aware of your actions as well, your ability to influence and manipulate... your one worthwhile trait... is worthless.
    (Lila gapes at her, uncomprehending)
    Witch Hunter: What did you expect would happen once you were caught? Nobody will trust you now. Everyone knows what you've done. What you intended to do. Who will fall for your lies now? And even Hawkmoth isn't about to go out of his way to help someone who has fallen so far.
    Lila: You can't do this! We are partners! You need me!
    Witch Hunter: It would appear that you have overestimated your value and the nature of this relationship. A partnership requires equal footing, and you appear to have lost yours. Over some extra play money, no less. (sighs) And your reveal didn't even generate enough emotional turmoil for another mass akumatization. Though I suppose you deserve credit for this masterwork of an akuma. But between the two of you... well, it is no contest. And I am not about to risk one tool to try and save another that no longer functions.
    (Witch Hunter giggles at Lila's poleaxed expression, then leans in to whisper the rest.)
    Witch Hunter: Don't look so shocked, Lila. A tool is only useful as long as it can be used. But I'm sure you already know all about that. Friend.
• Cheshire: Alya gives a low-key one to Misterbug when he tries to defend himself as a hero mentioning that he de-akumatized her:

  Alya: After Cheshire/Knightmare did most of the work along with saving you. (Alya shows a video of Knightmare stepping through a portal and smashing the router) Plus being a hero is more than fighting villains, it’s being there to help the citizens. Cheshire is there for us, she takes time out of her day to help people with the smallest of things. The stories I get are of her doing small nice things. The cat saves people from robbers, helping find animals, heck she even helps elderly citizens across the street and carries their groceries.

• In the third installment of CONSEQUENCES, SEXUAL HARASSMENT, Adrien finally reaches his breaking point with Lila when she threatens to ruin Kagami's life unless he dumps her. He rejects her threats and plans to convince his father to fire her from the brand.
  Adrien: No. Nein, nyet, negative, negatory, no fucking way and everything in between! I'm done with you, Lila. I never thought I'd ever say this, but you are the worst person I have ever met! You lie, you cheat, you manipulate everyone and everything to get your way and you don't care who gets hurt! In fact, you seem to enjoy it when people get hurt! You're like a supervillain without a costume and I don't know why I ever told Marinette not to try and expose you! (Beat) One of the last things my mother said to me before she vanished was that there are no truly evil people in this world. Sadly, I must disagree with her because she clearly never met you. You act the part of an amazing figure on a pedestal, but in truth you're just a selfish, petty creature who puts and pulls others down to make yourself look bigger and better than you really are. And I'm through with you!
• Exposed: Alya discovers Marinette is Ladybug and publishes the video of her transformation on the Ladyblog, out of the belief that she's entitled to be the one to reveal everything. Marinette is, of course, devastated that her former best friend so easily ruined her life, but Adrien comes through to support her, even revealing he's Chat Noir. The next day, at class:
  Alya: Hey girl! (filming with her phone) So, why didn’t you ever tell me?
  Marinette: (sending a Death Glare at Alya) I never told you, Césaire, because you’ve proven time and again that you cannot be trusted. Your little stunt last night is just the latest proof. Did you get what you wanted? Did you get the attention? The views?
  Alya: What! Girl! I didn’t do it for attention! Or views!
  Marinette: So the views on the Ladyblog haven’t gone up at all.
  Alya: Well of course they have! But that’s because Paris wanted to know! The world wanted to know!
  Marinette: And it didn’t matter that I didn’t want them to. That I didn’t want to share my identity. That it puts me in danger. That it puts my family, my friends, and anyone I have ever, or will ever care about, in danger. That I will be targeted by Hawkmoth, and so will everyone I have ever interacted with in my entire life.
  Alya: They deserved to know! And come on, nobody’s in danger! Hawkmoth isn’t gonna do anything!
  Marinette: No one deserved to know anything about me that I didn’t want to share. That I didn’t choose to share. And that decision did not belong to you. It belonged to me. You took that from me. You betrayed me and endangered my life and the lives of countless others. Did you even think twice about it? Did you for a single second think about me, your supposed friend, Marinette?
  Alya: But you’re Ladybug! That’s all that matters! And besides, you can stop pretending to hate Lila now!
  Chloé: You’re either delusional or very, very, stupid. (Alya glares at her) Dup - Marinette. Thank you for giving me a second chance. For giving me any chance. I didn’t deserve it, and you know it. I’ll never be able to pay back the kindness you’ve shown me even if I live to be a thousand years old. I’m sorry you have to deal with all of this shit, and I have a team of lawyers ready to sue for slander and invasion of privacy at your say so.
  Marinette: Thank you. I - you have no idea how much I appreciate that. I’ll take you up on that offer. We’ll talk during lunch.
  Alya: What do you mean, lawyers! You can’t sue me! I didn’t do anything wrong!
  Marinette: Lila and I are not friends. Ladybug is not her friend. Marinette is not her friend. She is a liar. She’s been lying since she got here, which I told you countless times. You dismissed me and belittled me and called me jealous and stupid and selfish, when you were the ones who cast me aside for someone who could spin a few pretty stories. So yes, I’m Ladybug. No, I didn’t tell you. You are not trustworthy. There’s a reason Rena Rouge and Carapace haven’t been called on in the past year. You, Alya Césaire, are not worthy of a miraculous, and will never wield one again. You’re not a bad person, but you aren’t by any means a good one. You only care about yourself and your blog, with no regard for the truth or for anyone but yourself, and that is dangerous. You never consider the consequences to your actions. You are not someone I’ll be associating with any longer, and you have no one to blame but yourself for whatever happens next.
• Fashion Upgrade: Marinette calls her former homeroom teacher out when Bustier tries guilt-tripping her into transferring back into her class when she was the one who pushed her out in the first place:
  Marinette: Oh. So now that I and most of my class are now local celebrities, I'm magically no longer a problem student and you want the prestige of being my homeroom teacher.
  Bustier: That's not what I meant! I miss you!
  Marinette: No, you don't. You don't miss me, you miss being the praised teacher with the most talented students. Even when you did all you could to put me down. Maybe that isn't what you mean, but considering you're only coming to me after I'm already successful and happier is not making you look good.
  Bustier: (Stunned Silence at the realization that her former 'model student' is regarding her with utter contempt)
  Marinette: I was in your class for two years before Lila Rossi ever set foot inside Francois Dupont. I don't expect you to blindly believe me when I said I didn't cheat... even though that's what you did for her... but you could have at least heard me out. But you didn't. You threw me away as soon as I became the slightest bit inconvenient for you. And now you're upset because you now have to do something. Teaching and maintaining order instead of sitting back and having me take care of everyone else's emotional well-being. Everyone important that is. Not Marinette, she can just drown, right?
  (...)
  Bustier: But...you're just so talented! You make organization look easy. I was just trying to give you a leadership role—
  Marinette: No you weren't! You were making me take care of everything and everyone. You forced me to be a good example and let bullies and my friends roll right over me. It's a teacher's job to be a good example, not a teenager's. Do you have any idea how alone I've felt? How stressed out? I've been targeted by akuma multiple times. That's why I hide during akuma attacks. Hawk Moth has akumatized most of my old class and half my family. I'm terrified! I have stress nightmares. I may have PTSD and you were more concerned about how you looked to others than helping me.
  Bustier: You were always so self-sufficient! I never knew you needed help!
  Marinette: Everyone needs help sometimes! Even grown-ups! You didn't ask me how I felt or if I needed help, you didn't even notice! You and the rest of the class made decisions that affected me without even asking for my input. Why would I want to come back to that?
  Bustier: Marinette... I'm... I'm so sorry.
  Marinette: Mlle. Bustier, you're a nice person, maybe even a good one. But you're not a good teacher. You're an enabler who's more concerned with appearances and being liked than being effective. Apologies don't erase your actions. If you're really sorry, then do better for the students who are looking up to you. Be a role model. Do your job.
• Feralnette AU:
  • Enough Rope has Marinette deliver one to Hawkmoth, turning his Breaking Speech right back around on him:
    Marinette: Calling me friendless, what a joke! Where's Mayura, Hawkmoth?! Where's your only friend in the whole world? Did you think no one would notice how sick Mayura was? How weak? How frail? Supposedly I'm the friendless one, but I'm not the one destroying my loved ones. God, but I bet you didn't even care about her! She was so sick! Is what you're doing really worth it?!
  • Enough Rope also features Ladybug taking Alya to task after she tries downplaying the impact of Lila's Blatant Lies:
    Alya: Lila told me that her disease acts up when she's really nervous, and you two are acting really intimidating! What's up with the grilling, there's no harm in a misunderstanding.
    Ladybug: Really~ Give someone enough rope and they'll hang themselves! Looks like you two proved that to be a tried and true idiom, hm? Alya Cesaire, in admitting that you're aware of Lila's so-called lying disease that results in aggressive, compulsive lying, and yet still publicly post her claims as fact on a blog people often use as a source of information in times of Akuma attacks and life-threatening Akuma-related situations, you have compromised the authenticity, the credibility, and the integrity of your blog. I cannot, in good moral standing, support a blog that uses false claims to perpetuate a dishonest narrative around me and my partner, especially from a source you say you know has a problem with discerning fact and fiction. This sort of mixing of truth and lies can result in serious accidents. From this day on, the Ladyblog is blacklisted from my support and from the support of my affiliates. We will not be working with you, your so-called friends, or anything involved with the blog and the making of these harmful lies.
    Alya: L-Ladybug...
    Ladybug: You can earn back my trust when your blog features legitimate articles again and no longer panders to social media and gossip. However, as it stands now, it's a safety hazard to those who think everything on your blog is fact. An event that was distinctly created for children, for fun, is now brimming to the thousands. Specifically from people who want to see me and Chat. Your blog has put a target on everyone here for Hawkmoth to take advantage of, do you understand? Furthermore—
    (she throws out her yo-yo, the string winds around Alya's shoulder and behind her to snap an akumatizing butterfly out of the air before it can reach Lila)
    Ladybug: You kids ought to stay out of superheroes' ways. Hawkmoth isn't above real atrocities, in my experience.
  • Kagami gives one to Alya after catching her stealing from Marinette's locker:
    Kagami: You and I share a similar issue, Alya — we assume Marinette needs us to represent her in any way. If you really want to earn her love and trust again, you need to stop assuming and let her do what she wants when she wants. She's her own person.
  • Chloé confronts Lila after Lady Clarity, calling her out over turning the school into a circus out of her delusional need to play puppetmaster.
    Chloé: (after delivering a slap) I only did that because I know Adrikins is too nice to raise a hand to anyone. I'm not, though! You thought Marinette was violent? You thought Marinette was mean? I can only meet Adrien at school, and you turned this place into a damned circus so you could act like the protagonist of everything. That was a mistake. If you thought Marinette Dupain-Cheng was mean, I'm about to be your worst nightmare, you delusional, transplanted, forgettable brat.
• I See What You Do Behind Closed Doors:
  • Following his akumatization, Adrien immediately notices that Aurore is holding the Black Cat Ring and lunges for it, only for Ladybug to shut him down and start listing out all the ways he's proven unworthy of it:
    Adrien: My ring!
    Ladybug: No, Adrien. You don't get to keep the ring after your behavior. You exposed your identity to a civilian, you've acted like I was a possession, you've given minimum effort in fights, you—
    Aurore: I think he gets it.
    Plagg: Oi, Ladybug! You can't just make decisions like that on a whim! You have to consider all the possibilities, carefully examine his behavior, find a new cat, you can't just—
    Ladybug: The hell I can't! I'm the guardian. In any case, whatever procedures, he can't be trusted, he doesn't deserve it, et cetera. As for a new cat, I'll give Aurore a few trial runs after this, along with minor heroes helping in case they can't keep up. If they prove a trustworthy partner, then there's your new cat. I don't care, so long as Adrien is not Chat Noir.
    Plagg: I get that, but you might be a little biased—
    Ladybug: Damn right I am! You know why, so imagine if he kept pulling that? Telling every civilian? I think not.
  • After Lila's exposure, Marinette calls out her classmates for trying to convince her that it was her fault they refused to listen to her warnings. She also makes clear that their attempting to pin the blame upon her has only served to convince her that their self-serving "apologies" aren't worth listening to:
    Marinette: It's okay to accept that you listened to what you wanted to hear. I don't appreciate how that includes you wanting to hear that I'd been bullying a classmate just because of jealousy. It was not because no one told you. I don't even really believe that it's because you didn't know, but maybe you didn't want to admit to yourself that you were wrong. Regardless, I don't think I can accept that you guys were all so quick to think so badly of me. I don't forgive you. Not right now, probably not ever. Right now, we aren't friends, I'm not so sorry to say.
• In Jerk in Sheep's Clothing, Adrien finds out Marinette did not trust him enough to confide in him about Lila because of all the times he easily excused Chloé for bullying her and the rest of the class. This ended in disaster, as Lila has strained things between Marinette and her friends to the point that she has placed more trust in the new boy, Henri LeRoi, than the class, giving him leeway to poison her mind against them and Adrien. Adrien is so guilt-ridden and remorseful that his actions triggered the chain of events that left Marinette vulnerable to the new class bully, his patience with Chloé, the girl whose actions he foolishly defended that led to his dependability declining, is already thin. When she starts badmouthing Marinette to him, Adrien finally snaps and delivers her a really scathing one that puts her into tears, even ending their friendship for good this time.
  Adrien: Enough, Chloé! With the insults and the mean jokes and the tricks you play! I've had it with you and your snobby attitude!
  Chloé: Adri-kins, what's wrong with you?!
  Adrien: Nothing's wrong with ME, Chloé. Something's wrong with you. You go around Paris, insulting people, picking on them, playing nasty tricks on them and getting them in trouble if they stand up to you. You strut around with your nose up in the air, thinking you're better than everyone else, thinking that gives you the right to treat everyone around you like garbage. Half the people in our class got akumatized because of your cruelty. And don't even get me started on the akumas you caused outside our classmates. And you know what the worst part is, Chloé? The worst part is, you rarely show remorse for your actions. And even when you do, it's so little it's barely even there. You think you can mumble out a little 'sorry' and it automatically washes away all the pain you caused. It doesn't, Chloé. It takes more than a half-hearted apology to make up for something bad. And even after all the hurt you made, even if you say sorry, as soon as it's all over, you snap right back to bullying some poor new soul. You're a spoiled brat who's vain and selfish, and you don't care who you have to push around to get your way. It's no wonder the school threw a party when they found out you were leaving.
  Chloé: WHAT?!
  Adrien: Oh, come on, Chloé! Do you really think that party on the day your dad was akumatized—once more because of your meanness—was to celebrate your being Queen Bee? That party started hours ago! And the real reason behind it was because everyone was happy when they found out you were moving away! Even the teachers were laughing and dancing! How about that, Chloé? Those people were so sick of you, that they threw a giant party to celebrate the fact that they didn't have to put up with you anymore! Funny enough, it was Marinette who convinced everyone to change the party to thank you for everything you did as Queen Bee. But you know what, Chloé? You don't deserve to be Queen Bee. If you did, you would stop treating people like their only purpose in life is to be there for you to hurt or belittle. You've had plenty of chances to be better, but you've wasted all of them. And I've given you a pass because we used to be friends, and I wanted to believe there was good in you. Well...not anymore. I'm done defending you, Chloé. I'm done sitting around, waiting for you to change your ways. I'm done turning a blind eye to your misdeeds. I'm done with you, Chloé. I'm not interested in being friends with a bully. I wish Sabrina the best of luck dealing with you.
  Chloé: But you can't go! You promised me! Remember, Adri-kins? You promised we'd always be friends!
  Adrien: You broke that promise first. I told you you had to be nice to people. You and I both knew I meant long-term. But the second I took back my threat, you went right back to picking on everybody. So this time, I'm not going to be your friend until you've proved you can be a better person, for good. I'm sorry, Chloé. Not for what I'm about to do, but because this is the way it has to be. I'm sorry it's come to this. But I can't be friends with someone who does awful things so easily and doesn't feel any remorse or even try to change. It's not good for anyone. Not for me, not for you, not for anyone else. And I should have realized that a long time ago.
• Juleka vs. the Forces of the Universe: In the climax of "Juleka vs. the Forces of Chat Noir", Chat Noir attempts to blame his blatant sabotage of Ladybug's plans on her and Purple Tigress, only for Ladybug to turn things back around upon him:
  Chat Noir: You gave out another miraculous without asking me and you're letting her keep one!
  Ladybug: We — I needed help!
  Chat Noir: No, you didn't! You have me!
  Ladybug: No I didn't! (Chat stumbles back, staring at the tears glimmering in the corners of her eyes as she repeats herself, quietly, broken) I didn't have you.
  Chat Noir: Oh, Bugaboo, of course you did. I'll always be by your side, M'lady.
  Ladybug: Frozer.
  Chat Noir: What—
  Ladybug: Glaciator. (taking a step forward with each name) Oblivio. Dark Cupid—
  Chat Noir: M'lady, what are you talking about?
  Ladybug: All of the akumas where you've been more interested in goofing off or flirting. That, or having a snit because you were mad I don't feel the same way.
  Chat Noir: I don't—
  Ladybug: I needed help.
  Chat Noir: We beat all of those akumas!
  Ladybug: Barely! And always by the seat of our pants, because you never listen to me.
  Chat Noir: I listen!
  Ladybug: (laughing bitterly) Like you listened tonight?
  Chat Noir: I— I— I... I did follow the plan! I let her get the akuma to the Trocadéro! I was distracting it!
  Ladybug: And then you jumped in anyways when Tigress had an opening!
  Chat Noir: I was being a hero!
  Ladybug: You could have hurt her. You could have Cataclysmed her!
  Chat Noir: If she hadn't been there to begin with this wouldn't have happened! (glaring at Tigress) This was your fault! You told me to step up! If you hadn't—
  Ladybug: Chat! Stop. It.
  Chat Noir: But Bugaboo, she told me to— if she hadn't interfered—
  Ladybug: Don't ever talk to her that way. Don't ever talk about her like that.
  Chat Noir: Bugaboo—
  Ladybug: Don't. Call. Me. That.
  Chat Noir: But—
  Ladybug: You knew the plan. You chose to do your own thing. (jabbing a finger into his chest) You chose not to be part of this team.
• The Karma of Lies:
  • When Marinette's former friends and classmates expect to be Easily Forgiven for turning on Marinette, she calls them out on exploiting her kindness and dropping her for Lila simply because the other girl made extravagant promises:
    Marinette: None of you are my friends. The only exceptions at this table are Luka and Kagami, and maybe Chloé, if she doesn't relapse into her old ways. The rest of you abandoned me. You made it clear you didn't want me. Well, you got what you wanted.
    Nino: But—
    Marinette: When Lila showed up, she made it clear that you all had to pick: her or me. And you all chose her. Because she told you she had celebrity friends. Because she told you what you wanted to hear. Because she flattered you, and buttered you up, and made you feel like if you were with her, then you were bound for success. Me? I was just plain old Marinette, a normal girl with a normal life. Sure, I made you fancy clothes when you asked, and I baked treats for the class, and I did everything possible to help you all in any way I could, but I didn't tell you that I could turn you into superstars. So you picked her. You went along when she pushed you to exclude me from events. You went along when she pushed you to shove me to the back of the classroom. You did nothing when she kept hinting that I was the problem in class, that I was the liar, that I was the bad one. She hurt me and hurt me and hurt me, and you all did nothing, because you cared more for her ridiculous promises than you did for the fact that I was hurting.
    (her voice catches) Whenever you guys were hurt, I put my life on hold and went to make things better for you. When I was hurt, you threw me away. I finally realized that you didn't treat me like a friend, not really. You treated me like some kind of feudal servant. Someone whose job it is to serve her betters forever, to provide food and clothes and any other support no matter what abuse she receives, and to be grateful to get scraps in return.
    Alya: We never thought that about you! Girl—
    Marinette: Even if that wasn't how you explicitly thought about me, that was how you treated me. You thought I would always be there to cheer you on, that I would stay your 'Everyday Ladybug'. You figured you didn't need to do anything to support me, because after all, my 'job' was to back you all up. You assumed you could neglect me, shun me, let Lila hurt me, and I'd always be there for you because I always had been. Well, I'm done. We're not friends anymore, and we haven't been friends in a long time.
  • Chloé combines this with a "The Reason I Suck" Speech when she realizes that Adrien's policy of never saying anything that might get him into trouble made him one of her enablers for years, mutely standing by and letting her throw temper tantrums rather than standing up to her and potentially helping her Jerkass Realization along.
    Chloé: I'm done with that, and I'm done with you. I'm going to stick with Marinette and the others, because as annoying as Dupain-Cheng can be sometimes? I know that she'll be honest with me and demand I do better when I screw up. You won't.
  • Chat Noir crashes Nadia's interview to push his own agendas, including continuing to declare that he and Ladybug are 'meant to be':
    Ladybug: I will never be with you.
    (Chat freezes, gaping at her)
    Ladybug: I used to like you. I used to think you were funny and cool. But then you made it clear you didn't see me as a person. You saw me as some kind of trophy that you deserved to 'win' just for being Chat Noir. You flirted with me incessantly, even when I begged you to stop. You set up dates that I told you I wouldn't go on, and then you threw tantrums when I wasn't there. When I said I wasn't interested, you told me that I had to date you, irrespective of my wishes, because destiny said so. I will not date someone who does not respect me. I will not date someone who doesn't care about what I want and thinks only of himself. And even if we put all that aside, I won't date someone who was so irresponsible that he abandoned me and my partners during the final fight against Hawkmoth.
    Chat Noir: I—
    Ladybug: When Hawkmoth was active, I had to hold in my negative emotions. I could not risk being akuamtized, because if I was, then Hawkmoth could get me to simply surrender my Miraculous. Then he'd be able to take over Paris and commit whatever atrocities he wanted. So I tried my best not to get upset. Every time Chat Noir ignored my wishes or showed me that he didn't respect me, I held it in as best I could. I bit my tongue, I tried to placate Chat Noir, and I tried to hold out as long as possible. I shouldn't have had to endure that. Nobody should have to endure that kind of harassment. But Hawkmoth was out there, so I did. Now, though, Hawkmoth is gone. Now I can express negative emotions.
    (looks him dead in the eyes) And so I'm going to express this: it's true that you did have some combat skill, and that there were fights you were useful in. But in all other respects, you were a terrible partner. I won't try to strip you of your Miraculous, since the prior Guardian gave it to you and I respect his judgment. However, I assure you that not only will I never date you, but I'm not going to ask you to fight by my side again. Not now, and not ever.
    Chat Noir: But my lady... I thought we had a connection. That we were partners, and more than that, friends.
    Ladybug: We were. But you ruined it. We're not friends or partners, Chat Noir. Not anymore.
• Leave for Mendeleiev:
  • Played for Laughs when Aurore tells off both Frozer and Hawk Moth by proxy, raking both of them over the coals for being such incompetent villains.
  • Jean calls out Mme Bustier for trying to press-gang Marinette into tutoring her long-time bully Chloé, pointing out that it's her job to take care of her students. If Chloé actually is struggling in her studies, it's Bustier's role as her teacher to handle that, rather than passing the responsibility off onto somebody else... much less somebody who clearly isn't comfortable in that role.
  • After Adrien reveals to him that he used to be Chat Noir, Gabriel gives him a short but cutting speech about how poorly he handed his role:
    Gabriel: In her defense, son, you weren't a good hero.
    (Adrien freezes, giving his father a hurt, betrayed stare.)
    Gabriel: For the battles she faces, she needs reliability, and you weren't stepping up.
    Adrien: But, I— I was just...
    Gabriel: Having the time of your life, and being selfish in your levity. No wonder she hasn't missed you and has been happily relying on others over you.
    Adrien: She could've... she didn't tell me.
    Gabriel: (getting up to leave) Unfortunate that she never gave you that second chance. And now you'll never have it.
• Long Con: In this Recursive Fanfiction for the high road, Lila hits Adrien, Alya, and the rest of the class with one when they finally confront her, pointing out how easily they fell for her Celebrity Lies and dismissed Marinette's warnings, peer-pressuring her into "making nice" with the Manipulative Bitch. She calls them all out for being Secretly Selfish and taking both her and Marinette for granted, expecting to just exploit their kindness forever.
  Lila: My point is, I told you all what you wanted to hear. You thought I was your ticket to stardom, and you thought Marinette would get in the way of that. So you pushed her away. The minute she became an inconvenience to you, you tossed her out like yesterday's garbage.
  Alya: That's not true!
  Lila: Isn't it? Tell me, why are you all just now confronting me? I saw how frustrated you all were, carrying my things and doing favors for me. But none of you said anything. Adrien, you knew for months that I was a fake, and you didn't say anything. So, again I ask, why now? I'll tell you why. Because all that time you were waiting for Marinette, your 'everyday Ladybug', to fix your mess for you. Just like you expected her to bring you pastries, or make clothes for you, or babysit, or host some stupid sports festival, or take the high road.
  (She laughs at Adrien turning pale.)
  Lila: Oh yes, I know all about that. Marinette told me how lucky she was that she listened to you, that she would have missed out on such a good friend otherwise. Admit it, Adrien. You didn't care about being 'the bigger person', or whatever bull you told her. You just didn't want to deal with the drama. You didn't say anything because you were afraid you would get caught in the crossfire. When Alya confronted me that day in class, she was only concerned about how she was affected, about her blog's reputation. I mean honestly, it's not my fault you guys are too stupid to look things up. But then you realized that Marinette couldn't help you this time, so you finally got off your butts and decided to deal with the problem. Not that it matters. That bleeding heart Bustier won't do anything, everyone knows she plays favorites and doesn't punish her 'problem students'.
• Marinette's Week Off: Nathaniel rips into Alya when she's trying to blame Marinette for not immediately leaping to help her out. Chloé quietly observes that this proves they made the right choice bringing him into their fold.
  Alya: Marinette hasn't answered a single one of my calls. What part of S.O.S doesn't she understand? The dance is falling apart. I have no idea what to do about the fundraiser on Sunday. We need her. I swear if that girl lost her phone again...
  Nathaniel: You'll do what? (after a telling silence) That's what I thought. You'll do nothing. That's what I thought. You'll do nothing. One, because you have no right to text the girl you disowned as a friend and ridiculed for the last year for help. Two, you couldn't take Marinette in a fight with everyone in this class helping you. And three, you're the one who turned down her offers to help all year; citing that you didn't need her. You don't get to beg for help at the last minute, and be surprised that she can't do it.
• Miracle Queen Aftermath features Chloé's Karma Houdini Warranty running out after the events of the third season finale. Adrien spends most of the fic attempting to guilt-trip his classmates into defending their bully's actions, even trying to push the issue after Marinette reveals that she and her parents were on the train Chloé tried to crash during Queen Bee's 'debut'. Alya then calls him out on his Lack of Empathy and Skewed Priorities:
  Marinette: What is that American saying? Three strikes and you're out? I have given Chloé more than three chances. I have done nothing BUT give her chances. And clean up after her. And just... try to help her. At no point has she been grateful. At no point did she ever apologize. Or show the slightest bit of remorse for anyone she hurt. Or just... try to do better. (steps forward) So tell me, Adrien. How much more am I supposed to do? What miracle am I supposed to achieve to help Chloé be a better person that I haven't already done?
  Adrien: You can just try. Chloé's alone. She has no one in her corner. You've given her chances before! Can't you find it in your heart to give her another chance this time?
  Alya: Why haven't you?
  (Adrien shrinks back in surprise)
  Alya: If you're so certain Chloé is the victim in all this, then why aren't you stepping up to help her? Why are you pushing Marinette and the rest of us to do it? (...) Adrien, why should we as Chloé's victims have to help protect her? That's the thing we're not getting here. WE are the ones she hurt. WE are the ones she betrayed to Hawk Moth. So why are WE supposed to try and save her from her own consequences? Why are you wanting us to?
• Miraculous Ladybug Salt-Shots: A Price to Pay features three of these:
  • The first comes when Marinette learns that Adrien has willingly betrayed her and sided with his father, helping Gabriel obtain the Earrings and Ring so he can make his reality-altering Wish, not caring about the consequences:
    Chat Noir: Plagg, Claws In. (detransforms and hands his Ring over to Hawkmoth)
    Marinette: No no no, Adrien! Why?! How could you betray me!? Us!? Paris!? Is he forcing you!? We could've solved this, Adrien! You didn't—you didn't need to resort to this!
    Adrien: M'lady... Marinette. You have to understand. It's to bring my mother back! It's just a wish—
    Marinette: Your mother is dead, Adrien— (Hawkmoth kicks her in the stomach) Emilie Agreste is dead! And it's not just a wish! You don't know the consequences! You won't be able to bear them! It's not as easy as you think!
    Hawkmoth: Don't you dare speak about my wife like that. You're quite stubborn, Marinette Dupain-Cheng. I've wasted my time fighting teenagers. Don't worry, Emilie, I'll see you soon. You won't remember a thing, Marinette. I know about your little childish crush on my son too. I'll make sure you're both together. This could've gone way smoother if you just handed me the Miraculous.
    Marinette: You're exchanging one life for another. It's not worth it.
    Hawkmoth: Now you're just stalling. It's a shame... maybe when I rewrite things, you'll work under me. I see you have quite a talent for designing.
    Marinette: Never.
    Adrien: Marinette, why are you being this way? You wouldn't have gotten hurt if you just handed the miraculous over. You're to blame for that.
    Marinette: Don't touch me! Don't you fucking dare touch me, Agreste! I regret ever loving you. You're only a pretty face, everything else is just for show. You're spineless. A doormat. I hate you, Adrien Agreste.
    Adrien: (sighs) You'll love me once this wish is made. You'll understand... I know you will.
    Marinette: Adrien, I've been betrayed by many people. I thought that I could at least count on Chat Noir to have my back. If you were going to betray me, I'd rather you were forced to do something like this—not willingly. It hurts knowing that you're like the rest. I'll never love you again. Even after the wish. I know that.
  • While Adrien and his father both assumed that reality being rewritten would ensure that nobody had any way of connecting the price being paid to bring back Emilie to them, they learn otherwise when Emilie herself immediately kicks them out of her house.
    Emilie: Gabriel, what are you doing here? You and your son aren't welcomed here, ever.
    Gabriel: W-what are you talking about? Emilie, I'm your husband, w-we're family! You can't possibly mean that!
    Emilie: Gabriel, I divorced you after you left that poor girl without a father and turned a wife into a widow! How can I be with such a corrupted man?
    Gabriel: W-what?
    Emilie: You paid for them to be in your favor. For you to win the case. Even though the evidence clearly showed that it was your fault. I will never be with a man like that. You had the audacity to laugh when it was over. I realized that you weren't the same person that I married that day.
    Adrien: W-what did I do?
    Emilie: (stares at him in disbelief before shaking her head) Have you both lost your memories within a day? I would say you both lost your minds... but I believe that's already happened. You both aren't welcomed here. I will call the authorities if you both are still on my property in two minutes.
    Gabriel: Emilie, please, we can discuss this—
    Emilie: One.
    Adrien: Why are you being so harsh, mom? Even if this universe's father did something, he didn't!
    Emilie: Thirty seconds. We are divorced. I don't want to see you ever again.
  • Finally, Adrien discovers that Marinette also retained her memories of the original reality and tries to convince her to help him "fix" his Wish, only for her to ream him out for being such an Entitled Bastard.
    Adrien: So you do remember! You have to help me! Yes—I know it was rude to hurt you, but you have to understand! I'm sorry, will you forgive me? Is that what you wanted to hear? I'm sorry! Just please help us make my mother love us!
    Marinette: (laughs bitterly) I hope it was worth it, Adrien. Your mother is alive, all of your family is breathing. It's such a shame that your wish cost the life of my father. (glares) I'm disgusted that you think I'll ever forgive you. Only a fool would forgive you... and I played the fool for way too long, Adrien. Gabriel wished for Emilie to be alive—he never said anything about her returning his or your affections.
    Adrien: S-she's my mother, she's supposed to love him! Can you stop being petty and help me? Please!
    Marinette: I'm not Ladybug.
    Adrien: W-what?
    Marinette: It means that I don't hold the Ladybug Miraculous. I can't help you, Adrien. Even if I was the Ladybug Holder, I wouldn't help you after you stabbed me in the back. I said there were consequences, that there was a price to pay. Your mother is alive, but she wants nothing to do with you or Gabriel. But his wish is for Emilie to be living, and it worked. So I don't see the problem.
    Adrien: You have to hold some type of Miraculous—there's new holders! You have to know one!
    Marinette: I don't know any of them. I'm not the one wielding the butterfly Miraculous, either.
    Adrien: Then you must know who has Plagg!
    Marinette: Why? You're not getting him either way. I told you—I don't know any of the superheroes! I'm not the guardian either! The wish messed up reality because of your lack of loyalty! Your mom is alive! That's your wish! It's not my fault that she can't stand to look at you and Gabriel Agreste! I can't blame her either! I'm not Ladybug and I can't fix anything! Even if I was, this couldn't fix the mess caused by your stupidity!
    Adrien: (tearing up) I just wanted my mother back!
    Marinette: She is back; she's just not in your life! You betrayed me, Chat Noir. You betrayed Paris for your father, an unredeemable man. You also hurt me and my mother. We're not partners or friends anymore. This is your wish; deal with it.
• The One to Make It Stay:
  • In the side-story Hearing Only Yourself, Plagg confronts Adrien about his persistent pursuit of Ladybug, with Adrien mulishly complaining that he 'used to be fun'.
    Plagg: Kid, there's a major difference between 'fun' and 'unwanted harassment', especially when it comes to love. Fun is a two-way street where all parties enjoy themselves, while harassment is continued even when it's made clear it's not welcome at this party. And you were kicked out a while ago.
  • Ladybug gives one to Chloé in All the Laughs We Had in the Past:
    Ladybug: Another chance? Chloé, you’ve been given plenty of chances to clean up your act! That one girl you bullied for four years threw you a party after saving the city! Your teacher has been nothing but patient with you, punishing the victims of your actions! I allowed you to keep the bee because I thought being a hero would force you to become a better person, with or without the mask. And yet, you continue to harass other people, and then expect I’ll give you the bee when they’re nearly akumatized? Someone who is so entitled, stubborn, and cruel cannot be a hero. You’re off the team, Chloé.
  • This is swiftly followed by Chat Noir getting one of his own after he attempts to blame everything on Ladybug and guilt-trip her into doing what he wants. Ladybug is having none of it, and calls him out on his Moral Myopia:
    Ladybug: Maybe if you actually acted like a partner, and treated our teammates with respect, I would have given your opinion more consideration. Why is it that I have to entertain what you want, but when I tell you to back off and stop hitting on me, you get to act like I'm being unreasonable?
• The fanfic Outcasts has two of them, both from Ladybug.
  • The first one is towards Cat Noir about his behaviour after the Oblivio incident, especially after she revealed that the reason she won't date him is that she herself is dating someone. It's short but, surprisingly, it makes Cat actually realize his mistakes.
    Cat Noir: You shouldn't play with other people's emotions. It hurts.
    Ladybug: Right back at you. Your advances hurt me. Why is it fine for you to hurt me but not when I hurt you? Are you really that self-centered? You have no idea how it's like to actually hide the fact that you're in a relationship. Do you think I was happy to lie to you? That I have to keep this from almost everyone I know? People have expectations of me. High expectations. I don’t need you to annoy me because I won’t date you as well. With all the responsibilities trusted on me... I feel so shackled right now.
    Cat Noir: I see... I'm sorry.
  • The second one is towards Alya about her posting the video where Lila says she's Ladybug's friend and the photo where she and Cat kiss due to Oblivio's mind-erasing powers. It's calm but very scathing and like Cat before her, Alya takes it to heart as well.
    Alya: If it's about the photo and Lila's interview I already deleted them.
    Ladybug: I'm glad you did but no. Why I'm here is because you took a photo of me in a vulnerable and rather private moment and wrote that me and Cat were dating, which we aren't. That's not what a journalist does. A journalist publishes the truth not matter how much unpleasant it is; not take a photo, slapping on a catchy title that people want and then post for everyone to see without the model's consent. That's what tabloids do and their role is to ruin a person's reputation or life on purpose. Another thing... Accepting someone claiming to be my best friend and then posting a video of her saying that is even worse. If by any chance someone with a grudge towards me thought it was the truth, Lila and her family might have been in danger. You can’t accept someone's claim without a shred of evidence. I know you want to know more about me but you're getting desperate about it. If this continues, I don't know if I can still trust you with a Miraculous. Look, you're not a bad person and not even a bad hero, but you need to understand that a hero's life is not all glamour, excitement, and mystery. I risk my life a lot of times and sometimes I'm scared I won't be able to see the dawn. And if my identity gets uncovered... Well, I know you're smart enough to realize that on your own.
  • An earlier one, has Marinette herself at the receiving end of one, as Sabrina gets angry at her for slipping back into the Agreste mansion to look for Adrien while the Collector was on the loose. While it was actually only an excuse to transform into Ladybug, Sabrina makes some points that really gets through her.
    Sabrina: YOU DUMMY!!! I was worried sick about you! You strangely disappeared without a trace and for a second I thought my heart would stop!
    Marinette: But...I was worried about Adrien...
    Sabrina: I can understand that you were worried about him but sometimes it’s better to stay back and let others do the work. Don’t try to be a hero or you’ll just hurt yourself. (Sabrina grips Marinette's hands) I said it once and I’ll say it again. Your crush on him is toxic. It’s not healthy for you, you’ll just destroy yourself if you keep this up. What if Ladybug and Cat Noir weren’t there? You might have been caught by the Akuma! I can’t bear you getting hurt...
• The fic Satisfaction Brought it Back has a scene where Marinette is approached by Adrien's former boss Marcel Dubois, the chairman of his father's business, who asks her to persuade him to come back to work because he can't control the board without his support. When Marinette makes it clear that she has no interest in seeing Adrien go back to a job he hates and doesn't need, Dubois reveals that he can make things difficult for her boutique by threatening her suppliers and potential retailers, and already has.
  Marcel: If you ensure Adrien's cooperation, I promise you'll find the retailers of Paris to be a little more... sympathetic to your brand.
  Marinette: Wow... you are such a dick.
  Marcel: I... ex... you just... I-I beg your pardon?!
  Marinette: Let Me Get This Straight.... You are the acting chairman of a multinational corporation. You have almost unlimited power to shape this company how you see fit but you need Adrien to come back to work because you have the charisma of an avocado that's been left in the sun for too long. So instead of—oh I don't know—being a marginally less repulsive human being and apologizing for being the fashion industry's biggest dick-
  Marcel: Did... Did she just call me a-
  Marinette: -you decide to go behind Adrien's back, blackmail his friends, and attempt to emotionally manipulate him into returning to a job he hates, again, working for the fashion industry’s biggest dick. But the real clencher is that you thought I would go along with this psychopathic scheme which leads me to believe that not only are you-
  Marcel: I-If you call me a dick again I'll-
  Marinette: -the fashion industry’s biggest dick. But you are a phenomenally stupid dick who lacks basic empathy and understanding of how actual human beings operate and relate to each other. Does that sound about right?
  Bruno: Basically.
  Marinette: You made your offer. Here's mine; you will leave my office under your own power or you will leave under mine.
• Scarlet Lady has several, but one of the most scathing comes in its take on "Zombizou" when Marinette calls her teacher out on coddling Chloé after she vandalizes her gift:
  Marinette: Chloé vandalized my work and I'm getting punished?
  Ms. Bustier: Don't be silly, Marinette. You're not in trouble.
  Marinette: But you are punishing me. You're giving Chloé credit for my gift. My time and energy and hard work. That's punishing me.
  Ms. Bustier: ...As class representative, I want you to be a good example for the class. Chloé is capable of great things, but she only thinks of herself because she doesn't know how to love. But you can show her how! You just have to forgive Chloé!
  Marinette: ARE YOU ACTUALLY KIDDING ME?!
  Ms. Bustier: ?! Marinette—
  Marinette: NO! Chloé did this maliciously and she's not even sorry! All "forgiving" her does is tell her that no matter how awful she is, she'll get away with it! Or even be praised for it!
  Ms. Bustier: That's—
  Marinette: And what about me?! Why should I ever do nice things when I'm told to suck it up when my efforts are spat on?! Why do Chloé's feelings matter more than mine, the wronged party?!
  Ms. Bustier: Now listen here—
  Marinette: Well, I'm done! If you don't want to punish Chloé, fine! I can't make you! Just like you can't make me pretend that Chloé isn't the meanest, rudest, most despicable person I've ever met!
  Ms. Bustier: Marinette Dupain-Cheng!
  Marinette: All that is necessary for evil to succeed is for good people to do nothing. And you did nothing, Mme. Bustier.
• In Serendipitous Fate, Chloé gets two of these:
  • The first comes from Marinette after Chloé tries to threaten her to stay away from Adrien.
    Chloé: He doesn't need someone like you polluting his good social standing. You and him are on completely different levels.
    Marinette: And I suppose you're on the same level as he is? Please. If there's anyone 'polluting' his social standing, it's you.
    Chloé: Hardly. I'm the mayor's daughter — the princess of Paris. Everybody adores me. While you're some dirty baker's daughter. Who are you to compare to that?
    Marinette: Okay, one, you're not a princess — unless it's the spoiled kind. Two, I'm not dirty and neither is my parents' bakery. And three, nobody adores you. You're a huge part of Adrien's problem.
    Chloé: Hardly. I'm the only thing protecting him from pathetic fangirls like you. I'm his best friend.
    Marinette: Nino is his best friend, Chloé, not you. And he doesn't need 'protecting.' All you've ever done is drive people away from him. The reason he doesn't have very many friends isn't because he's 'above' everyone else. It's because you hang around with him and nobody can stand you.
    Chloé: Everybody loves me.
    Marinette: Sure, Chloé. Whatever lets you sleep at night.
    Chloé: Stay away from him.
    Marinette: No. Adrien and I are friends and there's nothing you can do about it.
    Chloé: You really think that?
    Marinette: Uh, yeah, I do.
    Chloé: I could ruin you, Marinette. I could tell him all sorts of things about you, until he'd never want to take a step near you again.
    Marinette: Go ahead and try. He won't believe you. Nobody would. Everyone knows you're a liar.
    Chloé: He'd believe me. We've known each other since we were kids. He trusts me explicitly.
    Marinette: Hardly, Chloé. Tell him whatever you want, he'll never believe you.
    Chloé: He will.
    Marinette: No, he won't. Just let it go. You can't keep him all to yourself—he's not some model doll you get to hoard. He's a person—someone who wants more friends than just you. Not that I blame him — you're a pretty terrible friend to have.
    Chloé: Excuse me? I'm an awesome friend.
    Marinette: No you're not. You're a horrible person, let alone any sort of friend. You're nasty to everyone, you're spoiled, you lie. You're downright cruel, Chloé. Nobody. Likes. You.
  • The second comes from Ladybug a few chapters later, when Chloé is, as usual, at the centre of an Akuma appearance.
    Chloé: It's not like it's my fault he went crazy. I'm a victim here too, you know.
    Ladybug: You're never a victim, Chloé.
    Chloé: What do you mean? I'm always a victim. I feel like these akumas are constantly coming after me. Thankfully, you're usually there to save me, but-
    Ladybug: They come after you, Chloé, because you cause them.
    Chloé: Cause them? Doubtful.
    Ladybug: Akumas happen because you make people feel bad. You hurt people, so then they get akumatized and go after you.
    Chloé: Hurt people? I'm nice to everyone.
    Ladybug: No, you're not.
    Chloé: How would you know?
    Ladybug: Because you've probably caused more akumas than any one person I've encountered. Hawkmoth creates akumas from the negative feelings inside people. That so many people have felt so poorly toward you says a lot about your behavior. I don't save you because I want to, Chloé. I save you because you don't give me any other choice.
    Chloé: But... We've gotten to be pretty good friends because of it. That's worth it, to me...
    Ladybug: 'Worth it?' There's nothing worth this, Chloé! Look what's happened! Innocent people are- are as good as dead right now! There's a poor, tortured soul being manipulated! People are in danger! No, that's not 'worth it!'
    Chloé: None of that's my fault...
    Ladybug: Yes, it kind of is! If you were more considerate of other people's needs and feelings, then maybe this would stop happening! But you're not! All you care about is yourself and what you want! What about- What about what Adrien wanted?! Do you think he wanted to be terrorized and chased around?! Hurt and turned into- into nothing?!
    Chloé: I didn't do that! The akuma did! It's not my fault!
    Ladybug: You caused the akuma, Chloé!
    Chloé: I didn't!
    Ladybug: Then how did this happen?!
    Chloé: I don't know! I didn't do anything! So just stop yelling at me! Why are you being so mean to me...? I thought we were friends...
    Ladybug: We've never been 'friends,' Chloé. Beyond anyone I've ever met, you cause both Chat Noir and I the most grief. It's our job to help those who Hawkmoth takes advantage of, and you create the perfect situations to give him power. And no matter how many times it happens, you take no responsibility for your actions.
    Chloé: I don't-
    Ladybug: You do! You hurt people, bully them, and show no remorse for doing so. It's my responsibility to protect people. How could I ever be friends with someone who cares so little for the feelings of others?
    Chloé: It's not my fault that-
    Ladybug: But you do hurt people. And that's something I can't stand behind. We are not friends, Chloé. And we never will be.
  • There's a layer of irony here in that, while Chloé absolutely deserves this speech by now, the Akuma of the chapter is not a result of her usual dog-kicking, so much as the victim's misguided sympathy for her.
• Tidal waves: During the fight with Vanisher, Ladybug snaps and calls out Chloé for constantly lying and getting in their way.

  Ladybug: That's it, Bourgeois! Even if the akuma is on the brooch, you need to get out! From the very beginning, you lied to our faces, interrupted our work, withheld information, put yourself in danger and made me have to protect both of us as we fight and generally get in the way! You've done nothing but cause trouble, so shut up! In the first place, have you ever considered this your fault? If not, I'm very much inclined to tell Sabrina to transfer schools if that's what she has to deal with.

• to lose someone: Lila and Alya convince the rest of their class that Marinette has supposedly been bullying her, and they destroy one of her sketchbooks. After learning that they just destroyed various projects she had been doing FOR them, they try to convince her to recreate her work. Instead, Marinette reveals to them just how much her time is worth — that the projects she was doing as favors for them would cost thousands as commissions:
  Marinette: There's your answer. Unless you can pay me more than that insulting amount, then no — I'm not at all willing to redo months of work in like two weeks.
  Alya: But— Haven't you done more complicated projects in less time?
  Marinette: Yeah, sure I have — when they were required, or I was being paid for it. The most any of you have paid me for anything was... Actually, I can't think of any examples. Huh. (folds arms) Why did you tear up my sketchbook, anyway? Don't deny it. Kim and Alix wouldn't have giggled the way they did if they didn't have something to do with it.
  (Kim and Alix flinch, looking away.)
  Alya: We just... We just wanted you to know what it felt like for Lila, being bullied by you all the time.
  Marinette: ...Wow. (slow clapping) Wow. A plus execution there, guys, congrats. I am a fully reformed person and I will never say another bad word against Madame Lila Agnes Rossi ever again. Who knew that in order to make a bad person good, all you have to do is try and make them feel like shit? Truly, you have unlocked the answer to life, death, and the universe. Please, tell me your secrets, oh great ones.
  Alya: Marinette, please take this seriously.
  Lila: (fake sniffling) I knew that it would be mean, but I didn't think it would be this bad. I just... I just wanted you to know how it felt.
  Marinette: (in a Tranquil Fury) I am taking this seriously. But I think I'm entitled to a little sarcasm when for ages, ages, I have tried to tell you that even if Lila isn't lying, following her blindly and not taking your own opportunities will hurt you in the end, when you believed that I would bully her for no discernible reason despite the fact that even though Chloé tortured me for years, I've never retaliated against her in any way, when you refuse to listen to common fucking sense, I think I get to be upset!
  (the others shrink away as her voice rises)
  Marinette: I haven't had a proper night's sleep in months, part of the reason being all the stress school and those stupid fucking Akumas around my house, and you want me to add to that stress so you can look pretty? I have yet to be paid for anything I've done for you, despite the fact that I've been promised payment for babysitting your little siblings, making baked goods, and designing and fixing outfits, and you want me to do yet more work for free that would cost thousands of dollars in a professional setting? I have yet to see a single dime from any of you, and yet Nathanael, despite being another artist and the one person I would expect to know the importance of being paid for your work, says nothing about it? I have done favor after favor after favor after favor for everyone here, and the most I get in return is a half-assed, afterthought thank you, while you're running off to play with whatever new toy you've just gotten. So no, I'm not redoing all that work just because you've suddenly realized how much I'm doing for you. I refuse to put myself through that much thankless stress again, not without a good. Fucking. Reason.
  (she pauses to pick up her things and take a breath before returning to her original calm)
  Marinette: Feeling sorry for yourselves because you don't get to do a whole bunch of projects you were looking forward to is not a good enough reason. Apologizing to me so you can feel better about yourselves is not a good enough reason. Telling me you didn't realize how much I do is not a good enough reason.
• The Wolves in the Woods:
  • When Adrien condescendingly reassures Lila that everything will be okay if she just owns up to her deception, insisting that everybody will understand and forgive her, she's less than impressed with his reasoning, calling him out on being naive. Things only get worse when he reveals more of his true motivations:
    Lila: That's... what you think. You think that if I, someone you know is a liar, would willingly stop lying... That if I stop lying, things will magically go back to how they were. That if I stop lying, Chloé will go back to being the brat she is. That if I stop lying, Marinette will forgive everyone and it will all go back to normal like an overly cheery children's tale with no villains and no bad endings. That's what you think.
    Adrien: Well, uh, it's a start, isn't it? It's less work for Ladybug and Chat Noir. What's more, you don't get akumatized! I'd say that's a pretty good deal.
    Lila: (eye twitches) That's... what you've been focusing on... All this time... Hah! Less work. For superheroes. That can take care of an akuma in at least an hour. Are you out of your mind?! No akuma?! No akuma?! What about all the classmates Chloé hurt?! What about all the times she got away with something because no one did anything?! What about everyone else, huh?! What about them? Do they mean so little to you?!
  • Amaia hits Adrien with a series of these when she reveals that she's figured out his Secret Identity. Notably, Adrien only really reacts when she specifically calls him out on his gross sense of entitlement towards his partner:
    Amaia: I wonder. Does it feel nice knowing you let down Marinette? Does it feel nice knowing you left her to deal with everything on her own? Does it feel nice knowing you don't actually deserve Ladybug's love the way you think you do?
    (Adrien's fearful expression switches to offense upon hearing that)
    Amaia: Does it feel nice knowing you betrayed everyone to maintain your own selfish vision of what peace and friendship look like? You've had plenty of chances to break out of your father's grip. In and out of the costume. So what are you doing pretending to be a hero? Unless... You don't care about anyone but yourself. And playing superhero is just a way to act out your spoiled fantasies instead of facing reality and taking charge. Is that it?
  • When testifying at Ms. Bustier's trial, Lila calls out the whole class while owning up to her own misdeeds:
    Lila: I lied because I was looking for attention and adoration. I admit it. What I was not looking for was a class full of barbaric and gullible bullies who can't even use their own heads or hands. I thought your bond was stronger than that. I thought your bond was strong enough that a few pretty stories and tears wouldn't be enough to sway your opinion of someone you had literally known for years. I thought you all were close enough that you'd give your 'everyday Ladybug' the benefit of the doubt over some new girl. But I was wrong.
  • Nino hits Adrien with one after his 'friend' keeps Playing the Victim Card while blaming Marinette for how everything went wrong:
    Adrien: Treating someone badly like that won't make them change. Seriously, I thought you knew better.
    Nino: And I thought you knew better than to let everyone turn on the sweetest classmate over a few pretty stories. You say you're our friend, yet you never bothered to tell us it might have been a bit fishy. You say you're our friend, yet you never defended us against Chloé. You always made excuses for her. You say you're our friend, but I never once heard you say anything in Marinette's defense when Kim and Alix were beating the shit out of her. You, my good 'friend', didn't even say anything when they were tossing her sketchbook around like it was a piece of crap. Do you know who ended up making it stop?
    Adrien: Uh, no?
    Nino: Well, guess what? It was Lila who made that one stop. Not you! Not Alya! Lila! You know, the very one you defended in court against all of us!
    Adrien: L-look, it was just—
    Nino: Just what?! A misunderstanding?! I'm sick of this! I'm sick of this crap! You know why?! You're so damned sheltered about everything it makes me sick! And it shouldn't even make me sick! You had so many chances to unlearn all of that, but you didn't! You let all of us turn into a pack of wild beasts who turned on the kindest person there ever was!
    Adrien: Nino, please...
    Nino: Grow up a little before you come crawling back. Maybe I'll see if I can be your friend again.
  • After Alya assaults Lila while blaming her for everything, Marinette hits her Rage Breaking Point and calls out her former friend:
    Marinette: You... how dare you! You're still saying it's her fault?! What about the time you let Kim and Alix beat me to a pulp in the park?! What about the articles you posted about me calling me a jealous bully?! What about all the times I tried to warn you but you told me not to think about it?! Do you have any idea how many times I was almost akumatized?! No, you don't, because you were too busy making sure I felt like I wasn't wanted! What! Was this all just a game to you?! How 'bout I give it to you straight? I. Don't. Want. To be your friend anymore.
    Alya: Girl... You can't—
    Marinette: Oh, I am. If I ever see you again, I'm filing a restraining order. Goodbye.
• In this unnamed collaborative work, Lila convinces Nino, Alya, and the rest of her classmates to betray the heroes and help Hawkmoth make his Wish by convincing them that Adrien would be happier that way. This gets Marinette killed when Gabriel gleefully sacrifices her as fuel for his Wish. In the final scenario, Adrien rakes Nino over the coals for his Selective Obliviousness and how he and the others refused to think things through:
  Nino: Adrien! Adrien, please! We never wanted Mari to get hurt!
  Adrien: Was that before or after your girlfriend bashed a flute into her head?
  Nino: Adrien!
  Adrien: Or when the rest of you dog-piled her to rip her earrings off?
  Nino: Adrien, PLEASE!
  Adrien: NO, Nino! Tell me where exactly in ANY of what happened was Marinette NOT supposed to get hurt? Because you certainly didnt hold back your punches.
  Nino: We were doing it for you!
  Adrien: I NEVER ASKED YOU TO!
  (Shocked, Nino gapes while Adrien glares him down.)
  Adrien: You're no better than he is. Making decisions for me. Assuming what's best for me. Making decisions about me without even talking to me. And now look what you've done!
  Nino: We didn't know there was a price! We just knew it could bring your mom back! That's all we wanted to do!
  Adrien: (shaking his head, disgusted) Did you really think we were just sitting on that much power? If we really had power over life and death itself, why do you think we didn't use it to just Wish Hawkmoth away? Or wish my mother back ourselves?
  Nino: Lila said—
  Adrien: Lila says a lot of things! ANY of it you lot could have figured out! You SHOULD have figured it out! The INSTANT she started propping up a TERRORIST as a figure of sympathy, that should have set off some alarms! And instead, you chose to help said terrorist over the people protecting you — over your OWN FRIENDS! There is no excuse for what you did! You said we were selfish for not using that power. But we could have told you what would happen! All you had to do at any point was listen. Or even just talk to us. But you didn't. And I have to wonder if that isn't because you knew from the start that we wouldn't approve?
  (Nino looks away, ashamed.)
  Adrien: You were idiots. And now you're murderers.
  Nino: We-we didn't murder—
  Adrien: You as good as killed her! He only won because of YOU! Marinette is only DEAD because of YOU!
  Nino: We didn't know!
  Adrien: You didn't try to know! You just assumed! You assumed you were right. You assumed what would make me happy. And you assumed that you knew better than the two people who have been dealing with this all along and actually knew what the fuck they were doing!
  Nino: He was your father!
  Adrien: He was a terrorist with a known MO of manipulating people based on their feelings! What the hell made you think this was any different?!
  (Nino's eyes widen in horror.)
  Adrien: If you cared as much as you want to claim right now, you would have talked to me about what would make me happy! You wouldn't have stolen my ring. You would have stopped once you knew it was me! You would have listened to me when I told you this wasn't what I wanted! And you wouldn't have separated me from her! But you did. Every single mistake you could have made and you did them all! Because just like my father, you seem to think you know what's best for me.
  Nino: (sobbing) We just wanted to make you happy!
  Adrien: Do I look fucking happy right now? Did I look happy when you betrayed us?
  Nino: None of us wanted this!
  Adrien: Yes, you did! You said as much when you stole my ring from me and Marinette's earrings from her! You ignored us when we tried to warn you! You spoke to us like we were stupid! You called us selfish for not using the powers the way you wanted them to be used when you didn't understand how they even worked! And worst of all? While Marintte was DYING, you had the gall to act like what you did — attacking us — BETRAYING US was just a game!
  Nino: W-we didn't—
  Adrien: You separated me from her! You attacked her from behind! And then you laughed and joked like we were just going to forget that once you won? What did you think was going to happen? How did you think we were going to react? Even if Marinette hadn't been the one to die, what made you think we were still going to be friends after this? What the hell made you think that neither of us would hate you for what you'd done? Did you really think that Hawkmoth was just going to let us walk away after all this? (turns his back on him) You really are a fool.

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