tushanshu | [voice]

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[voice]

I was wondering...how many other people here can speak other languages?

[But then, she paused and there was a slight jostling of the camera as she shook her head. Sorting out her thoughts.]

No, not speak. That doesn't really help any, with everything always being translated for us. More like...read. I was wondering...what languages everyone here can read? Since written words have never been translated. Not since I've been here.

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Part of me...hopes that too.

[The other part is unnerved by the thought that that boy she'd encountered in her dreams so long ago had been Malicant. An unfriendly presence infiltrating somewhere that should have been safe.]

It'd be kinder for him. Confusing, sure. But kinder. Then he wouldn't know what Malicant made him do.

[It made things better back home, at least. None of his friends ever needed to know how many lives they put at stake. How much havoc they wrecked on Paris. They could remain, for the most part, pretty ignorant of it all. ]

I don't know. For me, if someone were to ever do that to me...I'd want to know.

[No matter how painful. The worst thing, to her, would be getting left in the dark. Risk people knowing things "she" said or did with no way of defending or explaining herself.]

[He can understand that. The incident with Dark Cupid springs to mind. He did so many awful things to Ladybug, and remembers none of them. Plagg won't tell him, and Ladybug never talks about what happens to him when someone else is pulling his strings. It's frustrating, yes, but would he be any better in knowing the truth?]

Not knowing wouldn't be fun, that's for sure. Never really knowing what happened, what other people know about you that you have no recollection of. But...I don't know. Wouldn't knowing hurt more?

[What would Nino say if he knew he very nearly killed him and Ladybug both? How it felt to be turned into a twisted version of himself? Someone he wouldn't ever recognise in a mirror? ]

I mean. If he was under someone else's control, it wouldn't have really been him. It would have been like having a stranger in his own body.

The pain of not knowing has always outweighed the pain of knowing for me.

At least, if I know, I can do something about it later. Or know for absolute certain there isn't anything I can do.

...I never thought about it that way before.

But what if there's nothing you can do about it? Wouldn't that make you feel even more powerless?

I'm already powerless.

[Despite her words, her tone didn't sound forlorn, defeated, or even resigned. More like she was stating a fact. Because it was true--compared to so many supernatural abilities she had seen, she truly was power-less.]

I'm not a fighter. I can't fly or do magic or anything like that.

What I am is a survivor, and I've always survived by using my brain. Learning what I need to know, and how I need to react. When it's better to run or stay or speak up or remain silent.

I'd say that makes you pretty powerful. So long as you can survive, get up and carry on, you're not powerless.

[He's been powerless. Sitting under his father's thumb, doing everything asked of him. Not having the strength or courage to move out from under it. He could never go back to that. Not again. ]

...But I understand. How knowing would help with that.

[They were talking about two different definitions of power. Not so different, but enough for them to...in a sense...both be right.]

And that's why I want to keep learning. So I can know as much as possible. Just in case something like Malicant ever comes back, or other bad things start happening around here again.

...That's...actually a really good idea. I mean, that's what we were brought her for originally, right? To help keep this world safe. Just because it's safe now doesn't mean we won't be needed again.

[Otherwise, why would the Dreaming keep bringing them here at all? ]

Unless it's not actually safe.

[...hypothetically speaking, of course.]

...Well, okay. Good point. It's not exactly the safest place ever. But it's not as bad as when he was in charge, right?

No, it's not as bad.

It was never as dangerous as back home, but... [She bit her lip, brows furrowing at the memory.] ...at one point, we were all back to rationing. And curfews. And...I'd been out in the city when one of the really bad attacks occured. The explosions set up in some of the public areas.

[So, yeah, compared to those days, now was a peaceful paradise.]

[...Welp. He glances up, concern crossing his features. ]

I'm sorry, Midii. That sounds like it was awful.

It was. [She wasn't going to pretend otherwise.] But...it wasn't anything I hadn't faced before. Even the rationing. I was used to having to conserve my portions, so I knew what to do. Better than some of the adults, even.

And...people here were kind. It surprised me. Some of them were even willing to give up small amounts of what they had to make sure all the kids had enough.

Silver lining in every cloud, huh?

[Not exactly. But at least her suffering back home aided her in some way here. Helped her aid other people. It was...something. ]

That's...pretty great of them. To look out for everyone. Great of you too, to show them how to deal with it. I wouldn't know the first thing about it.

I could show you.

[She wasn't the best teacher, as she'd previously told someone who'd asked about leaning the local language. But there seemed no harm in at least demonstrating one or two basics.]

Just the simple things. Useful things. Rationing, Which clothes will last you longer so you don't have to waste money. Even a little first aid.

Really?

[He brightens up a lot. Midii save the poor rich boy and show him how to survive. You will be a literal lifesaver.]

That'd be great, actually! I mean, I'm learning first aid from Raine in the guild, but the rest? Man I could use some help with. Especially the clothes thing. When your father's a fashion designer, you don't really get to wear anything other than what he makes, y'know?

[Obviously she doesn't know. Get it together, Agreste. ]

[About the design part? Not a clue. But, actually...]

Do you know how to sew? [She figured it was a fair question, given his father's profession and his admitted role as a sometimes model.] Because that's an even handier skill to have. Clothing made from scratch is always cheaper than the already made kind. And you can choose your own material. Even if you can't do that much, being able to mend is still useful.

I...don;t actually. That's all Père. I've never really been interested in clothing.

[Which he realises is probably a problem when he's the only living heir to a giant fashion empire, but what can you do?]

But I can see where that would be a helpful skill to have.

I can teach you that, too, then.

I mean...not how to make whole outfits. I'm not that good. But I know how to patch up just about any pair of jeans you could throw at me. Growing up with three little brothers gave me plenty of practice.

Wow, thanks. I really appreciate it.

It's more than enough, really. It's an important skill.

[Only child will pause here. ]

...Because brothers us a lot of clothing?

[To be fair, he wasn't..entirely wrong.]

More like three brothers meant a lot of bumps and scraps to fix.

I mean, I suppose sisters would have been the same. [If they'd been anything like her growing up.] I just never had any, so I can't say.

Maybe? I haven't had either, so I couldn't even begin to guess.

Still, it had to be nice, having them around.

I could have done without the twins sometimes.

[She was only mostly joking.]

But the baby...Michel...we were close. I practically raised him since he was born.

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