expiationlogs | [open] gwen's birthday bash

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. ]

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You seem rather lively for a dead man.

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

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.

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.

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.

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.

[ 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!? ]

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?

[ 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.

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

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

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

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

[ 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.

[ 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?

Edited 2024-05-30 01:00 (UTC)

Pajama Friday every day.

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

Stop.

[ Fuck. Even angry as hell, that nearly makes Matt smile. ]

That's not funny.

I can hear you smiling, don't pretend.

[ :) ]

That's not how hearing works.

[ Fuck. Goddammit. Why is Matt a bleeding heart with a hard-on for people stronger than him. Why is he picturing himself in Murdock's shoes and feeling sympathy for this guy. He killed him!! ]

And I'm still mad at you.

[ But it is very noticeably not as bad as it was earlier. Fuck. He hates that he can see how things could go so wrong. ]

[ To be fair, Murderdock did admit that he killed A BUNCH of Hand guys at a very, very young age. It's fair to assume he's pretty #fuckedup actually ]

I'm sure you are, and that's fine. Just don't ruin Gwen's party.

[ Matt tried so hard to gloss over that when Murdock was going over his tragic backstory. In his defense, Matt's background is so tragic. It was a lot to go over. ]

Fine. [ Matt rolls his eyes. I mean, kinda. You know what I mean. ] I'll try.

[ He'll ease up, in other words. Maybe be less of a gargoyle over here. ]

You actually care about her?

Yes. You don't have to understand, but it's true.

[ In fact he pretty much does not think that Matt could understand. There's a sacred bond between hero and archvillain. It's just what it is. ]

[ Matt does not understand the hero/villain bond (he hates Fisk to the end of the Earth and would rather he rot behind bars forever,) but he does understand the "there's a teen child who has gone through some shit and I want to protect them" thing, so he won't pry or call out Murdock on his weirdness. ]

I believe you.

[ Plus, dammit, if Murdock can care about people then he really isn't totally evil. Which, of course, Matt knows deep down, but it's just. Frustrating. Kinda makes Matt wanna punch him but like just in an aggressive way, not to hurt him. How could you do this? Nah, those are thoughts for later. It's fine. ]

I should go say hi. I don't think we've actually met.

[ yeah matt wait for your weird kinks for after the party ]

Okay, you kids have fun.

[ Extremely rude, like you don't also consider violence a form of foreplay at times, Matthew. ]

Sure.

[ He'll find you yet, Murdock........ This isn't over!!! (It's over for now, though.) ]

[open] gwen's birthday bash

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