"The Cradle Rocks Above An Abyss, And Common Sense Tells Us That Our Existence Is But A Brief Crack Of

"The cradle rocks above an abyss, and common sense tells us that our existence is but a brief crack of light between two eternities of darkness." - Vladimir Nabokov

Summary:

A normal trip is transformed into a nightmare when the TARDIS takes off without them, but Yaz knows that everything will turn out fine. The Doctor will come back for them... right?

Length: 21,138 words.

READ ON AO3.

the ripples they cause

Read chapter nine on AO3 now!!

Here's a snippet:

Karen weaves in and out of hallways, trying to find the right ward. Hospital staff bustle past her, purple staining the underneath of their eyes like bruises, but there are no patients in this part of the building.

There are eight million people living in New York, and it’s Karen’s job to know how they spend their time. First, as a journalist for the Bulletin, but also as a private investigator. Even though they had turned to dust a few weeks later, Karen couldn’t let go of Nelson, Murdock & Page, so she’d kept up her end of the bargain throughout the Blip.

Jessica Jones investigates whatever is brought to her door, whether that is a cheating partner or a missing person. Karen, on the other hand, decided to specialize in what she investigated: people who lied about being Blipped.

It’s an odd phenomenon. After half the population turned to dust, plenty of people saw the chaos as an opportunity to fake their deaths or change their identity. She’s surprised more people didn’t think of it. With the state the government was in - is still in, if she’s being honest - they have no way of checking exactly who everyone is.

The person she is trying to find is a perfect example of someone who saw the opportunity and took it. No loving family member has come to her because they suspect he is alive, though. Karen is here to see him with her own eyes, to check that what she’s heard is true before she tells anyone.

A nurse stops her at the door, blocking her path with hands on his hips. “What?”

Karen blinks. “Uh… My name is Karen Page. I’m currently investigating a missing persons case and I have reason to believe that they might be in your ward.”

The nurse huffs, not moving from where he stands. “And?”

“May I go inside to see whether they’re here or not?” Karen says, raising an eyebrow.

“No.”

Karen opens her mouth to say something but closes it again, not sure how to answer. She hesitates before opening her handbag, rifling through it. “I have a photo I could show you instead, then–”

“I don’t want to see it.”

She fishes it out anyway, holding it up. “Is this man on your ward?”

“No.”

“You didn’t even look.”

The nurse steps closer to Karen in an attempt to intimidate her, but since the top of his head only reaches her nose, it gives her the impression of a Chihuahua trying to stand up to a German Shepherd.

“Get off my ward,” he hisses.

Karen scoffs. “It’s visiting hours. I’ve shown you a photo and I’ve explained why I’m here. Why are you so insistent on getting me to leave?”

“Spencer!”

Karen and the nurse both start at the sound of the voice behind them. Claire walks up to them, smiling warmly at Karen before turning to scowl at Spencer.

“I’m the one who told Miss. Page that her missing person might be here. Are you going to cause more problems by being unnecessarily rude, or are you going to apologize and let her in?”

Spencer clenches his jaw. “But-”

“No,” Claire interrupts, rolling her eyes. “You go in, Karen. I’ll have a little chat with Spencer here and then join you in a minute.” She takes him by the elbow and firmly steers him into a nearby office, clicking the door shut behind them.

Karen pushes the doors open to the ward, her eyes scanning over each of the bodies lying in the beds. As she expected, it’s too early in the morning for any other visitors to be here, so she has the place to herself.

The noise of her heels clacking against the tiles as she walks down the middle of the beds is unnerving, even to her. She’s been to hospitals enough times to know that they are always busy, so to not even be greeted with a curious head turn is eerie. It’s hard to tell whether she can explain away the lack of nurses to Claire, or if the coma ward is usually this quiet.

Her eyes slide over each unfamiliar face, too afraid to linger on the image of their unmoving bodies. Karen may as well be in a morgue. She’s half considering leaving when her gaze finally locks onto the person she came to see.

He’s lying in the bed furthest from the door, and someone has attempted to give him some privacy by hastily pulling the curtain around him. From where she is standing, though, Karen can see his face plain as day.

Claire was right. Wilson Fisk is here.

Continue reading on AO3.

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the ripples they cause

Read chapter seven on AO3 now!

Here's a snippet:

Karen has been in the kitchen for a suspiciously long time.

“Surely a casserole can’t take this long to make?” Foggy whispers to Matt. They’re lounging on the sofa together, some random channel blaring Christmas music on the TV.

Matt tilts his head. “She’s on her phone, I think.”

Foggy’s heart squeezes. He knows that Christmas tends to prod at old wounds, and it can be especially tough when you’re waiting for a call that can never come.

“Hey, Karen!” he calls. “Are you ready to open presents yet?”

She sticks her head around the corner, phone still clutched in her hand. “I thought we were doing it after lunch?”

“Nope,” Foggy replies cheerfully, popping the ‘p’. “I think we should do it now. And Matt doesn’t have any objections, because he knows I’m smarter than him.”

“Hey,” Matt protests. “That’s not fair. And Catholics actually wait until Boxing Day to open presents, so I do object.”

“Seriously?” Foggy exclaims. “I can’t wait that long.”

Matt bursts into laughter, grinning at him. “I’m joking, Fog.”

“So are we opening presents now or what?” Karen interjects.

“Yeah,” Foggy answers, “we’re opening them now.”

LINA i’m watching eurovision i could ABSOLUTELY demolish a god rn the circus mirkus performance slapped

IT DID SLAP this must be the gayest year of eurovision ever <3

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