Plagg's expression as he tries to convince Adrien of the importance of FAIR CHURROS.
Adrien's Precision F-Strike when he sees Chloé helping Marinette into her limo, and his frantic attempt to convince the others that "CHLOÉ JUST KIDNAPPED MARINETTE FOR REAL":
Kagami: ...Adrien, just text Chloé. She probably just was giving Marinette a ride home. Alya: Why would she do that? Chloé hates Mari. Lila: Plus, her family isn't rich enough to get anything good from kidnapping her. (dead silence as the other three stare at Lila)
When Adrien does call Chloé, Marinette wonders why he didn't text her instead.
Chapter 2: Even a Worm will Turn:
Chloé's introduction being interrupted by a very important question:
Adrien: CHLOE DID YOU BREAK INTO MY DAD'S CAR?! (Chloé looks away, "innocently" whistling) Felix: ...she didn't come with you? Adrien: NO SHE DIDN'T
Followed by the revelation that she brought breakfast with her, leading to Adrien's cheer of "WOO HOO NUGGETS" as he gets back in.
Marinette's flummoxed expression when she leaps in to save Rose by nailing White Knight with a table, echoing Felix's shout of "WHAT ARE YOU DOING?!" with a mental 'what am I doing???'
Upon finding Alya and Lila in the room he was about to hide in, Felix remarks that "maybe getting stabbed wouldn't be the worst thing to deal with right now."
Felix's response to Alya's blithe declaration that she'll regain Ladybug's trust with authentic, live news:
Felix: HE IS STABBING PEOPLE. Alya:(cheerfully) Oh I have seen MUCH worse! Felix:that is not reassuring
Marinette's response to Felix asking why she's Bridal Carrying him: "Force of habit."
Marc immediately clocking that Felix is genderfluid, followed by their hesitantly describing Nathaniel as "My Very Best Friend", complete with font change.
Marc leaping in to protect Nathaniel, discovering that they can No-Sell White Knight's sword... and wondering if The Power of Love kept them safe.
Adrien's so thrilled at Felix meeting and helping Chat Noir that he comes charging in with a Crash-Into Hello to ask about the experience:
Adrien: I heard you got to meet Chat Noir!! Wasn't he cool? Did you like talking to him??? Felix: I got stabbed Adrien: AH Felix: and it sucked Adrien: UH Felix: and now you've shaved ten years off my lifespan Adrien: HEY—
Marinette responding to Felix's brusque methods of care by thinking 'ah shit they're a mom-friend'
Felix flounces in right as their mother is berating Gabriel over how there was an akuma attack at school. Both are immediately all smiles and flowers even as they passive-aggressively pressure Gabriel to fork over his phone. Gabriel has an Imagine Spot of two snakes coiling creepily behind the pair as they both beam at him.
Chapter 3: Birds of a Feather:
The chapter opens with a long shot of Felix gazing out at the amazing view he's got of Paris, followed by his takeaway:
Felix: I cannot FATHOM how little privacy I have with windows that fucking big.
Felix's Stunned Silence when Chloé reveals that she wants him to help her uncover the identity of 'Paris' least favorite terrorist':
Felix: Who in the world do you take me for to ask a favor like this?! Chloé:Columbo. Felix: Oh, so THAT'S why you got me that coat. It's all making sense now.
After accidentally offending Marinette, Felix apologizes... with considerable effort.
Marinette: ok that's nice and all but why did you sound like you were in physical pain? Felix: Listen I don't apologize very often, so take this with a grain of salt or ten.
Gabriel's reaction to Nooroo warning him that his house might be haunted?
Gabriel:(on his cell phone) Nathalie... do ghosts exist?
Felix and Marinette get into an argument over his eating beans on toast, leading to the two lying back on their desk grappling with their feet:
Felix: Open your mind to the wonders of beans on bread you heathen! Marinette: HOW ARE YOUR LEGS SO STRONG. Felix:(strikes a pose)Jealous~? Marinette: You look like a smug pretzel. Felix: You're jealous.
When Adrien tries to invite her along to Andre's, she begs off by claiming to have prior plans with Felix. Felix responds by jamming their food in her face:
Felix: WE'RE SUCH GOOD FRIENDS WE EVEN SHARE FOOD. (his toast with beans spluts against Marinette's mouth as she gives him a Death Glare) Felix:(mentally, still smiling) 'I HAVE MADE A CRITICAL MISTAKE'
Followed by Adrien failing to notice Marinette starting to throttle Felix as he turns away, cheerfully declaring "Well at least you're spending time with someone!"
Marinette drags Felix out of class in a headlock. When Alya points this out, he accuses her of being jealous. Adrien then admits that he actually IS jealous:
Adrien: I AM Nino: Dude are you okay— Adrien: I AM JEALOUS I DO WANT TO BE CARRIED Nino: I... could... try to carry you...? Adrien:(kneeling on the floor in the Pose of Supplication) I want to be carried by a STRONG GIRL Nino: Adrien... are you into, like, buff women or something??? (silence as Adrien's eyes grow wide and shiny) Adrien:(illuminated from above) Nino I have a type Nino: uh... good? Nino and Alya:(thinking)Is he having an epiphany right now?!
Lila, overhearing all of this, makes a horrified expression as she realizes she might have to work out if she's going to 'win his heart'.
How does Marinette counter Lila's sneering, creeping insistence on invading Felix's privacy, claiming that they should be more than happy to share any harmless secrets — unless, of course, they're 'hiding something'?
During her first meeting with Felix's dance troop, Marinette tries to help out by demonstrating to Alard the proper way to lift his partner. Felix isn't the only one left starry-eyed afterwards; the whole class is impressed.
Felix: GET BACK YOU SAVAGES Dancer:(with a distinct Playful Cat Smile) come on Felix we're just looking at the beef
When Marinette leaves the ballet studio, she complains to Tikki about how the dancers described her:
Marinette:(huffily) I'm not BEEFY. Tikki: of course not, Marinette, you're just petite bold.
After Luka grabs Marinette's arm, then confesses that he was afraid she was going to disappear right before his eyes, she and Sabine both react... appropriately.
Marinette:(sweating heavily)why would you say that Sabine: she's not going to get grounded if THAT's what you mean Marinette: Luka, it sounds like you just passed a chain-letter onto me, or got me marked for Final Destination or some crap—
Alya: If she's actually the kind of person that I'm afraid she is, then I don't want to be friends with a person like that. Marinette: and if she is just as you fear, what will you do? (Dramatic Pause; Alya has Scary Shiny Glasses before looking up) Alya:I WILL CRY MY FUCKING EYES OUT Nino:Babe no—
Marinette finds herself in a pickle when Rose comes to check out the ballet troupe on Lila's behalf, blissfully unaware that she'll destroy Felix's safe space if she lets the others know about it. How does Marinette try to discourage her from entering and discovering their secret?
Marinette:(with a bright, sunny smile and surrounded by sparkles)THEY ARE ALL DEAD SO YOU CAN'T GO IN. (Beat as Rose stares at her) Rose: That's a really weird joke, Marinette. Marinette: It's not please leave. Rose: Are you okay? Do you need some water or something? Marinette: No I'm Fine So You Should Leave Because They're All Dead.
After Felix accuses Rose of being an Ungrateful Bitch willing to ignore everything Marinette has done for her in order to cater to Lila, her phone goes off as Lila calls, revealing Rose's ringtone in a moment of supreme Mood Whiplash:
When Rose allows that there might be a reason Marinette isn't friends with anyone anymore, Felix cheerfully corrects her wording: after all, she's made weekend plans with them and Kagami, hasn't she? Rose admits that she thought they and Kagami were love rivals, spurring Felix to run off in a panic while Rose crows, "I knew it!" Cut to Kagami looking over her shoulder:
Kagami: ...huh. I suddenly feel like fighting for some reason. Marinette: ya want an ice cream? Think that will help? Kagami: ...yes.
When Marinette rejects Hawkmoth's power once more, the butterfly makes a beeline for Instructor Dante...only for her to chomp it right out of the air, leaving Dante, Felix and the whole troupe staring at her with eyes the size of dinner plates.
While fencing with Adrien, Kagami comes to a realization about her relationship with him. One that she shares with him in her usual straightforward fashion, leaving him at a complete loss. Their instructor expresses his sympathy in distinctly unhelpful fashion:
Kagami: ONCE MORE. You have a habit of treating me like a second fiddle, Adrien. As your girlfriend, allow me the pleasure of breaking you of that habit. You will see me, and you will see how your indifference has hurt me, and you will learn. Adrien:(pauses, staring to one side awkwardly before re-donning his helmet and remarking to himself) I'm missing some critical context for something, but I guess Kagami's about to let me know??? D'Argencourt: God help you Adrien Agreste, nothing can fan the flames of a woman scorned like an apathetic lover.
Upon learning that Kagami may break up with his son, Gabriel declares that he'll call her mother and settle things himself. Felix points out that Adrien might not be cutting it anymore because "he's a boy." Gabriel starts asking why that matters before the colors of the lesbian and bisexual flags appear behind him to highlight his realization, while Adrien has similarly colorful swirls behind him. Cue a Beat Panel of both with Blank White Eyes as they process this. Felix is unimpressed:
Felix: Don't you two live with Nathalie, how can this possibly register as a surprise? Gabriel:what are you implying
When Gabriel proceeds to make clear that he still intends to force Adrien and Kagami to stay together, Felix goes tearing after him and cusses him out in British. Plagg declares that Adrien should get his cousin a megaphone.
Felix then returns to announce he's called in the Calavry; cue Amelie greeting Gabriel over a video call while he slumps in his seat, knowing This Is Going to Suck.
As Marinette swears to bring down Hawkmoth even if it means taking his life herself, a strange face briefly materializes in the shadows surrounding her. Cue a bit of Mood Whiplash as Alya freaks out:
Alya: Marinette I swear to GOD I just saw a freaky monster talking in your shadow! Marinette:(calmly) Huh. Maybe we're both hysterical. Alya: I'm not hysterical! Marinette: Well, I am.
Original Vignettes:
The comic that started it all has Marinette complaining about Hawkmoth's retreat after she's foiled his latest try at akumatizing her, injuring her hand in the process.
Marinette: Ugh, [the akuma] escaped anyway. I didn't realize Hawkmoth was such a coward. He usually likes to grandstand... Felix: You likely scared him off by managing to locate him like that... (...) You'll want to keep off this hand for a while, too... Marinette: Oh, are those doctor's orders? Why, Felix, it almost sounds like you care about meeee. Adrien:(in the background) Are you not gonna explain the fuck just happen—
When Lila attempts to spread rumors about Marinette getting into fights, Marinette casually declares that "I beat up Hawkmoth behind the bakery like, last week. He ran away crying." Felix just as casually backs her up, before they get distracted by a picture of Gabriel wearing a glittery tie:
Felix: MARINETTE HE DID IT, GABRIEL BUCKLED AND AUDREY HAS HIM WEARING A TIE WITH SEQUINS ON IT AND HE LOOKS LIKE A MONSTER HIGH DOLL Marinette: HA Alya: Are you f*cking serious—
Felix eavesdrops on Lila trying to convince Adrien that Marinette might secretly be working with Hawkmoth, which leads him down a rabbit hole of imagining her taking the Butterfly Brooch and Peacock Pin for herself and becoming a supervillain. By the time Marinette arrives in class, he's already made up his mind:
Marinette: Hey, what'd I miss— Felix: I would rule the world with you. Marinette: ...thank you? Planning something devious, Felix? Felix:(blushing heavily while looking away) Just... a thought. For later.
(violently shaking Luka up and down)LUKA,WHY DID YOU BREAK UP WITH HER?! SHE'S SO PUNK!
Volpina attempts to take Marinette hostage. Key word: attempts:
Felix: uh no, she definitely has you hostage. Adrien:(starry-eyed) GET HER ASS MARINETTE! (Marinette flips Volpina over the side of the building, using her forelocks as handles)
The class displays a wide range of reactions to Marinette casually setting an akumatizing butterfly on fire with an improvised torch, from Alya's "I should be recording this" to Max complimenting her accuracy to Chloé actually filming while cheering "YESSSS DO IT FIRE BURN" Felix, who is right next to her, casually asks if she's done yet.
Nathaniel silently gestures for Marinette to flex while hiding his face behind his sketchpad, then furiously sketches when she does, thanking her for the reference.
Marinette (as Ladybug) introduces Chat Noir to new "temp" hero Mouse King (Felix), pointing out that despite the name, they're non-binary. Chat, being Chat, asks, "You mean nyan-binary?" Then he starts a play fight with Mouse King, trying to pass it off as a trust-building exercise.
Hawkmoth:(dramatically gesturing)Yes, Verity Queen! Now attack Chat Noir, and steal his Miraculous! For your daughter's sake! Verity Queen: WILL YOU DISPLAY AN IOTA OF PATIENCE AND SHUT YOUR INDIGNANT INSECT MOUTH ANDLET ME DO WHAT I NEED TO DO?!" (Both Hawkmoth and Chat Noir freeze in shock, the former still stuck in his now significantly less dramatic pose)
Marinette is... less than impressed to learn that Nathaniel and Marc have invented a fan akumatization of her, Madame Manticore, whom they're shipping with Ladybug. Felix and Kagami are far more impressed, as it's noted they both buy copies of her comic debut.
A hypothetical adaptation of "Gang of Secrets" ends with Marinette pointedly asking the girl squad if her parents know they're there before tossing the whole group out on their backsides.
Caption: none of them will get akumatized from this because they were all kind of expecting it
.