#marlene | anchor to my sanity

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17.     entry made featuring joy.

Diary Prompts | Accepting

Missing entry from the orange woven notebook. One of the pages that got torn out.

She said yes! Wait no. I said yes. She asked me. The others are included in this but suckers she asked ol Lockley. How's that for slow burn, Grant?

Like I said, everything's coming up roses. Got the house back. Making a better name after Spector screwed it up, may he stay away from us. We're thinking something small and quiet before she starts showing. Courthouse and then Frenchie and Rob's for after with the whole gang. We've been wanting to make it honest for a while. It's a happy surprise.

Can't believe it. After the heat on the streets dies down. Don't want anything to ruin the honeymoon.

#asked and answered #we are mk | system #marlene | anchor to my sanity

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05.     entry made after experiencing heartbreak.

Diary Prompts | Accepting

Found in the wreckage of the original Midnight Mission, this journal had a woven orange cover and was bent. Earlier entries are messy and legible, though slanted as if the original writer was excited. The current entry is borderline illegible even before the blast and subsequent water damage. Several pages have been torn out.

What day is it? doesn't matter haven't slept. haven't slept right since before the business in the Kitchen. She's gone for good. Left the ring and a note. Movers will come take the rest of her stuff later this week. I'm back and that's the last straw. Let her go this time. Remind her of everything she loses around me Should've stayed dead. Should've kept to us. That's when things go wrong when you get too comfortable, too picture perfect YOU KNOW THIS. EVERY TIME. what's the point of me if i can't protect the people i love the most Rand. God, if there hadn't been a crowd a timer I would've I should've made it slower. Should find the Profile and feed his glasses to him. that's what he wants. stopped talking. i can feel him watching me Repairs have been finished for all the good that does. Still see her on the floor. Can't stay here. got work in LA. leave the statue. it's so quiet. change of scenery. have Samuels and Nedda do their magic and get it set up. store everything

#asked and answered #marlene | anchor to my sanity #we are mk | system #rand | hatchet man & shadowknight #v: from the depths

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19. how many serious relationships have the System been in? are they experienced or inexperienced when it comes to dating?

Oh man.

At this point of their life, they're more experienced in long-term relationships than dating.They've dated a lot less than some of the other heroes in comics. If the scale of heroes dating is between Castle and Murdock, they fall closer to the Castle side of the scale.

Their longest relationship was with Marlene (comics) and Layla (@lalamoon). I keep Marlene as the ex-not-quite-wife in the main comic verse. In A Tale of Moon & Scarab, the System and Layla are married and that's not going to change. c:

Before they became MK, they were more casual, more one night stands than committed relationships. Marc was young and thought the uniform made him G-d's gift to the world. Which...Yeah, okay.

There were a couple of ladies Marc was in love with (Lisa and Layla) Both were killed. Don't think Steven and Jake met either. There was also some spicy times with men (paging @lt-ghxst and the Marine Boyfrands, @prettytm and @wardogsong).

Sometimes, Marc would date when them and Marlene were having an off-period (like T.igra). S.tained Glass Scarlet did kiss (and then stab him) that one time. But that doesn't really count. Marc was interested in Echo but they didn't do anything about it. Not the right time. The relationships never lasted due to comics MK's tendency to getting the people closest to him hurt or killed.

Currently, they've been out of the dating scene for a while, but are getting back into it. Whether that's with T.igra like in canon, @cordeliabarton, or @prettytm. While a potential partner doesn't have to be dating all three of them, having respect for the three of them is vital. They have a lot of issues with favoritism or being pushed out.

In A Tale of Moon & Scarab, the pre-MK has similar beats. Marc finds Layla to tell her about her father's death. To apologize, to give her money, and to continue on with his lonely life. Instead, he falls for her hard and fast. No matter what his brain is telling him (she's too young, he was involved with her father's death, he's dangerous). She hires him for a few jobs. And he stays. It's a whirlwind courtship and they marry in Cairo with Frenchie as their witness.

They're Soulmates.

Marc and Jake have a lot more experience than Layla. Steven never really had the opportunity for relationships because of a toxic ex. They're patient and encouraging with her. Likewise, she is patient and encouraging with Steven.

After the whole thing with Ammit, they open the Midnight Mission to directly help people besides all this vigilante bullshit. Mr. K is created by Marc to be the public face of the Mission. Because of Layla, Marc is able to open himself to connecting and healing in a way his 616 counterpart doesn't get. (Which is nobody's fault, it's comics, man).

#headcanons #asked and answered #v: a tale of moon and scarab #marlene | anchor to my sanity #v: welcome to the midnight mission | 616

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3, 13, 58 🖤

3 | Toska ( Russian ) - When has your muse experienced deeply felt anguished sadness; a void of melancholy, possibly without a definitive known reason ? Describe the ways your muse physically expressed this feeling.

Oh, every damn day of Spector’s life. Expressed in fights, trying to fill it with blood money and then righteous causes. He’s a master in escapism. If he can reinvent himself enough times, he will shake off the lingering shade.

13 | Nadryv ( Russian ) - When has your muse experienced an uncontrollable, ( possibly unreasonable ), emotional outburst of previously concealed feelings ? Were they alone when they experienced this, or unleash it onto someone else ? How did others view them after this outburst ?

-gestures at 2006 run- Marc brutally killing Bushman is what set him down the path of losing everyone he cared about. Yes, part of it was the injuries he sustained and self-medicating with pain killers and alcohol. However, he couldn’t bury the shame and guilt of reverting to who he was. He shunned and hurt his loved ones for two years, stewing in his shame. Then, when he returned to Moon Knight, he was stuck with his worst shame and anger.

58 | Razliubito ( Russian ) - When has your muse experienced the feeling of no longer being in love, but still holding bittersweet sentiments of nostalgia towards someone ? Who is this person ? How does your muse see them in their mind’s eye ? What made that love run out ?

Marlene and the system are broken up. However, the system and her still love one another. ‘the flame is gone, the fire remains’ type love. They (Marc especially) are filled with regrets on how they treated her. While he says they could put down the Moon Knight mantle and live a civilian life with Marlene and Diatrice, Marlene knows them well enough to know they can’t. She wasn’t perfect, they know that very well. They see her as the young woman they fell in love with. Fierce and bright. Marc’s choices, putting Moon Knight first, and -gestures at the 2006 run- you know, pushed her away. When they were good, they were good but there was always an undercurrent of toxicity and disaster underneath.

#asked and answered #headcanons #windy city | rabbi's son #we are mk | system #marlene | anchor to my sanity

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System & Alraune

Gonna change some things where 616/main verse is concerned. Diatrice exists! Just changing how she got here.

For those in the know, this is Vengeance of the Moon Knight and Shadowlands related.

CW in the next paragraph for mention of danger to a pregnant person and miscarriage.

When Jake was fronting as Moon Knight, he and Marlene were briefly engaged and lil baby Alraune was conceived. Of course, they can't stay happy. Marlene nearly lost the baby thanks to Randall (fuck Randall). Instead of a miscarriage like in Shadowlands (seriously, what was that fakeout guys?). Marc fronted, focusing on Moon Knight (again). Thinking the baby was lost, he thought Marlene didn't want him and moved to LA.

Meanwhile, Marlene decided he was unsafe. It was better to part ways. Keep her baby safe. I mean, she’s not wrong. Around this time, Frenchie hears Marlene's side of it. He's been dealing with Marc's bs for too long and wants to have a nice fucking restaurant with his husband, Rob. So, he doesn't contact Marc after Marc comes back from LA.

Marlene raised Diatrice in secret for 7 years until the usual shit happens. Bushman finds her and holds the family hostage to torment Marc. The usual. The System realizes they have a daughter. Spend some time getting to know Diatrice and reconnecting with Marlene. But, the adults in the room know Marc can't lay down being Moon Knight. Too dangerous. It all becomes apparent when Age of Khonshu happens. Marlene moves Diatrice to France.

The System loves Marlene and Diatrice but knows them and Marlene don’t work out for numerous reasons. They would love to spend time with Diatrice more - get to know her outside of when her life is in danger. I think they could be a good father if they were able to bond. They wouldn’t know quite what to make of a young girl. They’ve been surrounded by men for so long. That doesn’t mean they wouldn’t try! It may be a relief since Marc wouldn’t see a young him or Rand in a boy child. Instead, they just see Marlene’s version of bravery and terrifying presence. ;)

Diatrice’s safety and health comes before what they want. Additionally, Marc is so focused on his mission/duty and thinks he’s too dangerous for that. He and Marlene are right but also too hard on him. From an out of universe POV.

There are too many cons to pros y’know? But, their DID does not make them  a bad father. Marc’s choices and line of work does. If him and Marlene were better aligned then maybe. But that’s not how life works.

The System will not likely bring this all up to anyone unless a character was around then or there’s a reason.

#headcanons #diatrice #rand | hatchet man & shadowknight #lockley | mild mannered cabbie #windy city | rabbi's son #frenchie | the ride and best friend #marlene | anchor to my sanity

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Moon Knight (1980) #37

Writer: Alan Zelenetz

Penciler: Bo Hampton

Inker: Armando Gil

Colorist: Ben Sean

Letterer: Joe Rosen 

It’s the day after Rabbi Elias’ funeral. Someone (okay, Reuben Davis, Elias’ closest student) has stolen Elias’ body from his grave and Elias’ collection of manuscripts, books, his unpublished life’s work, etc. Moon Knight has gone out trying to figure out who’s done such a terrible thing but nothing’s turned up yet. He can’t separate Marc’s life like usual. 

Marlene: Excuse a former music major's ignorance. But just what is this Kabbalah like, Marc?

Marc: You're asking me, Marlene? I wasn't quite tuned in to my Father's wavelength before I'd left home...Sort of bucked and bristled at his old world ways, and resisted religious studies until I'd worn the man's patience thin. We lived in mutual resentment then, and I'm first beginning to regret it now.

Marc’s thoughts pick up what he and Marlene were discussing during the funeral. “I may have misjudged my father’s saintliness for cowardice and his genius and moral zeal for fanaticism. Everyone has spoken so highly of him. I don’t know. I only wanted to escape what I felt to be a sheltered life. Took to fistfighting, then boxing for money. Became a marine, a merc, a part of the real world. And yet, when things all panned out, I needed to become Steven Grant and Moon Knight to feel fulfilled. And isn’t Moon Knight in his own way a moral zealot fighting perhaps for the very same values Marc Spector once rejected?” 

Blowing up one of the panels to hit MCU over the head with a cartoon mallet.

Steven is the man Marc wants to be. Who didn’t throw away Elias’ teachings. Moon Knight is Jewish values in action.

Shout out to the artists for actually drawing the Hebrew letters and then transliterating it in speech. I hate it when the artists only use the transliterations.

#comics 616 #windy city | rabbi's son #grant | gentle dr jones #mk | the one they see coming #meta #marlene | anchor to my sanity

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Moon Knight (1980) #7 & 8 -  Writer: Moench, Artist: Sienkiewicz

Sometimes, the whole Chicago water supply is drugged with violence-inducing hallucinogens. So you got to rescue your best bud, give him CPR, knock him out, and tie him up. Make it to the “L,” trip tf out, and then fight your girlfriend who def wants to kill you in your hotel room.

As a treat?

“But these aren’t lunatics...They’re Moon Kings! And I...I’m only a Knight” is one of my favorite weird lines.

#mk | the one they see coming #frenchie | the ride and best friend #comics 616 #marlene | anchor to my sanity

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Hulk! Magazine (1978), #18

Writer: Moench, Artist: Sienkiewicz and Janson, Coloring: Oliff

We pick up where we left off. Moon Knight telling cops to cut the shit and get an ambulance for Marlene. He's not above tracking them down if she dies. (It's very cool how well Moon Knight knows Central Park. Lockley knowledge?). Randall starts indiscriminately killing and takes a hostage.

Not the eyeball stare XD XD XD

Randall's choice of words "starched white sweet run red" make me think of Elias' (future) funeral in Moon Knight #37. "Come now, and let us reason together, Saith the L-rd; Though your sins be as scarlet, They shall be as white as snow; Though they be red like crimson, They shall be as wool."

Despite Randall killing 11 women and trying to kill 2 more, Marc can't kill his brother. Not deliberately. At this point.

Hatchet Man killing "an innocent man named Randall Spector" is ... interesting, to say the least. Rand has always been jealous of Marc. He's a sore loser. Double-crossed the group him and Marc were in for more money. Killed Marc's girlfriend at the time. His killings are all related to Marc killing him with a grenade. Marc could've reached out but didn't. Which fits, considering Marc's self-hatred, grief, and fury. Blames himself for both Lisa and Randall. Better to dive into mercenary work. Then, Moon Knight. He's always looking to escape and make up for his past.

I leave you with a shirtless, bandaged Moon Knight at Marlene's bedside, telling the cops to fuck off until morning. Marlene makes it through.

#mk | the one they see coming #windy city | rabbi's son #rand | hatchet man & shadowknight #comics 616 #marlene | anchor to my sanity

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Hulk! Magazine (1978), #17

Writer: Moench, Artist: Sienkiewicz and Janson, Coloring: OlyOptics

Randall's first appearance as Hatchet Man, doing what he's best at. Being a serial killer. Particularly nurses. This encounter gets retconned later. They say this Hatchet Man was brainwashed into thinking he was Randall. Not himself.

Comics, man.

Anyway, #17 was published October 1979. The vibes feel very slasher movie. Appropriate for Halloween month. Also fitting since the 70s had a lot of serial killers. There was the Manson Family, The Zodiac Killer, John Wayne Gacy, etc. Including New York. David Berkowitz aka "Son of Sam" created a mass panic in the City and was captured in 1977.

If you want a better idea about the gritty darkness of NYC at the time, watch Taxi Driver (1976).

The first few pages are Randall methodically getting in the zone and killing his latest victim. The mask he picks "reminds him of trick-or-treating with his brother, who always had the better costume." Okay, Randall.

Next morning, Jake reads about it in the paper. (I love the friendship Jake, Gena, and Crawley have. Yes, it sets up the plot but they're so fond of one another <3). When Crawley gives the clue, Jake is triggered, wondering what he, what Marc Spector, has done. Steven fills Marlene in. She immediately volunteers and talks him into being a decoy.

Of course, nothing goes to plan. Randall grabs Marlene and the cops intervene, shooting her.

Moon Knight wilds the fuck out, invoking their dead mother.

#we are mk | system #comics 616 #rand | hatchet man & shadowknight #marlene | anchor to my sanity