#very toxic matt/foggy times

[thelittlestspider]

i wonder if matt ever found out about the note foggy and natasha wrote heather

[xenyasplacex]

Baby Trapped — Chapter 1

Chris Sturniolo x Fem!OC

Summary: Chris is in a toxic relationship and the only thing keeping him there is his daughter.

warning- Toxic relationship, Miserable Chris, Shouting, Abuse, Physical Abuse, Talk of miscarriage

A/N : This is so bad it’s concerning but oh well, i’ll fix it later. Enjoy xx

I DO NOT GIVE PERMISSION FOR MY WORK TO BE STOLEN, REPOSTED OR TRANSLATED

Prologue <—> Chapter 2

It all started on a quite joyful note. Nate was in town visiting the triplets and they had gone to a bar the night before he left back to Boston

“Alright,” Nate said over the loud music to Chris, looking around before spotting someone.

“I bet you $40 you can’t pick her up.” He said turning to Chris. 

Matt who was next to the pair laughed while shaking his head. “Her? i’m surprised she even got in here. I’ll bet you $60”

The girl was tall, not taller than Chris but still fairly tall, She had almost perfect skin with curls falling on her shoulders beautifully. She was definitely Chris’ type however it was rare that you saw Chris hit on a girl and even more rare that he hit on a girl and succeeded.

Chris turned to face his brother astonished, “What? You don’t think i can do it?” 

“Girl your age, not staring at you like you’re  a dancing monkey, that pretty. Good luck buddy.” Nick interjected before taking a sip of his drink.

“You know what,” Chris started, quickly downing his drink and stand up, “I think i will got talk to her.” 

That night a slightly Tipsy Chris went to talk to a very pretty girl, a girl that he didn’t know was actually as safe as poison. That night marked that everything changed. From that exchange of phone numbers led to a toxic relationship, an unplanned pregnancy and a whole load of problems that none of the triplets had even thought could happen.

To be completely honest it had all happened at an unusually fast pace. Within 2 months of talking they were together, the honeymoon period lasted for about a month before the relationship started to turn ugly. What used to be simple taps turned into being hit with hard object which turned into being left on the floor, bruised and bloody. After about 6 months Chris had tried to break up with her but he couldn’t. She threatened to stop eating, to cut herself, to kill herself, and even the possibility of her going through with these things because of chris was enough to make him stay. When he tried to leave again she made the same threats but Chris stood up for himself and that’s when she told him she was pregnant. That night was still foggy for Chris but after a few too many drinks, a couple of kisses, apologies and a plane ticket to vegas later, Chris woke up hung over and married, and 10 months later his daughter, Adriana was born.

Adriana was the one thing that kept him going all these years, the idea that he finally had a daughter to love and care for, a daughter that was all his, a daughter that loved him as he loved her. His daughter. He didn’t want to leave Aaliyah because he knew if he did she could be taken from him and that made him stay. It made him put up a fight. It made him strong.

It started when they came back from tour. Late. 

“Daddy!” Adriana cried out as Chris fell to the floor, Aaliyah stood over him.

“You were supposed to be back at 3 o’clock Christopher, 3!” She screamed adding more punched to his face.

It was currently 6. In all honestly, Chris had just come back from tour and their flight home had simply been delayed. However, in Aaliyah’s eyes Chris staying out late just meant that he was cheating and she couldn’t stand for him cheating. 

“Daddy!” Adriana cried again this time leaving her safe spot behind the door frame and coming to try and stop her mother. That had never happened before. Usually when Aaliyah went crazy on Chris she was like hide under her bed in her room and wait for Chris to come and and rock her to sleep saying everything was fine however this time things were different, Aaliyah was hitting harder and faster. Adriana has to protect her dad the way he protects her. It was only fair.

“Adrian get back!” Chris yelled as he watched his daughter toddle over to her mother. It was only when his wife’s elbow connected with his daughter’s nose that Chris fought back. He quickly grabbed Aaliyah by her arms and pushed her off him. Hard. Hard enough to knock her into a shelf that was near them and had some of the books fall on her.

In that moment Chris quickly got up, ignoring the immense pain he felt. He quickly picked his daughter up and ran downstairs to her room before locking them both in it. At that point Adriana was still crying saying her face hurt and Chris was trying to pack a bag of everything she needed. Her clothes, her night time dipears, her kindergarten uniform and her favourite stuffed animal, Jeff the 

giraffe. As he started shoving everything in a bag he heard Aaliyah starting to move so he quickly put his shoes on, put adrian’s shoes in his bag, picked her up and ran for the door before quickly putting her in her car seat and driving away from the house.

Chris was speeding, running red lights, cutting people off and breaking almost every rule of driving to get them away from the house but at that point he didn’t even care about himself, he needed to get Adriana out if there. After a while Chris finally parked his car at a Mcdonald’s around 20 minutes from his brother’s house. If she went straight there she would find him. He finally turned to his daughter who was still breathing heavily from how she had been crying. 

“Oh baby,” Chris said softly as he got out of the car and went over to the back of the car to pick her up and hug her tight. Adriana started crying into Chris’ shoulder again, gripping his hoodie tightly. Chris simply rocked her, humming soothing tunes and playing with her hair, the same things he used to do whenever Aaliyah would be destroying things around the house and so Adriana couldn’t sleep. Eventually, she stopped crying and was simply sniffling. 

“I’m sorry Adi I’m really sorry. I love you so much i’m sorry you saw that. How’s your nose huh?”

“Better”

“I’m sure it is you brave brave girl.” Chris said ticking her side finally making her giggle. “There we go, you’re laughing now.” He said happily before kissing her cheek. “Let’s get something to eat okay?”

“Chris?” Matt spoke through the phone gently, “Where are you?”

“I’m at Mcdonald’s, the one near your house,” Chris replied rubbing the exhaustion of his eyes. They had been at that mcdonald’s for no around 5 hours now and the realisation from what had haken had started to kick in. Now Adriana was asleep in her car seat and Chris was trying to stop his hands from shaking.

“Chris!” Nick yelled faintly before grabbing the phone from Matt. “Chris Aaliyah was just here, she’s left now but she was screaming that you left and she was going to go to the cops.” No. This couldn’t be happening. He only touched her to protect his child. If she went to the cops would they even believe him?

“Chris? Chris come here okay. Look Matts phone is about to die and i can’t find mine just come here and we’ll sort everything out okay? come here and we ca-“ Was the last thing Chris heard before thephone went dead.

Chris considered his options. He could go back and beg Aaliyah not to call the cops or he could go to his brothers house and keep him and his daughter safe.

“Adi’s asleep, she went out like a light.” Matt laughed quietly before joining his brothers on the couch.

“Chris, i know you don’t want to but you have to tell us what happened.” Nick explained as Chris rolled his eyes and got up from the couch.

“Nothing happed Nick, she’s just mourning that’s all.”

“Oh my gosh Chris I am so tired of you using that tired excuse every time she messes up. I understand losing a child can be hard.” Nick yelled before Chris cut him up.

“Shut up Nick, just shut up!”

“But if she’s doing something to you that’s so bad that you had to take your living child and run then you have to do something about it. Chris what if you need a lawyer?”

“Shut up, i said shut up!” Chris screamed, grabbing Nick by his collar.

“Wow wow Chris chill out, he’s just trying to help you.” Matt shouted trying to get in between the two. 

“Yeah well your help isn’t needed,” Chris said much quieter now letting go of Nicks collar, “my wife is mourning our child okay? And so am I.” Chris said sincerely before waking upstairs to find his daughter.

He didn’t mean to lash out at his brother, but it’s hard to do so when someone is in your head like that. Chris may not be sure if he truly did love Aaliyah but she was the mother of his only child and that was enough to make him protect her, even if it meant killing himself inside in the process.

He didn’t even remember falling asleep near his daughter, all he knew was the next morning he woke up to Aaliyah rubbing his back telling him to wake up so they could go home.

Caught. They were caught.

“Common babe, you go have breakfast with you brothers downstairs i’ll go get Adi ready okay?” She asked lovingly before pressing a soft kiss to his check and lips. 

Yes, the same woman who had been beating on him yesterday was know kissing him like nothing had happened. She was mean and manipulated by she was a pretty damn good actor.

Chris riddled downstairs where he heard Matt and Nick gossiping.

“He was about to sucker punch me in the mouth!”

“Nick, you said his wife should get over their dead son. I would’ve done the same.”

“I didn’t say it like that.”

“I’m sorry okay?” Chris said in the door frame causing his other triplet brothers to turn their heads and look at him. “I was in a bad room. I’m sorry for taking it out on you.”

“I’m sorry for what I said, but Chris, if she is doing something to you, you have to tell us. We can help you but we can only do that if you let us in. Please?” Nick begged.

Does he tell them what’s going on? Does he try to explain to them that they can’t let him leave with her. He has to. He has to save his child from her. From what she could do to her. Not only that but he had to save himself. He had to save himself from the pain this whole relationship had caused, he had to save himself from all the suffe-

“You ready to go babe.” Aaliyah whispered as she turned the corner, a sleeping child resting on her chest and her baby bag in another hand. 

“Yeah, yeah i am.” Chris stated quietly, watching as his brothers shoulders dropped and he looked down in defeat.

Chris quickly brought his brothers into a hug and whispered a quick ‘Thanks’ to them before the small family left the house. It was only when they got in the car the Aaliyah facade dropped and she turned to Chris with a serious face.

“Christopher, the next time you run of with my daughter after laying hand on me, i promise you i will go straight to the police, and take you to the cleaners. Are we clear?” She asked.

 Chris didn’t say anything, to shocked at her change in tone.

“I said are we clear?” She asked again, this time with our agitation in her voice. 

“Yes, we’re clear.” He replied quietly before staring the engine and pulling out the driveway.

That was his life, a woman who treated him horribly but who he still stayed with, because he had a child to protect, and if that meant protecting her mother as well then so be it.

Hehehe, Luv ya ~ Xenya

Chapter 2

[whumpdoyoumean]

Whumptober #10

xxx alternate prompt 9~drugging

This is how I die, he thinks. He’s survived getting hit by a car and splashed with toxic chemicals. He’s survived the Russians, the Irish mob, crooked policemen, the Hand, Wilson Fisk. He’s been stabbed, slashed, beaten, poisoned, shot in the head. A building fell on him one time. And he’s survived all of it.

And now some low level drug dealer with a needle and a knife, who either had more experience than Matt would ever have suspected or was just lucky, has left him for dead in an alley. 

It’s not just the stab wound (to the side, below his ribs and above his hip). He’s been stabbed before. It was what the dealer did next, with surprising speed and precision, while Matt had been on the ground trying to recover enough to stand and finish the fight. A needle to the neck, filled with some designer synthetic drug that’s popular right now. A drug that enhances every sense--a sweet and exciting high for the average user, no doubt. 

For Matt, it’s hell. The world isn’t just on fire--he is.

He’s burning from the inside out and from the outside in. Every sound--he can hear every sound and he can’t shut them off, can’t focus. Everything is so damn loud and he’s not sure but he thinks his ears are bleeding. And the smells. There’s certainly a cacophony of smells in a Hell’s Kitchen alley, and all of them are filling his nose at once, drowning him, suffocating him. Every nerve is electric, tingling. He can feel his clothes against his skin, tight like a boa constrictor squeezing the life out of its prey, the fibers scratching at his very cells. The air touching his face is hot and heavy and merciless. Matt wonders vaguely if his flesh has been stripped away, leaving nothing but a bare skull beneath the mask. 

He knows he has to get up and find help--from Claire, from Foggy, from Karen, anyone--but he can’t move. The sudden overstimulation assaulting him from every angle has left him paralyzed and in agony and he’s going to bleed to death and there’s not a damn thing he can do about it.

Suddenly, there’s a sound very close to him, a shout that sets his head to pounding, and a quiet groan escapes from his lips, very much against his will. 

“Hey!” the voice says again, and it’s familiar, but Matt can’t place it. “C’mon, we have to move!”

A hand grabs his arm, sending pain lacing through the limb, and he lets out a scream. The hand quickly releases. 

“Shit! What’s wrong with you?”

It’s hard to concentrate, hard to focus on any specific input when there’s so much stimulation assaulting every sense, but he manages to pull a name out of the flurry of thoughts.

“Frank?” 

“Yeah it’s me. Keep it down, will ya? What the hell did that guy do to you?”

“Drugged,” Matt gasps, and the act of speaking is enough to start him groaning again as jolts of pain spike through his head and injured side.

Frank swears, and Matt’s pretty sure he’s crouched down now. “Look, Red, I can’t leave you here. You’re bleeding a lot, not to mention what someone else will do if they find you here. Can you stand?”

Matt tries to answer, tries to stand, anything, but his brain is at a disconnect with his body, and there’s a new sensation, one that’s not coming from everything happening around him. It’s in his head, filling him up with helium. He gasps before letting out a thin moan.

“Shit,” Frank says. “Shit. How much did he give you? Goddammit. Okay, sorry about this.”

Then there’s a blow to the side of his head and everything goes black. 

xxx 

He wakes up screaming. He thinks he might be on fire. He can’t smell smoke, but what other explanation is there? He’s burning. Or maybe it’s the world that’s burning. That would explain why it’s so fucking loud--sirens and car horns and screams and the roaring of his own blood in his ears. He thinks someone might be saying his name, too, but he can’t tell.

It feels like centuries pass this way. Or is it only seconds? He stops screaming, eventually, too exhausted to make a sound. He’s sure that any moment now, he’s going to die. But he doesn’t. 

He sort of wishes that he would.

xxx 

The first thing he notices when he comes back to himself is the splitting headache and the stabbing pain in his side. The next thing he notices is the fact that he’s wearing nothing but his boxer-briefs. There’s a brief panic as he realizes his face is showing and he’s got no idea where he is, but then a familiar gruff voice says, “Hey, you with me?”

Matt takes a few deep breaths to calm himself down, and then he nods. His mouth and throat are dry and he has to swallow twice before he’s able to speak. “Why am I half-naked?”

“You did that yourself,” Frank answers. 

“And you let me?

“Didn’t wanna hurt you. Here, drink this. Slow sips.” 

Matt sits up a little (ouch) as a glass of water is shoved into his hand. He doesn’t want to drink it at first--he’s starting to feel nauseated and is worried that anything he consumes will come back up instantly--but then he feels the cool liquid against his throat and that changes immediately. He starts to chug it, but a hand pulls the glass from his grip.

“Hey!” Frank snaps. “I said slow. Slow.”

Matt nods. “Slow. Got it.”

Frank hesitates a moment before handing the glass back to him. It takes all of Matt’s self control not to down the whole thing instantly. He can feel Frank watching him and does his best to ignore it. 

“How’re you feeling?” Frank asks once Matt finishes the glass.

“Really, really shitty,” Matt says. He’s too tired to try and pretend he feels anything but, and he’s pretty sure Frank would just see through him anyway. 

“Yeah, you’re gonna wanna take it easy for a few days. The stab wound wasn’t too deep but I think I gave you a concussion.” Before Matt can be angry about that, Frank adds, “It was the only way I could get you here. You were screaming like a fuckin’ banshee if I even touched you…You remember what happened?”

“Not really.”

“Prob’ly for the best…”

“What time is it?” Matt asks. 

“Almost 3 am.”

“Shit,” Matt murmurs, pushing himself up on his elbows and biting back a cry as it exacerbates the pain in his head and side. 

“What the hell do you think you’re doing?”

“Gotta get home before sunrise. Black suit’s not as subtle in the daytime. Where’re my clothes?”

“Hey, hold on. Hold on, Red. You’ve still got time. You should rest a few hours, that shit’s probably still lingering your system. Have another glass of water and get a little sleep. I’ll wake you up when you need to go.”

If he were in better shape, he’d probably argue, or tell Frank to go fuck himself. But right now, another glass of water and a couple hours of sleep sound like heaven. 

“Fine,” Matt says finally. “And, uh…thanks.”

xxx 

[heroofashesnot]

what are your favorite murderdock fics?

I'm not good at picking favorites so this will be a bit long and also under a read more, also my ability to word started to fail me at times so sorry ahead of time.

Series:

-Take What the Water Gave Me by The_Shy_One: Having Castle as the main POV character for most of the series allows the writer to strike this balance between what the audience does and doesn't know. As of such while this is a romance, there is an element of mystery and danger as Matt's true nature and intentions are masterfully hidden. Plus I'm a sucker for mercreatures!

-The Lawyer All the Wickedness by poisonivory: Listen the way the writer unfolds this version of Matt and Foggy's story is exceedingly gripping even after having read this series several times over.

-Ghost Stories/Haunted Houses by Faaacethefacts: Honestly this is a case of initially reading for Murderdock and then staying for witnessing Sam's descent. However, the way that Sam and Matt's toxic father and son relationship is so beautifully written and how it both contrasts and mirrors the relationship that their Earth-616 counterparts makes it too good to leave out.

-Nelson & Murderdock by thelonebamf: While the stories within this series are all fairly different, they all share the writer's beautifully crafted narratives and excellent characterizations!

Spider-Verse 2: Into the Devil-Verse by 94BottlesofSnapple: While this is only earth-65, the whole series is too good to only read those parts but the way the writer balances all the different relationships and characters while also having all them shine is enviable. Also how Gwen and Murderdock's interactions always seem to maintain this edge due to the undercurrent of the power Murderdock has over her is just so good...

Grayson's Home For Wayward Assassin Children by Ferith12: A DC Crossover that just characterizes younger Murderdock just so well!

Pathetic by Udekai: The way that this writer has the characters feel so very painfully human while not sacrificing any character traits is just so great. An excellent series for if you're in a pre-canon mood.

-Earth-65 Matt/Foggy Stories by BlueBioluminescence: While the reason I adore each of the fics in this series a little bit different for each, I thoroughly enjoy all of them.

Murderdock x DA Nelson:

-give up on trying to save us by returnsandreturns: The way that Matt manipulates Foggy and how that blends so naturally into the sex is just so good. Power dynamics, my beloved <3.

-Ask Nelson and Murderdock (Fan Comic) by thelonebamf: Can also be found over here on tumblr, wonderful art, adore how organicly their relationship progresses. Also Dramatic Irony is so very good.

-shake hands with the devil (but i'm calling it a fist fight) by AsperJasper: A great take on a more heroic Murderdock, the way everything builds is great and so good...

(With the Exception Of You) I Dislike Everyone In The Room by MissMoochy: A very manipulative Matt, the way that Foggy just gets more and more drawn into his pull like a spider in a web is just <3

-You're a Question to the Universe by Longdaysjourney: DA Nelson is absent in this one but the way Murderdock with his Earth-199999 counterpart and how he has to take the role of advice giver is just delight to read.

-human after all by JustGail: Outsider looking into Murderdock and DA Nelson's relationship is a good trope and having it be Gwen is just so smart... Also love having DA Nelson's connection with George Stacy being acknowledged...

-The Last Goodbye by StripedScribe with Art by thelonebamf: Hanahaki Disease is a trope that I personally have mixed feelings about but StripedScribe's take on it just knocks it out of the park! Having Murderdock's allergy to expressing his emotions stab him in the back is just great!

-A Murder of Crows (A Seduction of Foes) by inkforhumanhands: Lots of callbacks to the comics, miscommunication done so well and in character, also just funny as hell!

-Find me in the ashes by EmeraldStorm: Post-canon story that really shows the push and pull of these two's relationship in such an intoxicating way, a really gripping read!

-As we dance by brittlestars: Masochism and manipulation, two favorites of mine. Matt stroking Foggy's anger is just so good...

-Lost in The Palms by deniigiq: An eerily heartfelt story, Foggy is both biting and tender and just such a good stories.

Murderdock x Frank Castle:

-All's Fair in Love and Hate by blackmetaldahlia: Banter and kinky hate sex.

-Down To The River by Feathers_and_cigarettes: Terrible people doing terrible things, love the tension between who Castle thinks he is and how easily he gives into Matt.

-The Power of Manipulation by alohdark: The way that Matt draws Castle out of his comfort zone and maintains control over the situation is so good...

Misc.:

-A Matching Set by contact_high: Dwells on the similarities between Matt and Maggie, a short but haunting story.

-Into the Dragon-Verse by Chlodobird: Best understood with the rest of the series but listen-I cannot deny this take on Dragon!Murderdock doesn't delight me everytime I read it.

-Gently Wipe the Blood from Your Hands by 94BottlesOfSnapple: The whole story builds up this sense of foreboding that sends shivers down my spine in the best possible way.

-Gwenverse Backstory: Not Quite Lovesick by 94BottlesOfSnapple: This story perfectly balances the homely feeling of a mundane sick day with a high-strung character like Murderdock so well.

-Walking Out The Door by 94BottlesOfSnapple: The way that the writer maintains such a high tension throughout the story without it faltering is masterful and just the characterization is just wonderful.

-the dirt by tigrrmilk: The tension between how much Foggy knows about Matt's actions and what he doesn't want to know as well of the back and forth of Gwen and Matt's interactions is just wonderful.

-Blood and Tears by bluspirits: A speculation on Murderdock's time with the Hand that I have read time and time again.

-Be It Done to You by LieutenantSanya: The way that the writer gets into Murderdock's thought process during his suicide attempt is chilling, just a great analysis on the character.

-Mending With Gold by Writing_Puffin: The way Murderdock's weird affection Gwen is characterized and just how the two interact is just so good.

-Bending Towards Justice by Dragonbat: While this was written just after Murderdock's first appearance, I love this take on a more heroic Murderdock even if it is OOC now.

-Stranger Danger by bluspirits: Has lots of call backs to various aspects and mentions within the comic series as well describes a potential first meeting between Gwen and Matt that gains its tension in just how mundane it is.

-To Have a Voice With Which to Sing by SenkoWakimarin: A Cyberpunk take on Murderdock that has a perfectly eerie atmosphere, Matt's detached perspective is perfect for this characterization of him.

-A Foray in Morals by GremlinMan: Earth-199999 Frank Castle and Murderdock encountering each in extremely comedic way, an absolute delight.

-diminishing returns by Hueyhuey with Art by PomegranteBelleArt: Just The Characterizations! The Interactions! The Takes on Elektra and Eleanor! Fun read!

-Don't be a stranger by Kamaya: More centered on Gwen on Murderdock but shows their interactions while Gwen is in jail, also just Matt's bitterness and how the writer characterizes his depression is just lovely.

-The Devil That You Know by Kamaya: Oneshots that range from Matt's response to Elektra's death to his suicide attempt, love the way the writer writes darker topics.

-Fog and Shadow by The_Shy_One: Earth-616 Mike interacting with Murderdock, just a genius concept that is tackled so wonderfully, the way Matt just mocks Mike with what he knows and Mike's unease is just great.

-The Future Is Written In Cathode Rays by 94BottlesOfSnapple: The way Gwen responses to such a violent invasion of Murderdock's privacy through such an intimate view of his past and potential future is just! wow! This story is just visceral on such a personal level!

-Burn The Past by Gunn: A What-If in which Maggie lives, Matt is just so callous and it's! so! good!

-Enjoy the Dance by thelonebamf: The way that everyone interacts and the tension and suspense and the contradictions of Matt's thoughts are really good!

-Welcome Knife by neonbrutalism: Matt is a karma houndini and this is short but so good, post-canon.

-The Seven Stages Of Grief as Experienced by Norman Osborn by abitofren: Messed up in the best way, love how the writer gets inside of Matt's head and its shown is just so good.

-The Cat Came Back by Udekai: Such a great comic, the way that the writer uses lighting and such to tell the story is great, just really atmospheric...

-How Not to Kill Yourself: An Elaborate Long Con by Matthew M. Murdock by Ferith12: So fond of this one, just so very messy in such a great way.

-Holiness by Ferith12: Just analyzing Murderdock's relationship with religion and how it changes as he and also the way he views himself changes is great.

Thanks for reading all the way to the end!

[sturnioloblogs]

Vaping

Y/n x sturniolos

Summary: y/n’s anxiety has always been really bad. one day she starts vaping to cope with it. Her brothers find out, what will happen?

Extras: you are 15 and your brothers are 20. Ava is your bsf. Also, sorry if the vape part isn’t accurate, I don’t vape so I don’t know how to do it LMAO😭😭

Warnings: vaping. Anxiety. And language. Ava is lowkey toxic and mean lol. Guys please don’t get into vaping it’s really addicting and it’s not worth it. Lmk if I missed anything.

A/n: hiiii I hope you enjoy and give requests! I am also working on part2 of tipsy, I just don’t know if you guys want me to add anything in particular. When I was writing this, the song that I put in reminded me so much of the story I don’t know why😭

𖦹𖦹𖦹𖦹𖦹𖦹𖦹𖦹𖦹𖦹𖦹𖦹𖦹𖦹𖦹𖦹𖦹𖦹𖦹𖦹𖦹𖦹𖦹𖦹𖦹𖦹𖦹𖦹𖦹𖦹𖦹𖦹𖦹𖦹𖦹𖦹𖦹

Ever since I was 10 I’ve had horrible anxiety. And I’ve gone through so many different medication‘s, ways to cope with it, and I just feel like nothing is helped.

I have always been very open about my anxiety to Matt, because he also has anxiety and I feel like I can relate to him the most.

When I was 14 the triplets moved to LA. It was the hardest thing in the world for me. I need them. I needed Matt.

My parents knew that Matt was a huge part of my life and that he could always help with my anxiety whenever I needed.

But one day everything became too much.

So I convinced my mom to let me move in with my brothers at 15. I knew my mom was scared and worried for me to go to LA with my 20 year old brothers, but she knew what was best for me so she let me move in when them.

Time skip 5 months

I had just walked into school on a cold Tuesday morning. I started school in LA only a couple months ago and luckily I have already made a couple friends!

But my favourite was Ava. She was so kind to me the first day I came and she was stunning. One thing that was surprising to me, is that she vapes. I’m not saying it’s a bad thing I’m just saying it’s unexpected..

My brothers hated her. They thought she was a bad influence on me. I think they just didn’t want me to vape like her.

Ever since I met Ava I have always told her about my anxiety, and how nothing helps.

Lately Ava had been getting on my nerves, and by that I mean she wants me just to trying vaping. She says it will “calm my anxiety”and that might be true, but I just wanted to stay sober. And if my brothers found out.. only god knows what will happen.

As I arrived at my locker Ava was already waiting for me, with her books in one hand and a black bag in the other.

“Oh hey Ava!” I say as I open my locker. “Y/n I wanna show you something, come with me.” She says not showing any emotion.

I don’t say thing and grab my books Before closing my locker and following her to the bathroom.

When we walked in, she placed her books on the counter and opened the black bag and pulled out a vape.

“Your anxiety is really pissing me off lately. And All you do is fucking complain about it.” Says harshly, shoving the vape in my face. “What the hell a-“ I was cut off by her saying “take a fucking hit! Trust me it will help y/n” I slowly started to back up into the wall behind me just wanting to get it out of my face. But she only walks closer.

“A-Ava please stop” I say tears threatening to fall “oh my fucking god stop being such a baby” she answered.

I just wanted it to be over and the only way it would be over if I took just one puff.

I stuck my shaky hands out and grabbed the vape. I put it against my lips and breathed in the flavoured air. I immediately tasted a pink lemonade flavour on my taste buds. I pulled the vape away and blew the foggy air out of my mouth.

“See wasn’t that fucking bad” Ava said laughing. I tried to give it back to her but all she said was “no keep it, your anxiety might go away, so you don’t have to complain to me” she said picking up she books and walking out the bathroom.

What was her problem? She never acted like this. Was she actually annoyed about my anxiety?

I went through the rest of my day like normal except Ava just wasn’t there. She probably went home. I thought to myself.

Time skip to 7:30pm

I still had the vape in my pocket and I haven’t dared to take it out. I almost felt scared of it?

But I eventually did, and I looked at it for a while debating if it’s really worth it. I decided I was gonna take another hit just to see if it would actually help me. And so I did. I sat in my bed and took about 2 more hits before my body got all tingly and funny. It felt nice…

And with that I couldn’t keep my hands off of it. I would bring it everywhere. I noticed how my anxiety definitely was not as bad as it was before the vape, no more random breakdowns, overwhelming thoughts, and and when I would feel like that, I would just take a puff and I’d feel better. I just had one problem.

My brothers.

It was easy at first but the more and more is used it the more and more I wanted it. Every time I was in my room I would lock my door so no one could abruptly come in and see what I was doing. Till one day.

I had just been done eating supper, so I walked up the stairs not paying attention and just scrolling on my phone, I went in my room and closed my door. But my stupid self didn’t lock the damn thing.

I pulled out the vape from my pocket and took breathed in, just as I was exhaling the smoke I could hear muffled voices, and then my door swung open, revealing all my three brothers. “Y/n we are goi-” Matt immediately stopped talking when he saw the smoke come from my mouth. 

I froze in fear.

I couldn’t speak.

“What the fuck?” Chris said in shock “g-guys I-i can explain” I say, my voice scratchy and quiet “start fucking speaking then” Matt said looking me dead in the eyes.

“I-I’m sorry! Ava made me try it a-and then I couldn’t stop I’m sorry! My anxiety has been so bad and this is the only thing that helps, nothings w-working not even the m-medication” I say sobbing into my hands, at this point I had no control over my tears.

On my left and right I felt a dip in the bed, and then in front of my someone was sitting on the floor rubbing my knee.

I had to calm myself down quickly or else this would lead to a panic attack. This has happened before, but not in a while.

Matts arms came around waist and he pulled my head into his chest, whispering reassuring words into my ear.

“Shhhh y/n shhh” he said running his fingers thru my hair.

After a couple minutes or so, I finally calm down. I was still sniffling, but not as bad as I was a couple minutes ago.

Nick broke the silence by saying “y/n we absolutely love you so much, and care about you, and your health. We know your anxiety has been so bad lately, but vaping isn’t one way to go with it.”

“Maybe we need to find a new medication or a new therapist. Whatever you want.” Matt said smiling softly at me.

“O-okay yeah maybe that would be good” I whisper looking at all three of them. “I love you guys”

𖦹𖦹𖦹𖦹𖦹𖦹𖦹𖦹𖦹𖦹𖦹𖦹𖦹𖦹𖦹𖦹𖦹𖦹𖦹𖦹𖦹𖦹𖦹𖦹𖦹𖦹𖦹𖦹𖦹𖦹𖦹𖦹𖦹𖦹𖦹𖦹𖦹

A/n: IM SO BAD AT ENDINGS HELPPPP…. Anyways, I hope you enjoyed this!

Also, if you guys are struggling with any mental health problems and need to talk, my Dms are always open💝

For some reason, I find my stories cringe, sometimes 😭😭



[competitivedust]

I am going to act like a toxic fan but every time I see an update about Daredevil Born Again I want to strangle someone. Mostly Kevin Feige.

It's great that DD is back but not bringing Elden Henson and Deborah Ann Woll as Foggy and Karen respectively feels like slap to the old fans' faces. They stomped on our excitement about Daredevil's return in the worst way possible. And I don't care what reason they come up with to explain away their absence, it's going to be stupid and contrived bullshit.

This isn't my Daredevil. I hope the show fucking sucks. I am sorry, I know that's not cool but it's how I feel. It's fine if you don't care about these characters because you only are interested in the show because you find Charlie Cox hot, they were important parts of the story and so very important in turning Matt into the wonderful character he is.

But then again, it's not the fault of the fans who are excited about the show. I hope you guys get what you want.

But honestly? Eat shit, MCU.

[usaigi]

Right. We really don't see what mattelektra was like or what it could have been. I'm actually taking back my statement about Elektra being "toxic" because we don't actually have any proof of this in canon. Elektra did fabricate and lie about how they met but Matt also lies (withheld information) to Karen. I think it was honestly just a very intense relationship that Foggy didn't approve of because Matt was blowing off his commitments to be with Elektra instead of school/him. Which fair, in a better relationship Elektra should have supported Matt's academic career but it’s not really Elektra's fault.

"[Elektra] nearly got you expelled. She screwed your semester of torts, civil procedure. You almost missed the final because she hurt you so bad."

two points:

Unless Elektra literally kidnapped Matt and tied him to a chair and/or emotionally manipulated him, Elektra could not have made Matt screw up his academic career. I know it's a common headcanon that she was abusive to Matt in college but that's a headcanon. That's not canon. We see Elektra lie to Matt in canon, we see her manipulate him into being Daredevil/fighting with her and we know her job was to distract him. But, I'd argue we don't see her take away Matt's autonomy. When Matt didn't kill Roscoe, Elektra accepts it and leaves. When Matt meets her at the Penthouse, Elektra gives him the suit and gives him the choice. She not holding him to gunpoint or saying she won't love him if he doesn't do what she says. When he says no, we see Elektra respect that because she thinks he deserves better.

When Foggy says "nearly missed the final because she hurt you so bad" I read that as "you were so depressed after you guys broke up that you missed the final." Matt is a grown adult who is responsible for his own academic career and life choice. If Matt chose to go out with Elektra and steal a car and drive into the dean's pool that was his choice.

Second point, on the subject of choice, Elektra didn't really have any. Elektra was a child soldier who Stick found even younger than Matt and likely trained for a longer period of time. And unlike Matt who had the memory of his father, his community, Father Lantom, and Sister Maggie, Elektra didn't have a "north star" growing up. Stick was her north star. Of course, she was going to do her mission and try to distract Matt and bring him back to Stick. She loves him and wants to be with him, why not be sexy ninjas together and fight a war? She has lived on the front lines her whole life, she doesn't know there’s another way. That's why Matt telling her she has a choice is so important.

I would love to see how their relationship could have grown without Stick's influence. Both of them are free to make their own decisions.

mattelektra haters just don't get them like i do, sorry!

[baddiedaddy7]

𝙽𝚎𝚙𝚝𝚞𝚗𝚎 𝙸𝚗 𝙷𝚘𝚞𝚜𝚎𝚜🦄💜

do not plagiarize. all of this is my work.

𝙽𝚎𝚙𝚝𝚞𝚗𝚎 𝙸𝚗 𝙵𝚒𝚛𝚜𝚝 𝙷𝚘𝚞𝚜𝚎

dreamy. big on makeup, enhancing your looks. eyes are usually round/almond. the best feature of their face are their eyes. so many gorgeous girl celebs have this. has a dreamy look, but may also look like a fish tbh lmao. sympathizes w/strangers. usually tender hearted manners, and lovely vibe. shy/reserved. you’re like a sponge. if someone is being bitchy, chances are you will be too. keeps personal life on the down low. can be unrealistic.

celebrities:Kylie Jenner, Marilyn Monroe, Jim Carrey, Denzel Washington

𝙽𝚎𝚙𝚝𝚞𝚗𝚎 𝙸𝚗 𝚂𝚎𝚌𝚘𝚗𝚍 𝙷𝚘𝚞𝚜𝚎

voice is probably chill, or has a soft vibe to it. voice may also be naturally low. remember it’s nice to be generous, but not too generous. don’t just give your money away easily, or to just anybody. make sure the money, or possessions you give away are put to good use. don’t be naive w/your money/possessions. the clothes you buy are probably creative/artsy or discreet/low key. focus on loving yourself. seafood lover or hater lol. might like “weird” foods. indulgent.

celebrities:Jennifer Aniston, Tina Turner, Muhammad Ali, Dwayne Johnson

𝙽𝚎𝚙𝚝𝚞𝚗𝚎 𝙸𝚗 𝚃𝚑𝚒𝚛𝚍 𝙷𝚘𝚞𝚜𝚎

thinks unconventionally. you may lack communication w/siblings. may be great at poetry, writing in general. writing is probably unique, and beautiful. may love the beach or lakes, traveling to places with water lol. siblings may have pisces/neptune influence in their chart. the reserved student. might have a soft spot for math, english, or art classes. visionary.

celebrities:Madonna, Dua Lipa, Keanu Reeves, Ryan Reynolds

𝙽𝚎𝚙𝚝𝚞𝚗𝚎 𝙸𝚗 𝙵𝚘𝚞𝚛𝚝𝚑 𝙷𝚘𝚞𝚜𝚎

parents may have been absent, or neglectful. parents may have also been addicted to substances(alcohol, drugs, even food, etc). parents may have sheltered you from certain things, that you had to learn a different way(puberty, sex in general, etc) might’ve been raised by other ppl than their bio parents, but if it’s positive, parents may have taught you to be creative, and sweet. this indicates the childhood house being near water or wanting it to be, or even being aesthetic lol. may have love fantasy growing up, fantasy movies/shows, mystical creatures, etc. childhood memories may be foggy. you’re distinctive/stand out, but you may also be over-sensitive.

celebrities:Emma Watson, Jessica Alba, Johnny Depp, Robert De Niro

𝙽𝚎𝚙𝚝𝚞𝚗𝚎 𝙸𝚗 𝙵𝚒𝚏𝚝𝚑 𝙷𝚘𝚞𝚜𝚎

may have “pisces” traits in the dating world(wears rose tinted glasses, loving, naive, selfless, etc). try not to put your partner on a pedestal too high, cause then you might be disappointed. you may get too caught up in the moment, so birth control may be your best friend. i’ve heard of ppl w/this placement that had unexpected pregnancies. your hobbies range from painting, singing, inventing, sleeping, binge-watching, daydreaming, hanging out, astrology, and if on the bad side drugs/alcohol. children may have pisces/neptune influence in chart. very artistic ppl.

celebrities:Angelina Jolie,Cameron Diaz, Drake, Elon Musk

𝙽𝚎𝚙𝚝𝚞𝚗𝚎 𝙸𝚗 𝚂𝚒𝚡𝚝𝚑 𝙷𝚘𝚞𝚜𝚎

don’t stress so easily. when stressed, letting your creativity may help how you feel, or just letting it all out(crying, writing in a diary, etc). sleeping probably even helps your stress lmao. may be a vegan/vegetarian since they adore animals sm. neptune rules pisces which is represented by fish, so a fish may be an ideal pet. if not then a cat, as cats are mysterious. may not prioritize their health. may love junk food. likes being an helping hand, so may put themselves out there to help certain organizations, ppl, etc. i feel like these ppl probably shower/bath more than once a day. you’re very considerate.

celebrities:Selena Gomez, Drew Barrymore, Will Smith, John Lennon

𝙽𝚎𝚙𝚝𝚞𝚗𝚎 𝙸𝚗 𝚂𝚎𝚟𝚎𝚗𝚝𝚑 𝙷𝚘𝚞𝚜𝚎

attracts ppl with pisces/neptune in chart, platonic and/or romantic. enemies also tend to have pisces/neptune energy. ppl you attract may be cheaters/liars, so watch out. they may also be really romantic or obsessive/delusional. you may attract damaged souls, that may end up trying to put their damage on you. make sure to set limits in love. but on the bright side, you may attract ppl w/positive pisces traits(dreamy, selfless, good listener, etc). senseless in love. believes in fairytales. you’re gregarious.

celebrities:Lady Gaga, Mariah Carey, Denise Richards, Ashton Kutcher

𝙽𝚎𝚙𝚝𝚞𝚗𝚎 𝙸𝚗 𝙴𝚒𝚐𝚑𝚝𝚑 𝙷𝚘𝚞𝚜𝚎

prefers to fuck ppl they have a connection with. may like to have sex in water(showers, bath, jacuzzi, etc)or near it(beach,lake, etc). sex can take you away from the real world. emotions are powerful. got some psychic shit going on😂. dreams are usually in depth, and interesting. might hide vulnerable side. death may be bc of drugs, alcohol, etc. also you may drown, die in water in general or die in your sleep. death may also be mysterious(going missing, not knowing the cause of death, etc). may be moody.

celebrities:Whitney Houston, Demi Moore, Michael Jackson, George Clooney

𝙽𝚎𝚙𝚝𝚞𝚗𝚎 𝙸𝚗 𝙽𝚒𝚗𝚝𝚑 𝙷𝚘𝚞𝚜𝚎

flexible mind. may go to college for drama, artsy jobs, etc. probably believes in religious miracles. probably loves traveling to places with water, so an island is your best bet/not a landlocked country. may be fascinated w/other cultures. in laws may have pisces traits(positive:loving, good listeners, considerate negative:manipulative/backstabbing, liars, addicted to substances, etc). try not to accidentally join a cult lmao.

celebrities:Rihanna, Miley Cyrus, Heath Ledger, Jimi Hendrix

𝙽𝚎𝚙𝚝𝚞𝚗𝚎 𝙸𝚗 𝚃𝚎𝚗𝚝𝚑 𝙷𝚘𝚞𝚜𝚎

(i’m gonna say “we” cause this is my placement☺️)

if you’re famous, fans will fantasize abt you/crush on you. will have a career where they can express themselves(acting, singing, painting, etc), water related(marines, scuda diver, etc) or one that helps ppl since neptune is selfless(mental health, hospital, paramedic, humanitarian, etc). we can’t decide what we want to do in the future 😂, might even have multiple jobs. we may be known as romantic, sweet/loving, selfless, naive and other pisces traits. we’re usually so creative, and charming that ppl copy off of us(ik that’s said a lot but it’s true), we’re 💫inspiring💫. on the bad side, our reputation can be messed with since ppl make rumors abt us, and neptune rules illusion. good at coming up w/ideas, and inventions. resourceful, but can be off track.

celebrities:Christina Aguilera, Kourtney Kardashian, Matt Damon, Bruno Mars

𝙽𝚎𝚙𝚝𝚞𝚗𝚎 𝙸𝚗 𝙴𝚕𝚎𝚟𝚎𝚗𝚝𝚑 𝙷𝚘𝚞𝚜𝚎

friends may have neptune/pisces influence. friends are usually toxic. also attracts damaged friends. watch out for who you hang out with/don’t put all your trust into certain ppl. friendship is very important to these ppl, and they’re usually the advice giving friend, or just the one that’s laid back tbh. a lot of your “friends” tend to be 🐍. usually shy as a child, but comes out of shell as they get older. ppl that may crush on you may have pisces/neptune influence often. altruistic, but strange.

celebrities:Zooey Deschanel, Christy Turlington, Zayn Malik, Brad Pitt

𝙽𝚎𝚙𝚝𝚞𝚗𝚎 𝙸𝚗 𝚃𝚠𝚎𝚕𝚏𝚝𝚑 𝙷𝚘𝚞𝚜𝚎

sleeps often. follow your gut feelings. usually empaths. stay away from addictive things. not confident. doesn’t express their feelings. focus on loving yourself, it’s okay to take time for yourself. clairvoyant. you’re a dreamer. enemies take advantage of your/pray on your weakness, are manipulative, and you may also feed of off each other’s toxic energy. enemies may have pisces/neptune in chart. you happen to be self-contained/shy.

celebrities:Megan Fox, Winona Ryder, Bradley Cooper, Prince

[amazing-spiderling]

This has been itching at me but how do you think Murderdock would display affection in any capacity?

Oh, anon. Are you ready to join me on a voyage of soul searching and navel gazing? Because that's where you have sent me with this seemingly simple question.

For starters, we are venturing into the territory of personal headcanons and subjective judgements, simply because we don't see this character in a purely romantic or even sentimental exchange. But I assume that's why you asked this question in the first place. I have spent a lot of time (too much, probably) dissecting the few heavily loaded lines of dialogue and context clues, as well as using what we know of Matt's relationships in the garden variety universes.

But I think the main answer to this question lies in examining the significant relationships he does have with other people.

First off, Cindy Moon:

Now you may be saying to yourself, "This looks like a romantic relationship to me, case closed!" but A. I don't think that it is and 2. You asked how Murderdock would show affection, and I don't think that's what we're witnessing here. Though at the time, it's easy enough for the reader to think this is some kind of serious romance, Murdock later tells Gwen that he essentially has an arrangement with Cindy Moon. Since SILK represents the only major rival to the Hand's endeavors in the West, he's found it advantageous to "keep his enemies closer". Even this visit isn't a social call, he's come specifically to ask Cindy for more isotopes to help fuel Gwen's powers.

Everything about this scene, his dramatic entrance, flippant dialogue, overbearing cologne is classic Murderdock. He's showboating, putting on a performance for an audience, in this case, Cindy. His demeanor around her is no different than what the rest of the world sees. I wouldn't go so far as to say he feels nothing for Cindy, but I don't know that I'd call it affection.

So let's move on to someone who gets an inside view...

Otomo:

"Otomo" is literally "companion" in Japanese. Whether this is the man's name or simply his job title, we never learn, but suffice to say he has filled this role for Murdock for long enough that they have a unique rapport. Otomo is allowed to speak candidly around Murdock, even when it's bad or disappointing news. He is someone that Matt trusts on some level, at least enough to let him closer than most other people, and part of that probably has to do with the fact that Otomo very likely already knows a great deal about Matt's past, at least from the point that he joined the Hand. Even if Otomo doesn't understand Matt's motivations, he does understand his motus operandi. Otomo likely doesn't know why Matt has an interest in Spider-Woman, he almost certainly doesn't know about Matt's suicidal thoughts, but he is also content not questioning anything his master does. This puts him somewhere between an employee and a friend, but I wouldn't say Otomo gets to see Matt's true face either, despite their history.

Speaking of history...

DA Nelson:

My personal favorite relationship in this universe (and let's face it, all of them, when it comes to Matt Murdock) is the one between Matt and Foggy, even though it's been twisted into something toxic and yet shockingly recognizable. Just as they were in 616, Matt and Foggy were roommates in law school, and it seems their association has continued in some form since then. Now that Foggy is District Attorney, Matt seems to have no qualms about asking for "mutually beneficial" favors, which clearly seem to come at great expense to Foggy, if only because Foggy actually gives a damn about what other people think.

I chose this panel because of one line that I have spent so much time thinking about: "Just like always... I'm trying to give you what you want, Matt." This tells us that Matt has a long history of putting pressure on Foggy, and Foggy has gone out of his way to deliver whatever it is Matt wants from him. To me, that means that Foggy has proven to be a reliable asset time and time again. That may not speak to a romantic relationship in the present, but I do think it's the sort of thing that could spawn "fond" feelings in the charcoal briquet of Murderdock's heart, although perhaps more akin to what someone feels for a well trained pet.

The interesting thing about this dynamic as we see it in the comic is that, as always, Matt doesn't actually hide his intentions from Foggy. He is very casual in the way he approaches him and speaks plainly about the rules he wants Foggy to bend. Matt shows his fangs to Foggy, but it is Foggy who makes the mistake of thinking he won't bite. Foggy trusts Matt far too much, but because of that Matt knows he's on a short leash, unlikely to wander. Of course, things change once Matt meets...

Gwen Stacy:

Now you might be sitting here and going, what, what WHAt? This is a question about affection and Gwen and Murderock are enemies. Where are you headed with this, you coco crazy pants? But hear me out on this one-

Gwen thinks Murderdock is the villain, her villain, and certainly, we the readers do as well. But Matt? Gwen is his special interest. He's not opposed to what Gwen does or who she is. Unlike Spider-Man and his villains, Gwen didn't wrong Matt in the past or steal his research or destroy his criminal empire. Matt isn't out for revenge, he doesn't want to kill Gwen. All he wants is to prove that they are, on a fundamental level, the same.

In this universe, Matt plays a role not unlike the one Mephisto plays in 616 when it comes to Spider-Man. The "basically the devil" has an obsession with corrupting Spider-Man because we can't have nice things, don't ask me. Similarly, Matt wants to break Gwen, but only by giving her so much power that she has no choice but to be corrupted by it, as he felt he was by his.

How does he plan to accomplish this? By worming his way into her life, devising scenarios that put Gwen in increasingly desperate situations and watching her squirm. He continues to up the stakes, calling in favors, giving his enemies valuable tools to manipulate them into their places on his chess board, all to force Gwen's hand and bring about his downfall. Speaking of hands, what the hell does the Hand even do in New York? I have no idea, and neither do you, because Matt sure as hell isn't minding his business, because he's obsessed with Gwen.

So! What does this mean when it comes to the answer of your question, oh so patient and gracious anon?

First of all, I don't think there's any chance that Murderdock is going to show affection (platonic or romantic) in a "normal" way. No bouquets of roses, no fancy dinners, no calls to hang out, no hugs. Part of this is because openly showing his genuine emotions is just not how Matt works. He is at his core a performer, and he is almost always "on". Those few rare moments that his true self shows through would be considered vulnerabilities to Matt, and it's hard to know how he might get to a point where he is willing to show them to another person. (One he wasn't about to kill, anyway.)

I also think we have to consider that like most Matt Murdocks, Matt-65 has experienced a great deal of loss. His mother, father, even Stick. but as opposed to Matt of 616 or the Netflix series, this loss isn't characterized by abandonment. His mother didn't choose to leave him. Stick didn't consider him an unworthy pupil. They didn't leave, they were taken. That means this is not a Matt who is concerned with the feeling that he wasn't enough to make people stay, he is concerned with the idea that if he does care about someone, outside forces could take them away from him. And if he did come to care for someone, that would need to be prevented.

I think, if Matt did feel affection for someone, it would be a hell of a long time before that person knew it, because whatever he did wouldn't include many of the typical signs. Maybe it involves secretly scrutinizing the people they interact with, or vetting and disposing of professional contacts, all without the person of his attention being any the wiser.

This might evolve into Matt just... being there. As we've seen with all of these examples, Matt is interacting with each of these people because he wants something from them, whether it's service or personal satisfaction. If Matt started hanging around someone with no ulterior motive, then I think that would be very telling. (I am reminded of cats who just show up at random houses and decide their residents are suitable hosts and end up living there.)

I don't think gifts would be material, because he is not shown to be a particularly materialistic person. (His penthouse is basically empty, he wears basic suits until he starts fashioning himself into a caricature of a villain for Gwen.) I think they would be gifts of service that he would absolutely not mention, though he would relish when the other person discovered them (though they likely wouldn't know how they came to be.) Imagine something like someone lamenting that their favorite band was on tour, but the dates in their city weren't going to work out for them, only to find out a week later that the band caught ill and had to reschedule some shows, which now worked out very well for them. How lucky! (How orchestrated, more like.)

I think we might even consider a bit of arrested development in this area, because while Matt is incredibly adept at playing a part and showing exactly the face he wants to to the world, he is woefully inexperienced at expressing genuine emotions. I think it's safe to say he'd make a bit of a mess of things at first before the recipient of his emotions was able to make sense of it all.

[wonderlandmind4]

Idk why it took me so long to actually understand Matt in season 2. The first time watching that season I was mainly like “oh. Oh no. Oh man. Wait do I love Frank Castle. Oh that sucks big time.” But after the let’s not count rewatch of the show;

He literally tries to be everything for everyone to help and please everyone. He is pulled in so many different directions and stretches himself waaayyy too thin, and yes, trauma response I think, and the toxicity of a stained past relationship (Elektra refused to leave him be) mixed with his Daredevil side, while trying to be a good “boyfriend” (I’m using that term lightly) to Karen and a good partner/friend to Foggy and a good lawyer and it all just falls between the giant cracks into a pile of burning shit.

I’ve seen people call him an asshole and while he hadn’t been the greatest friend/partner, I think I understand what being in that position he puts himself does and entails. He tried to say no to Elektra but she also knew what to say and spin to get him to eventually say yes and knew how to hit that “Matt can’t say no to helping people” button of his. He wanted to help Frank, he wanted to be that important someone/boyfriend to Karen. He wanted to be that best friend and good partner and lawyer for Foggy.

So, you have Elektra who, in my opinion, doesn’t fully accept or understand his passion for his day job (even if she thought she’d be helping) and tries telling/convincing him that he’s all DD and again hits that people helping/protective button. You have Foggy who is rightfully angry at Matt- for dropping the ball Matt first picked up himself and forced into Foggy, for leaving him hanging and for not telling him about Elektra- also not fully accepting or understanding Matt’s need to be Daredevil.

You have Karen who is also rightfully disappointed and angry and kept in the dark, because she’s smart, she knows there’s definitely a lot more going on that both Matt and Foggy aren’t telling her and it puts pressure on her being in the middle, and maybe if Matt just told her his secret earlier things would have been different and I honestly think she would’ve definitely supported both sides of Matt.

So Matt tries to be all these things and more to everyone around him (even keeping Frank from dying and fighting for his right to a fair trail) and it all goes to shit in the end.

(This isn’t new to anyone who has watched the Netflix Daredevil.)

But honestly, even the first time around, even the 10th, 15th time around….I never thought of Matt as a full on asshole in S2. I think that yes, not the greatest friend, dropped giant important things and prioritized things incorrectly, tried to set rules with Elektra but didn’t stand very firmly on them and didn’t quite set boundaries with her when it came to some um, personal space. Didn’t properly explain to Karen what was happening or going on of why his ex was in his bed in the first place.

I think he felt caught in such a delicate web of people not accepting or understanding both sides of him, his passion and love for being a lawyer and DD. Ended up trying to Be All The Things and having it ruin a friendship/relationship/partnership and definitely ended with his own fears of abandonment coming true in more ways than one. But I understand why and where he was trying to come from and be.

….why do I have so much to say and think and theorize about this damn character. 🤷🏻‍♀️🥲

[thirty-five-owls]

Hmm. It’s interesting some people don’t like Foggy or Karen for the reason of them not being completely supportive friends all the time. And the argument is that Matt’s civilian identity is the most grounded so logically he should be the most well adjusted one out of the defenders but he’s not because Foggy and Karen judge him for being DD.

I understand the sentiment, if you love Matt Murdock you’d want to see him better off and yeah the other defenders do have very supportive friends, makes sense. And I think that he’s the least well adjusted out of the four because his civilian identity is too grounded. The other three don’t really have much to lose, they’re not masked- people know them as local heroes and Danny just goes around telling people unprompted that he’s “the immortal iron fist”. Matt has the most to lose, that fear of what exposure will do to him and everyone involved in Murdock’s line of work is very, very real. Every single case Nelson & Murdock ever touched will be under scrutiny, they will definitely lose their licenses, all the evidence he’s gathered for the PD as daredevil (violence coercion) will be dismissed, all those families and disadvantaged individuals they helped in the past will be put into jeopardy, and every street thug who’s crossed paths with DD now know where to find his friends. Too many lives are at stake and it all hinges on whether Matt can keep his two lives from colliding, this kind of fear and tension can be a real bad catalyst in friendships.

He’s also the most vulnerable out of the four. Luke Cage and Jessica Jones’s friends don’t need to worry about them getting shot or awfully hurt every time they go out, I’m not sure about Danny Rand but he’s literally got some mystical magic thing going on so. Matt regularly gets beat to a pulp just by doing what they all do, if he gets shot he can easily die. This creates dissonance in people who care about him, it’s an extremely dangerous behaviour, he’s getting hurt way too much, he’s maybe self-destructive, sometimes unconditional support for things like this can feel like enabling. There’s too much to lose and too many things at stake, his friends are scared for him and don’t know how to react. I think it’s very realistic that they criticise him or lash out at him for going back to the DD life, which I don’t view as being not supportive, it’s just that they’re involuntarily put in a very bad position where anything they want to do to support him can feel like the wrong choice to make. Foggy delivered Matt the suit in the defenders and it ended with Matt never walking out of that building. He will have this weigh on him for the rest of his life if Matt hasn’t come back. This impending sense of doom whenever they see him in the suit can be debilitating, of course they don’t want their friend to die, so then what counts as supporting him at that point?

The way I see it, Foggy and Karen tried really hard to take care of their friend in an all-around shitty situation. Matt was the one who told them, point blank, that he was quitting this other life for good. When he inevitably (not that he had a real choice) got dragged back in, it’s again very debilitating to the people he made that promise to. I wouldn’t be surprised if they’re emotionally burned out.

Karen kept his apartment lease for months after he presumably died; the idea of moving on didn’t even cross her mind once. I feel like they were written to be very realistic characters and I personally can’t fault them for anything they did.

That being said, the feeling that Matt deserved more support is very valid- people are invested in a character and want them to have nice things, a very understandable emotion.

P.S. Elektra would be an example of someone who fully supported him in his DD endeavour all the time and people seem to think of her existence in his life as toxic.

[a-tired-narwhal]

Tell me more about your feelings about the details of Caleb's backstory!

Okay listen anon. LISTEN. This is going to be LONG. Did I immediately rewatch/go back through the entire wrap up to take notes? YES I DID. Anon I'm sorry this is so late, I didn't see your ask until after the stream. I hope this finds you (*＾3＾)/～♡

----

Caleb fucking Widogast. Liam O'Brien always creates/portrays characters that CAPTURE ME. And it is purely the undertow of SUFFERING that I crave.

As a survivor of an abusive childhood, specifically with manipulation, neglect, and physical trauma, and having a controlling abuser in a position of power over you - I was surprised and delighted by Liam's playing of Caleb, and I'm sure that I'm probably not the only one, but Caleb's backstory just had me nodding along. Was not surprised at all by what was revealed about the blumentrio's relationship being trauma-bonding and probably why I'll never be an avid shipper of them. Nothing about Caleb's backstory left me gasping - because it's a relatively common abuse survivor story, except it's in the world of dungeons and dragons with high fantasy and magic and more common place murdering than today in places where most Critters presumably live.

Let's break it down.

Caleb was born as Bren to a less than well off family, who wanted their child to have a better life than them. Bren is a gifted child, and this will immediately put a bullseye's target on a child's back, make no mistake, for abusive persons. Now, I don't know if it's a pretty obvious that parents would trust in a teaching figure to take their child for that child's betterment, because I don't have parents who wish for my betterment ¯\_(ツ)_/¯, but I like to think that Bren's parents handed him off hoping for his brightest future.

Trent is basically the textbook example of a Cult Leader. Beyond the experimentation he did on his students; everything he put the Blumentrio through is how you beat down and brainwash people, especially children/adolescents. Textbook. TEXTBOOK. It was the dnd equivalent of the Hilter Youth. Now my personal experience featured the tool of isolation, so I didn't have two childhood friends to pour myself into and have threesome's with, but that's actually smart of Ickythong, because when you're left alone with your whirling brain for too long, and there's no one to hold over your head - we start thinking those rebellious thoughts, and at some point we decide we have nothing to lose, and we will do ANYTHING to shake that control. No, he left them in that abandoned tower together so they would be forced to bond with each other, as well as allowing them not to die of exposure alone.

Trauma-bonding CAN be a manipulation and used against you. Now. We have three adolescents trying not to freeze to death by being as close as physically possible. For those that don't know; sharing body heat works best skin to skin - ya get naked and THEN you wrap up together to stay insulated. Awkward groping is going to happen, and it's more than likely accidental. But when you add raging hormones to the mix, yo it's not going to stay accidental for very long (that in no way indicates non consent, it can be either way), and the feelings can catch hard when you're young and physical and EVERY HEALTHY RELATIONSHIP YOU HAD HAS BEEN TAKEN FROM YOU, IF YOU EVEN EVER HAD ONE. (I do not know Eadwulf or Astrid's home lives so your guess is as good as mine. We should probably ask Liam)

So you've got horny teenagers, with above average intelligence, being systematically abused... Bam. Trauma-bonded Blumentrio.

BUT HERE'S THE THING. Trauma-bonding can only get you so far. And they are children, actively being raised to NOT HAVE THEIR OWN THOUGHTS AND IDENTITIES. The relationship they built, the romantic and sexual, are based off of a shared hostile environment and survival needs. And when those circumstances are no longer there, the relationship tends to fall apart.

I love that Matt talked about Astrid for a bit, sad we didn't get more on Eadwulf - but Matt didn't really spend a lot of time roleplaying Wulf compared to Astrid, so he'd have more insight into her. I also find it interesting that the Blumentrio took 3 very different, but again SO COMMON, paths in dealing with their abuse. But that's a different rant.

Focus with me now on what Matt said about Astrid. She was actively seeking power throughout the campaign, looking always to climb that ladder to the top, for her own purposes which were not stated, and was willing to do anything, sacrifice anyone, to get that power. Was it a burden to her? Yeah I think so. Did it weigh on her? Again I personally think it did. But she was goal-oriented and she wasn't going to let anything stop her, not even herself, and she hated Trent. Matt implies that all three of the Blumentrio did/do. Astrid, Wulf, and Caleb were wildly different people - I don't think they would have stayed together even if Bren had stayed Bren instead of becoming Caleb.

I know A LOT of people were miffed over how Liam and Matt showed Caleb's and Essek's love for each other; and I am SO glad that Liam touched on this; Essek reminded Caleb too much of Astrid and Eadwulf. Now I know we love to joke that that Redhead Dirt Wizard has a Type (smart, ambitious, vaguely amoral), and believe me I LOVE THE JOKE, but Caleb pumping to brakes on Hot Boi makes THE MOST LOGICAL SENSE AND I WAS SO DELIGHTED WHEN LIAM PLAYED IT THAT WAY. Caleb was still trying to heal himself; WHY THE HELL WOULD HE JUMP INTO A MESS CALLED ESSEK? That's some mf UNHEALTHY, TOXIC romance trope ya got there. People fix themselves, not each other. THAT'S WHY CANON SHADOWGAST IS SO GOOD. THEY ARE WORKING TO IMPROVE THEMSELVES FIRST. THAT'S SO HOT.

Ahem.

So the Blumentrio hangout in Astrid's room to sex and study, in threes and twos (I have weird polyam questions, Liam). Now, I'm foggy on the exact timeframe that was together at Academy > kill your parents > Bren is chucked into the Sanitarium; but it's clear that after the murdering of parents, Bren is tagged as the "weakest link" - maybe he broke because he actually loved his family/had a loving family, maybe the manipulation spell from Ickythong didn't sit on him as well as Astrid and Wulf, maybe boi wasn't made for killing (a lie, the boi is a total killer, you have to be in most dnd campaigns), who knows. But he broke, and Astrid and Wulf handed him over - it would be dangerous for them if they tried too hard to protect him.

Because in that environment, in those circumstances, in that set up; you do what you have to, to survive. You hurt people you love, you hurt people you don't know, you even hurt yourself if it means improving your own odds. It's instinct. It's not your fault. You are doing the best you can with what you have available.

I don't hate Astrid and Eadwulf; I just have more emotional attachment and investment in Caleb, and prefer the color purple on him.

Which is actually a great segue into THE WOMAN AT THE SANITARIUM WHO FREED HIS MIND; Matt Mercer you beautiful man, thank you for giving us a Moonweaver connection, my lil widomauk heart was sent aflutter! So, here's the thing. Places like that, sanitariums, psych wards, etc - if you are not certifiably insane before you go in, you will be eventually. One Flew Over The Cuckoo's Nest is not a fucking joke. But the thought of some forgotten Moonweaver Cleric recognizing Bren's torment and just, poof, dissolving that spell? *Chef's kiss* glorious, wonderful, everything I needed.

Anon, I don't know if this is what you wanted or expected - but here it is, my sincerest apologies 🐳

[bottle-of-newts]

Honestly, feel like I should make this known.

I do believe I have angry ranted over my dislike of Karen and Elektra in the tags of some post or something; but I do wanna make something clear.

I dislike for Elektra for her actions. I do not dislike her as character. I pretty much dislike Karen as whole.

Lemme explain.

I think (for the most part) that yes, both Karen and Elektra were both important to the narrative in certain parts of the show (one less than the other tbh....). I do not like Elektra because of her toxicity and manipulation towards Matt and as a person in general, but I think she is an amazingly written character. I enjoy the drama and issues she brings to the table and - while I don't enjoy it entirely - her and Matt's interactions, especially towards the end of Season 2. How Matt loved her and wanted to help her and be with her and how she was willing to change herself for the better so she could be with the person she loved. I did enjoy that aspect, and how she slowly broke away and took control of the Hand in the Defenders.

Is she a very good person? Pfft, fuck no. Is she an amazingly interesting and complex character? Yes. While I don't always enjoy her when she's on screen, as a whole, I can't say I despise her.

Karen, on the other hand, she was only really enjoyable in Season 1 for me, and pretty much went downhill from there. Season 2 seriously killed it for me. In Season 1, it was extremely interesting to see her work her own investigation into Fisk and how determined she was. I did enjoy her and Ben Urich's relationship (though I do NOT appreciate the stunt she pulled with the whole finding Mr. Filson Whisk's (yes I was serious in that last post) mother in the nursing home, masquerading that it would be a good place for his wife) and I enjoyed her relationship with Foggy (we don't talk about the last thing they did with the date before everything went kablooey).

Season 2, she drove me feral. The relationship with Matt was so forced and literally felt like it was only there for drama later on. It was - so pointless honestly, just like they wanted to give her a reason to be pissed off at Matt other than his ditching the Punisher case after pushing for it to be done (Foggy deserves better dude smfh, he does not deserve all this bullshit). That and her whole not giving Matt the TIME OF DAY to explain himself just - hhhh - yes, she did have the right to be mad, but refusing to listen makes you seem childish. AT LEAST hear them out unless you KNOW they are a toxic piece of shit that will try and manipulate you if you let them. (Yes Matt can be manipulative, but I really don't think that was his goal the multiple times he's tried to talk to Karen over the matter with Elektra). And the whole Frank thing - I'm just - mostly indifferent on it honestly, it's just really....ehhhh. I don't hate it but I'm not a huge supporter of it either.

Season 3 just - I don't even really know, it was sweet she tried to keep Matt's apartment going and neither her nor Foggy deserved Matt's ghosting, and she did have the right to be mad at him for that. It was interesting to see how she grew as a person in her backstory episode but - after Season 2 I just could not find myself enjoying her again.

Well, I don't know how to end things, especially rants like this so - yeah, that's my opinions on two of the main female characters on Daredevil <<< yayayay.

I DO ADORE CLAIRE WITH ALL MY HEART THOUGH SHE IS AMAZING AND I LOVE HER CHARACTER SM IN THE FEW TIMES I SAW HER IN DAREDEVIL!!

Just wanted to say that before I cut this off :)

[eddsworldrus]

What do all the boys home planets look like from your space au?

Ok oh boy!

this will be long since a lot of based off some oc stuff

Tord

So his race (Kathar) Their species a fair sized chunk have never even seen their homeworld!. A lot live on massive warships that cruise around, and are cities in their own light with their size and scale. And there is def a big difference in the cultures between Kathar who live on the homeworld, and those who live on warships. So different traditions/customs/and attitudes. Especially since every warship develops it's own customs, micro-holidays, and communities.

But it's a very pretty world with huge forests of megaflora Red wood trees spanning 100's of feet up. A world with a /lot/ of mountainous terrain and huge plain like areas on some of the steep mesa/flat portions

then deep foggy basins, and lots of the cities built up the sides of the mountains, mesa's or plains areas often pretty tight clustered cities where they live close together i was thinking of lots of world building and all these paleontology videos had me a lot more inspired to think about world building, and environmental factors their world would have that probably helped kathar adapt like that Mountainous landscapes, do powerful/digitigrade legs for climbing/traversing difficult areas, A lot living in very high altitudes. heavy/dexterous tails for balance and grabbing things especially

Fave lil leaf mice that catalogue as leaves/ect to hide in their forest floor homes. Just laying flat on the ground when many of the many species of avians are overhead.

Edd His planet is mostly ocean (like 90% water). With immense ocean biodiversity, (like think subnautica variety as a close example). (especially his species has a ton of variety based off their location/sub species) Edd mostly lives in massive underground tunnel networks. The world is *viscous* when there's massive leviathans and hostile sea life all about, so constantly out for ways to survive.

Also around the few patches of land massive coral reef like forest, some as tall as tree's branching out into the water.

Kelp forests that go for miles and miles

Then deep trenches with all sorts of life. You bet there be some weird ass crab creatures cause we love carcinisation

Matt

His planet is the least habitable, with most of the surface being to harsh for many species to live on, as it's volcanic, extremely hot, acidic rain, and just generally volatile. The surface is craggy and mostly barren, asides from the few species that live there. Most of his species live in vast underground networks. They've developed extreme tolerance to heat, toxic gases. and other rough environments.

So they've built up and reinforced their deep tunnel systems, and giant open caves, over many years. Having made gorgeous structures and adornments to it. Especially since living underground having a lot of access to metals and minerals to work with as building materials.

Fruit is a rarity/delicacy there as most plants they get tend to be more uncommom/mostly succulent/cactus adjacent with how rough the terrain/soil conditions can be.

Then big underground springs are another common feature, as they'll actively seek these out and build around.

Tom His is a mostly nocturnal planet, cooler temperatures, and has multiple moons. A lot of Lots of flat plains land and thick woods and brush. Not as many mountains/extreme heights.

For a majority of the time it's dark or almost a constant state of night/occasional dusk. Which a lot of bioluminescent life has developed, especially in the plants and fruits. Glowing to attract pollinators and seed spreading creatures.

Just sometimes fields of glowing flowers cropping up during the right seasons.

Their capital city is a massive floating city (Built on a base of the same crystals he has on his necklace and are 'magic amplifiers' so a whole lot of magic junk on his world),

Dappling of rural towns and villages. Lots of buildings having been lived in for generations, as a lot of importance in their culture for their history/traditions)

(some of their focus on tradition/valuing their culture does get toxic and there has been a growing counter culture movement against it)

A lot of the small towns have nice wooden buildings, or spires and obelisk like buildings. Most build around the environment but not over it.

Their sea/ocean is a big point of superstition, and very little sea faring. As it's a jet black ocean and most of it's contents are unknown, that is often seen as 'cursed'. Like a common phrase is 'sea touched' as those who are unlucky/dealt with tragedy (A lot of their funeral practices are mostly sea burials to pass on)

A couple other members of his species! oops I have a lot of lore/stuff for Tom and Tord's worlds especially

[mattelektras]

Miss jessie can i get a ranking of every daredevil ship you know about please this is for science

this is like that king henry the 8th's wives rhyme. died, impaled, thrown out a window, killed themselves, came back from the dead, survived, also impaled, survived, forgotten about, survived

objectively. mattfoggy. heterosexually gay married where matt doesnt realise its actually gay gay married. best friends and lovers, college relationship, bickering, what dont they have

subjectively. mattelektra. the crowd gasps

mattkirsten. they have a lot of mattfoggy elements but kirsten is a lot more forward which i love. matt's equal in law, completely a civilian but doesnt shy away from superhero shit, and you never feel like she's in danger of dying daredevil girlfriend style

matt/nyla. underrated daredevil women my belovedddddddd. she's perfect for matt when he's more of a mixture of daredevil and normal person without being daredevil. she's a supporter of his boxing, does thievery (very sexy). she's also suffered w homelessness and is partially deaf

matt/nat. i feel bad putting them so low because i love mattnat but their time together in ye olden days could be very detrimental to nat and did the Sexy Lady Speak Russian To Me way to often. i think if there were a more modern take on their relationship theyd be great. i think the time it was written lets it down. very hard to believe that matt would be put off by nat being independent and self confident. also i find it incredibly funny that they put nat in daredevil vol 1 to save the book. where would matt be without the women in his life? cancelled!!!

maya/matt. another weirdly low one considering how much i love them matt/natt and maya/matt tie probably??? i think i just love them separately more?? and i feel like at this point, maya has grown past matt and her feelings for him??? because although they were legit, they were very.. infatuation esque?? and maya did a lot of learning about herself and reevaluating what she believes after dd v2 and she's a very different person now that we havent seen in a romantic situation w matt??? which would be very interesting but i honestly wouldnt know what to expect

matt/peter. peak superhero romance. what people wish peter/deadpool was. sorry for your loss x

milla/matt. milla honey.......... they happened so fast and im not sure it was entirely legitimate??? on either of their behalfs??? matt is very knee jerky in his reactions and sometimes thinks whatever he's feeling at that moment is what he'll feel for the rest of his life. hence the marriage circa the murdock papers. and milla was very sweet and naive in what she was getting into. and she suffered for it in a very uniquely shitty way. but they were very cute and puppy lovey

matt/dakota. we just never got anywhere with them!!! matt was distracted being sexy and evil which is understandable. i liked her a lot though

matt/glorianna. writers straight up forgot this girl existed. i think matt actually forgot she existed to. she'd just fuckin disappear for issues and then 5 months later youd be like oh. glorianna right. matt then got mad when foggy and her dated and felt betrayed by them both and it was like. you werent boyfriend of the year my man. she was part of a Matt Gets His Sight Back story which i hate and then she got thrown out of a window and died??? rip. not a single good daredevil story happened with glorianna in

mattkaren. matt just dated her because she was there. she had NO personality traits outside of being a cute secretary and suffering and it just went on for so long to the point where it became horrible to watch. karen was being treated like shit and matt wasnt happy and then she died

matt/heather. they were kind of.... toxic and matt was kind of a dick to her at times when she was a completely normal girl at odds with her father's death and business and then finding out matt was daredevil and was involved in the whole company downfall thing. foggy and nat actually faked letters from them to one another breaking them up because they were the only people smart enough to be like. this isnt it honey. they didnt even break up. she called matt drunk and miserable which he didnt think he ought to do something about and then she killed herself afterwards so. of all the things matt feels guilty about that literally arent his fault.... this is one i think he should probably feel worse about

[alonely-dreamer]

Dangerous Creatures | Chapter 36: Dangerous Friends

Summary: Mackenzie and Elijah go to Marcel’s party

Pairing: Elijah x OC

Words: 3314

A/N: Please, note that I am French so there might be some mistakes here and there. I’d like to thank @eywizard for beta reading this chapter for me!

Masterlist

Chapter 1 | Chapter 2 | Chapter 3 | Chapter 4 | Chapter 5 | Chapter 6 | Chapter 7 | Chapter 8 | Chapter 9 | Chapter 10 | Chapter 11 | Chapter 12 | Chapter 13 | Chapter 14 | Chapter 15 | Chapter 16 | Chapter 17 | Chapter 18 | Chapter 19 | Chapter 20 | Chapter 21 | Chapter 22 | Chapter 23: Part 1 | Chapter 23: Part 2 | Chapter 23: Part 3 | Chapter 24 | Chapter 25 (Part 1) | Chapter 25 (Part 2) | Chapter 25 (Part 3) | Chapter 26 (Part 1) | Chapter 26 (Part 2 & 3) | Chapter 27 | Chapter 28 | Chapter 29 | Chapter 30 | Chapter 31 | Chapter 32  | Chapter 33 | Chapter 34 | Chapter 35

On her knees, the seamstress focused on the needle, touching up the pants of her client’s suit as he admired himself in the mirror on his right.

“Damn, I do look good in a suit,” he said, making his friend in the cap laugh.

It wasn’t unusual for the seamstress to answer house calls, no, the only thing unusual about this client was the odd things he said. She felt weird as she focused on her work. She could hear the two men, but not quite comprehend what they were saying to each other, as if the words wouldn’t stick to her brain, turning into an alphabet soup she couldn’t read.

She thought she had heard names, Tina McGreevy and Joshua Rosza. What was the TV saying about them? Perhaps they were missing. No, it wasn’t that. Wait… who were they talking about again? Her mind was foggy and the more she tried to focus, the foggier it got.

“My guy at the docks is gonna come forward as an eyewitness, say he saw those two drunkenly fall into the Mississippi. They’ll be dredging for weeks, no one will come looking around here,” said the man in the cap, whose name she thought started with a ‘T’… Theo? Thibault? No… It was that.

“That’s good, considering one’s dead in a dumpster behind the county morgue and the other one’s a vampire now,” her client said with a chuckle. “Anything else?”

The words danced in her brain, refusing to form a correct sentence, refusing to make sense. As she tried to think back to what had just been said, she inadvertently pricked herself with her needle.

“Ow!”

She sat back on her knees and looked at her bloody finger. The man, whose name she thought might be Mark, crouched before her with a smile.

“Allow me, darling,” he said as he took her hand and brought the injured finger to his mouth.

She let him do it, even though her entire body was screaming at her to get up and go. Her mind was loud with alarms, screaming at her that it wasn’t safe, but she couldn’t say anything, couldn’t do anything but smile. His friend spoke up again.

“I sent four nightwalkers to look into a werewolf sighting in the Quarter. I haven’t heard from them since.”

Mark, or whatever his name was, lost his smile as he let go of her hand and sighed.

“That makes ten dead nightwalkers in the last week. You think the werewolves are back in town trying to start some trouble?”

“Look. I know you and Klaus are friends, but the fact is, since the Originals showed up…”

“Oh, come now, Thierry, you’re not still upset about that little toxic werewolf bite I gave you, are you?”

The seamstress barely registered the stranger who had just come into the fitting room. She felt like she was supposed to ignore him, to ignore them, to silence them out, and so she did.

“I see you’ve given him free rein of your compound now, too,” Thierry said with disappointment and disapproval.

“Yes. Well, seeing as my family and I lived here, built the place, in fact…”

“All right, come on,” Mark, or perhaps his name was Maxwell, interrupted their argument calmly, “you know the drill. Thierry is my guy, inner circle. Klaus is my old-time friend and sire. He’s also a guest here,” he reminded his friend. “Peace, all right?” he asked Thierry who nodded with a grimace. “All right,” he nodded as well. “What do you need, my brother?”

“I don’t need anything, just wanted to let you know Elijah accepted your invitation.”

“I’m glad to hear that,” he smiled. “I hope you told him the rules.”

Klaus laughed. “He knows the rules, though I can’t promise he’ll follow them.”

“What about the witch?”

“Mackenzie? She used to love rules, would rather die than break them, actually. Now… not so much. But, no worries,” he added quickly to reassure his friend, “tonight is a party, no one expects a fight.”

“Right,” Marcel smiled unconvinced. “Let’s just have fun, eh?”

 ***

 “So, how’s Matt?” Mackenzie asked, picking up a strawberry from the bowl on the kitchen counter right in front of her.

The cooks were busy cooking food no one asked, or wanted, compelled by Klaus to act like they were serving kings and queens. The kitchen was filled with desserts that Hayley was convinced would make her fatter than her pregnancy.

“Sleeping,” Rebekah’s voice came through the speaker.

“Where are you again?”

“We reached Amsterdam a couple of days ago.”

“Sounds like fun.”

“It is actually.”

“So, I guess you’re not gonna be there for my birthday, then…”

“My gift is already in the mail, it should be there in time.”

“I was hoping to see you.”

“Aw, do you miss me?” the Original vampire mocked over the phone.

“Don’t you miss me?”

“Of course, I miss you, but let me tell you, the phone system is definitely one of the best creations in the past century.”

“Yeah, well I was actually hoping to spend my birthday with my friends, you know, but Katherine said she had no intentions of coming anywhere near Klaus ever again, so…”

“So what? I’m your backup friend?”

“I’d have loved to have you both here but since you guys all hate each other, I think it would have just ruined the day.”

“You’re probably right. Just spend the day with Elijah, I’m sure he’ll be more than happy to do anything you want. Birthday or not…”

“Fine, don’t come, it’s not like we can actually have a party anyway, in our secret hiding place away from Marcel…”

“Why don’t you just come join me in Europe? Leave Nik alone, he doesn’t deserve your help…”

“Well, that’s true, but I can’t just leave Hayley here alone with him…”

“You’re right, that sounds like a particularly cruel thing to do.”

“Anyway, have fun in Amsterdam then.”

“And you have fun at that party of yours, show Marcel what you’re capable of.”

“And how do you suggest she does that, Rebekah?” Elijah asked as he entered the kitchen.

Mackenzie smiled as she saw him, and leaned into him as he went to place a kiss in her hair.

“Brother, finally, you deign to talk to your poor sister…”

The Original rolled his eyes. “You’re always so dramatic, sister.”

“That bastard little thief stole our city and declared himself King, maybe you should show him he’s nothing but an ingrate little…”

“Alright, alright,” Mackenzie cut her off with a chuckle. “It’s a charity dinner, ‘bekah. We’re expecting champagne, good food, and dancing, nothing more.”

“You’re so boring. No wonder Kol hasn’t come around to visit you.”

“Ouch,” Mackenzie frowned. “Now you’re just being mean.”

“Heard from him recently?”

“He’s somewhere in Brazil, I believe,” Elijah answered.

“What the bloody hell is he doing there?”

“Who knows what our brother’s got in his head.”

“You got that right… Well, Matt is waking up, I have to go.”

They said their goodbyes before hanging up, Mackenzie still eating from the bowl of strawberries that was almost empty now.

“Do you even want to go to this thing?” she asked.

“No. But Marcel must have something in mind, and I’d hate to go against his plans.”

She smirked. “That’s so nice of you,” she said as she wrapped her arms around his neck.

“I am very nice,” he whispered before placing a kiss on her lips. “In fact, I have many nice things I want to do to you right now.”

“Ew, please, stop.”

The couple turned towards the kitchen doorstep to find Hayley standing there with a look of disgust on her face. Mackenzie rolled her eyes playfully as she took a step back from the vampire.

“What can we do for you, Hayley?” Elijah asked the newest member of the Mikaelson family.

“Nothing, I just came to stuff my face with the biggest cake I could find…”

“We’ll leave you to it then,” he nodded before he gently took Mackenzie’s hand and led her out of the room under Hayley’s uncomfortable gaze.

 ***

 So far, everything was going well. Elijah and his witch were behaving remarkably, the Original had already signed a check, and had been dancing with his companion ever since. Klaus was right. They looked unbearably in love. The silver satin dress she was wearing was remarkable as well, no doubt a gift from Elijah, and it complemented her set of diamond jewelry best. A swiss blue topaz gemstone rested above her cleavage, the necklace looked ancient, royal, almost, as if it had belonged to a generation of royalty and had somehow found its way to her. He figured many “lost” jewels had found their way in the Mikaelson collection over the years. He watched them carefully, tried to eavesdrop on them too, but they were smarter than to believe they’d get any privacy in a room full of vampires, and kept their conversation as polite and as normal as possible, as if they knew they had an audience. Eventually, Marcel had better things to do than to spy on the two lovers, and even managed to completely forget about them as Cami had finally joined the party.

“They spend their nights and days with Klaus - you’d think they’d be used to the presence of an Original by now,” Mackenzie complained about the pairs of eyes that hadn’t left them ever since they had entered the compound.

Marcel had gone above and beyond for this party. Dancers, acrobats, the finest chefs and the finest champagne… All the guests were having a great time and were happy to open their wallets to the charity of the night.

“I don’t think they’ll ever get used to us,” Elijah replied. “After all the stories they’ve heard about us, we were a myth to them until we arrived here.”

Mackenzie scoffed, wondering how long it would take for her irritation to turn into something more dangerous.

“If only they knew…” Elijah started.

“If only they knew what?”

“If only they knew they were worrying about the wrong person,” he grinned with pride.

She smirked back and nodded as she looked around at Marcel’s nightwalkers. “Indeed.”

That’s when she saw it, or rather him, a vampire she had come to learn was named Diego, entering the party wearing a shirt and jeans and an unhappy look on his face.

“Looks like something’s wrong,” she said as she watched him approach Marcel, obviously nervous about interrupting his time with Cami.

Diego whispered something into Marcel’s ear, and they could see on his face something was wrong indeed. Marcel started looking around and stopped as he found Elijah and Mackenzie surrounded by dancing couples. He frowned before he made their way to them.

“Something wrong, Marcellus?”

“Yes, actually, Elijah, something is wrong. Where’s Klaus?”

“I’m right here,” the hybrid said as he appeared behind him.

“Good, come with me.”

The three Mikaelsons looked at each other with an amused curiosity. Whatever was wrong, it wasn’t their problem, and if it bothered Marcel that much, it meant it was probably a good thing for them.

They followed him out of the compound, heard him order Diego to find as many nightwalkers as he could and join them at a place he called the Traps, which is where he was taking them.

“For a week now, my guys have been dying,” Marcel started his explanation. “There’s a werewolf in town who’s been killing my nightwalkers, and a witch or two have been helping it, using magic, undetected,” he informed them, barely concealing his anger.

“How is that our problem?” Elijah asked, not bothering to hide his lack of curiosity.

“Rumors are you’re at fault.”

“If we were killing your people we wouldn’t make a secret of it,” Mackenzie said in all honesty.

Marcel stopped in his tracks and turned towards her. Unbothered by his anger, almost bored, and definitely annoyed, she raised an eyebrow at him, defying him to attempt anything.

“Is that so?”

“That is so,” she confirmed, her eyes falling on Thierry standing behind him. “Want me to prove it?”

Marcel stared at her, put all of his anger in his eyes, tried to see something as she stared back, anything on her face, even just a little bit of fear, but he saw nothing. What the hell could she have gone through that had made her so tough? Or maybe it was arrogance? No, it wasn’t just that. She had something, she was someone, someone powerful, who wasn’t afraid of him, because he was no threat to her. Not only did she have Elijah’s protection, but she also didn’t need it, and that was scarier than Klaus himself, and as he finally found fear, it was unfortunately not hers, but his own.

“You were taking us somewhere?” Elijah eventually said after a minute of silence.

Marcel was trying to calm himself down, trying not to let the smirk that had appeared on the girl’s face get to him. He regained his composure, and his usual bright smile came and replaced the angry look on his face.

“But, as you are here, now I know you had nothing to do with the attacks on my men, and I thought we could go and see for ourselves who’s been causing so much trouble in my town,” he said as if he were offering them something.

“Sounds like a party,” Klaus smiled maliciously, encouraging Elijah and Mackenzie to relax.

Diego and a dozen nightwalkers had found them before they had even reached the Traps, and signs of a fight could be heard from down the street. Mackenzie could sense a werewolf and at least two witches inside, and vampires, dying one after the other.

Marcel gave Diego the order to attack, to kill whoever it was that was killing his own men in his own town. Among the screams of rage and fear were laughs - laughs Elijah and Mackenzie thought they recognized. She looked up at him and the look on his face confirmed her doubts. He heard it too, but she also felt it. A smile creeped onto her face.

“Call back your men before they all get killed,” she said, and he heard the amusement in her tone.

“Is that a threat?”

“It’s only advice.”

“Advice you should seriously consider,” Elijah added.

But Marcel shook his head no and ordered more of his men to go in with him. They couldn’t even see what was happening inside. The bar had no window, only a door that was now broken. But they could hear everything that was happening and that was enough to give them an idea of the scene. Mackenzie chuckled, seriously debating whether or not to intervene.

“Perhaps we should do something,” Elijah suggested.

“What is going on?” Klaus asked, obviously irritated he was left in the dark.

Mackenzie smiled as she moved to go inside. She snapped the necks of every vampire there with a wave of a hand, and they all fell to the ground. All but Marcel. The bar was completely destroyed. Only a couple of chairs and tables were still standing, but most of them had been used as a stake and were now resting in the hearts of a dozen vampires. She walked past a temporarily dead Diego and took in the scene.

A man, the werewolf, was standing at the end of the room, with blood dripping from his mouth, holding a stake in his right hand, the broken chair he had ripped it off of in his other. He smiled at her as he saw her, the blood on his face made him look funny and she held back a laugh. A blonde witch was near him, waving at her, her free hand magically pinning a vampire to the ceiling. The last witch sat on the bar, her hair, her face, her outfit spotless, as if she hadn’t been part of the fight at all, but Mackenzie knew she had the highest body count.

“Mackenzie!” they all greeted in unison.

Her smile grew bigger and a laugh escaped her. “What are you guys doing here?”

“We came for your birthday, of course,” Olivia said as she jumped off the bar.

God, Mackenzie thought. She looked so much like Margo.

“Mom says hello.”

“Does her Majesty know you’re here?” Elijah asked as he stepped inside the bar with his brother.

“Of course,” Felicity answered as she let go of the vampire she was holding against the ceiling. He fell with a cry, and her boyfriend seized the opportunity to stake him.

Marcel would have stopped him and killed them all, or died trying, if Mackenzie didn’t have him pinned to the wall.

“Lying to Margo is a very bad idea,” Oliver said.

Olivia gave Mackenzie a hug and whispered in her ear: “Heidi says hi.”

Mackenzie’s heart skipped a bit and as she backed away to look at the Princess, the witch winked. Elijah frowned.

“We have so many gifts,” Felicity said as she hugged the elemental.

“You don’t turn twenty-years-old every day,” Oliver continued as he approached them.

“Who are you?” Klaus asked dryly, tired of being left out.

“Klaus, these are my friends from Germany,” she introduced them, “guys, this is Klaus.”

“Well, you definitely picked the more handsome brother,” Oliver winked at her and was rewarded by his girlfriend’s elbow in his ribs.

Elijah chuckled. “You’ve been here for a week?”

“Yeah, we got here early, we wanted to meet the um…” Oliver stopped himself. “You know…”

“How do you know about it?” Mackenzie questioned.

“The oracles told mom. I mean, it’s not something you see every day.”

Of course the oracles would know about Hayley and the baby. It made them wonder who else knew, and if they needed to be more cautious.

“It’s just werewolf curiosity,” Oliver shrugged.

“Are Heidi and Alexander going to be joining us?” Elijah asked.

“And are they going to kill more of my guys?” Marcel worried.

“Not their type,” Mackenzie informed him.

“To be fair we wouldn’t have killed anyone if they had left us alone,” Felicity said.

“But they went on about how werewolves are forbidden in the Quarter, and that really pisses a werewolf off, if you know what I mean,” Oliver growled.

“Werewolves are forbidden in the Quarter,” Marcel snarled.

“Says who?”

“Says me.”

“And you are?”

“I suggest you stick to giving your own men orders,” Olivia said with royal authority, “you are no match for us, as you can see.”

“We don’t take orders from vampires,” Oliver added salt to injury.

“I heard witches weren’t allowed to do magic in their own town,” Felicity continued, “another one of your rules, I suppose?”

“Shall we kill him?” Olivia wondered.

Klaus laughed. “Please, my friend here has been ruling over the Quarter for decades now, he’s just doing his job.”

“If his job consists of stopping witches from practicing their craft and hunting werewolves, then he is an unfit ruler and a change of leadership is needed,” Olivia said. “A good ruler promotes peace among all, and if you’re unable or too weak to achieve that, then you must be replaced.”

“I think there’s been enough killing for one night,” Elijah tried to defuse the situation. “Why don’t we take you to our place, so you can rest?”

“As you wish,” Olivia nodded. “We could use a home for the remainder of our stay.”

“I’ll let my brother show you to our place,” Klaus showed them out of the bar. “I will stay and help my friend clean up this place.” He gave them an obvious fake smile that neither of the three companions paid any mind to.

Mackenzie and Elijah looked at each other knowingly. Here went Klaus’ good mood.

**********