"Let me get this straight," said Plagg who was pressing his nubs on his temples "You joined the Theater Club because you felt pity for the akumatized Director who wants to get enough members?"

"And the fact that the play is about Ladybug and Chat Noir!" Adrien chirped excitedly "Isn't that amazing?"

"Amazing? You call this amazing?!" he shrieked loudly "Are you out of your mind?! What if someone discovers your identity?!"

The blond gently pushed the black kwami away with his index when he hovered near his eyes "There, there, Plagg. Calm down, will you? No one will discover my identity. Besides, I'm not planning to sign up for Chat Noir's role."

"What role are you planning to get?"

His Chosen answered him with a smirk.

Plagg may not admit it but he really adores Adrien. Not only he was a filthy rich kid with a heart of gold, he was also an innocent cinnamon roll who can be exploited by anyone – especially him. A simple whine of Camembert and the kid will deliver it immediately. His Chosen might complain afterward but he would shut his darn mouth once he gave him an authority to transform regardless if there was an Akuma or not.

He just didn't understand why his Chosen would waste his transformation flirting with his Lady or visiting his Princess' balcony.

Despite Adrien's teenage angst and shortcomings, Plagg likes the kid the way he loves his cheese.

But this? The black kwami screamed mentally after seeing his Chosen's auditioned character on the list, I did not sign up to put up with his shit.

"C'mon, what's wrong with Papillion's character?" Adrien asked while browsing the dialogue scripts. He was staying near the backstage for more privacy and to give Plagg a breather, a decision he was starting to regret.

The kwami crossed his short arms then harrumphed "Would you like me to enumerate all of the bad things that Papillion did to this city and to you?"

The blond rolled his eyes indignantly "I know he's a villain – "

"So why. Did. You. Choose. That. Role?!"

"Have you seen the list of applicants, Plagg? No one wants to take Papillion's role," the blond explained, probably a thousand times already "The play will be cancelled if there's an empty slot."

"So you decided to become a hero by taking the villain's role?" Plagg sneered then flew towards the darkest corner of the room "What a heroic deed."

Adrien sighed knowing that his kwami would sulk there and act like an abandoned cat "Plagg, you – "

"Adrien?"

The blond's shoulder jerked when a familiar voice called his name. He immediately turned around and saw one of his best friend in her usual pigtails.

"Marinette?! What are you doing here?"

"I – I'm about to a - ask you the same question," she stammered at him with a blush. "W – What are you do – doing here?"

"Oh, I'm here to join the audition," he waved the script that he was holding "How about you?"

The pigtailed girl rubbed her arm shyly "Ah – uh, I – I'm here as a - a co – costume designer...?"

"Really? That's so cool!"

"Tha – Thanks! You too!" she squeaked then gesticulated "I – I mean, you cool to become a designer costume too! Ah, I mean costume designer, you, cool! Uh, you can be a costume designer too! Ehehehehe..."

"I don't have a talent to become a designer, much more a costume designer like you!" he chuckled and the poor girl blushed into two-folds "But why costume designer? I know you're up for that task but...haven't you tried auditioning for character roles? You were great when you took the role of Agent Smith."

Marinette shook her head "Ah, n – no. My a – acting is me – mediocre a – and there are lots of pe – people tha – that are wa – way better tha – than me!"

"I don't think you're mediocre, Marinette," Adrien said with a smile "To be honest, you're the best choice for the role of Ladybug."

The girl choked her spit.

"Are you alright, Marinette?"

"I – I'm fine!" she croaked, trying to calm her nerves especially when he rubbed some soothing patterns on her back "Ju – Just wro – wrong pipe! I – I'm okay now, A – Adrien. Thanks."

He stared at her for a bit before he dropped his hand on the side "If you say so."

Once she recovered her bearings, she told him: "I – I actually took the costume designer role be - because no one applied for t - the position. Co - Costumes are vital o - on every play, and i – if there's a vacant slot, t – the play might be cancelled."

"So you've heard that too, huh?"

"Y – yeah," she responded sheepishly "H – How about you? W – What role did you get?"

"I got Papillion."

Marinette looked at him. Really looked at him straightly without blinking an eye.

"Modesty aside, I've been getting the major roles every time we have short plays in our class," he reasoned, rubbing his neck incessantly "S – So why not I give the villain's role a shot? You know, to change a pace?"

"Okay...?" she drawled, with a slight hesitation on her tone.

"W-Would you like me to read some of the lines? So you can suggest if my, uh, acting skills are spot on?"

"Sure," said the pig-tailed girl then sat on a nearby chair.

Adrien cleared his throat then pulled his best menacing voice "A man who takes his work very seriously, whose blood is boiled by the slightest shortfall. That's what I call an easy target for my dear Akumas." he formed an imaginary ball with his hands "Fly away, my little Akuma, and evilize him! Mwahahahaha!"

He swore he could hear Plagg's mocking voice. So he turned another page and began to read his lines.

"Gigantitan, je suis le Papillion," he declared loudly then paused as if confused "No, not 'Papoo'. Just Papillion. Well, you're going to be...you know, big and strong, and you'll get to do...whatever you want. But in return, you must bring me Ladybug and Chat Noir's Miraculous."

His face morphed into anger "Not sucette! Miraculous! Mi...ra...cu...lous!"

When he heard a snort at the distance, he mentally noted not to feed his kwami anything but cream cheese.

"Gigantitan, watch out for the very naughty Ladybug!" he went on "No! Stop playing! Attack the kitty cat and ladybug! Oh No!"

Adrien stomped his foot like a kid having a tantrum "No! Don't let the Ladybug get away!"

Plagg couldn't help but cackle at his Chosen's theatrics. Fortunately, Marinette was too baffled to hear his laughs.

"Ladybug and Chat Noir, Gigantitan may not have been big enough for the job, but I promise my next villain will be more than you can handle!" the blond exclaimed as he fell down on his knees dramatically.

A few beats of silence has passed before Marinette decided to stand up and clap at his stellar performance. She wasn't sure whether to praise his villainous acting or laugh at his ludicrous performance.

"How's my acting?" Adrien asked with his normal radiant tone "Is it good?"

She cracked an awkward smile "I really hate to admit it, but you almost convinced me that you're Papillion."

He flashed her a toothy grin.

When he went home that night and interrogated by his father about his activities over dinner, he told him about his casting role as Papillion.

Gabriel, who was sipping his soup that time, choked.