Random tip: if someone asks what you want as a birthday/holiday gift and you can't think of anything, it can help to reframe it as "What would I be happily surprised to find someone has gotten for me?"
Maybe there's nothing you desperately need, nothing that feels worth asking for, but maybe you would actually like one of those Cool Rocks that you just learned about, or commissioned art of your OCs, or a custom T-shirt with that phrase that you've never been able to find on a premade shirt. It doesn't have to be deep. It just has to spark joy.
My version of Owen and Legundo’s meeting in the woods— VSMP Spoilers ahead!!! You were warned!
(Up in the mountains, beneath a tree canopy, we see Legs taking shelter from the sudden storm)
Something makes Legs look around, as though he can feel a presence watching him
L: …Owen?
After a moment, a voice out of view speaks up
O: How many, doctor?
L: …I don’t-
O: How many lives have you come across during your practice?
L: Too many to count.
O: And how many saved?
L: …Not enough.
O: What if you could save all of them?
Legs stands up, still looking around to place the voice
L: What if I could save you?
O: No, I’m serious… I mean it…
Owen reveals himself from the shadows
O: What if every bedridden, dying, or suffering; man, woman or child- could be saved by a simple cure administered by your hands. Would you take that?
L: …The cost is too great…
O: But isn’t that what you want? To save people? You wouldn’t even need to turn everyone, just those that life dealt a bad hand and have no say in the matter. You could give them this gift.
L: That gift shouldn’t come at the cost of others.
O: …
L: Let me ask you this, what if I could save you? What if I could free you of the hunger?
O: I like how I am now… far more than my previous self.
L: Really? The pain and suffering, you enjoy it? The constant urge to harm those you care about? I’m offering you the best of both worlds.
L: You could be healed, be free of it all, but not at the expense of others. You could be human again.
O: And whats so great about humans, huh?
Owen snarls as he thinks back to that day.
O: Humans… they’re wretched and vile. They shun and destroy anything different… like me….. or Louis.
O: They took him from me, Legs, while I was asleep, they raided his home and then tied him up and burned him at the stake!
O: He was the only one to take me in and treat me like a human. Never once did he grimace or flinch when I touched him. He cured me. Showed me a life free of the scars and the pain-
O: - and they took him from me.
L: You were wronged by them, you deserve to be angry; but you can’t lump all humans together like that.
L: I’m not going to stand here and say I can fix everything thats happened to you in the past, but I can speak for myself. I mean you no harm.
Legs grabs his axe and tosses it down the cliff side, leaving him disarmed
L: I spent the first half of my life fighting and killing. I was good at it. They gave me a medal for it; but I am not going to spend my latter years perpetuating that.
Owen is surprised by this at first, before quickly turning to the side and letting out a weak laugh
O: …Some people aren’t worth saving, Doctor.
L: Some people are.
O: ….
You really think you can heal me?
L: I’d like to try.
O: *scoff* Yaknow how many times I’ve heard this exact same speech? How many “doctors” promised that this stupid approach- leeches, bloodletting, or some other ridiculous procedure-would save me?
He turns to face Legundo
O: What makes you so special?
L: I’m not… but I’m still asking for a chance. For yours and everyone else’s sake.
L: I don’t think there is as little humanity in you as you think. Look at Pyro- he didn’t kill Truffle; and Shelby- who is still as cheerful as ever…
L: …and then here you are, talking to me.
L: I believe there is still a part of you that doesn’t want this. I also believe I can help you.
O: ….You want me to trust you?
L: I’m not asking for you to give me your trust. All I’m asking is for a chance to prove it myself.
O: You can prove it. I have a way you can prove it…
O: I am… hungry. I need more than what animal blood can give me to get back to my full strength. If you let me feed off of you, perhaps we can form some kind of…trust, to work together…
Legs is slightly alarmed at this suggestion, taking a second to think.
L: But how-
O: Thats where the trust comes in, Doc. You have my word, I will not turn you; and in return for your trust, you shall have mine.
There is silence for a moment, then Legs speaks
L: Fine… I trust you.
Owens lips curve into a daft smirk as he looks away and then back to the Doctor
O: Alright… We’ll see.
In the blink of an eye Owen slips in front of the Doctor, holding him by the neck and shoulder as he sinks his fangs into Legundos neck.
This startles Legs a bit, causing him to clamp his eyes shut and wince. The sensation sending a shiver throughout him.
A moment passes as Owen feeds.
Another moment.
One of the Doctors eyes open out of concern to look at Owen in his periphery
“Owen?” He breathes out, worry creeping up on him.
Owen releases his hold on Legs and takes a step back, wiping away what little blood was left on his mouth and collecting himself.
Legs is stunned at the sight before him. With the storm having passed, and now in the light of the blood colored moon, Owen dawns a new form with ash colored hair and piercing crimson eyes.
Owen lets out a content sigh.
Legs suddenly buckles as the effects of the feeding catch up to him and his mind reels. Owen is at his side before he has a chance to fall, supporting Legs’ weight by his shoulders.
Owen helps lower Legs to the ground to rest on a nearby tree trunk.
Legs opens his eyes to look at Owen and weakly asks
“So what now?…”
Owen lets out a breathy chuckle
O: You’ll be fine. You may feel a bit woozy, but no new gifts, as promised.
Owen reaches down and fluffs the collar up on Legs’ shirt
O: Might want to cover the bite mark, but you’ll be fine-
He stands to back away from Leg’s a bit as he continues-
O: and, well, I’ll stay good on my half. You have my trust. I will ensure that the others give you a wide berth for now- however- my patience won’t last forever.
Owen glances at the sky
O: You should get going soon, before they get suspicious.
Legs, after taking a moment to rest and munch on some bread he packed, wills himself to stand.
As he turns to start his journey back to Oakhurst, he leaves Owen with a parting word.
L: What do you mean? I just got lost in the storm.
So uhh I think I overdid it on the Taco Bell tonight…
Result of a 5-layer burrito, chicken chalupa, chipotle cheese flatbread, cinnamon crisps, and an iced Mexican mocha to wash it all down. My stomach is stretched to the brim, it’s so tight even when I fully relax my abs. I can literally feel all the food I ate at the bottom of my throat 😩
