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[cleothomas]

↳ INTRODUCING CLEO THOMAS

in character

Name: Cleo Thomas

Faceclaim: Dewanda Wise

Gender & Pronouns: Cisfemale & She/Her

Age: 40

Birthday: March 13th, 1984

Occupation: RN @ Mercy General

Neighborhood: Masonboro

biography

TW: abuse, child loss, pregnancy

Cleo, from the very beginning, was always sweet. She was born with the biggest heart, always wanting to help people and always wanting to be friends with people who she came in contact with. She definitely never met a stranger, that was for sure. She did what she could to make anyone and everyone feel included all throughout school, which landed her on top of the social hierarchy despite her financial status or whatever else.

Cleo was convinced that she was destined for greatness once she got to her senior year of high school. There was nothing about her life that convinced her otherwise. After all, she was graduating high school with an amazing group of friends, top notch grades, and a family who supported her through anything and everything. Her plan after high school was simple. She was going to get her RN and help people the way that she enjoyed doing. She was accepted into nursing school at the University of California, which wasn't far from where she grew up and so, despite her wanting the full college student experience, she really liked that she wasn't far from home.

Nursing school was proven to be difficult, but she did whatever she could to maintain her high grades as she did in high school. That included extended study sessions in the school library. Clinicals really got to her but that's where she met Bruno. He was in the hospital while she was doing rounds, having gotten shot during his line of duty. Luckily, the injury was minimal, but they'd kept him overnight to keep an eye on him. His injury certainly didn't bother him and he was persistent as far as asking Cleo out. She refused due to the fact that she was afraid that it may get her into some trouble. Once clinicals were over for the night and he was discharged, he approached her once more about taking her out and managed to talk Cleo into it.

The two of them got married relatively quickly. Cleo assumed that she had met the best person in the world. Bruno was sweet and caring and protective and he did everything he could to make her happy. At least, at first anyways. It wasn't long that Bruno turned abusive. He didn't like how independent she was once she got her first nursing career. He didn't like how friendly she was to everyone, males especially. If she didn't show up on time, she paid for it when she got home. Due to the fact that he was a cop, he wasn't stupid. He always put the bruises in places where they weren't seen and told her that no one would help her due to place in the police department. So, cleo ultimately felt stuck.

Cleo did manage to get pregnant at the age of 38. For one, she was surprised because of her age. Two, she assumed the abuse and stress of her relationship would prevent her from conceiving. Despite the hatred that she managed to develop for her husband, she couldn't be more excited about having a baby of her own and she vowed to do whatever she could to take care of them. At least, that's what she wanted to believe. Things had gone okay until she was 24 weeks and she'd managed to upset her husband, which resulted in him pushing her down the stairs. That ordeal landed her in the hospital with a broken arm and a broken heart. She managed to lose the baby.

That's what pushed her to leave him. One day, when he was at work and she was technically scheduled to work, she backed up all of her things and took a bus out of there. She wasn't completely stupid. She'd kept her own savings account and so, once she managed to get so far, she bought a car that could help her continue her escape.

Eventually, she landed herself in Wilmington, which was pretty much on the complete opposite side of the country. She...felt safe. She managed to change her last name to her mother's maiden name to throw him off further, bought a house in Masonboro, and managed to score a job as a charge nurse at Mercy hospital.

She's not the same woman she used to be. She's closed off, private, quiet. She's timid. Cleo's damaged. She misses who she used to be and so, all she can do now is seek out the help she so desperately needs to move on.

[atlasxthorne]

Atlas saw beyond her surface-level question about the break-ins. His years of reading people told him there was a personal angle here. Could it be an ex or a stalker? The origami was super strange, and she looked like she was scared, not just a little freaked out. “It looks like someone’s just trying to be creative, not do any harm,” he said. This woman had that look he had seen a million times before - that specific kind of scared that came with personal baggage, not just random worry about crime stats. “We’ve got extra patrols out there. But I’m wondering if there’s something specific worrying you? I deal with this stuff every day … sometimes talking about what’s really bothering you helps put things in perspective.” She might need someone to listen more than she needed crime statistics and patrol schedules. He’d learned the hard way that letting people open up beats throwing facts at them. Especially when they’ve got that look in their eyes that says there’s way more to the story.

[cleothomas]

she didn't want to come off as freaked out as she really was but he was a cop, she was sure that he could see right through her. her ex husband always could. being in a police station made an uneasy feeling settle in her stomach. for all she knew, they could be in kahoots with her ex. then again, she was so far away from home that she knew that she was just being dramatic at this point. she shifted on her feet. could she really trust him enough to tell her what it was that was bothering her? she didn't think so. cleo couldn't tell him the full truth. "i guess i just went through some things back home and i'm not wanting anything to ruin the life i have here. are you sure these break ins are harmless?" she had a hard time believing that any crime was really harmless.

[maliaxwoodard]

Malia watched Leilani in the sandbox, her eyes doing its usual safety check of the park. Public place? Check. Easy exits? Check. When Cleo showed up with hot chocolate for both of them plus Leilani, it made her think maybe trusting one person in this city wasn't the worst idea ever. "Thank you, that's super sweet of you," she said. "How's your day going?" The question came easy - Cleo got it, like really got it, about keeping your guard up and picking your people carefully. Leilani's happy little squeal over her hot chocolate made her smile. “Looks like someone’s going to be happy today.” 

[cleothomas]

cleo was thankful that she managed to meet someone who she really felt as though she could lean on. "you're welcome." she replied, and her face further lit up at the sound of the little girl's squeal. it made her realize how badly she wanted to be a mom but she assumed that wasn't in the cards for her after everything she'd been through. "i hope so." pausing, she lifted her shoulders up in a shrug, "it's going pretty good. i don't have any complaints. what about you? how're you and cutie pie doing this morning?"

[irzaozer]

Irza reached for his morning coffee, only to find himself in an awkward dance of hands with a woman at the counter. The timing couldn't have been worse—he'd been running late for a meeting at City Hall and desperately needed his caffeine fix. Her uncertain tone made him pause and check the name on the cup. "Oh, you're right—this one says 'Cleo.' My bad," he said, withdrawing his hand. The whole situation struck him as rather amusing, especially since he'd been so caught up in his thoughts about the upcoming budget meeting that he hadn't even bothered to check the name. "I'm Irza, by the way. Sorry for almost stealing your coffee. I guess my caffeine desperation got the better of me."

[cleothomas]

cleo didn't mean to make things awkward but he seemed just as apologetic as she was, which was ultimately reassuring. she really hadn't encountered anyone too mean and she was thankful for the fact that she seemed to have settled in a good place. "it's okay." she reassured and took the hot coffee in her hand. "i get it. it's monday, so everyone needs their fix. it's nice to meet you, irza - hey, isn't the mayor's name irza? are you the mayor?" she asked, her eyebrows raised in surprise.

[shivanixrao-deactivated20250108]

Shivani had been taking a much needed break at the coffee shop for lunch and had whipped out her book because she didn't want to waste her time scrolling away on her phone and not feeling like she did anything productive. This was a better option for sure. She heard someone speaking in her direction and gave them a smile as she put her bookmark in the book and shut it so the other could have her full attention. "I actually don't do a lot of reading, but whenever my time allows it--I try to pick up something new to read," she admitted with a smile before gesturing for the other to join her. "But I've heard of a book club I think in town--but I'm also game to talk books with, I'd love to have someone actually hold me accountable," Shivani grimaced with a laugh, "because so far--only my Goodreads account is trying to do that and it just doesn't do it for me." With another smile, she introduced herself, "I'm Shivani by the way."

[cleothomas]

cleo knew exactly what the other was talking about. she had a ton of books on her to be read book but not one of them had been started. "that makes two of us. i would love nothing more than to have someone hold me accountable too. i mean, my library's getting bigger but my to be read list isn't getting any smaller." she paused, giving her a small smile. shivani seemed nice enough and so this all seemed promising. "i'm cleo. it's nice to meet you." she nodded at the seat across from her, "do you mind if i join you?"

[axelhughes]

Axel recognized her right away—the nurse who'd patched him up last month. Her awkward rambling made him smile. He wasn’t sure why she was so nervous, when he was the one who should be feeling like an idiot. "Of course I remember you. Hard to forget someone who kept me from passing out during those stitches," he said, thinking back to how she'd made that whole mess of a night suck way less. "I'm doing much better now, thanks to you. Though I should probably avoid any more encounters with the wall while I’m drunk. Actually, I never got to properly thank you for taking such good care of me that night. Thank you and I’d like to know your name if you don’t mind sharing."

[cleothomas]

cleo wasn't so much nervous when it came to talking to him but more about making a fool out of herself and the rambling that she was doing made her feel like an absolute idiot. she smiled at the man front of her, "of course. it's my job." she reassured, her eyes landing on where the stitches once were. they were gone now and he was healed up really well, "sure," she paused, holding her hand out for the other to shake, "i'm cleo." she introduced. she was trying to act as normal as possible since she knew she could come off a bit paranoid, especially since running from her ex.

[atlasxthorne]

CLOSED STARTER

LOCATION: The precinct TIME: Wednesday, morning FOR: @cleothomas

Atlas tapped his fingers on Officer Stanley's desk while he waited for the officer to call about a case file. The morning at the precinct was busy, but his mind kept going back work. He looked at the case file photos of a string of break-ins where the perpetrator left elaborate origami figures at each scene. The behavioral pattern suggested someone with OCD tendencies and artistic training, but the why still bugged him. He wished the case had more solid leads than paper cranes and clean crime scenes. At least he had those maple donuts from the break room to keep him going - if Officer Chen hadn't already raided the box. A woman by the front desk caught his attention. She looked a little lost. "Can I help you find where you need to go?"

[cleothomas]

the break ins were making her unnecessarily paranoid. what if these supposed break ins were her ex husband's attempt at trying to find her? she couldn't help but attempt to find out what this was all about and so after a shift of thinking about it entirely too much, she made her way to the police station and up toward the front desk to see if maybe she could find some sort of reassurance that she was just being too much. she looked over at the man who approached her, "i, well…i don't really know who or what i'm looking for. i'm just…a little curious to know about those weird break ins. are there any leads or…i mean, i know you probably can't tell me. i just- is there anything we, the public, should worry about?"

[cleothomas]

CLOSED STARTER FT. @shivanixrao

cleo wasn't good at making friends nowadays. typically, she minded her business but the longer that she was in wilmington, the more lonely she was and she felt as though it was time to branch out. after all, there's no way her ex husband was going to find her here. gazing at the woman next to her, she cleared her throat. "i'm sorry, hi," she started and nodded toward the book the other had settled on her table, "do you do a lot of reading? i was hoping to find some sort of book club to join or at least find someone to talk books with...?"

[cleothomas]

CLOSED STARTER FT. @axelhughes

the confidence that cleo once had wasn't there. in fact, the only place she felt completely comfortable and as though she could be herself was at work. so, it was no surprise that she managed to make things weird the moment she bumped into someone in the middle of the local bookstore, "sorry, oh-" she paused, immediately recognizing the other as someone she'd treated at the hospital, "i see your head healed up just fine. i mean, you know," she stumbled over her words, "since i saw you at the hospital last. i'm cleo. i'm the RN that took care of you. i'm sure you don't remember."

[cleothomas]

CLOSED STARTER FT. @irzaozer

in public places, cleo typically always tucked herself in the corners with her eyes facing the door. her anxious habit was developed after leaving her husband and she knew that she probably came off as some sort of a freak but it was what made her comfortable. snapping out of her trance when she assumed she heard her name being called to grab her coffee, she headed toward the counter and stopped as another man reached for the cup at the same time. "i-" she cleared her throat, "i think that's mine?" her tone was unsure. maybe her name wasn't the one that was called.

[cleothomas]

CLOSED STARTER FT. @nicolemcrtin

a puff of air left her lips. this shift at the hospital had been a lot and she was definitely ready to go home but before she ended her shift, she was definitely planning on meeting up with the plastic surgeon that performed the surgeon on her most recent emergency room intake. her eyes landed on the woman, "you must be dr. martin," she held her hand out, "i'm cleo," she added and then glanced down at the chart in her other hand, "looks like your client thought that a night out on the town to show off her goods was a good idea. the patient had admitted to forgetting to take her antibiotics, so i do think her surgical site may or may not be a bit infected."

[cleothomas]

CLOSED STARTER FT @maliaxwoodard

she didn't trust too many people around wilmington, if any at all, but she'd managed to befriend a handful of people. none of which knew where she lived and knew only the basics. she felt as though that was safest. after all, she could never be too safe, could she? after agreeing to meeting malia at the park, a public place and one she was comfortable enough in, she brought the two of them a warm cup of hot chocolate, not forgetting her little girl either. "hi," she spoke as she approached the two. "i know it's chilly, so i thought i'd bring something to keep us warm."

[cleothomas]

[adreciclarte4]

DeWanda Wise by Mark Mann