Video > Text | un: Miss Jackson if you're nasty

[living_proof]

[The picture clicks on, almost entirely filled with the pale face of one Olivia Moore, brow bunched up as she taps at something on the screen.

Murmurred:] Okay, I think that's recording.

[Sitting back, she gives her head a little, resolute shake, and brushes some platinum hair from her face. She pulls in a breath, sighs it out again.]

Hi, everyone. This is Liv. I think most of you know me, but we've kind of had a run on newbies recently, so you might just know me as "that short girl with the white hair." I'm a doctor, originally from Seattle on Earth, around 2017. I've been here about six months-ish. And... none of that is really the point of this video.

So, here's the thing. I'm a zombie. [A thin, nervous laugh and slight shrug.] Obviously not the mindless, face-falling-off kind, although that does happen if I don't get enough brains to eat. [A slow nod, lips pressed together.] Yeah, some of you who work in the kitchen are probably starting to put some things together right about now. I'm sure my obsession with saving venison brains has seemed a little weird.

[Another breath.] The good news is, I can survive just fine on animal brains, which is what I've been doing. The zombie virus can't be transmitted by touch or saliva or me sneezing on you or anything like that. It's strictly blood-borne, doesn't survive outside the human body. Sex and a blood-drawing scratch are the big ways to catch it. [She lifts her hand, fingers splayed to show her nails.] I keep 'em short.

The chance of me being a threat in any way to any of you is very, very slim, but the chance is there. So I get it if you would rather I not be your doctor. Beverly is awesome and I'm sure she'll be happy to help you instead. And I'm just kind of hoping that most of you understand why I kept this a secret, and don't hold it against me too much. It's kind of an instinctive thing for me. People usually don't react well. So.

[A bite of her bottom lip, tilt of her head.] If you have questions, you can send a text to this video once I post it, public or private. I'll do my best to answer them.

Oh, and Bull, I kinda need to talk to you.

Thanks. [A finger lifts toward the screen and the picture cuts off]

Comments

[imareporter]

[There's a pause and a blip and suddenly there's a recording and it's just...an eye.

Well it could be an eye. It's white and milky and very large but when it pulls back it reveals what could only be described as a horror. A black face with no nose or details beyond teeth and large white eyes curved in a hideous smile.

A tongue lolls out and then there's just a lot of large black muscle for a moment before it picks up again.]

Are you going to yell at us about pussy too?! Six million dollar man did too. We'll just call people stupid. weak and stupid. but some of you are not.

[Growl. grump.]

We will not kill people. Eddie would never forgive us. An-Others would not forgive us and kill us. They would say it is the best thing for everyone.

[The eye returns.]

We wanted to be on TV like Eddie are we on TV?

[living_proof]

[Liv can't help it, she rears back before she catches herself, her eyes rounding.]

Jesus— [Eyes still wide, brow pinching with concern, because what's in front of her now isn't all that far off from the wendigo that nearly killed her boyfriend. If she looks at all scared, and only for a tick before it settles into something more resolute, it's not on her own behalf. You'll have to forgive her if she's not just going to take Venom's word for it that he'll keep it to animals.]

Six million dollar man... [She squints.] Do you mean Tony? [A faint smile despite herself.] I can explain to you why using pussy as an insult is a problem, but I'm kinda getting the impression it wouldn't matter, so... Um. Is Eddie still there? Can I talk to him?

[imareporter]

He is asleep.

[Venom hesitates before pointing the camera at his chest and pointing one very large nasty claw at it.]

He is there. We are safe. We are Venom and we take good care of him no matter what others say.

You can talk to us. After all, we're the ones who like to...hunt.

[living_proof]

[Liv pulls in a breath and slowly pushes it out again.]

So I'm guessing hunting in general isn't ever going to be off the table. How are you scratching the itch right now?

[imareporter]

We go out and eat things. No people. Never people. Just whatever we can catch. big and small. then drag the carcasses away. We're not savages

[He grimaces.]

It is not like addiction. It is not! We are not addicted to murder. We need it or we will go insane and we do not want to do that. For Eddie's sake.

[Can a thing that is all teeth and tongue and horror look sincere? It stares at something off camera before frowning.]

We are...symbiotes. There are other words. Old words but there are rules. We are not these xenomorphs that lay eggs in people. That is vile. We are not parasites either.

[One finger points. at the camera.]

Our host needs humans. And zombies. But you are not named Barbara. Aren't all zombies named Barbara?

We do not sleep. When Eddie sleeps we watch television and there was a movie. Movies are the greatest invention of humanity, surpassed only by television. Making moving pictures and words and sounds. Some of these movies had zombies named barbara. The zombies went to get her. You...you are not named Barbara. Were you bitten by Barbara?

[living_proof]

No, I wasn't bitten, I was scratched. His name was Blaine. Not quite Barbara, but starts with a B. He was a real bastard— another B word.

[Is it weird she kind of believes the thing even while she's revolted? Most animals have a self-preservationary instinct, and it seems to understand that breaking the rules would end poorly, no matter how many teeth it's got.]

It's okay if you hunt animals, I think, as long as you're keeping it under the radar. Not everybody would be as open-minded as Tony or me. [She pauses, squinting at the screen.] But I'm betting you already know that.

If I brought you brains, animal brains, how often would you need those and how much? I assume you're already eating some when you hunt.

[imareporter]

Yes.

[How many per day? Per hour? Per week? Is there a way of calculating that?]

...3 a week. More makes it easier but 3 should be fine. If there were humans it would only be one a week. Human brains taste better.


[He can't frown. He can snarl and he does so, a deep low growl in it's throat.]

It is not addiction. No matter what Geese man says. It is survival.

I do not ONLY think about food...It is survival. You understand! You also eat brains, you surely also only think about food.

[living_proof]

I... actually do understand. I don't know who Geese Man is, but obviously he doesn't get it if he thinks it's an addiction. I know it's not an addiction.

And yeah, human brains taste better. Way better. But we can maintain on animals, so that's what we're gonna do, right? And I'll bring Eddie some of my brains three times a week and we can keep it all a secret.

I got some human brains in a gift box once from the people in charge— Well, my friend did. If it happens again, I'll share, but only if you keep to our agreement. Okay?

[imareporter]

Agreed.

[The great big teethy thing nods.]

When we find who has taken us here we can kill them together

[This is a reasonable compromise right? Right. And Venom pauses.]

...Do not tell any humans about my...Eddie.

[It's unintentional. Venom's not stupid.]

People will not understand. It is a lie. I take good care of him.