expiation inbox

[devilsavocado]

[ text - voice - video (he can't see it) ]

Comments

[notthekingpin]

Are we going to fight over this again? There's no need to beat a dead horse.

[ hilarious he's so funny ]

[devilsavocado]

[ Matt releases a long sigh. ]

No, I guess not. That conversation won't go anywhere, anyway.

[ Matt knows he's too stubborn for that, it'd be like talking to a brick wall. ]

Why are you here, Murdock? I get the sense it wasn't to apologize.

[notthekingpin]

[ Matt puts his hand over his heart like he's been wounded ]

Maybe I was here to apologize! Don't cast me as the villain so quickly.

[devilsavocado]

[ Matt grits his teeth, staring incredulously. ]

You didn't come here to apologize.

[ Why does he get the sense that that villain thing is more literal than Matt gives Murdock credit for... ]

[notthekingpin]

Ugh, stop grinding your teeth so loud.

[ it is offensive to his delicate ears. ]

I'm sorry for killing you. Do you feel better now?

[devilsavocado]

[ Matt does stop, flashing Murdock a smile he knows he can hear. ]

I do. Thanks.

[ He doesn't.... but I mean, he did get Murdock to say it, so. ]

Don't do it again.

[ That's his Father Murdock voice. You wouldn't want to do it again, right, Murdock? It's bad. Even if, yes, Matt has now learned that there's a version of him out there that... kills people. That's taking him longer to accept than the fact that he momentarily died, honestly. ]

cw hes a little fucked up

[notthekingpin]

It wasn't as exciting as I thought it would be.

[ He has not learned any lessons. ]

murderdock indeed.......

[devilsavocado]

[ Matt levels him a glare. Well, he looks in his general direction, projecting as much distaste as he can. ]

Matt.

[ This face :| ]

[notthekingpin]

Yes?

[ He holds up his hands-- it's not really a surrender gesture so much as it's a "I'm not doing anything to kill you right now" gesture. ]

this is literally the moment matt realizes he thinks murderdock is hot

[devilsavocado]

[ Matt shakes his head. God, it's like talking to Elektra.

It's like talking to Elektra. Oh, no.

Oh, no, Matt. ]

You're something else.

its about time damn

[notthekingpin]

[ he puts his hands down, laughing at his reaction. ]

I would say I'm one of a kind, but, well.

he's catholic, it takes a while

[devilsavocado]

[ Okay, that makes Matt laugh again.

Fuck.

He's fucked. Is it that easy? Trying to kill him? Succeeding at killing him?

Evidently, yes. Matt is laughing at Murdock's stupid joke and he kind of hates himself for it, but he still laughs. ]

Yeah, alright. But if we get an office together, I'm keeping the staplers in my desk, out of concern for office safety.

[ That's also a joke. He's practically flirting. Damn you and your hot violence, Murdock. ]

[notthekingpin]

[ Oh, they're definitely flirting. He leans on his cane, posture relaxed and easy. ]

But you'll leave the paperclips out? Rookie mistake.

[devilsavocado]

[ Yeap, Matt relaxes a bit too, leaning back on a counter. His arms are still crossed, but it's obvious that things have changed. If Foggy were here, he'd be yelling at him. For Matt? Instead, he feels... alive. Damn. ]

Paperclips? But not the hole-punch? That thing's heavy.

[notthekingpin]

That's what makes a paperclip far deadlier. They never see it coming.

[devilsavocado]

[ Matt huffs another quiet laugh. ]

I'll have to take your word for it. And hide the paperclips, apparently.

[notthekingpin]

Smart decision.

[ there's a pause, and then, ]

Do you still want to do it? Open an office together, even after I "killed" you?

[devilsavocado]

[ Matt takes a moment to consider it. He hears those air quotes, he... some part of him can understand how a guy like Murdock would happen. Being grabbed by the Hand, missing out on a relationship with his father, Stick...

Is he beyond saving, because he's ruthless? Because he was taught to kill? And if Murdock is beyond saving, what does that say about him? Matt doesn't ever want to cross that line, but... here's a Matt who has. He's a little fucked up, but. He's still Matthew Michael Murdock, in the end. ]

I think so, yeah. I think the good we can do outweighs... that.

[ And everyone deserves second chances, right? ]

[notthekingpin]

[ It's funny to him that Matt things they can do good, but who he is to tell him other wise. He nods, then, agreeing. ]

Okay, I'm game.

[ that's a technical legal term your honor ]

[devilsavocado]

[ Matt will always want to do good, it's his core. It's his heart. It's what makes him such an idiot. It's what makes him meet someone like Murdock or Elektra and think "I can fix them" when the reality is that they always make him worse. ]

Great. I'll see what I can do.

[notthekingpin]

Good, because paper work is boring. And I'm guessing you're not really a "pay off the city official to avoid the permitting process" kind of guy.

[ Matthew, New York is unsafe. Do not go in buildings. Do not go near buildings. Nothing is up to code. ]

[devilsavocado]

[ Matt clenches his teeth. Ninjas. Ninjas did this. ]

I'm not. No.

[ Don't worry, Matt knows. He tries to stop those people, Murdock!! ]

[notthekingpin]

[ yes, ninjas did this. You keep trying to help him and see how that works out for you. ]

Then have fun with all the red tape.

[devilsavocado]

[ Nothing says Matt "Catholic Guilt" Murdock like a lost cause. ]

I will, thanks.

[ half-joking... he does enjoy this stuff, or he wouldn't have become a lawyer. ]