having now seen Reflekdoll

[chanter1944]

We've got canonical transformation and detransformation phrases for Nathalie/Mayura. Not what I expected. I'm... kind of grateful they don't match the ones I'm using for Not Alone 'verse Émilie. I'm coming to subscribe more and more to the 'phrasing is individual, to a point, dependent on wielder' school of thought. 'Fall my feathers' is an awkward construction; I wonder if Nathalie was borrowing at least partially from Hawkmoth when she first used it, and the phrase stuck?

The peafowl miraculous is still canonically damaged, judging by Nathalie's reaction post detransformation. Hawkmoth has gone from objecting to Nathalie wielding it to actively seeking her assistance as Mayura, though he's still concerned about her once she drops her transformation. Is it just me, or is he trying to hide the extent of the toll the damaged miraculous is taking on her from Duusu? Not sure that'll work very well, considering, but there is such a thing as desperate denial. On two sides, even.

And oh, Duusu. :( At first I thought we were still with Marinette's friends, and that it was Rose squeeing the "That. was. awesome!" line. I'm choosing to read that reaction as Duusu being as upbeat as possible about the events of the afternoon overall and not about the being used for evil thing, because that kwami is neither clueless nor evil. Maybe well on the naive side, and a ball of emotions, which of course, but not evil, and not a ditz. There really are some similarities to Rose here, aren't there? The "... On second thought no, that wasn't awesome at all," fits really well, in two ways. One, see above and the whole so very not an evil kwami thing, and two, concern for Nathalie. ... Oh shards, I got the ball of exuberant emotions thing right in fic, and I've just had it confirmed.

... Oh, Duusu. <3 :( My headcanon voice for you was not nearly so squeaky. It can work.

The Not Alone 'verse stays firmly as it is, squeaky high-pitched voice or no. Genderfluid, often though not always feminine Duusu remains a go.

... Did Nathalie/Mayura have very little in the way of a transformation theme, or is it just me? ETA, thank you Silveradept: Aha, I see what was going on here. The transformation theme just blended so well into the surrounding music of the episode that it wasn't as distinct as some of the others are, but it's there. And oooooh, it starts darkish and really goes dark at the end for sure. Poor Duusu.

And is it also just me, or was Marinette far more comfortable with Chat Noir's keywords, during her stint as Lady Noire, than Adrien was with hers while he was being M. Bug? I heard "Plagg, claws out!" with relish, and calling cataclysm was the same. Not that Adrien/M. Bug wasn't all in and rather having fun with the temporary change, but Marinette/Lady Noire sounded like she was definitely enjoying it!

Just for confirmation's sake, sentimonsters (or an analog, again depending on wielder) form around objects belonging to the being they're drawn from, after an object has been imbued with power by the magical feather? Trying to make sure I don't frak up an upcoming fic scene.

Comments

[silveradept]

I'm not all that fond of the canonical transformation phrase there, either. "Spread my fathers" doesn't work all that great for me "Fan my feathers" would be better, but I'm not all that fond of "[Z] my feathers" as a construction.

Also, regarding theme, if you have seen "Ladybug", Mayura picks up a variation that's basically an extended riff on Hawkmoth's "Catalyst" transformation.

[chanter1944]

I've only just seen this, ack! You already know I've seen Ladybug, because of discussion elsepost and backchannel. I *much* prefer Mayura's theme in this episode, Hawkmoth's chord at the end notwithstanding, to the downright ominous creepiness that is the extended Catalyst riff.

Re Nathalie transforming: I'm not all that fond of the construction of that pair of phrases either. I'm going to be playing with wording in fic, or rather Émilie is, on this very subject.

[silveradept]

Yay for thoughts on the transformation phase.

I can see why you would prefer this one that at least makes gestures toward heroism, rather than the one that's being done specifically for terrible reasons.

[chanter1944]

My biases tell again, do they? XD Mayura's initial theme really does have the wistful, not-quite-evil thing going for it, at least at first... and then Hawkmoth's chord busts in and makes it plain just who she's working with and for, once and... well maybe not for all? A girl can hope.

[silveradept]

There's always hope. Given Nathalie's devotion and Gabriel's…personality, though, there's probably going to have to be a major break between them before the situation well change. And, truthfully, Nathalie in "Ladybug" is being smart, it's that Ladybug is naturally lucky along with being smart and the breaks fall against Mayura.

On a purely musically aesthetic level, I like the "Ladybug" variation more, because it fits the context better.