13380/A Yoga Interrorgation

A Yoga Interrorgation
Date of Scene:	26 May 2021
Location:	Blink Fitness, Morrisania
Synopsis:	Braddock and Brock go to a yoga session and a conversation breaks out.
Cast of Characters:	Venom, Psylocke

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Venom has posed:
A day after having met Betsy, Eddie Brock would contact her, and they arranged to meet. She had a busier schedule than he did, since he made his own hours, and could literally meet any time, day or night. But she had suggested this date, likely to give her time to do more of an investigation into his background. Eddie was nervous about that, but the symbiote soothed him, suggesting that worst come to worst, they would just eat her, which didn't go down well with Eddie.

He still wasn't sure when the symbiote was being serious, and when it was joking, especially when it came to eating people. As he thought he would be doing Yoga, he arrived at the appointed place and time, appearing to wear traditional workout clothes, a navy blue t-shirt, black sweatpants, both of which were actually the symbiote, and carrying a roll out mat, which wasn't the symbiote. This way it could be placed on the floor, and he didn't need to remain in constant physical contact with it. As he got there, he would send a quick text message a few seconds before to alert her to his imminent arrival.

Psylocke has posed:
Betsy was already there. It was a local gym, which had a large array of workout equipment, everything from free weights to Pilates. There were smaller rooms set aside for various classes such as yoga. She was in one of those classes, her mat already down and her sitting atop it in a lotus position with feet atop thighs and seemingly comfortable despite being in pretzel form.

She wore typical garb for this sort of excercise. Yoga pants and a sports top that left her midriff and arms bare. Her hair was drawn up into a messy bun at the back of her head, so it wouldn't be in her way during the workout.

When he arrived, he would be directed back to Studio 4 where she waited.

Venom has posed:
Eddie, who very much had the physique of a body builder, walked into the private room, Studio 4. As the door was closed when he arrived, he would close it after he entered. Seeing Betsy sitting like she was, he smiled and chuckled, "that hurts just looking at it." She was a human pretzel as far as he was concerned. Although he had assumed just as, if not worse, positions, as Venom. He was far more flexible than his outward physique would suggest. The symbiote had stretched all of his joints, enabling him to do crazy stunts like the splits, putting his legs behind his head, and any other gymnastic feat you could name. He did not enjoy them, however. He just could do them, and sometimes it seemed natural while webslinging. "How've you been, Betsy?" She had all his details, he didn't even know her last name.

Psylocke has posed:
"I have been well, Eddie. And yourself?" she asked politely, remaining as she was in that lotus posture. Her hands rested, palms turned upward, thumb and middle finger meeting at the pad.

"I am quite comfortable though. I appreciate the concern. Please, setup your mat and stretch out. We can talk while you do."

Venom has posed:
'We had double chocolate brownies for a snack before coming, though we should have had the chocolate peanut butter cookies too,' thought the symbiote, though Eddie only said, "good, had some food I need to work off," and he patted his stomach as if he had a big belly, even if his abs were so sharp you could practically grate cheese on them. The shirt helped to hide it, a little bit.

He would lay out his mat in front of her, and start doing his stretches, the kind of stretches that would suggest he had a background in some professional sports, maybe he played college ball. Though he had a surprising range of motion, given his muscles; when you're as big as Eddie, you usually lose flexibility. He clearly had not. "I like your work out gear." He remarked, politely, during the stretches.

Psylocke has posed:
Glancing down, Betsy considers what his pretty standard work out gear for women. She probably could've gone with a baggy shirt but it would just ride up anyway so the sports bra was a must either way. This way the clothing didn't interfere with the yoga. "Thanks. I mean it's nothing fancy." Yes, she knew he was complimenting how she looked. No, she didn't make a thing of it.

"I think we need to talk before we get started." Which meant she still intended on the yoga lesson. "I kept wondering why your name was familiar. So I did look you up. Wanted to read some of your articles originally but then found...everything else." She considered him evenly.

"I'm not one to just judge someone because of stories though. So I'd like to hear your own words."

Venom has posed:
This was usually how things went for Eddie. He meets someone, they exchange pleasantries, have a good conversation, agree to meet up, and in the interim, they look him up, or figure him out. Between facial recognition software, even if he didn't give out his name, people could usually figure it out. It was part of the reason he didn't bother to hide. Eddie Brock was his name. It was who he is. He wasn't going to hide. Sure, it often worked against him, okay, it almost always worked against him. But at least he was true to himself.

What caught him off guard was 'before we get started'. He would sit down, across from her, assuming the same pose, effortlessly. Yeah, he didn't really need the yoga lesson, she knew, so no point in playing down his abilities. Besides, he just wanted a friend, and yeah, the workout from it was nice too. "Not much to tell, really. The news reports covered it all, just, in the least flattering light possible, but it's all true. I and my other are bonded. We help people. Sometimes we hurt people. But if we do the latter, they did something to deserve it. Usually, a lot of things to deserve it."

Psylocke has posed:
Betsy continued to wait while he stretched, listening to his explanation. "I see." Words said politely, ones that usually meant someone may or may not understand but wanted to acknowledge what was said.

"So you are one? Yet joined?" A gestalt being perhaps. That she could understand though there was no way he would realize that, only having met her twice now. "The news reports were less than flattering. They colored you..." Somehow it came through she meant the plural of that word. "As killers with no remorse or thought." Then she smiled a bit. "The same news outlets that claim Spider-Man is a menace, something I also know to be false."

Venom has posed:
Looking back towards the door, which was closed, but not locked. It was closed when Eddie came in, so he naturally closed it afterwards, not having thought anything of it. It was just polite. But now, he was thankful that it was closed. "Perhaps I could show you." And he would wait for an indication that it was all right. Then, his body would change, shifting, as he sat, becoming black, all black, with a white spider on the chest, but otherwise, black, save for the eyes, and two square patches on the back of his wrists, each with a black dot.

At first, he did not have teeth. But when he opened his mouth, sharp fangs. He decided to soften the visual by saying, in his gruff voice, "we are a little teapot," he moved to do the physical gesture with his hands, "short and stout, here is our handle, here is our spout. When we get all steamed up, hear us shout, tip us over, and pour us out."

Afterwards, he would shift back to Eddie, except this time, there was a Venom-like head, and neck, coming from behind his back. It spoke as Venom did, "My species requires a host. Eddie has proven to be... acceptable," to which Eddie said, "yeah, I love you too pal." And shook his head, and then they both started to speak, over each other, with Eddie and the symbiote suggesting the other one goes first. It was likely quite amusing.

Psylocke has posed:
She knew what Eddie looked like. She had seen pictures of what Venom looked like. Yet watching Eddie shift into Venom was eye-opening. Literally as her eyes went a little wide as he went from the one to the other. Especially when they opened their mouth and she saw the sheer number of pointed fangs.

Him choosing that particular way to calm things did make her grin slightly, as one never imagined something as scary looking as Venom as a little-teapot. She might never unsee that.

"So still you are two but you share a body. Two minds, one host," she says in a musing tone. So not quite what she has been dealing with for the last few years. As they both began trying to tell the tale, she finally had to laugh and hold up her hands. "Whoa there, one at a time. I only have one set of ears."

Venom has posed:
The symbiote would retract, disappearing back into Eddie's clothes and skin. It was a bit surreal to see it. And once again, he was Eddie, a perfectly normal, albeit muscle-bound, guy. "Yeah... he can separate, but it's not good for him, or for me. He... we... made some mistakes, early on. But he was new to Earth. It's not like in the movies or TV shows," there were so many, Cocoon, Earth Girls Are Easy, Third Rock From the Sun, and so on. "There was an adjustment period. He likes to eat people. There's this thing, phenethylamine, which is a chemical that naturally develops in the human brain, which he needs to survive. Thankfully, chocolate is a suitable substitute. So, who knows how long I'll get to keep my teeth." The symbiote intones in his head, 'we will make you new teeth when yours wear out.' "Thanks buddy." Then to Betsy, "he said he'd make me new teeth when mine wear out." Then, he would offer, "is there anything you'd like to know?"

Psylocke has posed:
"Tons," Betsy admitted with a smile. Now was a moment where she had a choice to make. Continue to pretend or simply ask what she wanted to know.

"That is very kind of him to offer. So he... I feel rude speaking like he isn't in the room. Venom is his name? So Venom now eats chocolate to help with his craving for this chemical." A half smile. "That explains the drink choice. You did not strike me as a man who would drink something so--as a friend of my would describe it--froo froo."

Venom has posed:
Eddie laughed, "froo froo?" Not understanding the reference. "But yeah, his species doesn't actually use names, or they use ones that human's can't pronounce, or hear, every time I ask, I get a different answer. I'm fairly certain that he's messing with me. I know it seems awkward, but we've discussed things. When we're Eddie, out in public, I speak, and he's just along for the ride. In private, he sometimes curls up inside me, sometimes pops out. When we are Venom, we speak as one. But for ease, he's fine being called Venom. I can hear him in my head, but he can't hear my thoughts, which... would make things so much less awkward."

Psylocke has posed:
"Froo-froo. A lot of sweetness to hide the alcohol flavor. It is a comment on the fact somenoe opting for the sweet flavor and less the alcholic content. It's completely wrong of course but it is a term my friend uses and it amused me, thus me sharing it. Everyone had different tastes."

"So you are Eddie and Venom. Yet you are also both. However, you aren't melded minds." Betsy smiled a bit. "It is quite fascinating really. I'll tell you a bit of a secret." Since she already knew his. "I'm a gestalt being. But mind is not two beings sharing one space, it is more merged. Though she still exists out there somewhere. In my original body. While I am in hers." She shrugged. "It's a very long story."

Venom has posed:
It was nice that she was sharing her own secrets. Both Eddie and the symbiote were intrigued, listening intently. "I have nothing but time, but understand if it's a bit personal. I would love to hear about this. Original body?" He asked, looking her once over again. Not knowing her last name yet, he hadn't put two and two together, that she was Betsy Braddock, one of those rare people, like Michael Jackson, who seemed to make a dramatic shift while being in the public eye. To him, she was just a friendly and attractive British Japanese woman.

Psylocke has posed:
"Original body. I was born in England and I was very, befitting what many people visualize for such. Caucasian, blonde hair. Though I had good teeth, no matter the stereotypes," she adds with a smile.

"Elizabeth Braddock is my full name," she adds. She looks off to the windows and the world outside, though they were on the 2nd floor so didn't have to worry about people peeking in the windows. Then back to him. "I can't really get into everything but there was an --incident." That was an easy way to phrase it. A bit of a lessening of the extreme nature. Typical British downplaying the severity.

"In the end, I found myself looking like this and a rather rewarding modeling career in shambles. Though I have found there is demand for my new appearance as well, so all is not lost."

Venom has posed:
Eddie chuckled softly, but the line about the good teeth had more of an effect on the symbiote, who laughed loudly in his mind, which made Eddie's initial soft chuckle, turn into a bigger one, before he was able to get control over it. He almost missed her full name. But he did catch it, filing it away as he continued to listen. Thankfully, she paused to look out the window, which gave him a moment to consider the name. It seemed familiar. He was a journalist. He had written his fair share of fluff pieces, and read or at least saw even more headline about them.

But she wasn't just a supermodel. She was an heiress. Her twin brother was a publicly known superhero. And her older brother was a champion Formula 1 racer, who mysteriously disappeared into reclusive private life. He remained quiet, until she gave him another opportunity, and he replied, "you were, and you are, very beautiful." And he was a monster. Thankfully, the symbiote could read his emotions, but not mind, so it didn't react to the jibe.

Psylocke has posed:
"Thank you," was the automatic response from Betsy. It was just one of those things. Being someone in the public eye, she often got such compliments on her physical appearance. As a telepath, it was worse if she picked up thoughts because they were not always as polite as the words. Sometimes insulting. Sometimes graphic. Sometimes revolting. It ran the gamut.

"So you know what I looked like now. We don't talk about it. The change. I just go and do jobs with the same name and ignore questions about it. If they are theorizing and talking about me, they are leaving some other person alone is my point of view."

She begins to unfold. "But as is often the case, there is far more to a person than what can be seen." He wasn't the only monster in the room. She was a in the body of and shared the memories with a Hand assassin. Not something for polite conversation.

"So shall we begin? Yoga is all about merging of the mind and body, to bring your chakra into alignment. It looks easy enough for some of the beginning levels but there is far more to it."