#thank you for testing me anon lmao

[londonfoginacup]

The mythological symbol of a ladder extending from Earth to heaven appeared in a dream to Jacob, son of Isaac. The icon of a cosmic stairway on which angels move up and down between the earth below and Yahweh at the top is recorded in the Hebrew bible. Within the major world religions, the image of the sky ladder is little more than a vestige of a motif that played a far more prominent role in ancient cosmologies worldwide. You don't know your bible.

(Note: religion and theology talk ahead)

Ex… Excuse me??????? I wake up to THIS?? Anon what. WHAT.

“You don’t know your Bible” oh my god I have never felt so insulted. I don’t fall for anon bait usually but jfc you’ve found my weak spot. WHAT. Are you really trying to imply that my funny little Daylight/Late Night Talking fanart was in reference to JACOB’S LADDER?

(Screencapped like this to make it smaller)

What. Do you think I am unaware of the theological interpretations of Jacob’s Ladder? The ladder that Jacob saw in a dream/vision while fleeing from Esau? Are you trying to make me aware of the many interpretations of Jacob’s Ladder, anon, that perhaps it’s referring to the many exiles of the Jewish people (I lean toward that one), or that it signifies the bridge between Earth and heaven (as Jacob was likely on Mount Moriah at the time), or perhaps that it’s a representation of the personal struggle with sin over a lifetime, the way one ascends and falls? Is it a representation of the covenant between God and his people? Or even the Islamic interpretation, which I do not pretend to know nearly as much about, that the ladder represents the straight and narrow path? Or, as you refer to the Bible, I assume you are looking for the common Christian interpretation where this ladder is God bridging the gap to Man, unlike when Man tried to do the opposite with the Tower of Babel, now Jesus himself is the ladder, as he himself states in John 1:50-51?

Anon. ANON. You come to ME about religion? Would you perhaps like to see the photo I took MYSELF of the Jacob’s ladder that climbs the side of the cathedral in Bath? (Trick question you can’t because I’m at work and it’s on my home computer)

Well first of all I’ll have you know that the art I made was based off of this post “second mv now where he's coming from the sky...”. Like??? I was doing art based on the symbolism of Harry’s videos. Come on. If this was a ladder ascending to the heavens, Harry would be a HELL OF A LOT HIGHER UP. PLANES FLY HIGHER THAN THAT BOY. I assume that the vision is more of him creating a separation for himself, of coming down to interact with the world and ascending back to safety. Also, if anything, I would look at the art I made and deduce a sort of princess and the pea idea from it. A stranded princess sleeping atop an offered bed while people around watch to see if she really is the princess she says she is, waiting for her to fail at the tasks given her, an audience intent on hoping she will miss the pea under her heaven-high stack of mattresses, or hoping perhaps that she’ll just fall off the ladder.

Anon. NOTHING in this art was biblical allegory. And if it was? You would be able to tell! I am not subtle with my allegories!

Perhaps you would like to read my Christmas fic Unto You in which I wrote the story of the birth of Christ as an a/b/o fic set in Victorian England where Harry is Mother Mary. IS THAT SUBTLE ENOUGH FOR YOU?

Or, actually more subtle, my Big Bang fic Through a Mirror Dimly the title of which references 1 Corinthians 13:12 “For now we see in a mirror dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I have been fully known.”‬ ‭(ESV‬‬ version), in which I use that verse in reference to the darkness that Louis in that fic is living in, as someone struggling with undiagnosed OCD and whose roommate is not able to see him for who he truly is until the truth is revealed.

“little more than a vestige of a motif that played a far more prominent role in ancient cosmologies worldwide” Your attempt at pretentiousness is lost when you are not fighting a real battle. Come to me when you want to have a real conversation about the apologetic implications of Phil 1:15-18 and using biblical types as trope in fic. Then we can talk.

[inkykeiji]

I AM SO EXCITED FOR UR CHAT GAME LFKOSOSKZOQKSHI EACH TIME U TALK ABOUT IT I CRYYYYYYY

I AM SO EXCITED THAT U ARE SO EXCITED i have so many ideas and i’m really really really eager to get feedback from everyone who’s interested in it so i can move forward in a more productive manner!!!!!

ha ha ha every time i talk about it i cry as well bcoz it literally makes me want to jump off a roof sometimes lol 。ﾟ(ﾟﾉД｀ﾟ)ﾟ｡ but i think ultimately it will be worth all the work n tears

[hysteria-things]

can u do a story of like chris sturnolio being a dad ??

UNEXPECTED TURNS

𝐩𝐚𝐢𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐠: dad!chris x reader

𝐬𝐮𝐦𝐦𝐚𝐫𝐲: at first, you were devastated to find out that you were pregnant at this age. now, realization hits and turns out it’s not so bad for not only you; but chris too.

𝐰𝐚𝐫𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐬: FLUFFY, angst in the beginning, flashbacks, panic attack

𝐰𝐨𝐫𝐝 𝐜𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐭: 760

𝐚𝐮𝐭𝐡𝐨𝐫'𝐬 𝐧𝐨𝐭𝐞: IVE BEEN WAITING FOR A REQUEST LIKE THIS I FIND THESE SO CUTE!

was gonna save this for another day but i’m too impatient LMAO

i’m trying to get through my inbox so there should be lots to come! hope you like it anon :)

*flashback*

‘pregnant’

you read the word at least ten times on the test in your violently shaking hand.

a sob leaves your throat as you tremble. “no.” you choke out.

you try your best to grab your phone and text chris, your boyfriend. you need him here, and you need him here now.

“y/n?” his voice echoes through the house. you steadied your breathing, but you’re still a trembling and crying mess on the bathroom floor.

you hear footsteps coming up the steps. “y/n?” he calls out again.

he runs over to the bathroom door and opens it. the panic shoots through your body again when you see him, and you breathe heavily. “i’m sorry.” you say between sobs.

chris worries all over his face. he kneels to you to take your shaky hands in his. “sorry about what? oh my god, what happened?”

you point to the counter where the test is. he knits his eyebrows together and grabs it off the countertop. he scans over it for a few beats before looking into your crying eyes.

he sets the test down, taking his thumbs and trying his best to rub as many tears away. “i’m sorry.” you repeat.

he brings your head into his chest and tries to shush you. “you have nothing to be sorry about.”

he rubs up and down your body in a soothing motion, whispering in your ear. he rocks you from side to side.

his chin is resting on top of your head. “i’m with you on whatever decision you make. you know that right?” he tells you, kissing your head.

you nod. your ear is on his heartbeat, which is strangely calm. you close your eyes to focus on the rhythm, your breathing steadying along with it.

*9 months later*

tears of joy leave your eyes when the doctor carefully places your daughter in your arms. chris held onto your hand tight the whole birth. he rests his forehead on yours and kisses your nose, then the top of your little girl’s head.

“thank you for giving her to me.” you smile at chris.

“are you kidding? you’re the one that went through hell for nine months.” you and him both chuckle. “you’re a warrior, y/n. don’t ever forget that.”

holding your child for the first time is a different type of love. you never want to let them go.

despite both of you being 20, you know you guys can be the best parents to your baby girl.

*now*

chris sighs when he hears your one-year-old in the pack-and-play he set up in the living room. she’s been crying nonstop.

he gets up from the couch and walks over, leaning to get a better view of her. “what is it, little miss?” he says, reaching into the pack-and-play to pick her up.

she stops her crying to look at her father for a split second, but then goes back to the tantrum. “ma-ma.” she cries.

“your mama is taking a nap. she needs to rest.”

that only makes sadie cry harder, and chris tuts. “let’s take a look outside.”

you guys bought a house during your pregnancy, still close to his and your family. it came with a beautiful backyard.

ever since sadie was born, she has been so fascinated by looking outside. it always worked to calm down her little outbursts.

chris turns so his back is facing the glass door. her head rests on his shoulder as she looks at the summer greenery and flowers. her crying immediately stops, and now she’s doing rapid sniffles.

he rubs her back in a soothing circular motion and rocks from side to side. “i don’t like when you’re this upset, little miss. everything’s okay, i promise.”

her cheek rests on his shoulder, her breathing going back to normal.

when it seems to be a little too quiet, he peeks to look at her face, seeing sadie holding on tight to his arm and sleeping peacefully.

he rolls his eyes but smiles. “so dramatic.” he mumbles. “i wonder who you get it from.”

chris walks the sleeping infant into her nursery to set her down in the crib. before doing so, he kissed her on the cheek.

he stays there to admire what’s in front of him. she most definitely has your face and hair, but she has his blue eyes.

this was not a part of the plan in your relationship; at least not this soon. however, you guys wouldn’t want it any other way.

and that’s the beauty of unexpected turns.

𝐭𝐚𝐠 𝐥𝐢𝐬𝐭!

@bunbunbl0gs @lexisecretaccx @thy-mission @angelic-sturniolos111 @sophssturn @mattsneezing @janiellasblog @blahbel668 @meg-sturniolo @hearts4chris @mattslolita @sturnbaby @imwetforyourmom

[lowkeyrobin]

hi pookie can I get an mcyt with reader that bakes?? Like they'll just come in on stream and give mcyts a fucking platter of baked goods lol

-🎀 anon

oooo yes omg!! thank you 🎀 anon! <3 got the whole gang in here for this one LOL

MCYT ; "in my baker era"

includes ; tommyinnit, tubbo, ranboo, badlinu, nihachu, quackity, foolish gamers, slimecicle, karl jacobs, & cellbit

warnings ; language, mentions of drugs

masterlist

TOMMYINNIT

"Hi y/n- oh, thank you, darling!'

literally has the widest smile on his face

shows off the goods to the stream

"do these have any drugs in them? me n charlie are trying to sell drugs, y/n. we need more stock"

you hear charlie screaming through tommys headphones, "we need the grain, y/n! we need THE GRAIN"

bro is munching away on those cookies holy shit

he feeds chat as well dw

TUBBO

"Oh, hi y/n/n. wh- ohmygosh, thank you!"

smiles and gives you a little hug before showing off the goodies to stream & his friends

"look what y/n made me! I can't wait to try these" He smiles looking back at you

"new recipe, tell me if you like them"

"will do!"

he gives you a thumbs up as he shoves his mouth full of the cupcakes

safe to say he's a fan of the birthday cake flavored cupcakes

RANBOO

"Hey babe! Oh, thank you!"

does a whole 360 of the plate for chat 💀💀💀💀

"Oh my God, these are so fucking good"

"guys, y/ns in their baking era. can you write an album about that? please become Taylor swift for us"

"BAHHAHAHAH"

literally takes a picture as per usual and posts it to Twitter LMAO

he gets some fans to send you recipes you should try for a serious baking stream LMAO

BADLINU

"Hey love- oh, hi!"

all smiles and shit, he swears you have a sixth sense to know when people are hungry

"guys, y/n made me some bisexuality cake!" He giggles, showing off the tri-colored cake on the plate

he was making a video with harry, tubbo & tommy so everyone had their facecams on

it was like a three tier cake you made and cut out a slice for him

the inside was just the bi flag and the outside was plain white with some fun icing piper testing

he tries it and it's SO MOIST AND SOFT IT IS PERFECT.

there's just 5 raw minutes of him telling you how amazing this fucking cake is LMAO

QUACKITY

"Hey, I'm streaming ba- ohmyfuckinggodthankyou!!"

does a 360 of the plate for the camera

"Holy shit these look so fucking good, thank you so much, y/n"

he's literally just streaming on the qsmp with roeir and fit and he like games and eats the damn cookies at the same time LMFAO

"Dude I feel like I'm high, these are so good, what's in this shit?"

"cocaine"

"WHAT!? DID YOU JUST DRUG ME? GUYS, MY PARTNER DRUGGED ME, HELP"

you're just playing into the bit dw

best red velvet cookies he's ever eaten

CELLBIT

"Hey darling, what's up?"

you hand him the little strawberry shortcake and he just looks at you like 😍😍

turns to his stream and shoves the plate up to the camera all happy like "Oh my God look what they made for me!"

he eats the entirety of it on stream and asks you a bunch of questions

like how you made it, where you found the recipe, etc

he shares it with you too 💔🫶

NIHACHU

"Hi honey! Ooo, what's this called?"

"Chocolate mousse. it's a little thick because it's my first time making it but let me know if it's good"

she holds that little glass like it's her child

she tries it with a tiny spoon you gave her and she's like "oh my God this is amazing, y/n/n"

shows it off to the friends she's streaming with too

"send them more recipes guys, I wanna be spoiled with sweets!"

"thank you nikis viewers!! love you all"

FOOLISH GAMERS

when I tell you this man's face LIGHTS UP.

"you made me fudge? oh my God! I love you"

literally spends the next 15 minutes talking to you and gobbling the fudge down

"since when do you make fudge??"

"since I wanted to try" you shrug

"you should totally make some more... when you're not busy and if you want to!"

"Thank you y/n! everyone say thank you!"

KARL JACOBS

"Hi babe! Oh my God, thank you!!"

literally jumping around

you made him a chocolate cake, and the icing was multicolored and you made sure to make it like karl themed basically

it was so cute omg

"guys!! look what they made me, I love my partner so fucking much!"

gives you multiple kisses before he gulps it down lmaooo

SLIMECICLE

"Oh, hi y/n! thank you so much"

does a 360 for stream

"when did you find time to make this? I thought you were at work????"

"special treat" you shrug

you watch him run across the qsmp and go to ems bakery to sit inside and eat it 😭

he keeps you on stream for a while cause chat loves you n stuff 🫶🫶

[sadesluvr]

Hi, if you're fine with it could you write doctor!William and patient!fem!reader and William fucks the reader in her hospital bed after lying to her about something. What it is, up to you. Happy holidays!

A/N: Thanks for the respectful ask Anon! Happy new year!!🎉 The irony of this was that the day before I got this req I’d literally read a fic for another fandom that was similar to the concept lmao. I’m sorry it’s taken a while, thanks for being patient! :)

WARNING: Reader is a little naive, or has amnesia (You chose). Below the cut will contain dub-con, manipulation and abuse of power. Minors DNI, and read at your own discretion. 

“Dr Afton…Am I going to be okay?”

“Of course, sweetheart. You’re under my care after all…”

You’d come to Dr Afton a few weeks ago, concerned with the fact that you couldn’t seem to fall asleep. You’d tried essential oils, music, even pills - all to no avail. Now, not only could you not sleep, but you were even more tired than before, becoming no stranger to headaches and irritability.

William had almost cum in his pants when you’d come back to him, eyes heavy and on the brink of tears; desperate and pleading for him to ‘fix’ you. In that moment, he almost felt bad that he’d given you stimulants, the same given to people who suffered from narcolepsy.

Today you were lying flat on the sterile medical beds, face up as your legs were spread in stirrups. Dr Afton had requested you to take off your underwear, and your pussy was exposed to the cool of the room. You were a little embarrassed, but luckily a sheet was draped over the bottom half, so you couldn’t see the man’s face.

“What is it?” you asked slowly, hearing as the man clicked his flashlight off. He sighed and hummed, and you’d come to know that it wasn’t one of promise.

“Forgive me for asking, sweetheart, but…How many sexual partners have you had?” he said, clearing his throat.

You swallowed.

“Um…One?” you said unsurely, biting your lip. “It was a while ago…On prom night,”

“Hm,” William said, and the corners of his lips twitched into a smirk. He didn’t know how you’d made it through three years of college without sex, but he was certainly glad. “I think I’ve found the source of your problem…”

“Really?” you squealed, and William adjusted his glasses in anticipation. Even though he’d locked the door, there was still a risk. If a nurse was to try and wander in, it would certainly ring alarm bells. He’d have to make this quick.

“Uh-huh,” he sang, and you were pleased to hear the glee in his voice. Dr Afton took his job so seriously! “Sweetheart, the source of your insomnia isn’t from the head - well, not directly - but your hormones. Most specifically, your endocrine system,”

“Oh,” you said. You remembered that stuff from high school. But how did that have anything to do with sleeping?

William sighed.

“The secret to a good night's rest is simply through achieving orgasm. You haven’t had sex in four years - and I assume you don’t masturbate - and your hormones are all messed up because of it. Upon reaching orgasm, we release oxytocin - the happy hormone - which in turn makes us relaxed, and then sleepy. Not to mention the physical movement that comes with sex,”

You were in shock. How could it have been so simple? How were you going to start having these, let alone every night so that you could sleep?

“Dr Afton, I –”

“No worrying about it, darling,” he hummed, beginning to shush you. “I’ve got just the thing…”

He was oh-so quiet as he zipped down his pants, his already hard cock jutting out of the hole. Taking off his gloves, he gave himself a few languid strokes before placing a hand on your knee, peeking over the cloth to get a glimpse at you. You were staring up at him with curious eyes, squirming slightly under his cold hands. It was different without his gloves.

“I’m just going to run a few tests, okay?” he smiled, blue eyes wide and sparkling. “It may hurt, and it might feel a little uncomfortable, but it’s going to help, okay? Call my name if you want something, alright?”

You nodded.

“W-What is your name?” you said, suddenly shy. Calling a doctor by their first name felt strangely intimate. 

“William,” he said, nodding at you before he disappeared back under the sheet, placing his hands on your thighs to signal for you to spread them apart. As you did, he lined his cock up with your entrance, taking a moment to rub his nub; pink and leaking with precum, along your folds. He let out a low groan as he felt you tremble.

“Just one of my tools, baby,” he assured you. “Don’t worry, it’s sterile, of course,”

You shut your eyes and scrunched your nose at the feeling. Whatever William was using was warm, slightly sticky and thick, yet it was making you feel good. You felt your thighs begin to quiver in anticipation, a hot, pulsing sensation rushing to your privates, in turn making it easier for William’s tool to glide across your pussy.

He hummed at the feeling of you growing wetter. Slyly, he placed his thumb onto your clit, beginning to rub it in circles as he pushed his head into you without warning, making you gasp. He hissed as he sank deeper into you, hands gripping the styrofoam of the chair, his body looming over you slightly. He could see the top of your face, eyebrows furrowed to the ceiling at the strange sensation, your lips slightly parted and wet. He longed to be able to kiss them; to hold you a little closer as he took all of you, but time was of the essence.

“You’re doing so well, sweetheart,” he smiled. “Almost there…”

He grumbled, choking back a moan as he bottomed into you, glancing down to admire your skin-on-skin contact. You were so fucking tight, and wet, that he was surprised he hadn’t broken you - much more he cum right on the stop.

“W-William…” you moaned, covering your mouth at the whorish sound. “It’s — The tool…It’s big…”

“Does it feel good?” was all he said, and he smirked as you nodded, a small whine escaping your mouth as you did. The man chuckled and adjusted his glasses. “This is gonna put you to sleep baby, I promise,”

He withdrew his hips before slamming them back into you, your head lolling against the rest. The sudden pressure was alarming, but it felt amazing, and as if a miracle had taken place you could feel your body relaxing already. Your breasts moved with the contact under the plastic garment, and you reached up to cup them, in turn making you feel even better. William grinned, watching in awe as your pussy took him completely, keeping up with the frantic movements from his greedy thrusts. He wished you were a virgin, that he could’ve popped your cherry right there and then, hugging and comforting you at the fact that you’d bled. Still, you only having one man (boy was the far more accurate term) was far better than two, and he could tell that you moaned and gripped him that this was what you were missing in your life. Desperate to bring you to your peak, he rubbed your clit eagerly, the feeling of his throbbing cock sliding in and out of you effortlessly bringing you to a point of overstimulation. Your raw nipples rubbed against the material of your gown, creating a friction that both pleasured you and made the nubs harden further, practically displaying themselves for William. A thumb on your clit turned into an index finger in your pussy, gently moving against the man’s own base. William’s grunts, the filling, yet rhythmic sensation and the build up of tears in your eyes at your sheer emotion was building up to too much.

It was bittersweet agony when you came. You didn’t know for how long, but you knew you blacked out, eyes rolling to the back of your skull as your chest heaved and legs quivered. For a moment, William was nothing, just a figment of your imagination, but a wet, sticky sensation filling your cunt and dripping down your thighs brought you back to life.

Your limbs felt lifeless, eyes heavy, and a warm feeling spread across your body. Dr Afton had been right all along.

“I hope you feel better, sweetheart,” he said, words nothing but a jumble in your brain as you came down from your high. “Do note that this is only a temporary fix – I’ll need to see you in three days for an immediate checkup. From there, we’ll need to work out a year-long schedule. It’s imperative I monitor your progress.”

[cryptotheism]

hi i know this is stupid because we['re all anon anyway but im og indigo child anon and i sent you a retraction and a thank you for correcting me like RIGHT after the first response and i need you to know i am not freaks one through However Many or im going to simply Perish Of Embarrassment im so sorry alskjdlaksjdl

Lmao you're fine anon. Sometimes people just need to say something out loud to test it. It's important.

[goaways-stuff]

Reader edge Steven a lot and denial his orgasm. hehehe

Thanks for the request, anon! So sorry this took soong to get to!

Feels Better That Way

pairing: Steven Grant x gn! reader (brief mentions of Marc and Jake)

warnings: smut, oral (m receiving), edging, orgasm denial, p in "v" (no mentions of a vagina, just a hole lmao), unprotected sex, spit as lube, no pronouns used for reader

rating: M (18+)

summary: Steven has a hard day at work, so the reader finds a way to make him feel better

word count: ~1.2k

The front door slammed with more force than usual, causing you to jump from instinct. Of course, you immediately relaxed once you saw your beloved Steven sighing and throwing his jacket off. Your heart sank a little though, seeing his worn-out features: tired eyes, sagged shoulders, a solemn face. He looked as though he got hit by the same bus that he rode to and from work. You waited a second before confronting him.

"What happened, darling? Rough day at work?" You inquired, walking to him and offering a hug.

Steven flew into your arms, holding you close and breathing you in. Even just that relaxed him a bit. "Oh, don't even get me started, love. Donna was worse than normal, and then there was this majorly entitled lady who kept demanding discounts on everything, and Marc and Jake kept going on about some mission for Khonshu; it was just awful."

You squeezed him tighter, giving him the reassurance he needed from the day. "Let me take care of you, Steven. Please?"

"Are you sure, darling? You don't have to-"

"Yes, I'm so sure. Let me make you feel better, yeah?"

"Yeah, yes- alrighty then," He said breathily as you started kissing his neck gently.

You led him over to the bed, laying him down on his back.

"Do you trust me, Steven?" You inquired as you straddled him.

"Of course, love- with my life," He said, relaxing into this position.

"Just tell me if it gets too much, yeah? What's the safeword?"

"Pyramid."

"Good boy," you said, grinding your hips down into his. You leaned down to pepper him with kisses, gaining a smile from him.

You coaxed him up a bit in order to lift his shirt off, exposing his bare chest. You moved your kisses to his neck, making your way down to his collarbone. You left your marks, claiming him. Not that you had any need to; he would rather die before he left you.

He whined as you rubbed your hand over his chest, lightly brushing over his nipple. Steven and his sensitive nipples. You brought your mouth to one, testing the waters. You gave it a gentle kiss, causing Steven to let out a soft moan. His hand came to your ass, giving it a gentle squeeze of encouragement. You continued your assault on his nipples, licking them until he was turning to putty beneath you.

He praised you and your mouth as he jerked his hips up into yours, desperate for more friction. A wet spot had formed on his pants from precum, and a visible outline of his cock had formed. Poor boy.

You moved down until you had settled between his legs. Your hands ran down his thick thighs, enjoying his neediness. You took your sweet time unbuckling his belt and sliding his pants down before rubbing your hand over his prominent bulge in his undies.

You gave it a soft kiss before sliding his briefs down as well.

"Please, darling- I need you." Steven begged. His hand found its place in your hair, massaging your scalp in encouragement.

You took in the sight before you. Steven's eyebrows furrowed with his mouth slightly open and eyes begging for you; the sweat that had started to build on his chest and his happy trail leading to his leaking cock.

You took his thick cock in your hand, smearing the precum as you jerked him. The moans that left him were heavenly. He was the loudest of the three, and boy, did you love it. He whines and whimpers and calls your name as you bring him to the edge with your hand.

"Oh fuck, love, I'm so close," He breathed out. You gave him a few more strokes before stopping, causing a loud whine to emit from him.

"What? I- I was so close."

"You cum when I say, Steven."

He whined in protest, but he didn't say no. He loved it when you edged him. He knew how good it would feel when he was finally allowed to cum, but he was so close just then.

You started your movements again but slower. You brought him to your mouth and gave the most gentle kiss to his tip. His hand gripped tighter in your hair as you focused solely on his tip with your mouth. You circled and sucked and licked, making sure to make it nice and sloppy. You brought him right to the edge again before letting go once more. He protested by bucking his hips up, chasing your mouth.

His chest heaved as he tried to come down from his near orgasm. You traced circles on his thigh and left soft kisses on his tummy to help.

"Okay, you can start again, darling," He said.

You took no hesitation as you worked to take his entirety in your mouth. You breathed through your nose and your throat contracted around his cock.

"Oh- fuck- darling, that's so good. You're so good to me- please don't stop," He praised. You moved your mouth up and down, using your spit as lube as you sucked him until he was all but screaming. He tried so hard not to buck his hips into you, but the more you went, the harder it was. His breathing was ragged, and his praises trailed off into incoherent mumblings. His cock began twitching in your mouth before you pulled off with a pop. He swore he could cry.

"You're doing so good baby, so good for me," you said as you climbed up on his lap. "You wanna be inside me?"

He nodded before you even finished your sentence. "Please, Y/N, I need to feel you. I need you please," He said.

You kissed him with great feverishness as you let him slip inside you, your spit acting as lube. You clenched hard around him, causing him to buck his hips. You moaned in tandem as you ground your hips down into his. His hands moved to your hips, squeezing as though he was trying to mold you. Even with his hand on your waist, he let you set the pace. You started slow, just to tease him a little bit longer before you picked up the pace. He began meeting your thrusts as he got closer and closer to his release. The begging and praising started up once more. You felt yourself building up as well, but you knew if you didn't say anything, he would reach his before you reached your.

"Hold it, Steven. Don't cum until I say," You warned.

He nodded his head as he gripped your ass, pulling you as close as humanly possible. You were getting closer, just a little bit more and-

"Steven, cum with me. Cum inside me Steven. Please, baby, need it-please," you begged as you hit your climax. You seized as Steven continued thrusting, spilling his release deep inside you.

You rolled off, and you both whined and the loss of contact. Your chest heaved as you came down from your high, slowly floating back down.

"How do you feel, Steven?"

"Much better, love. But I am hungry now. What do you want for dinner?"

"Is take-out okay?

"That's perfect, love," Steven said, kissing you and pulling you into his arms, nuzzling your neck. You gave a hum of contentment. Take-out could wait a few minutes.

[orion4ever]

HIIII! It's the paranormal enthusiast mc anon again, I loved that SMSM THANK YOUUU! I'm back with another request :)

(Sorry if this is worded wierd, I couldn't figure out how to word it lmao)

Could I request a Baxter x past dance partner MC? MC used to do competitive dancing, and during contests and competitions in their past the two were often paired together. They immediately clicked the first time they danced together, and paired with eachother every chance they could get. After step 2, maybe mc stopped dancing or something happened that caused them to stop being paired together/not see eachother as often, and they didn't meet again until the summer :)

gsjskw aaaaaah I don't know how to word this correctly and I apologize if it's too specific, feel free to change this around or edit it if you want to!

Thank you again, and have a wonderful day/night! :>

Author’s Note: ….Okay this is freaky af because I WAS LITERALLY RETHINKING THIS SCENARIO IN MY HEAD. Are you a mind reader? 😦 if you couldn’t tell, I went HARD with this request! I wrote this with the MC and Baxter not meeting at the Soiree moment but at this competition instead.

Pairing: Baxter Ward x MC

🖤🤍

Let me set the stage-

You and Baxter are both very talented dancers , maybe the best in the pacific region’s teen category.

You have been fostering this skill since you were a little kid and have proven to your dancing instructor at the Cypress of your affinity with ballroom dancing.

All the cypresses in America held a ballroom dance competition with each Cypress nominating one person per age group to represent their location at the contest.

At age 13, you were selected to represent the teen and pre-teen category!

You were a bit nervous about it, especially it being your first competition.

You also didn’t expect to be making a charming new friend, or a future summer boyfriend.

˚ ༘♡ ·˚ ₊˚ˑ༄ؘ

You stood in the huge dancing hall, the tall shiny roof and shiny marble floors showing a reflection of yourself. The trip hadn’t been too long, this year’s annual competition took place at a Cypress in Nevada.

You looked around the room and noticed people of varying ages, you zeroed in on any kids around your age to ‘scope out the competition’ as your instructor would call it.

In the distance, an older gentleman pulled a mic from under a cabinet in a far-off corner of the room and tapped it a few times.

“Testing….testing…Welcome! To the annual ballroom competition. We would like to thank all our out-of-staters for making the trip to the Cypress’s Nevada location.”

The big room echoed with a loud applause from the crowd. The older man allowed them to finish before continuing.

“For any new competitors, I will quickly go over any etiquette and rules. Two competitors, each representing a different state but sharing an age category will pair up. They will be competing together and will both receive a trophy for their Cypress.”

Some of the pre-teens groaned at having to socialize with strangers, earning a few giggles from the older dancers.

“We do this to save on time and…to make it more interesting. As dancers, you should experiment with other dancing partners to see who matches your style and rhythm; like a therapist.”

The older gentleman added that last part to joke but it only earned a cough and an awkward laugh from the other side of the room.

“…AHEM. Uh yeah! We will start with the younger category, Categories teens and up should begin pairing with their dancing partners. Remember, it’s all friendly competition here!”

The older gentleman put the mic down and scratched his head, clearly embarrassed that his one joke landed flat.

The little kids all ran towards the middle of the dance floor and started pairing up quickly with each other, laughing and already giving each other hugs.

You envied how quickly they could make friends and pair up, maybe it’s them not having any awkwardness to them yet. You couldn’t say the same for the other categories all either awkwardly shuffling towards new people or instantly jogging towards acquaintances and friends.

You stood to the side and looked around, you were a bit anxious about the possibility that you would be left without a partner. You weren’t mentally prepared to meet any new dance partner.

You twiddled your thumbs and watched on. You were just about to test your luck with a teen who looked just as awkward when you felt a noticeable tap on your shoulder.

You turned around and spotted a very handsome boy, maybe a year older than you. His casual smile widened when he got a look at your face. His hair was a dark black. His skin, was pale and pink at the cheeks. A mole placed on his neck and finally the most intense

Deep brown eyes.

He looked as if he should be modeling for DIOR or if he should be a star in some movie. His neatly pressed suit made him look like a prince.

“Hello there. I am Baxter, Baxter Ward.” He introduced himself, extending a hand for you to shake.

“I noticed that you don’t have a partner and I was hoping to fix that.” He said. The young man had a distinctive voice.

You gave him a neutral smile and shook his hand back.

“I am Y/N L/N. It’s nice to meet you.” You greeted him in return and then answered his question.

“That would be great actually, This is my first competition so I am a little all over the place.” You chuckled nervously, rubbing your arm. The brown-eyed boy nodded.

“It gets easier, I promise.” He reassured before asking a different question.

“Which state are you representing?”

“Oh, uh I am representing California!” You replied, crossing your arms proudly. Baxter’s face somehow brightened even more.

“Oh, wow! How wonderful, I am representing Oregon.” He chuckled. You made a small exaggerated gasp before lightly clapping your hands together.

“We’re like..like neighbors! That's so cool!” You grinned.

Baxter paused at the thought, putting a hand to his chin in an equally exaggerated way.

“I never thought of it that way..” he said thoughtfully before giving you a polite but genuine smile.

“Let’s do good for Oregon and California then.” He said confidently, you nodded at the sentiment.

You and your new dance partner now stood next to each other, watching the little babies dance with each other. While they’re dancing was silly, they all looked to be having fun and some even paused their swinging to ask the other what their favorite colors were or if they wanted to get ice cream after the competition.

Baxter made an amused sound before turning back to you, wanting to make conversation and also…wanting to hear your insight.

“If only we could all make friends that quickly.” He sighed softly, stuffing a hand in his pocket.

“Tell me about it.” You chuckled. “What makes it easier for them anyway? Are they just more social?” You questioned more to fill the air than actually wanting hearing an answer so you weren’t expecting Baxter to reply with his own opinion.

“I personally think it’s because they aren’t as burdened with fears of rejection yet, it makes them more confident.” He commented. You blinked before agreeing.

“That makes sense. I wonder where all that confidence goes when we age.”

It was silent again, the younger categories finished up their round with everybody including the both of you, giving a round of applause for them.

“We will now have the preteen and teen division go up next.”

Baxter turned to you and offered a hand. “Shall we?”

You in return, took his hand “We shall.”

The two of you walked to the middle of the room and got into position. Baxter took the initiative and offered to lead. The older gentleman behind the counter hit a few buttons to activate the music in the speakers. The other contestants began to dance and spin around, unlike how silly and unserious the way the babies danced; everybody currently on the floor struggled to get acquainted with their dance partner’s style. Lots of accidental stepping-on and half spins that didn’t go through.

You and Baxter were extremely different though. While you guys did start a little rocky, with never dancing with each other before. The two of you warmed up quickly and danced very well together.

You two swung and spun around as if you guys had danced with each other billions of times.

But more importantly, it looked as if Baxter was having fun dancing with you.

And you enjoyed how familiar and fun it was to dance with him.

Baxter whispered something to you, “You are very talented,….and you have nice legs.”

“Wait what?”

It was now an unofficial tradition to pair up together, and you guys did for the next two years. While you and Baxter weren’t that close back then, you still had fun conversing with one another and being able to dance so freely with each other; you enjoyed how straightforward he was and lightly teased him for how formal he sounded and he played around and equally enjoyed your company, you didn’t know it then but you two felt a click.

So it was extremely unfortunate when you injured your ankle permanently and would have to stop dancing for a while, it had happened during the winter so you weren’t able to tell that charming boy goodbye or to explain to him why his dance partner had suddenly disappeared off the face of the earth. It broke your heart, that those sparks you had when you danced with him would never be replicated.

You never thought you would see him again, Until that fateful summer of 2016. You sat in both awe and shock as Baxter stepped out from the passenger side of his taxi, he turned towards you and Cove; his neutral eyes narrowing when he took a look at you before a look of recollection replaced it.

“…Y/N? Is that you over there?” He questioned loud enough for you to hear.

“BAXTER??”

Cove looked between the both of you. “Huh?”

[sneckoil]

ok so i haven't watched housemd since i was a kid and just finished s1 and i am just. why is cameron written like that. genuinely her thing with house had me so completely lost this season. feels like a waste of a great actress but?? maybe I'm wrong?? she just feels so. empty as a character to me. regardless i would love to know what your opinion is on the character bc from what i remember it doesn't get better from here

I dont blame you ban-joey and I really appreciate your courage to send this off anon. We probably have the same experience. I watched house as a kid too (when I was 14, like 10 yrs ago) and hated her for being contrarian and inconsistent and in the way. But since then i’ve looked inward and found i was imposing double standards wrought by internalized misogyny. Anyway.

My opinions on cameron:

Number 1, if i were her i would shoot my shot with house too. excuse me. as if most of us on here are not just twenny… thirty somethings pining after old men. happily going on a monster truck date? getting a date in return for the old man to have me back on my team? Yeah. I respect the hustle. fuck that old man or whatever. marry him when he’s sick. phantom thread him

Number 2, liking Cameron is easy once you accept. That she is really really really not normal. I know this may be something you already know. But internalize it. She says something righteous but it doesnt mean that that is her defining trait. There is something so deeply wrong with her. I know you’re still on season 1 and Yes she Gets Worse but if you are working with the same lens as i am (that there’s something WRONG with her) then everything that happens makes sense. [spoilers] Of course youre only attracted to people when they’re sick and dying. Of course your reaction to being told youre boring is getting high on your patient’s drugs a few weeks away from your HIV test results. Of course you wanted to cheat on your dying husband with his best friend who comforted you while your husband was dying but you didn’t and you still haven’t after the fact he died. Of course you kept your dead husband’s sperm. Of course you wanted to kill a dictator but didnt, and then got pissed at your husband who Did kill him, a husband you actually felt nothing for and was hesitant to even let propose to you [/end spoilers] she’s so funny. If she were a guy they’d call her a messy bitch and love her for it. she has uncategorizable mental illnesses masking as a savior complex.

Number 3, you’re right about the emptiness on some level though. They wanted to write her out of the show and they did her so bad. And I’d say yeah she’s inconsistent as a character, but that goes for Everyone in this show. House isn’t consistent. Wilson isn’t consistent. None of them are consistent. Cameron is only as well-written as the writer who knows how to write her. I’ve suspected the only reason i hated her when I was 14 was she got in the way of hilson. But nowadays that stuff is so unserious to me. All i care about now is messy people being messy about other people

Number 4, she compels me. I like that she’s interesting. I don’t like most of her decisions, I disagree with her the most, but it’s interesting. She’s fun to Watch. She’s no Foreman (that guy is a case study in layers of character depth but that’s for another ramble) but that’s more than i can say for her than someone like, say, Chase LMAO

That being said if you dont like cameron then that’s fine 👍 we live in a society etc etc

I end with this (thank you jackie for putting this image on my feed)

[genshin-impact-unofficial]

Hi!!! I've really been enjoying your writing, especially Albedo's spicy reading one I blushed and giggled so hard 🥰 it was very sweet and cute!!!

Which leads me into my request if that's okay! Can I please request something sweet and spicy with Albedo? I adore him so much and I don't really have much of an idea so really anything with him would be great!!

I'll probably be an anon for a while cause I'm shy so you can call me 🦊 fox anon if you want!

I hope you're having a great day!!!

Can i get a muthha fuckin uhhhhhhhhh.... Albedo deluxe with extra sweet and sour sauce. 🍔🍟🥤

Lmao fr tho, thank you 🦊 anon for both your praises and your request! I hope this fills your saucy Albedo needs! 💝

Hold Still, My Muse.

Albedo had a vision of you that must be made into reality.

Tags: GN!Reader x Albedo, Technically SFW, PG-13, Suggestive, Pining, Confessions, Everyone always writes Albedo as a dick but he is a polite boy FIGHT ME

The first time Albedo drew you was in passing. A candid sketch that a quiet man gifted to you without reason. When your paths crossed once more, the alchemist asked so politely for a moment of your time and you found it impossible to say no. He asked to draw you again, just as you were, sitting there in the sunlight. It felt awkward having someone stare so intently at your every detail. Albedo worked silently without mentioning how stiff your stance became under his gaze. That just won’t do…

You received a letter from the blond knight only a few days later. He’d like to see you again, but to share a meal this time. It was odd to receive such an invitation from the recluse Kreideprinz, but you were no less delighted to accept.

Albedo was quite charming when he put in the effort. Over dinner he asked to learn about you and your interests. He listened patiently, like he was committing it all to memory. In turn, you learned about Albedo's endlessly fascinating experiments and even about his artwork. You became so engrossed in the man's mind that time nearly got away from you. When Albedo asked you to pose for him once again, your anxieties were easier to push away in his familiar company.

You grew fond of both the alchemist's attention and presence. It became common for Albedo to take you to view scenery around Mondstadt, sit and chat, and eventually take his sketchpad out to draw you. Your heart would skip a beat whenever he held your chin to position your face toward him. Sometimes, you would even do it on purpose. After Albedo finished his sketch, you would both carry on and enjoy the rest of your date evening together.

Curiosity got the better of you regarding how often the blond went out of his way to draw others.

"Hm.." Albedo took a moment to ponder, as if he never considered this. "Besides you, I can't say I've ever went to this extent to draw someone."

You were hid a blush when he invited you to his home for a more private session. Albedo explained how he wanted to test some paints that took longer to dry, thus the process would be quite long. For your comfort he suggested his abode as a solution. Your mind hardly processed the boy’s reasoning, still stuck on being alone together in his home.

-

You regretted your choice of attire as soon as you arrived. The anticipation of the evening had you feeling bold. The revealing blouse and skin tight pants under your coat felt far too forward now that Albedo was right in front of you. If it didn’t mean trekking down the snowy mountain again, you would’ve already made an excuse to leave and reschedule.

“Make yourself comfortable, I’m almost done setting up.” Albedo gestured past his lab and toward a room further back. You entered and held your breath when you saw it was a small neat bedroom. There was very little in the room, just a fireplace, a bed, a couple of chests, and an easel set up towards the room's center. You sputtered out a question, asking where you should sit.

"The bed. We may take a while and it's the most comfortable seat I can offer. Plus, the lighting would be optimal." Albedo stated simply, entering in the room with the last of his supplies. You could only nod at his oblivious logic and take a tentative seat on the edge of his bed. There was no way you could take your coat off now, you were sure you'd burst into flames. The blond didn't question your choice and proceeded to place his paints while letting you get settled.

Maybe you would burst into flames anyway. The healthy fire kept the small room toasty enough that you felt suffocated under your thick coat. It took less than five minutes for you to feel the sweat forming on your brow. You willed yourself to stand strong and hold your pose, maybe he would finish quickly if you were perfectly still.

"Do you mind if I sit beside you?" Albedo's voice cut though your thoughts like a searing knife through butter. You blinked in confusion and shock, unable to find your voice you shook your head and scooted over. Your eyes followed the man's movements as he put down his tools and drew closer. The mattress dipped beside you when he sat and you could feel his gaze on you. You could bare to look just yet.

"Did you know when I began my drawings, they were simply to illustrate my notes? I felt I could study things in far more depth when I sketched their every last detail." The alchemists spoke casually, as if the two of you were sharing over a meal. You turned to look at him, made curious by the man's words.

"I found that the process was something I also enjoyed. It became calming to just observe and create. My mind could stay clear and calm." Albedo continued, "But I have never experienced having a subject enthrall me as much as you."

Your eyes widened and your mouth hung slightly open by the sudden confession.

"My mind isn't quite clear when I draw you. I feel inspired and challenged. I have yet to capture it truly on paper or canvas. I try again and again, and although beautiful, it doesn't truly capture what you evoke." You processed each word over and over in your mind. Finally, you worked up the courage to ask why he was telling you this.

"When you get nervous, you close off from me. I wanted to make my intentions clear so that you may have no reservations about me. You're someone I cherish as an inspiration and as a companion. So please, tell me how I can make you feel as such." Albedo told you earnestly.

You recognized there was vulnerability in his expression and that he was asking for the same. There really wasn't really anything standing in your way but your own fear. For this man, you were willing to be brave and show him what he wanted, what he all but pleaded for. Your expression softened and you told him you were alright to continue now.

Albedo returned to his easel and allowed you to get comfortable again. His eyes followed intrigued while you stood and started to undo your coat. You watched the man's every move while the garment fell to the floor. He didn't bother to hide the way his gaze followed every curvature of your body, as if committing it to memory again. Albedo's features held a mild expression but his body language showed he was restless. You sat farther up the bed, posing modestly yet arching your body ever so slightly for show.

"That position, while... appealing, doesn't lend itself to the lighting. Your leg, perhaps, bend it a little." Albedo, attempting keeping his composure, guided your pose.

"Like this?" You moved slowly, bending your leg up. The position now seemed far more provocative.

"Ah, No." Albedo tried to correct himself, not wanting to insinuate he was trying to put you in a questionable position. "I meant the other way. I apologize."

"Can you show me?" You ask feeling particularly bold now that you've received a reaction. "It would help me a lot." You added when you noticed a small hesitation.

"Of course." Albedo nodded. The blond stepped away from his painting and towards you perched on the bed. His hand hovered over your leg for a moment before looking you in the eye, "May I?" he asked ever so politely. You nodded in response and felt his warm hands begin to guide you.

You asked him how else you could improve your posture and watched as Albedo became eager to teach. Each touch becoming less and less cautious than the last, until the man had you pinned under him. You held each others charged gaze while he gripping each of your wrists against the mattress.

"This isn't very chivalrous of me as a knight." He breathed, looking you over again and again as if expecting you to ask him to stop. You let him observe you and even offered a open view of your neck and chest.

"Isn't it the job of a researcher to uncover what is before you." You remarked, not moving an inch. Albedo unclasped your wrists and you feared he may have had second thoughts. Before you could say anything, arms wrapped around your waist and his face was buried into your neck. A low rumble was spoken across your heated skin.

"Then I'm going to need you in a few positions for research purposes. I'll have to sketch down a few observations for reference as well."

<A/N: Ngl this got away from me a little. I expected this to be far shorter but it I think too hard. I hope you enjoy!

[theetherealbloom]

NOTRE DAME - CH. 7

Chapter 7: Heaven Help Me, I Need To Make It Right

Summary: In the rafters of Clinton Church, a mysterious reader with the power of illusion manipulation silently watches over Matt Murdock, the blind vigilante known as Daredevil. As danger engulfs Hell's Kitchen, their unlikely friendship blossoms into a bond of trust and longing, intertwining their fates in a battle against darkness that tests their resolve. Will their connection illuminate a path to salvation in a city of darkness or lead them deeper into the abyss?

Paring: Matt Murdock x Fem!Reader

Warnings: Hurt to Comfort, ANGST, strangers-to-friends-to-lovers, Religion, Fluff, Anxiety, PSTD, Nightmares, Catholic Guilt, Amnesia, Violence, Blood, Dark Undertones, Eventual SMUT, Shy Reader, Mentions of Abuse, Criminal Activities, Mobsters/Mafia, Character Death, Slowish Burn, Disassociation, 

Word Count: 11.8k

A/N: Hrmmmm… there are days where I feel like no one is reading this fic so sometimes I lack the motivation to finish it. Then I have to remind myself that I also write for myself because I’m that delusional, lmao. But to the anon that asks for updates for Notre Dame, thank you; it tells me at least one person is reading this– so this chapter is for you. Lastly, thank you to @bellaxgiornata for constantly listening to me ramble in her ask box about Matt. You are the best, love you loads and you mean a lot to me friend. &lt;3

Song: No Light, No Light by Florence + the Machine

Previous Chapter | Next Chapter | Series Masterlist | Main Masterlist

❖ ── ✦ ──『✙』── ✦ ── ❖

KAREN’S APARTMENT – EARLY MORNING

After stopping by Josie's bar and inquiring with Josie herself about Karen's whereabouts, she mentioned having a conversation with Foggy. However, she seemed visibly distressed just before leaving. Calling for a cab, you reached your current location as the sun was beginning to rise. The lack of sleep weighed on you, but knocking at Karen's door, you couldn't contain your restless anticipation.

"Karen? Karen, are you there?" No response. Gritting your teeth, you unleash a surge of energy through your palms, using your enhanced senses to unlock the door with the doorknob.

"Karen?" Your voice echoes through the quiet apartment as you enter, scanning for any signs of distress. Your eyes land on the bedside table, where an empty alcohol bottle rests, sending a pang of concern through you.

Suddenly, Karen gasps awake, her breaths ragged as she jerks upright. Her eyes widen in panic as she sees you standing there, tears glistening. "Hey, hey, it's just me," you reassure her, stepping closer. "Karen, what's wrong?”

"How did you get in my apartment?" Karen asks, her voice shaky, still catching her breath.

"I might have, um, picked the lock... only because you weren't answering your phone," you somewhat omit the truth, your tone gentle. "I got worried and came to check on you. What... happened?"

You settle on the foot of her bed, the darkness of her room enveloping you both as your eyes adjust. It's then that you notice the puffiness and redness of her eyes, evidence of tears shed throughout the night.

"I..." Karen begins, her voice trembling, her words choked with emotion. She struggles to speak, her mouth opening and closing as she fights back tears.

You watch her struggle, sensing her pain, and without a word, you open your arms and pull her into a tight embrace. She collapses into you, her sobs shaking her body as she clings to you for support.

At that moment, a heavy feeling settles in the pit of your stomach. You can't shake the sense that the damage has already been done, and you fear that you may have arrived a little too late.

❖ ── ✦ ──『✙』── ✦ ── ❖

MOMENTS LATER…

Karen decides to head to the office, and as she gathers her things, she turns to you with a hopeful look. "Could you walk with me?" she asks, her voice tinged with uncertainty.

You nod without hesitation, understanding her need for companionship during this difficult time. As you walk together, the weight of the previous night's events hangs heavy in the air.

"What happened last night?" you inquire gently, breaking the silence.

Karen takes a deep breath, her expression troubled. "I found Foggy at Josie's bar," she begins, her voice strained. "He was drunk, and things got heated between us. It's all just a mess..."

Suddenly, a noise from around the corner startles both of you, and you instinctively turn towards the source. Finding nothing, you try to lighten the mood. "Must've been a rat. Did you know rats have gangs in different parts of New York?"

To your relief, Karen laughs, the tension momentarily easing. "Rat gangs? Just what we need on top of Fisk," she quips, a hint of humor in her voice.

You meet her gaze, a sense of determination in your eyes. "We'll get him, Karen. He'll pay for his crimes," you assure her, offering a reassuring smile.

❖ ── ✦ ──『✙』── ✦ ── ❖

NELSON & MURDOCK ATTORNEY’S AT LAW, OFFICE – EARLY MORNING

Karen opens the office door and steps inside, her movements slow and subdued. You follow behind her, gently shutting the door behind you. As Karen moves to put away her bag and belongings, you head to the small pantry area to start the coffee maker, the familiar hum providing comforting background noise.

From the corner of your eye, you see Karen stand up from her seat and take a few steps, her silhouette outlined against the window. You can sense her distress, bits of emotions you can pick up because of your powers, the previous night's stress persists deeply on her shoulders. You resist the urge to pry, knowing that she may not be ready to share the full extent of what happened.

As the floor creaks underfoot, both you and Karen startle, turning to find Foggy standing there in the middle of the room. Karen gasps in shock, her hand instinctively clutching at her chest.

"Jesus," she exclaims, her voice laced with surprise.

Foggy speaks up in a soft voice, attempting to reassure Karen, "It's okay, it's just me… the dick."

Karen's heartbeat gradually slows as she tries to compose herself. "What are you doing here?" she asks, her voice still tinged with uncertainty.

Foggy shrugs casually, his demeanor relaxed. "Last I checked, it was my office."

"Yeah, yours and Matt's. Is that why you're creeping around so late, to avoid him?" Karen probes, her curiosity evident.

Foggy shoots a quick glance in your direction before responding to Karen, "Okay, first, there was no creep. You were just too… whatever you were, looking out the window to realize I stepped out of my office."

There's a brief pause as Foggy regards Karen skeptically. "And have you been hitting the juice? Because you kind of smell like a distillery."

Karen moves over to you by the pantry, and you offer her a cup of coffee. She accepts it gratefully before retorting, "You're one to talk. I found you practically curled up under the bar at Josie's."

"Fair enough," Foggy says with a sigh, his tone tinged with resignation. He then presses on, curiosity evident in his voice. "But that was the end of my night. What happened to you after that?"

Karen avoids meeting Foggy's gaze as she takes a sip of her coffee. You observe her closely, sensing her discomfort as she responds with a lie, "Nothing."

Foggy narrows his eyes slightly, not fully convinced. "That 'nothing' include drinking and dancing? Or just the drinking?" he questions, his tone gentle but probing. 

Karen lets out a weak laugh, a hint of bitterness in her voice. "Funny, you actually sound like you care."

You take a long drag of your own coffee, the warmth spreading through you as you listen to Foggy's attempt at explanation. "Karen, what's going on with me and Matt… it sucks that it's bleeding over to you. It's the last thing I'd ever want to happen," he says, his tone sincere.

Karen nods in understanding, her eyes reflecting the weariness of the night before. "I know. Sorry, just, I, uh… Just had a... a rough night," she admits, her voice soft.

She moves to sit down on the chair by her desk, and Foggy attempts to lighten the mood. "You and I should not drink," he quips, a hint of humor in his voice.

Karen lets out a weak scoff, the weight of the situation still heavy on her shoulders. "Yeah. Yeah, I'm thinking about giving it up, moving on to the hard stuff," she replies, her tone tinged with sarcasm.

You snort softly as you join Foggy by the pantry. "Narcotics? Deal me in," he jests, his eyes twinkling with mischief.

You raise your eyebrows skeptically. "You don't seem like the type," you remark, a hint of amusement in your voice.

Foggy shrugs nonchalantly. "Yeah, I smoked a doobie once. Made me drool," he confesses, a lighthearted grin on his face.

Karen frowns in confusion, prompting Foggy to clarify. "A doobie. Weed, pot, the Mary Jane. Whatever the kids are calling it these days."

“I'm not sure that's, uh, considered hard anymore. At least, not according to Denver, anyway,” Karen remarks, a small smile playing at her lips.

You nod in agreement as you shift your weight, sensing the underlying tension in the air. Foggy shrugs again, a wistful expression crossing his face. “The times they are a-changin',” he muses, unaware of the impact of his words.

You watch Karen’s expression falter slightly, her gaze distant, and your heart aches at the weight of the unspoken implications hanging in the air.

“Yeah,” Karen says softly, her voice tinged with uncertainty.

“Yeah,” Foggy echoes, his tone equally subdued.

“So, you coming back to the office?” Karen asks, attempting to break the tension that had settled between them.

Foggy’s demeanor shifts, his shoulders tensing slightly. “I just needed to pick up a few things,” he replies, his voice strained.

He moves to his office, hastily stuffing a pile of papers into his suitcase, while Karen follows closely behind, her concern evident in her expression.

“Wait, Foggy,” Karen says, reaching out to touch his arm gently.

“Let's not do this right now. It's not a good time,” Foggy responds, avoiding eye contact with both you and Karen.

“Is it ever gonna be?” Karen presses, her voice tinged with frustration.

Foggy sighs heavily, running a hand through his hair. “I don’t know,” he admits, his tone weary.

“That's not really an answer,” Karen points out, her brows furrowing in concern.

“It's the best one I've got,” Foggy replies with a resigned shake of his head.

“Whatever's going on between you and Matt, it would be really nice not to be alone here, you know?” Karen says softly, her voice filled with longing for solidarity.

“I know. What you said last night, you were right,” Foggy concedes, his expression serious. “No matter what's going on between me and Matt… that doesn't change anything with Fisk. I'm gonna keep digging. You can't just run around killing people and call yourself a human being. He's gonna pay for what he's done, just like you said.”

Foggy swallows audibly, a visible tension in his demeanor as he asks, “Do we still have a copy of all that stuff Ben gave us, from the… the man in the mask?”

Karen nods, her expression curious. “Yeah, uh, I think so. What are you gonna do with it?” She retrieves the file from a cabinet drawer and hands it over to Foggy, who accepts it with a thoughtful frown. 

“Honestly, I have no idea,” Foggy admits, his voice tinged with uncertainty.

“So, you, uh... you don't think the Mask is a terrorist anymore?” Karen inquires, her gaze shifting between Foggy and you.

Foggy hesitates, searching for the right words. “I don't understand what he is. But no, I don't think he's a terrorist.”

“It's a start, I guess,” you interject, noticing your nervous habit of scratching your arm resurfacing. It's a telltale sign of your anxiety, especially in moments of stress.

"Look, I know things are... weird," Foggy begins, his voice laced with sincerity. "But I'm still around. You need me, just call."

You nod along with Karen, acknowledging Foggy's reassurances. "You gonna pick up this time?" Karen asks, her tone laced with concern.

Foggy nods confidently. "Yeah, I'll pick up. Might not seem like it, but everything's gonna be all right."

Karen gives him a skeptical look. "How can you be sure?"

"Because I have to be," Foggy responds with determination. You offer him a supportive smile as he heads towards the exit. "Ease off the booze, stay away from the Mary Jane," he advises Karen with a hint of humor.

Karen nods in agreement. "Will do."

As Foggy opens the door, he comes face to face with Matt standing outside. Tension fills the air, palpable and thick. You hold your breath, observing the silent exchange between the two. Foggy walks past Matt without saying anything, indicating that the dispute has not yet been fully resolved.

As Matt steps into the office, Karen remarks, "Well, that wasn't awkward."

"What are you both doing here so late?" Matt inquires, setting his cane against the wall. "Or early or whatever it is?"

"Um..." Karen hesitates, seeking assistance from you. You reply, "Couldn’t sleep."

"Lot of that going around," Matt sighs. Karen adds with a hint of sadness, "Seems like it's the only thing we still all have in common."

Matt moves towards his office entrance, expressing, "I'm sorry, Karen."

"For which part?" Karen questions. Matt pauses near the doorway, contemplating. "All of it, pretty much."

"You want coffee? I just made some," you offer. Matt nods gratefully, "Yeah, please."

As you prepare the coffee, Karen follows you inside, discussing, "You know, he thinks he got her killed… Elena."

Your heart sinks at the mention of Elena. Matt refutes, "He didn't."

"You wanna try telling him that?" Karen retorts sarcastically, then adds, "Oh, right, that... that would be if you two were still speaking to each other."

Matt shrugs, "It's his choice."

"Only if you let it be," you interject.

Karen turns to leave, stating, "You know, I'm starting to feel like I made a mistake... coming to work here."

"Do you want to leave?" Matt questions, his tone firm.

"No," Karen responds promptly, continuing, "This is my home. You and Foggy, you're the only good things in my life right now."

"Karen, did something happen?" Matt presses.

"Yes," Karen replies, and you and Matt wait for her to elaborate. "The world fell apart. Didn't you notice?"

Karen walks away, retreating to her desk to bury herself in her work. You stand there, observing Matt as he processes her words, his jaw clenched in frustration. Sensing the tension, you clear your throat and take a step back, intending to leave. "I should probably..."

"Wait,” Matt's sudden request freezes you in place. You watch as he licks his bottom lip nervously, his hands resting on his hips.

“You okay?” Matt's voice carries a hint of concern, and you know he's attuned to every nuance of your response.

You stand there, wide-eyed, before blinking a few times and clearing your throat. “I’m fine. Just tired… I’ll see you around, Matt.”

Matt nods in acknowledgment, but as you turn to leave, you're overcome by a surge of concern. You stop in your tracks and turn back to face him.

“Hey, Matt,” you say softly, catching his attention. He looks up, meeting the sound of your voice with a curious expression.

"Just… be careful. Please," you plead, your voice barely above a whisper. Matt swallows visibly, his expression serious as he nods in response.

You turn away, the sound of your fading heartbeat mingling with the distant noise of the city streets.

❖ ── ✦ ──『✙』── ✦ ── ❖

177A BLEECKER STREET, GREENWICH VILLAGE

NEW YORK SANCTUM – AFTERNOON

After a quick shower back at Clinton Church, and managing to grab a bite to eat, you rushed out the doors and back onto the bustling streets of New York City. With a wave, you hailed a passing cab and gave the driver the address: 177A Bleecker Street in Greenwich Village. You needed to visit the sanctum.

Arriving at your destination, you stepped out of the cab and onto the sidewalk, feeling a pang of reluctance as you gazed up at the building before you. With a deep breath, you climbed the steps and rapped your knuckles against the wooden door, waiting patiently for it to swing open.

After a moment, the door creaked open, revealing Wong on the other side. He regarded you with a cautious expression but stepped aside to allow you entry into the Sanctum.

You stuff your hands into the pockets of your coat, taking in the familiar sights of the Sanctum. Wong joins you, standing by your side. "Just the same as when you left," he remarks.

You offer a small hum of agreement. "Smells the same too. Looks like you guys haven’t dusted in a while," you quip.

Wong places his hands on your shoulders, his gaze steady. "We missed you," he says sincerely.

You exhale, feeling a weight lift from your shoulders, and give his wrist a grateful squeeze. "Thanks, Wong."

The Ancient One's voice echoes through the room from the top of the grand staircase. "Certainly didn’t expect you to be here so soon. Would you like some tea?" Wong steps aside as you shake your head. "I think you might already know why I’m here. And it’s not for tea."

The Ancient One smiles warmly as she turns, her cloak flowing behind her, and opens a golden-rimmed portal with her sling ring. Without hesitation, she steps through, and you follow closely behind, your heart pounding with anticipation.

As you emerge on the other side, the portal seals shut behind you. The Ancient One exchanges a few words with the librarian before he departs, leaving the two of you alone in the vast expanse of the Kamar-Taj Library.

“So, tell me what’s happened,” the Ancient One prompts, her voice echoing softly in the quiet space. You begin to pace around the room, the weight of your worries heavy on your shoulders.

“I’ve been using my powers for longer periods lately,” you admit, your voice barely above a whisper. “And during those times, my friend got injured. Badly injured. I managed to heal him with my magic. But…”

“That’s why you’ve come here,” the Ancient One finishes for you, her eyes penetrating as she turns to face you directly. You meet her gaze, nodding in confirmation. “You’re here to learn a more advanced healing spell.”

You swallow hard, feeling a mix of determination and uncertainty. “Just in case I need to save him again,” you murmur.

The Ancient One's wise eyes scan your face, a hint of concern creasing her brow. "But who will save you?" she asks, her voice tinged with worry.

You offer a nonchalant shrug, trying to downplay any concerns. "I'm fine," you insist, though the unease lingers in your mind.

Her frown deepens as she studies you further. "I feel your life force fading," she declares, her tone solemn.

You shake your head, dismissing her observation. "It's not about me, it never was," you assert, determined to keep the focus on Matt.

The Ancient One's expression softens, understanding dawning in her eyes. With a sigh, she relents, her gaze turning inward as she contemplates the situation. "I suppose I could teach you," she finally concedes, her voice laced with a mixture of resolve and compassion.

A sense of relief washes over you, accompanied by a grateful smile. "Thank you," you whisper, a glimmer of hope sparking within you.

The Ancient One clasps her hands together, a sense of purpose emanating from her. "Let's begin," she declares, leading the way with unwavering determination.

❖ ── ✦ ──『✙』── ✦ ── ❖

A DAY LATER…

KAMAR-TAJ, NEPAL — AFTERNOON

You let out a weary sigh, feeling the weight of exhaustion settling in your bones. The day had been long and arduous, filled with training sessions and lessons from the Ancient One and Wong. Despite their guidance, you still felt overwhelmed by the magnitude of the tasks before you.

You felt a buzz in your pocket, and with a quick glance at your phone, you saw Matt's name flashing on the screen. Without hesitation, you answered the call. "Hey, everything okay? Karen texted me wondering if I heard from you and if you were coming into the office today."

“I had a rough morning. I'm gonna need the day," Matt's voice came through, slightly strained. Sensing there was more, you waited for him to continue. "Listen… I'm working on something. I think it might help. But until I know for sure, I need you to stay out of it. If you talk to Karen and Foggy, you tell them the same?”

Your frown deepened, but you nodded, even though he couldn't see you. "Uh, yeah, I'll pass it along…"

There was a pause, and then Matt spoke your name softly. "Yeah?"

“Everything's gonna work out... I promise,” he assured you, and you let out a hesitant noise. "Mhm. I trust you."

“See you tomorrow,” Matt said before ending the call. As you looked up from your phone, your eyes caught the serene landscape of Kamar-Taj, with students training diligently amidst the tranquil surroundings. 

Approaching the Ancient One, you found her standing by the edge of the mountain, her presence calming yet authoritative. “I assume you are needed,” she remarked.

You nodded, a sigh escaping your lips. "I just got off the phone with Matt. He’s most likely going to do something incredibly reckless again.”

The Ancient One turned to you, her expression grave. “You must be careful. I fear there are more dangers up ahead the path you are on.”

You nodded solemnly and turned back to face the temple, using the sling ring to call out a portal. You give the Ancient One one more look before passing through, a quiet tribute to her knowledge and direction. Subsequently, you entered the glimmering golden portal bearing a heavy heart, prepared to take on whatever obstacles that lied ahead.

❖ ── ✦ ──『✙』── ✦ ── ❖

MADAME GAO’S WAREHOUSE

HELL’S KITCHEN, NEW YORK – EVENING

Your senses heightened as you tracked Matt's movements, casting a discreet spell to locate him. Following the mystical trail of orbs, you found yourself outside a desolate warehouse. With a surge of energy, you cloaked yourself in invisibility and pulled the hood of your cape over your face as you perched atop a nearby rooftop.

Below, the scene unfolded like a choreographed dance of shadows. Matt, clad in his signature black suit, swiftly incapacitated two guards stationed by the door. As a third guard approached, unsuspecting, Matt swiftly subdued him as well, his movements a blur of precision and skill.

Silent as the night, you slipped through the door Matt had just entered. Inside, the air was heavy with the scent of illicit substances. From the shadows, you observed as Matt swiftly incapacitated two guards, their bodies slumping to the ground unnoticed by the workers blind and busy with their illicit trade.

As you move into the light, still cloaked with your powers you take in your surroundings, observing every detail, noticing that the workers have scars around their eyes. Matt has made his way to stand behind you as he also uses his heightened senses to understand what was happening.

And in the moment of your disbelief, you hear someone shouting Mandarin from above, an old woman, and before you knew it they began swarming Matt. As they all clamored and Matt saying, “No, wait, wait, wait! I'm trying to help you! Wait, no, please!”

Caught in the midst of the bustling factory floor, you managed to reach Matt's side and quickly enveloped him in an invisible cloak with your powers, guiding him away from the workers' watchful eyes. Together, you sought refuge behind a towering stack of wooden crates, the air thick with tension and adrenaline.

As you both regained your breath, Matt's voice cut through the silence. "It's you."

Your response was swift, shrouded in the illusion of a disguised voice. "We need to stay focused."

With a swift nod of understanding, Matt sprung into action, leaping onto a nearby crate with a readiness that mirrored his relentless determination. As an elderly woman, flanked by armed guards, approached, Matt swiftly subdued one while you deftly handled the other. With a touch of your hand, you unleashed illusions of his deepest fears, triggering chaos as he recklessly fired his gun at a tub of ethyl alcohol, igniting it into a blazing inferno, before rendering him unconscious with a swift strike.

As the flames danced around you, you and Matt materialized before the elderly woman, confronting her about her nefarious deeds. Matt's voice was stern as he questioned her about the innocent lives affected by her actions.

“All those people... You took their eyes,” he accuses.

“They blinded themselves,” she counters confidently, her tone unwavering.

Matt presses further, “Why would they do that?”

“Because they have faith,” she replies, her conviction unshakeable.

"In you and your drugs?" you interject, seeking clarification.

The woman fixes you with a piercing gaze, asserting, "In something beyond the distractions of your world. You two have taken that from them. Now, they will have nothing."

As Matt advances towards her, demanding information about Fisk, she delivers a powerful blow, sending him crashing into you, both of you tumbling to the ground with a heavy impact.

With a groan, you push yourselves off the floor, only to find the woman vanished, leaving behind a scene of chaos and confusion among the workers.

Matt takes charge, swiftly firing the guard's rifle and aiming it at the water pipes above the warehouse. As the water trickles down, he lets out a determined grunt, he orders the man, "Get these people out of here."

The workers scramble to evacuate the warehouse, their frantic movements illuminated by the raging flames that engulf the building. Amidst the chaos, you and Matt slip away unnoticed, making your way to a nearby rooftop.

As the wails of approaching sirens pierced the night, signaling the arrival of first responders, you exchanged a glance with Matt. Without a word, you both leaped down from the rooftop, only to be confronted by the commanding voice of Brett Mahoney.

"Police! Don't you move! Hands, let me see your hands! Hands!" Mahoney shouted, his voice filled with authority.

With cautious movements, you and Matt raised your hands in surrender as Mahoney cautiously approached.

"Slowly, slowly," he commanded, closing in on the two of you.

Under the cover of your hood, you watched as recognition flickered across Mahoney's face as he focused on Matt.

"You're the guy. The one that killed Blake and shot those cops!" Mahoney accused.

In a swift move, Matt disarmed Mahoney, his actions precise and controlled. You stood to the side, allowing Matt to handle the situation.

"I did not kill Detective Blake, or shoot those cops. Blake and Hoffman were dirty. Working for Wilson Fisk. Along with a lot of others in your precinct. I'm not the bad guy. We are not the bad guys," Matt explained, his voice firm and resolute.

"Then what are you?" Mahoney questioned, but before either of you could respond, the distant sound of sirens reached your ears. In a blink, Matt vanished into the shadows, leaving Mahoney bewildered.

Taking advantage of the distraction, you cloaked yourself in illusion once more, blending seamlessly into the darkness as you darted into the streets, away from the encroaching sirens.

❖ ── ✦ ──『✙』── ✦ ── ❖

CLINTON CHURCH – DAYLIGHT

"You haven’t been sleeping much," Father Lantom observed, causing you to pause your movements and turn from the pew you were wiping down. With a sigh, you replied, "Yeah."

"Nightmares again?" Father Lantom inquired, concern evident in his voice.

"Something like that," you explained, your tone resigned.

"Dear, you might want to go see someone for it," Father Lantom suggested gently.

"I'll be fine," you insisted, shaking your head. But before Father Lantom could argue further, the sound of a tapping cane echoed through the church, drawing both your attention.

Surprised, you and Father Lantom turned to see Matt walking down the aisle. He softly uttered your name, prompting Father Lantom to pat your shoulder as he grabbed the rag in your hands and left to give you two some privacy.

"Matt, hey," you said, walking down to meet him in the middle of the aisle. You noticed the visible tremble in his lip and knew he was on the verge of breaking down. Quickly, you guided him to the garden out back, to the small secluded area beneath a towering sycamore tree.

Leading him to a bench, you urged him to sit as you settled beside him. Matt removed his red-tinted glasses, tucking them into his pocket, before turning to you with an unsteady gaze and tears rimming his eyes.

"I know this guy... We were close once," Matt stutters, his voice strained with emotion. "He told me if I, uh... I'd have to push the people that I care about away... if I wanted to be effective at what I do."

Your heart aches at his words, and tears begin to well up in your eyes. "Seems like you listened," you choke out.

"Yeah. I thought I didn't," Matt mumbles, his own voice thick with tears. He hears you nod, and continues, "This guy, he has a way of, uh... getting in your head, you know? And here's the thing... I had a really shitty night."

Your tears flow freely now, mirroring his own. "The kind where you think you've seen the bottom of humanity, and the pit just keeps getting deeper, you know?" he says, his breathing shaky.

"I... I can't... I can't do this alone. I can't... I can't take another step," Matt admits, his voice breaking into sobs.

Without hesitation, you wrap your arms around his neck, pulling him close as his body shakes with the force of his tears. He leans into your embrace, seeking solace and comfort. You hold him tightly, pressing a kiss to the top of his head as you whisper, "You're not alone, Matt. You never were.”

There were two reasons Matt was scared to let people in; the damage they could do and the damage they could find. Sometimes he doesn’t recognize the knots in his neck, the tension in his shoulders, the ache in his feet, until you hold him, and he melts into you. You feel the weight of his pain and exhaustion as he buries his face against your chest, seeking refuge from the storm raging inside him. He lets out a noise, a mixture of relief and vulnerability, muffled against the fabric of your blouse and your skin. Gently, you run your fingers through his hair, soothing away the turmoil and offering him a moment of peace.

❖ ── ✦ ──『✙』── ✦ ── ❖

A DAY LATER…

CLINTON CHURCH, SAINT AGNES – MORNING

After the morning mass, you were playing with the children by the garden, ensuring everyone was having fun and treating each other fairly. After a game of tag and sitting on the nearby steps, you felt your phone buzz in the back pocket of your jeans. Pulling it out, you saw Doris's name on the caller ID.

Frowning, unsure of what to expect, you answered on the third ring. “Hello, Doris. How are you?”

“My dear… oh, I’m sorry, I just–” Doris's voice cracked with distress, her sobs audible even through the phone. A heavy weight settled in your chest. “Doris? What’s wrong? What’s happened?” you asked, concern rising.

Through her tears, Doris managed to say, “Ben is… Ben is dead. They found him in his apartment. Strangled him to death.”

You sucked in a sharp breath through your nostrils, the news hitting you like a physical blow. Closing your eyes briefly, you felt the world spin around you. “Oh, God,” you uttered, your voice barely above a whisper.

With a trembling hand, you covered your quivering mouth as you struggled to compose yourself. “Doris, I’m so sorry. I’m so sorry,” you managed to say, your voice thick with emotion.

Doris's voice on the other end was strained as she spoke, “Would you mind helping with the funeral arrangements? If it’s no trouble, of course.”

Tears silently streamed down your cheeks as you nodded, even though she couldn't see it. “Mhm, yes. Yes, of course, I will. I’ll check with the morgue and then send the details later, okay?”

“Thank you, dear. You’re an angel,” Doris replied, her voice filled with gratitude and grief. You assured her that she could call you anytime if she needed anything.

As you place your phone in your pocket, the sounds of children playing and the warmth of the sun on your skin surround you. But the colors seemed muted, and the world felt a little colder as grief washed over you, turning everything into shades of grey and blue. With heavy sobs, you leaned forward, your hands covering your face as the weight of the loss settled in.

❖ ── ✦ ──『✙』── ✦ ── ❖

CALVARY CEMETARY, GREENPOINT AVE. – DAY

Telling Matt, Foggy, and especially Karen was the hardest part. You couldn't bear to break the news to Karen over the phone. 

You went to her place instead, finding comfort in each other's presence. You two sobbed together, exchanging memories of Ben and sowing your sorrows in wine while the weight of loss hung thick in the air. You wanted, just for that one day, that God would ignore everything and spare you from the pain so you might at least feel somewhat at ease.

After finishing the funeral arrangements, informing Doris, and confiding in Father Lantom about Ben's passing, you felt like you were moving through life in a daze. Everything seemed to blur together, and you struggled to stay present in your own body. It was as if you were floating, disconnected from your surroundings and emotions. Each task felt like an insurmountable hurdle, and you found it difficult to focus on anything other than the overwhelming sense of loss and grief.

The winter wind cut through the air as the mourners gathered at the cemetery, a somber gray sky looming overhead. You stood alongside Matt and Karen, surrounded by Ben's friends and family. Pink roses adorned the hands of those paying their final respects as they watched the pallbearers carry Ben's coffin to its final resting place.

Doris, seated in her wheelchair, wept openly, her grief palpable in the chilled air. Karen, standing beside you, was visibly shaken, her tears mingling with the cold breeze. To your right, Matt stood stoically, his jaw clenched in silent anguish. His knuckles turned white as he tightly gripped his cane, a silent testament to the pain he felt.

As Ben's coffin was lowered atop the ground where he would be buried, a sense of finality settled over the gathering. The air hung heavy with sorrow as mourners filed out of the cemetery, leaving behind the memory of a beloved friend and colleague. Each person placed a pink rose atop Ben's coffin, a final farewell to a man who had touched so many lives.

Karen, her eyes red from tears, turned to Doris with a tremulous smile before glancing at you and Matt. "Give me a minute, okay?" she said, her voice choked with emotion.

You and Matt exchanged a silent nod, understanding the need for a private moment between Karen and Doris. As Karen approached Doris, you couldn't help but feel the weight of the unspoken guilt hanging in the air. Karen's shoulders sagged with the burden of sorrow and regret, a heavy reminder of the pain that lingered long after the loss.

Lost in your thoughts, you felt as if you were adrift in a sea of white noise, the cacophony of the world muted to a dull hum. You felt the stifling burden of guilt weighing heavily on your shoulders and strangling you. Each breath felt like a struggle as you grappled with the overwhelming emptiness that consumed you.

In your turmoil, the wind whispered its mournful lament, a haunting melody that echoed the depths of your despair. You stood there and closed your eyes, seeking solace in the darkness behind your eyelids, but found only the relentless pull of remorse dragging you deeper into the abyss.

There was no escape from the gnawing ache in your chest, no respite from the relentless onslaught of guilt. It seeped into every crevice of your being, staining your soul with its toxic touch. And as the water slowly turned red, a grim reminder of the blood on your hands, you knew that there was no redemption to be found in the depths of your sorrow.

❖ ── ✦ ──『✙』── ✦ ── ❖

Matt stepped away from your side, his footsteps echoing softly against the ground as he made his way to Father Lantom. Then you retreated back into yourself as you stood there in a distant gaze at the casket. From where you stood, you could see them in conversation, their voices hushed but carrying in the quiet of the cemetery. 

“How you holding up?” Father Lantom's voice reached your ears, concern evident in his tone.

Matt's response was barely audible, a low murmur tinged with bitterness. “Like a good Catholic boy.”

Father Lantom's expression softened, sympathy etched in the lines of his face. “That bad, huh?”

Matt's reply was terse, his words heavy with regret. “He was a good man. And he's gone… because I haven't stopped what's happening to this city.”

The priest shook his head, his gaze steady. “Can't put that on yourself, Matthew. You've done everything you can. A lot you probably shouldn't have.”

A bitter laugh escaped Matt's lips, the sound tinged with self-deprecation. “And here we are.”

Father Lantom's concerned voice pierced through the haze enveloping your mind, pulling you back to the present. You blinked, slowly registering his words, but remained immobile, lost in your thoughts. Karen's gentle touch on your arm brought a slight sensation, but it wasn't enough to ground you.

Then, Matt approached, his presence a comforting anchor in the midst of your disorientation. His hand squeezed your arm, a silent gesture urging you to return to reality. With a start, you snapped back, blinking rapidly as you struggled to regain your bearings.

“What? What happened?” you asked, your voice tinged with confusion.

“You okay? It’s like you were somewhere else for a second there,” Karen voiced her concern, her hand still rubbing soothing circles on your arm.

For a fleeting moment, you considered telling them the truth, but the words caught in your throat. Instead, you opted for a vague response, hoping to brush off their worries. “Uh, sorry, just got lost in my head there for a second.”

Karen's gaze bore into you, her expression conveying a mix of concern and suspicion. Meanwhile, Matt's silent scrutiny felt like a weight on your shoulders, his heightened senses likely detecting your unease.

Despite your attempt to deflect, neither Karen nor Matt seemed convinced by your feeble excuse. Sensing their skepticism, you shifted uncomfortably, your heart hammering in your chest.

Swallowing hard, you attempted to mask your unease with a forced smile. "You guys can go ahead… I should help Father Lantom with the—"

But before you could finish, Father Lantom intervened, shaking his head gently. "You three catch up. I shall take it from here, dear," he said, his voice filled with understanding and reassurance.

As you walked away from the cemetery, a somber atmosphere hung heavy around the three of you. The sky, still overcast, cast a gloomy pallor over the surroundings, matching the mood of the occasion. Despite the weight of the moment, there was a sense of camaraderie between you, Matt, and Karen, a silent understanding of shared grief and support.

Matt, ever the gentleman, offered you his arm, a gesture of comfort and solidarity. It took you a moment to gather yourself, but eventually, you reached out and gently tucked your arm through his, grateful for the physical connection amidst the emotional turmoil.

With Karen walking beside you, the three of you formed a united front, drawing strength from each other as you navigate through the aftermath of Ben's funeral. Though words were scarce, the silent companionship spoke volumes, offering solace in the face of sorrow. Together, you forged ahead, leaning on each other for support as you walked away from the cemetery, prepared to take on any obstacles that may arise.

❖ ── ✦ ──『✙』── ✦ ── ❖

NELSON & MURDOCK ATTORNEY’S AT LAW OFFICE — AFTERNOON

Karen stormed into the office, her frustration palpable in every movement. With a forceful twist, she inserted the key into the lock, the metallic click echoing through the room as she pushed the door open. Matt, ever courteous, held the door for you as you followed her inside.

Inside the office, the atmosphere crackled with tension. Matt shut the door behind him, the sound reverberating through the space as Karen tossed her keys onto the table with a sharp clatter. Her hands found their way to her desk, fingers gripping the edges as she vented her frustrations, “He just stood there, like he was his friend. Like he had nothing to do with what happened.”

Matt's brow furrowed in concern as he listened to Karen's tirade. "I thought Ben said he didn't have any evidence Ellison was taking money from Fisk," he remarked, his voice tinged with confusion.

Karen let out a frustrated sigh, her shoulders slumping with the weight of her emotions. "No, but it makes sense. I mean, it explains..." Her words trailed off, the unfinished thought hanging in the air.

With a heavy heart, Karen revealed another layer of her distress. "Do you know what makes this worse? Foggy. Didn't even show up." The disappointment in her voice was palpable, a stark contrast to the unwavering support she had always received from her friend.

“You said he left a message,” Matt said as he deftly removed his coat and scarf, hanging them on the coat rack with practiced ease. As he reached for yours, his touch ignited a warmth that spread through your body, a familiar sensation that never failed to catch you off guard.

“Yeah, he left a message… saying he had something more important to do than come to Ben's funeral,” Karen's voice dripped with bitterness as she recounted Foggy's absence as she heavily sat on her seat with a huff.

Matt shook his head, a hint of disbelief in his expression. “Come on, he wouldn't say that,” he countered, his tone tinged with a touch of defensiveness, unwilling to accept the possibility of his friend's callousness despite their recent fight.

Matt's sigh echoed through the room, laden with a heavy weight of guilt that hung in the air like a thick fog. His shoulders slumped, burdened by the weight of his perceived responsibility, “It's my fault, Karen… all of this with Foggy.”

Karen shook her head, her hand finding its way to her forehead in a gesture of frustration. "No, everyone shares the blame in a relationship. That's... just the way that it works," she reasoned, her voice tinged with a mixture of understanding and exasperation.

But Matt's response was tinged with sadness, a somber tone creeping into his words. "No, not always," he murmured, his voice heavy with regret as you frowned with your arms crossed and your back leaning against the wall.

A somber mood settled over the room, casting shadows that danced along the walls in the dim light. Matt's voice, calm and reassuring, pierced through the heavy atmosphere.

“Why don't you go home, get some rest, huh?” he suggested, his words carrying a gentle concern.

Karen's breath caught in her throat as she struggled to contain the turmoil churning within her. “I can't,” she confessed, her voice trembling with unease. “Every time I close my eyes, I see…” Her words trailed off, the memories of recent events threatening to overwhelm her. “What if he finds out that I… That I was with Ben… at Saint Benezet. What if he finds out that I spoke to his mother too?”

Matt listened attentively, his brow furrowing with empathy as he absorbed her fears. “If that happens, we will deal with it,” he promised, his tone resolute and unwavering.

But Karen's anxiety persisted, her doubts looming large in her mind. “How?” she questioned, her voice laced with desperation. “I mean, the news barely mentioned what happened to Ben because Fisk pays off the media. And the police haven't arrested anyone for it because Fisk pays them off, too.”

She fidgeted nervously, her fingers tangling in strands of golden hair as she grappled with the weight of the situation. “Foggy was right. How do you stop someone like that, someone who has so much?” she wondered aloud, her voice tinged with frustration and helplessness.

The weight of Karen's fear hung heavy in the air, each word she spoke laced with a palpable sense of dread. Matt's voice, calm and measured, cut through the tension as he sought to offer reassurance.

“It just means he has more to lose,” Matt reasoned, his words carrying a hint of conviction.

But Karen's mind was already spinning, her thoughts spiraling down a dark and foreboding path. “He's gonna find out what I did,” she declared, her voice trembling with apprehension.

Instantly, both you and Matt spoke in unison, your voices a chorus of denial. “No,” you insisted, your tone firm and resolute. But Karen remained unconvinced, her fears looming large in her mind.

“He's going to find out, and he's gonna come after me just like he came after Ben,” she asserted, her voice quivering with the weight of her conviction.

In the dimly lit room, the weight of Karen's fear hung heavy, each word she spoke echoing with the looming threat of danger. Your confession only added to the somber atmosphere, your voice heavy with guilt as you accepted responsibility for the chain of events that had led to Ben's demise.

Karen shook her head, her eyes brimming with tears, but before she could respond, Matt stepped in with a reassuring promise. “I told you I would keep you safe, Karen,” he affirmed, his voice firm and resolute despite the turmoil swirling within. “When he came after you over Union Allied. That hasn't changed.”

His words carried a sense of determination, a steadfast resolve to protect those he cared about. With a nod in your direction, he included you in his pledge of protection, “That includes you too.”

But there was something else in Matt's demeanor, a simmering anger that lurked beneath the surface. “Everyone that's taken money from him, everyone that's helped him tear this city apart… they're all gonna get what's coming to them, along with Wilson Fisk,” he declared, his voice tinged with a dangerous edge. With those words hanging in the air, he turned and strode purposefully towards his office, his steps echoing with a sense of determination and righteous fury.

❖ ── ✦ ──『✙』── ✦ ── ❖

CLINTON CHURCH – EVENING

In the quiet solitude of your room above the church, you immersed yourself in the intricate dance of magic, each movement a delicate thread woven into the fabric of reality. With unwavering focus, you channeled your energy, summoning forth the ancient powers that coursed through your veins.

Sitting cross-legged on the floor, you closed your eyes and allowed the magic to flow through you, its vibrant essence pulsating with raw potential. At first, your efforts were met with frustration as the spells fizzled and faltered, but you persisted, determined to relearn the arcane.

With each attempt, you felt yourself growing stronger, more attuned to the subtle nuances of the mystical forces that surrounded you. Shapes and symbols began to materialize in the air, glowing with an ethereal light as you molded the energy to your will. As the glow of your magic illuminated the room, you knew that you were one step closer to reclaiming the formidable powers that had once defined you.

The sudden shrill of your phone sliced through the quiet of your room above the church. With a flick of your wrist, your magical creations dissolved into the air as you rose to answer the call, the glow of your powers fading from your fingertips. Frowning, you glanced at the caller ID—Foggy. Despite your lingering frustration at his absence from the funeral earlier, you sighed and accepted the call.

"What?" you bit out, the tension evident in your voice.

"I swear I have an explanation for why I wasn’t at the service," Foggy's voice crackled over the line, laced with urgency. "But I’m in the office right now with Karen and Matt. We're going over the files to track down Hoffman since Fisk is hunting him down. He’ll need all the help he can get. Please."

Your frustration softened slightly at the gravity of his words. "Okay, fine. Where is he headed?"

"Fifty-third and Tenth. Hell's Kitchen," Foggy replied, his voice tight with determination.

"Alright, I’m on it," you affirmed, already mentally preparing for the task ahead.

"Come back safe, please. And take care of Matt for me," Foggy pleaded, concern evident in his tone.

"Always," you assured him before ending the call, the weight of the impending danger settling heavily on your shoulders.

❖ ── ✦ ──『✙』── ✦ ── ❖

53RD AND 10TH, HELL’S KITCHEN — EVENING

As you raced through the dimly lit streets of Hell's Kitchen, your heart pounded against your ribcage, adrenaline surging through your veins. With a swift flick of your wrist, you summoned the power to cloak yourself in invisibility, blending seamlessly into the shadows that danced across the brick walls of the buildings.

From your concealed vantage point, you watched as the chaos unfolded before you. The corrupt NYPD officers, led by the menacing figure of Corbin, descended upon the scene with ruthless efficiency. Bullets tore through the air, the sharp cracks echoing through the alleyways, while the acrid scent of gunpowder hung thick in the air. Blood painted the ground in crimson splatters, a stark reminder of the violence that permeated the streets of Hell's Kitchen.

Corbin's smug demeanor melted away as he advanced menacingly toward Hoffman, the gleam of malice dancing in his eyes. "Hey, Carl. Been wondering where you got to," he taunted, his voice dripping with malice as he trained his gun on the terrified detective.

With a silent determination, you sprang into action, your movements swift and precise as you materialized from the shadows. Alongside you, Matt launched himself into the fray, his movements a blur of calculated strikes and evasions.

The air crackled with tension as you channeled your energy, the light dancing in your palm like a beacon of power. With a focused intensity, you unleashed your abilities, sending waves of energy crashing into the corrupt officers, rendering them incapacitated one by one.

As the chaos subsided and the last of the officers lay defeated, Matt turned to you with a nod of acknowledgment. "Took you long enough, sweetheart," he quipped, his voice laced with a hint of amusement.

You couldn't help but chuckle, the sound muffled by the distortion of your powers. "We're doing pet names now? Cute," you retorted, your tone playful yet tinged with the underlying gravity of the situation.

Hoffman, his eyes wide with fear, looked on in disbelief at the sight before him, the two vigilantes of Hell’s Kitchen staring him down. You and Matt advanced toward him, a silent force to be reckoned with, as Hoffman remained seated, his trembling hands hovering over the scattered cards of his solitaire game.

With a determined stride, Matt dragged a nearby chair across the floor and positioned it in front of Hoffman, a silent invitation for him to take a seat. You stood by silently, your gaze steady and unwavering as you observed the tense exchange unfolding before you.

“You have an opportunity here, Detective,” Matt's voice was low and gravelly, carrying a weight of authority that commanded attention. “By turning evidence on Fisk, you can set things right. If that's what you want.”

Hoffman whimpered in fear, his resolve crumbling under the intensity of Matt's gaze.

“If not,” Matt continued, his tone sharp and pointed, “you can sit here playing with yourself until Fisk sends more men to kill you.”

Hoffman's whole body shook with fear, his breaths coming in shallow gasps as he struggled to form a coherent response.

“Decide,” Matt demanded, his voice tinged with a hint of menace.

Hoffman stuttered, his words barely audible above the sound of his own trembling. “It won't make a difference. He owns the cops. I'll be dead before I can testify—”

“Not all of them,” Matt interjected firmly, his voice brooking no argument. “Turn yourself in to Brett Mahoney. You can trust him. And he knows a couple of lawyers that can't be bought. They can help you.”

Hoffman nodded, his expression a mix of relief and apprehension. “Yeah. Thanks for the tip.”

But before Hoffman could rise from his seat, Matt's anger boiled over. With a swift motion, he flipped the table, sending the cards scattering across the floor, and delivered a punishing blow to Hoffman's face, sending him sprawling to the ground.

As Hoffman crumpled under the force of the blow, Matt loomed over him, his expression dark and menacing. “I'll be following you to make sure you get to the precinct alive,” he warned, his voice dripping with barely contained fury. “Try to run, try to do anything other than what I just told you, you'll wish I never saved you from that bullet.”

❖ ── ✦ ──『✙』── ✦ ── ❖

NELSON & MURDOCK ATTORNEY’S AT LAW OFFICE — EVENING

With Nelson and Murdock representing Hoffman, he spills his guts to the FBI, revealing everything he knows. The room is charged with tension as Hoffman recounts his dealings with Fisk and his corrupt network of associates. Each word he utters feels like a hammer blow against Fisk's empire, setting off a chain reaction that would reverberate throughout Hell's Kitchen.

As Hoffman's confession unfolds, the FBI agents scramble to take notes, their pens scratching furiously against their notepads. Nelson and Murdock stand tall and resolute, their expressions steely and determined as they listen intently to Hoffman's testimony.

And then, like a well-orchestrated symphony reaching its crescendo, the FBI moves into action. Doors are kicked in, warrants are served, and Fisk's cronies are dragged out of their hideouts in handcuffs. Randolph Cherryh, Parish Landman, Turk Barrett, Corbin, and M. Caldwell—all of them are brought down in one fell swoop.

The four of you watch the wheels of justice grind Fisk's empire to dust, there's a sense of satisfaction that washes over you all—a feeling that, for once, the good guys have won.

“The man once hailed as the savior of Hell's Kitchen is now believed to have been involved…” The newscaster says as it fades into the background as you sat around the table with Foggy, Karen and Matt. Foggy pouring out drinks in each of your cups as he says, “Now everybody knows what kind of asshole Fisk really is.”

You, Karen and Matt laugh in agreement. Karen adds, “And we are the ones that made it happen, the four of us.”

“And Marci.” Matt points out and Foggy happily swoons, “And Marci, God bless her designer pumps.”

Karen hums as she holds her drink looking at Foggy, “Maybe she's not that bad after all.”

Foggy smiles, “Woman does have a way of growing on you.”

Matt’s smiling face is illuminated by the glow of the laptop screen, his smile so blinding and his dimples showing as he says, “See, this right here… in this office. This is what's important. Knowing that the people I care about are safe, and having some sense of closure for the ones we've lost.”

Nudging Matt with a small smile, you quipped, "And I don’t even work here."

Amidst the laughter that ensued, Foggy pulled you into a quick side hug, declaring, "You’re part of the team. Can’t escape it now. You are legally bound to us. We’re like your best friends forever."

Your mock disgust elicited more laughter, but Matt couldn't resist teasing, "The moment Father Lantom told me you were asking about me was the moment you verbally came into an agreement that you are my and everyone’s friend for life."

Blushing at the embarrassing memory, you raised your glass, proposing a toast, "To those we lost."

"For Elena," Foggy chimed in.

"For Ben," Karen added solemnly.

"And everyone else that son of a bitch has hurt," Matt concluded, his voice tinged with determination. "Cheers."

As the warm liquor slid down your throat, a heavy feeling settled in your stomach, prompting a furrow of your brow. Foggy's jest about the liquor prompted a shake of your head, "No, that’s not it."

Karen leaned forward, concern etched on her face, while Matt's inquisitive tone encouraged you to speak up, “Tell us, sweetheart.”

"It’s just… okay. Arresting Fisk was too easy. Just… If I was a wealthy bad guy, who had multiple connections from different government sectors, I would have fail-safes upon fail-safes to make sure I would at least be able to escape prison."

You paused, assessing their reactions before continuing, "What if… What if he also has connections to the Bureau… someone loyal. That would mean—"

The news report blares through the office, drawing everyone's attention. The tension in the room spikes as the reporter describes the unfolding chaos involving the FBI transport carrying Wilson Fisk, “What appears now to be some sort of firefight involving the FBI transport carrying Wilson Fisk. Uh, Janet, can you confirm what we're seeing here?”

Karen reacts swiftly, slamming her laptop shut with a frustrated grunt. Foggy and Matt follow suit, hastily gathering their belongings. Outside, the wail of sirens pierces the air, signaling the urgency of the situation.

Karen's voice carries a mix of exasperation and self-reproach as she dons her coat, "Jesus, we were idiots, weren't we? Sitting here, celebrating, thinking that it would be that easy with a man like him."

"We need to get out of here before they close down the streets or something," Foggy urges, his tone laced with concern.

With Karen safely in a cab, Matt turns to his best friend, issuing instructions. "Get them home," he says firmly, his voice carrying an air of determination.

Foggy nods in acknowledgment, a sense of responsibility evident in his movements. "Okay," he responds, his focus shifting to ensuring Karen's safety.

But Karen refuses to leave Matt behind, her concern evident in her protests. "No, no, where are you going? We're not leaving you," she insists, her voice tinged with worry.

Matt offers reassurance, his resolve unwavering. "Back to my place, make some calls, see what I can find out," he explains, his tone calm yet resolute.

Despite Karen's persistence, Matt remains steadfast in his decision. "You live on the other side of town. I'll be all right," he assures her, his confidence unwavering.

Foggy takes charge, determined to ensure Matt's safety. "Hang on, I'll get him a cab," he says, swiftly moving to assist.

As Karen and Foggy make arrangements for transportation, you take initiative, declaring your own plan. "I'll head back to the church and make sure everyone is okay. I'll text when I get home," you announce, your voice filled with determination.

Before Matt and Foggy can voice any objections, you're already on the move, rushing out of the building and down the street. Making your way to the church, you quickly toss your belongings onto a nearby bench, offering a hurried apology to Father Lantom as you dart back out onto the streets.

As you walked through the bustling city streets, the weight of your purpose pressed heavily upon your shoulders. You found yourself in a dimly lit alleyway, the shadows providing a cloak of secrecy as you prepared for what lay ahead. With a deft movement of your wrist, you cast a glamour, obscuring your presence from prying eyes, and pulled your hood over your face.

With a resigned exhale, you muttered, "Okay, here goes nothing." Igniting the palms of your hands, a brilliant glow enveloped them, the iridescence shimmering in the darkness. You shut your eyes tightly, focusing on the spell, seeking out the unique essence of Matt's aura amidst the myriad of colors swirling through the city. Eventually, you detected his familiar maroon burgundy hue, and with a twist of your wrist, you vanished into the sky, hurtling towards him.

The sensation of falling at a rapid pace filled you with exhilaration and dread in equal measure. You spotted a figure clad in red traversing the rooftops and aimed for their vicinity, teleporting once more to land upon the rooftop.

A low groan escaped you as you stumbled upon landing, and you glanced up to see the Devil of Hell's Kitchen towering above you.

He offered a smirk, his voice tinged with amusement, "Didn't think I'd have you on your knees this quickly, sweetheart."

You distorted your voice and shook your head, brushing off his remark, "Not the time. Where's Fisk?"

He tilted his head, listening intently, before striding towards the rooftop's edge. You followed suit, observing as he hurled his billy club with precision, causing a nearby truck to tilt dangerously.

You couldn't help but quip, "Oooh, the Devil's got new toys. Nice suit, by the way. I like the horns."

A smirk played across Matt's lips before a loud thud diverted your attention. Wilson Fisk staggered out of the truck, prompting Matt to leap atop it, while you gracefully descended next to him, utilizing your magic to shield yourselves from the ensuing gunfire.

Matt's voice carried a grave warning, "You were right… what you told me over the radio that night. Not everyone deserves a happy ending."

Fisk sneered in response, "You?"

Before the tension could escalate further, gunfire erupted from the truck, forcing you and Matt to take a step back. With resolve, you instructed him, "Go get Fisk, I'll deal with him."

With a nod of agreement, Matt retrieved his billy club, and you focused your powers, summoning a surge of energy to confront the threat before you. You watch as the man falls to the ground and you quickly dispose of the rifle before running off to find Matt.

Eventually, you hear yelling and grunting by an alleyway, and from a distance you see Fisk punching his face and grabbing him like a barbell before slamming him to the ground. He grabs Matt’s billy club and begins screaming like a child throwing a tantrum, “This city doesn't deserve a better tomorrow. It deserves to drown… in its filth! It deserves people like my father! People like you!”

With a surge of magic coursing through your veins, the iridescent glow on your palm intensified as you unleashed a powerful wave of energy towards Fisk, sending him hurtling against the alley wall. The impact echoed through the narrow space, mingling with Fisk's pained groans.

Ignoring Fisk's struggles, you rushed to help Matt up, but your efforts were abruptly halted as Fisk seized a handful of your hood and your hair, wrenching your head back and slamming it repeatedly against the unforgiving brick wall. Sharp yelps of pain escaped your lips with each brutal impact, leaving you disoriented and vulnerable.

Before you could react, Fisk snatched Matt's billy club, raining down vicious blows upon your defenseless form. Each strike sent searing pain radiating through your side, the force knocking you to the ground, the gritty concrete scraping against your skin.

Through a haze of agony, you heard Matt's defiant declaration, his voice heavy with determination. "This is my city... my family."

Summoning every ounce of strength, Matt unleashed a relentless assault on Fisk, each blow driven by a fierce resolve. Despite his injuries, Matt refused to yield, delivering a final, decisive blow that sent Fisk crumbling to his knees, defeated.

As police sirens wailed in the distance, Brett Mahoney, his weapon raised, approached cautiously. "Police! Show me your hands! Do it! Show me your hands!"

"I told you before, Sergeant… We’re not the bad guys," Matt asserted, his voice raw with exhaustion. Mahoney's recognition was palpable as he lowered his gun, his disbelief evident. "Holy shit, it's you."

With Fisk restrained, Matt helped you to your feet, concern etched into his features. Despite the pain coursing through your body, you managed a nod, determined to press on.

As Mahoney secured Fisk in handcuffs, Matt whispered softly, his concern evident. "You alright?" You winced but nodded, assuring him of your resilience.

Mahoney's voice cut through the tense atmosphere, seeking clarification. "Hey, so what am I supposed to call you when I file my report?" But you and Matt were already in motion, swiftly making your way to the rooftop.

With a final surge of energy, you cloaked yourself in invisibility, teleporting to the New York Sanctum, a sanctuary, your strength waning but your resolve unyielding.

❖ ── ✦ ──『✙』── ✦ ── ❖

OUTSIDE NELSON & MURDOCK ATTORNEYS AT LAW OFFICE — DAY

"Daredevil and the Divine." Karen's voice resonated through the crisp morning air, her words dancing off the surrounding buildings like a fleeting melody. "That's what they're calling him now. The man in the mask and that woman who shows up to help him and the people of Hell’s Kitchen."

Foggy, his fingers dancing nervously on the signboard, echoed his skepticism. "Daredevil? Sounds like he's gonna jump Snake River Canyon on his rocket cycle."

A grin tugged at the corner of Matt's lips, a rare moment of levity amidst the grim reality of their recent struggles. "It kinda does, doesn't it?"

"And The Divine? What’s with these names?" Foggy's eyebrows knitted together in confusion, mirroring your own silent query.

Karen, however, found a glimmer of amusement in the midst of it all. "Okay, okay. I thought it was a bit goofy at first, but it kinda grows on you. And it's better than the Devil of Hell's Kitchen anyway. Oh, come on, the Divine for a woman vigilante superhero is pretty cool."

"Not wrong there," Matt agreed, a hint of approval in his tone, while you offered a nod of agreement.

"I cannot believe this is the same guy that stopped that Union Allied nut from stabbing me in my apartment. That is a serious upgrade," Karen remarked, her gaze lingering on the newspaper clipping.

"I don't know, I think the horns are a bit much," Foggy chimed in, prompting a burst of laughter from you.

As Foggy finalized the sign, Karen's expression softened into a smile. "There! Done! What do you think?"

"I think I'm glad I fished it out of the trash," Karen quipped, earning a pleased grin from Foggy.

Matt approached the sign, his fingertips tracing over the engraved letters, before turning to face his companions with a warm smile. "Nelson and Murdock. Avocados at law."

Your raised eyebrow prompted Karen's laughter. "'Avocados'?"

Foggy glanced at his watch, a hint of urgency in his demeanor. "It's a long story. Which I do not have time to tell you. Promised Marci I'd help her find a new job since most of the partners at Landman and Zack are under indictment."

"Oh? You two getting back together?" You inquired, drawing a shrug from Foggy. "No. I don't know. Maybe."

Amidst the laughter and banter, you interjected, "Tell her thank you, for everything she’s done for us. For everything she did helping bring Fisk down."

Foggy's reminder of the impending trial cast a shadow over the jovial atmosphere. "Fisk still needs to go to trial. Just getting a court date on a case this big could take a year."

"That long?" Karen's concern was present, but Matt's reassurance rang clear. "He's where he belongs, that's all that matters."

Matt gestured to their small group with his pointer finger as he smiled, "And we put him there."

Foggy's grin was infectious. "Yeah, we did. Hell of a sign."

Matt's lopsided smile hinted at his quiet pride. "Now all we need are clients."

"One day at a time, partner. One day at a time," Foggy echoed, offering Matt a reassuring pat on the arm before heading across the street to meet up with Marci while Karen went upstairs to the office to finish some work.

Your sudden wince of pain drew Matt's attention, his heightened senses detecting the faintest traces of discomfort emanating from you. He steadied you with a gentle touch, concern etched into his features. "You okay, sweetheart?"

Your quick explanation belied the true source of your discomfort, “M’just a little sore from all the walking and running,” but Matt's perceptive nature left no room for evasion. "Running?"

"Oh, just when I’m running late on errands and stuff…" Your feeble attempt at deflection couldn't mask the truth from his discernment. “Anyways, not that big of a deal, I’ll be alright.” You said as you scrunched your nose a little.

Matt's voice, a soothing whisper amidst the chaos of emotions, enveloped you like a comforting embrace. "Y’know you can tell me anything, right?" His hand found yours, the warmth of his touch a reassuring anchor in the tempest of your thoughts.

You met his gaze, the crimson lenses of his mask reflecting the faint glow of the city lights. His smile, a beacon of solace in the darkness, stirred a flurry of emotions within you, each heartbeat echoing like the frantic flutter of hummingbird wings. Yet, beneath the surface, a weight pressed upon your chest, a silent reminder of the burdens you carried.

"I know," you murmured, your words heavy with unspoken grief. "There are things though I wish I could change. Elena… Ben. But I can’t."

Matt's grip tightened, his touch a silent reassurance amidst the turmoil of your emotions. Drawing you closer, he offered words of solace, a lifeline in the tumultuous sea of sorrow. "It's like I told Foggy, all we can do is move forward… together. Come on."

With a solemn nod, you surrendered to the comforting embrace of his guidance, a silent pact forming within the recesses of your soul. Yet, amid the solace he offered, a shadow of apprehension lingered, a silent reminder of the fleeting nature of the peace you now have.

For in the heart of this momentary respite, you recognized the cost exacted by the fragile sanctuary you dared to grasp—a price paid in the currency of uncertainty, where the promise of heaven was tempered by the inevitability of its fleeting embrace.

❖ ── ✦ ──『✙』── ✦ ── ❖

TAGLIST: @scoliobean @thychuvaluswife @pantrashtic @ofmusesandsecrets @c-losur3 @coco-karfunkel

[kate-bot]

OKAY SO I've gotten two asks about my Noisette cosplay AND THANK YOU SM FOR THE KIND WORDS !!!!!!!! It was sm fun to make this cos, so I will gladly explain everything I did in hopes that it might help someone else!! also both anons please share your cosplays with me when theyre done i would love to see them....

I've tried to link everything where I can, where I got stuff etc... I only rarely cosplay (although I am thinking of going as the noise in May Comiccon) and this was my biggest ever project so!! It's very trial-and-error! But without further ado

KATES EXTENSIVE(ish) GUIDE TO COSPLAYING NOISETTE FROM THE HIT GAME PIZZA TOWER!!!!!!! (warning its kinda long)

THE HAT

Okay i’m gonna be real my mum helped me so much she basically did all the sewing for me. Sewing is the fucking bane of my existence I hate doing it so much so we planned it out together and she basically executed it. Props to her for that she’s so real… She also wrote down what she did!! So i’ll just paste and colour that in for you to read!!

“The black material (seen in the above image) was originally a beanie hat that was picked apart to use as a template…

This was game changing basically. We had experimented with making the hat from scratch but it was far too difficult and we were both too stupid so we just unstitched a pre-existing hat and stole the template. The hat we cut up was one we had lying around for years so i cannot tell you where to get one from, but any beanie that is stitched together will work i guess! So I would recommend finding a hat that fits you snugly and doing the same thing!

…and the wool fabric that was utilised gave the finished product was stiff enough to be structurally sound.

I just got this from my local fabric shop, I would recommend wool over something like felt because it’s super sturdy and I was pulling on my mask a LOT.

Once sewn together, I attached a stiff card facemask to the front to help provide some structure, and to locate where the eye holes should be cut.

I think this picture shows it pretty well, my mum was able to curve the shape of the fabric to fit a pre-existing mask- we got ours from Hobbycraft, just one of those stringed white template masks yknow. We cut off the string, made the eyeholes a little bigger and just stuck it straight on!! I should mention this was pretty much all done with a sewing machine as well!

After that, we made two ears from a paper pattern, stuffed them and put some wire inside to allow them to be positioned, before sewing them onto this headband, which was then sewn into the hat. The bottom of each ear was also stitched to the crown to give it some additional stability and to secure the headband correctly in position (having fitted it on the wearer).

Yeah it was actually less of a mask and more of a headband!! That was what gave it most of the support and meant the ears would stay up, I’m not sure how it would work without it!! The ears were the only part that I could actually help with LMAO i just freehanded a little template, stuffed it, and then put in some modelling wire to make them able to be posed :)

Then it was a lot of hand sewing, and glueing the eyeholes to the mask to create a cohesive look.

AND YEAH that’s pretty much all it was! I also attached some little felt eyelashes to add to it as well. Honestly I could never come up with a step-by-step guide for the process because it was such a trial and error thing (i’d made two test-hats before we even came up with the method) but it was so fun!!

I would 100% recommend if you want the ears to stay UP to stuff them AS MUCH AS U CAN and/or put wire in them!! :) I also made some cute little bows to clip into my wig in the same fabric to make it more cohesive!! I also put a bow (and a bunny tail heheh) on the back of the dress too!!

THE DRESS

Super simple! I just found one online (okay for some reason the link has been taken off of the website, but just look up "overall dress" on google shopping and you will 100% find something super cute)- I made sure to buy the dress first, and then take it to the fabric shop to try and colourmatch the mask fabric as best as I could. Then it was just buying some big ol buttons off eBay and sewing them on!! (I could actually do that bit by myself, I'm bad at sewing but im not THAT bad)

EVERYTHING ELSE

Cute patterned knee-high socks cuz shes cute like that. Leg warmers, I think I got them both off of Amazon... Converse I got from Depop and I had wanted to buy a pair anyway so I was super stoked to get them cheap!! I chose converse over a pair of high-heels or Mary Janes just for comfort reasons, I was walking around loads at the con so... Everything else apart from the shirt was from Amazon or just. Somewhere online(I have no idea where to get fancy white gloves LOL) and the shirt was from Depop as well! I liked how frilly it was, re: Noisette is cute like that!!

oh yeah and the wig. I hate wigs it was awful. I have no idea how to style them. underneath the hat was the most awful bowl cut ever I just. It wasn't my best moment. Dont ask me about wigs please .

Also I should mention I got this bag for the cosplay (which I now use all the time cuz its so cute) because i needed space to store shit and I wanted something on-brand with her cafe... this isnt the exact link I used but I just got it off of ebay :P

PROPS

Unfortunately I don't have a lot of WIP pictures of my props but they were pretty simple to make!! The coffee cup was literally just spraypainting over a reusable coffee cup and using POSCA pen to draw on the front! Fun fact the cup says "To Peppino" because originally my boyfriend was gonna go with me as Peppino before the Cruetly Squad brainrot got to him so. YEA

And the tip jar was also pretty simple, I just painted on the lid a plastic jar (can't be glass, not allowed at ComicCon) and cut out a bit of vinyl to work as the sign. The cobweb was just hot-glued 3D printer filament, and the spider was made with foam modelling clay (literally the best thing ever if you're making small models like that) and i stuck him to the lid of the jar with Kandi string so he'd bounce around :]

AND I THINK THATS IT!! i may as well post a pic of the full cosplay since I dont think many people would have made it this far.... But I think it turned out pretty cool!! I got recognised a few times as well which was amazing!! (cropped out my bf cuz idk if he wants his face on tumblr gfhhfg)

SO YEAH!!!! if anyone has any questions please let me know.. but GOOD LUCK IN UR COSPLAY MAKING FRIENDS!!!! :D

[fatuismooches]

SMOOCHES!!! Hii my cutie patootie!!! ໒꒰ྀི´ ˘ ` ꒱ྀིა

It’s been a while since I last sent something here and I’m so sorry about that!! I’m doing a lot better now (although I never got my test results back to see if I had that syndrome or not LOL) and I almost have the two new Fontaine regions 100% oopsies! But I have like serious brainrot (but school is so tiring I usually just nap the whole afternoon) anyways!! I listened to one of mitski’s songs called “Once More to See You” and ugh it honestly just reminded me of Dottore and fragile!reader. The beginning makes me think of how fragil!reader and Dottore (especially) having a reputation and being looked as “weird” or as students who don’t belong in the Akademiya. The rest of the song just reminds me of Dottore being alone once fragile!reader fell into their coma, and him longing to feel your hand against his. To have your warm touch, caress his cheek, kiss his lips, embrace him, and to say his name, “Zandik!” In that lovely tone of yours. ouuughh I love fragile!reader and Dottore so so much just Dottore having to wait so long for them to wake up. Like imagine having to wait hundreds of years for the only person who’s every shown you affection and love. The only person to hold you so lovingly, say your name with love and not disgust, or with horror.

And after waking up??? Oughhh I know I say this a bit frequently but Dottore would become so so protective and possessive. I mean, you’re the only thing he has left, and he almost lost you once. He won’t spare to almost lose you another time, especially after centuries went by without your warm touch, or your voice. He defff savors every moment you two have together when he’s available. And especially when he becomes so used to having you on his lap and him being able to feel your heartbeat. Sometimes he may unconsciously tighten his grip on you when he’s holding you.

okieokie I think that’s enough for today!! I hope you’ve been doing amazing smooches again I’m so sorry I’ve been away I always wanna brainrot but sometimes I think my ideas aren’t that great compared to anons (YOUR ANONS ARE SO AMAZING I LOVE READING EVERY POST, AND KAI’S WRITINGS <333 MWA MWA!!) But i hope you’re getting lots of rest and staying healthy!! A bunch of chu chus n hugs, n maybe a few cuddles ! hehe!!

-from your dear boo boo bear 🎐 anon! ౨ৎ

🎐 ANON MY BELOVED!!! Oh my gosh I'm so happy you're back and alright, I missed you, and I'm so happy to hear your health has gotten better ❤️ Congrats on your Fontaine exploration and omg i totally understand, take those naps if you need to 😭 I'm not much of a napping person but those few times that i do nap, feel so good lmao. Okay brainrot time~

WAH THANK YOU FOR INTRODUCING ME TO ANOTHER MITSKI SONG... omg i love this so much. Dottore was definitely ostracized and excluded in the Akademiya, everyone thought that he nor his crazy ideas belonged there. And you, I imagine your reputation start to get dragged through the mud the more you hang out with Dottore. They just don't understand. Why would you ever want to even sit in the same room as him, much less befriend him? You started to be labeled as the same things as him. You don't mind (most of the time, sometimes it still gets to you) because you think those people are just shallow compared to your friend. But Zandik himself doesn't understand you either? There's no way that his "friendship" (your words, not his) is worth the stress of all this. He doesn't understand, it's not like you're using him, if anything he's the one using you instead. Zandik doesn't understand... but he's not going to admit that the fact that you chose him over everyone else makes him feel a certain way. And that tingly feeling only grows and grows. And he refuses to acknowledge it... until you leave him and suddenly everything he's chosen to ignore hits him at once. Everything that Zandik's been trying so hard to deny, he admits to now. He misses you... he longs for your touch, your kindness, the way you treat him with such love, your voice... as horrible as this is, it really did open his eyes. Made him realize that living by himself again in the dorms is slowly making him even crazier without you. Made him realize that he's willing to do anything, and i mean anything, to get you back.

OH YEAH Dottore is extremely protective over you when you finally wake up. See, Dottore isn't really scared of someone else hurting you. He knows that he and his segments would never let that happen. Rather, he's scared of other things. Like your illness. Things he can't control. Dottore is a man who's used to being in control now, so when he can't predict things? When he can't see them coming? He doesn't like that. Not one bit, especially when it comes to you. He needs to know everything, otherwise, he won't be satisfied. He can't risk you being hurt again, not under his watch. You're very confused in the beginning because hello? This is the same guy who used to let you go out and do all these crazy tasks on his behalf? But yeah, he can't help but be very possessive. It's very Dottore like of him.

Thank you for the delicious brain rot 🎐 anon!! I enjoyed it tremendously :3 AND SHUSH YOUR BRAINROTS ARE AMAZING AND I LOVE THEM. But yuppp my anons and Kai have such yummy writing!! I am doing well, thank you :) just busy but I'm fine! Giving you lots of my hugs and kisses to you toooo <33

[itsthesinbin]

Can you make some nsfw headcanons for the ice king please?

YOU ARE SO REAL FOR THIS ANON. also sorry this ALSO kinda turned into a general hc thing as well as nsfw. i just. really like the ice king. feel free to request more if this doesnt suit ur fancy LMAO

Ice King (Adventure Time)

Honestly, it takes a LONG time for him to be comfortable with such a thing. He's used to people leaving him, pretending to like him, or just outright mocking him. He may be desperate, but he's scared of intimacy for a good while.

Once he IS comfortable with the idea of sex, he very much is a giver over a receiver. You don't really know if that's his desperation, or a remnant of the man he used to be, but he's always putting you first. Maybe it's also because he's old and he knows he can only go like one round before he needs a breather. Who knows!

His back hurts a lot, both from age and from getting his ass beat by various people over the centuries, so he tends to lay back for a lot of it. He's not lazy by any means, unless he's just REALLY tired. Just sometimes he can't sit up or be on his knees for a long time.

Very cold by nature, obviously, so he'll take the time to warm his hands up at the very least before getting down and dirty. Unless you're into that.

VERY vocal. He's babbling. He's begging. He's whining and moaning. He's thanking you and he's pleading. Maybe for more, maybe just because he's overwhelmed.

When he's REALLY in the mood and really feeling good, he turns you into a pretzel. Sometimes the crown gives him a lot of energy, and that's his favorite way to get it out.

If he hurts you by accident he does really feel bad about it. He'll make a little joke and say "I can see if we got some ice to put on that" but you can tell he's upset.

He's not.... BAD at oral really. But you gotta kinda help him figure out what you like best. He's very enthusiastic! Just not very experienced.

He will cry after sex about 70% of the time, even if it's just a little. He's just very overwhelmed by the intimacy and affection. He's fine though! Just hold him and let him get it out.

VERY big cuddler. He doesn't consider it a successful night if you don't fall asleep on him/him on you.

Also this is just for me: I know how he's drawn in the show but I REFUSE the idea he's skinny. That man has DAD BOD. He is FAT. He is SO NICE to hug it is UNREAL.

There was one time he was having a really bad crown-confusion day and called you Gunther while he had his hands on your ass. You immediately had to stop and leave the room for a minute. Now small stress tests are necessary any time you intend to have sex.

[chaisshitposts]

Hiiii welcome back!

Hru?? :D I'm actually really curious about one thing when I was reading your post (your posts are really fun to read ngl)

How do you make your subconscious manifest for you in the void? Like that seems so cool I wanna try it, less work for me lmao

Anyways, I hope you enjoy your day! ^^🫶

- 🐧 anon

hiya 🐧 anon!!! 🕵️ I am feeling really good today!!! how are youuu? thank ya for askin'!!! and heh I'm glad ya think they're fun to read 💀

aHhHhH good question!!! sO, honestly, I love to experiment with stuff— follow me here, this ramble is necessary —and so I was thinkin', if we can command our subconscious to wake us up at certain times in the mornin' or to remind us to do stuff, etc, things like that, I thought... wait a fuckin' minute, why can't I just tell my subconscious to manifest for me in the void state??? 🤨

I'm constantly tellin' people that anything is possible if ya can even consider the possibility of it even takin' place and so I considered this new thought like... Ayo??? What if I don't even need to be aware in the void??? What if I just tell my subconscious to manifest my void list whenever I'm in the void state??? Cause I personally enter the void state like every night that I affirm for it usin' psych-k for 10 minutes sO... Ain't this possible?

and bruh I can already SMELL the people tryna tell me 'thats not how it works!!!' 'that can't work!!!' 'thats not even possible!!!!' 'the void doesn't work that way!!!!!!!' but riddle me this...

we are the void, the void is constantly inside of us, so... why wouldn't this be possible??? why wouldn't I be able to command my subconscious aka ME to do somethin' for ME???

and before anyone asks, I lazily tested this out myself and haven't really thought about it until now that you've brought it up 🐧 anon. howEvEr I didn't do the traditional psych-k to command my subconscious, but I prolly will try that out tonight ngl now that you've reminded me— I haven't been actively tryna wake up in the void this week cause I've been mentally busy 💀 so... hm.. guess I'll explain what I plan to do

oKaY!!! weird background info, my subconscious', aka my higher self's, name is malachai (I don't know where the name came from but I was thinkin' about what my subconscious would want to be called and the name just popped up in my head in bold letters, super weird ik) soO my affirmation to use during my ten minute psych-k session would be— Everytime I enter the void state, Malachai will manifest everything on my void list for me.

That could also be edited into just 'Everytime I enter the void state, my subconscious will manifest everything on my void list for me.' if ya plan on experimentin' with this idea yerself.

my whole idea around this is— I just let my subconscious do it's work like it always does, manifestation is always perfect 🕵️ it's foolproof and all I needa do is sit back and chill 🧎and ideally it will work, since it was a possible idea for me to think of and anything can be manifested so long as ya even consider it a desire in the first place

[effyrosemary]

oh my god unethical priest marius you're a genius!!!!! do you think armand resists the idea that letting his priest fuck him is totally okay in the eyes of god or is he relieved to finally let go and give into his baser desires.... or both! do you think it makes him less guilty or more? god and imagine if marius were to weaponize armand's guilt in order to keep him even more trapped, like yes you are so bad for this and i'm the only one who can absolve you. i'm so invested LOL if you have any hcs of how it would play out i'm aaalll ears

Omg! thank you! To answer your question:

I think it’s both kinda. I think for Armand it would be so liberating to finally give in to these desires, and I think the shame is also kind of what gets him off (it’s the classic “oh no this is so wrong, but it feels so good!”). But I also think that there’s still a small part of him that genuinely feels it’s wrong to do these sexual things. Armand desperately wants to believe in something, I think, and to have that stability so he can have a space for himself to rebuild and to trust again. (don’t get me started, I have this whole fic idea of Daniel trying to provide Armand with a cozy little home and emotional support and stability so Armand has a space to heal, but that’s another story for another day) But I also feel like Armand is very nihilistic in some ways, so maybe he feels guilty but he also goes against the guilt on purpose, to feel that hurt and to feel that shame, I don’t know if you’re following me hahah

And omg, Marius weaponizing the genuine guilt is so wrong and so deliciously GOOD. (idc! it’s fiction! they’re not real people! let us have our dirty thoughts OK!)

When I first saw “unethical therapist Marius” on @monstersinthecosmos I was so immediately hooked. (I then sent this anon bc I needed to talk about it lmao, I was still not familiar with tumblr again after being away for a long time and I thought maybe people will think I’m weird but now I say fuck it bc Anne Rice never shunned away from people thinking her stories/characters were strange/too much.)

Marius is always so seemingly in control, and I love when he’s fooling himself that he’s doing the right thing when he KNOWS he’s not. That’s also why I like Pandora and him together, she kinda sees through his mask. Spoiler: I still remember that one part in Blood Communion after Marius kills Arjun where they’re all sitting around the table and Marius is furiously talking to Pandora and Lestat says: “I had never seen him so angry”, in other words; Lestat has never really seen Marius’ mask break like that, except now that he is upset with/about Pandora. Or when he’s helped out of the ice by Pandora and Santino in QOTD where he childishly snaps at her and says “I can walk unaided, thank you!” when Pandora reaches out to touch him, and she just gives him a shove and is like ‘“Fine girl, walk then lmao”

He wants to be this voice of reason, this stability etc, and he is, but he’s also human. So I love it when those kind of characters secretly give in to their bad side and try to justify it! I also love it when usually reserved people finally snap and can’t control themselves anymore when they finally get what they want, it’s my favorite thing. (There is this beautiful fic by @0junemeatcleaver0 where Marius kinda loses his composure at some points and he gives in to what he really wants and it’s so good. Highly recommend that fic in general.)

I LOVE headcanons, please tell me if you have some! These are some of mine regarding priest!marius:

- Marius has to actively restrain his thoughts from going wild when he sees Armand on his knees, or when the boy is reaching up to clean a shelf and his shirt rises and Marius can see the silky skin of his lower back. He’s practically drooling :)

- Armand secretly kind of knows the relationship between them is wrong, but he tries to test Marius by experimenting. (Sitting next to Marius and accidentally letting their knees touch etc that sort of thing, playing it dirty but also safe you know)

- Armand gets turned on when Marius is preaching in front of the crowd (idk how that shit works I’m not even religious, I never grew up religious lmao! how bad I am!) because Armand loves to see Marius in a position of power, and he loves how the people of the church look up to him.

- Armand has definitely thought about sucking Marius off under his robes when he’s speaking in front of a church full of people.

- At night, when Marius can’t think of nothing but Armand’s shapely legs and his lovely mouth, he turns to his Bible with the stubborn will of A Good Man and tries to ignore the insistent throbbing between his legs. And he can manage it, at least for a while.

- But then one night, he walks in on Armand praying on his knees and he walks up to tell the boy to go on home because it’s late and he should get some sleep, and the boy looks up from where he’s kneeling and says in a small voice, cheeks blushing; “I can’t, father. I’ll have sinful thoughts when I’m trying to sleep, I need to pray first.”

- And Marius offers he can help Armand with these thoughts, if Armand is willing to learn how to be a proper man of God.

- Nothing gets Marius more worked up than the idea of Armand calling him ‘ Father’ when they’re getting dirty together, it drives him feral

Alors… as Armand once told David Talbot; “Look, I’m deranged x”

* English is not my first language so apologies if there are some typos. Edit: I can’t believe I forgot the word “not” in the previous sentence for DAYS I have No Brains