Mao Mao

MARVELS: Streets of New York

My sheet should be done by today hopefully. Posted it.

MARVELS: Streets of New York

Given that my original plan was rejected, would Bishop (one unable to time travel of course) being the protector of District X for what I have in mind (I mean, that's what happens in the comic run)?

MARVELS: Streets of New York

Unless you guys would perform the former, I was thinking about mainly the community living in the neighborhood because I don't know what would be acceptable members for the X-Men cast to use (so the latter is kinda like Danny the Street but without the sentient street, if that makes any sense or requires further explaining).

MARVELS: Streets of New York

Speaking of Venom... how would y'all feel if I did something like District X/Mutopia X/Mutant Town instead?

Mao Mao's Rambling Concepts

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VENOM

_{THE ALCOVE, ALPHABET CITY}

PLENTY OF TIME

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The blissful sleep lasted for only a few hours due to the sound of random honking in the dead of night. Eddie was almost tempted to inspect the source and take his frustration out on the driver. But it had died down almost in an instant. Now, he was standing in his apartment, irritated that he was wide awake. His partner, however, was in perfect spirits as if nothing more than a minor inconvenience had occurred mere moments ago.

Thought you'd never wake up, sleepyhead. Venom purred teasingly.

Eddie chose to avoid the sarcasm and grumbled softly as he trudged to the kitchen. He swung open the fridge and rummaged through the shelves for a cold bottle of coffee. "Well, I do need my sleep," he said, closing the fridge with a slight thud. After taking a long, satisfying sip, Eddie raised an eyebrow at the symbiote. "Kinda surprised you aren't in your dormant state. What's got you up and about?"

Boredom strikes us fast. Venom dismissed, already prowling towards the window, his excitement palpable. So come on, let's hit the town!

"It's still night," Eddie shot back before grabbing his phone off the floor, noticing it was unplugged from the charger. He winced at the sight.

And? Venom pressed, his eagerness undeterred.

Suppressing a sigh, Eddie distracted himself by unlocking the phone, where a notification immediately caught his eye—a robbery in progress in Lower Manhattan, courtesy of Step Forward. His irritation deepened. The NYPD's latest initiative was nothing but an anxiety-generator tool designed to benefit from people's fears. Selling safety as a commodity that embraces unverifiable reports tainted by biases and prejudices. All the while, the symbiote's insatiable desire for crime-fighting became apparent. Venom sensed the change in Eddie's demeanor- "I thought we talked about this," Eddie said, his voice tense as he plugged his phone back in.

Then why bother coming back home? Venom countered, pressing on. Deep down, we know why. It isn't just about keeping a low profile-

"Stop."

-or evading the police or even the webhead. It has always been the fear of-

"Please, just stop." Eddie's voice trembled.

Why? You said it's liberating to face your fears head-on. Yours, in particular, is something we can tackle together. We could be a lethal protector, not driven by malice or spite but by a genuine desire to protect the innocent. Protect them from-

Suddenly, Eddie flung open the window; the sheer force rattled the frame, letting the cool night air wash over him. He stood there, body shaking, wrestling with his anger, each breath coming in sharp and ragged. It took him a minute to steady himself and take deep breaths. Another to find the words he needed to say. "Never do that shit again, okay? Never."

Understood. Venom replied, his voice strangely sincere.

"You're right, though," Eddie admitted, his tone shifting. "Facing your fears is supposed to be liberating—at least, that's what all those self-help books claim. But maybe I'm just afraid of confronting them. Maybe I am being a coward again. It won't surprise me, quite honestly. I've disappointed myself and others enough times already. But hey, at least I recognize it for once, you know. So I guess that counts for something. I don't want to hide anymore, not in this cramped apartment or anywhere else. So, if you think stepping up as a protector will help me fight my fears, why the hell not? It might just be one of the better ideas you've had in a while."

Venom was silent, realizing what they had just done. A promise made years ago was broken tonight, and all for petty reasons. Admittedly, they fucked up. Eddie, we-

"Come," Eddie said bitterly and then climbed out of the window onto a fire escape. "The night's young."

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Mao Mao's Rambling Concepts

L E T H A L P R O T E C T O R

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^{_{Edward Brock/Venom ♦ Symbiote ♦ Alphabet City, East Village ♦}}

C H A R A C T E R C O N C E P T:

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^{"WE AR BONDED, EDDIE. IN DEATH, ONLY WILL WE PART."}

Edward 'Eddie' Brock sought religion, as he had always done, for forgiveness before he went through with his plan. After being laid off from the Daily Bugle and realizing his future had been destined for failure, he wandered into Our Lady of Saints Church for a final prayer before intending to commit suicide. Instead, he encountered an alien presence that bonded with him in body and mind, driven by hatred and despair for Spider-Man and Peter Parker. And what emerged for that church was a revitalized man fueled by venom for the vigilante webhead and his former work rival. For four long years, this relentless campaign swept through the streets of New York, unleashing a wave of fear and terror that targeted not just him but those he held dear. But the spite was starting to run dry as it was a constant cycle of bitter violence. That was around the time when Carnage arrived.

Carnage was a terrifying creature, the ultimate killer driven by an insatiable bloodlust. Eddie and the symbiote initially planned on neutralizing them to learn about their origins, but they were overwhelmed and witnessed harm coming to Eddie's former fiancée, Anne Weying. Desperate for vengeance, they turned to the web-slinger for assistance in stopping the other symbiote. And in the end, in an act to protect Parker's loved ones, Venom tackled Carnage into a fire that seemingly killed both of them. But it wasn't the end. They found themselves washed up on the shores of Massachusetts. Instead of returning to New York, Eddie and the symbiote embarked on a journey of healing and redefining their future—one rid of the malign and despair that brought them together.

Now, after a decade away, hiding away from the world had become tiresome as the march of time was leaving its mark.

C H A R A C T E R M O T I V A T I O N S & G O A L S:

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Venom had always been one of the favorite comic superheroes to read as well as write about. I wanna focus on an older, somewhat mature Venom/Eddie who finally took the time to reflect on his behavior and decided to return home. At the same time, I was sorta inspired by the three-issue run of Venom: On Trial and the six-issue Venom: Lethal Protector. Additionally, I wanna be able to mesh well with Spider-Man, too, thus being older.

C H A R A C T E R N O T E S:

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Anne Weying: Even since her encounter with Carnage, Anne moved out of New York City in favor of San Francisco to move on with her life from the incident. Eddie tried to rekindle their friendship years, but it was better for them to maintain the distance.

Carl Brock: Somehow, the old bastard was still breathing and living relatively comfortably. Eddie hasn't talked to his father since being told how much of a disgrace he had become after getting laid off. The two haven't met since that night.

Carlton Drake: A billionaire who created the Life Foundation, an organization dedicated to safeguarding its ultra-rich clientele in the event of societal collapse. He is willing to spend much to achieve the ideal security system for himself and his clients.

Roland Treece: Another billionaire who founded Treece International, a construction corporation, and a client and investor of the Life Foundation. His company recently secured a lucrative contract with the city to sweep homeless encampments.

Patricia Tilby: Talented television reporter and investigative journalist made famous for her coverage of gentrification in District X that exclusively targeted the mutated population. Recently, she began investigating the underground homeless community.

S A M P L E P O S T:

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Hider

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VENOM

_{LIBERTY STATE PARK, JERSEY CITY}

HOMECOMING

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Home stood before them, with the New York City skyline remarkably unchanged from a decade since their departure. The moment Eddie Brock laid eyes on the city, a whirlwind of emotions came flooding in all at once—bittersweet memories previously subdued emerged with vivid intensity. He shallowed it all up and resisted the urge to rip up his ferry ticket on the spot and run back to some hidey-hole where he could quietly fade away from the world. Yet, deep down, he knew he had to carry out the choice he'd made, no matter how idiotic it seemed. But more importantly, there was someone else in his life he couldn't readily ignore.

That cost ten bucks, Eddie. Consider that before you rip it up.

The familiar, powerful growl reverberated within him, providing a sense of much-needed warmth. Admittedly, their relentless presence was jarring at first, their voice always looming, ready to assert itself or chime in with their thoughts all of a sudden. More often than not, it was the burden of negative emotions that fueled their commentary, turning them more bloodthirsty and fierce. It took the brink of death for Eddie to realize how much it had become a problem entirely, and it took years of tumultuous coexistence for him and the symbiote to finally carve out an understanding. Though even after all that, insatiable cravings still lingered, especially for indulgent delights such as double chocolate cake.

We take offense at that inaccurate statement; they rumbled, with a sharp yet playful edge to their tone.

"Noted," Eddie quipped, drawing a baffled glance from a stranger reading a newspaper. He shrugged it off; he was well-acquainted with the quizzical reactions that came his way whenever he spoke aloud in public. At first, it had gnawed at him enough to make the symbiote morph some earphones, just so he could talk openly without being assumed weird. But as time passed and his bond with them deepened, the stares and whispers faded into mere background noise.

Just then, his phone vibrated in his pocket, and a notification flashed on the screen: the ferry to Manhattan would arrive at the port in five minutes. Eddied tucked his phone away and took a deep breath, ready to embrace whatever awaited him on the other side. Perhaps, once settled, he'd celebrate the occasion with that double chocolate cake; it seemed fitting, although the mere thought alone made him groan a little for some reason.

You thought of it first, Venom teased.

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Mao Mao's Rambling Concepts

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VENOM

_{OUR LADY OF SAINTS CHURCH}

ON A WING...

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Upon entering the Our Lady of Saints Church for the first time in decades, there was an immediate wave of nostalgia that washed over Eddie. The tall, earth-toned stained glass window cast a warm glow over the chancel that stirred up memories. The poignant image of his mother's casket adorned with soft white and pink flowers, surrounded by flickering candles that danced around. He then felt his father's piercing glare when he dipped his hand into the consecrated wine to retreat his piece of bread during Holy Communion, a silent promise that he was getting severely punished at home. And that night, under the silver sheen of moonlight, he uttered a final prayer in a whisper, aware of the gravity of his words for his seemingly dwindling time. Cautiously, Eddie approached the altar as his heart was pounding, feeling as if he were intruding upon sacred ground—one that would resent his presence for the weight of the sins he'd committed since his last visit.

Yet, this place was also where he met them.

Home sweet home, Venom purred with a low, contented growl. It was as if the symbiote had been longing for this moment. Everything's still the same, Eddie.

"Yeah, just like before," Eddie echoed, standing before the altar, his mind swirling with uncertainty. What the hell was he even doing here? He shouldn't have even made the trip—it would've been smarter to head to his new place, grab a bite to eat, and then get some much-needed rest. But now, he stood there, drenched in sweat, with his hands hovering over the altar. Just as he hesitated, a voice echoed through the empty church, calling out to him.

"Are you alright, good sir?"

Eddie turned and saw the priest, slightly older than him, with an olive complexion and grayish hair that complemented the dark fabric of his cassock. As he closed the door behind him, the priest approached the altar, his eyes fixed on Eddie, patiently waiting for a response. "I... am, father," Eddie finally uttered, trying to inject steadiness into his voice than he felt: a bundle of nerves acutely aware of how out of place he was here.

"Do you need food? Shelter for the night?" The priest asked, his accent laced with an unmistakable touch of concern for the stranger.

"No, no," Eddie quickly shook his head, trying to muster a warm smile for the act of kindness. "I just came by to visit."

"You've been here before then?" The priest inquired, his eyebrows raised ever so slightly.

Eddie chuckled softly, a flicker of nostalgia in his eyes. "You could say that."

The priest returned the smile, then turned his attention to the altar, ensuring it was in perfect order. "What's your name?"

DON'T ANSWER, Venom snarled fiercely, their voice laced with suspicion. Even since they had been on the run, their wariness of strangers had only intensified; it never tipped into outright paranoia. Though there were close calls. Drawing from his limited grasp of biology, Eddie speculated it was an intrinsic survival instinct shared by both humans and animals, heightened by his own turbulent emotions. Perhaps he was wrong, given that he was dealing with an alien entity, but it was close enough to a satisfying explanation. Still, he felt stifling, a sensation that grew with every passing second until the priest gently placed a calming hand on Eddie's back.

"It's okay. I didn't mean to unsettle you, son." The priest said softly, his frown transforming into a look of empathy. "If you need some space, I completely understand. Or if you'd prefer, I'm here to listen to your confession whenever you're ready."

Confession? The word struck Eddie like lightning. It was something he had nearly forgotten—something he hadn't experienced in years. Certainly not since high school. And definitely not since the whirlwind that was the symbiote had entered his life. For years, he had let spite fuel his every action, inflicting pain on countless lives, all driven by a singular obsession to settle the score with one man. When his attempts were foiled, he even turned his wrath on those the man held dear without a second thought... Maybe confessing wasn't such a bad idea after all. But not just yet; Eddie must navigate this conversation carefully, shielding the monstrous truth lurking beneath his skin.

"Thanks for the offer, but I should be going, Father," Eddie replied, feeling the weight of his decision settle in his chest.

As he turned to leave, a warm grin spread across his face at the priest's farewell words: "You're always welcome back here." Those words ignited a comforting warmth in his heart as he stepped back out into the cold, icy night.

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MARVELS: Streets of New York

Yeah, so I would wait for the Spider-Man sheet before applying for Venom/Eddie?

MARVELS: Streets of New York

I assume that certain pizza-loving mutated turtles won't be welcomed. Would Venom/Eddie be acceptable alternatives?

Ultimate One Universe: Emergence

<Snipped quote by Bounce>
We've tried to run a Indie Comics game (and thats far more focused than such a idea) a few times and we always end up with these issues, I agree. The only one who really feels inspired is whoever gobbles up the TMNT or Hellboy, I find.

@mickilennial

Did someone say TMNT?