Come Sail Away IC Inbox

[crushed_pearls]

Erin's voice mail message is in a weary voice: "Erin Peters. If you called in the middle of the night and I didn't answer, I'm dying. If I pick up and someone on your end isn't dying, they will be shortly. Text otherwise."

Comments

[crushed_pearls]

Good news that is also bad news she identifies as a warrior. I will not say kicking her ass solved all your problems but I am willing to bet it bought you some respect.

[goodweather]

It’s not something I can repeat all the time, but don’t tell her that. I needed the symbiote’s help. The little guy that usually wanders around a puddle of goo.

She’s gonna have to learn quick that this isn’t a place where you can get rid of your victims.

[crushed_pearls]

Hold up symbiote?

[goodweather]

Yeah, little guy who relies on others to live, attaches to you and everything. Darcy fought while bonded to it during the joust in August. Anyone who is wearing a lot of black and has a lot of pointy bits is probably Venom, and it’s part of that. I’ve established some personal boundaries with it. I’m told we looked very scary.

[crushed_pearls]

Imagine this in all caps Phil did you adopt an alien horror is this the dad hat trick.

[goodweather]

The important part is is that nobody’s dead and I have it to thank for that.

[crushed_pearls]

Does Venom give you socks with sandals you dad ass mother fucker?

[goodweather]

Could you stop that? What does this have anything to do with the fact that I’m a dad? It’s a symbiote. A friend.

[crushed_pearls]

Well spill the tea dude any friend of yours is a friend of mine.

[goodweather]

I met it a few months ago, July I think? It usually moves around as a puddle of black goo, but when it bonds to you, it can disguise as clothing. It’s dependent on other beings so it doesn’t get anything out of being an asshole to its host, especially here where things are so closed. It can sort of talk on its own, but it’s much easier to do it directly when bonded, which is like… directly into your brain. Aforementioned boundaries I’ve drawn include telling it not to access any memories I haven’t given it. Honestly it’s pretty polite all things considered, but it doesn’t have any human concept of morality, which, yeah duh. I think it eats adrenaline and emotions or something, but you don’t notice. It definitely didn’t erase my anger or anything.

It doesn’t have a name on its own I think. But when it bonds to someone, then that’s—it’s—we’re Venom, capital V. What we did back there was something bigger than it just sitting around in me, though. I looked like a monster. I had teeth and tongues everywhere and claws like meat hooks. I could barrel down a hall like a boulder down a hill. I could scream like hell. I could have probably bent iron. Is it weird that I didn’t mind?

[crushed_pearls]

No not weird at all. Like aside from the question of it being a relationship with a little dude that was a change you mantled and could revert. Not much different in theory to you receiving a shot of shapeshifting from me.

[goodweather]

You can do that??????

Anyway… yeah. It felt good to finally be able to do something about when danger comes for me and the people I care about. Half a year of sword and combat training only takes you up so far on the power ladder here.

[crushed_pearls]

Terms and conditions apply but yes. Ask me about it sometime when we get drinks it is not a high secret but I don't spread it around because it is fucking tedious to do. I am glad to hear your new friend is able to help like this. Think I can meet them sometime?

[goodweather]

Well, what’s your availability on right now? I’m still feeling pretty awful but it’s still with me and will probably be for a while. May as well.

[crushed_pearls]

Sure thing. Fancy bar smoke bar John's or fish bar

[goodweather]

I'd say smoke bar but I don't know what cigar tar will do to the symbiote, so John's.

SUMMON THE ANRI

[crushed_pearls]

On my way.

request pending...

[goodweather]

Phil's already there when she shows up, sipping at a whiskey. He doesn't plan on getting wasted or anything, just taking the edge off; he has someone else on board to consider after all. He looks… clean, orderly, but “fine” may have been a bit of an exaggeration, if the white lines criss-crossing his skin in places and bandages peeking from his sleeve are anything to go by.

He waves at Erin as she comes in, who may or may not notice the flattering long-tailed black jacket he sports. There is no small amount of residual rage and stress bleeding off of him that her Glamour will pick up. His Mantle isn't very happy about it either, if the very pointed starbursts glimmering off the edge of his shoulder is anything to go by.

"Hey. Symbiote, meet Erin, Erin, meet Symbiote."

[blacksludgeaffair]

The breast pocket of the jacket morphs into a toothy mouth as she approaches.

"Grrrreetingss..." It's a voice like creaking rotted wood.

[crushed_pearls]

Erin ceases entering the bar entirely at that with the universal look of How Do I React To This.

She finds her footing quickly enough though: "Y'all are gonna kill it at the next formal. Nice t'meet'cha Symbiote, 'm Erin as mentioned."

She grabs a seat at the bar, hoping Phil will just, y'know, pour her a drink rather than making her ask.

[goodweather]

Which he will. They’ve gotten drinks together enough times that he knows her usual.

And as he does, he hands off his memories and impressions of Erin to it: her company, her counsel, her comedy, her comfort, the esteem he holds her in and the advice from her that’s been given a place on the mantle. Visions of her becoming thirty feel tall and building a snow maze in December, and of being Smurfette on Halloween, and a forklift in April. The cheese fort and cheese traps. He gives away none of her secrets. Powerful, and troubled, and a partner in the long walk through the long winter.

Lacking in a psychic connection to Erin, however, Phil has to engage in actual conversation.

“Yeah, it does that. I’ve already explained a bunch of stuff over text, but if you have other questions, or just want to talk to it yourself…”

[blacksludgeaffair]

Warm memories. Powerful and troubled. Familiar things.

"Niceee to meet you... Yyyou are... a friend..."

[crushed_pearls]

"I try," Erin agrees, raising her glass. She's smiling in spite of herself; on the one hand, experience with Hedge creatures should mean she gets the willies here, and on the other hand she can't imagine a mental parasite that could beat Phil. What are you going to do, pillage his endless memories for something to use against him? Fuck that. Anything that can crawl into Phil's head and manage to crawl back out instead of being trapped in Groundhog Day forever deserves to pilot him around.

She sips her drink and makes a pleased noise. "Thanks for having Phil's back, Symbiote. Genuinely."

Beat.

"...It would be really funny if I just said that and one of y'all had to clarify that you're attached via spinal column."

[goodweather]

He pauses just long enough for it to be funny.

"It can be, but it's pretty flexible. I think if it were entirely housed in my spine it'd have a lot more complaining to do." He pats it, which mostly looks like him patting his own shoulder. "When we're not suited up it just sits around as clothes like this. Fits great, by the way."

[blacksludgeaffair]

"Phiiil needed to fight... That is its purpose..."

In other words, no need to thank it. Phil feels a quiet, understated pride from it, that blossoms into a buzz when he praises the fit of the coat.

"It is glad it fits... Its hosts have never... had wings before..."