[Venom, his best friend is the asylum's postmaster; if you'd known that, that might almost have been a pun!]
[anyway, WV's reflexes aren't the best, but he was on guard enough to leap back when Venom came at him, and the gouge across his chest isn't as deep as it could have been. His carapace is cracked, though, and he's going to need a new poncho. Dammit, that was the most colorful one in the store!]
[one hand clasped over his wound, he edges backwards, watching Venom carefully while he gathers his thoughts]