Venom (V)

Venom was born in Ring 6: Plague Borough under the name Maddox Ledger to his mother Blake “Stitches” Ledger and father Creed Ledger. He earned the nickname “Venom” at a young age, although even he isn’t exactly sure where it came from. Blake and Creed worked hard to support and raise their son, but things changed around the time Venom turned ten. Although his parents tried to keep the turmoil out of his view, he knew there was something wrong. It wasn’t until he woke up one morning to find his mother crying at the window that he realized the magnitude of the situation. He had known for months that his father was training to be a police officer, and he was proud of that. Now he learned what it truly meant to become part of the OPD, as he had to come to terms with the fact that he would never see his father again.

His mother tried her best to pull it together for her son’s sake, as he entered adolescence without his father around to support him. It was during this time, as Venom reached the last few years of his education, that he met Enyo Dayholt (Boots). Enyo had by then earned notoriety as a “problem” in the schools among both teachers and students, and was carefully avoided in the halls. Nonetheless, Venom couldn’t help but feel like there was more to him, and was strangely attracted to his dark and no-fucks-given nature. Deciding that he was done with having no friends and that Enyo might be the only one who could possibly understand him, Venom tracked him down one day after class. Enyo was standoffish at first, but Venom was persistent, and eventually, a conversation was struck.

From there Venom and Enyo slowly started to gain an understanding and respect for one another. When he introduced Enyo to his mother, she immediately began to treat him like a second son, offering him a place to sleep on the couch and meals at their dinner table. Something about this seemed to soften Enyo’s hardened exterior a little, and Venom got to see another side of his friend. For a little while everything seemed okay, and Venom started to understand himself better as well.

Unfortunately, the euphoria wouldn’t last. One day Venom was pulled out of class to the principles office, and given the news that his mother had been killed in an accident.

His mind flooded with so many questions, none of which would be answered by the school or the hospital, where Enyo was sent to identify and claim his mother’s body. A couple of hours later Enyo plopped down next to him in the hospital hallway, pulled him into a hug, and the two sat in tears together until they were told to leave. Enyo stayed with Venom after that, and Venom was thankful for it. The loss of his mother had very clearly affected Enyo as well, as though he was reliving his own loss. The two found strength in being there for each other. Their relationship gradually became something more than friendship, although it took them a long time to acknowledge it. As Venom worked his way through his grief, he showed Enyo how to have a home, and Enyo taught him how to survive. Things were starting to feel okay again until an OPD investigator arrived at their door one day while Enyo was out, and started asking a very familiar list of questions.

Enyo came home to find Venom somewhere between panic and rage. Venom was hurt, and devastated, to find out that Enyo had applied to the OPD. Enyo was confused, having no idea where Venom’s father was or what this meant to him. He thought Venom was mad at him for keeping quiet about it, but couldn’t understand the depth of his anger, or what a betrayal this was. They escalated into a screaming match, until Enyo stormed out again, only returning after a few days. He apologized, and Venom finally got the chance to explain his concern. Enyo didn’t believe him or didn’t want to believe him. Instead, he tried to assure Venom that there was no way the OPD would pull him away like that. Venom actually started to believe him, until he was called on for basic training, and things started to change again.

Before he knew what he was doing, Venom began to build a wall around his heart, knowing it was only a matter of time before he lost Enyo. Despite the clear wedge being driven between them Enyo stayed in denial, causing them to fight almost every time they were around each other. Eventually, Venom couldn’t deal with the turmoil and knew that the time was coming. He had been the one to admit his feelings at the beginning of their relationship, and he was the one to bring it to an end.

Venom was heartbroken, but the experience of losing everyone he had ever cared about hardened him. He had a new and strange understanding of how Enyo had become so guarded and started to feel like that was truly the only way to survive. He started working a graveyard shift in Little Ruk Rak and decided that being alone was better than losing anyone else.

Many years later, a call came across Venom’s cell. It was a number he didn’t recognize, but something inside him made him answer, and he was greeted with a voice he hadn’t heard since he’d broken things off so long ago. Enyo sounded different, almost like he had back when the two had met. He stammered and hesitated, embarrassed and uncertain, asking for help. Venom was dumbfounded, but couldn’t bring himself to say the things he wanted to. Instead, he answered with one word “Sure.” And hung up. The next day he arrived at The Shadowward Nest and saw the face he’d been secretly yearning to see since the night things ended. Enyo – who now went by “Boots” – was different. Of course, he was older, but something new was behind his eyes. There was pain like there had always been, but there was also a purpose. He nodded sternly and awkwardly and extended a hand to shake Venom’s. They were calling a truce and tentatively welcoming each other back into their lives.

On the day The Orion fall from the sky, Venom went to fight with the rest of the Fists of Darkness. When he saw a deadly blow going for Boots he lept in the way of the blast. At that moment the two reconnected with a kiss. Venom finally found a reason to save the city: because Boots lives there.

Personality Characteristics

Motivation

Name: Venom (V)
Personality: Innovative, protective, courageous, cold
Proficiencies: Athletics, Insight, Investigation, Intimidation, Perception, medicine, healer’s kit, thieves tools