17652/Father Theo and New Lots

Father Theo and New Lots
Date of Scene:	14 April 2024
Location:	New Lots
Synopsis:	Eddie Brock goes to meet with Father Theo, a priest in New Lots that a colleague suggested might help Eddie find some stories worth writing.
Cast of Characters:	Vanessa Carlysle, Eddie Brock

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Vanessa Carlysle has posed:
Father Theo is an aged black preacher who maintains a small church in New Lots. The community needs a place like the church, and a man like Father Theo. The church is a safe place for people, a source of charity for those in need. Even if the needs are more than the church can deal with directly, Father Theo knows the area and the people. And he can usually drum up some help from somewhere. But especially from the community. When you don't have anyone but yourselves, that is who you have to depend on.

He is currently outside the church, sweeping the walk. He tries to avoid the sound of crunching plastic beneath his shoe as he steps on a crack or heroin vial that someone discarded in the area. It gets swept up with the dirt and any other refuse, the elder leaning down to sweep it in a dustpan and then add the contents to a trash can sitting outside the church's walk up to the front door.

He pauses to look about the community. It's getting later in the day, the sun already down. The night element are starting to show up, here and there. The sound of music playing somewhere down the block, over where some of the gang members congregate. He gives a soft sigh and says a little prayer silently for it be a quiet night.

Eddie Brock has posed:
To say that the arrival of Eddie Brock is the answer to anyone's prayers is probably a total fabrication of the highest order. To say that the arrival of the pal piggy-backing around with Eddie Brock is the deliverance anyone would seek from on high would probably be an equally, if not greater, spun up lie. Yet a moment after the quiet little prayer is completed: they both arrive. Only one of them visible to the naked eye; Eddie approaches with his shoulders up, head down, and hands jammed into the pockets of the light jacket that he wears. His features are obscured by the Yankees cap pulled down and with the rolled bill. The scrape of his travel worn boots on the pavement announces his presence and that same sound seems to prompt his chin up and eyes forward.

He'd been dropped off about three blocks to the west and walked the rest of the way. The Uber driver had declared he wasn't going any further. Which is why Eddie set off into the gradually lessening daylight until he found himself within the orbit of the priest. Now with his head up and his eyes forward, Eddie offers a friendly enough half-smile before he greets the priest, "Father Theo?" The question is presented, even if there's little likelihood that it'd be anyone other than the man he'd come to meet. "Eddie Brock," he offers as an introduction of himself as a hand slips from the pocket of his jacket and offer it toward the man of the cloth. "A mutual friend of ours? Simone? She said you'd be expecting me. Would it be too much trouble to take up some of your time to discuss the state of things in New Lot and the fact the city and State government have been overlooking the growing issues here?"

Introduction. Statement of business. Request for the opportunity to discuss further. The initial steps are taken to forge the foundations of a potential story and Eddie, despite all of the rumors and gossip surrounding his name, seems to masterfully present the steps to lay that foundation.

Vanessa Carlysle has posed:
Father Theo looks up as the large, unfamiliar man makes the corner and heads up the church's walk towards him. A gentle smile of greeting as offered, and as Eddie makes his introduction, the father shakes Eddie's hand back. Despite his age, the reverend has a decently firm grip, as if his life of the cloth involves some exertion in this rough area now and then.

"Simone you say?" the good Father says, tilting his head and scratching at the short whiskers of his salt and pepper beard. "A good woman," he says slowly as he nods his head. "Has done some nice work," he says of the woman in the journalism profession.

The father's eyes study Eddie for a moment, perhaps weighing the topics Eddie mentioned wanting to discuss. "Come walk with me," he says. "Time for me to make a trip down and see a few people," he says, motioning for Eddie to join him in a walk down the sidewalk. "Are you in that same line of work?" he asks.

Eddie Brock has posed:
"Good to meet you, Father," Eddie answers with a polite nod of his head. When their mutual handshake concludes, Eddie's slips away. Though it doesn't return to his pocket. The other hand actually leaves the pocket of his jacket, likely to further illustrate to Father Theo - and no doubt those eyes watching from a distance, as they often do in such neighborhoods - that he didn't have anything in his pocket that could present an immediate threat.

While Father Theo ponders the name - Simone - and then seems to comment on her, Eddie's casually neutral expression turns to a soft smile, along with an affable nod of his head to accompany that smile, "That she is, Father. The work she's done to hold accountable the people calling the shots? Has done a lot for those that need it. That's why I'm doing a little side work with her today," Eddie explains casually, but respectfully.

The invitation to join in a walk causes another appreciative nod out of Eddie as he takes a step only after the Good Father begins to move along. Eddie slips in alongside the priest and the question of his own line of work results in a slight tilt of Eddie's head, along with a strained frown that adorns his strong features for a moment, "Used to be, Father," no sense lying to the man, "but I ran afoul of the sort of people that Simone's working to expose. I have to do freelance stuff these days and usually under a pseudonym. Which, hey, if you think about it Father? If you want to be anonymous? That'll just give you another layer of anonymity..."

Vanessa Carlysle has posed:
"Well," Father Theo says after listening to Eddie, "I don't know that I want to be famous. If having my name attached to something will help people I'm willing to do that though," he say. He gets around pretty well for his age, reasonably spry if just a little stooped in the shoulders.

The father nods to a passing woman and her son, getting a smile from them both and returning one. He walks a few more steps, seeming to gather some thoughts. "Can't say that the city has ever really done too much to help us. Not without a lot of effort to make it happen. Occasionally we'll get someone good elected. Seems like the ones who win the elections, who outspend everyone else, tend to disappear after the voting is done though. Until the next cycle," Father Theo says.

They walk past Sunny Rose Antiques. The place is in fair repair, and there might be signs of a garden on the roof. Though the windows are mostly blocked from sight, and there's a sign that says "Permanently Closed" in the doorway. "This was always a nice place when it was open. Good family owned it," he says.

Eddie Brock has posed:
Together Eddie and Father Theo move along the sidewalk. Eddie keeps pace with the holy man; never straying behind or getting ahead. He stays abreast of Theo, though it's Eddie that steps aside and into the gutter to allow the woman and son to pass by. He offers a friendly nod and a soft smile, without coming across too strongly. Friendly, but not overly friendly. He relies on the presence of Father Theo to wordlessly vouch for his presence, too. Only when the pair pass does Eddie glance to his shoulder and then step back onto the sidewalk. Onward he continues, sharing in the community smalltalk with one of the local elders.

"Usually how it goes, isn't it? Big promises, little delivery," Eddie answers with clear and obvious disappointment. It's not his neighborhood, but his tone alone suggests that he's disgusted by the practice. "Don't worry about your name though, Father. If you want to be anonymous, you can be anonymous. You're my guide here," he says with a hand that gestures vaguely to the neighborhood around them, "and I'll strive to be the best voice for you that I can. What I see, hear, and experience here? I'll paint a picture and make it as damning of the local politicians as I can. Outrage drives change."

The sign in the doorway of the closed antiques store earns a nod, along with a mild gesture toward it when Eddie's dark eyes turn aside to regard Father Theo. He acknowledges the sign, using it to illustrate his point, "I saw a Starbucks a few blocks away. Few other big businesses, too. Yet here's a small, privately owned business that's shut its doors. Driven out by politicians and legislature that favors personal gains, over community wellness."

Vanessa Carlysle has posed:
"Couple that owned it passed on, a half dozen years apart. She had cancer. He died in a fire at work. Saving his coworkers," Father Theo says as they make their way past the little former antique shop. "The daughter was still a teen when she lost her father. Owns the place now. She's a reporter, April O'Neil, over at Channel Six. She and her cameraman were the ones at the Zoo the day of the UN attack," he comments.

They walk on aways before he adds, "She's done a number of pieces on the area, especially in the old days. She seems to be rising up though, and her job isn't just our little part of the city anymore," Father Theo says. He hesitates a moment, deciding whether to mention April's uncommon roommate. He must decided to pass on it, leave the girls their privacy.

"There's a lot of good people here. April. The family over on that corner apartment there. Mother sings in our choir. Sons have had a rough time but manage to stay out of the street gangs at least." He gestures with a hand up ahead, where a few cars, nicer than most in the area, of the sort that teens and young men in their twenties are drawn to. "We get some turf wars here. This is one of the local groups. They are respectful enough around me. A few of them come to church. Doesn't stop their activities the rest of the time though," he says, shaking his head. "So you said something about writing under another name?" he asks Eddie.

Eddie Brock has posed:
"April O'Neil? I know her," Eddie answers with about as much familiarity as someone commenting that they're familiar with a local news anchor or field reporter. Particularly one with a little bit of celebrity behind their name. "I caught her coverage of the zoo incident, too. She's television; I tend to stay in the world of print and dabble in independent broadcasts. Podcasts and things like that". Eddie considers the tale of April's parents though and his expression softens, again a frown finding its way across his sturdy features, "Think she'll sell it? More important question, I think... think anyone'll buy it?"

The question is asked and to reinforce the likely answer, Eddie pauses to glance around the New Lot neighborhood. Upon looking back to Father Theo; if a facial expression could be a shrug, Eddie's achieves a pretty commendable example of it. His head shakes and he voices the cold, hard reality of it, "Probably not. The neighborhood isn't dying; it's neglected. The people here are good people," he offers in way of assuaging some potential harm done to pride.

Then he follows that bit of placating reassurance with another small dose of reality, "What were you sweeping up when I walked up, Father? That group of young men hanging around that doorway half a block down and across the street, what do you think they're doing? Do you think they're doing it because there isn't much other opportunity?" After Eddie's taken up enough air to speak at length, he concludes with a simple nod of acceptance of the information that Father Theo likewise relates. To his credit, Eddie doesn't look-and-stare. A glance here and there, making certain not to be witnessed gawking and presenting the impression that Father Theo was sharing information that could potentially cause some others to view the holy man as a threat.

Eddie stops then and shifts, turning to face Father Theo before he answers, "If you want to tell me your story and if you think it's a good idea, the story of some of the other residents in the neighborhood? I can give you an alias and my own writing will be under an alias. Like I said: independent reporting. Think of it like Ben Franklin and Silence Dogood."

Vanessa Carlysle has posed:
The question about if anyone will buy it makes the priest look thoughtful. "I think it'll be tough. Not a lot of people looking to move into here. More the other way," he says. The older black man gestures to an apartment building up ahead. Even from the outside, the word 'slum' immediately comes to mind. "In the day that was a decent place. They have had a string of one bad owner after another. Latest one seems cut from the same cloth," he says with a sad shake of his head.

Eddie doesn't look back at the location he's asking about, and neither does the Father. He knows it though, clearly from the way he nods. "Like most, they hold out long as they can. Then they got hooked. Pressured into trying it, bored into trying it. Trying to drown out this pain or that. The reasons vary, but the outcome is so often the same," he says.

"We have an AA meeting in the basement on Tuesdays and Thursdays. Another church two blocks over has Monday, Wednesday and Saturday," he says. "People still keep trying to claw their way back up, Mr. Brock," he says.

He falls silent for a third of a block before he answers, "Just treat the people well that you write about, that's all I ask. They have a rough enough life for anything else." Up ahead there's a few more people out. Some men drinking on a stoop on the near side of the street. A few ladies in suggestive clothing on the other side on a corner.

Eddie Brock has posed:
<<Venom>> "We are bored. Let me nibble him."

"No, he's a good one," Eddie states abruptly, cutting off any further commentary from the back of his own mind. He looks to Father Theo with slightly widened eyes, his expression tight for a moment. He clears his throat with a soft cough into a fist and upon that fist dropping, Eddie explains himself, "Ah, sorry, I meant they're good people. Just caught up in the pitfalls of life". Eddie nods slightly as though to further reinforce his own belief in his words. The little lie woven to cover for his slip-up. He's been saddled with his pal Venom for a few years now and the slips weren't nearly as common these days; but they do still happen from time to time.

Eddie turns back from his moment of calm, but passionate distraction. Again the younger of the two begins to walk, his hands kept casually at his sides when they aren't being used to gesticulate. The request to treat those he writes about well is met with a sideward glance and a slight furrowing of his brow, as though a mixture of curiosity and something bordering on offense could be etched into the slight lines of his forehead, "Father, believe me, the last thing I want to do is level judgment or criticism onto the shoulders of people burdened by enough. I'll write what I experience, but the people in those stories will be given all the dignity I can muster."

Vanessa Carlysle has posed:
The priest returns a small nod, as if not questioning Eddie's sincerity on the point. He walks beside Eddie, the larger man over on the street side.

The working girls across the street take notice, at least of Eddie, as one takes a few steps nearer to the curb. She's got blond curls and looks like she's probably twenty. Her clothing is revealing enough to make pretty clear what her purpose for hanging out on the street corner there is. She flashes Eddie a hopeful smile and.

The other three women behind her are all in various states of grins. Because they noticed the good Father on the other side of Eddie, which the younger girl hasn't, it seems. When she does, Father Theo gives her an up-nod. The suggestive smile for Eddie quickly fades as the girl takes a step back, an abashed look on her face. She does a quick sign of the cross as she rejoins the other women.

Two of them are quite obviously laughing at her. The third, a fit brunette in her later twenties, with a tiny white streak in her hair, slips an arm about the blond girl. Expression suggesting she is making some consoling words, after which the blond starts laughing at herself with the others.

The brunette then looks past the blond, across the street, and nodding towards the priest. After, her eyes move to Eddie. She has pretty eyes, the brunette. Pretty eyes, and a graceful poise and posture that make her stand out among the other three women. Her eyes linger on Eddie for a few extra moments, and her lips turn up in just the hint of a smile. Then one of the other girls must have said something funny, as she turns back to their conversation and lets out a grin and a laugh.

"The new girl there, the blond," Father Theo says, "She's new. Not sure where she moved in from."

Up ahead the young men drinking on the stoop, one of them waves over to the Father, then lifts his brown paper bag-clad bottle in a little toast before taking a sip.

Eddie Brock has posed:
From across the street a smile is cast the way of Eddie. He returns the smile and offers a lift of his hand, along with a small wave. All without really considering the perception that it could create. Then it seems to dawn on him and his lips part, mouth opening slightly as his hand lowers slightly. As though to aid in illustrating that he's in the presence of Father Theo, Eddie slowly cranes his neck back so that the two may briefly lock eyes.

While laughter and the like may be heard from across the street, Eddie watches on for a moment as though taking stock of the situation across the street. While the one with the rather unique streak in her hair looks his way, Eddie watches back with an expression that gradually becomes more stoic and thoughtful. A nod is passed along the way and then Eddie remarks, looking back to Father Theo, "It does look and sound like you're doing everything you can to help the neighborhood along, Father Theo. You need help though. I appreciate your giving me the opportunity to help in some way."

   <<Venom>> "We could help here too, Eddie. We could help clean things up sswiftly."

The voice that sounds as though it came from Hell itself seems to crawl up Eddie's spine, resulting in a slight shiver at his shoulders. Instinctively Eddie draws his jacket around himself a little more, before he continues with the conversation with Theo, while expertly ignoring the symbiote speaking within his own head, "In the interest of disclosure, Father? How much funding is your parish receiving; how much are donations coming from outside and inside the neighborhood?"

Vanessa Carlysle has posed:
"Most of it comes from local donations," Father Theo says. He gives the youths who are drinking a nod back as they walk past. "Couple of them used to come to Sunday school. Now they only come if their grandmas drag them along. Sunday is the one peaceful day here, even the gangs respect not causing problems when the older ladies are out for church," the good priest says.

He walks in silence a few more steps. "We get some money from the Church, but it's not really even enough to keep up the building properly. So mostly we do charity drives and seek support from businesses. There's a soup kitchen I'll show you up at the end of the block here. They keep a lot of people fed," he says.

Indeed there are a few people standing in a line at a doorway up ahead. Just a short line though, three people outside, plus however many are inside. "Good fella runs it, name of Jacob. He was a little naive about what it's like here when he first got here. But he's figured out what's what mostly now."

Eddie Brock has posed:
Mental notes are taken with a few brief nods out of Eddie. He listens intently to the answers provided by Father Theo and this is rewarded by a few more nods out of Eddie. It's obvious that he's following along, but also striving to remember details. While most of what he learns at present won't be quoted in some future writing, it's clear that he doesn't want to mix up details judging by the way that he seems to hand on Father Theo's every work.

While Father Theo speaks, Eddie listens. His gaze wanders the streets and turns to his shoulder, casting his gaze back toward the collection of women roosting near the street corner. The soup kitchen, when mentioned, draws Eddie's attention forward again. He nods along with Theo's explanation and a question comes springing forward, given a voice upon it being conjured from his mind, "I imagine it's safe to assume that the soup kitchen's gradually been seeing more patrons over the last few weeks or months?"

Things were, after all, becoming increasingly hard. Even outside a neighborhood such as this.

The voice in the back of his mind is summarily ignored now. Not even given the benefit of even a moment of consideration. Such is the focus of Eddie Brock on his host, Father Theo, while the pair continue their casual stroll through New Lots.

Vanessa Carlysle has posed:
When Eddie looks back behind him towards the women on the corner, the brunette glances up and over down the street his way. But then a car pulls up to the curb near the girls, and all four walk over to talk to the driver.

"Unfortunately, yes," Father Theo replies about the amount of business that the soup kitchen does. "They've had a few lean moments where they had trouble getting enough food. They don't just serve soup of course, but there was a week or two of a lot of soup to stretch things as far as they could. I think FEAST came through with a donation to them, and we held a charity concert in the church as a fundraiser," the older black man replies. "The winter is always the worst, with people needing shelter, and they tend to stay open overnight, especially on bad nights when the shelters are full. With spring, and summer coming, there are a few rooftop gardens that usually contribute a bit."

They reach the soup kitchen. A plain brick building, the interior undecorated. Mismatched tables set out in rows, and chairs that are as often unalike as similar. It being evening, the place is pretty well used. A few empty seats, but many of them taken up. The food is being served at a table in front with heating stations to keep it warm, that looks like they might have come from some school from the 1950s. There are three people behind the counters serving up the food, and two more visible in a kitchen in back.

Eddie Brock has posed:
The car. The driver. Both receive only a moment of Eddie's attention. Little more than a glance.

   <<Venom>> "We could do a lot of good here..."

The voice rises up again like an old, rusting saw grinding crisply through old wood. Eddie seems to regard the voice with only a flicker of his gaze aside and back toward Father Theo. A hand dips into his pocket and a moment later Eddie's hand produces a pair of wrapped candies. Chocolates. They're mushy from the warmth, but thankfully not too melty. One of the candies is held out for Father Theo to accept while Eddie does an adequate job listening.

Soon Eddie's own chocolate is tossed unceremoniously into his mouth...

   <<Venom>> "This will suffice for now, but it will not stave us off forever."

The devilish voice offers in way of warning in the midst of a brief tour of the soup kitchen. Hands are shaken, introductions are made, and overall it's an enlightening experience.

It's only when the pair, Eddie and Father Theo, depart from inside and step out into the gradually darkening evening that Eddie's other hand dips into a pocket of his jacket and his chin lifts. This allows more of his face to be seen beneath the Yankee's cap that shadows much of his face as he looks to Father Theo. The card is held out to Father Theo as Eddie explains, "I want to thank you for the tour, Father Theo. This is my card and please don't hesitate to reach out. I have enough to get something started and if I end up with questions, I'll be in touch. Fair?"

Eddie extends a hand, offering a final shake of the hands as a respectful and appreciative gesture.

Vanessa Carlysle has posed:
The cleric takes the offered chocolate, unwrapping it and placing it in his mouth. "Thank you, my son," he tells Eddie before they go inside and the introductions in the soup kitchen are made.

As they step back outside, Father Theo takes the offered card. "If you'd like me to introduce you to anyone else, I'd be happy to," he offers. "And if something occurs to me that you might want to write about. There are plenty of people with stories that are worth hearing," he says with a glance down the streets, at the towering buildings of New Lots, now rising up in the gloomy night.

The offered hand is shaken, the priest offering Eddie a good night, and a soft blessing, before he begins the walk back to the church.