9856/Coffee with the Captain

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Coffee with the Captain
Date of Scene: 31 October 2019
Location: The Coffee Bean - Manhattan
Synopsis: Captain America makes an apperance on the Eddie Brock Report
Cast of Characters: Venom, Captain America




Venom has posed:
In his efforts to earn legitimate income, Eddie Brock has returned to his old ways of being a reporter. Much of it went online, YouTube, written stories, some under a pseudonym, others not. He still had his own version of the Eddie Brock Report, though that one was often a struggle on getting it legally accessible. If people wouldn't put advertisements, it wasn't going to get him any money.

Recently, he tried, pretty much entirely on a lark, or was it because he had brass bearings, but whatever the case, he had requested, and been granted an opportunity to interview Captain America. It took some doing, but now he sits, in the Coffee Bean. It's unusually quiet in there, almost as if everyone in was a government agent. Either way, Venom was fairly certain he could escape if need be. He was getting good at that.

He had set up his camera on a tripod, which sat on the table. He'd ordered a drink for himself, which was on the table, with the name Eddie written on it. He'd also paid for and ordered a drink for Captain America, though they weren't supposed to make it until he showed up, assuming he showed up in costume. He'd given the server, Lindsey, some extra money to be on the lookout. If a guy sat down with Eddie, make and bring the drink.

As he sat there, biding his time, Eddie wore a grey-blue collared shirt, undone, with a white t-shirt underneath, and black jeans below. His shoes were faux leather, black, looking kind of like dress shoes, but were closer to a sneaker.


Captain America has posed:
Admittedly, Steve arrives a few minutes earlier than expected for the interview. SHIELD is aware of him attending this particular chit-chat and as such, there is a small dime-sized two-way listening devices planted on him: specificially, one beneath the back collar of his pale-blue button-down shirt beneath his leather motorcycle jacket. Unable to spot anything out of the ordinary other than the reporter seated at his table and the camera on its tripod, the Captain then enters the coffee shop.

Immediately, warm and scented air washes over him. It's a relief. The cooler weather of autumn reminds him uncomfortable of being far colder down at then in the very lizard depths of his brain; goosebumps rise and pass. He lifts a hand to Eddie on approach, being certain to have his arms and hands neutral and clearly not reaching for any weaponry on his person.

"Evening. Steve Rogers," he says then by way of greeting. Steve isn't in costume at all, having chosen to arrive in civilian get-up as to not draw too much attention. He offers Eddie a hand to shake if the young man is so inclined before seating himself across from him at the table. "Got your message at the Mansion. Happy to speak with you for a bit."

Venom has posed:
Because Eddie was seated at the booth, it would not be easy for him to move from there, at least, not using normal human locomotion. So he remained seated as Steve Rogers approached and offered a hand. It was met with a firm hand shake, Eddie was a body builder in his spare time, but no efforts were made to measure up, or worse, one up the man. Just, Eddie had an old fashioned grip.

"Good evening, Mr. Rogers, my name is Eddie Brock. Thank you so much for doing this. Here, let me get this started, you don't mind my recording it, do you?" He asked as he fiddled with the camera. He'd gotten Lindsey to sit in Steve's place, sort of pushing herself up on her hands, due to the expected height difference, so it's all framed and focused.

He'd also gotten her to help him out with a promo spot, an introduction, and a post interview segment, as well. There was another camera aimed at him, on another table. People could walk by, but there was a reserved sign on the table with the one aimed at Eddie.

"So, let's start with some soft ones, like, how do you pay for your day to day expenses? What's your workout regimen like? What are your favourite, and least favourite, aspects of the job?"


Captain America has posed:
"Not at all, Mister Brock," replies Steve to the question regarding recording. The Captain's become used to the gleaming oculus of cameras on him over the long decades in the public spotlight. While additional fine details of the tripod are assessed, he shucks out of his motorycle jacket and rolls his sleeves of his button-down up to his elbows.

Wearing a politely-interested smile, the man's wheat-gold eyebrows lift as the questions arrive. He answers them in order of their arrivals.

"Day to day expenses are covered by a stipend during time spent at the mansion. Insofar as my own personal expenses, I have backpay. The workout regime..." Steve blows a little sigh and folds his arms on the table. "Calesthenics never went out of style. I like a good jog in the morning if there's time. Otherwise, an hour or two each day spent at the gym under weights 'nd on the treadmill helps keep me up and running. That, 'nd the job." A hand lifts from one muscled forearm and drops back down. "Think my least favorite part about the job is the suffering. Many people who think they can take on powers beyond the norm don't think of the bystanders. It takes so little to put someone into traction or damage a business held by a family for generations. On the other hand, the best part is being there to lend a hand -- to help others get back to their feet so they can take their best stand in life."

Venom has posed:
"Backpay," Eddie repeats, before, well, he doesn't really cough, and doesn't really laugh, but it's somewhere in between. "I'm guessing that Uncle Sam didn't give you compound interest, or after that long, it'd be a rather tidy sum."

The exercise bit was more for Eddie's own personal interest, and in the hopes of relaxing his interviewee. Not that there was anything terribly in depth in the way Captain America kept in shape.

Lindsey, having made a drink, one that was given to Eddie by the receptionist at Avengers Mansion, comes over mid interview, "here you go, sir." She smiled at Steve, brushing a few strands of her dyed blonde hair over her ear. It was easy to tell it was dyed, as her eyebrows, unlike Eddie and Steve's, were of a much darker hue. She lingered a little longer than was really appropriate, before backing away and letting the interview continue.

"I'm guessing that happens a lot?" Eddie asked, gesturing indiscreetly to the place where Lindsey had once stood. Though the more serious comment about the least favourite part, has Eddie nodding in agreement and understanding. "They don't. There are so many innocents out there that just, get in the way of these phenomenal cosmic battles, between the Titans that walk among us. Damage Control's been on heavy duty for years."

"I interviewed some of their former members. The burnout is pretty intense. Which gets me to my next question. How do you do this kind of work for years on end. This week it's the Rhino, next week it's the Mandarin, after that it's Metallo, and on, and on. They just keep coming. How do you keep yourself grounded?"


Captain America has posed:
There's a subtle shrug in reply to the comment about the sum proposedly owed to the Captain.

"I keep less than one percent of any backpay I'm granted. The rest of it goes towards charities such as Freedom Service Dogs of America, or Operation Homefront. Our soldiers need to know we're here to welcome them home and aid in their transition as seamlessly as possible." Steve nods to accent his point, smile still polite.

He does glance over when the drink arrives and thanks Lindsey for the drink with a small grin. "Appreciate it," he adds to her before she departs from the table. Sipping at the steaming black coffee, dark as night with no sugar or creamer in it, he sets down the cafe mug. "People just wanna talk sometimes." It's a fairly noncommital answer as to Lindsey's behavior.

His brows gather thoughtfully at the next question. "You talk about the phenomenal cosmic battles -- when you wanna take a stand at the front lines for that, you gotta have back-up. Teammates," Steve clarifies. "Fellow soldiers in the fight to keep the world safe. Staying grounded comes when you see someone else beside you fighting the good fight. It comes in knowing there'll be another sunrise 'nd that you'll be there to see it knowing you stood up against someone looking to put the world down around you. Freedom's a thing for everybody, not for just a few of us." He pauses and briefly looks beyond Eddie's shoulder, again in thought. "That, 'nd...dunno. Just seems like the right thing to do, taking a stand against tyranny. Why not do the right thing? There're the quieter times between missions too. It's not always swinging 'nd throwing the shield. Those smaller moments make the effort more'n worth it."

Venom has posed:
Eddie, still in reporter mode, said, "that's commendable of you. And by the fact that it didn't come up in my research, am I to assume that they don't like to make a show of it, or am I the first one to ask?" In other words, is this something you'd like edited out of the report? S.H.I.E.L.D.'s files on Eddie had suggested he was doing something similar. Whenever he beat up, or ate, a drug dealer, and there was cash on hand, he seemed to be giving the bulk of it to the poor, orphanages, shelters, people on the street, and some charities.

Eddie was listening, nodding along, and Captain America could be damn inspirational, even when he had no desire to do so. It was just part of him. He commanded respect. Eddie was thinking how good it would feel to have teammates, to have someone watch his back, well, besides the symbiote. But it was really just them, one combined being, against the world. They were alone, in the cold, in the rain, and even those they saved were scared of them.

Perhaps asking for himself as much as his viewers, he offered, "and how do you select those teammates, those soldiers. How does one become an Avenger, one of Earth's Mightiest Heroes?"


Captain America has posed:
"Maybe let the groups take credit for airing the information. They've got annual public reports to submit at the end of the year here. It'll show up again," the Captain demures for the sake of privacy.

Another deep sip of black coffee attempts to shoo away the lingering chill of the motorcycle ride over to the small shop. Warmth floods out from his stomach; for a second, he's back in London between missions during the war and glad to sit for a moment if only to work at getting the cold from his bones. A blink and the present filters back in, with far warmer light and a lack of tension brought on by the necessity of blacking out an entire city. Eddie's question brings him fully to the present.

"A tough question," Steve comments with a small smile. "It boils down to a few things. We come from all walks of life, but we all believe this whole world is worth saving, even at its worst. We might not all agree at all times, but we work as a team -- we plan together, we train together, we're a unit with individual parts that mesh. We keep the peace here in New York City and beyond with special abilities beyond the pale. Our belief and will to do good can't be compromised. If we get knocked down, we get up again." His eyes are wondering in their way as they rest upon Eddie -- he remembers S.H.I.E.L.D.'s files well enough. "If anybody thinks they want to step up to the plate, they can submit a request at the mansion."

Venom has posed:
"I understand," he said, sounding a little more solemn than he had intended, but despite having a reputation as an in your face, get the story at all costs reporter, Eddie took his job seriously, knowing when to press, and when to hold off. This was an occasion for the latter.

"I understand," he began again, instead of having the solemn and respectful tone of before, this one was an altogether different animal. He was trying to ask another question, except he was guarded, trying to be careful with his words. It was delicate. Eddie had adopted a friendly, easy going attitude throughout much of the interview, but now, as he was probing deeper, it was hitting a little too close to home. Coughing into a napkin to hide it, "sorry, frog in my throat," he lied. He lied to Captain America. It was to save face, but still, he lied to Captain America.

"I understand some members of the Avengers, both past and present, had records, one working as muscle for hire, another a thief, and one... well, heavily classified, but I'm pretty sure a trained assassin. How do you tell those who did... bad things, to bad people, from those who just did bad things... and those who did bad things to good people, but have changed, or want to? How can you trust someone like that to stand, shoulder to shoulder with you? To trust them with your life?"


Captain America has posed:
Those malleable wheat-gold eyebrows lift. "S'okay, take your time," comments Steve. He sips at his coffee again while Eddie makes to better compose himself across the table and all the while, his gaze rests upon the young man with a patient interest of his own. Once the cafe mug is set upon the table again, the Captain leaves his hands wrapped around the ceramic to gather its exuded heat.

His smile fades a touch at the next question. "There're no secrets when you become an Avenger -- whatever you bring to the table, we learn how you gained it 'nd we assess how you intend to use it. I mean the proverbial 'you', of course," the man asides. "Given we're dedicated to keeping humanity's growth headed in the right direction 'nd the focus is on peace, liberty, equality, 'nd justice? Takes a particular type to step up to meet these standards. Everybody's got different paths...we all just managed to end up at the same mansion. We're also a team. Can't be a part of a team if you can't trust or be trusted. Simple as that. Owe my life to more'n one team member at this point."

Venom has posed:
The symbiote in Eddie's head, had agreed to remain quiet for the duration of the interview. The worst thing that could happen was Eddie to get into a discussion with the symbiote in front of Captain America. Though it did offer a single thought, 'I like him.' Eddie managed to not reply to that, as he had to speak to his symbiote in order for it to hear him.

"Sounds like a great group of people, doing some great work. It's no wonder how the Avengers got their sobriquet." Turning less towards himself, and more to the interview, he asked, "you mentioned you owe your life to more than one Avenger. What's the closest call you've ever had? And, possibly related, what's the most difficult decision you've ever had to make?"


Captain America has posed:
"Well-earned." Steaming coffee is lifted in salute and agreement to Eddie's thoughts on the Avengers. Steve looks off to one side for a second to consider the next two questions.

"Think it'd be fair to say that the closest call had to be back before I was a member of the team, back in the war. Caught a knife obliquely. I owe my life to the Howling Commandos 'nd some quick stitches. Most difficult call to make came after that, which was to commit myself to healing rather than immediately rejoining the Commandos on the field," he shares, lips now devoid of a smile entirely for the first time since the interview began.

But, vaguely, the dimples show yet again. "Pretty sure I learned how to duck after that incident," he comments wryly.

Venom has posed:
Eddie would ask several more questions, none of them terribly deep or probing, but hopefully they were at least thought provoking. Eddie favoured open ended questions, tailoring them to any interest tangents that Steve Rogers opened up with his last answer. But, no interview can go on forever.

At a certain point, Eddie said, "well, I think I've taken more than enough of your time. I really appreciate this Mr. Rogers. You've given my viewership and I a lot to think about it. Thank you very much." He'd offer his hand to shake again, and then, begin turning off his camera, and the one on the table across. He played with the memory cards, slipping them into a device that will automatically begin reading them and putting them on the cloud. Technology was a wonderful thing.

Soon, Steve Rogers would be on his motorcycle, off to save the world yet again, and Eddie would be off to do some editing, though, there was nothing time sensitive about his interview, so he decided to get a chocolate crème cheese bagel, and do some patrolling first.