Volpina: tell me about it, small children are so bratty

Volpina: lots of small children as monsters? talk about a nightmare

Volpina: a unicycle? that's ridiculous. ladybug, you're losing your touch

Volpina: a new kwami? what is this, a fanfiction?

Volpina: based on a real person? okay, i understand now. renarouge is blackmailing ladybug, it's simple

"What the heck?"

Marinette speaks out loud, before realising what she's done and shutting up. Fortunately, Alya's done the same thing.

"Have you seen this?" Alya asks, and Marinette quickly closes Miraculous and shoves her phone into her pocket. There's the last of Volpina's messages on Sapotis, but Marinette's seen all the ones earlier.

"That's so horrible," Marinette says. Alya is fuming as she opens private messages. It's strange, for Marinette to see her messages on the "received" side of the chat.

"See?" Alya scowls, scrolling up until she reaches the top. "I've only ever supported LadyBug. I have never blackmailed her! I don't even know her real identity! And if I did, I'd never blackmail her with it!"

"I'm sure LadyBug will deal with it," Marinette promises. LadyBug will definitely deal with it, but she can't let Alya know that.

However, Alya isn't even listening. She's typing.

"Alya-!" Marinette protests, but Alya's already clicked Send.

RenaRouge: excuse me? I know you've said you're ladybug's friend and all, but I did NOT blackmail her. I don't even know her real identity. If you must know, she has invited me to be a kwami because I've SUPPORTED her

Volpina: see? obviously blackmailing. and i reckon ladybug will come in and defend her, because she's being blackmailed. it's okay, ladybug, you can tell the truth

Alya hisses in annoyance, and throws her phone onto the table.

"I'm going to the bathroom," she says, and storms off. This gives Marinette the all-clear to reply as LadyBug, because no one else could see her screen.

LadyBug: you're right, volpina. i will defend her, but she isn't blackmailing me. NO ONE knows my real identity, not even renarouge.

Carapace: i know renarouge in real life, and she would never do that. she doesn't know ladybug's real identity

Marinette looks up. Nino is scowling.

"You see this, Adrien?" he asks, pointing at the screen. "This Volpina lady is accusing Alya of blackmail!"

Marinette looks back at her screen. She'll have to tell Alya that she's scored a good guy.

ChatNoir: it wasn't ladybug's decision, either. we both decided together.

"Exactly!" Nino yells, and everyone looks over. Adrien looks up from his phone.

Volpina: yeah, right. renarouge isn't defending herself, is she?

Marinette is furious.

LadyBug: SHE. ISN'T. BLACKMAILING. ME. Some of us have lives outside of Miraculous, you know!!

Marinette closes the comment chain, furious. When she gets home, it's apparent that Volpina has had the last word.

Volpina: it's okay, ladybug. i understand. don't let her push you around xx

"How dare you," Marinette growls. "How dare you message me kisses."

ChatNoir: you want to angry-draw, bugaboo?

How does he seem to know this?

LadyBug: you read my mind.

But she doesn't want to think of Volpina, so she draws Adrien's bodyguard instead. She doesn't even know his name, always calling him Gorilla, so she makes him a real gorilla. Gorizilla, like Godzilla but gorilla version. She's so annoyed that it barely takes her two hours before she's clicking Post.

ChatNoir: you okay now, bugaboo?

LadyBug: not half, but i suppose i'll have to deal with it

ChatNoir: i know she's not blackmailing you

ChatNoir: and you know she's not blackmailing you

ChatNoir: and carapace's messages clearly show that her friends in real life know she's not blackmailing you

ChatNoir: only volpina seems to believe it. we know the truth, bugaboo, so does it really matter?

Marinette takes a deep breath.

LadyBug: i suppose not

LadyBug: thank you, chat

ChatNoir: what are friends for?

Marinette smiles at the screen, still taking deep breaths. She switches chats.

LadyBug: renarouge?

RenaRouge: yeah?

She can almost imagine Alya's voice, meek and quiet. Hurt by what Volpina said. Probably afraid that LadyBug is regretting her decision

LadyBug: don't be afraid, i'm not going to take back sapotis or trixx. i thought you should know that both chatnoir and i don't approve of volpina's messages, and you shouldn't take what she says to heart. we both value your support

RenaRouge: thank you, ladybug. it means a lot

LadyBug: don't let her bring you down, rena. you're still our biggest (and favourite!) fan

She chats to RenaRouge for a while, and she's glad. Glad that even though Marinette couldn't reassure her at school, LadyBug can. Glad that, even though Volpina is being horrible, she can always support her best friend.

LadyBug: i've messaged renarouge, to let her know that we don't approve of volpina's messages and won't revoke sapotis

ChatNoir: well done, ladybug. you're really good at this supportive-author stuff!

When LadyBug sees that Volpina's begun to comment on Gorizilla, she doesn't even look at them.

It doesn't matter.

[A/N: Basically I don't like Lila 🤷]