UN: The Brock Report

[imareporter]

3 Things

1)I am - so sorry - to the ill fated members of the semi-Donner party that I ended up stuck on the mountain with. Karen and Bobo I dropped the fucking ball because of my jackass of a dad and my weirdly kleptomaniac childhood which! which I got over with the help of a shrink and therapy as an adult because I am not as emotionally stunted as my exES, employer, and everyone else I've ever met seems to think I am.

2) V and I need to burn off some steam. Stark I know you talked about maybe having something for V and I, honestly at this point we'll do anything anybody needs us to do short of robbery, maiming, or eating people as much as Venom might want to. Don't feed him. He's like a Gremlin. A sentient gremlin who probably has it's shit together more then me but he's also like a 5 year old who wants to eat dirt and we can't have that okay? Okay. Please I don't want to wake up tasting dirt again.

3) Something is...wrong. With my wrist band. And with Venom and I. See I should be feeling like shit logically. I know I should. Cause my dad is garbage and makes me want to curl up in a fetal position crying. Instead I feel like I'm about to go two-to-two with a guy on a gotcha interview and I've got real dirt on him that I dug up. Venom feels like he's a bad ass again and wants to fight.

It's probably nothing, but I figured I'd ask. Everybody cool?

Comments

[to_defend]

he just knows i'd hit him back if he tried.

[It's a joke. Mostly? But then Eddie seemed a little ... more stable?]

are YOU okay?

[imareporter]

...I will be.

[I hope.]

7 has your wristband changed color?

[to_defend]

no, it's still navy blue.

is it supposed to? or has it happened to others?

Private

[digging]

Yeah, OK. I'll find him.

It's OK, Eddie. I'm good at keeping secrets. Guessing Bobo probably is, too.

[clouded_heart]

Foggy takes half a step back, letting Eddie and Venom settle things between them briefly. "Okay... Venom, buddy? I know you can hear me fine. We all care about Anne, we're not dismissing her safety. But she's not here and hasn't reached out, so we're going to deal with this situation first, okay? Help you and Eddie, because even if you're not feeling it, neither of you is behaving like you usually do. Something's affecting you, and that's not fair on you two or anyone else."

He steps back a bit more to let the man in. "I have water, but the food is in the kitchen... You know? I reckon we could walk down to my work and get a couple of animal skulls for Venom to chew through. Would that work?"

Re: UN: Reeve T.

[imareporter]

...Right.

That's likely but I'm shit at fucking camping and not about to invite anybody after what we just went through.

[imareporter]

Your work.

"That'd be fine." Eddie breathes deep, eyes closed before he refocuses, "...Whatever we can do to stave off V deciding to do something "heroic.""

His hands twitch, "...animal skulls sound good. Never get superpowers man." Eddie looks at him haggardly for half a heartbeat, "...It's bullshit. We can pretend they're cows right?"

Re: Private

[imareporter]

Thanks.

See you at the Inn?

[imareporter]

[Happened to me.]

It's not important. If it changes come find us okay?

[to_defend]

it sounds important

Private

[digging]

I'll be out front.

[clouded_heart]

"They're close enough to cows," Foggy agrees, amicable. "And I never wanted superpowers. Seen what they do. Avengers and stuff. I work with some superpowered individuals in New York, they're clients. I don't envy them. I'm a shallow guy, Eddie, I just want a comfortable life where I don't hurt people."

He tugs gently on Eddie's sleeves, leading him downstairs again, to walk over to his work. "So, the wristband changed. Mine is this same old hunter green as always, but yours is, the same nice dark red that Matt's is. Okay. And that's not what it was. What is it usually?"

[imareporter]

"Teal."

It's on the tip of his tongue to talk about Anne and he just sighs, "...So...Matt's willing to charge ahead and not care what anybody else thinks? Totally rely on himself and fuck the rest of it?"

He runs his fingers through his hair, "...The shit I saw up on the mountain made me catatonic. Dad always does. When I came back and started like...letting it go that was weird. Really weird."

[imareporter]

It affects personalities

[clouded_heart]

Foggy is silent for a moment. Still. "Yeah," he whispers. "That's pretty much Matt in a nutshell."

He doesn't quite manage to hide the raw pain in his voice. "He never means to hurt anyone. He cares. But his conviction is stronger than any concern from others. And he never relies on anyone. He's been let down too often to do that."

It's a little connection sparking in his mind about colors and personalities.

"This way, it's basically around the corner."

[imareporter]

Eddie falls into step behind him, "You care about him."

It's disconcerting because he sees the man he could be. If he'd approached the life foundation out of conviction instead of a desire for attention. If he actually gave into that little voice that told him to do the right thing instead of being...what did that kid say that one time? performative.

He did care though.

He wasn't performative.

"See I'm a realist. but I know myself. On the mountain? I saw my dad beat the shit out of me after I stole from some neighborhood kids. My dad renders me catatonic."

He doesn't say anything. Just gesturing over himself.

[clouded_heart]

"I love him." Foggy shrugs. "I've loved him for years. He's part of my family. I was all the family he had for a long time."

Foggy glances at Eddie. "I- am so sorry. There is never any reason for a parent to raise a hand to a child. For anyone to raise a hand to a child."

[imareporter]

"If for any reason Carl Brock shows up...I won't kill him because that would be wrong. And I don't think I could. Still, Observers? Please don't have me make that choice."

He speaks the last part to the sky before shaking his head at Foggy, "Anne was like that for me. Family. She didn't deserve what I did to her. Christ I need to get out more."

His nostrils flare, "...He takes care of you too right?"

[clouded_heart]

Foggy slips his hands into his coat pockets. He isn't going to hash over this again with Eddie, he has said his piece.

"From what little you just said... I get why you're messed up, even if I don't condone some of the stuff you did. And here? Matt's blind. He can barely take care of himself."

UN: CrashAndBurn

[skyward_eyes]

I think this is a pretty effective warning.

What do you mean, colors matching?

Re: UN: Reeve T.

[plate_builder]

Reasonable. Is Venom capable of taking care of himself in such a situation

Re: UN: CrashAndBurn

[imareporter]

red and green. like Christmas.

Re: UN: Reeve T.

[imareporter]

Venom's got the night shift. I've got the day shift. nights we're fine.

Re: UN: CrashAndBurn

[skyward_eyes]

Right, that holiday you told me about. Cool. I now have to wonder if other colors go with other holidays.

Anyway, Green is a good choice because of durability. And Bull is large and strong too.

Re: UN: Reeve T.

[plate_builder]

So you could be in the village during the day and head out in the evening so Venom can do his thing.