If there's no one beside you when your soul embarks...

[coldsong]

It's customary to have a Wake after the subject thereof dies. Even Loki knows that. But this is a special occasion. Ego-death is coming to his alternate, and the idea of letting him go off to perish alone, uncertain he will even be mourned, is too dark a proposition even for a flawed and callous person to contemplate.

That, and this Loki has been in a melancholy mood since speaking to the spirit of Frigga. He anticipates a dark choice of his own, sooner or later, and where the fates will send him after that, he can't know. Maybe oblivion, although even at that rate there may be worse places.

What's important right now is that no one dies unremembered. And honestly, any excuse for mischief a party. The first text rolls out to Harley, an innocent enough invitation to join them for milkshakes. Cricket is next, because it occurs to him that Cricket has plenty of liquor, which is good for a reckless celebration.

Things snowball from there.

As long as they don't destroy too much property, they'll call the night a success.

Comments

[imareporter]

[This is such a ridiculous idea. Seriously, but it's nice to have V out and about. Able to talk.]

I don't see a lot of Eminem on this.


[Jesus. He's used to being on TV.] It's gotta be a duet though right? Fuck what about Evanescence?

[commentatertots]

Eddie we are not going to be That Guy.

[Venom only half understands what That Guy is but like hell he's going to be that!

The symbiote borrows Eddie's hand to skim through the duet options, head squinching slightly as he looks for something at least familiar.]

Honestly, I've got a reputation to maintain...

[imareporter]

Okay I need you to know where you got the idea of "that guy" from because. First of all. I'm not that guy and second of all I'm not basic get that word out of your head.

[He is so cool. So so cool.]

...I have taste.

[commentatertots]

Baaasic~

[Sorry Eddie did you want to keep some dignity because that is a long coily tongue just sliding up the side of your face and ruining your hair.]

You even taste like pumpkin spice, my darling.

[imareporter]

[An eyebrow is raised and Eddie scrolls through the feed, amused. It reminds him of Anne so much - that gentle ribbing - that he feels at ease. So instead he rolls up a selection and points at it.]

Just for that you're singing this with me.

[Let's call the whole thing off. Yes? No? Stop his finger now.]

[commentatertots]

[Beep!

Venom ain't skurred he'll sing your choice Eddie. Even if the name gets a side-eye from him.]

Bring it on.

[imareporter]

Things have come to a pretty pass
Our romance is growing flat,
For you like this and the other
While I go for this and that,

[He can't sing. It's his (one? no. it's a big flaw) big flaw. the biggest. So he sounds like a squeaking duck but it's there and he's just - amused because -

This is kind of funny. He's not romancing the symbiote. It's just - his friend. His buddy.

Right?]

[commentatertots]

[You keep telling yourself that, darling dearest.]

Goodness knows what the end will be
Oh I don't know where I'm at
It looks as if we two will never be one
Something must be done~

[Venom doesn't sound like a strangled waterfowl but he can't sing either. He's flat and off-tempo, but his little head is bobbing, and it's fun so he doesn't see the harm.]

[imareporter]

[Does he try a two step? Yep. One foot in front of the other trying for showmanship. He's good at showmanship.]

You say either and I say either,
You say neither and I say neither
Either, either neither, neither
Let's call the whole thing off.

[commentatertots]

WHAT.

NO

EDDIE-

[Sorry give him a moment because Venom missed looking at the screen to see the lines so that last bit came COMPLETELY OUT OF LEFT FIELD.]

[imareporter]

We're on stage! You gotta give the people a little bit of ...something. First rule of performing. Being on camera!

[He was a reporter but he had to have stage presence. He had to have social media presence. He's a presence.]

[commentatertots]

We're not calling it off!!!

[Sorry Eddie, Venom is a little bit worked up now, just look at those tendrils thrashing around and flailing.]

[imareporter]

[Oh.

And he can feel that worked up emotion. Rising in his chest. The fear of abandonment and isolation. It's so real that tears prick his eyes.]

We're not. We're not. Come on back in for a second V. We're-

[he gestures. Waving the song off and ignoring the rest of the words.]

I'm not gonna leave you. I'm not. I promise. I got us.

[commentatertots]

[Venom let out a growl as he shifted, oozing down to be closer, trying to pretend he wasn't nearly as rattled as he was.

Pay no attention to the roiling mass of feelings that was the symbiote Eddie, he's totally fine.]

You said it, not me!

[imareporter]

[It's hard to not feel those feelings. Those emotions because he's crying. Running off the stage and hold V. Gently. Ever so gently.]

...It's a song V. calm down. It's a joke.

I'm not going to leave you. Not ever.

[commentatertots]

[Oh no. No, Eddie. Venom sees those tears and he Doesn't Like Them, lifting his face to press against Eddie's in an attempt to both seek out and offer comfort.]

Promise.

[imareporter]

I promise love.

[Fuck. Is this love? It doesn't feel like it. It feels like something deeper, something warmer. It's addicting. He's never felt so complete.]

It's a song you silly goopy goofball. Just a song. We're stuck together. Symbiosis remember? How can I prove...How can I prove I care?

[People are staring at him. He can't give a shit.]

[commentatertots]

[The symbiote will just be winding tendrils around Eddie's head to stay put. Silly to be sure, but he needed it. The promise though, the emotions he felt bubbling up were incredibly soothing, helping to keep Venom from going straight off the deep end.

Stuck together, don't want to just have a host stuck with him, wants a host that wants to be there that needs Venom as much as the symbiote needed them-]

We're one. You and me.

[imareporter]

[He's in the creature's head and the creature's in his head and when the creautre says "wants to be there" he remembers Anne. He remembers Anne walking out and away and how hard he'd gotten drunk that night. How he couldn't sleep, twisting over and over in the motel 6 bed before he moved his things out two days later. How he couldn't sleep for days after she left because he...wanted her. Not even as a partner or a friend, just her.

When he was alone thoughts of his father crept in. Thoughts of his mother. Of his sister's disapproval. Of how badly he wanted someone to just stay because something in his mind was broken. He'd always known it, but he wanted to be...to be needed and taken care of. Because years of his father just glaring at him, blaming him for his mother's death...

He kissed the top of the creature's head on impulse, Holding it against him.]

We are Venom.

Nothing's going to change that. But that's a song bud.

[commentatertots]

[He never would be alone. Not again. Not if Venom had anything to say about it. And he did.

Especially with that response that just had a small swell of comfort. The physical gestures were good, they helped to ease that tension, but it was the words. We are Venom, freely spoken by Eddie that really helped.

Even while he scoffed at the last bit, there was still a curl of tendrils around Eddie's hands as he sank into his grasp finally.]

Your taste in music sucks. [Not really, but he had a rep to protect!]