[open] gwen's birthday bash

[notthekingpin]

Who: Matt Murdock, Gwen Stacy, and anyone who knows her or just wants to party, tbh
Where: In a cute park!
What: This is a mingle log for Gwen's Birthday Party on May 29! Feel free to tag around.
Warnings: It's just a party! The youths might drink but that's none of Matt's business



[ Strictly speaking, Matt Murdock is not actually Gwen Stacy's friend. He's actually her enemy? Her archvillain? But what the Gwen who is here doesn't know can't hurt her! And Matt has always found her fascinating. So you see, you can plan a party with no ulterior motives, even for someone who got you arrested. And really, if your arch-enemy can't throw you a birthday party, who can?

Unfortunately, without his own criminal empire or Wilson Fisk's war coffers at his disposal, he has to make do with what is actually in his budget. Back in New York, he would've rented out a penthouse. Here, he has settled for a nice park with a couple of rented tables, a balloon arch (in black, white, pink, and teal no relation to spider-woman, don't worry about it), a fun little banner (it says "Hapy Birthday Gwen" instead of "Happy" did he run out of letters? did he do this on purpose? is he even aware?), some food and beverages (he's not the police), some tunes, and a cryptic message on the network Come celebrate Gwen! to tie it all together.

He's done very well, if he does say so himself! Really, it would've been way better if Jerry could have done him one tiny little solid, but it's fine. He adapted. He always does. ]

Comments

[notthekingpin]

No, I'm hilarious. Everyone loves legal jokes.

[ See? The vibes are off! ]

What are you doing here, anyway? If you're here to celebrate, celebrate. If you're here because you think I'm going to do something dramatic like kill Gwen on her birthday, stop being weird. I wouldn't kill anyone on their birthday.

[devilsavocado]

[ Matt frowns. If he could glare, he would glare. Instead he just grips his cane angrily. He's not going to cause a scene at a party, but goddamn, did Murdock have to read him so damn clearly? ]

Funny you should say that. Didn't cross my mind until you brought it up.

[ Lying Cat says: Lying. ]

[notthekingpin]

Don't lie to yourself.

[ Hilarious. God he's so hilarious. He should be winning awards with this comedy duo he's got set up here. ]

Do you even know Gwen?

[devilsavocado]

[ Matt sneers. That was a terrible joke! Terrible! Wouldn't work if they didn't both have super-senses, but he knows Murdock can pick it up. ]

I know Peter. Peter's good friends with Gwen.

[ Now his turn: ]

How do you know Gwen?

[notthekingpin]

Being friends with a teen doesn't usually get you invited to another teen's birthday.

[ Says the guy who threw said teen's birthday and broadcasted it to the network. Potato potahto. ]

Gwen--or well, a Gwen a lot like Gwen--is from my world. I'm pretty sure this one isn't, though, she would have known me. We have a lot of history. Also I'm very memorable.

[devilsavocado]

It does when the kid needs moral support. Peter's a good kid.

[ He is Not Gonna Get Into it though, especially given everything with Murdock... yeah. No. ]

I see.

[ Matt can practically guess, just going off of what he's heard and what he knows about different universes. Not that he'd go blabbing people's secrets or anything. But considering the sword cane and the murder and the parallels... Murdock is definitely a Spider-Man villain. Or, well, a Spider-Gwen villain. ]

[notthekingpin]

You don't, but sure.

[ "See" in the literal or metaphorical sense he means. He reaches over and places his hand on Matt's shoulder. ]

I like the righteous anger as much as the next guy. But try and tone it down before you scare the children, alright?

[devilsavocado]

[ Matt Murdock is still reeling from the fact that he's a killer in another universe. Finding out he's the Kingpin might make him snap.

Matt attempts to shrug off Murdock's touch as subtly as he can. Maybe a passerby can chalk it up to the fact that Matt is blind, and he's been startled. Yeah. ]

Could you just-- [ Matt sighs angrily. Murdock is right that this is hardly the place or the time. ] Lets' talk, then. In private.

[notthekingpin]

Sure, let's talk. We're in the middle of a park, but you pick a place you think is private enough.

[ Guess this is in fact the time. Matt doesn't even seem bothered that he's being called to the principal's office here. ]

[devilsavocado]

[ What's worse, a private place where Matt can kill him or a public place where they can cause a scene... there's not really any winning in this situation, and Matt is realizing that is very likely by design.

Matt runs a hand down his face. ]

Find me when the party's over. We'll go to a bar.

[notthekingpin]

Or, you could just tell me now, instead of ruining the whole thing by standing here angrily.

[ the vibes are dank matt. they're dank. ]

[devilsavocado]

[ The vibes are indeed "dank." God. Matt rolls his shoulders, the movement calling to mind the pain he'd felt from Murdock's hidden cane sword.

Gritting his teeth then, Matt does his best impression of a normal person, staring straight ahead. He speaks in a level voice, so forced it's practically painful to hear. ]

You killed me. I don't know what else you expect me to say.

[notthekingpin]

You seem rather lively for a dead man.

[ So it's...fine??? ]

[devilsavocado]

Yeah, I got better.

[ Matt spits. He may be joking a little here, but he's still pissed. ]

It still hurt like hell, though. And you didn't know it wouldn't be permanent -- you could have killed me. Permanently.

[notthekingpin]

The rules clearly said that death could be a win condition. Ergo, death wasn't permanent. You can't win if it sticks.

[ Matt shrugs, it clearly doesn't bother him. Like it didn't occur to him for even a second that he might end up killing Matt permanently. ]

There's no point to killing you permanently. Although it would've been more fun if you'd fought like you might die.

[devilsavocado]

That kind of thing something you're used to? Death tends to be permanent where I'm from.

[ Matt simmers with rage, a smile plastered on his face while he's still clearly very angry. ]

And look, I didn't expect my alternate universe self to be a trained killer. Kind of threw me off my game a little.

[notthekingpin]

Is any of this what you're used to? When in Rome, Matty.

[ He's perfectly chill in response, here. Even for all Matt just gets so very angry, he's just cool as a cucumber. ]

Well that was your first mistake, wasn't it? Never assume.

[devilsavocado]

[ Matt sighs, frustrated as he clenches and unclenches his hold on his cane. Goddammit, it's annoying when he's mad and you're cool, Murdock. It's not like Matt's going to just assume death has no consequence here. God is supposed to help with that (let's not go there.) ]

Right. So Stick taught you how to kill. And you just went for it. It's that easy.

[ A killer, Matt? A prosecutor, he could almost forgive. But a killer!? ]

[notthekingpin]

I told you. Stick is dead.

[ It's the first sign of agitation. Matt stiffens, his hold on his cane a little tighter. ]

What's the point of spilling my secrets, if you aren't going to even remember them?

[devilsavocado]

[ Hit a nerve, did he? Matt isn't as dumb as he looks -- he's as dangerous in the courtroom as he is in the ring for a reason. ]

He's dead in my world, too.

[ He tilts his head, listening closely for any cracks in Murdock's armor. ]

It wasn't Stick.

[notthekingpin]

He taught me, until he was killed. I would've been killed that night, too.

[ But he wasn't, and now here he is. ]

[devilsavocado]

But you weren't. The people who killed Stick got you instead.

[ He doesn't have to say it, does he? ]

[notthekingpin]

[ Yes, Matt had already explained the Hand killed Stick, so it's pretty clear. Matt just shrugs, though. ]

I think that depends on your definition of "people." I killed most of the individuals trying to kill the two of us. But when their supervisors showed up they weren't super happy with this turn of events.

[devilsavocado]

[ Lord, he almost can't blame him if the Hand showed up and killed Stick -- Murdock already didn't have anyone... but still!

He takes a sharp breath, his tone biting. ]

You work for the Hand.

[ Killed Elektra and can resurrect the dead, those guys?? Oh, god, Murdock is definitely his evil twin. The fact that there's a version of him out there that would do this... Matt's gonna need a minute. ]

How the hell does that work?

[notthekingpin]

Pajama Friday every day.

[ Thank you Gwen Earth-65 for that descriptor. ]