#khonshu did lose this game

[moonknightblog]

Khonshu vs Strange in a game of Senet

[vintagegirl01]

Loving you is a losing game

Marc Spector x fem! reader (Steven and Jake are mentioned briefly)

Summary: Marc meeting you was one of the best things to have happen to him. However, the demons of his past make him feel otherwise. You help him see that the love you share is one that should be fought for.

A/N: This is what I thought while listening to the song Arcade by Duncan Laurence. Of course with a happier twist.

A/N 2: Purely for entertainment purposes, so please don’t come after me. As I said, I'm still getting used to writing pieces like this.

Marc Spector’s life has never been easy. From the trauma of his young brother’s death to everything he’s during his time as Khonshu’s avatar, he’s felt like a ticking time bomb. Though he’s tried to use his time as Moon Knight to right his wrongs, it never feels like it’s enough.

When he meets you, he begins to see that there is more to life than vengeance. Marc begins to let himself enjoy your presence when he and you hit it off at the gym.

You weren’t a gym rat by any means but you had started a membership in the hopes of getting in shape and learning self-defense by using their punching bag. Seeing you hit the bag by yourself catches his attention and he begins to give you some pointers on how to improve your stance. Over time, this leads to you becoming sparring partners and eventually exchanging phone numbers. Although,this leads to you all regularly hanging out outside your sparring hours.

The day he asked you out was a shock for him because not only did he actually let himself be brave enough to ask the question but you eagerly accepted his invitation. It’s even more surprising to find out that one date led to another. Then another until you both have officially unofficially started dating.

Despite everything going well, he knew that there were things he needed to tell you. About his DID. His past. Being the avatar to an Egyptian deity in exchange to right the wrongs from his ugly past.

This then leads him to begin feeling self conscious about himself. His inner dialogue begins to consist of questions such as: What if he didn’t deserve this chance at happiness? What if she thinks I’m crazy or thinks I’m making this up?

Marc then begins to hear his mother’s voice. Telling him that he is unworthy of receiving love and will only continue to destroy all the lives that he surrounds himself with. Steven and Jake try to snap him out of this but Marc is paralyzed. At this moment, Marc only thinks one thing.

“I have to break up with her before I hurt her”, Marc thought.

_____________________________________

“Marc, this isn’t funny. Stop joking, you say.

“I’m not joking. I think we should break up,” said Marc.

“But why, Marc? Did I do something wrong?”

“Of course, you didn’t. You’ve been the best thing to have ever happened to me.”

“Then why are you doing this?” You take your hand in his, looking at him sadly. “Please, tell me why you’re acting as if I’m a disease.”

“Imthedisease.” He says as if he’s trying to rip off a bandage.

“What, baby?”

“I said, I'm the disease. I seep into innocent lives and destroy them.” He looks at you tearfully.

“Marc, that’s silly. What are you talking about?”

Marc then begins to explain everything. From the death of his younger brother to the lives he took during his time as a mercenary. He also makes sure to mention that he is the vigilante, Moon Knight, and has two other individuals living within his head. He concludes all of this by saying, “Loving me is a losing game.”

Once he’s done explaining all of this, Marc is waiting to see your reaction to all this. Will you call him crazy? Run away from him? Scream?

Instead, you take his hands in your own.

“Loving you isn’t a losing game, Marc,” you tell him. I love you and long as we have each other, we can face whatever life throws at us.”

At this, Marc pulls you into a big hug. He lets himself break down because he knows that you’re here to stay and love him. For his strengths and weaknesses, through good and bad times. He knows you will be there for him.

As you two are still embracing, he starts to believe that he is worth loving after all.

[theluciansystem]

Moon Knight - "what's an avatar to a god?" - Ask game, prompt 14

Summary: When you're walking home from a store, about to celebrate the boys' release from Khonshu, things get a little messy as someone follows you home.

Warnings: mentions of blood, alcohol, some creep, and a knife. + dying Y/N.

Word count: 890

Notes: hope you enjoy :)

They were free as of 2 months ago, free of Khonshu, free to not do his bidding anymore, and I am so proud of them for leaving him behind. I knew it was hard to leave, but my boys did it.

Steven and Marc had been encouraging Jake to finally leave Khonshu since the end of Ammit, near when I first met them. Jake later told me he hated ‘that maldito pollo’ anyway, and didn’t like being told what to do.

______________

I’m walking with a box of chocolates and some wine for me and Steven. Tonight was our night to celebrate, I set up a night for me and each of the boys. Today Steven, tomorrow Jake, and then the day after Marc.

I start to hear footsteps behind me after I leave the store. I continue to walk for a while, waiting for them to turn off somewhere. But the steps continue, continue, continue…   I start to worry, I’m about a two blocks from home, I just can’t have something else happen. I pull out the pocket knife Marc gave me, I turn to face whoever’s following me and-

…

______________

“Y/N isn’t picking up, guys…” Steven says out loud, and he tries to call again, only to get voicemail again Trying to fidget with a rubik’s cube in one hand, phone in the other.  

She’s most likely just picking up extra stuff at the store or just got distracted, it’s fine. Marc says, attempting to comfort, almost sounding like he’s trying to convince himself of that too.

Why so worried, hermano?  Jake asks. 

“I dunno, I just got a bad feelin’.” Steven replies, still fidgeting, he looks over to the mirror.  Trust that feeling, go get ‘em!   Jake gives a light smile then gestures to his jacket..

“Yeah.. yeah!” Steven puts on his jacket, and grabs his keys. Jake turns to look back at Steven while he’s not looking, Jake looks mildly concerned.

______________

Finally on the streets, Steven begins to walk toward the direction of the store you were supposed to be at. Not even a block in, he sees a form on the ground, a flashing streetlamp gently illuminating it. He stops, he knows that jacket that’s cuddled around the body—your body-…  he rushes toward you, flipping you onto your back.

There’s so much blood..  Marc says, and that’s all it took. Steven starts sob, “fuck fuck… love, please,” he checks, and you’re breathing, but just barely. He takes out his phone and dials for emergency.

------

You can faintly hear him… his voice, you cling to that.

You open your eyes as much as you can, to a poor sight; one of your boys, crying like it’ll make you not be bleeding, phone to his ear, talking.. you can barely hear out his words now, but you can read his lips one more time, “stay with me, mi amor”. 

Jake..

 You cling to him.  Him, his quirks, his hand holding yours, the feeling he gives you every time you look at him, all of him.

------

Steven switched out with Jake while connecting to emergency, as he was too panicked to talk. Eventually connecting to services, a man comes on the line. “It would take the closest ambulance twenty-minutes to get out there,” questioning if he it’d be faster to carry you to the nearest hospital or to wait, Jake hears voice too familiar behind him and you.

“Well, well. Appears as though we’ll lose another traveler tonight.”

“Khonshu. No- this.. this won’t be it, this can’t be the end.” His normally confident voice is shaking with nervousness.

“There’s almost no way out of this one, boy.”

“Almost?”  Jake asks, and he is silent. “Respóndeme!!”

Khonshu chuckles, “They would make a great avatar.”. Jakes faces drops, “you.. you surely wouldn’t?”, Marc’s voice echoes in their head,  i-it’s Khonshu, you can’t trust him to-

“Do whatever it takes.” Jake says, without listening, and steps out of the way. Khonshu moves toward their Y/N.  Your eyes open once more, and it’s like you finally see him.  Leaning down, he asks the question, “Do you swear to protect the travelers of the night and bring my vengeance to those who would do them harm?”

You don’t answer.

Jake looks at your chest, just making sure you’re still breathing, and you are.

“Do you swear–“  “yes” it comes out a small whisper, but the word means more than it should.

Khonshu laughs, then returns to his monologue, “then rise. Rise and live again. As my fist of vengeance,” with each word, Jake feels his heart break for you. “As my Moon Knight”

With a sudden glow in your eyes, and the suit comes on… you raise up into a sitting position.

“..Mi amor?” Jake gets down on one knee, you turns toward him. The head part of the suit goes back down, with tears in their eyes, “Jake…” You practically jumps into his arms, “I’m so sorry–“ 

“Shh, it’s okay, baby.” you start to bawl, you don’t even recognize that it’s probably now Marc you’re talking to. There’s short whispers of “i’m sorry”’s from you and “it’s okay”’s from him until he kisses you and just holds you, leaning in, and whispering sweet nothings in your ear, while Khonshu just watches over his new avatar..

[vermillionsails]

Marc Spector head cannons part 2

A/n: Part two is here! the more spicy stuff will be in a part 3 and that's gonna take me a bit but here's the second part. Also the same warnings applies this one and defiantly 3.

https://www.tumblr.com/vermillionsails/723979259224424448/marc-spector-headcannons-part-1?source=share

Here's the link to part 1 ⬆️

Military headcannons

The first time he got hold of or played on a Gameboy was in the military. His bunkmate brought it. He got the hang of it pretty quick but he only played it one time.

Before the military Marc only use to brush his hair and put a ball cap on and couldn't be bothered to do anything else. He learned how to slick it back with product during the military and usually just does that instead. He doesn't like it when it's in his face.

(Military stuff up ahead) Marc learned Arabic in the military. He can still speak it. Sometimes he'll compliment or say something dirty to you in it. Helps him be less shy. 

In the Marines, he liked to joke and say his favorite crayon is yellow. It throws people off. 

He has to keep everything clean and put up from boot camp and service. It drives him nuts if something is left out for too long. He and Steven argue about it all time, especially when he comes home with more books.

His troop members and bunkmates used to make it a challenge to get him to laugh. They figured out his sense of humor is dry and sarcastic. They use to fuck with him and Marc would just give them a monotone haha. 

He used to sneak the bomb dogs' treats. He has a big soft spot for them. He would like to adopt a retired one but Jake only likes cats and Steven is worried that if it's big enough that the dog's tail will knock stuff off and break things. 

Despite being used to being on active duty, Marc likes fireworks. He will send himself into shock to set them off or watch them.

Sometimes he holds the broom like his gun back in training. He thinks it's funny. 

Marc made one friend for life and that was Frenchie. Frenchie saw Marc and went you're going to be my friend and Marc was like okay. Frenchie noticed when Marc wasn't Marc especially in water training when Jake took over.

Frenchie helped Marc think he just blacked out via Jake's request after he told Frenchie what happened with their brother. 

Marc would freak out during water training and Jake would take over depending on how long it took Marc to lose his cool. After months of it, Jake decided Marc needed to face it and wouldn't come out. Frenchie got Marc through it when it happened. Marc can tolerate the water now because of it but he still panics from time to time. 

Marc woke up in the middle of a minefield one night. Jake heard Khonshu's call to them that night. Jake also was worried that they would be found out and it eventually led to them getting discharged. Frenchie was not happy he lost his friend. He eventually did something to get discharged too and joined Marc and Jake as a mercenary. 

Frenchie hasn't heard from Marc or Jake since the solo job that got Layla's dad killed. When he does hear from Marc he will tear a new one into Marc but, lovingly.

Marc is used to rough drivers from being on active duty. Marc also is a rough driver, especially on a dirt road. It annoys Jake to no end.

Marc doesn't like games like Cod or modern warfare. He lived it and he doesn't want to play it. 

Marc hates multiplayer except for Mario. He likes to piss people off during Mario. 

He and Jake are champions when it comes to just dance and dance revolution. Marc found out he was good at it during a party in basic. Same with Mario.

Marc is convinced his Star of David necklace is lucky. He refuses to take it off. Frenchie used to joke and tell him it's like a football player and pair of socks they never wash. Marc told him to shut up and that he never got shot. He later got shot in the arm that afternoon. 

Food headcannons

Food warning ahead.) Loves French onion soup. He dips Doritos in it like a dip. 

He's only had Jewish food a couple of times before everything went to hell after losing Randall. His favorites were shakshuka, latkes, babka, matzah ball soup, knish, Blintz, brisket, and pastrami sandwiches. He doesn't eat them anymore but sometimes Steven encourages him to especially if he gets a craving. 

His favorite drinks are Coke but only from glass bottles. Root beer and Dr. Pepper he likes ginger ale too.

He got a rainbow cone one year for his 5th birthday. He loves pistachio ice cream because of it.

He Loves Chicago deep dishes and thin-crust pizza.

jibarito sandwiches and Italian beef sandwiches are his favorites has to hide the jibarito from Jake or Jake will eat it before him. 

He only eats Chicago dogs through the garden. Refuses any other way. 

He loves fried pickles and mushrooms and dips them in ranch or blue cheese like you would wings 

Hot pockets, ramen, pizza bagels/pizza bites, uncrustables, mozzarella sticks, and any kind of pasta cup you make in the microwave are his go-to's, especially tv dinners. He only trusts himself to cook if it's two things. 

He only cooks French toast and Mac en cheese on the stove.

Argues with Steven about it all the time, Steven usually will front and cook actual meals for him so he's not just only eating out of a microwave. 

Is a whore for hamburger helper meals. Steven grumbles about having to cook them but, he's fine with it because Marc usually eats the whole skillet. 

He loves apples, pumpkins, peaches, and pecan pies. 

He gets cravings for ants on a log or just to have peanut butter on celery. It shocked Steven the first time he saw Marc doing it.

He has no shame eating a lunchable for dinner or buying them.

Calls Gatorade by the color. Jake calls them by the flavor to piss him off. 

Has a huge sweet tooth and will eat cereal for dinner much to Stevens' protest for him to eat real food instead. 

Loves apples, grapes, raspberries, cherries, and cantaloupe. Gets mad if Steven eats them before he can.

Gets a Big Mac every time from McDonald's, a baconator from Wendy's, and the supersonic double bacon cheeseburger from Sonic. 

He loves funyun's and onion rings and only goes to the outback steakhouse for the blooming onion and Mac en cheese bites. 

Loves flaming hot chips and Takis especially if they have limone seasoning. Has to share them with Jake. Steven won't touch them.

Marc had a Minnesota snicker salad from a neighbor that moved to his neighborhood during a block party on the fourth. The lady who made it thought it was cute Marc would come back and sneak bites. She ended up giving Marc the last of it that night. He was always grateful for it. 

He likes cracker jacks and the Munchies brand chips he mixes the two sometimes. 

He loves trail mix and yogurt its another combo he mixes together.

That's all I have for now. I hope you have a good morning, afternoon, or night whenever you stumble on this.

[normaltothemax]

Jake’s brow furrowed slightly when she mentioned someone called Taweret, though he was quick to smooth it out. He didn’t know who the hell that was—a friend? Another god? That’d be just their luck, wouldn’t it? He sure as hell wasn’t about to ask, though. “Yeah, well, uh…I’m glad someone’s helping you out.” But the way Layla said the name…it was like it meant something. Like it was a name Jake was supposed to know.

Just another layer to the shitshow he was already drowning in.

Her comment about Khonshu got a small laugh out of him—hopefully not sounding as relieved as he felt to have his feet back on solid ground. To have a topic he actually knew something about. “Nah, I think that just gets you in the club. Pretty sure Steven and I’ve both said worse.” and Jake even worse than them all combined.

He took another swig of his beer, grimacing at the taste. She wasn’t wrong—the beers were bad. Cheap and bitter. God, did Marc have to punish himself in every aspect of his life? At least it gave him something to do with his hands.

He snorted at the thought of her actually managing to convince Marc to live a little. Jake was sure the man would actually enjoy a brewery, but good fuckin’ luck getting him to one, in the first place.

“Modern Egypt, huh?” He forced a small smirk, leaning into the act. “Yeah, Steven’s gonna lose his damn mind over that. You’d better be ready for a five-hour lecture on why the British Museum’s got it all wrong.”

Still, Jake felt a sharp pang of guilt in his stomach, at that, that he tried to ignore. Steven should be here for this. Hell, Marc should be here for this. This wasn’t Jake’s mess to clean up. “We, uh—” Crap. Jake had no idea if Marc wanted to actually figure things out with Layla. He’d have to guess if it would be a ‘yes’ or a ‘no’, because even an ‘I’ll think about it and get back to you’ would require him to figure out some way to tell Marc about it without revealing himself.

He didn’t care all that much about hurting Layla’s feelings, if he was being honest—he didn’t know her. But getting this wrong and hurting her would hurt Marc and Steven, and that was something that went against everything he was.

Basically, he was fucked no matter what he did.

Pinching the bridge of his nose, he let out a long, drawn-out sigh. “…I can’t fuckin’ do this.” It was a dangerous game he was playing, and the repercussions were swiftly getting too precarious, even for Jake. “Fuck’s sake,” he muttered under his breath. It was a lot harder than he thought it’d be to lose Marc’s accent, to loosen his posture from the stiff way the other man held himself. “I ain’t Marc, sweetheart,” he forced himself to say in his own voice, finally looking back up at her, a hardness to his eyes that wasn’t there previously.

“And I ain’t drinkin’ this piss water anymore, either.” With a huff, he set the bottle in the sink—he’d dump it later—and started rummaging around in one of the cupboards, sliding open a false back and pulling out a good bottle of whiskey and a couple of glasses he’d stashed away.

“And I guess it’s on me for thinking you’d get that I can handle myself just fine. But—I was thankful. Kinda. Taweret’s been helpful in figuring that side of things out.”  

Yeah... that wasn’t going to be something she was ever going to get used to. The extra sensation, the extra voice, feeling every microscope of her domain on their plain, it made Layla wonder if this was how Marc felt. Well... minus the part of having to listen to the excitement of being able to see the living world for the first time in centuries. And the endless questions.  

She couldn’t blame the goddess for being curious. It must’ve been about as long since she had a proper follower.  

“... Mean, I get it. Also, do you think I’m on his shit list for telling him to jump off a short cliff?” Didn’t hurt to check. And maybe fill in the void between pulls from her bottle with a short grimace. Right, maybe Layla should’ve grabbed the good pack from the corner store before coming over... “These really are bad.”  

It made her think of simpler times before everything got messed up. Those stupid long jobs and drowning out the noise of everything with whatever the latest shitty primetime drama show was in whatever country they ended up in... 

No room for nostalgia right now. Better stop it. 

"One of these days I’m gonna convince you to live a little. Maybe actually go to a brewery.” She huffed out a short chuckle before shaking her head. “Well--no, I’m not gonna nag you. Think we’ll figure this thing out in our own weird way.” It seemed to be like something they were just good at. Maybe the weird way was just their thing. 

That thought alone probably would’ve earned one more pull out of embarrassment if the bottle wasn’t already empty. Huh, that went fast. 

“I’ll be around for a few more days if—y'know, you wanna try that figuring out thing. I got a few pieces for the museum.” She paused. “Steven’ll have a heart attack about this: they’re doing a collection on modern Egypt now.” 

[stxleslyds]

I get what you're going for with the Issue 17 theory you posted but I feel like the way he's speaking and presenting himself here calls back to the Devil's Reign tie-in (the same language about "his temple" for instance) and the more likely explanation to me is that he's playing up the EC Comics Horror Host Vibes he gives off to really drill in how scary he is, just like with Man-Mountain Marko.

Hi! Sorry for taking so long to answer your ask, I travelled and then I got distracted.

I see what you are saying, personally though, I think these are two totally different situations. Like, Devil's Reign is, to me, 100% Marc and I mean it in the 80s kinda way... his most hardcore self the one that Steven and Jake didn't want out. The man that today Marc himself hides.

That Marc was also 100% aware of what he was doing and his words seemed his, like you said he is playing with fear and how scary he is and can be. Which I think is what was lacking in #17, that "Moon Knight" wasn't fear, fear was a mean to show his power overall and most importantly over people.

Marc in Devil's Reign was specially rough because a child was involved and he was asked to take care of Marko by his ex-wife who was actually presented as a "client" of Mr. Knight. I feel like that difference is quite important.

When he said that that place was "his temple" he didn't say it in a god way or priest way, he said it because of the violence.

He explains in this moment that Marko is in a disadvantage because he doesn't actually know true violence like Marc himself does. In a sense Marc is putting himself above Marko which would lead me to think like you but in the end, as we know now, Marc was acting the way he was to protect a child and her mother.

He wasn't playing a game, he wasn't using fear and violence to lead him to power, he was using it to protect somebody else. Furthermore, him doing what he did to Marko led him to lose "freedom" because he got thrown in that funky jail.

Also, when I mentioned that Marc was 100% aware of what he was doing, I was making a reference to this...

Marc is so incredibly in tune with himself, his words I can relate to himself which is what I couldn't do in #17, I really felt like "Marc" was off and I was actually reading Khonshu talk.

That's why I believe these two issues are different but I can be very wrong and I might have made myself suffer with my "Khonshu is taking over Marc" theory... I mean I kinda hope I am wrong BUT it would also be fun to see that kind of story being done by someone like MacKay...

Thank you for the ask and sharing your thoughts with me, sorry once again for taking so long, have a great week!!!

[sun-in-eyes]

Initial thoughts on the end of Moon Knight

Just finished the final episode of Moon Knight so... SPOILERS. 

Loved the series. I’ve been a fan of the comics for years when I accidentally fell down the Moon Knight hole of “Who the hell is this?!” 

Having the series is suddenly having MERCHANDISE. And I’m a whore for merchandise. Which, back in the day meant I could find a glass with the logo and that was it. Now my wallet is crying and I don’t care. It also means the comic is staying alive. 

The comic has had a lot of ups and a LOT of downs. Every time there is even a hint of a down, they will cancel it for years on end then someone else will pick it up and give it a shot and re-write it all over again....and again....and again. With the show, we are given the chance of keeping it going and also keeping the story more set in stone. 

I’ll do a comic review post later. For now, let’s focus on the show! 

Steven. Oh my sweet lovely Steven. I would do anything for Steven. I love how they made him in the show. I’ll fight anyone that comes after Steven. 

Marc. Grumpy idiot child. Marc was never the brains of the operation. He is also a brutal fighter. I do love that they kept that in. Marc is known for slamming into things full force, not blocking punches, and just getting messed up in every fight because he wants/needs to feel the pain. 

Jake. Mother fucking Jake.  In the comics, Jake has gone through so many revisions. Originally he was the middle man. He ran the streets, had a lot of friends that were his eyes and ears to what was going on, and cared about people. He was kind but also knew how to be brutal to protect what he loved. Over the years, certain writers (*cough*BEMIS*cough*) decided that Jake was the wild dog savage killer. I do miss when Jake was the grumpy uncle that sometimes had to go beat up a dude for looking at you wrong. 

From episode one, they give hints about Jake. It’s a game on ‘can you spot the taxi cab’ as it slowly circles closer and closer like a shark. If you look, it’s always there in the background and it does get closer and more prominent as Marc and Steven start to fall apart. The cheeky bits in episode 4 were mind numbingly frustrating. They knew what they were doing. Especially for the comic book fans that KNEW about Jake and were losing our goddamned minds. 

The show’s implication that Jake was a violent killer was a take (*cough*Bemis*cough). Fine. But I’d have liked to get more from him. Also I fucking called it in episode 2 when Khonshu and Marc argued. Of course he was talking about Jake taking Marc’s place. But the misdirection was unfair and they needed to do more. 

The limo with the license plate was a cheeky call out to the current comics with Mr. Knight. Appreciated. But we still needed more. When did Jake happen? Did Khonshu create Jake when Marc was dying in the desert? It’s implied that Marc got discharged from the military because of a fugue state. Was that Jake? Did Khonshu sense Jake and make the deal later? Hmmmm. 

Layla. I loved Layla. Oh man I loved everything about her way more than I thought I would. I had to do some research because I am not up on comics that are not Moon Knight...>.> Scarlet Scarab was a cool add on. She came in being smart, knowing how to kick ass, and was just so strong in personality from the start. 

HOLY SHIT THEY RUSHED THAT. Her making the deal with Taweret was done SO BADLY. They should have met. It would have been so cute to see the happy Hippo gushing in person. Did they get along? I think they could have. A lost opportunity that will live in fanfiction for years to come. 

And then what? She just disappears. We don’t see what happens after to her. Did she stay in Egypt? Did she make up with Marc over her father? What happened to her? Is she getting her own show? Is she doomed to background cameos in other shows? (looking at you Ms. Marvel). She deserves more. 

How it ended: 

Episode 6 was doomed from the start. 

Every episode up through 4 was a slow build up. It had characterization and such depth. Episode 5 was the pinnacle. It was the best thing I’ve seen in a Marvel anything in ages. It left me devastated for days. I cried for two hours after it was over. It dealt with such dark and deep pain and trauma. Honestly, anything after episode 5 was going to suffer. How could they come down from that masterpiece of suffering? ESPECIALLY SINCE THE FINAL EPISODE WAS ONLY 44 MINUTES. Shorter than all the other episodes. Why? What happened? What was cut? Who fucked up? 

The start of it with Marc going back for Steven was a good scene. Rushed as it was, if they had taken their time, they could have really made it something moving. I also appreciated the continued call out to Lemier’s run. “Quiet. It’s quiet.” Which is my favorite comic page in all of existence. Marc has found peace but at what cost? 

I liked Layla telling Khonshu no and not letting him manipulate her. He’s full of shit and man did she see through it. 

The Jake blackout in the battle was...interesting. I didn’t hate it. But also everyone just kind of brushed it off. No one thought to go “who the hell was that? Maybe we should investigate this a little later? Maybe not now because gotta save people, but table it for after dinner?”

So... The scenes with Dr. Harrow.... What...I need more time to process them. Cause I have no idea what to make of those scenes now. Leimer’s run was obviously a huge influence, but it was done differently and in the context of the show... I don’t know. 

Steve and Marc moving more comfortably together and learning to share like good boys was nice. Throwing them back into Steven’s flat was a bit jarring. A callback to the first episode, sure. But why? He says he wants to save the world so... does he continue to be Moon Knight knowingly or is it all Jake? Why are they back in London? What are they doing? Why is he still tied to the bed? Is it because of Jake? 

Why was it so rushed....

(THERE WERE TWO GOLD FISH BECAUSE JAKE AND STEVEN WERE TOGETHER. THAT WAS A NICE TOUCH)

I HAVE A LOT OF QUESTIONS AND THEY AREN’T GETTING ANSWERED. 

What was done well: 

Marc’s DID and other mental issues (depression, self destruction...)

There are going to be a LOT of different opinions on this. I’ve heard people with actual DID praise it and others be utterly pissed and claim it is all wrong. The thing is, it’s not all the same for every person. So what is right for one system isn’t going to be true for another. 

They did a lot of research into DID and talked with people that have it. They wanted to be true, but also tell Marc’s story. It’s cinematic. Of course they exaggerated things. What the bigger picture is, people are now aware of it and that it isn’t like in how a lot of horror movies portray it. There is no ‘evil other personality’ lurking in the shadows. No Norman Bates dressed as his mother. People can look up the terminology and hear the voices of people with DID now. This story was about Marc suffering and Steven helping him. It was about them learning to work together to be a functioning person instead of fighting and tearing themselves apart. 

Marc created Steven out of the need to protect himself. To stay happy and loved. Steven was made to protect Marc from so much pain. When their mother died, it was too much and Steven took over. It was one of the more violent and painful transitions shown between the two. Marc almost forced Steven to the front and had most likely decided that he would give everything to Steven once he was done with Khonshu. 

Steven needed to be loved and acknowledged. He needed to be his own self. He was “Steven with a V” and he needed people to see him. In the end of episode 5, Steven didn’t care that he wasn’t the original anymore. He was going to do what he was meant to do and protect Marc. Marc thought that learning to let go of Steven and face his pain was enough to make him whole and for a brief moment in the reeds and ‘quiet’, it was enough. 

Steven made him whole. Which is why he went back. Steven didn’t need to protect him anymore. He didn’t need to protect Steven. Him giving the heart to Steven in the desert to show him they were only full together was nice. The speech was nice. It was just soooo rushed. 

Egypt/Music: 

I am so happy to see all the reviews from Egyptians about how much they loved seeing their home shown so beautifully. The director wanted the world to see his home and he did a fantastic job. The MUSIC was fantastic. (I can’t stop listening to Saat Saat). I am most certainly going to be looking up more Egyptian music. This is what you want when you let other cultures shine. You want the audience to ask questions and get interested. The bad guys are not foreigners in funny clothes with gibberish language or accents. 

What was done poorly: 

 Okay, elephant in the room. Marc Spector is Jewish. Always has been. Pretty sure the original comic creators were Jewish too. Marc Spector’s father was a Rabbi. A whole part of Marc’s back story is that he could not get along with his father’s peaceful path. He had too much anger and turned his back on his father. When he started to serve Khonshu, an Egyptian God, it added to his dichotomy. He has always admitted to not being the best Jew. It’s part of his identity and what fractures him. He is driven by guilt and hates himself. He would be anyone other than Marc. 

In the show, from episode one, you do see Steven wearing the star of david necklace. Marc wears it too. In the flash backs, they attempt to show his parents as Jewish. I’m not sure that they looked into the culture. Throwing out a funeral tradition word like “Sitting Shiva” does not a culture make. 

Oscar Issac is Latino and I appreciate that they did not ‘he’s ambiguously not white’! He is still Latino in the show and I don’t know enough about Jewish Latino culture to comment full on about this aspect of culture vs religion. 

They did so much work into getting DID right and Egypt right that they just didn’t have it in them to research that too, I guess. Which is a poor excuse. 

There is a fantastic scene where Marc refuses to go inside to his mother’s funeral. He walks away and breaks down in the best display of emotional acting I have ever seen. Dear god Oscar is GOOD. 

He throws his kippa (hat thing) on the ground three times, punching it and rejecting it. I’ve heard one Jewish person say they could relate. They have felt anger at themselves and their religion to this level. You reject it in the most disrespectful way you can. It never helped you after all, why should you have faith when you have been in so much pain? But when he picked it back up and apologized to it, clutching it to his heart, it was something he couldn’t let go of. It is a part of him. 

I would have really liked to have seen him struggle more with this. Steven wore the necklace and had the same early memories of his mother. Would Steven be more religious than Marc? Would Steven be more openly Jewish while Marc turned his back on it as a show of defiance? Or would Marc be more willing to practice while Steven didn’t have the proper memories to know what to do with them? 

I’ll have to go back through from the start and watch closely and see if my opinions don’t change on the ending. Maybe I missed more things. 

Is there going to be a season 2 that might go further into things? I honestly hope so. There is so much more to dive into from the comics. I want to see more Layla. More of Steven and Marc figuring out how to work together. GIVE US PROPER JAKE FOR FUCKS SAKE. Marvel keeps doing the “Oh no. No more. Just kidding maybe more. If it does well we’ll do more. No. No more. YES. Maybe?” and I hate them for that. 

SO DID I LIKE IT. Yes. Yes I did. Am I annoyed. YES. Yes I am. Was I expecting it to be shit? Yes. Was it shit? No. So I’m going to call this a win. 

Also episode 5 made me sit down and examine my life and decide I needed therapy so.... Win win in the long run I guess. 

[djinmer4]

Law of Surprise (Egyptia AU)

Kitty’s certain she doesn’t like their current client.  He’s abrasive to his workers, touchy about his pride, and never forgets when he’s been ‘disrespected’.  He had his good points though.  He was honest to a fault, didn’t traffick in humans of any sort, and always paid his debts.  Not to mention that with the Cold War brewing between Wakanda and Khonshu, he was still brave enough to traverse the no man’s land between the two countries.  So when at the end of the trip at Thinis he comes to her personally to offer her and Piotr a bonus, she’s left with a dilemma.

She had a pretty good idea that this was coming.  With both nations pulling back their patrols to avoid ‘provoking’ the other, the border had become a savage place, filled with bandits, hostile wildlife, and even more dangerous things that were neither man nor animal.  This time the caravan had been attacked by a lone Man-Wolf, that she and Piotr had killed.  While Piotr in his metal form held him down, Kitty had stabbed it through the heart with a silver-plated ceremonial dagger she’d stolen off a priest.  (She heard that in the North, there were mercenaries who carried pure silver swords to slay monsters but she didn’t want to think of how much money it would take to make something like that.)  The Man-Wolf had already been injured when it had attacked the caravan, but still managed to kill three other guards before they had taken it down.

But that was the past and she had a different problem now.  Ask for something too small and the merchant will take offense.  Ask for something of actual worth, and he’ll hold a grudge in the future.  And dammit, she needed to keep this contact if she was to keep going back and forth between the Kingdoms.  But maybe . . . “I claim the Law of Surprise.”  She doesn’t bother to clarify which version of the Law of Surprise she’s claiming.  The merchant will probably pass her a dirty mug to fulfill the claim, but she’s already gotten paid so even that won’t hurt their finances.  And the merchant won’t balk at hiring her or her people again in the future.

“That which holds value but is of no value to you, eh?”  His eyes brighten.  “I’ve got the perfect thing!”

The perfect thing turns out to be a visible mutant, blue and furry with deformed hands and feet and a tail.  Not to mention beaten half to death.  “What the hell?”  She looks up.  “You don’t deal with slaves!”  None of the remaining merchants who cross the border did.  The Upper Kingdom had passed laws declaring every slave that passes into their territory automatically free so merchants who were afraid of losing their stock or employees were now limited to working solely in the Lower Kingdom.  Of course, to get away, the slaves have to be aware of the law first, and it’s in Khonshu’s interest to keep them ignorant.

“I don’t, but someone passed him to me in Memphis when I claimed the Law of Surprise.  Rather than sell him there, I figured I’d at least bring him to the Upper Kingdom.  He’s better off here than there.”  At the look on her face, he hastily adds, “I’ll throw in some clothes and a crate of my best wine as well!  And some medical supplies!”

Kitty accepts, keeping her thoughts behind her teeth.  The merchant could guess what she is, probably thinks she’s better equipped to deal with an abused mutant than he is.  And damn it, he’s right, even if she is just a low-level member of a cell.  This man’s going to be a drain on her resources, but she can’t bring herself to abandon him.  She gets her shoulder under his armpit and guides (more like half-carries) him along the streets of Thinis, while Piotr carries the rest of their payment back to their base.

~~~~~~~

He’s well aware of his latest master’s distaste for him.  Too dangerous to be kept healthy but too weak to be of any use when he’s not.  He’s not surprised when he’s sold to the Wakandan merchant, the only thing his master hates more than a useless burden is being indebted to someone.

The new man is befuddled and also surprisingly naive.  The Wakandan clearly has no idea who he is or what he could do, doesn’t understand why the last master thought beating him until he could barely move was a good security measure.  He’s hustled into a cage and hidden under a tarp before he can learn more, then loaded onto a wagon.  He can’t see anything, but he hears the guards at the gates and knows that finally, after at least five years, he’s leaving Memphis.

The Wakandan’s naivety continues after they’ve left the walls.  He’s kept in his cage beneath the tarp, but they give him water and food, and occasionally throw a bucket of Nile water over him.  It’s not a lot, not nearly enough for him to hope to teleport out of here, but that combined with no longer having to fend off attacks while he dozed is enough to start healing.

He’s still not in good enough condition to escape by the time the caravan gets to a new city and he’s sold once again.  He keeps his eyes half shut, and staggers when they let him out of the cage this time, playing up being more injured than he really is.  He doesn’t know these new people but the longer they think him harmless, the longer he has a chance to recover and regain his strength.  And after that?

That Wakandan had been the only kind master he’s had in years.  He’d resolved not to take any revenge on that one.  But the rest of them?  The rest of them were fair game.

[theluciansystem]

Moon Knight - "what's an avatar to a god?" - Ask game, prompt 14 PART 2

Summary: "I couldn’t possibly be an avatar. I couldn’t kill, I couldn’t be controlled by a big bird for however the hell long, I am majorly out of shape, I’m just… not worth anything, am I?" or, Y/N becomes Khonshu's avatar, and feels worthless after failling a mission and having to be saved after being attacked. Can the boys help?

Warnings: self-deprecation.

Word count: 931

Notes: hope you enjoy it!

I can’t do this.

My boys would reassure me, telling me that we could find a way out. “After all,” Marc said, “there was not a time limit to the minimum amount of time you have to serve Khonshu for”.  Which also meant the opposite was true, I could be serving him for up to for however long they did, maybe longer, maybe years longer, maybe I’d just be stuck like this for the rest of my-

“You alright, love?” Steven asks, taking me out of my train of thoughts.

“Yeah-!” I say, putting on my best smile, but it doesn’t look like he believes me.

“You know you can tell me anything, right?” He gives a light smile and pulls me into a hug. I give a short ‘mhm’ and he’s happy.

Truth is, I can’t get that night off my mind.. it was around a week ago now. The woman who ‘attacked’ me, didn’t mean to, she was drunk. Jealous that her boyfriend was looking at me at the store. And you know, it’s fine, it’s fine.  

_________

It’s been a week, two days, three hours, and about twenty-one minutes. Yes, I’ve counted.

I’m not home much anymore. Khonshu gave me his first mission a couple days ago. I’ve been learning the ropes, and in all honesty; failing miserably. I’ve let several people get away, and haven’t had the heart to kill yet. “It’s pathetic of me,” Khonshu told me.

I arrive home in the suit. Tired, but not questioning the loneliness of the boys’ apartment. I figured they’d be asleep, but they must be out, doing… something.

I collapse into a chair, and the suit takes itself off. Now I’m just left with my thoughts.

I still couldn’t do this.  

I couldn’t possibly be an avatar. I couldn’t kill, I couldn’t be controlled by a big bird for however the hell long, I am majorly out of shape, I’m just… not worth anything, am I?

My thoughts scatter as I hear keys rustling outside the front door, and I panic.  I run over and get in bed, wiggling myself under the covers and pretending to sleep..

One of the boys opens the door and steps in, there’s no sounds for a moment, then he gently closes the door. The floor creaks as he walks around, he sighs, “Y/N will be gone by the morning, won’t they..?”

And I lose it. I start to bawl.  “Oh, oh no, love…” I don’t even realize it’s Steven, but he steps over to my side of the bed and picks me up effortlessly, sitting me right in his arms, I hug him tight.

“I’m so sorry angel, y-you’re just never home-! I missed you so much…”

“I c-can’t… I can’t do this-! The stress! The–“

“I know..” Steven sighs, “we know.”

He turns to look in the mirror we had put in the corner of the room, “that damn bird is a real bloody bastard,” he starts to sound more angry with every word, “and I wish I could just fix everything instead of you havin’ to do this all alone-!”

“I just feel so… useless”  I admit.

“W-what? Why do you feel like that, love?”

“I can’t even complete a mission the fucking chicken gives me-! I can’t even kill. Frankly I just feel like- like…” I can’t say that to them.

“Like?”

I say it in a really faint whisper, “like I don’t deserve you anymore.” but he still hears me. Steven looks toward me, taking one hand from my waist to my face, cupping it in his hand.

“I’m the one not good enough here, Y/N. I couldn’t protect you when you needed me the most,” I see the shift in his eyes, the unease in admitting something like this to each other.

“Hey Marc..” I say.

He chuckles, “I.. uh,” sighing, holding me closer, and putting his head on my shoulder, “I’m sorry, baby.”

Me sobbing slows, and I look at him. “I love you, all of you.” I say, smiling for the what feels like the first time in ages.

He pauses for a moment, an almost scared look flashes across his eyes, then he says  “..I love you too, but, you gotta trust us. Let us help.”

“Only if you’ll let me help when you guys need it, too.”

Marc sighs, but puts his hand out in front of me, “Deal. Shake on it?”

Instead of acting like a normal person, I shake my body in his arms, which at least gets a chuckle out of him. I shake his hand. “Deal.”

_________

The fear doesn’t go away, it never does, but we work, try, and try again.  We surprisingly work out a deal with Khonshu, he lets me go, with one condition..

“What.” Marc says, utterly dumbfounded, “He wouldn’t–“

“He would- or, is, I guess. Trust me, if I thought this was some sort of trick, I would’ve already said no.” I mention, and Marc is silent. “Baby, it’s alright” I say, suspecting he’s overthinking again.

“It’s a little too sappy, even for him.” he begins, “But.. if that’s it, and you’ll actually be free, it’s worth it. I mean… only if you’re okay with it—” I step over to kiss him.

“Of course, and I’m okay with it, baby… are you?” I ask, almost wondering if this wasn’t Khonshu’s condition, if we’d do it anyway someday.

“Yeah, I am.”

And with that, we head to the courthouse. And with a god as our witness, we get married, and I am free.