#secret invasion icon

[peachy-ash]

𝐢𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐬 𝐬𝐞𝐜𝐫𝐞𝐭 𝐢𝐧𝐯𝐚𝐬𝐢𝐨𝐧 - maria hill

[tribricies]

ICONS G'IAH

please, like or reblog if you use/save

follow me for more edits

[juridical-angel-blog]

Special Icon Picture Tony Stark ''Iron Man Secret Invasion Comic 2022''!

[sharonccrter]

I’m just gonna say it Emily VanCamp should have been included in Secret Invasion. 

[natsvdova-old]

spider-man canonically measures the severity of international incidents on a scale of maria hills which is so very iconic

[multiprises]

Beloved, Secret Invasion, 01.04

Ali Selim (D), Brian Tucker (S), 12/07/23

[queenlua]

lmao

[heylolita00]

Xochitl Gómez

[mlady-magnolia]

Not Secret Invasion ending so badly I started watching The Boys to fill my unsatisfied superhero needs and now this new show is quickly becoming one of my favourites because fuck it’s really really good (and so very gory)

God damn it.

[peachy-ash]

𝐢𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐬 𝐬𝐞𝐜𝐫𝐞𝐭 𝐢𝐧𝐯𝐚𝐬𝐢𝐨𝐧 - talos

[h4m1lt0ns]

SMILE! YOU’RE ON CAMERA — LH°44

꒰꒰◌‧₊ ⬪˙⋆ pairing ︴lewis hamilton x singer!y/n

꒰꒰◌‧₊ ⬪˙⋆ genre ︴social media au

꒰꒰◌‧₊ ⬪˙⋆ collab ︴made with the icon and loml @lorarri

( part two can be found here! )

꒰꒰◌‧₊ ⬪˙⋆ summary ﹔when everyone’s favourite couple’s sex tape leaks, all hell breaks loose.

꒰꒰◌‧₊ ⬪˙⋆ face claim ﹔madison beer

꒰꒰◌‧₊ ⬪˙⋆ warnings ﹕smuttish, dates on the tweets are fucked don’t look too deep into it pls, cussing, lil angst.

Lewis Hamilton and Y/n Y/l/n are a couple that is known for being ‘private but not a secret’. The iconic eight time Grammy winner and seven time World Driver’s Champion winning duo are quite protective of their relationship, the pair will proudly show off each other and parade around hand in hand, but they’d often avoid revealing intimate details on their love.

Last night, however, possibly one of their most intimate moments was leaked by an anonymous user on twitter. The now deleted account had tweeted out a link to a video that was uploaded to google drive, the two hour forty five minute video was a sex tape filmed by the couple in their shared Monaco home.

Though both stars’ PR Teams have both issued statements regarding the leaked tape, they personally haven’t commented on it, nor have they been active on Twitter, or any other social media. “Hamilton’s” statement condemns the person who leaked the video; “It is extremely disrespectful and a complete invasion and violation of privacy. No once should find themselves in such position”.

The statement put out by Y/l/n’s estate was much more harsh; “A police report has been made and we will be taking legal action against the person who leaked the video. What was done was a crime and the criminal will be facing the consequences of their actions soon”.

In the past 24 hour period the video is said to have been viewed over 44 million times and the views are only increasing. Lewis Hamilton is no stranger to having intimate tapes leaked, but Y/n Y/l/n sure is the amateur in this situation. What’s your opinion on this entire ordeal?

Read Similar Articles Here:

Fans Compare Lewis Hamilton and Y/n Y/l/n to Ray-J & Kim Kardashian.

Behind The Radio Silence of Lewis Hamilton & Y/n Y/l/n.

The Rising & Concerning Popularity of The Hamilton-Y/l/n Sex Tape Among Their Fanbases.

[hurtspideyparker]

Hi, sorry but could you recommend any of your favourite Peter Parker fics please?

For sure !!! *cracks open ao3 bookmarks*

Thirty Hours by polaroid15 - Peter doesn't take any breaks during a lengthy fight with the Avengers. The mind-melting fever that follows really should have been expected.

Hurt Peter Parker, my favourite tag <3 I love when Spider-Man is a badass and also lacks self-preservation. He's so cool fighting alongside the Avengers and we get some sweet hurt/comfort irondad!

Fitting In (Tiny Spaces) by aloneintherain - Peter's trapped beneath a collapsed building during a mission, hurt and unable to move. Luckily, his comm still works. Unluckily, the Avengers don’t realise how bad of a state Peter is in, and Peter isn’t inclined to tell them.

This fic is an icon in the fandom and for GOOD REASON. I just can not get enough of Peter Parker hiding his injuries. More heavy whump and angst!

All good things come in threes by Bergen - Peter has three secret identities: Spider-Man, the superhero who swings around the city to save people. Parker Benjamin, who gives Tony Stark unsolicited advice on his research. And NightMonkey, the Instagrammer who keeps uploading increasingly popular but embarrassing drawings of Iron Man.

And he can juggle them all just fine, thankyouverymuch.

Okay here is the fluff!!! Peter is a genius, a menace, and a sweetheart. Tony Stark runs into him (again and again) and can't help but have a soft spot for him every time. Funny and cute and an all 'round good time!

Held Together by Spiderwebs by TunaFishChris - Steve is not coping well in the twenty-first century. At all. Three months after the Chitauri invasion, he decides he's had enough.

But just as he's about to end it all, he runs into the new hero in town.

This one focuses a lot on Steve but I really like him and Peter's relationship in it, and I think this is great Peter Parker characterization. TW for discussions of depression and suicide, it gets a bit dark!

5 Times Spider-Man Saved an Avenger's Ass (and 1 Time They Saved Him) by TunaFishChris - this fic showcases how strong and capable Peter is, he's definitely a BAMF. I really like this genre where the Avengers know Spider-Man but not Peter Parker, makes Peter feel more independent and mature like in the comics.

Five Time Faculty Members Had to Call Peter's Emergency Contact + One Time He Shows Up Anyway, Five Times Tony Stark's Fabled Intern Just Showed Up + One Time He Was Invited, and Five Times Strangers Talked About Peter and Tony + One time Someone They Know Did by kingdomfaraway - I am just gonna recommend this entire series. Super fluffy, extreme irondad and spiderson. They're just adorable from an outside perspective and I love when Peter gets to just be Tony's intern and a teenager for a while :)

research and disaster by blueh - “So, uh, Mr. Stark definitely knows Roomba-Kid,” Becket says and discreetly tilts his head in the direction of the pair.

“Oh my god,” Jess says. She almost sounds gleeful. “Oh my god, he’s not just some random kid. He’s Mr. Stark’s kid.”

or: the interns at Stark Industries have some questions about Peter Parker. The answers aren’t quite what they expect.

I just love intern Peter mk? Let him be a kid genius and have fun!!! Fluffy and humorous, again with the irondad.

Captain, Oh My- Not My Captain! by uncouth_peasant - Peter swallowed hard before firing a web to swing into the fray. “Cap’s going after civilians. I’m out of time.”

Bruised and bloody men <3. Just Peter being a badass and getting beat to a pulp. Cool fighting, lots of Peter whump, and of course the Avengers being protective.

Good publicity by Bergen - Between Peter Parker barely speaking, and Spider-Man being the ultimate chatterbox, how was Tony ever supposed to figure out that they were one and the same person?

Tony Stark is secretly a softie for cute kids, especially when they're a genius and have a sense of humour to rival his own. Peter is a foster kid who ends up finding a home with Pepper and Tony, very sweet.

The Third Option by Uncertainty_Principle - When Ben is murdered Peter goes into foster care. It takes just a tiny taste of superpowers for Peter to decide he doesn’t want to put up with his horrible foster father anymore—the streets are infinitely more appealing. All he wants is to be Spider-Man anyway.

So he leaves, simple.

Simple, that is, until Iron Man needs Spider-Man’s help.

Heavy TW for this one, mind the tags. This is a popular fic and for good reason. A very mature and realistic portrayal of the foster care system and homelessness. The Peter angst is really great and I could barely put it down, that boy needs a hug so bad.

Now here's some hydra!Peter fics cuz they're my jam:

Peter is a precious chickpea by Bergen - They attack the HYDRA safe house shortly before sunrise.

The only people defending said safe house are Peter and Leo, and Leo slams his cell door open and starts spitting out orders, but then promptly gets clobbered over the head and keels sideways.

So that just leaves Peter. And he’s not even going to try to fight a whole team of Avengers. He looks up at Iron Man filling the doorway. “I surrender.”

He’s never been captured before and he’s not sure what to do. Escape, probably.

This entire series is PERFECT. I just love how adorable Peter is, and all the relationships Peter forms with the Avengers absolutely melt my heart. Peter's characterization in this is really unique and I wish there was more. The Bucky and Peter friendship is everythingggg. I love hydra!peter and bucky fics.

Indoctrination by phoenixon - The Avengers thought they were on a typical assignment: Infiltrate the Hydra base and find the weapon. What they didn't expect was the small boy raised by Hydra that they found instead. And they definitely didn't expect him to stay at Avengers Tower or how he somehow wormed his way into their lives. As for Peter, he just wants to be good and obey what the Hydra men told him so he doesn't get in trouble.

I just really love hydra Peter changing into a sweet and intelligent boy once he's rescued and safe, and how all the Avengers take up such heart-warming parental roles around him.

out there, living in the sun by Hailfire_73 - The Avengers rescue Peter from a Hydra base ran by his father, Richard Parker, except Peter doesn't really see it as a rescue, and has trouble settling into a new life away from Hydra and his father at the Avengers compound. OR - Peter learns how to be an actual teenager, live life, and put his abusive past behind him, and Tony learns how to be a father.

Hydra Peter but he's most definitely a traumatized and moody teenager. I really enjoyed Peter's character arc and the exploration of his trauma. It felt more realistic the way his journey isn't just a straight or clear path. He's more mature in this one and it was a really compelling read, balancing the angst with some humour and fluff. Loved the ending.

Tinker, Tailor, Spider by Bergen - Tony is roped into a mission to transport a teenager to safety. But when things go south, it soon becomes more and more puzzling who the teenager is and what ‘safety’ means for him.

I really enjoy that the author doesn't water Peter being hydra down. Yes he is a highly skilled assassin and a badass who's trauma pervades his every thought and decision. Made me fall in love with the Tony, Pepper, Morgan and Peter as a family dynamic. Super domestic while still highlighting Peter's troubled past.

[rainbowangel110]

Dipper was fucking hype

Marcy was OH-

Hunter was Pain Agony Oh my god Why

Catra was.... Oh shit. OH SHIT :D

[eldritch-spouse]

Pinnie, something terrible has happened. I can't stop thinking about total fail sex with Livius.

I imagine Livius acting desperate and pathetic because he knows it'll turn his queen on (and it absolutely is), but she's an incurable virgin; so she's just going, "wowza... holy smokes" and completely ruining the mood.

It only gets worse when Livius starts doing it too...

(Also, can I be 🍈 anon, please? It's completely understandable if not. Much love from SK!!)

[Sure! I don't really tag anons, but I'll remember you. :}]

For as much as Livius feels the need to get under your skin, metaphorically and not offensively, to become a puppet of your likeness- He does also crave sex. Carnality, beyond intimacy, just the animalistic act itself, a finish shared with you.

The start of your erotic encounters with him were tentative, Livius embodied the gentle and anxious virgin as much as you did, the two of you would share fleeting touches and hushed moments of quiet, almost secretive grinding, groping, touching under clothes and refusing to make eye contact. It was foreplay, it was necessary, he liked it even!

But no matter how gently the Icon prodded, you never seemed to grow that extra inch of courage, and he knew, from long reflections about your filthiest cravings, that becoming forceful would put out the fires you've both been stoking. Old Lords help him, he can't just continue to exchange awkward one-liners with you...

Thus, Livius shifts, no longer is he you, he's what you crave. The partner you chew your bottom lip over, jealous that others get to live out that fantasy, but never you.

It was as sudden as the slam of his bedchambers' doors.

You whipped around, facing a jarringly different Livius from the one that had been timidly returning your under the table footsie session.

The teal demonoid throws himself at you, elongated limbs trapping you to a vanity table that didn't seem to get much use before you came along. Livius stuffs his face in the crook of your neck, huffing the scent of you like a mutt in the throes of the most unsightly rut, his strange imward-curved needle teeth flirting with your shivering skin before his tongue follows, unabashed and invasive in its desire to profile you. Maybe, if he tasted enough of you, he himself could exude that flavor, that smell.

Any noise of shock you make is immediately overshadowed by his own reactive vocalizations, grossly wanton, keening noises like he's been dying to do this -and really, he has- long arms coiling over your midsection, nearly forcing the air out of you.

" L- Livius...? "

There's a frantic string of whispers that sound like your name, you're somewhat awkwardly readjusted to sit on the vanity, with Livius' comparatively massive form slotting itself between your legs. Unnatural flexibility comes in handy when he unsubtly and harshly starts grinding his hips against you.

This side of his is unknown to you. Of course, you've been around the King long enough to know that he's capable of flipping like a switch, and therefore always unpredictable to a degree. However, his infatuation makes it so that you are most often the target of his mimicry, in a way where you might predict his actions based on your own patterns. So, when he suddenly chooses to pick up a different role, it always leaves you at a loss.

To further aggravate things, you've never taken things far sexually. You've never been touched the way Livius touches you, you've never been wanted the way he wants you. Coveted to a rotten obsession that he contorts to accomodate, molds over.

As your body trembles and fires up to feverish flashes of arousal, there's no guidance to cling to, no saving grace. You're a fish out of water, yet secretively pleased by his debauched state. Somewhere deep in the back of your mind, you know it's too suspicious a coincidence that Livius would simply act like this. He knows, like he always seems to know, what you want to see.

Your name is whined out, a rattle of desperation from the Icon whose straining cock prods at your heat, under the layers of a pompous dress. It's an odd thing, you've felt it, tapered and textured as if broken into rigid segments. Long. But then, all of Livius is stretched to an eerie longness. Either way, his flimsy excuse of a garb couldn't hope to contain it now. He doesn't care that he's making a mess of his own clothes, or spreading precum on your already damp panties.

You open your mouth to gasp, to say something, but perhaps knowingly, Livius doesn't let you.

" Please- " He all but moans against your cheek, slightly drooled lips somewhere between pecks and nips. " Please fffuck me, I've been waiting- I've been good. "

You sputter and buffer like a dusty machine, only capable of reflexively meeting his motions when Livius begins harshly mimicking genuine thrusts.

" Don't I deserve this? This one time? "

Is he crying? Or drooling on you? Unclear.

" I uh- Uhm... "

You don't even have the sense to be embarrassed about your fumbling, not when this little senseless grinding already has you breaking a steaming sweat.

Once again, it appears Livius is determined to ignore most of what comes out of your mouth, likely knowing you don't yet have the confidence to do much more than squeaking in the bedroom. He still repeats the noises, sometimes, not even mockingly. You think he likes them.

The King tires of the stall, big hands now struggling with a dress that's not at all complicated to remove. Nevertheless, you're not scared of the insistent tug of his claws this way and that, the first rip of the garment eliciting a shiver down your spine. He doesn't wait until it's fully off to start groping at your sides and chest.

To ruin the mood, your fear barrels through the arousal, reminding you that you'll be seen naked by the demonlord. Without saying a word to stop him, your arms fly everywhere to protect what's left of your modesty when even your panties are swooped away.

" No nonono let me. " He rasps, shoving piles of clothes away. Frantic hands attempt to gently bat yours away, nudging and groaning when you don't immediately relent. Perhaps not because you're still afraid, but rather because you want to hear him a little more. " Let me! " Livius growls through grit teeth. " Let me see Let me see- Everything! "

And you do, awkwardly standing before him like the exact opposite of a statue- Ungraceful, trembly, pert and wet.

It doesn't matter, Livius still fumes, eyes enlarged, a dust of heat on his cheeks getting darker and darker. You think his fingers brush just about every part of your body, from chest to tummy down to every inch of your legs, fluttering against your soaked pussy just to make you jolt, just to giggle at it. He throbs visibly, snapping his own clothes off in a blink.

With a force that you would expect to shatter the whole thing, the Icon throws himself onto the large bed, legs spread, arranging pillows behind and around him. The giddy look on his face, the panting, he looks more animal than man in this moment.

" Come! " He beckons, the swat of his eager tail distracting you. " Come on, hop in pretty girl... "

You don't. Not due to reluctance, more so the freezing agony of not knowing what to do. Do you... Walk normally? Are you supposed to look flirty? Do you say something?

His arm extends rapidly, a palm right in front of your face breaking that tense standstill. Wordlessly, you take it, letting the King lead you to him in a zig-zag pattern that's silly enough to make you giggle.

Before you know it, you've been knocked right on top of him, quickly sitting straight. There's nothing between the two of you... You've never felt the sensation of your partner pressing against you, skin to skin, heat to heat. His hardness pulses beneath you, Livius bites his teeth and wets his lips so much that his tongue simply drools onto his chest.

" Ahahah... What- What do I do? "

Do you line him up? Is he supposed to line up? How hard should you descend on him? What if it hurts?

" Nothing! " The King laughs. " Put your arms on my shoulders. " He contorts himself to allow you to do so. " ... And look at me. "

You feel yourself getting lifted effortlessly, the tip of his cock parked in the right position after only a moment of shifting hips. He licks a stripe up your neck while slowly, carefully grinding you onto that tapered cock and cooing at you when the thickness starts truly stretching you out. Cooing becomes a grunted moan when you bottom out, he writhes with self-restraint, like a worm on a hook, so very desperate to buck into you and hear the sound of your ass slapping onto him with each harsh piston.

Your own whines turn into incredulous exhaling as you take in the sensation of feeling full, penetrated, seated so firmly that he's nudging what you think might be the limits of your anatomy's depth. Isn't this kind of thing supposed to hurt?

Livius huffs so loud it sounds like steam coming out his mouth, words choked into noises before he can be minimally coherent. " Ghhn- I wanted this for too long, too long... "

You don't know what to say, you don't even want to say anything when he first experimentally rocks beneath you, the motion buzzing any higher thought out of your brain for a second. The pressure of him within you is so delicious that you can't help clench, pulse, trying to milk it, as if you could bury him in you further.

It occurs to you that Livius might want you to ride him. How though? What motions are you supposed to make? You never thought about this in detail, what if you have no rhythm at all and it just gets awkward?!

" Uhm hah- Wowie- "

Two meaty hands slap onto your sides, fingers fanning to take a firm hold of you.

" Wowzers. " He perhaps mocks. " Hold on tight now please! " The demonoid shifts his shoulders as if to remind you.

" Wh-? "

In a surprisingly fluid, stupidly childish move, Livius whips his arms up and down like a string, near effortlessly beginning to bounce you on him like a dirty, bumpy carousel ride.

There's no telling what expressions you're making, or what sounds you manage to squeak out between tremulous gasps, but when your vision isn't cloudy with tears of intensity, you swear he's got the most pathetic drooling swoon on his face, careening into madness.

[starsfic]

Marinette Dupain-Cheng, Girlfriend of Ladybug

Summary: During another invasive interview pushing her towards Chat Noir, Ladybug panics and claims that she’s dating someone. Who? Oh, just her civilian identity. Dominos unexpectedly topple.

Ko-Fi

-_-

It was a heat of the moment thing.

Ladybug really couldn’t blame herself. Well, technically she could, considering she had agreed to another hour-long interview with Nadja and Chat Noir. Where, of course, the topic inevitably turned back to the nonexistent romantic relationship between her and her partner, not helped at all by the fact  that Chat kept egging it on and nobody seemed to notice or care about her discomfort. The moment Alya appeared on screen and asked “So when are you going to admit your feelings for each other?”

She snapped.

“I have a girlfriend.”

Dead silence encased the studio. Chat gaped at her, Alya gaped at her, Nadja gaped at her, everyone gaped at her. It was only until a hand reached out of the audience that noise came back in. “Excuse me?”

“Yes, I have to agree,” Nadja said, a flustered blush making her cheeks red. “Excuse me?”

Welp, she had already said it, so might as well. “I have a girlfriend,” she repeated. Chat and Alya continued to gape at her. She took a deep breath in and plastered on a stern look. “Nadja, did you ever think the reason why I don’t confess my feelings for Chat is because I don’t have any?”

Silence encased the studio, but it was the silence where people were muttering to each other. Ladybug waited. Chat continued to gape, but Alya shut her mouth and made an odd squeaky noise.

Nadja finally took a deep breath in. When she opened her eyes, she seemed to be staring at her in a different way. Not as an icon or an idol or a celebrity, but as if Ladybug was a real person. She hadn’t even realized that she hadn’t been looking at her that way. “No,” she said. “I’m…so sorry, Ladybug. I hadn’t considered that.” Ladybug nodded but didn’t say a word. “May I ask who it is?”

Well, crap. She hadn’t expected that. She was tempted to say, “No comment,” but then it would be possible that people would catch on to the fact that she was lying. She needed someone. Ladybug thought for a moment and then prayed Tikki wouldn’t be too mad.

“Marinette Dupain-Cheng.”

Once again, the room descended into muttering silence. Chat was pulling out his staff with the angriest look she had ever seen on his face. Ladybug couldn’t help but raise a brow at that. But then Alya spoke with a “NO WAY!”

Ladybug raised a brow. “Are you calling me a liar?”

“Yes!” Alya said, seeming to not care about the fact that she was being televised live. “She’s in love with Adrien Agreste! He’s her soulmate, I’m sure of it!” Geez, Alya, thanks. Chat’s muttering stopped. “She’s been struggling to confess to him since the attacks first began! He’s-”

“A boy, Miss Cesaire,” Ladybug cut her off, keeping her voice bored. Yes, she did have a crush on Adrien once. But her feelings had faded over time, especially when she thought of how he reacted to Chloe and Lila hurting her. “A boy that is well-known and popular with the female population of Paris. A boy that would be expected if a person asked about a celebrity crush.”

Alya stared at her. She could practically see her put the pieces together. “What about Luka Couffaine? She dated him for…a few months!”

“Her and Luka Couffaine, I have discussed with her,” Ladybug said, keeping her voice calm. Her mind raced- she would definitely need to talk to Luka after this. “I will not pretend to be a good girlfriend, Miss Cesaire. Marinette does not know who I am under the mask- if anyone says that they do, they are lying-” Hopefully, that dealt with Lila. “Our relationship had to be kept secret. I cannot take her out on dates or meet her parents. So, we agreed to an open relationship.”

Nadja cleared her throat. “She does not know who you are?”

Ladybug shook her head. “No. We agreed that, after Hawkmoth is defeated and I can retire, I will reveal myself to her and discuss our relationship from there. I’m only being open with my relationship now since she knows I am uncomfortable with people trying to ship me with Chat Noir-”

“Because they know we’re meant to be!” Chat burst out. Honestly, she was surprised that he hadn’t spoken up sooner. He grabbed her hand and tried to pull her close. “My Lady, think about it! We have so much more in common than some random civilian!” His eyes were dark, sending shivers up her spine. “You’re lying about Marinette, right? There’s no way you could fall for some random person-”

“Hey!” Alya spoke up, her voice bordering on fury. “Marinette’s not just some random nobody!” The camera shook as something slammed, most likely Alya’s fist slamming into the desk. “Marinette is the smartest, most creative person I have ever met! She’s probably the greatest actress of all time, and I would say that she has done so much more for Paris than you ever have on your own!” She took a deep breath. “Ladybug, you have great taste.” And with that, Alya’s camera cut short.

Nadja nodded. “Okay, next question,” she said, her voice still a touch strained from the bombshell that was just dropped on her.

Hopefully, this didn’t blow up.

-_-

It blew up.

Tikki, thankfully, didn’t seem mad. “It was clever,” she said before encouraging Marinette to go to bed.

When Marinette woke up surprisingly early, it was to a ton of messages on her social media and email. By the time she left for school, it was a flood that she was too afraid to look at. Her parents were surprisingly happy for her, with her dad apologizing for blowing up in such a way on Chat Noir. “It’s okay,” she said, hugging him. “It was awkward, but it kept Chat from following Ladybug.”

“Which I can’t believe he did!” her mother groused. “You think he would know better!”

“Yeah,” Marinette sighed, old annoyance flaring up. “Me too.”

Thankfully, there wasn’t a crowd of reporters- yet. So Marinette wasted no time in rushing over to school before one did form.

Once she was there, she found herself pausing. A large portion of the people she saw were wearing Ladybug’s spots or LGBTQIA+ merch, from full outfits to just hair clips. Several stopped to smile and give her friendly waves, while others looked starstruck. This was a bigger reaction than she was expecting.

She waved back and headed to her classroom. She sent another prayer to the surprisingly quiet Tikki that nothing happened and opened the door.

The classroom was surprisingly quiet, with Lila sitting in the back looking like she had all the life drained from her, until Marinette stepped inside. “Marinette!” Alya said, jumping to her feet. She had switched her orange flannel for one bearing the pan colors. She wasted no time in rushing up and practically scooping her up in a hug. The shock meant that it took a second before Marinette realized that Alya was apologizing into her hair. “-so sorry, I should’ve thought more about Ladybug’s feelings, I never meant to hurt her, swear-”

“It’s okay,” Marinette said, pulling away to smile at her bestie. “I know how people can get with superheroes, I think Ladybug forgives you.” She poked Alya’s nose. “Although I’m annoyed that you tried to air out my crush on Adrien to all of Paris.”

Alya sighed, nodding. “I know. Now that I think about it, it was super not cool.” She tried for a smile. “I’m sorry, girl.”

Despite herself, Marinette couldn’t stay mad. “I forgive you. But, don’t do it again.” Alya nodded and with that out of the way, she could move on. She looked around and couldn’t help but raise a brow. “But what’s going on? Why is everyone either wearing Ladybug stuff or pride stuff? If I had known, I would’ve dug my pride stuff out.”

“Oh, haven’t you checked online?” Nino called, his headphones decorated with bi stickers.

Marinette shook her head. “I’ve been too afraid to,” she admitted. “My social media has been flooded with messages and emails.”

“Oh, I can sort those for you, dudette.”

“Thank you,” she sighed, handing over her phone. “The code’s still the same.” Nino nodded as he began to fiddle with her phone.

“Anyway,” Kim said, wearing a transmac hoodie instead of his regular red hoodie. “The entire queer community adopted Ladybug as a queer icon after her interview last night. People have been debating for hours whether she’s a lesbian or bi.”

“Uh huh,” Well, at least the community was supportive. “I’m glad people are supportive.”

“Of course they are,” Alya said, leading her to their seats. “It’s Ladybug and you, the biggest sweethearts in Paris. If anyone isn’t, they look-”

“RIDICULOUS!” Chloe stormed in, wearing her normal clothing. Her gaze could’ve set Marinette on fire as she marched up and slammed her hands on her desk. On closer inspection, her eyes were rimmed red. “Break up with Ladybug.”

“Excuse me?”

“Are you deaf?!” Chloe shrieked, slamming her hand down. “Break up with Ladybug! There is only one girl that is perfect enough for her to date, and it’s certainly not you!”

“And I’m guessing that’s you?” Alya scoffed before Marinette could figure out a proper response that wasn’t not in your life. “Please, everyone knows Ladybug hates your guts.”

“She does not!” Chloe shrieked, tears beading up in the corner of her eyes. “She thinks I’m great! She chose me to be a hero! She knows I’m great! She-”

“Lost the Miraculous by accident, and you refused to give it back.” Marinette interrupted. Chloe’s jaw dropped, and she gaped at her. “Yeah, she told me about that. She thought you would do better, be better if you understood how your actions affect Paris. But you didn’t.” She leaned forward and that angry spark in her, the one that had been burning in her since Adrien pouted and moaned, burned. “Your actions are why people were celebrating that you were leaving Paris when you decided to go to New York.”

“Marinette!” Adrien called, also dressed in his normal clothes, but she held her hand out.

“You are nothing to Ladybug. Just a hazard and a safety risk.” Marinette leaned back in her chair. “The only reason I made that party for you is because Adrien asked. Nobody else.”

Chloe shut her mouth. She looked around the room. Sabrina looked away. Nobody else did, staring her down, bonded in silent agreement. Marinette expected her to rage, to scream, to throw a fit. Instead, she straightened up and walked to her seat. The moment she sat down, she hid her face.

“Marinette!” Adrien barked. “That was horrible! You-”

“Told her what Ladybug thought of her and what she needed to hear,” Marinette said, interrupting him. She leaned forward, allowing the anger brewing in her at him to burn in her eyes. “And if you don’t stop and think about your actions, so will I.”

Adrien stared with wide eyes. Without another word, but a nasty glance back, he turned and sat down. Nino scooted away from him before turning and holding up her phone. “Here, Nette,” he said. “There was some hate mail from people like Chloe,” Chloe flinched. “But a lot more of people supporting you.”

“Oh, that’s sweet,” Marinette said, taking her phone back.

The rest of the school day passed in silence. Twice, Adrien tried to get her alone, apparently undeterred by her threat, but Alya and the rest of the girl squad made sure there was a bodyguard nearby until Adrien had to leave for a photoshoot. (Rose was tiny but fierce in her desire to protect Marinette.) The rest of the school left her alone, excluding a few people who asked for her autograph and pictures and a whole bunch of gifts and letters in her locker. Marinette tried to ignore the heat in her face with all the love and care. 

Finally, the school day was over. Marinette walked out and breathed a sigh of early relief. She could see a few news vans waiting outside the bakery, so she had that to stress about, but she had gotten through the school day relatively unscathed.

The sound of a guitar met her ears and she paused, coming to a stop on the stairs.

Right. Luka.

She meant to talk to him after the interview, but Chat Noir had been following her, insisting to talk more about them, that she hadn’t been able to. So, here she was, standing on the steps, trying her best to not be seen by the musician as he strummed his guitar, probably waiting for Juleka.

It was tempting to run. But Marinette had to be braver than that. 

She took a deep breath and marched down the stairs, coming to a stop right next to him. Luka paused in his playing, staring at her. Marinette couldn’t look him in the eyes. Instead, she found herself staring at her feet. “Hi, Luka,” she said and immediately wanted to facepalm. Hi, Luka? Just that? Not, hey Luka, did you see the interview where Ladybug revealed I was two-timing you with her even though we’re the same person-

“You should’ve given me a heads up that we were poly,” Luka’s voice broke through her haze. She glanced up. Luka smiled at her, although it was edged with something. “I have a cute boy in my class, his name’s Felix, and I think you two would love each other.”

Marinette’s mind blanked, at first wondering what he was talking about, and then realization. “You…you aren’t mad?”

“I…I don’t know how to feel,” Luka admitted, and it was strange to see him admit that. Luka was the only boy she knew who was best in touch with his emotions. “On one hand, it makes a lot more sense than you pining over Adrien like everyone thought. On the other-”

“I lied,” Marinette admitted. “I lied, a lot, to you and everyone.” She gripped the edge of her shirt. “I kept ditching dates for something dumb, not related to her,” Luka raised a brow, but she continued on. “Sometimes I wished she didn’t exist because I trust you, Luka, I trust you so much but I keep having to lie because I care about her too and hurt you and and and-” Warm arms engulfed her but she couldn’t allow it, she needed to say it. “I’m so sorry, Luka.”

Luka didn’t say a word, just held her. Finally, he sighed. “I’m sorry too, Marinette,” he admitted. “I should’ve been better, maybe then-”

“No!” Marinette shoved him away. Luka stumbled back, looking hurt, but Marinette wasted no time in gripping his shoulders, staring him down. “You were wonderful,” she said, making sure he understood. “You were wonderful. I was the one who should’ve been better. I should’ve communicated better, I should’ve explained better about why I was leaving you in the lurch.”

“I was the one who got akumatized,” Luka said, staring back with wide eyes. “I went after you.”

“It was my fault you got akumatized in the first place!”

“No, it was not-” And now Luka was holding her shoulders, making sure she was looking at him. They probably looked strange, gripping each other’s shoulders like this, but Marinette didn’t care. “It was not your fault. It was Hawkmoth’s fault.” Right, right, Marinette needed to remember that. He was the one who took advantage of people. “We’re both crappy at communicating. We can work on that.”

Wait…

“You…want to try again?”

Luka paused and then nodded. “Now that I know more, enough to possibly understand some things,” He took in a deep breath. “Only if you want to?”

Marinette nodded back. “We can try,” And isn’t that what they all could do? “Maybe you can introduce me to Felix, and I can introduce you to…” She held up her hand at the sight of a familiar red car. “Hang on real quick.”

Luka blinked but nodded. Marinette smiled as they released each other before she turned and marched up to Kagami, who paused with a raised brow. Much to her delight, she wore gloves marked with the queer pride flag. “Wanna go on a date?” she asked promptly.

Kagami blinked. She opened her mouth, closed it, and then hummed. Marinette waited patiently. If Kagami had to think about it, than she was willing to wait. “Yes,” she finally said. “If your girlfriend is alright with it?”

Marinette nodded, feeling her face heat up. “Luka and I are trying again,” she admitted. “So he’s introducing a friend of his on our date. I wanted to introduce you to him, because I think you guys would be good friends, if not datemates.” She wanted to be honest where she could.

Kagami’s eyes brightened at the mention of friendship. “Then I certainly will come,” she said. “You have my number, so let me know the details.”

“I will.” She held out her hand and Kagami didn’t hesitate in giving it a squeeze. “Maybe after practice today, we can have our first date? At our usual spot?”

Kagami smiled. It was awkward, but it was sincere. “I would love that.” With one last squeeze of her hand, Kagami marched into the school.

Luka was chuckling when Marinette returned. “I guess we’ll have a full table,” he said, pulling out his phone. “I’ll talk to Felix and figure out a good time for us.”

Marinette nodded. “Let me know the details.” She paused. “And, thank you, Luka.” Before he could respond she took off running.

Lying about her girlfriend went better than expected!

[pastlivesandpurplepuppets]

Actor Matthew Settle, having personally auditioned with Tom Hanks for a number of leading roles, won the part by delivering steely performances of key scenes. During the casting process, Hanks branded Speirs “a dark character.” Settle unequivocally embraced this categorization as filming commenced in England.

[...]Ron conveyed to Dick. “This TV business is all smoke and mirrors anyway. They can put my nametag on some guy and pretend it is Sparky. They are faking the combat scenes with a stand-in playing Sparky, so why not finish it up that way? I am just not up to the hassle and pressure of an interview. This is not what you want to hear, but I want to be candid about my situation.” Few were more disappointed in Speirs’s decision than Matthew Settle. Many of his fellow actors forged enriching relationships with the veterans they portrayed. Settle was denied this luxury. “It seemed as though he wanted to shy away from the whole process of Band of Brothers,” Settle later noted of Speirs. “He wasn’t quite sure in what light it would leave him.” Because filmmakers lacked Speirs’s direct input regarding his more controversial traits, they “presented the idea to the audience and let them decide whether or not he had killed prisoners and perhaps his own men,” said Settle. “I think that was tastefully done. But perhaps that was why he wasn’t open to being spoken to.”

The absence of Settle’s mysterious character in episode one of Band of Brothers permitted the actor to discover his character in other ways. While the rest of the cast shot the series introduction in England, Settle retraced Speirs’s steps across Europe on an odyssey of his own. He visited France, toured museums, and sought out sites where Speirs had fought. Settle ventured into the Bois Jacques, discovered Easy Company’s foxholes, and was warned to watch out for live ordnance as he did so. At Foy—where Speirs embarked on his iconic run—the actor traversed the wide field and was amazed to see dwellings in town that still bore scars of battle. He ventured all the way to the Eagle’s Nest in Germany. “It made it really come to life for me,” Settle said of the journey. “I’m very happy that I was able to do that.”

Deprived of the ability to converse with Speirs, Settle searched for perspectives on leadership in battle. In addition to reading several Ambrose books, he leaned on Captain Dale Dye—the film’s technical advisor who himself was a decorated combat veteran. “You gotta help me find this guy,” Settle implored to Dye. “Who is he? What’s his tone?” The subsequent coaching greatly benefited his performance: “I had a natural finality that served his character well.” On film, Speirs was stern, direct, and honest. Settle relished interpreting the Speirs mystique—a colorful balance of bravery and secrets. He naturally considers the Speirs scene at Foy his favorite of the miniseries.

[...]A 1,000-person tent was erected on site for a gala and the screening of a ninety-minute compilation of Band of Brothers scenes. Amid all the activities, Matthew Settle finally conversed with his character in the flesh. “When I actually met Speirs, he seemed like he was stoic and quiet and passive,” Settle recalled. “He definitely seemed like a person that may have been hurt once or twice in his life.” The actor’s observations of Speirs during the debut itself were even more affecting. “I sat next to him and Winters as they watched the invasion on screen together,” said Settle. “I honestly just watched the two of them. I couldn’t help myself…. It was powerful. They were reliving it.”

Settle regretted that his interactions with Ron were so fleeting. “I never really got into any deep conversations because Speirs was always very hesitant to talk about anything deeper than just the weather. A lot of the vets would approach him and he would say, ‘Which war?’ I don’t know if he was pretending not to remember them or what.” Speirs’s question was likely an earnest effort to distinguish those who served under him at different stages of his career. Self-consciousness of his hearing loss further precluded him from active conversation.

~ Jared Frederick & Erik Dorr