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»»————- ☠ ————-««↳ Male
S E X U A L I T Y ↳ Bisexual
A G E ↳ Thirty-four
N A T I O N A L I T Y ↳ British
G R O U P ↳ Leader of Toxo
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»»————- ☠ ————-«« A P P E A R A N C E ↳ Ryder thinks himself quite the handsome fellow, which... he is. His British accent only adds to his attractiveness. He has a bronze tan skin tone, getting it from his father, his complexion smooth and clear besides a few scars gained from the roughness of the new world. His worse scar is an old knife wound, a nasty jagged thing above his right shoulder blade. That had been a painful one, and the person who delivered it hadn't lived much longer. He is quite fit. Before the outbreak, he made time for the gym, keeping himself lean and muscular. He also took classes on kickboxing, and self-defense. Now, he is always moving, and his body has only gotten more lean as a result.
Ryder has brown eyes, not the ones that are flat, but the ones that are deep and dark. The type of brown that people can get lost in. It helps he has dark eyelashes, making them pop more. He keeps his hair chopped short, the color almost black, his bangs always pushed back by his fingers. He always has facial face, something bordering a five o'clock shadow, yet a little thicker than that. Even today, he keeps up with his appearance, because he thinks looks are important, even in this world. He wants people to know he has the means to take care of himself.
His outfits are nothing elaborate. Before the outbreak, it was almost always suits. If it wasn't a suit, it was dress pants, and a tucked in shirt. Now, he wears jeans and heavy biker boots. He always has a t-shirt on with a leather jacket over the top. The thicker the clothing, the better. Harder to break and bite through. When he goes outside of the ranch, he wears a bulletproof vest under his clothing. Another item he keeps under his clothing, at all times, is this
necklace.
P E R S O N A L I T Y ↳ It isn't uncommon for those people who grew up poor to want more for themselves once they are older. It is common, however, that they did not get that more, and end up like their parent(s). Ryder was not one of those people. Ryder did not want to end up like his parents. So, he threw himself into his dedication to work early on. It formed that hard-working, one-track mind attitude Ryder still has today. He was nothing like his peers; while they were being kids, cutting up, hanging out, going to prom, he was always working. Be it working out, or trying to figure out how to utilize the future business degree he'd earn, Ryder had always found comfort in being productive and hard-working.
That isn't to say Ryder didn't have any friends. He was surprisingly popular in school, perhaps because he was so charming and funny. He hasn't lost those two traits, either. He carried his charm and humor with him, letting it leak into his business skills, gaining the trust and approval of many business partners. He kept a tighter hold on his sarcasm, though. However, that was before the outbreak.
Ryder was cold and standoffish before the outbreak, but it only increased after. He believes the best way to survive is to be cold and hard. He is a very violent and cruel man, but only if he thinks somebody deserves it. He isn't unnecessarily cruel. He only is when he thinks he can justify it. He is strong-willed and stubborn, challenging those around him often, to weed out those who may turn on him later. He does not play games, and doesn't like beating around the bush. He is bluntly honest, and cusses like a sailor. He can't stand liars or rapists, and will quickly punish them. It isn't hard for Ryder to read people, either. He watches people, learns their mannerisms and habits, and uses those against them if need be.
Though, once somebody gains his trust, and becomes a part of his "family," they'll see a different side of him. Ryder is very charming and actually kind to those he likes or cares for. He's thoughtful and concerned, looking out for those he considers an ally. He's also fiercely loyal, and will stand up for anybody in his circle. He can be a bit crude, though, and he is very sarcastic at times. He may say inappropriate things, but he would never do inappropriate things. He does not show anything further than that. His softer emotions are kept to himself. He has a tight grip on his emotions, and it's very rare he loses that tight grip.
Be weary, though. Just because somebody is in Ryder's circle, and he's comfortable with them, doesn't mean they can do whatever they want. He still keeps an eye on people, even those close to him, and makes sure they don't step out of line. They can joke with him, even be sarcastic towards him, but it's hard to pin down what will make Ryder grow serious or keep him in a joking mood. It seems like it changes everyday, but that is actually done on purpose. Ryder doesn't want anybody too comfortable in his presence. He likes to be sure people are always on edge around him, not expecting his next move, so he stays unpredictable.
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»»————- ☠ ————-«« H I S T O R Y ↳ It would probably surprise most of the Toxo members if they knew what their fierce leader did before the outbreak. He doesn't seem like the type to sit behind a desk and be the CEO of a company, but that is exactly what Ryder did. Ryder lived all his life in the UK, growing up in a poor family that struggled to keep their bellies full. Ryder hadn't wanted that life when he got older, and so, he worked hard for scholarships, and got into one of the best business schools of the country. Ryder had built his own company upon a very harsh and careless business ideal. He would buy failing businesses - usually local mom and pop ones - for a cheap price, taking advantage of desperate people. After all, he knew what desperation could do to a person.
He would then turn the business around, and sell it for a high price. Of course, he had his loses, but his business had been thriving. He had worked almost his whole life to make this business what it was before the outbreak. It was a successful and huge business, making him a millionaire. He wasn't completely heartless. His parents and little sister had a place in his heart, and he gave them the luxurious life they had never achieved themselves. Or, so he had tried. His father was too prideful to accept the help. His mother was disappointed in what his business stood for. His little sister actually enjoyed the poor, drifter life she was growing into. She left when she turned nineteen, and he hadn't heard from her again. He couldn't convince his father to take money, but he eventually convinced his mother. Again, desperation. He began secretly sending her checks, and, surprisingly, his father didn't ask questions. Ryder had known his father would take the help in secret, because they were not that well off.
Afterward, Ryder had lost contact with his sister, and rarely spoke to his parents. It hurt him, but he had been through pain before. He pushed through, throwing himself into his work like he always did. He didn't have time for love or family anymore. He only had time to make this business the best it could be. He had his fair share of flings, or short-term relationships, but nothing had ever stuck. He was married to his company, and that was just fine with him. Relationships were hard work. He had enough of that on his plate.
Eight months before the outbreak, Ryder flew out to America. He had never been before, but a rich man, Henry Weber, had showed interest in his business. Henry wanted to open a branch in the states. Ryder had thought the idea had some meat. California was full of failing businesses, with Hollywood and all that. Once again... desperate people. Ryder's business fed off of those, after all. He flew out to California, meeting with Henry and beginning to talk business. He would only be there for a half week. He wanted to see the location for the building, the blueprints, get all the paperwork straightened out, make sure he could trust Henry. If he had said yes, that is.
He was liking the idea the more time he spent there, and Henry seemed to be as fierce and dedicated as himself. Ryder found himself attracted to Henry, but he did not mix work and play. They came to an agreement, and he flew back to the UK. Naturally, he kept contact with Henry. Their conversations began shifting from business to personal, and Ryder found himself beginning to text more than he ever had before. Two months later, he flew back to California, to see the opening of this American branch.
After the opening, Henry and Ryder went to celebrate over drinks. They ended up spending all night, and majority of the next day, together. Ryder had never been in-love before, but he was pretty sure he was falling for this amazing man. He had to go back home, yet he never lost contact with Henry. Ryder was back in California more than twelve times over the span of six months. He had planned a two week vacation with Henry a week before the outbreak.
It was a simple vacation, getting lost in each other in a private cabin in the hills of California. They were off the grid for two weeks, and Ryder was seriously beginning to think he could marry Henry. He was everything Ryder hadn't realized he was dreaming of. He made him a better version of himself, and vice versa. Imagine their shock and surprise when they returned after a week the outbreak had been running rampant. It was instant survival mode for the two love-birds.
They discovered it had spread to California just a week earlier, by a newspaper clipping they had found. It was strange, going from a paradise in the privacy of the hills, to a Hell in the form of ravenous creatures and humans alike. They had gathered as many supplies as they could, intending to go back to their paradise, but they had just been thrust into this new world. They hadn't been properly prepared, and they were split up. Ryder searched, and searched, and searched, yet he could not find Henry. He only found a necklace that was Henry's, and Ryder could only assume the worse.
Devastated, he pushed on. He would never stop hoping Henry would appear, but he had to continue his own survival. It was hard, at first, but he found other survivors. He began to build his own group, then they happened upon a ranch by the name of Whispering Pines Ranch. He was immediately taken with the place. It could be a fortress, yet the old fools in charge didn't want it to be such. Ryder saw the ranch as a failing business that needed his help. But, this wasn't the old world. This was the new world.
Robert Pines had been the first person he had murdered. It wasn't a kill in self-defense; it was a brutal murder. His two friends followed, and then their families. It wasn't hard to take control of the ranch. It was like running another business, building it up to turn it over for a profit. The profit, in this case, would be safety and power. He loves what he has turned the ranch into, and he will not let anybody take it away from him.
Unknown to anyone else, he hopes, one day, he finds his Henry in good health, as unlikely as that is.
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»»————- ☠ ————-«« S K I L L S ↳ Charisma is one of Ryder's strongest skills. He can use his words like a weapon, sharp and cutting, or like a salve, smooth and cooling. He is also very strategic, something that he gained during his many years in his type of business. Because of his previous work-out schedule, he has longer stamina and more strength than the average person. He is also skilled at hand-to-hand combat, which has only gotten better. He has gotten better with weapons, both melee and ranged, due to the outbreak.
W E A P O N S ↳ Ryder has a pretty nice range of weapons to choose from because of the armory on the ranch. Though, he does have his favorites, and the ones he always leaves camp with. He always leaves with a gun. Just a simple Glock 19, nothing special. That is for emergencies. He has two daggers that he slips into each boot, for those just in case moments. He makes sure to have brass knuckles in his pocket, ready to slip on at a moment's notice. He also brings a machete, because why the fuck not, and sometimes a crossbow for range. Though, he usually has people with him that have ranged weapons. He may mix these up, though it's rare. But, his favorite weapon, the one he makes sure to never leave without, is a baseball bat. That sounds ridiculous, but the sturdy bat has nails embedded into the wood, so it causes for a deadly swing. There's something about smashing the bat into somebody's head and watching it crush in on itself that makes Ryder giddy.
O T H E R ↳ Ryder loves a smooth cigarette at the end of a hard day. If you want some brownie points... find cigarettes. His favorite are Lucky Strike. You're welcome.
