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❝ Pardon my intrusion, ❞ the intermingled voices are nothing but polite, their tones a symphony of concern. Palms raise in a show of deference; they mean no harm. They come in peace. ❝ It's just—I sensed your doubt, you see. I know it's probably hard to believe, since we're usually on opposing sides... but I'd like to help, if you'll let me. ❞
They're careful to maintain their distance; even in her mindspace, Chloé Bourgeois—Queen Bee—would never allow the comfort Chrysalis would offer their usual targets.
❝ It's painful that they still don't fully trust you, even after all this time. ❞ Rather than a question, they state it as fact; there is no need to wonder when they feel it, too. ❝ You try and try to prove yourself to them that you're different now, but you're still the last one they call, still the one being given lesser tasks. ❞
❝ I can give you the power to make them acknowledge you. Only if you say yes, of course. The choice is yours. ❞ They take a step forward now, cautiously placing a hand on the heroine's arm. Though their head tilts a little, their masked face remains ever passive. ❝ I only want to help. ❞
𝐂𝐇𝐋𝐎𝐄 𝐈𝐍𝐒𝐓𝐀𝐍𝐓𝐋𝐘 𝐑𝐄𝐂𝐎𝐈𝐋𝐒; because she has been down this road before ( again and again and again ) and she knows how it will end. She doesn't want to be the bad guy anymore, alone with no friends or support system. Chloé had been trying, she had been making an effort. Her friends ( could she even call them that? ) just needed more time, didn't they?
She hates that she doubts. Hates even more that, in some small way, Chrysalis isn't wrong. But Chloé is so scared of failing again, of letting everyone down — how could she possibly trust the holder of the Butterfly Miraculous?
❝ Ugh, you don't want to help me, ❞ Chloé snips, rearing her head to glare at the emotionless mask. ❝ You want me to fail. You want me to let my friends down and prove them right that I haven't changed! You —— ❞ You want me to be alone.
Her temper rises, not just because of what Chrysalis says, but because even the enemy thinks she can't change. That she'll fall right back into her old ways. Ridiculous!
Well, maybe they don't really know Chloé Bourgeois at all.
❝ ——Get out. GET OUT! I don't want or need your kind of help. I'll earn their trust back on my own! ❞ She shrugs the hand away from her arm, turning away with a petulant air of defiance. ❝ And take your tacky, purple smoke with you. You're a fashion disaster worse than Hawkmoth. ❞